Brandon Twp.- Police pepper sprayed a menacing dog Tuesday, marking the second time in less than three weeks they’ve encountered an unrestrained, threatening animal.
Sgt. Pete Burkett said a K-9 deputy responded to a township home Sept. 2 on a juvenile complaint. Upon the deputy’s arrival, a mixed breed/boxer dog appeared.
‘The dog came barreling out of the garage, jumped up on the patrol car and was biting at the glass,? said Burkett. ‘She didn’t get out of the car and called for backup and animal control.?
Burkett, along with Detective Chris Pacholski and Deputy Gary Godschalk responded. When Burkett opened his door, the dog charged and he sprayed the animal with pepper spray. The dog then retreated, but charged again, prompting Burkett and Pacholski to spray it again. As they were doing so, the dog’s owner arrived and secured the animal.
‘Fortunately, no one was hurt and the homeowners were put on notice to keep the animal secure,? Burkett said. ‘This is the perfect example of a territorial animal, but instead of a deputy, it could have been anyone? a UPS driver, the paper boy, or a neighbor and the dog would have attacked.?
Burkett noted that on Aug. 16, deputies responded to a home in the 2600 block of Perry Lake Road after a complainant reported his neighbor’s pit bull was loose. The owner in that instance was not at home, and when the deputy arrived, the dog stood in an aggressive stance outside the patrol car before finally retreating. The owner, who has four grown pit bulls and five puppies, was ultimately cited for having a dog at large and owning an unlawful number of dogs. Burkett said both the owner of the pit bulls and the owner of the boxer are examples of not being a responsible owner.
Coincidentally, the township board approved the first reading of a reinstatement ordinance for animal control on Tuesday. Township Supervisor Ron Lapp said passage of the ordinance would mean violators could be charged with a misdemeanor instead of simply being cited for a civil infraction. Penalties could include a fine up to $100, or 90 days in jail.
‘Hopefully, it will make the people a little more responsible and if they can’t be, they will be ticketed and there will be a harsher penalty,? Burkett said.