Post by RealPitBull on Feb 15, 2008 13:38:49 GMT -5
Pit bull case going to judge
Animal bit Keansburg mail carrier
By Jim McConville • KEYPORT BUREAU • February 14, 2008
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KEANSBURG — A Humane Society official plans to recommend to a Municipal Court judge that a pet pit bull terrier that attacked a postal carrier be euthanized, saying that based on its behavior, the dog should not be released back into the public.
The dog, 3-year-old Ruckas, has been in the custody of the Humane Society since Jan. 11, after he attacked and bit Robert Ketch as the postal carrier was delivering mail on Creek Road.
On Feb. 26, Keansburg Municipal Court Judge Michael Pugliese will hear a motion by Stephen Douglas of Creek Road — the dog's owner — to have his dog returned to him. It will be up to Pugliese to decide whether Ruckas can be released to his owners or euthanized.
However, Bruce Sanchez, general manager and chief animal control officer of the Humane Society in Tinton Falls, said that given the circumstances, he will recommend that the dog be euthanized.
"In a situation where a dog has created this much damage while the owner was standing there and the dog got past them, there's no question as to whether or not this is a potentially dangerous dog," Sanchez said.
"This was a vicious attack," Sanchez added. "With a vicious dog, what's recommended is that you euthanize the animal in a humane way."
He has refused to return the dog to his owners, saying that based on the dog's behavior while kept at the Humane Society, he's too dangerous.
"There are days when it is really nice, and then there are other days that for no reason at all, the dog just goes berserk," Sanchez said.
Douglas was unavailable for comment.
According to Ketch's account, the Jan. 11 incident took place just after he had delivered the mail at the Creek Road location. He was heading up the street when he was attacked from behind by the dog, who had escaped through the front door past his owner.
Ketch was able to kick the dog off with his foot, but only after he had sustained bites to both his hands, chest and stomach.
Ketch, 42, a borough resident, appeared before the Keansburg Borough Council on Jan. 22 to ask them to consider a "vicious dog" ordinance.
Ketch said he suffered puncture wounds on both hands, his chest and his stomach. He has not returned to work since the attack.
Ketch, who has filed a lawsuit against Douglas, contends that the dog's owner failed to provide adequate safeguards to prevent the dog from escaping.
Ketch's wife, Kathleen, said there have been two other pit bull attacks — by a different animal — in early January of last year and last summer.
Keansburg Deputy Mayor Drew Murray said other towns have enacted tighter animal control laws, and added he knew of one Monmouth County town that has passed a law restricting one specific animal breed.
Keansburg council members said they are reviewing other towns' animal ordinances and will consider authoring such an ordinance at the Feb. 27 meeting.
Animal bit Keansburg mail carrier
By Jim McConville • KEYPORT BUREAU • February 14, 2008
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080214/NEWS01/802140657/1004/NEWS01
Read Comments(7)Recommend Print this page E-mail this article
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KEANSBURG — A Humane Society official plans to recommend to a Municipal Court judge that a pet pit bull terrier that attacked a postal carrier be euthanized, saying that based on its behavior, the dog should not be released back into the public.
The dog, 3-year-old Ruckas, has been in the custody of the Humane Society since Jan. 11, after he attacked and bit Robert Ketch as the postal carrier was delivering mail on Creek Road.
On Feb. 26, Keansburg Municipal Court Judge Michael Pugliese will hear a motion by Stephen Douglas of Creek Road — the dog's owner — to have his dog returned to him. It will be up to Pugliese to decide whether Ruckas can be released to his owners or euthanized.
However, Bruce Sanchez, general manager and chief animal control officer of the Humane Society in Tinton Falls, said that given the circumstances, he will recommend that the dog be euthanized.
"In a situation where a dog has created this much damage while the owner was standing there and the dog got past them, there's no question as to whether or not this is a potentially dangerous dog," Sanchez said.
"This was a vicious attack," Sanchez added. "With a vicious dog, what's recommended is that you euthanize the animal in a humane way."
He has refused to return the dog to his owners, saying that based on the dog's behavior while kept at the Humane Society, he's too dangerous.
"There are days when it is really nice, and then there are other days that for no reason at all, the dog just goes berserk," Sanchez said.
Douglas was unavailable for comment.
According to Ketch's account, the Jan. 11 incident took place just after he had delivered the mail at the Creek Road location. He was heading up the street when he was attacked from behind by the dog, who had escaped through the front door past his owner.
Ketch was able to kick the dog off with his foot, but only after he had sustained bites to both his hands, chest and stomach.
Ketch, 42, a borough resident, appeared before the Keansburg Borough Council on Jan. 22 to ask them to consider a "vicious dog" ordinance.
Ketch said he suffered puncture wounds on both hands, his chest and his stomach. He has not returned to work since the attack.
Ketch, who has filed a lawsuit against Douglas, contends that the dog's owner failed to provide adequate safeguards to prevent the dog from escaping.
Ketch's wife, Kathleen, said there have been two other pit bull attacks — by a different animal — in early January of last year and last summer.
Keansburg Deputy Mayor Drew Murray said other towns have enacted tighter animal control laws, and added he knew of one Monmouth County town that has passed a law restricting one specific animal breed.
Keansburg council members said they are reviewing other towns' animal ordinances and will consider authoring such an ordinance at the Feb. 27 meeting.