Shelby and Riley, a pair of dogs owned by Dawn and Ken Minard were found guilty of barking at James Vernon Gardiner on July 18, 2008 when he was riding his bike past the dogs. Gardiner stated that he was afraid of the dogs and proceeded to spray them with a water bottle and warded them off with sticks while he shielded himself with his bike. The dog's barking became aggressive in nature and Gardiner, who was not injured, filed a complaint.
The Minard family paid the fines ($275) for civil infraction tickets issued by Gail Foguth, Crawford County Animal Control Officer. That was obviously not enough and the dogs were seized and placed into the Crawford County Animal Control shelter where they have remained now for the past 14 months, at the tax payers expense.
Crawford County Chief District/Probate Court Judge Monte J. Burmeister handed down a verdict of dangerous dog and ordered that the pair be euthanized. They were slated to die for their crime in barking at Gardiner on December 18, 2008 but the Minard family has been fighting for the life of their dogs through the appeal process.
An evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 to decide Shelby and Riley's final fate.
Shelby and Riley are not coonhounds. They are of a pit type. They have been stated to have been pit bulls and they have been called staffordshire terriers. In any case, if dogs are able to be euthanized for barking at someone, how long before it is a coonhound?
For more information read the article on the Crawford County Avalance Newspaper's website.
Comments
The owners of the dogs need to round up LOTS of public opposition. This is ridiculous but they try to do it to pits everywhere and it seems public outrage is the best defense. A veterinary behaviorist evaluating the dogs and asserting that they are not dangerous would do wonders too.
Glad you are reporting it.
Until dogs pay mortgages and rents, human needs trump dog needs every time. Dogs have no business around human dwellings. It's time we figure out who comes first: humans. Dogs are guests around human dwellings and as such, must behave. Dogs cause much unrest, disquiet and dis-ease. Get them far away. Dogs are unwanted. People think "Love me, love my dog." Well, sorry, bye to both of you. There comes a time when certain dogs' behaviors are outrageous enough that they have to be euthanized. And the dog owners fined thousands of dollars. And thrown in jail. Dogs need banishing. If dogs can't behave to standards of decency, they belong far, far away from humans where they can't spread their un-ease among human populations. Dogs cause illness in neighbors, who are those poor unfortunate souls who by no fault of their own live near dog-owning ignoramuses.
This is unbelieveable. A dog is barking and the dog is considered dangerous? Ridiculous. Oh and Laurence, you need help, professional help. As MA is paying for everything, no excuse to not seek out a professional for counseling with your fear of the natural world. This is America. We allow dogs in our lives and our abodes. Go back to where you came from if you don't like this.
Laurence.. I will personally pay for a one way ticket to any dogless place you care to move to..PLEASE take me up on this.. and leave .. you seem like hermit type.. so GO AWAY... how about Saudi Arabia..or any major Muslim country.. dogs are worthless to them.. or perhaps you already know that "Laurence" Bye to both of us?? I think not.. YOU will be the one leaving..
Laurence Whats your address?
This is just ridiculous. The dogs only barked. That's what dogs do! And then the guy provokes them; I'm sure that helped. You would think people would have just an iota of education about how to act around dogs. I pray these people get their non-dangerous dogs back as soon as possible. How inhumane to kennel them away from their family for so long... And Laurence, one can only pity someone like you that has obviously never known the joy of owning dogs and other pets. Cause illness in neighbors? You have got to be kidding! I am glad that in this country people like you are ignored. If you don't like living in this country that loves their dogs, move. The countries that don't like dogs are a perfect place for you to live. Be ready to give up all your basic rights, though.
I'd really to hear the final outcome of what seems to be an improperly handled situation.
I am too much of a lady to write what I would like to tell Gardiner. I cannot even imagine how barking dogs can get them put to sleep.My neighbors make a bunch of noise that is above the decebils permitted, but I let it go.I never report it and COULD. Gardiner is a dog hater and the dogs know it. I gladly would be in support of AJ Tyne's idea. thank you for reporting such an outrageous event.
As a cyclist myself, I understand how unsettling it can be to have dogs barking at and/or chasing you. However, it's seldom really dangerous. Dogs are territorial by nature and will bark at "invaders" to warn them away from their territory. Some dogs also see chasing cyclists as a game and assume the cyclist is playing with them. Usually they give up quickly, but if not, a quick spray with a water bottle is a harmless way to discourage the more persistent ones. Dismounting and walking with the bike between you and the dogs as a shield also usually calms the dog and makes him think he's "won the contest." If these measures don't work, there's a pepper spray product called "Halt" that's made especially for discouraging dogs without causing permanent harm. I carry a can when I cycle as a "last resort" but have never needed to use it. The most I've ever had to do is to get off the bike and walk past. In any event, killing dogs just for barking is a ridiculous overreaction.
Illegal Confiscation and Euthanasia without "Due Process" is the norm for current Animal Law in most states. This family needs an Attorney and needs to read my article "Due Process in Animal Law...Questions and Answers" on AssociatedContentDotCom to have additional info. to DEFEND their dogs in court.
Were the dogs in their own yards or running loose?
The reason this law is even on the books is due to animal rights zealots. Next your kids will have to be euthanized for failing to be spayed or neutered. These people hate human beings and hate dogs. You can tell by Laurence's letter that he is a dog hater. Dogs need banishing says it all from his perspective. Well Laurence you can go live somewhere else and take HSUS and PETA and THLN with you as these jerks also hate animals.
I am so frustrated with the way the world views pit bulls. So many people want to believe that these dogs are vicious monsters, so that is what the media reports. We don't hear about all the other dog bites and attacks in Hampton Roads. People don't take the time to look at the facts. Pit bulls are wonderful dogs and GREAT with children! Although the dogs' owners should have had them fenced or in the house, barking is certainly not a eutenizable offense. they didn't even bite the guy!
I have never understood why nervous people think waving a stick at a dog will make it go away. Why not wave a cookie at it or a squeaky toy.
I think Mr. James Vernon Gardiner was a bigger threat to the dogs than the dogs to Gardiner. A lot of dogs bark at people and most of the time it's to tell their owners that someone is comming. I would have lost my dogs a long time ago if they were judged by their barking. I feel he aggravated these dogs by spraying them and then threatening them with his bike and a stick. Again, proof that people panick and assume the worst just because the dogs are muscular. I think Mr. James Vernon Gardiner was a bigger threat to the dogs than the dogs to Gardiner. Again, public histeria!
So, that would mean virtually every dog in my town should be euthanized. They all bark. When I'm taking my dogs for a walk, I know just which houses to expect to hear barking at. And, when my dogs are in our securely fenced yard, they'll bark at other dogs walking by. From what I get from this article, the dogs barked and then were provoked by the kid, who sprayed water on them and shook sticks at them. Even the most gentle dog can become provoked in a case like this. Doesn't the kid have any remorse for having his words put these poor dogs on death row? A barking dog...unless it's been aggressive and actually bit someone, does NOT deserve to die because it barked.
Whether the dogs were in their yard or out in the street seems a moot point. (besides the family paid all fines incured).
Didn't the biker think quirting waterand throwing sticks at 2 barking dogs just might increase aggression? By the way what was the age of the biker? Were there any eye-witnesses or was it just the biker's word?
Usually just yelling at a dog will make it turn and run or just get off the bike and walk it past them (the biker must have been off the bike to heave been able to throw sticks which would lead me to suspect he may have done more than what he admits too to the dogs to cause them to become "aggressive", which if they had been aggressive they would have biten or scratched him...his story sounds a bit far fetched to me).
Most dogs do bark at bikes...mine do. I believe the wheels are what they bark at and sometimes the person on the bike. They're dogs for goodness sakes.
The fact a judge handed down such a harsh sentence to barking dogs is just nonsense.
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