DogAttacks

After several attacks, police are trying to get the owner of a dog that’s been terrorizing a Puna neighborhood to surrender the animal.

A German shepherd named Sheba has attacked people and animals several times in the last two years in their small neighborhood of Kehena Beach Estates in Puna.

Residents say the laws meant to protect them by preventing dog attacks — especially repeat attacks — aren’t being enforced on an island that’s already mourning the deaths of two people who were mauled in separate incidents involving other dogs.

Their most recent plea for help was filed in Third Circuit Court last month in the form of a victim impact statement in an ongoing case involving Sheba’s owner, Marie Carpentier.

Nearly four dozen community members signed the March 19 statement “out of genuine fear for the safety of our families, our pets, and ourselves, and out of confusion about why the law has not done more to protect us.”

Act 224 created an offense of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog including both misdemeanor and felony penalties. It also created a legal basis for declaring dogs dangerous, requirements for owners and the right for officers to inspect homes of dangerous dogs.

Carpentier was not charged under the state law for an attack on two neighbors. But the rules Carpentier was meant to follow are some of the requirements for owners of dangerous dogs under the state law.

Neighbors say she hasn’t followed those rules, and the county hasn’t done its due diligence to check that she has.

A notice from animal control was placed on Carpentier’s gate after they attempted to check if she was complying with the rules prior to her hearing.

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