Michigan: Highland man shoots, kills rescue dog that mauled daughter

MICHIGAN -- A Highland Township man Sunday shot and killed one of two dogs suspected of mauling his 7-year-old daughter last week.

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.”

Animal Control also stationed live traps around the family’s home, hoping to catch the escapee. Snyder said the dog came back to the home Sunday and that the owner saw it wandering around the property.

“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.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

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.

(Hometown Life - Dec 3, 2017)

Earlier:

• Michigan: Girl, 7, in critical condition after being attacked by two dogs that her parents were fostering for the Humane Society

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

Michigan: Girl, 7, in critical condition after being attacked by two dogs that her parents were fostering for the Humane Society

MICHIGAN -- A 7-year-old girl was in critical condition Friday after two dogs her family was fostering brutally attacked her Thursday evening.

The girl opened a gate to let the dogs out of a pen in which they were being kept on her family's property in the 3200 block of North Hickory Ridge Road in Oakland County's Highland Township.

As soon as the dog got out, they knocked the girl to the ground and began to viciously attack her, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The dogs bit the girl's neck and shredded her winter coat during the attack.

The girl had deep bite wounds to her neck causing breathing difficulties.

The girl's 6-year-old brother saw the attack unfold and ran back to the house to alert their mother. She was able to stop the attack and get the dogs back into the pen, but suffered a deep bite wound on her right upper arm.

Paramedics rushed the girl to an area hospital before she was airlifted to Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She remained in critical but stable condition Friday with an injury to her trachea.

The sheriff's office said doctors believe the girl will recover.

Oakland County Animal Control took custody of one dog involved in the attack — which shows signs of being a wolf hybrid, but the other escaped under a fence and is still on the loose. Officers set up a trap on the property to try to capture it.

The family had a total of seven dogs on the property, according to the sheriff's office. They regularly take in rescue dogs. The two dogs involved in the attack came from a Humane Society facility in Pennsylvania.

The girl's parents signed over two other dogs that were not involved in the attack, but that they were fostering leaving just one dog in their possession.

Ron Shankin, supervisor at Oakland County Animal Control, said live traps had been set out to capture the other dog which had attacked the girl, which was described by its owner as possibly a shepherd-husky mix with white fur. He isn't sure how the dog will react to people.

"Is this going to be the kind of dog that if  approached it will run away? We don't know. It's not from here...who knows where it will go."

Shankin said the Oakland County Sheriff's Office sent a helicopter in the area Friday, Dec. 1, to search for signs of the dog.

The dog in custody was assessed by a veterinarian. Based on its physical features, body size, length, coat, facial markings, and the howling sound it makes, the dog shows signs of being a wolf hybrid, Shankin said.

"We are looking at doing a DNA test on the dog we have here," he said, adding that ownership of wolf hybrids is illegal in Michigan.

"You can't own a wolf hybrid in Michigan as of 2000. If you owned one before the law took effect you were grandfathered in."

Shankin won't know if the dog in custody is a wolf hybrid until after DNA tests are completed.

"Just mere possession may be a problem. I don't know the consequences at this point. It would be something the prosecutors would have to review."

The other two dogs that were not involved in the attack will be evaluated and assessed.

(abc12 - Dec 1, 2017)

New York: After her elderly Husky is mauled by two Pit Bulls, owner finds out that courts can't order vicious dog owners to pay up unless you can prove they knew their dog was vicious. Now she's stuck with a critically injured dog and the bills.

NEW YORK -- This is Blaze, a gentle 11-year old Husky face-licking machine whose favorite thing to do  is to hike on trails and country roads.  Because she is a “wolfdog,” and because old age and arthritis are creeping up on her, her owner is diligent in the goal of walking her at least three miles a day.

Which is what we were doing one fateful Saturday evening when we got attacked by an unleashed mother and daughter pit bull duo on a country road.

The pit bulls pounced on Blaze, the mother locking onto Blaze’s throat and dragging her to the ground; as the daughter proceeded to chow on Blaze’s front legs like they were Thanksgiving dinner.  I desperately screamed for help, but no one responded.  

For what seemed like 10 to 15 minutes, I tried to pull the dogs off, hit them with rocks, branches, etc. but this also had absolutely no effect, and I endured multiple puncture wounds that had to be treated at the emergency room that evening due to infection. 

Ultimately, I was able to grab the choke collar of the smaller dog and drag her into an unlocked car that was parked nearby.  But when the mother saw the choke collar in my hand, she became threatened by it, and she finally let go of Blaze’s neck and trotted back towards her home.

With the neck lock broken, traumatized Blaze was finally able to stand, and limped down the road, the leash dangling on her side, and a trail of blood behind her.  My friends helped me bring her to the vet, who said the wounds were serious and he wasn’t sure if she would make it through the night.  Before shaving off her fur and cleaning up the wounds, he said it would cost $600 to euthanize and cremate her; or about $1,500 to proceed with emergency care.

But when I picked her up the next day, the bill had increased to $2,200 that I simply did not have.  In addition, the vet cautioned that the wounds were serious, and further vet visits would be required.

Blaze came home and started a long process of recovery.  The antibiotics that she was on had very little effect on the wounds, so she had to go back to the vet to get a different antibiotic and more painkillers.  This time, the antibiotics worked, but it took a full three weeks from the day of the attack until the last “plug” of puss came out of the deepest puncture wound.

At that point, the vet said he would no longer see Blaze until we cleared the $2,300 bill.

In the meantime, the pit bull owner refused to help with the bill and was brought to small claims court.  The judge was sympathetic to Blaze’s case, but he ruled this October 2017 that while the pit bull owner had a moral responsibility to pay for the medical expenses, the Judge could not mandate it.  

Turns out there is a law in New York State that says if there is no previous indication of an animal’s viciousness, then the owner can’t be held legally responsible for damages when the animal's behavior changes.  

I don't know why the judge couldn't rule on property damage. After all, animals are considered property. If this guy had knocked down your mailbox, he'd have to pay for damages. If he had let a shopping cart hit your car in the parking lot of the grocery store, he'd have to pay for damages. I think a creative judge could have figured something out...

Because of the long recovery, Blaze’s muscles have atrophied and the injuries and/or arthritis settled in.  To this date, Blaze still has not regained her former speed or gait, and she often limps and trips.  In addition, about six months after the attack, Blaze came down with urinary and/or kidney infection, likely a candida overgrowth or damaged kidneys from the antibiotics and medications that she was on.

Despite this, Blaze is eating well, drinking (maybe a bit too much), and still loves her walks on the rail trail.

However, she desperately needs a follow-up visit with the vet to see if anything else is blocking her recovery.  As of this point, the medical bills are about $2,300, but she needs lab work to find out if she has a UTI, yeast overgrowth, decreased kidney function or arthritis from all of the antibiotics and painkillers she was on.  This could be up to another $500.

Please consider helping Blaze come to a full recovery so she can enjoy her senior years without a lot of pain.  As a wolfdog, she needs to walk and run 3 to 5 miles a day to maintain flexibility and joint health.  If unresolved medical issues from the pit bull attack prevent her from doing this, she will certainly have to be put down a lot sooner.

We would be grateful for any help you can give!!!!!!!!!!

GoFundMe: Blaze's Vet Bills From Dog Attack
Created October 19, 2017
Debra Durstewitz
  Animals
  SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY
$100 of $2,800 goal
Raised by 1 person in 3 days

Washington: How officials in Thurston County put all of us in danger. Wolf hybrid that ripped off a boy's arm has been "relocated" to another state so they don't have to deal with it any longer. Is it now living near you?

WASHINGTON -- A female wolf that ripped off a 3-year-old Thurston County boy’s arm in April has been relocated to an out-of-state wildlife sanctuary, along with her pups and her Alaskan malamute mate.

That's nice. If this sanctuary goes bankrupt and they ship the wolf hybrid to another state and tell them it's a Malamute mix, what then? So when a tree falls on a fence at this sanctuary, it gets loose and attacks and kills a child, whose fault will it be? Will Thurston County pony up $50 million dollars to the grieving parents? Will the sanctuary have enough insurance to cover a huge lawsuit? Will the county that accepted this wolf hybrid at this rescue be sued, forcing the taxpayers who likely knew nothing about this vicious wolf hybrid coming from Washington into their community, get stuck paying the millions in damages to the victim's family? 

I don't care if it's a dog or a wolf or a wolf hybrid (aka wolfdog) - if it rips the arm off of a kid, EUTHANIZE IT.

This is called NIMBY = not in my back yard. It's when agencies like this ship their vicious dog off to some other town - maybe yours - to rid themselves of their problem. The problem is is that, although it may seemingly not be their problem any longer, it's now become OUR problem.

 

The puppies were born in Thurston County Animal Services’ custody after the adult animals were seized following the attack, said Animal Services Director Ric Torgerson.

“Typically, in a lot of these situations, they end up euthanized,” Torgerson said. “It’s hard to find homes for them. They were lucky in this case.”

Good Lord. He's just as dumb. They were lucky. THEY are the only lucky ones in this whole crap story. WE are the potential victims. WE are the ones who will suffer if and when this wolf hybrid gets loose or is sold or is stolen. Thurston County should have done whatever they needed to do to get a judge to order the dog be put to sleep. 

Torgerson said tests confirm that the female is 100 percent wolf, and the male is a malamute. That makes the puppies a wolf-dog hybrid.

“In this state, wolf hybrids are considered to be dogs, but they behave differently than dogs in many situations,” Torgerson said.

It’s not legal in Washington to privately own or breed wolves.

But the animals’ former owner, Rick Miracle, said the female, named Cheyenne, isn’t a full-blooded wolf. He calls her a “high-content wolf-dog,” and said that her wolf content is so high that the dog portion wouldn’t register on a test. He said that Cheyenne isn’t mean, she’s just extremely food-motivated.

“She’s not aggressive in a mean way,” Miracle said. “She just liked food.”

He believes that the boy was trying to feed Cheyenne a piece of pizza when he was attacked.

The malamute is named Ed, he said.

A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office report says deputies responded to Miracle’s home, located on the 7000 block of Meridian Road Southeast, at about 3:15 p.m. April 3. Multiple people had called 911 and reported that an animal had bitten off a child’s arm.

The boy was flown to Harborview Medical Center and survived his injuries. Information about the boy is limited because he is a minor. However, the Sheriff’s Office report requested that Child Protective Services be contacted regarding the incident.

“Entering the property, I could see that there was a large wooden cage with metal wiring just outside of the main entrance of the property, inside the fenced area,” wrote Deputy Evan Cofer in his report.

“Inside the cage were two wolf/malamute breed dogs. At the entrance to the cage was a large amount of blood where one of the two animals has bitten (the child’s) lower right arm off. There was a blood trail from the cage leading into the house.”

Miracle told deputies he had been renting a room to the boy and his mother, a 31-year-old Thurston County woman. The woman reported that she was in her bedroom at the time of the attack, and she thought one of the other tenants was watching the child. The other tenant had been in her own bedroom, according to the report.

No adults witnessed the attack.

Miracle told deputies that he warned both the child and his mother to stay away from the cage, according to court documents.

Ed and Cheyenne, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, spent all of their time in a large enclosure on Miracle’s property. Their former owner said it wasn’t because they posed a risk to humans.

“It’s not that I think my dogs are dangerous,” Miracle said. “It’s that they’re animals. An animal is unpredictable no matter what.”

However, Miracle said he has a German shepherd that is allowed to roam his property.

Ed and Cheyenne aren’t the first of Miracle’s animals to end up at a sanctuary. Angel, Zoe and Lakota reside at Wolf Haven International, located near Tenino. State law allows wolves to reside at sanctuaries like Wolf Haven.

Wolfhaven’s website describes Lakota as a “male gray wolf who was privately owned in Washington state. After he escaped from his backyard enclosure and ran through a nearby town, Lakota was nearly euthanized.”

A blog post penned by Wolfhaven’s Communications Director Kim Young and Sanctuary Director Wendy Spencer explains that both Angel and Zoe were rescued from “deplorable conditions” earlier this year.

The post alleges that Angel was purchased by a local wolf-dog breeder, and that he decided to “get rid of her” after she went six years without producing offspring. Zoe was the runt of an unrelated half-wolf litter and was housed with her mother. The two animals fought for dominance, the post says.

Miracle said the animals were his, and he always took good care of them. He said he gave Angel, Zoe and Lakota to Wolf Haven “because they really wanted them.”

But why breed wolf-dogs? Miracle said he had one as a boy, and it was a wonderful animal. When he moved from Georgia to Washington state several years ago, breeding wolf-dogs seemed like the right fit.

“When I think of the Northwest, I think of living free and John Denver,” Miracle said. “My intention was never to be the guy who stuck out like a sore thumb and got all this attention.”

(The Olympian - June 17, 2017)

Earlier:

• Washington: Escaped wolf hybrid back in Thurston County home 
• Washington: Boy, 3, loses his arm after being mauled by 'WOLF hybrids' his family have been breeding

Wisconsin: Patricia Kirker, 52, accused of hoarding/breeding wolf hybrids, letting puppies be eaten and dead animals being eaten by hungry animals

WISCONSIN -- A 52-year-old Crandon woman accused of 156 counts of animal abuse allegedly allowed puppies to be eaten by dogs while her home contained up to 2 feet of dog feces on the floor.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by Newsline 9, a woman who knows Patricia Kirker and is familiar with the conditions of the home said, "Adult dogs are trying to kill any (puppy) litter that is not theirs and the mothers are left to protect them alone."

Two women, ages 50 and 53 and unnamed in the complaint, provided details of what investigators called deplorable conditions.

The women reported three puppies being killed by other dogs and one eaten, two horses being kept in a trailer for more than three weeks, dogs eating on a horse carcass in a horse pen, at least four horses and one pony died on the property since summer 2016, and dogs terrorizing the neighborhood, cornering one woman's 83-year-old mother and killing her cat.

 

The Forest County Sheriff's Department, with help from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, seized nearly 40 wolf dogs (wolf hybrids) and some sickly horses from the property on Highway S March 17.

Some dead animals were also found.

 

Three days before the seizure, Kirker was charged in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the county jail.

Kirker was charged Wednesday with six felony counts of mistreatment of animals causing death and 150 misdemeanor counts of intentionally mistreating animals, failure to provide them food and failure to provide them water. Her preliminary hearing is May 3.

 

(WSAU - April 20, 2017)

Earlier:

• Wisconsin: Officials seize wolf-dog hybrids and horses in animal cruelty case

Washington: Boy, 3, loses his arm after being mauled by 'WOLF hybrids' his family have been breeding

WASHINGTON -- A three-year-old boy from Washington state had one of his arms amputated after he was severely mauled by wolf-dog hybrids his family have been breeding.

The toddler was viciously attacked by the animals when he walked into the yard of his family's home in Olympia on Monday afternoon and stuck his hand into one of the kennels, Thurston County Sheriff's Office said.

At least one of the canines bit the child on the hand and forearm, according to officials.

The boy's mother, who was inside the house but unaware that her son had gone outside, then called 911.

Deputies responded to the property and found the young boy suffering from serious injuries.

The victim was then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he underwent a traumatic arm amputation and was listed in stable condition.

On Wednesday morning he was listed in a stable condition, according to Q13Fox.

Thurston County Animal Services and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the home and took away the family's two suspected wolf hybrids.

This is not the first time that one of the family’s wolfdogs has attacked someone.

In 2013, the station KIRO7 reported that a 140-pound wolf-dog hybrid named Lakota jumped a fence on the property and attacked a German Shepherd that also lived with the family.

Lakota's owner, Rich Mircale, was eventually able to corral the aggressive animal.

'I wouldn't say it's a danger to the community. I would say animals are animals and they just need to be contained a little better,' he told the station after Lakota's capture.

In the wake of the incident, the canine narrowly avoided being euthanized and was later resettled at Wolf Haven International, reported the Seattle Times.

Officials at the sanctuary said Lakota is so aggressive that they do not allow anyone in his pen.

Under Washington state law, private citizens are allowed to keep and even breed wolf-dog hybrids with up to 98 per cent wolf DNA, but not purebred wolves.

According to officials at the Tenino-based wolf sanctuary, DNA tests showed that Lakota and other canines Rich Mircale's family had used in the past for breeding purposes were 100 per cent wolves.

It is unclear whether the two animals linked to Monday’s mauling were full wolves or hybrids.

Diane Gallegos, executive director at Wolf Haven International, told Q13Fox the sanctuary is currently caring for three of Miracle's wolfdogs, and according to her, two of them are purebred wolves.

Gallegos said she and her associates have been trying to stop the Olympia family from breeding wolfdogs for years without success.

‘It was a time-bomb waiting to happen,’ said Wendy Spencer, who runs the wolf rescue.

Following Monday’s attack, the two suspected wolfdogs (wolf hybrids) have been placed under quarantine pending testing.

If it is determined that they are purebred wolves, the animals will not be returned to their owners.

 

“A lot of times what happens, people think they are going to get the best of both worlds but often they end up with the worst traits, they end up with a predator who is not afraid of humans and that is a really dangerous combination,” said Wendy Spencer, who runs the sanctuary at Wolf Haven International.

Besides breeding wolf hybrids for sale, the family own a construction business specializing in tiny houses.

A simple search for Olympia Washington wolfdogs showed several ads listing puppies for $1,000 each.

MiracleWood Tiny Home Construction - Yelp

TWO MONTHS AGO THEY STARTED A FUNDRAISER ASKING FOR $10,000 IN DONATIONS

GoFundMe: MiracleWood Fire Disaster Fund
Created February 13, 2017
Angela Wood
  OLYMPIA, WA

Richard Miracle and Angela Wood (MiracleWood) from Olympia, WA are absorbing over $100,000 of damages caused by a fire that occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 6th, 2017.  This family desperately needs your help!  The family’s income stems from Richard’s work as a contractor, and Angela’s work as a Special Education teacher.  They also raise German Shepherds and Wolf hybrids to supplement their income substantially.  Unfortunately, Richard’s work shop and kennel area engulfed in flames, causing them to lose all of their work tools, and building resources (for construction). The Thurston County Fire department suspects ARSON, as the cause of fire, which is devastating, because Richard’s tools of the trade were destroyed and their only female German shepherd family dog, along with her litter of 9 died in the fire.  The family is without any type of insurance that would help to offset this financial and emotional loss.  Richard is unable to earn an income without his tools.

Richard Miracle, a long-time tiny home contractor well known throughout Thurston County, lost an estimated $80,000 worth of tools, artwork, building materials and an additional $20,000 in livestock (AKC registered Czech German Shepherds).  The shop/kennel building, itself had been built by him over the last 5 years using scrap/recycled materials from jobsites. The shop was utilized to store tools, provide custom work for customers, paint, repair, and build for a variety of jobsites.  Richard is unable to work within his occupational trade, due to this horrific loss.  The family would like to replace tools such as: basic hand tools, drills, tile saws, saws, blowers, table saws, generators, paint, fixtures etc.

The MiracleWood family also supplemented their income by raising AKC Czech German Shepherds, and Wolf Hybrids.  When the shop/kennel caught fire, the family’s dog and her litter of 9 pups lost their lives.  Each puppy was a potential income ranging from $1500-$2000 each.  But worse than that, the family dog (Mama Meeka) died trying to shelter her pups.  This was especially traumatic for Angela who had the strongest bond with Meeka.  The fire was put out before it reached the Wolf Hybrid mama and her 7 pups, which is a blessing.

Thousands of dollars (in dump fees alone) is needed just to dispose of damaged items caused by the fire.  The family would like to replace basic tools so that Richard may continue with his occupational trade.  They would also like to rebuild the kennel area, so that future dogs can be protected from the outside elements.  They would like to invest in a camera security system to prevent things like this happening in the future, since the fire department believes the fire started due to arson.

Please consider a donation to this family so that they may begin with the cleanup process, replace tools of the trade, and provide adequate shelter for their wonderful animals.  I have attached pictures of animals that have come from the MiracleWood family, as well as before and after (fire) photos of the property.   Thank-you.

Then there's this weird exchange on his Facebook page:

(Daily Mail - April 4, 2017)

Earlier:

• Washington: Escaped wolf hybrid back in Thurston County home 

Colorado: Dog Seized For Being ‘Part Wolf’ Finally Allowed To Return Home

COLORADO -- A pet dog that made international headlines after being seized from his family and accused of being part wolf is finally being allowed to return home.

Animal control officials in Aurora, Colorado, picked up the dog, named Capone, in February after he hopped his backyard fence and a neighbor complained. Officials refused to return him to his family, saying Capone’s appearance and demeanor indicated he could be a dog-wolf hybrid, outlawed in Aurora.

Owner Tracey Abbato said the allegation was ridiculous. She said she adopted Capone 10 years ago from a county shelter, where she was told he was a German shepherd mix. But even so, animal control officers wouldn’t return him without a DNA test. This week, Capone’s owners received the good news that a DNA test determined he was just a regular dog.

“He doesn’t have an ounce of wolf in him,” Abbato told KDVR on Sunday after learning of the test results.

However, there were still a couple of other issues. For one thing, the neighbor who complained about Capone said he was “acting aggressively” toward her in her yard, Aurora Animal Services spokesman Michael Bryant told HuffPost. That allegation, combined with Capone’s escape, led to several charges against his owners.

On Wednesday, Capone’s owners reached an agreement with the city, Bryant said. The city dropped charges of keeping an aggressive animal and keeping an exotic/wild animal. Capone’s owners pleaded guilty to having a dog running at large, not having a dog license and not having up-to-date rabies vaccinations.

Capone was freed, and returned home Wednesday after receiving a license and a rabies shot. His owners are required to construct a six-foot fence around their yard, and to confine Capone inside — or keep him on a leash — until it’s completed.

“We believe this resolution strikes a balance between keeping the family and their longtime pet together, and addressing the safety of the community as a whole,” Animal Services manager Jenee Shipman said in a statement.

She added that the department has “appreciated the outpouring of concern for Capone.”

I think they may have dropped the "aggressive animal" charge - not because the dog wasn't perceived as being aggressive while it was running loose, but because of the whole case blowing up. They could have DNA tested the dog and released it back to the owner with judge's order to comply with the results (sending to a sanctuary/rescue if the results were positive for wolf mixture). My point is, don't discount a witness' claim just because they weren't bitten/mauled and because you read that they 'dropped' the aggressive dog charge, which would have let them keep the dog but with restrictions. 

This video shows how scary it can be to be attacked by a dog. I don't think the officer in the video was bitten, but having large dogs chasing you, jumping on you and trying to bite can be terrifying. 




(Huffington Post - March 23, 2017)

Earlier:

• Colorado: Aurora holds family’s dog while running DNA test to determine if it’s a wolf hybrid
• Colorado: DNA test shows Aurora dog not a wolf, despite animal control belief

Colorado: DNA test shows Aurora dog not a wolf, despite animal control belief

COLORADO -- Tracy Abbato says DNA results show her dog Capone is not part wolf as Aurora Animal Control suspected.

“The results came back NEGATIVE. Not an ounce of wolf,” Abbato told Denver7.

City of Aurora spokesman Michael Bryant said he couldn’t comment on the DNA test because Capone is mired in an ongoing legal case. Capone will remain at the Aurora Animal Shelter until a court can determine whether he goes home.

The dog’s owners were charged with keeping a wild, exotic or dangerous animal, which was related to suspicion the dog was a wolf hybrid.

While a DNA test might have proven that Capone is 100 percent dog, his owners still face charges of keeping an aggressive or dangerous animal, allowing him to roam at large, failure to obtain an animal license and failing to make sure the dog had a rabies vaccine.

Tito Serrano, who co-owns the dog with Abbato, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Bryant said.

Bryant said the dog was picked up because it was running at large and acting aggressively. Animal Control ordered the DNA test after the department’s animal experts observed his physical characteristics and believed them to be consistent with those of a wolf hybrid.

If the tests had determined the dog was a wolf hybrid, it would not have been returned to the family because Aurora city ordinance prohibits exotic animals.

A disposition hearing scheduled for Aurora Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday could decide if the dog goes home or remains at the shelter pending a trial that would be set at a later date. The hearing will determine whether public safety can be assured if Capone is returned home, Bryant said.

If not, the court could order Capone surrendered to Animal Services. Bryant said it is too early to predict whether that would lead to the dog being euthanized.

(The Denver Post - March 20, 2017)

Earlier:

• Colorado: Aurora holds family’s dog while running DNA test to determine if it’s a wolf hybrid

Wisconsin: Officials seize wolf-dog hybrids and horses in animal cruelty case against Patricia Kirker

WISCONSIN -- More than 40 animals living in "deplorable conditions" were seized from a property in northern Wisconsin, officials said.

Photos taken Friday morning show specialists with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, working with the horses and wolf-dogs (aka wolf hybrids) on a property in Crandon, about 26 miles east of Rhinelander in Forest County, according to a news release.

 

The owner (Patricia Kirker, Patty Kirker, Patti Kirker) was arrested on cruelty-related charges, and other charges are possible, the ASPCA said.

Officials went to the property to investigate complaints from residents about the owner breeding wolf-dog hybrids on her property and animals frequently escaping, posing a public safety risk.

Members of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team found wolf-dog hybrids living in deplorable conditions, many kept on chains without access to proper food or water and suffering from various untreated medical conditions, according to the news release. Some were found running loose on the property.

 

Responders also discovered horses who appeared to be suffering from neglect and malnutrition.

The ASPCA said dead animals were also found on the property.

Sheriff John Dennee said the department had been concerned about the animals for "quite some time," and he wanted to make sure the case was handled properly.

“We’re stepping in because the basic mental, social and physical needs of these animals are not being fulfilled and they are suffering from a very poor quality of life,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response.

 

Rickey said the organization will work through the weekend to remove the animals and provide medical care at an emergency shelter. The ASPCA is setting humane traps to capture some of the loose wolf-dogs and take them to the shelter.

A wolf-dog hybrid is part dog and part wolf—the result of breeding a wolf with a domestic dog. Most wolf-dog hybrids are extremely timid and unpredictable, making them generally unsuitable and potentially dangerous pets.

In Wisconsin, individuals who own wolf-dog hybrids are required to obtain a license and meet minimum requirements for animal care, confinement, reporting and record keeping.

 

"However these regulations are largely unenforced," the ASPCA said in the release.

The ASPCA said it will provide daily care, behavioral evaluations and enrichment for the animals until their future is determined by the court.

The Dane County Humane Society and the Wisconsin Horse Council assisted the ASPCA and the sheriff's office with removing the animals.

  

 

(Channel3000 - March 17, 2017)

Update to case:

• Wisconsin: Patricia Kirker, 52, accused of hoarding/breeding wolf hybrids, letting puppies be eaten and dead animals being eaten by hungry animals

Colorado: Aurora holds family’s dog while running DNA test to determine if it’s a wolf hybrid

COLORADO -- An Aurora family may lose their family pet of 10 years if DNA tests show the dog is a wolf hybrid.

Tracy Abbato said her dog, Capone, was picked up by animal control after he wandered into a neighbor’s yard. She doesn’t believe he’s a wolf and wants him back.

“Capone is a family member. We’ve had him for 10 years. He has grown up with my kids; it’s devastating,” said Abbato.

Animal Control in Aurora said the dog was picked up because it was running at large and acting aggressively. If tests determine the dog is a wolf hybrid, it cannot be returned to the family because Aurora city ordinance prohibits exotic animals.

“Aurora Animal Services ordered the DNA test after its experts observed the animal’s behavior, mannerisms and physical characteristics and believed them to be consistent with those of a wolf hybrid. If the animal is confirmed to be a wolf hybrid and a judge grants ownership to Aurora Animal Services, the primary goal would be to locate a sanctuary that specializes in such animals and can provide the animal with a new home.” animal services said in a statement.

“Aurora Animal Services is committed to balancing the needs of people and animals in the city of Aurora by providing humane shelter, treatment and placement of animals, and part of that mission involves enforcing the city’s animal laws. We hope there will be an amicable resolution to this case, and the shelter is committed to providing quality care to all animals it serves.”

(The Denver Post - March 15, 2017)