Dog Appeals Court: Weimaraners get loose and approach man

Last year, New Hanover County Dog Appeals Court was a monthly feature on WWAY. The board did not hear any cases in December, but they were back at it again Wednesday night. This case involved a former Washington, DC police officer who actually used to guard President John F. Kennedy.

Nancy and Ted Burns own two Weimaraners. Nancy said they are the sweetest dogs you could possibly imagine; there’s no way they would harm anybody.

Charles Eaves disagrees after the dogs approached him in the Burns’ Rivers Edge neighborhood. “I left my tear gas cartridge in the car. It is for grizzly bear attacks, but it will kill small animals. You wouldn’t expect two wild dogs, unleashed dogs, uncontrolled dogs to be roaming the neighborhood,” he said. “Thank goodness I had no weapons with me, but I did have a thick pack of 50 brochures.”

“These animals are very gentle, very sweet. They would never attack, bite or harm anyone,” said Nancy.

Charles said, “I attacked her. She was five feet from me, I moved into three feet and I started doing this (he starts to hit the dog with his brochures) and hollering at her.”

Charles Eaves said this went on for quite some time, but he was never bitten.

In the end, the panelists all agreed that the Weimaraners are not dangerous, but the Burns’ need to do a better of job of containing them.

The Burns’ family has thirty days to modify their fence. The Appeals Board will re-visit the case in a month and make a decision.