CHIPPEWA FALLS -- After several months of delays in court, Chippewa Falls city officials seized an American bulldog determined to be dangerous and euthanized it Thursday.
"It is not a victory," Mayor Greg Hoffman said. "It's a sad day when you have to put a dog down. But I have to focus on the safety of the citizens."
Chippewa Falls city attorney Bob Ferg obtained a court order from Chippewa County Judge Jim Isaacson on Wednesday allowing the city to seize and kill a 6-year-old bulldog named Shay. Police went to a village of Lake Hallie home Wednesday and obtained the dog from its owner, Ferg said. It was then taken to Lake Wissota Animal Hospital.
The City Council filed a lawsuit in October after Shay bit a 6-year-old boy June 6, then attacked another dog Sept. 24. At that time, the dog lived at 209 W. Columbia St. with Mauro Martinez, 38, and Ashley Brown, 20.
On Feb. 14 Isaacson decided the dog should be euthanized after determining it had attacked others and that the dog's owner, Martinez, knew about it.
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The city spent $179 in court fees pursuing euthanizing the dog, and a veterinary bill will add to that cost. It remains unclear whether the city will charge Martinez for those costs.
Cindy Eckes, 39, 410 Superior St., told the City Council in October that she was walking her dog past 209 W. Columbia St. at 10:50 a.m. Sept. 24 when two dogs at that address dug under a fence and attacked her 2-year-old yellow Labrador, Sandy.
Several people ran over and helped pull the canines off Sandy, Eckes said, noting she kicked both dogs a couple of times to get them away from her pet, but they charged back at her dog.
The civil lawsuit states Eckes asked Martinez to call off his dogs, but Martinez responded by swearing at her.
Vetter can be reached at 715-723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com .
(c)2012 the Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wis.)
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