The court has ordered the dogs that attacked and killed a Warren man last week to be impounded until further notice. The owner of the dogs faces criminal charges and a civil lawsuit.
Victim was walking his dog when attacked
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was walking his dog Betty, a 12-pound dachshund, on 14 Mile Road near Dequindre Road on Thursday night, when two Rottweilers escaped from a nearby vehicle and mauled him and his dog. Betty died at the scene, while Hogg was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Hogg was a father of five and a well-loved member of his community.
According to witnesses, the owner of the Rottweilers, Nicole Marie Nickles, was inside the Jiffy Mart store when the incident happened. She claimed that her dogs managed to roll down the windows and get out of her vehicle. She apologized to the victim’s family and said she did not know how her dogs became aggressive.
Owner of Rottweilers faces charges and lawsuit
Nickles was arrested and charged with owning a vicious dog, having an unlicensed dog, and dog at large. She is scheduled to appear in court on May 16, where a judge will decide the fate of her dogs. The dogs are currently being held at Macomb County Animal Control.
The victim’s family has also filed a civil lawsuit against Nickles, seeking compensation for medical, veterinary, and funeral expenses, as well as emotional distress and loss of companionship. The family’s lawyer said they want justice for Hogg and Betty, and to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Warren has ordinances regarding vicious dogs and dog attacks
The city of Warren has ordinances in place to regulate vicious dogs and dog attacks. According to the ordinances, a vicious dog is defined as one that has bitten or attacked a person or another animal without provocation, or has a propensity to do so. A potentially dangerous dog is one that has chased or approached a person or another animal in a menacing manner, or has been involved in an incident that causes a reasonable person to believe that the dog may inflict injury or harm.
The ordinances state that owners of vicious or potentially dangerous dogs must comply with certain requirements, such as registering their dogs, obtaining liability insurance, confining their dogs in secure enclosures, and posting warning signs on their property. Owners who fail to comply with these requirements may face fines, imprisonment, or forfeiture of their dogs.
The ordinances also allow the city to impound any dog that has bitten or attacked a person or another animal, pending a hearing to determine if the dog is vicious or potentially dangerous. The hearing must be held within 10 days of the impoundment. The city may order the dog to be euthanized, returned to the owner with conditions, or transferred to a rescue organization.
Dog attacks are a serious problem in the country
Dog attacks are a serious problem in the country, causing injuries, deaths, and emotional trauma to victims and their families. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and about 800,000 of them require medical attention. About half of the victims are children, and the most common injuries are to the head and neck.
Dog attacks can also result in legal consequences for the owners, who may face criminal charges, civil lawsuits, or loss of their dogs. Some states have strict liability laws, which hold owners responsible for any harm caused by their dogs, regardless of their prior behavior or knowledge. Other states have negligence laws, which require the victims to prove that the owners failed to exercise reasonable care or control over their dogs.
Dog experts say that dog attacks can be prevented by proper training, socialization, and supervision of dogs, as well as awareness and respect for their behavior and body language. They also advise people to avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs, especially if they are loose, and to report any incidents of dog aggression to the authorities.
