Kelso, WA - Lug and Marley, German shepherds, are quarantined at the Cowlitz County Humane Society after biting a woman who walked into their home while their owner was away.
The dogs have been labeled "potentially dangerous" and it will be up to a judge to determine their fate - live or die.
It is stunning that these dogs have been impounded. The woman who was "attacked", Elizabeth Elder, walked into the dogs' home - knowing that the owner was not there.
Apparently Elder is a friend of the dogs' owner, Ingrid Sacha.
It seems that Elder took the familiarity which friendship offered a step too far when she entered Sacha's home in November, even though her friend was not there.
The dogs bit Elder on the legs, hands and face - enough that she required stitches. Elder believes that the dogs are dangerous and should be destroyed.
German shepherd owners appreciate the protective nature of the breed. Often, shepherds are chosen specifically because they are the type of dogs known to defend both family and home.
Lug and Marley did what most German shepherds would do - they attacked an intruder who entered their home when their guardian was not present. They defended their area.
It seems that prior history with Ingrid Sacha might be to blame. According to KATU News, Sacha has a history of allowing her dogs (7 German shepherds) to run free.
In fact, in the past several months, the woman has been fined several times for allowing her dogs to run loose.
Sadly, this is an owner responsibility issue rather than a dog issue. If dogs are allowed to run free, they will.
But to punish two dogs for defending their own home from an intruder? That is a different story altogether.
It should not be a crime if a dog bites someone who enters (un-invited) a dog's home. An attack on an intruder does not make a dog "dangerous".
If these dogs are destroyed, it will be a travesty of justice.
The judge will make a decision in two weeks - hopefully this judge will see reason and punish those who are truly responsible.
Read more here.
Video link here.
Note: The German shepherd featured in the photo which accompanies this story is not a dog from this story. This is Noir, a dog available for adoption in Washington State. Please read Noir's Petfinder profile at this link.
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