Michigan: MI: Hearing planned in dog attack at beach Hearing planned in dog attack at beach
Wednesday, August 15, 2007By Lisa Medendorp
Press News Service
MUSKEGON -- A court hearing has been set for Aug. 21 to determine whether two large dogs that attacked and killed a small dog on a Lake Michigan beach will be destroyed.
Muskegon County Undersheriff Dean Roesler said Tuesday he is meeting with the prosecutor's office to review the case to determine if any other action, in addition to the citations already issued, will be taken.
The incident occurred Aug. 4 around 9 a.m. at Lloyd's Landing -- the public right of way that leads from Old Channel Trail to Lake Michigan in White River Township.
Former Montague resident Nancy Hoos, who now lives in Maryland, was visiting the area. She and her sister, Suzanne Pearce, of Saginaw, were walking Hoos' Australian terrier, Sydney, when they encountered the other dogs, Roesler said.
He said Patricia Gancer, of Battle Creek, who was renting a cottage in the area, was walking her two dogs. One was a pit bull terrier she had on a retractable leash, and the other was a chow-Labrador mix that was unleashed.
The chow-Lab went after the terrier. "He grabbed Sydney by the throat," Roesler said.
Pearce was able to get the chow-Lab off the little dog, but "then the pit bull lunged in and grabbed Sydney by his midsection and started shaking him," Roesler said.
The terrier was taken to an emergency animal clinic in Grand Rapids but had to be euthanized because of its injuries.
Pearce suffered bite wounds to her hand, and Gancer sustained injuries when she tried to intervene, Roesler said.
The dogs were unlicensed, and the pit bull had not been vaccinated for rabies, Roesler said.
Police used a search warrant on Aug. 6 to seize the dogs from the cottage where Gancer was staying. The pit bull will be under observation for 10 days for signs of rabies.
Roesler said his department is trying to learn more about the history of the dogs to see if there have been any other similar incidents. If so, that may result in charges against the owner.
Gancer already has been cited for not having the dogs licensed. In addition, a White River Township ordinance prohibits pit bulls from being in the township, Roesler said
Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/in...780.xml&coll=6