Resident claims animal has attacked 3 people

COLUMBUS — Polk County commissioners heard from a resident this week who is concerned over a dog in her neighborhood she said is dangerous. 

Commissioners met Monday and heard from Tamara Bruning during citizen comments.

Bruning asked the county for help over a dangerous dog she said has bitten three women in her neighborhood. Bruning also said the dog has viciously attacked two dogs in the neighborhood and keeps escaping.

“It viciously attacked two dogs, and has escaped twice since,” Bruning said to the commissioners. “I cannot leave my home without passing her home.”

After the third bite, the dog was quarantined for 10 days, and within three hours, the dog was loose, she said.

“We have three women with medical records,” Bruning said.

Bruning also said the owner was charged, and, after three continuances in court in March, the case was dismissed.

Shortly after the dismissal, Bruning said the dog charged her while she was horseback riding. She said thankfully it was her husband’s horse, which did not get spooked, or it could have been a deadly incident.

Bruning had pepper spray, which she used on the dog.

Bruning said she is asking for the county to amend its ordinance for dangerous dogs.

On Wednesday, the dog owner was found guilty of a class III misdemeanor, Bruning said.

County manager Marche Pittman met with concerned residents after Monday’s meeting. Pittman said he called Bruning later in the week to say he would get everyone together, including the district attorney and county attorney, to go over the residents’ options.