A 1-year-old Cane Corso that weighs more than 100 pounds was declared dangerous Oct. 7 by the Charles County Animal Matters Hearing Board. The ruling came after the dog got loose and attacked a woman’s two Maltese dogs as neighborhood children waited for a school bus.
The same night, the board declined to label a friendly La Plata herding dog “potentially dangerous” even though animal control said he had been crossing the five lanes of Route 301 to reach Walmart. His owner told the board the dog is moving to a Virginia farm.
The board heard six cases in about two hours. It found owners in violation in every case, sent two owners who did not appear to the State’s Attorney’s Office, and split on the Route 301 dog. The board’s decisions are final unless appealed to Circuit Court within 30 days.
‘I felt very powerless’
The Cane Corso, named Zulu, got out on the morning of Sept. 15, Animal Control Officer Neal testified. The first call came from an anonymous parent at a bus stop who saw the dog chase a young woman. The caller said the dog often got out and acted aggressively, and declined to come forward because of past dealings with the owner.
The young woman told the board she was walking her family’s two toy Maltese dogs about three houses from home when Zulu ran at her. She said it was the third time the dog had come at her. “I’m panicking, I’m screaming, I feel very powerless,” she said. Zulu grabbed the smaller dog, Curry, by the abdomen. Neighbors pulled Zulu off, she said.
The other Maltese, Clay, had a superficial cut on a hind leg. Curry’s injuries were worse. A veterinarian suspected the bite caused a hernia, with bruising and swelling, and Neal said the injury will likely need surgery. The woman’s leg was scratched.
Owner Lorenzo Brooks told the board he regretted what happened and that the dog got away from him while he was taking out the garbage. He disputed the woman’s account that he stood by his mailbox during the attack, saying he ran over, called the dog and took it home. Brooks said Zulu is mostly an indoor dog, and that he has ordered a kennel and plans to fence his property with heavy-gauge fencing. He said Zulu is not neutered.
Neal also wanted to show a video of Zulu lunging at people passing his kennel at the county Animal Care Center. A board attorney advised members to disregard it, because Brooks had not seen it and it did not involve the attack.
The board found Brooks in violation of the county license requirement ($50) and the dangerous, vicious or potentially dangerous animal section, with a $750 fine. Of that, $500 is held in abeyance for one year and goes away if Zulu does not come back before the board. It found him not in violation of the at-large charge. Brooks has 90 days to pay $300 and owes $410 to the Animal Care Center to reclaim Zulu. The board also ordered all of the county’s dangerous-dog abatements except one. Those are the conditions an owner must follow to keep such a dog.
The dog that went to Walmart
Oscar, a black-and-white Australian shepherd type, was picked up Sept. 23 after he was found at the La Plata Walmart, Animal Control Officer Myra Taman testified. It was his third impoundment this year, after March 24 and May 25. Sheriff’s dispatch logged four calls between March and September about Oscar at the La Plata Wawa. Postings on a Southern Maryland lost-and-found Facebook page showed him at Walmart repeatedly from Sept. 12 to 23.
Taman asked the board to consider the potentially dangerous designation. Oscar is friendly, she said, but a driver who swerves to miss him on Route 301 could cause a crash. The board’s attorneys, Potter and Clay Kirby, said running across a highway can count as potentially dangerous behavior, but the board was not required to find it.
Owner Caleb Cox told the board Oscar is attached to him and wanders off when Cox is at work and the dog gets bored. Cox said he spent about $3,000 on GPS fence collars that did not work, and an in-ground fence for his roughly four acres cost more than the family could afford. The couple has a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old. Cox said Oscar is going to his sister’s farm near Lexington, Va., more than 100 acres.
A first motion to find Oscar potentially dangerous, with a $500 fine held for six months, failed. Two members voted yes, three voted no and one abstained. A second motion passed 4-2. It found Cox in violation of the at-large rule with a $100 fine (doubled for a repeat) and the third-impound rule, but not potentially dangerous. Cox owed a doubled $470 impound fee, and animal control will check in two weeks that Oscar has been rehomed.
Acting Chair Kristi McCumery warned Cox that if Oscar comes back before the board, he will be deemed dangerous.
Other cases
- Amazon driver kept in his truck (Waldorf): Officer Donald Murphy said two Maltese mixes harassed an Amazon driver, who never got out of his vehicle. A neighbor testified the black dog had bitten her before. The owner refused to give license or rabies records and did not appear. The black dog, Kodak, was ruled potentially dangerous. The two citations total $350 now, with $350 more held in abeyance for 10 months. The owner was referred to the State’s Attorney for failure to appear.
- Seniors chased in La Plata: Two pit bull type dogs ran loose Sept. 28 near Peach Leaf Court and later chased elderly residents at the Kennedy Place senior community, a sergeant testified. The male, Draco, bared his teeth and lunged at an animal control officer, and residents said he ran at them. Draco was ruled potentially dangerous, with $250 due, $200 held for a year, all abatements and a State’s Attorney referral. The owner did not appear. The female, Sky, drew a $50 at-large fine.
- Third time out (La Plata): A pit bull type named Milo was impounded for the third time this year and the eighth since 2022, Officer Neal said. The owner said Milo slips out when visitors open the gate and that the family is adding a door. Fines: $50 plus a doubled $440 impound fee.
- Two small dogs attacked (Waldorf): A pit bull type named King broke his leash Sept. 25 on Linwood Court and attacked a Yorkie and a French bulldog, the second one inside its owners’ home. A neighbor used a paint pole to pull King off. King was ruled dangerous or potentially dangerous. His owner owes $50 and a $230 impound fee, with $550 held for nine months and all abatements except one.
The board meets next Oct. 21. Its hearings are recorded and air on CCGTV.
