Washington: Kitsap Animal Control officer attacked by dog but agency muzzled in seeking stiffer penalties against Husky dog’s owner

WASHINGTON -- Despite having one of its officers seriously injured by an attacking Siberian Husky dog in Port Orchard, Kitsap Animal Control, or KAC) has concluded it can only issue as its maximum legal action a PDA, or Potentially Dangerous Animal declaration, against the dog’s owner.

Kitsap Animal Control officer Ashley Keil had responded to a 911 call June 19 from a woman in Port Orchard, who was allegedly attacked and bitten by a large, stray dog, Kitsap Humane Society reported.

The woman was able to corral the dog into her garage, which is where Keil found the animal, described as a large gray and white Husky.

While attempting to impound the dog into her animal control van, the dog lunged at Keil’s neck and face. Keil “was able to block the attack with her arms, but was repeatedly bitten on the arms and legs, before successfully getting the animal into her van,” Humane Society spokeswoman Rebekah Johnson reported.

The dog was immediately transferred to the Kitsap Humane Society shelter, where it was placed on a required 10-day bite observation period.

In response to an update request about the incident, Johnson sent out a statement that outlined KAC’s decision to issue a PDA.

The dog, owned by Margarita Mozzer, is required to be muzzled when outside Mozzer’s property. While inside its property boundaries, the animal is to be confined behind a secure fence. She also is required to register the dog as “potentially dangerous” and secure at least $50,000 in insurance indemnification.

According to Johnson, if the owner doesn’t fully abide by the restrictions, additional sanctions and future impoundment actions against the dog could result.

“Despite the first-hand experience of an animal control officer being attacked, KAC, in consultation with its counsel at the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s office (Civil Division), determined that the PDA declaration was the maximum legal action that could be taken in this case,” the KAC release stated.

In the release, Chase Connolly, KAC field manager, said: “In this case, both Washington state and Kitsap County law limited KAC from taking additional actions, such as confiscating or euthanizing the animal.”

KAC said it will release the dog back to its owner following the 10-day quarantine. It will be subject to the PDA restrictions.

The county agency said the attack by the dog wasn’t its first documented bite assault. Connolly said a documented “history of bite aggression” by the dog has been recorded in Oregon.

A 2015 bite aggression incident that was videotaped and seen by animal control officers couldn’t be prosecuted because no identifying information has been provided to the agency.

Despite those incidents, Connolly said the June 19 incident, for all practical purposes, constitutes a first offense, not the most recent of several violations. If that had been possible, it could have allowed for more aggressive legal actions by KAC, he said.

While KAC’s action didn’t provide the bite it wanted to the dog’s owner, Eric Stevens, Kitsap Humane Society’s executive director, said his agency (which oversees KAC), urges the public to always report cases of animal aggression.

“We need to hear quickly from direct victims or witnesses of animal aggression so we can investigate, educate and enforce where appropriate,” Stevens said.

(Port Orchard Independent - June 30, 2016)