Dogos Put Down After Dog Attack
by Anai Rhoads Ford
22 May 2006
AnaiRhoads.org -- A two-year case involving an animal attack came to a close when the defendant's three dogs were put to sleep recently.
In May of 2004, Sunday Daskalea was walking her three leashed dogs back to her boat at the Tantallon Marina, in Fort Washington, M.D when an unsupervised,
unleashed Pomeranian wandered towards them.
The youngest of Daskalea's dogs, an unneutured 6 month-old male, proceded to pick up the Pomeranian in his mouth, consequently killing the animal. Being a
Dogo breed, the animal evaluated its size and assumed the Pomeranian was bait.
The owner, Ed Forsythe, had permitted his 12 pound dog to roam the dock unleashed. When he saw what had happened, he rushed over to help Daskalea remove the
Pomeranian from Che Che's mouth. During this process, Forsythe received a scratch on his hand from rubbing against Che Che's teeth.
Due to the scratch, the Prince George's county police asked Daskalea to furnish proof of rabies vaccinations for all three Dogos. She was unable to find the records and because
their regular vet's office was closed, the animals were taken by Animal Control and quarantined.
Despite both having the impression that the incident was over and being told by police at the time that no charges would be brought against her, Daskalea was
asked to attend a hearing with the Animal Control Board to get her animals back.
At the hearing however, Forsythe pressed charges, calling it a "pack attack" despite that only one dog actually did the attack. In addition, he showed the
board a letter written by witnesses where it said Forsythe was bit by Che Che as he was trying to release his dog from the animal's mouth. According to
Daskalea, there were no witnesses.
Forsythe asked that the animals not be put to sleep, but the Animal Control Board ruled that all three Dogos were deemed vicious and that all would be
euthanised.
After several attempts to save the dogs, Daskalea sent out a plea to the Dogo Argentino Club of America, asking for assistance.
"I saw the post and called her. I realised then that these were the same dogs that I had inquired about and they had been held for almost 2 years. That in
itself is a travesty," said Jayne McCullough, a Dogo expert from Dogo Argentino Rescue and Referral Service. "This occurred on private property and Prince
Georges County does have a leash law. Even though there were no eye witnesses the story is that the little dog did run at the Dogos and only Che Che
grabbed him. This is typical Canine behaviour for an unneutered male."
McCullough was ordered by Judge Lamasney to perform temperament tests on all three dogs on 18 January, where she reported back with the following:
Che Che ID 193167 Male, approximate age - 4. "Che Che shows a very stable temperament. No sign of aggression towards humans or animals. My
small Beagle, growled and snapped at him more than once and he did not react at all – did not show teeth or any other unfriendly behaviour toward Murphy."
Bathsheeba ID 193166 Female, approximate age - 3. "Greeted me with non aggressive barking and "bunny lips" which is a Dogos way of smiling.
Her temperament is very stable. No sign of aggression towards humans or animals. She did not growl or snarl at anytime during the evaluation."
Ameera ID 193165 Female, approximate age - 6. "Ameera, taken into consideration how long she has been at the shelter, has a very stable
temperament. No sign of aggression towards humans or animals."
However, on the 10th of February, the attorney for Animal Control cited a precedent which caused Judge Lamansky not to rule on the findings of the
temperament test. The case was then remanded back to the Animal Control Board for further review of the temperament tests.
The final ruling came on the 16th of March. Daskalea was forced to pay $6495.00 in fees and the dogs were ordered to be put to sleep.
A further appeal by Daskalea was denied by Judge Lamansky, and three weeks later the dogs were put down.
Despite letters, appeals, and a request by the victim's owner, the Dogos were not spared their tragic fate. Both Daskalea and McCullough were disappointed in
the lack of structure and the final verdict of this case.
Forsythe was unavailable to comment on the case.
The Dogo Argentino, also known as a Argentinian Mastiff or Argentine Dogo is a slow-to-mature breed, as most larger breeds are. According to several
publications, mature Dogos are known to be aggressive with other dogs when provoked. However, Dogos are very loyal animals and fair well with families.
©2006 Anai Rhoads Ford. Reproduction must be authorised in writing
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