Court forces resident to better secure dog
Dog broke loose, attacked woman in Sayreville last year
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SAYREVILLE - A dog owner will have to go to extra lengths to keep his dog secured after pleading guilty to summonses related to a dog attack that occurred last year.

The Holly Drive resident, who appeared in Sayreville Municipal Court Jan. 30, pleaded guilty to violating a borough code for having a dog running at large, and a state summons for a dog causing bodily injury to a person during an unprovoked attack and posing a serious threat of bodily injury or death to a person.

The summonses stemmed from an incident that occurred on Jan. 4, 2007, when the owner's dog, described as a boxer mix, escaped from the bottom portion of a broken fence in the rear yard of the Holly Drive residence. The dog then attacked a resident walking on neighboring Kierst Street before being secured by the owner.

Three employees of the Middlesex County Public Health Department, which issued the summonses, attended the hearing last month in Sayreville, where the judge issued a consent decree to the owners of a "potentially dangerous dog." The owner must comply with the provisions of the state code within 60 days, according to the health department.

The dog owner reportedly obtained liability insurance, which was also a provision of the state code. The owner must also obtain a special municipal potentially dangerous dog license, municipal registration and a red identification tag from the borough. The registration number will be tattooed on the dog in a prominent location.

In addition, the owner must post a sign on the property warning of a potentially dangerous dog, and repair the fence at the residence to the satisfaction of the county health department. The dog will be confined to the enclosure and will be muzzled and retrained with a tether, according to the county department.

Health Department Director David A. Papi issued a statement saying that the department is moving forward to reach a court determination on whether the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious.

"We take animal bites very seriously, and we are currently proceeding with the court procedure to determine if the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious. It is important for individuals to be responsible pet owners and ensure that their animals are under the control of their owner at all times, are currently licensed and have received all of their vaccinations."