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Board says police had multiple interactions with Coco after July 13 bite that required stitches
Summary
Board members said Decatur police had at least three encounters with Coco before the July 13 bite; the victim required roughly 21 stitches and the dog was impounded while vaccination status and other release conditions are unresolved.
Board members told the Decatur City Board of Works that Decatur police had at least three interactions with the dog Coco before the July 13 incident and that the bite on July 13 required substantial medical treatment.
The chair said officers were summoned to the hospital after the injured man received emergency treatment and that the victim required "21 stitches, in his face." The chair also said Decatur police responded to at least three incidents involving Coco since January.
The animal is being held at the county impound facility named in the record as the "Adams County Bridal Shelter"; the transcript includes that phrase but the board described the location only as the county impound where the dog is currently held. The chair said the dog's vaccination was out of date and that the owner must show proof of an updated rabies vaccination appointment or records to comply with the order.
Board members emphasized public-safety risks, saying the dog cannot be at large and should be inside or on a leash and muzzled in public. One board member said the concerns extend beyond officers to "the children in the community." The board noted that, if the owner does not satisfy the release conditions, animal control authority will determine whether the animal is rehomed or euthanized under local ordinance.
