The dog that survived after it was left for dead in the woods with a slit throat has been euthanized, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture confirmed Wednesday.
Trigger, a rottweiler mix, was put down Jan. 2, said Samantha Krepps. The dog garnered local attention last month after surviving an agonizing ordeal in which his owner allegedly asked a friend to kill the dog because it bit his daughter.
A state dog warden who investigated the case learned the bite was not the first time Trigger had attacked the daughter of Joshua D. Boyanowski, 31, according to Krepps, whose agency oversees the state’s dog wardens.
That led the dog warden to file a dangerous dog notice against Boyanowski and his wife, which was later transferred to the Humane Society of Harrisburg, where Trigger was put down. A dangerous dog is defined by the state as one “that has attacked, inflicted severe injury to, or killed a human being or a domestic animal without provocation while off an owner's property.”
Krepps stressed that it is ultimately a magisterial district judge's call — not the state dog warden's — to deem whether a dog is dangerous. But this case never got to a judge. Phone messages left Wednesday seeking comment on Trigger's euthanization from the Humane Society of Harrisburg’s executive director and public relations assistant were not immediately returned.
Trigger’s death has made an impact on police working the case.
Joshua D. Boyanowski, 31, left, of Middletown, is accused of asking his friend, Jeffrey S. Fletcher, 21, of Highspire, to kill his dog after it bit his daughter, who needed stiches.
“Our department was very saddened by it,” said Lower Swatara Township Det. Robert Appleby, the lead officer in the case. “This dog survived this horrible attack. You make it through something like that and it gives you a feeling that the dog is meant to be here.”
Kevin Bonner, who planned to adopt Trigger after being one of the people who rescued him, could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
Boyanowski, 31, of Middletown, is accused of asking his friend, Jeffery S. Fletcher, 21, of Highspire, to kill Trigger because the dog bit his daughter, who needed stiches.
Police said Fletcher admitted to slitting the dog’s throat three times with a hunting knife and leaving it to die in a wooded area near Rosedale Avenue and Stoner Drive in Lower Swatara Township. The dog managed to crawl out of the woods and was rescued by Bonner and Helen McGarry, who were passing by and spotted him in the road.
Trigger went into shock following the incident and staff at the Londonderry Animal Hospital worked to save him.
Boyanowsk is charged with conspiracy to commit animal killing and cruelty to animals. His preliminary hearing Monday was continued to Feb. 10 so that a lawyer could be appointed in his case. He remains free from police custody on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Fletcher, who remains in Dauphin County Prison, is charged with animal killing, conspiracy to commit animal killing, animal cruelty, criminal trespassing and possessing an instrument of crime. He waived his preliminary hearing Monday and has a formal arraignment scheduled for Feb. 21.
Authorities say Fletcher has a criminal history that includes incidents of violence against people, property crimes, and drug and disorderly conduct offenses.
www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/01/dog_trigger_knife_attack_eutha.html
Trigger, a rottweiler mix, was put down Jan. 2, said Samantha Krepps. The dog garnered local attention last month after surviving an agonizing ordeal in which his owner allegedly asked a friend to kill the dog because it bit his daughter.
A state dog warden who investigated the case learned the bite was not the first time Trigger had attacked the daughter of Joshua D. Boyanowski, 31, according to Krepps, whose agency oversees the state’s dog wardens.
That led the dog warden to file a dangerous dog notice against Boyanowski and his wife, which was later transferred to the Humane Society of Harrisburg, where Trigger was put down. A dangerous dog is defined by the state as one “that has attacked, inflicted severe injury to, or killed a human being or a domestic animal without provocation while off an owner's property.”
Krepps stressed that it is ultimately a magisterial district judge's call — not the state dog warden's — to deem whether a dog is dangerous. But this case never got to a judge. Phone messages left Wednesday seeking comment on Trigger's euthanization from the Humane Society of Harrisburg’s executive director and public relations assistant were not immediately returned.
Trigger’s death has made an impact on police working the case.
Joshua D. Boyanowski, 31, left, of Middletown, is accused of asking his friend, Jeffrey S. Fletcher, 21, of Highspire, to kill his dog after it bit his daughter, who needed stiches. “Our department was very saddened by it,” said Lower Swatara Township Det. Robert Appleby, the lead officer in the case. “This dog survived this horrible attack. You make it through something like that and it gives you a feeling that the dog is meant to be here.”
Kevin Bonner, who planned to adopt Trigger after being one of the people who rescued him, could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
Boyanowski, 31, of Middletown, is accused of asking his friend, Jeffery S. Fletcher, 21, of Highspire, to kill Trigger because the dog bit his daughter, who needed stiches.
Police said Fletcher admitted to slitting the dog’s throat three times with a hunting knife and leaving it to die in a wooded area near Rosedale Avenue and Stoner Drive in Lower Swatara Township. The dog managed to crawl out of the woods and was rescued by Bonner and Helen McGarry, who were passing by and spotted him in the road.
Trigger went into shock following the incident and staff at the Londonderry Animal Hospital worked to save him.
Boyanowsk is charged with conspiracy to commit animal killing and cruelty to animals. His preliminary hearing Monday was continued to Feb. 10 so that a lawyer could be appointed in his case. He remains free from police custody on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Fletcher, who remains in Dauphin County Prison, is charged with animal killing, conspiracy to commit animal killing, animal cruelty, criminal trespassing and possessing an instrument of crime. He waived his preliminary hearing Monday and has a formal arraignment scheduled for Feb. 21.
Authorities say Fletcher has a criminal history that includes incidents of violence against people, property crimes, and drug and disorderly conduct offenses.
www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/01/dog_trigger_knife_attack_eutha.html
Show Konversi KodeHide Konversi Kode Show EmoticonHide Emoticon