Dearborn County upholds ‘vicious’ dog ruling, gives owner 60 days to seek perimeter-fence relief

Dearborn County Commissioners on Thursday upheld an animal-control determination that a German shepherd–Belgian Malinois mix owned by Carrie Chambers is a “vicious and dangerous” dog but granted the owner 60 days to pursue a perimeter-fence solution and asked staff to review progress on Feb. 17.

The hearing followed an administrative determination by Dearborn County Animal Control Director Steve Hostetter that the dog had been involved in multiple dog-on-dog attacks, including incidents recorded on Oct. 6 and Dec. 2, and that the county’s containment standards were not being met by the owner’s in-ground electric fence. Hostetter told the panel investigators had two recorded bite incidents and victim-family testimony that together supported the determination.

The case centered on competing accounts. Victim Paula Roman said repeated attacks had left her and her pet traumatized and that she feared for her safety, telling the board, “If this continues, I'm gonna have to purchase a gun.” Her son-in-law, Andrew Schwab, told commissioners…