Mercedes, an 8-year-old pitbull from Victoria Park, has been on Doggie Death Row since November


She seems as sweet as they come.

But Mercedes, an 8-year-old pit bull mix from Victoria Park, has been on Doggie Death Row since November.

Her crime: Killing Slugger the neighborhood cat while he slept on a front porch. The cause of death: Trauma, crushed lungs and heart failure.

Under a year-old county law, the Oreo-spotted pitbull might have been euthanized months ago.

But her owner, 25-year-old Brian Hoesch, filed a lawsuit in January aiming to save Mercedes and overturn a county law that allows a dog to be euthanized if it kills a domestic animal in an unprovoked attack. Before the law took effect in May 2008, dogs could be put down only after two fatal attacks.

Dogs that kill or seriously injure a person also can be euthanized.

Supporters argue the new law helps save more innocent animals from being killed in future attacks. Critics claim it is too harsh and doesn't give owners the chance to change a pet's behavior.

Jason Wandner, attorney for Hoesch, argues the county law is unconstitutional and conflicts with a state law that allows for more than one fatal attack on an animal.

In a recent ruling, Broward Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner rejected that argument, saying the county has the right to make its rules stricter than state law.

Wandner plans to appeal.

"Dog kills a cat, or another dog, goodbye," he said. "The dog is just summarily executed. Under the new law, there are no second chances."

About five cases are pending in Broward courts questioning the constitutionality of Broward's dangerous-dog ordinance -- one of the strictest in the nation, said Adam Goldfarb, a spokesman for the Humane Society of the United States.

In most cases, dogs are not euthanized after one fatal attack on another animal, Goldfarb said. Instead, the owner may be required to post "dangerous dog" signs at the home and muzzle the dog when it's outside.

Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova Southeastern University, believes the law will stand up in court. But he sees the other side, too.

The county law allows the seizure of property -- in this case, pets -- without due process, Jarvis said. "You're taking my property without giving me a chance to argue why I should keep [it]."

Tell that to Stan Peters, Slugger's owner, and you won't get much sympathy.

"This is hard for me," Peters said before recounting his cat's brutal mauling, which he refers to as "the day of horrors."

"It's like opening a grave," Peters said. "He was the greatest cat anyone can ever imagine."

Peters does not think Mercedes deserves another chance.

"Being an animal lover, I hate to euthanize any creature," he said. "But ... it could happen again."


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/s...0,4020885.story

hmmmm not a winning argument imo.

hmmmm. a winning argument.

I agree. Cats will always matter more then dogs. It's the natural order of things.

Hey I posted a story for you in No Debate Zone.

I saw it.
Very thoughtful of you, Grace. Thanx.

An animal lover? This guy is ignorant. Its natural for dogs to go after cats and sometimes accidents happen. It doesn't make the dog dangerous.

I wouldn't call mauling a cat to death an accident. I tend to believe once a dog kills another animal whether it be a cat, possum, another dog..it's highly likely it'll do it again. Our neighbor's dog next door has killed about 19 possums that have either been on the fence (he jumps up and grabs them or knocks them off) or kills them in the yard. It's a game for this dog now and I'm not sure you can train a dog not to kill something. Maybe it depends on the breed? This dog is a weinreimer. Do all dogs kill cats?

Well, poodles would probably try to do their nails.

A dog is a predator and killing is natural behavior. The fault for the death of the cat is not the dog but the owner for having it unrestrained. The cat was loose too. Was it on its own property? Why kill the dog for doing what dogs naturally do? Why not fine the owner so next time he'll give more thought to restraining or containing the dog? I would have settled for the guy buying me another cat of my choosing and the associated costs like shots.

I've had a few dogs that were great with cats and others that would have killed them in a heartbeat. When I'm out with a dog I always have it on a leash because I never know what I'll encounter. I don't want it going after another animal though if a cat, rabbit or ground squirrel passes through the backyard they'll go after it. You can train them not to but that usually means the dog will leave them alone only until you're gone. That too depends on the dog.

No, ALL dogs do not kill cats.. all GOOD dogs kill cats..... And before anyone drops this into the thread, animal aggression and people aggression really have little correlation from my experience.....Every dog I own will throttle a furry critter. I don't believe I own a dog ( besides the bulldog that was trained to) that you could make bite you. As for the dog in the story, if the dog was off lead and the cat was on his property then yeah the owner shouyld get in trouble...kiling the dog via the legal system is a bit much though.

My dog doesn't kill cats and I think she's a good dog.

She's a nice looking boxer that's a fact. And she doesn't kill cats. I love her.

I wasn't able to see that picture before. Thats a nice looking boxer.

Thanks Grace and Rpedog. That's a fairly old picture of her. I'll try to post a newer one soon.

Yep, nice looking boxer RF. My SIL has one, Rupp, and he doesn't kill cats either. Our siberians will in a heartbeat but our aussies are good with them.

Could this face hurt anyone?


You're staring into the terrifying face that is a turkey hunting dog. Be afraid.

She is such a sweet looking dog. Very silky looking coat too. Do you just call her a turkey hunting dog?

stone cold killer there. GOBBLE GOBBLE

Nice pun. I might have a picture somewhere of her in the woods.

Don’t have any recent photos of a successful hunt. I have a hard time getting afield as often as I’d like right now with two small kids. I still go hunting, but disappearing for a week or two at a time to traipse around the woods isn’t an option right now. And just going a day here and a day there with little to no scouting is cutting into my success rate. And the friggin blue laws here in VA don’t help by cutting my potential hunting time in half. Damn Puritans.

But the boy is getting bigger. He just turned four. I figure he can handle tagging along on some short, easy trips this fall. I was five or younger when I started following along.

I’ll have to scrounge up a .410 for afterward to bust a target or two. Shooting the shotgun at the NWTF JAKES event spoiled him. On the days I do go out when I come back home and he sees the gun case he wants to shoot balloons again. Next Spring the girl can probably go to the JAKES even too. Which is great, but having to supervise them means I can’t volunteer, which was always fun too.

XXMag

That's ok. I'm not fond of dead animal pics. Besides, I can't picture Mother with a bloodied bird hanging from her mouth. I rather remember her in repose. But don't let that stop you. I'm sure others would appreciate some dead bird pics.


XXMag

4 is kinda young. Does your wife hunt?

My wife tags along sometimes. She’s more interested in turkey than deer hunting. I think deer are still a bit too cute for the city girl. Though she likes venison and even helps me butcher the meat I bring home… Odd.

Four is young, but it’s not like he’ll be packing heat. I figure on a series of short strolls through the woods with the dog running around. Pretty much like any weekend in Granddad’s backyard only with a slightly higher chance of gunfire.

Mine is the same way...enjoys going out when she is able but has no desire to actually shoot anything.....BUT will grab a knife and tear into processing whatever i bring home. Likes everything so far except she wont try groundhog.

Though her dad was in the Army, she wasn’t allowed to even play with squirt guns as a kid. I got her into target shooting. For someone who had never held a gun until well into their 20s she’s a good shot. I gave her my old youth model 20ga. She’s a safety course away from getting a license and toting the gun along.

I’ll have to buy a case of clay targets and use the hand-tosser and see if she can hit something that’s moving. Though, if everything goes to plan a turkey ought to be standing still when the hammer drops, especially in the spring.

Turns out I've got a pic of her with a grouse, but I'll spare you. But I will torture you with more dog pictures.

Thanks XXMag.

She's a sweet looking dog. I love the 2nd pic, especially, with the fall leaves at her feet.