More News

On Sept. 21, Brian's dog, a 15-pound Chihuahua-Jack Russell Terrier mix named Sammy, was attacked by two neighborhood dogs. The two much larger dogs dragged Sammy into the street, where the dog was hit by a car, he said.

"He was more than a dog, he was [Brian's] best friend," his mother, Donna Evenson, said.

Brian and his mother said the only thing they can do is find justice in their dog's death. Sammy was given to the family almost a year ago by friends and was a part of their daily life, Evenson said.

They have drawn up a petition and have spent the last few days collecting more than 100 signatures to ask their local government and Maryland governor Martin O'Malley to enforce stricter penalties for the owners of aggressive animals who aren't kept in fenced in yards.

When Animal Management came to her home, Evenson said she was told by workers they could not enforce any penalties on the animal or its owner because they did not witness the incident.

Current county law states that Animal Management must investigate any animal that attacks a person or another animal and provide a written complaint to the owner, according to the Prince George's County website. Upon completion of the investigation and pending a hearing, the animal in question will not be impounded unless it is thought the owners cannot control the animal and keep it from attacking again.

Chief Rodney Taylor of Prince George's County Animal Management Division said there is no penalty for an aggressive animal unless the animal is taken before the Commission for Animal Management and declared vicious.

If the owner does not comply with the vicious restrictions, then the penalty is $100 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense and $2,500 for any subsequent offense, Taylor said.

The neighborhood dogs' owner surrendered the dogs to Animal Management. However, one of the animals escaped in the process of transporting the dogs back to the Animal Management Facility and has still not been found, Evenson said.

The second dog escaped due to the cable breaking on the restraint pole, Taylor said.

"Once he escaped, staff was trying to apprehend him, and he was then hit by a car and then ran off into the woods," he said, adding that Animal Management has said out traps but has had no luck in catching the dog.

Evenson created a blog in the hopes that community members might spot the loose dog in the neighborhood and call Animal Management.

The dog that was captured has been euthanized, Taylor said.

The mother and son said they are hoping local officials will take a look at their petition and amend the law to penalize the owners of aggressive animals with more than a warning, adding that Animal Management should not have to see an incident in order to penalize an owner.

"I thought, what can I do to change the law?" said Brian.

From there, he began researching on the internet and found the best way to get a law changed is to write a petition and get 100 signatures from the community, he said.

"He just wants to get the word out there," Evenson said. "We just want justice for [Sammy]."

Although, Brian has already surpassed 100 signatures, he said he is going to continue to get as many signatures as possible.

"I knew of course my immediate neighbors would sign," he said. "But it was great to see people who didn't know me so willing to sign it without a question."

Evenson is also fighting for the safety of her community, she said. "It could have been a child that was attacked."

As for the loss of their companion, Evenson said it is too soon to think about getting another dog.

"Every day it gets a little bit harder for my kids," she said.

Email Megan McKeever at mmckeever@gazette.net.