Dangerous dog seized from owner

A Grand Coulee man who appealed a ruling that he had a “potentially dangerous” dog faced trouble with police again.

Andrew Kramer, of 110 Burdin Boulevard, whose dog “Rowdy” bit a Portland woman July 22, had his dog declared “potentially dangerous” by the Grand Coulee City Council. When Kramer went before Municipal Court Judge Richard Fitterer, he appealed the city’s decision on his dog.

That appeal was denied by Fitterer on Sept. 22.

Kramer was supposed to obtain a dog license and a surety bond on the animal but was having trouble with the money required. So he went to Mayor Paul Townsend to ask for an extension, which Townsend granted for 20 days.

The extension ran out, and when Kramer didn’t comply, police Sgt. Gary Moore went to his residence to pick up the dog Monday, Oct. 23.

That’s when things got tense.

Kramer told Moore that he wouldn’t let him take the dog. Moore started to arrest Kramer for obstructing a police officer.

That’s when Mildred Espersen came out of the house. She had been on the scene when Rowdy bit the Portland woman outside the Banks Lake Pub last summer, the incident that started the problem.

Espersen reasoned with Kramer, who was handcuffed, but Kramer instructed her to lock the front door with the dog inside.

Kramer asked if he could take the dog to a relative in Delano, but was told that the designation “potentially dangerous” traveled with the dog.

Sgt. Moore advised the two that he would return with a search warrant for the dog and any adult that got in the way would be arrested.

After discussions, Kramer and Espersen were allowed to say goodbye to Rowdy, Kramer was released, and police took the dog to the Grant County Animal Shelter in Moses Lake.

Kramer has 20 days from Oct. 23 to fulfill the city’s dangerous dog ordinance requirements.