MONTANA -- Two German shepherds belonging to Boulder Police Chief Rick Streib are in custody after they attacked a Jefferson High school freshman last Friday.
The boy was walking to school for a basketball game when the dogs allegedly jumped over the fence enclosing the chief’s yard and attacked him.
According to Boulder City Attorney Steven Shapiro, a complaint was filed to the police office and, once a report is prepared by the city officer, he will review it and determine how to proceed.
Because the Boulder Police Department only consists of three officers, including the chief, this is a particularly delicate situation, he said.
“A dog bite is something that doesn’t happen every day, but it happens,” Shapiro said. “Especially in this case, the police officer would rather that the city attorney deal with what to do with this information (in the report) rather than decide on the charge herself.
“In the meantime, the county sanitarian is responsible for dealing with dogs that apparently have bitten somebody,” he said.
The first step in that process, he said, is for the dogs to be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days.
“The purpose of the quarantine is to deal with primarily health issues, like what was the cause of the dog biting something,” he said. “Is the dog sick? The obvious (issue) that people worry about is rabies, but there may be other reasons people are concerned about the health of the animal.”
This is not the first time a complaint has been filed against the dogs involved in Friday’s incident.
The first complaint occurred Aug. 13 after a woman said the dogs jumped the fence and attacked her.
“For that, Rick was charged with a nuisance dog and paid the fine,” Shapiro said.
According to the city of Boulder Animal Ordinances, a nuisance dog is defined as an animal that has damaged or destroyed property, was abandoned by its owner, has run at large without a leash, has chased vehicles, or has caused annoyance by barking or howling.
According to the same code, a vicious animal is defined as, “an animal which bites or attempts to bite any human being without provocation or which harasses, chases, bites or attempts to bite any other animal including livestock or any domestic pet.”
“I guess at the time of this Aug. 13 issue, there was no reason to think that those dogs were vicious,” Shapiro said. “But certainly, because they chased after a person and allegedly bit a person, then they were called nuisance dogs.”
Streib said he doesn’t think the dogs are vicious and that he plans to carry out the proper procedures to ensure that they return safely to his custody at the end of the quarantine.
After that first incident, Streib said he sent the dogs back to the woman from whom he purchased them.
“I sent them over to the lady I got them from to evaluate the dogs and see what she could figure out about them,” he said. “Neither dog is actually vicious … She claimed they were just puppies.”
Since then, Streib said he has made a good-faith effort to keep them more properly confined to the yard.
“I’ve been concerned, of course, that they’re going to get out and we’ve been really vigilant of trying to keep them in,” he said.
“They got out of the yard this last weekend and knocked a young lad down,” Streib admitted. “Only one of the dogs, they think, grabbed him by the ankle.”
He said one of the two dogs belongs to his son who has been living with him for a few months now. However, his son is moving soon and, because he will take his dog with him, Streib thinks that will put an end to the incidents.
“He’s moving to Colorado and the dog will be going with him,” Streib said of his son.
As far as addressing the current complaint, Streib said, “We’re handling it the way we normally handle it.”
While the complaint is being investigated, Jefferson High School Principal Daryll Mikesell said he plans to meet with the school superintendent and with Streib to discuss the incident, which occurred just across the street from the school.
“A student gets bit by a dog, I obviously have concerns,” Mikesell said.
“The plan of action I would probably take would be I would talk with (Superintendent) Mr. (Tim) Norbeck and talk with the owner of the dog and maybe ask during peak hours … asking that the dogs remain inside during that time,” he said. “Trying to handle it more on a personal level.”
(Montana Standard - Dec 20, 2013)
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