Evansville panel declares Rhea a dangerous dog after alley attack that injured neighbor

An Evansville Animal Control Commission hearing on April 30, 2025 found one dog, identified by its owners as Rhea, to be a dangerous animal after an April 15 attack that injured a neighbor and seriously harmed a small dog.

The commission's hearing followed a complaint filed by Crystal Jennings of 1104 East Iowa Street, who said three dogs from across the alley at 1103 East Delaware came under a fence and attacked her small dog on April 15, 2025. Jennings testified she was bitten multiple times in both hands while trying to separate the animals and required hospital treatment. "I'm not here today to go try to get anybody's animal or pets put down. I'm just looking for the safety, obviously, of my family," Jennings told the board.

Jennings said the neighborhood dogs attacked her 5-pound dog, Gizzy, causing severe injuries that required veterinary treatment; she also testified she returned to an emergency room and was admitted for three days of IV antibiotics. Jennings said Gizzy later required amputation of a hind leg on April 22. Animal control and Evansville Police Department responded to the April 15 incident, and witnesses at the hearing described shots being fired in the ground to scare dogs away. The animals in question were identified at the hearing by the Blackwell family as Cooper (white), Tully (small dark brown) and Rhea (light brown), all kept at 1103 East Delaware Street.

Why it matters: the commission has authority under the Evansville Municipal Code to declare animals dangerous and to impose restrictions ranging from mandatory registration and confinement to requirements for spaying/neutering, microchipping and fines for noncompliance. The board's determination carries obligations for owners and can affect whether animals are returned from quarantine.

Evidence and deliberations: the commission first voted that there was probable cause to proceed with a hearing after the complaint was read into the record. Animal control staff quarantined all three dogs initially because the parties disagreed about which animal was responsible. During testimony, the Blackwells acknowledged prior instances of their animals being out of the yard and described temporary repairs to a chain-link fence and plans for a more permanent privacy fence. Neighbors and other residents described prior encounters, including one resident who said the dogs had come under the fence on earlier occasions.

After hearing testimony and reviewing animal control's report, the commission voted that Cooper and Tully should not be declared dangerous. The commission then voted to declare Rhea a dangerous dog. The panel found no serious bodily injury to a human under the municipal code definition, but concluded the facts met the code's definition of a dangerous animal because of the substantial risk of bodily harm to people or pets.

Orders and restrictions: the commission directed the following for Rhea (orders enumerated as in the municipal code): register the animal with animal control and notify the agency promptly of any ownership or health changes; keep Rhea within a locked fenced area from which she cannot escape while outdoors; require Rhea be on a leash no longer than six feet and under the control of a person 18 or older when off the owner's property; post warning signs at the front and back of the property; require spaying or neutering unless medically contraindicated; require permanent identification by tattoo or microchip; and impose fines and reimposition of conditions if further incidents occur. The board read the code's full list of potential sanctions and explained fines could be levied up to $2,500 for noncompliance, and humane destruction is only authorized where subsequent incidents cause serious bodily injury to a person.

Board procedure and appeal: the commission advised the animal owner that the dogs would remain quarantined while owners complied with the return conditions. Commissioners also reminded all parties an appeal of the commission's decision must be filed within 10 days in Vanderburgh County Superior or Circuit Court.

Notes: the hearing record contains testimony that Jennings required stitches and follow-up ER care, and that Gizzy later underwent amputation; those medical details were reported by witnesses and the complainant at the hearing. Animal control's immediate investigation did not list prior reports at 1103 East Delaware, though neighbors referenced other incidents in the alley and on nearby days.