Nassau County magistrate upholds dangerous‑dog designation for Benny, orders $200 in impoundment costs

Harrison Poole, the Nassau County code enforcement special magistrate, on Nov. 12 upheld a dangerous‑dog designation for a dog named Benny and ordered $200 in impoundment costs and a 10‑day quarantine cost of $20 per day.

Nassau County Animal Services (NCAS) officers testified the dog was off leash on Oct. 4, 2025, and that the encounter resulted in a severe injury to a resident. NCAS Animal Control Officer Danielle Burrows said the victim sustained a “partially amputated thumb” and that the injury scored a level 4 on the Dunbar bite scale. “Based on Benny being outside the home without restraint and the owner failing to exercise proper care and control of their animal,” Burrows testified, the county found the owner in violation of the county’s restraint code.

The victim, Leah Sekoski, described walking with family when Benny charged her dog, latched onto the smaller dog’s neck and then bit her thumb. Sekoski said she underwent hand surgery the next day and has lasting limitations from the injury; she told the magistrate, “I truly believe that Benny is a dangerous dog.” NCAS later placed Benny in quarantine and issued the dangerous‑dog declaration under Nassau County Code section 6‑47 and Florida Statutes chapter 767; NCAS requested the magistrate uphold that declaration and recover impoundment costs under county code section 6‑48(b).

The dog’s owner, Dawn Ward, and her companion John Green contested the finding, presenting written temperament affidavits, prior NCAS pickup records that showed no earlier bite history and arguing Benny was provoked. Green said Benny is an American bully, not a pit bull, and argued the dog “was defending his master” when the other dog’s owner yelled and stomped. Ward testified she has had Benny since puppyhood and that he has lived with children, cats and other dogs without prior aggression. Witnesses for Ward described Benny as docile and social in the neighborhood.

The parties also disputed some factual details: the owner’s camp argued the other dog may have bitten its owner during the scuffle and pointed to neighborhood statements and prior pickup records to challenge NCAS’s assessment; the victim and NCAS maintained the evidence supports the declaration, including the severity of the injury and medical care required. Resident neighbors and a condo association member told the magistrate they had repeatedly seen Benny off leash and raised concerns about possible future harm.

After hearing testimony, reviewing affidavits, photographs and NCAS reports, Magistrate Poole said he found “competent and substantial evidence to support the designation of a dangerous dog for Benny.” He said he would not order euthanasia but that Benny could be returned only if the owner complies with statutory and county requirements, including insurance and secure confinement standards the county and state require. Poole said he would issue a written final order in the next few days and reminded the parties of the right to appeal to the Circuit Court of Nassau County within 30 days of the signed final order.

The magistrate also assessed $200 in impoundment costs (10 days at $20 per day) and noted questions about payment assistance are administrative matters between the owner and the county. The magistrate set the next regular code enforcement special magistrate meeting for Nov. 18.

The decision does not change the legal right of the victim to pursue civil damages; the magistrate’s order addresses the county’s dangerous‑dog designation, quarantine and cost recovery under local code and state statute.