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May
16, 2006
Two
neighbors - one who owned a dog named Bubbles and one who shot her
- are headed for court.
The dog's owner, Abdou Jallow, on Saturday received a notice of
a complaint filed by his neighbor, who alleges that Jallow allowed
his dog to terrorize him.
Also Saturday, the neighbor, Ron Harden, received a notice of a
complaint filed by Jallow, alleging that shooting the dog was animal
cruelty. Harden said in an interview Friday that he was frightened
by the dog and shot her because he thought she was attacking him.
Both men are scheduled to appear in Kansas City Municipal Court
at 1:30 p.m. July 6.
Meanwhile, the city ticketed Jallow for two ordinance violations:failure
to have a license for the dog and allowing her to run loose.Each
carries a fine of about $100.
Neither man responded to telephone calls Monday from The Star.
Bubbles, a 1-year-old Lab/shar-pei mix, got loose from her backyard
tether Thursday afternoon. Jallow said his dog had escaped before
but always came back when he turned on the lawnmower. Concerned
when Bubbles didn't appear, Jallow got in his car to look for her.
Harden, a retired police officer who lives a block and a half away,
was mowing his yard when the 45-pound dog approached him. Fearful
that the dog was trying to bite him, Harden ran into his house,
grabbed his handgun and called animal control. While he waited,
he said, he saw the dog lunge and bark at his neighbor. Harden ran
out with his weapon. When Bubbles saw Harden, she ran straight toward
him. He jumped in his pickup but then got out. She came at him again,
and he shot her once.
The bottom line, said Lesly Forsberg, assistant division manager
for animal health and public safety in Kansas City, is that owners
are ultimately responsible.
"I don't recommend keeping a dog on a chain. Ever," she
said, adding that dogs are clever and will learn how to escape.
"Besides, when they're on a chain, people can wander in, and
the dog can become aggressive. Or another animal can approach the
dog, and the dog can't get away, and it'll get aggressive.
"... There are too many ways for a dog to get into trouble."
Tethered dogs also can choke themselves, she said.
"Keep
your dog restrained or confined in a dog run, including one with
a roof for those dogs that love to jump," she said.
To reach Lee Hill Kavanaugh, call (816) 234-4420 or send e-mail
to lkavanaugh@kcstar.com .
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