Dangerous Dog Court: A jogger, a dog, and an electric dog fence

Bob Greene owns a 5-year-old lab mixed named Kujo. Rebecca Zumpe said Kujo broke through an electric dog fence and attacked her two months ago while she was jogging down a street with her own dog, which she had on a retractable leash.

“I could tell where the fence was and he went right through it. It’s like he stopped and went right through it with his teeth out,” said Zumpe. “I tried to move away from him. He hit me so hard that he completely knocked me down.”

Rebecca, a paralegal, fractured her ankle. She said she has missed two months of work and needs another surgery due to a torn meniscus.

Bob Greene provided a witness who said Kujo did not attack, nor did the dog break through the electric fence. Marion Gaukey said the jogger tripped over her own dog while running. She said, “Her dog saw Kujo and he pulled her and she fell down.”

The panelists then debated the potential verdict. Joyce Bradley said, “I don’t like the idea of the dog being out there without anybody with him. He’s obviously broken through once before. The bad thing about the electric fence is your dog is defenseless if another dog gets on your property. If you’re willing to put up a fence approved by animal control I’m willing to find the dog not guilty.”

The other panelists concurred. Rebecca Zumpe did not object because she only wants containment.

Bob Greene was given 60 days to install an actual physical fence.

The Dangerous Dogs Appeal panelists will skip December and hold their next session in January.