The pit bull involved in the attack of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel last week in Pukalani has been deemed dangerous by the Maui Humane Society.
Jocelyn Bouchard, chief executive officer of the Maui Humane Society, said the dangerous dog designation triggers a set of requirements for the owners, including using a muzzle while walking the dog, posting a dangerous dog sign on their property, obtaining liability insurance and notifying the Humane Society if they move.
In addition, the Humane Society also cited the pit bull's owner for a leash law violation and for the dog bite, Bouchard said.
On Oct. 8, Jean Southmayd said she and her 28-pound spaniel named Lily were walking home from a nearby park in Pukalani when the larger unleashed pit bull "shot out" of a home's driveway and attacked her leashed dog, putting puncture wounds in the spaniel's one leg and ear.
Southmayd was knocked to the ground by the pit bull and hit her head. Southmayd's husband, who was walking their other dog on a leash, managed to pull the pit bull off of Lily. Lily was treated by a veterinarian.
A week after the incident, Southmayd said Lily was doing fine.
"As far as designating the dog dangerous, that's all well and good," Southmayd said.
But she wished more could be done, such as impounding the dog.
Southmayd worries about what could happen if the dog gets loose again.
"That dog can still attack again. What good is declaring the dog dangerous if the dog isn't impounded?" she asked.
Bouchard said: "The decision to impound in these cases are based on continued threat, owner cooperation and the ability to keep the dog restrained."
"If no owner was around to take the dog back into the house, (when animal control officers arrived) we certainly would have impounded the dog," Bouchard said.
According to county law, enforcement officers may make inquiries and enter private property to inspect the premises for compliance of the dangerous dog law.
If an owner fails to comply with the dangerous dog law, the dog may be impounded and further citations and/or fines will be issued, Bouchard said.
The current leash law and dog bite citations on the pit bull's owner will be forwarded to prosecutors for a hearing in District Court, she said.
Bouchard added that the owners may appeal the dangerous dog designation to the independent Animal Control Board. That panel's members are appointed by the mayor.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.
