Rolo joyfully marks his return
Once condemned, German shepherd gets 2nd chance
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 18, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky
Laura Hagan hugs Rolo in the backyard of her Arvada home Tuesday evening. It was Rolo's first day home since last summer, when he was ordered euthanized after biting a neighbor.
Rolo the German shepherd was so happy to finally get home Tuesday that he peed on his new 6-foot cedar fence.
"He has it broken in," Rolo's owner Laura Hagan said gleefully, after she brought him home for the first time since shortly after he bit a neighbor in July.
For much of last fall, Rolo was on death row, sentenced to euthanasia by an Arvada municipal court judge. The judge had heard from neighbors that Rolo scared them and that they were worried he would bite a child next time.
Hagan never gave up trying to save the dog, not only for Rolo's sake but also for the hundreds of dog lovers she enlisted in the fight. She said she was acting for all dog owners who've ever been misunderstood by their neighbors.
Hagan picketed in front of courthouses, asking people to honk if they wanted to give Rolo a second chance. She started a Web site.
Eventually, a Jefferson County judge threw out the death sentence and sent the case back to Arvada for a new trial to decide whether Rolo was a dangerous dog and whether that should mean death or something less drastic.
Last month, neighbors testified that they still think Rolo is a bad fit for the neighborhood but that they don't particularly want to see him killed.
Bite victim Kathy Hardin testified that she needed nine months of physical therapy, which raised eyebrows because the bite never broke the skin and because it had been only seven months since the incident.
Hardin said that when she saw Rolo hurtling toward her, she screamed, picked up her baby and turned her back to the dog to shield the infant. She said she is convinced that Rolo would have bitten her baby otherwise.
Hagan said Rolo acted uncharacteristically aggressive because Hardin's scream startled him.
Hardin's huband testified that Rolo is the most aggressive dog he has seen.
But dog training expert Ted Terroux testified it was the mildest bite case he'd seen that had gone as far as this one had.
The incident convinced the Hardins to sell their house in Olde Towne Arvada.
Hagan, too, is trying to sell her house. She has spent, or has bills, totaling $20,000 related to the case even though her most recent lawyer, Joe Lazzara, as well as Terroux and Action Kennels lent their services pro bono.
The city of Arvada has spent $7,000 on the case, which doesn't include the time spent by two prosecutors from the city attorney's office.
But Monday was a happy one for Hagan, Rolo and the two dogs he shares the house and backyard with.
When Rolo saw the familiar house, "he was excited and wanted to run right in," Hagan said.
But the new Rolo is learning to restrain his enthusiasm.
"Part of the training is to try to calm him down. So we pulled him back and got him unexcited before we let him in," Hagan said. "We did it several times. It worked out well."
"He's doing so well," she added.
Terroux will continue to work with Hagan and Rolo a few times a week for another 10 weeks or so.
If Rolo gets out of the yard, Hagan faces a couple months of jail time.
Meanwhile, she's holding a celebration with friends and friendly neighbors tonight.
"I don't know what to think yet," she said. "It's been such a long haul. . . . But that's OK. It's all been worth it."
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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March 18, 2008
4:16 p.m.
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reddog writes:
Who cares
March 18, 2008
4:32 p.m.
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Devil_Dog writes:
Hey freethought come on over to my house I've got a shell for you. What an ass you are no babies were attacked but all you ignorant animal haters keep fanning the flames. This was all about money! Money that a neighbor tried to extort, for a bruise.
Idiots like you want to resort to violence.
March 18, 2008
5:20 p.m.
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ChelseyGirl writes:
Mr. or Miss. Freethought. While I understand your feelings of anger towards this animal, please try to remember that this dog is like a child to this woman. Who hasn't had a kid throw sand at another child, or push them down? People make mistakes, as do animals, the thing to remember is we don't always know exactly what drives an animal to do what it does, but looking at animals upbringing, their past behavior and the charactaristics of there breed are always a good start. i don't think that it is right to suggest cruel violence against anyone, be it animal or human. I once bit my gymnastics teacher when I was 6 years old, I don't remember getting locked up for that. If you were not there to witness the situation, I don't think that you should so quickly pass judgement.
March 18, 2008
5:22 p.m.
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bwall19 writes:
OMG people. Have you not followed this story? Even the paramedic said it was only a dang BRUISE on the ADULT not a scratch to the baby. That woman probably started screaming at the site of the dog. Obviously it was about money! I'm so glad he is home with his owner where he belongs.
March 18, 2008
5:26 p.m.
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bwall19 writes:
AMEN ChelseyGirl! Good thing they didn't shoot you when you were 6 for biting - and let's not forget that dogs mouths are cleaner than humans!
March 18, 2008
6:35 p.m.
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TYDN writes:
quoting from this article:
"...Bite victim Kathy Hardin testified that she needed nine months of physical therapy, which raised eyebrows because the bite never borke the skin and because it had only been seven months since the incident....Hardin's huband testified that Rolo is the most aggressive dog he has ever seen, while dog training expert Ted Terroux testified it was the mildest bite case he'd ever seen that had gone as far as this one had...."
That says it all.
March 18, 2008
7:02 p.m.
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FormalistAesthete writes:
I've been anxiously waiting for news on Rolo. I'm glad that we finally have some, so I don't have to waste time reading about trivial matters like the economy or the war.
March 18, 2008
7:20 p.m.
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DA writes:
If the story is not important to you then don't read it and don't post comments! Jeez!! The economy and war are important to me and all of us. Most people have the brain capacity to be concerned about a lot of things. Don't hold it against the rest of us if you can't.
March 18, 2008
9:09 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Chelseygirl, well said, and politely, too. Better than freethought the animal hater deserved.
Welcome home, Rolo! Your mommy rocks, by the way.
March 18, 2008
10:16 p.m.
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BirdonaWire writes:
They should have euthanized Hagan and given the dog to someone capable of owning him responsibly.
March 19, 2008
9:31 a.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Freethought,
Personally, I agree, a child is more important than a pet. I have a neice and I own two large dogs, so I see where your coming from. However, a dogs behavior, due to its lack of higher intellegence, is easy to explain and even easier to anticipate.
I personally think your a nut job though. The dog didnt attack the child, had it, the story would have been the other way around. The women played the victom card, lied in court, pushed her own phobia to get a result that was unnecessary. Personally, I find that far worse than what Rolo did.
Personally, I've been forced to kill two people before. Both of them attempted to rob me in my own home when I lived in california. Do I regret it? No, not at all, but it shudders and hurts to think about it. However, they deserved what they got. They planned it and should have been aware of the consequences. Frankly, I've yet to have a dog pull a knife on me and try to force its way into my house. If you want to shot something, why not wait for someone who deserves it? I promise you the greater evil isn't found in the animal kingdom.......
March 19, 2008
9:34 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
$27,000 spent on a dog. An idiot dog owner, cheered on by other idiot animal rights fanatics.
March 19, 2008
10:30 a.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Rickg19611,
183,000 spent to defend a person from the death penalty for murdering his wife and unborn daughter....Stupidity defended by a round jury of cowards and ideiots. I agree with you, a human life is not worth that much when they've earned only the right to a quick death.
March 19, 2008
10:40 a.m.
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Geof writes:
Three trillion for a bullsh&t war, and with lots of people dying. Hmmm, the $27K looks like a jolt of brilliance by comparison. Some of the posters here seem to have come to terms with their hypocrisy.
Yes, the greatest evil is not in the animal kingdom. It fills the hearts of soulless men.
March 19, 2008
11:41 a.m.
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Devil_Dog writes:
freethought
Not to worry, although you proposed violence I was merely being sarcastic (I see your too stupid to get it though). I wouldn't waste the time, money (cost of the shell), or effort on someone like you. However, in all seriousness, I would defend my home and my family if you tried something so outragously assinine as you suggested should've been done to Rolo.
March 19, 2008
11:56 a.m.
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reddog writes:
Ditto rickg19611, what a waste of time and money.
March 19, 2008
1:14 p.m.
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wow writes:
I'm sure Rolo's a great dog deep down, and can be trained...But I'm a realist, and I figure Hagen will be begging door to door for more help soon enough. When it happens, forgive me my smugness.
As for the woman who was bitten, maybe she was being a drama queen, maybe she did convince her doctor and physical therapist to lie for her and milk the system. It wouldn't be the first time. Maybe she even conspired to have ten other neighbors say unflattering things about Rolo in court. That isn't original thinking on her part either.
But if she did all that, I wonder why she forgot to ask for money above and beyond what the medical bills and court costs were?
I may be obtuse, but, it seems that she walked away flush. Nobody made money on this except doctors and animal shelter employees. And I doubt very much that they got bonuses for participating.
It looks to me like a woman bought a dog that she treated like a child, and when it grew up, it walked all over her and her neighbors. Someone finally got bitten, thank God, not too severely. The bite recipient took the action that was appropriate to bring the dog owner into compliance with the law.
The dog owner was less than happy with that kettle of fish, (why obey the law?) so she protested, gathered likeminded folks under the "save me from my self" banner that was the "Save Rolo" movement. The sheeple ponied up the dough, the judge was swayed to let the dog live under strict conditions, and now every one is happy. Even those of us who think that Hagen will be wearing orange for a while in the not too distant future, are content.
Till then, this is absolutely the last I will ever post on this silliness.
March 19, 2008
1:31 p.m.
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psu96 writes:
WOW,
thanks again for your dribble, please dont post anymore on any topic.
March 19, 2008
1:31 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Rolo's first taste of freedom was a hearty meal of baby back ribs.
March 19, 2008
1:37 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
For dessert, he had lady fingers.
March 19, 2008
1:50 p.m.
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wow writes:
psu96--
Aren't we a clever little darling. Ms. Hagen in disguise, I presume.
I believe *drivel* was the word you were searching for in your limited and childish vocabulary, when you produced *dribble* instead.
Wipe the *dribble* from your chin, and leave the conversation to adults.
March 19, 2008
2:45 p.m.
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happymike44 writes:
I have owned German sheperds all my life.My last dog was a service dog,as I am going deaf.Before him my neighbors knew I was going deaf an would come over the fence into my yard and watch me After I got him I did not ever find one of them in my house again.Also let me tell you they then told the neighbors that my dog was a threat.Well they filed the complaint and animal control came to my house.The guy found out that my dog was a service dog and left.No ticket was issued,this inflamed the neighbor more she then tried to get him impounded.This did not work so she sent a police officer for a chat.So I informed him that I would never give up my dog.What happened I spent 2,000 thousand dollars and a lawyer finally convinced the landlord that they should move as they were renters and all the unwanted attention was driving down my property values.Also That I had pictures of them in my locked 8 foot high fenced yard.This stopped them dead.By the way my dog saved my life by knocking a mugger who had a knife down and dragged me to safety.What a great dog,he has passed and my new service dog is another German sheperd.Also every police officer who has ever met my dogs said that I am a caring and loving pet owner who would never let my dog do anything to anybody.So to all the dog haters ,not all Germans are bad,But some people are liars and con artist and extortionists.Just call me a Major German Sheperd fan,my dogs are like my family to me.So leave Rolo alone he got a bum rap,To his owner I am glad Rolo is home now.No one can expct that kind of loyalty from a human companion.
March 19, 2008
2:52 p.m.
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DA writes:
Wow, wow! You sure have a short memory or only use sporadic news articles to feed it. You say that Hagan didn't want to comply with the law and that's why this case cost so much and has lasted so long.
Read the court transcript from the first trial. Hagan pled guilty to the same charges to which she was convicted 7000 taxpayers dollars later. The sentence from the original trial included restitution to Hardin (the "victim") which was reduced from what hardin was asking (a large sum) to several hundred dollars (the amount which could be substantiated). When crybaby hardin didn't get money over and above the amount required for her bills, she gathered up her cronies and produced a petition asking the judge to kill Rolo. In the 2nd hearing, hardin had the opportunity to present bills showing that she deserved more money. She couldn't. So instead, she produced that petition asking for Rolo to be killed.
What a vengeful, rotten person. She's a mother, too! What a great lesson for her children. Ya don't get your way so you attack your neighbour. She said in the final trial that she didn't want Rolo put down. Liar! It wouldn't have been an issue if she wasn't greedy and didn't want more than she was due for restitution. Hagan agreed to abide by the court's original decision until hardin pulled this rotten stunt. Only then did she LEGALLY APPEAL! Who wouldn't! The only reason a person wouldn't fight the sentence is if they didn't want to spend the money.
Hagan decided that it was worth $20000 of HER MONEY to save her dog. hardin decided that it was worth $20000 of Hagan's money and over $7000 of taxpayer's money to massage her ego. What a rotten person.
In the first trial, Hagan would have received roughly the same sentence that she ended up receiving if hardin hadn't decided to go after Rolo's life because she didn't get her extra dough. hardin wasn't just trying to bring Rolo and Hardin into compliance with the law.
Don't say that it wasn't about hardin and her money. That's the only reason this case cost so much and lasted so long.
March 19, 2008
2:56 p.m.
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BTP writes:
DA, if you read the transcripts you will see that Hardin requested something like $1300 and was paid something like $700. This is hardly a huge amount of money.
I would be curious to see an accounting of the various fund raisers, donations, fees for the song, etc. I'd venture to guess that amount far exceeds the $700 Ms. Hardin received as the victim.
March 19, 2008
3:08 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
I had the VERY great pleasure of meeting Laura at the Thank you event over off Santa Fe and you know what? What a fantastic person! She really went well above and beyound for her dog! I'd of done the exact same thing.
Being I own two large dogs (both cruelly abused by prior owners) I know how close they become with you. My dogs are MY FAMILY and I would defend them as if they were my own flesh and blood. I have the greatest respect for Ms. Hogan for not caving into the threats and overwhelming emotion of a court battle. In the end, she got what she deserved, and Rolo survived and will have the training that will keep him that way.
I only hope the people in the area dont try to harm him. Thats human nature....To stab you in the back when the time is safest for them.
March 19, 2008
4:32 p.m.
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TYDN writes:
I agree with DA and NotUrFriend. Let's see... the victim clearly was dishonest about her injury in court, it's been reported in this article. The city prosecutor has been scolded by the judge for unprofessional behavior, it was reported in another recent article. The neighbors' testimonies are somewhat dubious (at least one of them admitted she hadn't even seen the dog herself yet was testifying that he's aggressive).
The paramedic testified that the victim's injury was an abrasion, not even a laceration, and that the skin wasn't punctured. The expert dog trainer says Rolo is the mildest dog bite case that has come THIS FAR. Given the behavior of the victim and neighbors and city prosecutor, is it any wonder why Rolo's case came "this far"...?
And thus is it any wonder that Hagan had to spend $20,000 because the case against her came "this far"??
She deserves as much financial help as she can get because what she and her attorneys did was help protect other dog owners from falling victim to unreasonable and manipulative people too. The way the dangerous animal laws here are written, makes it all too easy for anyone to twist and misconstrue any little thing a dog does into something "dangerous" enough to warrant euthanasia and the prosecution's side certainly took full advantage of that (in addition to some other questionable behavior already mentioned above) in trying to get Rolo put down.
It's completely ridiculous that the case against her came "as far as it has", to the point that it cost her $20K to stop her dog being put down over a scratch.
She deserves every penny she can get from fund raising because her court battle has wider implications than just Rolo, it prevented a legal precedent being set in which your own family pets would be sent to the killing chamber based on people's dubious yet emotive words against you rather than on facts and evidence.
March 19, 2008
5:27 p.m.
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DA writes:
Oh ya! I'm sure 10,000 people downloaded the Rolo song. Don't get your undies in a wad, btp. The government requires that all the monies get reported and used for the specified purpose. Hagan can't use it for a trip to the Bahamas.
What is of more concern is hardin's inability to tell the truth. $700 in bills is really $1300. 7 months of physical therapy is really 9 months.
March 19, 2008
6:35 p.m.
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JB writes:
Oh Jesus! No more Rolo! Time will tell if Hagen can be responsible. Can't we just leave it at that?
March 19, 2008
6:44 p.m.
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BTP writes:
If you actually read it DA, it said that Mrs. Hardin requested $1300. $700 and something were actual medical bills. The other was lost wages, daycare and other intangible expenses. Again, I highly doubt Mrs. Hardin and her husband were trying to get rich with the additional money requested. Ms. Hagan paid the amount that the judge ordered, Mrs. Hardin never requested anything more so why do you keep acting like Mrs. Hardin is some gold digger. She also never sought media attention, even after the trial. She hasn't sought unnecessary attention unlike certain other parties involved in this case. The Hagan people will never stop degrading the victim and yet if anyone casts the slightest derrogatory comment toward Saint Hagan, then its another story. If you will stop demeaning the innocent victim in this matter, then I'll stop commenting in a negative fashion about Saint Hagan. Until, of course, the next situation with Saint Hagan and her dog.
March 19, 2008
8:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
LS writes:
I'm with jb, time will tell if this person is worth the time, money and attention people have spent on her. My god, the pit bulls that come crawling out and rehashing who-cares details ad nauseum in defense of that woman's poor decision making skills every time the word Rolo shows up in a headline. Let her try to get it right and see if she has learned something from it. And if over the course of time she still doesn't, then she damn well deserves every bit of punishment given to her. Enough said.
March 19, 2008
10:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
I owned a German Sheperd service dog,he became the target for this kind of thing.I bought a home and moved in.My new neighbors decided my service dog had to go.Reason I was bitten by one when I was a kid.I am going deaf an pretty much keep to myself.Why because I talk funny and people harass me,because of it.These people called the police and animal control.My dog is my only way to hear and guard myself against the criminal element.My dog protected me one night when a man pulled a knife on me.My hereo did not think twice he charged the knife weilding man and knocked him down and dragged me to safety.Another day we were out and caught a man who was hasseling my elderly neighbor.He had come to my house and when I did not answer went down the street.His partner had climbed my neighbors fence and in her back yard.My dog held them at bay till the police arrived.So to all you German sheperd haters some of us have hero's in our families.Also I only own German sheperds for this reason.For no person will ever come to my aid if I need help.Poor Rolo got a raw deal,That woman who sued for a bruised buttock.Well Rolo can't tell us what happened and the world is full of lying dirtbag scum.
March 20, 2008
12:40 a.m.
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TYDN writes:
It's not "demeaning the innocent victim" by pointing out that she requested $1300 yet the judge ruled that $700 was more appropriate, and that she testified 9 months of physical therapy when the injury only occurred 7 months ago. These are FACTS.
March 20, 2008
6:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
BTP writes:
TYDN, I'm not disputing the fact about the $700. However, requesting $1300 and receiving $700 is typically how a restitution hearing might go. People don't really know what they are and aren't entitled to receive. That happened back in what July or August? Its over, why keep making such a deal out of a lousy $600? Nobody gets rich with $600. Also, for the people who keep saying that someone "sued" someone else, that isn't the truth. The city animal management officers wrote a ticket and the city prosecuted the ticket. The defendant was found guilty. There has been no lawsuit. If people on here want to discuss facts, why not discuss THOSE particular facts. The guilt of the defendant. The victim misspoke during her trial. If the court thought she was a liar they could have charged her with lying. Everything about the victim is simply a witch hunt by those who want to insist the victim is somehow to blame for anything. The jury obviously didn't think so because they convicted Ms. Hagan of the crimes. Case closed.
March 21, 2008
11:04 p.m.
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Prima_facie writes:
happymike44: You hit the nail square on the head...friend, the world in fact is full of lying dirtbag scum and some of these become parasites to society. And now I've added yet another name for the blogheads to wonder "is this so-and-so"..."or is this one the one before the last one".......ha-ha-ha
March 22, 2008
5:57 p.m.
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TYDN writes:
BTP, YOU are the one who keeps making a big deal out of it! LOL!! Remember that long before the retrial you were all over every single Rolo blog night and day more than any other single person, protesting that he should not be allowed to go home. Since the trial ended you were still all over the blogs saying nasty and vicious things about everything having to do with Laura Hagan, and now that he is home you are still here complaining!! You're far more prolific and involved in these Rolo news blogs than any other single person!!! But hey it's certainly your right to say whatever you want whenever you want....but if you keep making such a big deal out of EVERYTHING having to do with Laura Hagan - I recall that you call this merely "giving your opinion" - then why object so much when other people "give their opinion" on the FACTS of this ridiculous court case!
Oh yes the jury convicted Hagan of having "dog at large" and "dangerous dog." No one has EVER disputed it. I'm not disputing it either!! Even on Rolo's website they announced this conviction on their home page in big bold letters. So you dont' have to keep reminding the world that a jury convicted Hagan since it's on Rolo's own website! LOL!!!
By the way have you read the law and what it takes to be convicted of 'dangerous dog'? It takes next to nothing to receive that conviction, all it takes is for "something" no matter how minor or accidental to have happened and that's grounds for a conviction IF the case was exagerrated so much it even went to trial and a jury was called up!! but in the majority of MINOR cases it does not go that far as a jury trial!! the expert dog trainer in this case said Rolo is the mildest dog case he's ever seen that has come THIS FAR....says a lot doesn't it....conviction means a law was broken, it is a black and white issue. In this case the law that was broken defines any incident no matter how minor as a dangerous dog violation. How could there NOT have been a guilty verdict since this ridiculous case actually went to trial?? Duh! Heck, under this law a dog can be convicted by a jury of being dangerous without having even touched someone!
So in light of this, a dangerous dog conviction says about as much as a traffic violation does. It COULD be really serious like loss of life or permanent disfigurement, or it could be really minor and not a big deal. Either way it's still a guilty verdict.
There is an article in the latest issue of Colorado Dog Magazine entitled "Is Your Dog Vicious?" which explains how even very minor things are violations of our dangerous dog law if it goes to court. I encourage all dog owners to go read this article because even responsible and watchful owners can be at risk because the law is so vague it takes very little to have a dog be legally classified as a dangerous dog.
March 23, 2008
3:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
BTP writes:
It seems many people who have been convicted of a crime prefer to find error with the law. Just to be sure I understand your points, TYDN. I am somehow bad for having an opinion of this case that differs from you and the other Hagan fan-club members. The victim in this case is somehow bad because she wanted to be reimbursed for her expenses (medical expenses, daycare, lost wages, etc.). And last but not least the law is bad because you don't think a bite than causes abrasions shouldn't count as a bite. And go back through the posts and just see which posters resort to name calling and insults.
March 23, 2008
3:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
BTP writes:
I mean you seem to think that a bite that causes abrasions should not be considered a crime. Of course you could write to the city council about this law instead of blogging about it forever. The city council and them alone could change that law if they agreed with you. However, since I heard that Rolo went after one of the city council members last summer, I'm not sure they would be all that willing to make a change in that law.
March 23, 2008
10:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
TYDN writes:
BTp you'r not any more "bad" for having an opinion than you yourself have been repeatedly accusing others of all along!! So it's really up to you, you know..! if you're gonna be pointing fingers more than any other individual on these news blogs then it's hardly surprising you will find the same done back to you is it??
I'm not surprised you criticizing those (particularly me I suppose) who find the dangerous dog law lacking, I doubt any of the neighbors who had their petition demanding Rolo be killed, have any complaints either, in fact seems like they took full advantage of it!! LOL!
Rolo aside....our dog law can classify a dog as a clear and present danger even if he hasn't even touched someone, based only on people's opinions of the dog claiming their opinions are "reasonable". This makes it really easy to abuse the justice system through over exaggerated "opinions", doesn't it? ...I'm sure this law doesn't lead to euthanasia in the majority of minor cases that we dont' hear about. One hopes this is what the judges are for - to provide common sense and logic in the application of the law.
but lets see how well this system worked in Rolo's case: He scratched and scared Hardin. Charges were brought against Hagan, the first judge found her guilty. So far nothing wrong with the system. He gave fines, ordered her to put up new fence, take training classes, pay restitution. Still nothign wrong either. The judge also felt the victim was asking too much money and called a another hearing. Restitution hearing comes round, and NOW the victim and neighbors/friends show up (apparently they didn't bother to collectively show up in court until the restitution was gonna be lowered but oh well....) The victim and neighbors/friends testify that the dog is so incredibly vicious, one of them hadn't even seen Rolo AT ALL yet was testifying he's vicious. (At some point they had their petition demanding Rolo be euthanized too.) the first judge then changed his sentence from fines/fence/training, to a death sentence, based on these people's opinions about the dog.
Given the expert dog trainer's evaluation of Rolo, what the paramedic said about the injury, and that the dog trainer said this is the MILDEST dog case he's ever seen come THIS far in court...are the neighbors' opinions of Rolo being SO dangerous that he must die (their petition was about euthanasia), truly "reasonable" as the dangerous-dog law gives so much responsibility to? Even YOU have said you don't think Rolo should be killed!! If Hagan hadn't spent $20K to appeal, he WOULD have been quietly killed by the courts long ago due to people's opinions (rather than just fines/fence/training etc), and it would all have been perfectly legal and no one would have heard about it. it would be grossly unjust, but still legal and it could happen again.
Will I be writing to legislators about how our dangerous dog law is so easily open to abuse? you bet I will!!
March 24, 2008
6:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
BTP writes:
hmmm ok well good luck with that.