JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – A woman is recovering from a dog attack at a Home Depot in Evergreen.
Denver7 spoke with Animal Control officials in Jefferson County who provided an update on the incident that occurred on March 31.
Animal control officials said the incident happened after a woman approached the dog and its owners and asked if she could pet it.
The owners told him to give the dog a treat first as part of his training, according to Jennifer Dow, animal control supervisor for Jefferson County.
“The dog sat up nicely, gently took the treat from him, then suddenly lunged at his face,” Dow said.
The victim was seriously injured and will have to be operated on. As customers and store employees assisted the injured woman, Jefferson County officials said the owners left the scene.
They were later able to locate them through an anonymous tip after the sheriff’s office posted photos online, asking for the public’s help in identifying the owners who were captured under surveillance.
Dow said the owners cooperated but now disputed it was a dog bite and said it was a headbutt.
“It’s unclear at this time if it was a headbutt, roughly, or a bite. We’re still awaiting further reports from the doctor’s office,” Dow said.
She said this will determine the charges owners of the dog will face. They could be charged with dog biting off premises under the owner’s control, which is a misdemeanor, or they could face charges of harboring a vicious dog, which is a minor offence.
Denver7 asked if they could face additional charges for leaving the premises.
“We unfortunately don’t have any such orders, such as a hit-and-run. But he would have been responsible to stay and make sure she was okay and give her all the information because she clearly needed to see a doctor,” Dow added.
Officials said the dog is a Great Dane and is quarantined at home for ten days to ensure he shows no signs of rabies.
Dow urges the public to ensure they have full control of pets at all times.
“Your dog is basically your property, your pet,” Dow said. “Dogs are unpredictable, no matter how well trained. You never know.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting more information from doctors to determine what charges the homeowners will face.
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