Black Lab Abby Declared Potentially Dangerous Dog After Biting 5-Year-Old At Next-Door Park

  • Thursday, April 19, 2012

City Judge Sherry Paty on Thursday declared a black labrador named Abby a potentially dangerous dog after hearing testimony that she bit a five-year-old child at the North Chattanooga Recreation Center.

But she said owners Vicki and Lauren Cain can retrieve Abby from the McKamey Animal Trust, where she has been held since the March 29 dog bite incident. The cost to reclaim will be $250. Most of that amount is the $10-per-day boarding fee.

Judge Paty admonished the Cains that they can't let Abby slip out of the house and go over to the park unrestrained any more.

She said if there are no further problems for 90 days that the dog can go off the PDD list.

The owners will have to take Abby to two dog obedience classes within six months.

Javid Sulman, uncle of the five-month-old who was bitten, said Vicki Cain stated that it was OK because the dog had gotten all the required shots.

He said he was especially concerned because the dog was jumping up on his wife who was holding their-month-old.

He also said Ms.

Cain advised him, "The dog won't listen to me."

Mr. Sulman's wife, Maryan, said she often sees the dog running at large. She said that day Vicki Cain came out after the dog, but was slow to get it under control. "She was just standing there," she said.

She said she was not able to protect the five-year-old because she was having to guard the baby in her arms.

She said the five-year-old was bitten three different times. She said she pulled his pants down and saw that he was bleeding. He was then taken to a doctor for treatment.

Vicki Cain said, "We love that dog. She's not mean or vicious. She thinks the children are playing with her." 

Of the bite, she said, "There was a little mark." 

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