The family of Miss Kitty, a five-year-old Miniature Yorkie is mourning the loss of their beloved pet. They watched Friday afternoon as a large unleashed dog attacked and mauled miss kitty who was on a leash at Quinn's Pond.
"He was just running around with her in his mouth and it was just like blood on the floor," said Amiya Almaraz who witnessed the attack.
The family says with the help of visitors at the park and Idaho River Sports employees they were able to retrieve Miss Kitty, but the damage was already done.
"I Took her to WestVet and they tried to resuscitate her, but she was gone," said Missy kitty's owner Cynthia Janoushek.
Animal control officials say the owner of the off-leash dog responsible was cited for dog at large and misdemeanor nuisance. Miss Kitty's family still hasn't decided if they'll file a civil lawsuit against the attacker's owner. While they are deeply saddened by the loss of their dog, they fear at a park full of small children, it could have been much worse.
"What if that was a baby in a stroller you know, what if that was a child that was eating," said Janoushek.
With temperatures heating up and many pet owners taking their dogs to crowded parks to cool off miss kitty's family is urging dog owners to keep their pets in check.
"Leash them and if you know their personality is a little aggressive then don't bring to a place where there are over a thousand people," said Janoushek.
Click here to see what areas in Boise dogs are permitted off leash.
Section 13-03-06 DOGS
A. No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog or other domestic pet shall permit or allow such dog or pet to enter or remain in any park except:
1. Where such dog or pet is controlled by a leash;
a. Leash length shall not exceed eight (8) feet within 250 feet of the greenbelt.
b. Retractable leash mechanisms are allowed so long as their use is in compliance with the requirements of this section.
2. Where such dog or pet is confined in a motor vehicle;
3. Where such dog or pet is carried by such person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of such dog or pet; or
4. In such areas designated by the Commission or the City Council as training and exercise grounds, subject to the rules and regulations therein and as may be prescribed.
B. No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog or other domestic pet shall:
1. Fail to have in his/her possession the equipment necessary to remove his/her dog’s or pet’s fecal matter when accompanied by said dog or pet in any park; or
2. Fail to remove the fecal matter deposited by his/her dog or pet in any park before the owner leaves the immediate area where the fecal matter was deposited.
C. No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog or domestic pet shall permit or allow such dog or pet to enter Municipal Park, Morris Hill Cemetery, Pioneer Page 14 of 17 SUPPLELEMENT NO. 58 Cemetery, Fort Boise Military Cemetery, Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve, the Boise Depot or Platt Gardens at any time.
D. No person owning or having care, custody, possession, or control of a dog or domestic pet shall permit or allow such dog or pet to enter Marianne Williams Park with the exception of the Greenbelt pathway.
E. No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog shall permit or allow such dog or pet to enter Kathryn Albertson Park during the nesting season, from March 1 through June 30.
F. A violation of this Section shall be an infraction, the penalty for which shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) excluding court costs and fees. An infraction is a civil public offense, not constituting a crime, which is punishable only by a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) and for which no period of incarceration may be imposed. There is no right to trial by jury of a citation or complaint for an infraction and such trials shall be held before the court without a jury.
G. This ordinance shall not apply to:
1. Police officers and their service animals during the official performance of their duties;
2. Handlers of search and rescue animals during the official performance of their duties; or
3. Persons with disabilities utilizing assistance animals. (ord-51-13, Amended, 1/14/2014; 6539, Amended, 02/13/2007; 6286, Amended, 12/09/2003)
