Biting dog avoids "dangerous" label

Rex, a brindle mix canine, avoided being named a “dangerous dog” when Electric City council members refused to acknowledge that it bit a city resident, Amanda Lyn Button on May 13.

The dog is owned by Michael Lowry, who appeared at last Tuesday’s council meeting, along with a handful of neighbors who spoke of the positive virtues of the animal.

The council tabled the issue for the second time.

The first time, Lowry pled with the council to delay naming Rex a dangerous animal so he could take the issue before a municipal judge late in July.

Lowry had his court appearance and the judge determined that Rex had bit Button. He fined Lowry $132.

That wasn’t enough for the city council, though. Members wanted the officers handling the case to appear due to what Lowry called “conflicting” reports of the dog bite incident.

The victim wasn’t mentioned during the entire discussion.

If the council eventually named Rex as a “dangerous” dog, Lowry would be required to place it in a cage, post signs of a dangerous dog that can be read from 50 feet away, buy liability insurance on the dog, and he could not take the dog out without a strong leash.

Lowry admitted in the meeting that the dog had been loose, a violation of the city’s ordinance.

Rex and another dog were involved in the attack on Button, who was bitten on both ankles. A relative had to come out and assist her in order to get the dogs away from her.

Button did not appear at the council meeting.

The city will ask the reporting officers to explain what happened and the report they made at the next council meeting, Aug. 28.

The other dog involved in the attack on Button is no longer in the city.