Glad to hear he has been given another chance. I don't understand how people can go into professions involving animals and don't expect the occasional bite or claw mark. May the vet fire her for stupidity.
I can't believe that the vet tech pressed the issue. As a professional you should understand the fear of some animals in these situations. She probably man handled the poor dog when she went to take him from the owner. I hope she is going to find a new profession so all the future animals will be safe!
I think what really bothered me about this story is that a normally non aggressive dog bites for a reason. And when you mix in fear and pain with a dog at the vet, that pup is obviously more sensitive than a in any other situation. I asked one of the vet techs at my vet and she said she would EXPECT a dog in pain to bite. My mom did dachshund rescues and as kids we were always told that it was our own fault if one of the dogs bit you.
Was it really the vet tech that pressed charges or was it the city? I couldn't really find that specific thing out. If it was the tech... good luck finding another job in that field.
LAFAYETTE -- Spork, a 10-year-old miniature Dachshund up on vicious animal charges in Lafayette for biting a veterinarian technician, has not only his owners fighting to save him, but also a Facebook fan club numbering in the thousands.
In August, Spork's owners took him to Lafayette's Jasper Animal Hospital to have a bad tooth extracted. Owner Kelly Walker said she was holding the 17-pound dog in her arms while the technician attached a hospital band, then took out scissors to cut off the excess.
The dog bit the technician in the face when she reached out to take Spork from Walker. Walker said her dog was simply scared -- so scared he defecated on her arm -- and in pain, not vicious.
"He's our family pet, our little baby," she said. " I just feel like there's a lot of injustice here all the way around."
She said what happens to Spork is entirely up to a judge's discretion, making euthanization and a lifetime in a kennel both possibilities.
Another concern, she said, is people will be reluctant to seek medical care for their dogs, out of fear that they'll end up in the same position. Vets and other Lafayette dog-related businesses also could lose customers, she said.
"It's just out of hand," she said.
Her family has spent about $6,000 so far fighting the ticket. A court hearing is set in April.
Read more: Lafayette prosecuting Spork, Dachshund that bit vet tech - Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#ixzz0iBr2IXjG
The technician, Allyson Stone, lost small pieces of her lips and was treated at Boulder Community Hospital and by a plastic surgeon.
Stone told police that Spork showed no signs he was going to bite, adding that she felt the attack was unprovoked, according to the police report.
She told police she wanted to press charges because she was concerned that Spork would bit his owner or someone else and she wanted to prevent another attack.
Jasper chief veterinarian and founder Donlad Dodge, in a written statement, said the hospital routinely notifies animal control in dog bite cases.
Dodge said that he supported Stone pressing charges because a record is needed when an animal causes serious injury to a Spork person in case of future incidents.
"Jasper Animal Hospital has not advocated for, or participated in any way, in subsequent decisions by the city of Lafayette to prosecute Spark's guardians," he said in a statement. "We remain very worried about everyone concerned -- the dog, his guardians and the injured technician. We consider this incident a tragedy, and we sincerely wish the best for everyone concerned, Spork in particular."
Jennifer Edwards, the lawyer representing the Walkers, said the charges should be dismissed.
"The case should have never happened," she said. "Bites are just an assumed risk of a veterinary technician. It's the name of the game."
Colorado law excludes those who work with animals in veterinarian offices from pressing charges in animal bite cases. But Lafayette's local laws, which take precedence, include a vicious animal law that doesn't have a similar exclusion. Lafayette also doesn't allow jury trials in vicious animal cases.
Thousands of people are rallying around Spork.
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#axzz0iBq0DMD9 Read more: Lafayette prosecuting Spork, Dachshund that bit vet tech - Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#ixzz0iBqjMxip
Glad to hear he has been given another chance. I don't understand how people can go into professions involving animals and don't expect the occasional bite or claw mark. May the vet fire her for stupidity.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that the vet tech pressed the issue. As a professional you should understand the fear of some animals in these situations. She probably man handled the poor dog when she went to take him from the owner. I hope she is going to find a new profession so all the future animals will be safe!
ReplyDeleteI think what really bothered me about this story is that a normally non aggressive dog bites for a reason. And when you mix in fear and pain with a dog at the vet, that pup is obviously more sensitive than a in any other situation. I asked one of the vet techs at my vet and she said she would EXPECT a dog in pain to bite. My mom did dachshund rescues and as kids we were always told that it was our own fault if one of the dogs bit you.
ReplyDeleteWas it really the vet tech that pressed charges or was it the city? I couldn't really find that specific thing out. If it was the tech... good luck finding another job in that field.
ReplyDeleteSo happy the dog is safe.
LAFAYETTE -- Spork, a 10-year-old miniature Dachshund up on vicious animal charges in Lafayette for biting a veterinarian technician, has not only his owners fighting to save him, but also a Facebook fan club numbering in the thousands.
ReplyDeleteIn August, Spork's owners took him to Lafayette's Jasper Animal Hospital to have a bad tooth extracted. Owner Kelly Walker said she was holding the 17-pound dog in her arms while the technician attached a hospital band, then took out scissors to cut off the excess.
The dog bit the technician in the face when she reached out to take Spork from Walker. Walker said her dog was simply scared -- so scared he defecated on her arm -- and in pain, not vicious.
"He's our family pet, our little baby," she said. " I just feel like there's a lot of injustice here all the way around."
She said what happens to Spork is entirely up to a judge's discretion, making euthanization and a lifetime in a kennel both possibilities.
Another concern, she said, is people will be reluctant to seek medical care for their dogs, out of fear that they'll end up in the same position. Vets and other Lafayette dog-related businesses also could lose customers, she said.
"It's just out of hand," she said.
Her family has spent about $6,000 so far fighting the ticket. A court hearing is set in April.
Read more: Lafayette prosecuting Spork, Dachshund that bit vet tech - Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#ixzz0iBr2IXjG
The technician, Allyson Stone, lost small pieces of her lips and was treated at Boulder Community Hospital and by a plastic surgeon.
Stone told police that Spork showed no signs he was going to bite, adding that she felt the attack was unprovoked, according to the police report.
She told police she wanted to press charges because she was concerned that Spork would bit his owner or someone else and she wanted to prevent another attack.
Jasper chief veterinarian and founder Donlad Dodge, in a written statement, said the hospital routinely notifies animal control in dog bite cases.
Dodge said that he supported Stone pressing charges because a record is needed when an animal causes serious injury to a
Spork
person in case of future incidents.
"Jasper Animal Hospital has not advocated for, or participated in any way, in subsequent decisions by the city of Lafayette to prosecute Spark's guardians," he said in a statement. "We remain very worried about everyone concerned -- the dog, his guardians and the injured technician. We consider this incident a tragedy, and we sincerely wish the best for everyone concerned, Spork in particular."
Jennifer Edwards, the lawyer representing the Walkers, said the charges should be dismissed.
"The case should have never happened," she said. "Bites are just an assumed risk of a veterinary technician. It's the name of the game."
Colorado law excludes those who work with animals in veterinarian offices from pressing charges in animal bite cases. But Lafayette's local laws, which take precedence, include a vicious animal law that doesn't have a similar exclusion. Lafayette also doesn't allow jury trials in vicious animal cases.
Thousands of people are rallying around Spork.
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#axzz0iBq0DMD9
Read more: Lafayette prosecuting Spork, Dachshund that bit vet tech - Boulder Daily Camera http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14462960#ixzz0iBqjMxip