Dog attack results in serious injury; dogs scheduled for euthanasia

“Pursuant to Salem City Ordinance 205.150 and Missouri Revised Statute 578.024, which provides:

‘If a dog that has not previously bitten a person attacks and causes serious injury to or the death of any human, the dog shall be seized immediately by an animal control authority or by the county sheriff. The dog shall be impounded and held for ten business days after the owner or possessor is given written notification and thereafter destroyed.’”

The letter serves as notice of intent to euthanize the animals that were impounded on July 25, the same day as the attack. The animals will be scheduled for euthanasia, at the owner’s expense, 10 days following the date of the letter. The letter was dated July 31, which means the animals could be euthanized Saturday, August 10.

News of the incident circulated on social media at the time of the attack. The Salem News contacted the Salem Police Department July 29 for information on the attack but was told the official report was not yet ready. The Salem News contacted SPD again Monday and received a press release Tuesday afternoon.

The release stated officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of East Center for a report of a U.S. Postal Service worker being attacked by 5-6 dogs as per witnesses. An investigation into the incident was conducted, and officers met with the victim at the hospital where he was treated for his wounds and injuries.

Subsequently, contact was made with owner of the dogs involved, and the dogs were seized for quarantine, according to the release. Summons were issued to the owners of the dogs for Dogs at Large. Further investigation led to other forms of evidence such as partial video of the attack confirming five dogs attacking the victim. The victim sustained serious physical injuries from the attack.

For more information on this developing story see The Salem News print editions and the thesalemnewsonline.com.