Living in Coronado has many perks — dog friendly places, great weather, and a wonderful sense of community. Many homes are close together, requiring neighbors to be friendly and considerate to each other. When a conflict arises, it may call for communication and perhaps even taking action against a dangerous situation. Recently there’s been a frightening dog situation. Dogs can get excited and break out of their gate; we all know it happens. If the dog is friendly, the only problem is the safety of the dog. The owner calls their dog and retrieves it and apologizes to the neighbors it encountered on its outing. However, if that dog is dangerous, it can lead to scary situations for everyone involved.
There is a mixed breed pit bull that lives on the 600 block of A Avenue that has been terrorizing its neighbors. Numerous incidents have occurred in which this dog has gotten out of her yard and charged at people passing by, or entered other people’s property and caused neighbors to be fearful. Witnesses have described seeing her charge people on multiple occasions. This dog has charged a woman in her yard while she was doing yard work, stopping just short of her. Witnesses stated that they felt the woman “was a goner.” The dog did not attack the woman and returned to its yard when called. In another incident a person was in their own yard when the same dog got out. It charged the individual, cornering them to where they were forced to stay put. Another time a person witnessed a father having a late morning stroll, pushing his children in a double stroller, when the dog got out of her gate and began running towards the man and the stroller. The man stood in place as to not provoke the dog. After a moment the owner came out to retrieve the dog. This dog has not only charged at people, it also charged towards a person walking their dog, and their dog was attacked. There is not a police report on record regarding the dog attack or what the end result was. All of these incidents have caused people living on the 600 block of A to be extra cautious when outside their home, some changing their route in order to avoid this block all together.
A woman that lives in that area also had a close encounter with this particular dog while finishing up her morning run. She had been made aware of the specific dog in the area and warned to be cautious. Coming around the corner, she spotted the dog already out of her yard. The dog then charged the runner, stopping mere inches from her shin, and nearly got her thigh. The dog seemed to have the same intentions as with the neighbor across the way. She never bit the runner, but cornered her so she could not move. Thankfully a witness was outside and shouted to distract the dog so that the runner could move. Once the dog became distracted the runner hid behind a parked car. It was then that the runner called the Coronado Police Department (CPD) to send out an Animal Service Officer. Within minutes CPD arrived on scene. The owner then came outside to get the dog. Since that day, this woman runner who lives in the area has changed her running and walking route to avoid another possible encounter with this dog.
After speaking with Officer Harris at the CPD, he confirmed that there have been five calls within the last year into the department with regards to the dog in this specific area. The protocol they use is that they will respond to the call and try to locate the dog’s owner; however if the dog owner cannot be found, they will take the animal to P.A.W.S. where the animal can stay as the owner is located. If the owner is located during the incident, they will give the owner a verbal warning with regards to the animal being loose, or not on a leash. After one or two warnings a citation will be issued. At that time that the owner will face the Magistrate Judge and begin to resolve the issue surrounding the citation. Officer Harris stated that there are about four Animal Control Officers on staff, and he was unsure if a citation has been written to the owners of the pit mix dog. Therefore, the status of this dog on A Ave is unclear as far as declaring the animal from a nuisance to dangerous.
According to Coronado Municipal code 32.08.090, Declaration of dangerous animal, the following process has been established with regards to declaring an animal dangerous. First and foremost there needs to be cause, as perceived by the department, to proceed with the declaration. Meaning, there needs to be sufficient evidence to establish whether or not the animal in question is dangerous. Second, the department needs to file an intent to name the animal dangerous with the owners. The notice must include the evidence the department used to base the decision to proceed on, options to pursue a hearing, and the consequences should the animal be declared dangerous. The owners then have an opportunity to request a hearing within five days. Third, if the owner/custodian fails to respond to the notice of intent or is not present or represented at the hearing, it is then that the animal (by default) will be deemed dangerous. Fourth, the department is then authorized to impound or abate the “dangerous animal” for reasons established in the municipal code. Note: it is unlawful for an owner to fail to surrender the animal to the department. Fifth, in the event immediate impoundment is deemed necessary to ensure the health and safety of the community, the pre-impoundment hearing will be waived. However, the owner/custodian has five days to request an abatement hearing. This will then stop the clock on the abatement of the animal until the abatement hearing is complete. Lastly, if in the hearing grounds exist for animal abatement or impoundment, or the owner/custodian fails to request a hearing that will satisfy hearing requirements, the animal will be impounded or abated. This code lays out very specific proceedings to handle a situation like the ones mentioned above.
Having an unruly dog in a close community such as Coronado can be a scary situation for all involved. This is such a dog friendly environment, and perhaps it is time to ensure that dog owners do the best they can to keep it that way. Watch your pets at the beaches, clean up after them, and most importantly if you have a dog who behaves in a manner that causes others to be in fear or have to change their daily routine to avoid your dog, it would be best to find a living situation that is best suited for the dog or be prepared to face the code.
Updates regarding this situation will be published as they are received.
