Photo of two women whose dog bit a customer at Home Depot, authorities say. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
Colorado law enforcement has identified two women whose dog they believe bit a customer in the face at a Home Depot, causing “severe injuries” requiring facial surgery.
Authorities say they were able to identify the women with the help of the public after posting several photos of them on various social media sites, although they did not release the names of the dog owners.
According to a press release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff’s deputies and officers from the county’s Animal Control Division responded to a Home Depot on March 31 in the 1000 block of Rancho Road in Evergreen, at about 25 miles west of Denver.
Investigators say the two dog owners brought their dog to the home repair retailer as part of its training program. Dog owners often bring their animals to pet-friendly establishments such as Home Depot to help them socialize by interacting with other people and animals.
Authorities say the two women explained to the victim that they were training their dog and asked the victim to give him a treat.
“The customer agreed and gave the treat to the dog, then the dog bit the customer in the face,” authorities said. “The victim suffered serious injuries and requires facial surgery as a result of the bite.”
Jefferson County Animal Control Supervisor Jennifer Dow provided additional details about the incident in an interview Friday with Denver ABC affiliate KMGH-TV.
“The dog sat up nicely, gently took the treat from him, then suddenly lunged at his face,” Dow said, according to the station.
As Home Depot employees tended to the injured customer, authorities said the two dog owners took their dog and left without leaving contact information.
Investigators announced Thursday that they have identified the dog owners.
Authorities said dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets and clarified how authorities deal with dog bites.
“The owner would be held responsible for restitution or in the event of enforcement action,” officials said. “For dog bites, the dog is quarantined at home for 10 days to ensure that it does not exhibit any behavior associated with rabies.”
However, according to Dow, dog owners now claim the victim was not bitten but rather hit by the animal.
“It’s not clear at this time if it was a headbutt, roughly, or a bite. We’re still awaiting further reports from the doctor’s office,” she told KMGH.
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