The dog, one of two suspected in the attack, escaped from the owner’s property after the incident occurred Thursday, Nov. 30. The second dog was taken into custody by Oakland County Animal Control, along with two other family dogs that were not involved in the incident.
“The Highland deputies on every shift were looking for it,” said Lt. Matt Snyder, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Highland substation. “We didn’t know the history of the dog. We wanted to make sure the community was safe.”
“He put it down with a firearm,” Snyder said. “The family has gone through a lot and we are trying to be sensitive to what they are going through. They have a little girl that could have easily been killed.”
According to deputies, the girl opened the gate to the pen and the two dogs attacked her. The girl’s mother, who intervened, also was bitten. Snyder said the girl, who is hospitalized at the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital, is “doing much better” and should be released soon.
In a news release last week, the sheriff’s office said the family rescued dogs and owned approximately seven. The report said the two dogs involved in the attack came from an out-of-state humane society.
Ron Shankin, Oakland County Animal Control supervisor, last week said the dog in custody was examined by a veterinarian and showed some physical signs that it could be a wolf hybrid. He stressed a DNA test would be required to confirm the dog’s breed.
“Our department is working with animal control … we’re trying to get the whole picture, an idea of what was going on. Animal control is taking the lead on this and we’re assisting in any way we can,” Snyder said, adding that the family is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. “We’re trying to find out where they got the dog and how they got the dog.”
Snyder said two “beagle-type” dogs remain with the family.
He suggested that potential pet owners research their municipality's animal ordinance before bringing pets home.
“In Highland Township, you’re not allowed to have more than two dogs,” he said. “You want to make sure people are in compliance. It’s for the betterment of the community.”
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The family surrendered two other dogs that were not involved in the attack to Oakland County Animal Control. Shankin said both potentially could be adopted. Neither raised red flags for temperament problems or aggressive behavior, however, the youngest of the two, called Rocky, also shows physical signs of being a wolf hybrid.
Shankin said Rocky’s DNA also was submitted for testing.
“We’re holding it. We want to see the results of the DNA test. If it comes back part wolf, it’s not going to be adopted. You can’t do that,” he said.
He said the investigation into the attack is ongoing.
“There's every indication the dogs might have come from Pennsylvania, but started off in Ohio,” he said. “We’re dealing with agencies out of state that may or may not be cooperative. According to the owners, (the two dogs) were brought to them from out of state.”
This is what's called the 'rescue dog shuffle'. These fly-by-night rescue groups grab dogs from shelters, haul them to other states, don't disclose the dog's history and try to convince good-hearted people to purchase them. I say "purchase" because that's what it is - buying and selling of pets.
There's no reason that these wolf hybrids should have been brought to Michigan - if they're not allowed. What is the name of this 'rescue'? Did the 'rescue' lie to the people who fostered them? Did the family purposely break the law and foster wolf hybrids, which they know are outlawed? What is the history of these dogs (hybrids)? Have they attacked before? Who knows? The animal rescue shuffle continues. Meanwhile, a little girl is in critical condition in Michigan.
Earlier:
Related:
- Nevada: Rescue adopts out a Doberman Pinscher they admit was aggressive, but claim they "fixed the issue". The man who adopted it is attacked by it three weeks after taking it home.
- Virginia: Lawsuit filed over deadly Pit Bull attack in Virginia Beach
- Texas: Why are three rescues and a vet clinic all raising money for the same dog? And why hasn't anyone announced how much was collected or shown proof of the vet bills?
- Minnesota: Woman claims Ruff Start Rescue won't accept responsibility after one of their dogs mauls her little Schnauzer
- Tennessee: This is how killer dogs get shuffled around from one rescue to another. Veterinarian euthanized a known vicious Pit Bull mix and is now being hounded by lunatics
- Texas: Dallas Pets Alive brings Pit Bull to adoption event; it immediately selects a small victim and attacks
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