Post by michele5611 on Oct 5, 2012 10:41:02 GMT -5
www.dailyrecord.com/article/20121005/NJNEWS/310050027/Jefferson-pair-given-timeline-to-forfeit-dogs
JEFFERSON TWP. — The owners of two African Boerboel dogs that are deemed “potentially dangerous” have been given a week to decide whether to forfeit the animals to the township or risk their destruction.
Summerwalk Circle residents Susan and Gary Kolb, the owners of two mastiff-type dogs named Jumba and Imani, appeared Thursday night in township Municipal Court for what was supposed to be a hearing on Municipal Prosecutor James LaSala’s motion for forfeiture of the dogs and their humane destruction.
But after conferring with the Kolb’s defense lawyer, Robert Dunn, LaSala told Judge William Bowkley that he understands the strong emotions the Kolbs have for their dogs and will give them until next Thursday to agree to surrender the animals to the township. The township will not seek euthanization if the Kolbs agree, and officials will work with the couple to find an appropriate facility out-of-state to shelter and possibly rehabilitate them of any vicious behaviors, LaSala said.
“I understand the feelings these people have for the dogs,” LaSala said, but added that he also believes firmly that the Kolbs won’t comply with sworn promises to control them as required under the law.
If the Kolbs fight surrender, LaSala said, he would proceed with forfeiture action and humane destruction. LaSala told the judge he didn’t know if this avenue would work, but the township perhaps could relocate the dogs to the same Texas facility that the pit bulls and other dogs pro athlete Michael Vick used in illegal dog fights were treated.
After the hearing, Susan Kolb was effusive with praise for the dogs she described as loving and gentle, and said she expects “to fight” surrender.
“We’re innocent. The dogs are not fighting dogs. Do you really think I would have dangerous dogs? These dogs are bred to protect children. This is not a Michael Vick story,” Susan Kolb said.
The Kolbs, who have said the dogs are companions to their severely-autistic, 19-year-old son Arthur, are the target of the civil forfeiture action because they signed a consent order on Oct. 7, 2011, when they lived in Jersey City that they would always muzzle the dogs if they were out of their enclosure in public. The dogs had injured four people in Jersey City in 2008 and 2009, including biting one man on the arm and a second in the groin.
Less than two weeks after the Kolbs relocated from Jersey City to the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson, Officer Bryan Christie was conducting surveillance and spotted the Kolbs walking the dogs on their required three-foot-long leashes but without muzzles, in their neighborhood. Gary Kolb told Christie that the dogs were unmuzzled in case bears were around, according to a police report.
Christie cited the Kolbs for contempt of the Oct. 7, 2011, court order, and the couple since has been indicted on this charge by a Morris County grand jury. The proposed forfeiture of the dogs is a separate matter from the criminal indictment.
The dogs were impounded by court order on Oct. 26. According to a police report, the Jefferson officers who went to the Kolb home to fetch the animals were told by Gary Kolb that he didn’t have muzzles that fit the dogs.
Township Administrator James Leach said Jefferson has spent at least $10,842 to date on feeding and housing the dogs, first in the municipal pound and then, since Feb. 24, at a private kennel equipped to manage the size and temperament of the animals. LaSala told the judge Thursday that restitution of the care costs would also be sought from the Kolbs.
JEFFERSON TWP. — The owners of two African Boerboel dogs that are deemed “potentially dangerous” have been given a week to decide whether to forfeit the animals to the township or risk their destruction.
Summerwalk Circle residents Susan and Gary Kolb, the owners of two mastiff-type dogs named Jumba and Imani, appeared Thursday night in township Municipal Court for what was supposed to be a hearing on Municipal Prosecutor James LaSala’s motion for forfeiture of the dogs and their humane destruction.
But after conferring with the Kolb’s defense lawyer, Robert Dunn, LaSala told Judge William Bowkley that he understands the strong emotions the Kolbs have for their dogs and will give them until next Thursday to agree to surrender the animals to the township. The township will not seek euthanization if the Kolbs agree, and officials will work with the couple to find an appropriate facility out-of-state to shelter and possibly rehabilitate them of any vicious behaviors, LaSala said.
“I understand the feelings these people have for the dogs,” LaSala said, but added that he also believes firmly that the Kolbs won’t comply with sworn promises to control them as required under the law.
If the Kolbs fight surrender, LaSala said, he would proceed with forfeiture action and humane destruction. LaSala told the judge he didn’t know if this avenue would work, but the township perhaps could relocate the dogs to the same Texas facility that the pit bulls and other dogs pro athlete Michael Vick used in illegal dog fights were treated.
After the hearing, Susan Kolb was effusive with praise for the dogs she described as loving and gentle, and said she expects “to fight” surrender.
“We’re innocent. The dogs are not fighting dogs. Do you really think I would have dangerous dogs? These dogs are bred to protect children. This is not a Michael Vick story,” Susan Kolb said.
The Kolbs, who have said the dogs are companions to their severely-autistic, 19-year-old son Arthur, are the target of the civil forfeiture action because they signed a consent order on Oct. 7, 2011, when they lived in Jersey City that they would always muzzle the dogs if they were out of their enclosure in public. The dogs had injured four people in Jersey City in 2008 and 2009, including biting one man on the arm and a second in the groin.
Less than two weeks after the Kolbs relocated from Jersey City to the Oak Ridge section of Jefferson, Officer Bryan Christie was conducting surveillance and spotted the Kolbs walking the dogs on their required three-foot-long leashes but without muzzles, in their neighborhood. Gary Kolb told Christie that the dogs were unmuzzled in case bears were around, according to a police report.
Christie cited the Kolbs for contempt of the Oct. 7, 2011, court order, and the couple since has been indicted on this charge by a Morris County grand jury. The proposed forfeiture of the dogs is a separate matter from the criminal indictment.
The dogs were impounded by court order on Oct. 26. According to a police report, the Jefferson officers who went to the Kolb home to fetch the animals were told by Gary Kolb that he didn’t have muzzles that fit the dogs.
Township Administrator James Leach said Jefferson has spent at least $10,842 to date on feeding and housing the dogs, first in the municipal pound and then, since Feb. 24, at a private kennel equipped to manage the size and temperament of the animals. LaSala told the judge Thursday that restitution of the care costs would also be sought from the Kolbs.