Pit Bull To Be Euthanized For Attacking Boy, Judge Gets The Dog A Lawyer
A Georgia judge has appointed a lawyer to defend the pit bull who mauled a 5-year-old boy. The dog is in danger of being euthanized for the attack.
Court officials state that the dog’s owner handed over their pet, named Kno, to Effingham County last summer after Kno allegedly attacked and severely injured a neighborhood boy. The boy, though recovering, will still require surgery to repair the damage done by the animal. Although he is back in school, the child’s face is partially paralyzed and there is visible facial scarring.
When the dog was accused of the attack and threatened with euthanization, Superior Court Judge William Woodrum, Jr., appointed lawyer Claude Kicklighter to represent the animal in court. Kicklighter, who is still learning the details of the case, commented, ”All I can tell you is that the judge appointed me. I really don’t know what the issues are.” This will be a pro bono case for Kicklighter.
The dog attacked Wesley Frye last July when the little boy was playing with another child inside a neighbor’s home. Julie Long, one of the dog’s owners, stopped the attack by luring the animal outside. The dog was immediately taken into the custody of the county, and classified as a dangerous animal by the humane enforcement deputy and an Effigham County magistrate, SavannahNow reports.
The dog’s owner, Larry A. Long, Jr., was informed via a letter from the sheriff’s office of his “right to request a hearing to contest the dangerous dog classification. He was not, however, informed of the plan to euthanize Kno.
Frye underwent two surgeries shortly after the attack, and is still in recovery. “[Wesley] is improving and is better,” stated Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson David Ehsanipoor. “He still has scarring and the right side of his face is paralyzed. He may be having some more surgery in the next six to eight weeks, but he is back at school and recovering.”
Romie Currier, director of Effigham County’s animal control, notes, “There has to be a lesson for dog owners and for people not to allow their children to go to other people’s houses with dogs.”
Kno is being held in isolation from other animals at the county animal shelter. An October 25 hearing will determine his fate.
Readers: Do you think that Kno has the right to a lawyer, or should he immediately be put down for attacking a small child?
Tags : animal news, Animal Rights, dog gets lawyer, georgia pit bull attacks 5-year-old, lawyer assigned to represent pit bull, odd news, pit bull attacks 5-year-old gets lawyer, pit bull attacks boy, pit bull is appointed lawyer
Posted: October 20, 2012
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Oct 22, 2012
put him down.
Oct 22, 2012
lol if one of your children hurt someone or something else would u put it down?
Oct 27, 2012
I think he does need a lawyer. EVERY dog, no matter the breed has a poasibility to attack. Sheila, would you put your child down for hurting another child
Oct 27, 2012
First understand that I love animals and routinely am suckered by my cats, dog neighbor's dogs etc. That being said: I would have put the dog down myself if it attacked my child. Please do not respond with something stupid like "Would you put your child down if they attacked another child?" It is an ANIMAL folks at no point in time will I ever give it the same consideration that I give a HUMAN BEING even though some people act worse than any animal but that's off topic. This dog, regardless of breed, has attacked and ingested human blood, it needs to be put down!
Oct 27, 2012
if an animal ingests human blood, does it make the animal more dangerous? do they develop a craving for it?
Oct 27, 2012
How do we know that the dog wasn't protecting the other little child that the 5 yr old was playing with?? The dog might have proceived that the child was in danger if it squealed like children do in play and attacked. We don't know the whole story.
Oct 27, 2012
How do we know that the dog wasn't protecting the other little child that the 5 yr old was playing with?? The dog might have proceived that the child was in danger if it squealed like children do in play and attacked. We don't know the whole story.
Nov 25, 2012
I have a lot of respect for this judge.
Feb 4, 2013
It's the kids fault, and he was on THIER property. There should be no consequences for what happened-theres just no grounds.
Feb 4, 2013
Me too! Punish the deed not the breed
Feb 4, 2013
He was on THEIR property. Get a grip.
Feb 4, 2013
If it were any other dog, it wouldn't even have made the news.
Feb 4, 2013
Punish the breed, not the deed. Pit bull pride. Let this wigglebutt live.
Feb 4, 2013
I agree with you 100%
Feb 4, 2013
I agree. Punish the deed, not the breed.
Feb 16, 2013
I agree about Not putting the dog down, he might have perceived it as protecting one of his family members. When company come over people need to put their pets in another area of the house or put them outside. I have done that for 25 yrs, never had a problem, this way. I have 4 pits at home myself, even a chihuahua would perceive this the same way, I have 2 of them, they don't like it anymore that my pits. Please don't euthanize him let him go back home & just talk to the owners. Like I said I've done my dogs the same way too. Put them somewherelse when company comes over, they don't understand.
Feb 16, 2013
I agree about Not putting the dog down, he might have perceived it as protecting one of his family members. When company come over people need to put their pets in another area of the house or put them outside. I have done that for 25 yrs, never had a problem, this way. I have 4 pits at home myself, even a chihuahua would perceive this the same way, I have 2 of them, they don't like it anymore that my pits. Please don't euthanize him let him go back home & just talk to the owners. Like I said I've done my dogs the same way too. Put them somewherelse when company comes over, they don't understand.