On Friday, July 7, the Village of Pleasant Prairie received notification from the State Court of Appeals that an appeal filed by a dog owner in an attempt to protect his dog from being put down, was denied. This case began in August 2016 after the animal had bitten two young people on two separate occasions. The animal had also injured his owner during April of 2015. Following these incidents, the Chief of Police, in accordance with Village ordinances, had deemed the dog a dangerous animal.
The owner requested a special hearing regarding the matter before the Village Board. The special hearing was held in September 2016. Following a lengthy hearing, where evidence was presented and testimony was heard, the Village Board confirmed that the dog was dangerous and ordered that it be either euthanized or legally removed from the Village.
Pleasant Prairie Police attempted to work with the dog's owner, Jack Thomsen, to find a location outside the Village where the dog could legally live. In a mutual agreement, Thomsen moved the dog to another location to satisfy the order. However, in November 2016, Thomsen returned the animal to his home in Pleasant Prairie in defiance of the order.
In January 2017, Pleasant Prairie Police were notified that the animal had injured Thomsen once again. This case involved potentially life-threating wounds inflicted by the dog. The injuries resulted in the owner's extended hospital stay. Police removed the dog once again and quarantined it at Safe Harbor Humane Society until receiving notification from the State Court of Appeals authorizing euthanasia.
“The dog was euthanized in a humane manner by a veterinary professional on the evening of Friday, July 7,” explained Chief of Police David Smetana. “Police and Village representatives understand the emotional attachment between owners and their pets and do not take these matters lightly. The Police Department's role is to secure the safety of all residents and visitors within our community. Unfortunately, repeated dangerous situations in violation of Village ordinances led to this outcome.” Archived copies of this and other Pleasant Prairie Police Department news releases are available by clicking here.
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