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Posted on Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.

Saline police cite dog owner after animal injures boy

By Art Aisner

Saline police issued a dog-bite citation to the owners of a animal that bit or scratched a 9-year-old boy earlier this month.

Officers responded to the emergency room at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital-Saline after the boy’s parents informed staff about a wound that broke the skin on one his legs was caused by a dog, reports said.

The boy's mother said he was with her in a neighbor’s driveway at about 3 p.m. on Jan. 2 as she attempted to deliver a holiday gift in the 600 block of Berkshire Drive. When the neighbor opened the door, two dogs ran out and charged directly at the boy, reports said. The boy turned around, and one of them scratched or bit him on his upper right leg.

The boy appeared fine and there was no hole in his pants. A few hours later, his mother checked him to be sure and discovered the leg wound.

Police issued the citation and closed the case after the mandatory 10-day quarantine order expired this week. Reports said the citation covered both the Boston terrier and cocker spaniel, and both animals were up to date with immunizations.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.

Comments

John B.

Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 6:54 p.m.

TrappedinMI asked: "Cocker Spaniels. Aren't they one of the top four biters? No hate here, but the cockers I've known haven't always been the nicest of dogs." Yes, Cocker Spaniels are #5 on the top-ten list of breeds most likely to bite humans. I think top-ten breeds most likely to kill humans is more informative: 1) Pit Bulls 2) Rottweiler 3) German Shepard 4) Husky 5) Malamute 6) Chow 7) Doberman 8) St. Bernard 9) Great Dane 10) Akita. This data is based on a recent 20-year study.

TrappedinMI

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 : 3 p.m.

I know it's been awhile, but thank you.

AlwaysLate

Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 5:43 p.m.

I jog by that house everyday. The dogs charging toward me used to be a problem until I started carring two large rocks (one for each pooch). Only had to bean them once and the problem was solved. Next year's holiday gift for the neighbor...a bag of rocks!

CobraII

Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.

Time to Call Lee Free & pay for that winter vacation

trufbtold

Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.

im so glad me and gringa are out of saline where the people complain about everything! my neighbors said i had a vicous dog but they had no problem sending the kids to my door? even after i won my court case they still wouldnt let it go and complained to the neighborhood association so i moved so they would stop crying!

LBH

Sun, Jan 16, 2011 : 10:05 a.m.

If your dog is not under your control and it injures somebody, you are going to get a ticket, plain and simple. If it seriously injures somebody, you will probably lose the dog. Moral of the story, if you have dogs that are jumpers and nippers, or biters, don't let them fly out the front door at people. Owner's responsibility, owners get the ticket. PS, If all one has to post is sarcasm, perhaps it should just be kept to oneself.

adameichner

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 10:35 p.m.

Twiggy: It's called sarcasm. A little play on the whole "down with pitbulls" thing. Take a closer look at my pic please.

BSEGALZ

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.

It's about time somebody does something about these dogs!! Time to ban them or outlaw them. It's not like they were attacking another animal like a dog, but they were attacking a child. I might as even go as far as saying that if this specific dog continues this behavior, it's time to put it down.

TrappedinMI

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.

Cocker Spaniels. Aren't they one of the top four biters? No hate here, but the cockers I've known haven't always been the nicest of dogs.

Deb

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.

Somehow I think it was either the Chia Pet or the Singing Bass in the gift basket that provoked the dogs to attack. But it could have been The Clapper. It's been a quiet week news-wise in Lake Wobegon, I mean Annarbor.com. I hope this all plays out well with happy endings, perhaps what really happened is these dogs simply aren't used to strangers coming to the door.

teegray01

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.

"wrecking havoc on our citizenry".....? Come on.... If a dangerou dog is let loose and can seriously bit someone it's one thing but this was not that case. The owner should not have allowed the dog to leave the house since he/she probably knew their temperment. But,a nip like this should not have resulted in citation and quaranting. Give the citation to the owner..

adameichner

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 6:47 p.m.

I am so sick of these hyper-aggressive breeds wreaking havoc on our citizenry! I think its high time we put a breeding ban on Cocker Spaniels and Boston Terriers! Brutes!

Jim Nazium

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.

Must've been a slow news day. Those ankle biter dogs are so spastic sometimes, they really lived up to their reputation this time. I bet the relationship between the neighbors are now strained ( loosens collar with index finger ). I mean this was just a "Nip" or a light scratch that barely broke the skin right? I know I wasn't there but in my opinion issuing a citation and quarantining the dogs sound a little extreme.

Ann English

Sat, Jan 15, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.

I'm so glad that the boy wasn't seriously injured like a Connecticut woman's friend was by a chimp, as she brought a gift to her friend's house, FOR the talented animal.