Officials: Four dogs in Kouts attacked five dogs, woman – Chicago Tribune

The Porter County Animal Shelter also houses the county’s animal control. – Original Credit: Porter County (Handout / HANDOUT)
Dangerous dog declarations have been made by Porter County Animal Control against four Alaskan malamutes living just south of the Kouts town limits after the dogs compiled six bite reports over the last two years, five against other dogs and one against a woman. This means the dogs must be housed in a secure enclosure and may not leave the property except for veterinary care, and then only when muzzled and on a 3-foot lead.
A dog living in the 500 block of South Main Street in Kouts had to be put down after it was attacked in the most recent incident on Sept. 6. The 10-year-old chow chow was on a tie-out leash on his front porch with his owner present, at around 6:30 p.m., according to a bite report obtained from the Porter County Sheriff’s Department. Tamatha Patterson, of the 1200 block of South Main Street, was walking two of her Alaskan malamutes, Danni and Keegan, when she was pulled by them into the chow chow’s yard where her dogs latched onto him and began shaking him from opposite sides of his body.
A veterinarian at Emergency Vet Care Centers in Westville, where the dog was rushed for care, determined he had a spinal injury due to two lacerations near his left shoulder and one near the base of his right ear, according to the bite report. He could not support any weight on his hind limbs and due to a poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was recommended. The owner opted to take him home for the night, as he was absent deep pain in both hind legs, and took him to her home vet to be euthanized the next morning.
Animal Control Officer Kori Black attempted to serve Patterson the completed dangerous animal paperwork on Sept. 15 but Black’s narrative in the bite report states Patterson refused to sign the paperwork and was noncompliant. Her four dogs Danni, Keegan, Juneau, and Mishka will have to be kept in an enclosure that has a ceiling, a floor that cannot be dug through, four walls, and a door that opens inward.
“Given that the cost of an enclosure can be rather pricey, we’re giving her at least 30 days” to comply, said Darrin Biggs, director of the Porter County Animal Shelter and Animal Control. Biggs said his department will ensure that Patterson has complied with the order after a reasonable amount of time has elapsed for her to acquire the enclosure. “We always do a follow-up,” he said.
Veterinary care can also be expensive. One of Patterson’s neighbors is suing her for $2,300 for an alleged attack on his boxer Boston terrier mix by her dogs Keegan and Mishka in his yard in the 1100 block of Main Street on Jan. 6, 2021.
The dog had to undergo emergency surgery, lab work, and X-rays for the life-threatening injuries it received, according to another Porter County Sheriff’s Department bite report. A court date is set for December in that case.
Patterson did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The earliest of the bite reports is from an Aug. 2, 2020 incident in which Patterson’s mother received one puncture wound and scratches while caring for the dogs. Mishka and Danni were placed on 10-day home quarantine.
On June 25, 2021, yet another neighbor’s dog, this time in the 900 block of South Kouts Street, was attacked by Patterson’s two dogs, Teegan and Danni, after it got out of its yard and charged them. The dog suffered a minor puncture wound and quarantine was again successfully completed.
Patterson’s dogs have not just attacked other dogs in Kouts. On Jan. 2, a woman was walking her dog at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso when Patterson’s dogs, whom she was holding by the leash while riding a bicycle, reportedly chased the woman and her dog, leading to puncture wounds on the animal’s right leg and hip. The woman got Patterson’s first name and phone number and a photograph of the license plate of the vehicle she was driving.
Patterson did not respond to phone calls from animal control, according to the bite report, and denied being at Sunset Hill on the date in question when she called Officer Jennifer Schaafsma at the end of her dogs’ successful quarantine period. The license plate of the vehicle Patterson was allegedly driving, according to the photograph taken by the victim, was registered to Patterson’s mother Joanne Patterson.
Patterson also requested that another officer handle the case, as she felt Schaafsma was harassing her, according to the report. No charges were filed and the report was closed.
When asked if animal control was doing enough to protect the public given the history of Patterson’s dogs, Biggs said yes. “I was not the director for the previous bites,” he said. “I have taken those previous bites into account, which is why I have chosen to do a dangerous dog report.”
“This only applies to the four dogs in question. I cannot condemn any future dogs,” Biggs said.
In the past Patterson has fostered at least one other Alaskan malamute which had to be humanely euthanized after it attacked her and another resident of her home. According to the Porter County Sheriff’s Department bite report, Patterson was fostering the animal for the owner after it exhibited “behavioral issues” and was hoping to rehabilitate him and find him a new home.
Instead, Patterson ended up being transported to the hospital by ambulance on Aug. 15, 2020 after the 3-year-old male attacked her, causing lacerations to her thumb, wrist, and both arms before she escaped from him into her vehicle. He then latched on to her right calf, and only let go when she hit him in the head with the car door.
Patterson called up to the house for her ex-husband to help her and he too was attacked in the leg, but was able to kick the dog off without his skin being broken. Patterson was treated at Fransciscan Health Crown Point for upward of 12 puncture wounds to her right arm, upward of seven puncture wounds to her left arm, a 2-inch laceration and several punctures to her left wrist, and a 13-centimeter laceration to her right calf, as well as other scratches and bruising to her arms, right leg, and abdomen, according to the bite report.
The dog was transported to the Porter County Animal Shelter where he was placed on a ten-day bite quarantine which was completed at the shelter. The dog’s owners were contacted and it was agreed he should be humanely euthanized.
While Patterson lives just outside the town limits of Kouts, across a field from the library, the latest incident has prompted the town council to begin crafting an ordinance to address dog attacks, according to Town Marshal Jim Smith. The town’s code enforcement officer reports to Smith and has begun researching county and state ordinances as a model.
The town, however, like most in Porter County, does not deal directly with animal issues, but has a contract for services with Porter County Animal Control, which is called when necessary. “The only instruction I gave my officers is that if she is seen in town with her dogs to take pictures and write up a report with the date and time of the incident,” Smith said.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Copyright © 2022, Chicago Tribune
Copyright © 2022, Chicago Tribune

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