Family: Dog that bit boy should be put down
By BILL RODGERS / Tribune Chronicle
POSTED: May 13, 2008
Article Photos
The family said Kyle Showers, 9, was walking home from a friend’s house Friday night past a dog pen at 84 Trumbull Court when Bear, a 2-year-old German shepherd-Rottweiler mix, attacked.
‘‘The dog jumped the fence and grabbed my face,’’ Kyle said Monday, scratching around the edges of a bandage on his neck.
Donna Shetterly, the dog’s owner, was cited by police. She and another woman said that Bear is up to date on vaccination shots, but they could not provide the papers to police, according to a police report.
Shetterly said she was in court Monday morning, but declined further comment. The Newton Falls Municipal Court Web site was not updated with the case information and a message seeking more information was left with court staff Monday.
While Kyle was being interviewed outside his home Monday, a man in a T-shirt came out of the neighboring house, leading Bear around by the collar. He yelled that Kyle hit the fence with his coat.
Kyle’s mother, Karen Showers, yelled back from her driveway that Kyle wasn’t wearing a coat that day. Kyle claimed he did not touch the fence.
According to the police report, the dog was ordered to be quarantined and to be on a leash when it had to go outside. The police contacted the Trumbull County Health Department about the bite.
Karen Showers said Kyle was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital and needed nine stitches for wounds to his neck, one of which was about 3 inches long. His parents say Kyle is taking antibiotics for the infection.
‘‘He has an infection in his jaw,’’ father Robert Showers said. ‘‘They say they had rabies shots, but they don’t have documents or anything. So we don’t know what to do.’’
Karen Showers said later that the family wanted an apology, for the dog to be put down and that they were considering legal action against Bear’s owners. They said the dog had a history of being a nuisance.
Robert Showers said his son does not want the dog put down, but wants its teeth taken out.
brodgers@tribune-chronicle.com
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-3 | Post a comment
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Christmas
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05-13-08 1:03 PM
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People are so strange, "I love dogs, but provide no training. I love dogs, but could care less if you are fine with out them, same way with their cats, they use our yards for a toilet, bite our kids, but they love them." Then they let them run loose, and if they get hit by a car, they whine, would they have hit a child." Its an animal, train it or don't have them.
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Billdog
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05-13-08 12:31 PM
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Any dog that would attack will do it again if given the opertunity. My dog and I were attacked two years ago by a Pitbull. The owner had no insurance or money, and offered nothing in the way of compinsation for the injuries to my dog or myself. She was offended that I pressed charges in county court. This animal continues to get loose, and terrorize the nieghborhood. I'm waiting for it to come in my yard. I will get a nice shinny bullet in its head. Our public servents need to do more to enforce the law. Take animals from people that are irresponsible people that have animals that attack people and other animals should be put in jail.
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concerned
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05-13-08 8:51 AM
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Whether or not Kyle touched the fence, hit it with his jacket, or down right provoked this dog it does NOT matter. It is the responsibility of the pet owner to restrain their animal so that things like this can't happen. The owners have been negligent in their responsibilities. This family should be compensated for any injuries or sufferings resulting from this ATTACK. The dog should be put down. It is a danger to society.
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