Council to discuss dangerous dog
Published 6:02 pm Saturday, August 1, 2015
The Austin City Council will discuss the fate of Rock the dog, who was labeled a dangerous dog last month, during the council’s public meeting Monday.
The council voted 6-1 on July 20 with Jeremy Carolan dissenting to euthanize the dog during a dangerous dog appeal put forward by Sofia Smith, Rock’s owner.
The dog has repeatedly attacked or threatened residents in northwest Austin since 2013. He reportedly jumped on a man walking near the 600 block of Sixth Avenue on July 1 and tried to bite him, according to police reports.
Before that, Rock twice attacked mail carriers in 2013 and 2014, and allegedly ran after a father and his 6-year-old daughter walking to Sumner Elementary School in last December. The dog allegedly grabbed onto the student’s backpack before the father scared him away.
In the other incidents, mail carriers had to swing their bags or use mace to get Rock to leave them alone. In one incident, Rock grabbed the mail carrier’s bag and wouldn’t let go.
Yet Smith and others have said Rock never bit anyone and has been a kind and gentle dog who simply wants to play.
An animal rights advocate from New York has also stepped forward to persuade the council not to kill Rock. Kate Riviello of No Kill-New York has started a campaign to prevent Rock from being euthanized.
The council must finalize its decision this Monday before Rock can be put to sleep. The dog won’t be euthanized until Aug. 17 at the earliest.
The council will also discuss the city’s 2016 budget, among other things, at a work session Monday.