Police Need Help Identifying Dog Owner
Five-Year-Old Girl Bitten on Face July 5
Originally published 3:00 p.m., July 16, 2012
Updated 8:00 a.m., July 18, 2012
The Santa Barbara Police Department's Animal Control Unit is looking for the owner of a dog that bit a five-year-old girl on the face July 5.
A community alert sent out by SBPD spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood states the dog is believed to be a red chow mix, and the department thinks its owner is the woman depicted in the accompanying photo. If you recognize her, police ask, call Animal Control Officer Anthony Nunez at (805) 963-1513 or call anonymously at (805) 897-2386.
SBPD
Suspected dog owner
According to Harwood, the girl was attending a charity event with her parents and sister at Plum Goods craft store on State Street. After asking permission, the girl reached down to pet the chow when she was bit. Harwood was unable to say how seriously, but noted the girl was taken to the emergency room.
The dog's owner reportedly started to walk away after the incident when she was stopped by the girl's father. The owner provided him with a name, contact information, and dog license number, all of which proved to be fake, said Harwood. The girl's mother was able to track down an image of the suspected owner taken at a different fundraising event held in recent weeks.
[UPDATE, July 18]: After receiving numerous tips from the community, Santa Barbara police have identified the dog owner pictured above. They're not releasing her name, however, until they interview her and further investigate the incident.
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Comments
What kind of person does this? And to a kid! I hope they find her and arrest her.
deniseL (anonymous profile)
July 16, 2012 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This person is in the dog house.
EastBeach (anonymous profile)
July 16, 2012 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The kind of person who does not know how to manage a dog and, quite likely, has a dog that has bitten before and fears responsibility. The kind that gives dogs, and dog owners, a bad rap.
sbbulldog (anonymous profile)
July 16, 2012 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
will the little girl have to undergo rabies treatment if the dog is not found?
reality_check (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 5:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her name may be Sylvia but I am not totally sure
Barny (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really want to see this person do some jail time.
Botany (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, she truly is selfish.
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the dog should be let go free and she should go to the pound?
AZ2SB (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She's been identified but name not released:
http://local.nixle.com/alert/4857696/
EastBeach (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get out the torches and pitchforks.
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
July 17, 2012 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People who take their dogs to "charity events" or any other public events are truly clueless. Such behavior is as unfair to the dog as it is to those who attend these events.
Dog owners: get a clue and leave your dogs at home!
buckwheat (anonymous profile)
July 18, 2012 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why, anyone can plainly see that it's Martha Stewart! yes, jail time has made her hard hearted and she obviously gave the "kill" command to her accomplice chow.
GluteousMaximus (anonymous profile)
July 19, 2012 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep classy, lady. Really, quite reprehensible. Take responsibility, be accountable, be mature. Duh.
Draxor (anonymous profile)
July 20, 2012 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)