Dangerous Dog Appeals Court hears three cases Wednesday

One of our monthly features on WWAY is New Hanover County Dangerous Dog Appeals Court. It was a full docket Wednesday night, with three cases heard at New Hanover County Animal Control.

Case # 1 Wednesday night involved a 7-year-old rottweiler named Roxy who has a history of attacking humans and other dogs. Mae Freeman and son Darren own Roxy. Shannon Helmey was the complainant.

“I don’t necessarily advocate the dog being euthanized,” said Helmey. “I just don’t want the dog being returned to its irresponsible owner considering the number of times this has happened.”

Joyce Bradley chairs the three person volunteer dangerous dog court panel. “I don’t like to euthanize anything if there’s a way to keep it confined. This dog already has two strikes due to its history.”

Wednesday night was strike three. Roxy will be euthanized unless the Freeman’s decide to appeal to superior court.

Case # 2 involved Musso, a 4-year-old pitbull. Musso was found to be potentially dangerous last month. He has a history of threatening attacks.

Delores Bracey appealed the ruling, thus the reason for this public hearing. Janie McClendon was the complainant. “That was fear. That was completely fear. I never felt like that in my whole life,” she said.

The dog court panel upheld the dangerous dog ruling. Plus, they added two stipulations. Ms. Bracey has to have the dog neutered within 30 days and have a 6ft. fence installed around her property.

The third case involved a cat that was killed by a lab mix and a pit bull mix. Terri Mallow’s dogs will continue to keep the dangerous dog label, but there will not be a need for muzzles.