The owner of Charlie, the Staffordshire terrier accused of an attack on a US Park Police horse, is fighting for his pet’s life after San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control’s vicious and dangerous dog unit has ordered the dog’s death.
According to Golden Gate National Recreation Area spokesperson Howard Levitt, a US Park Police Officer and his horse were on a routine patrol at Crissy Field on August 9 when Charlie, who was off-leash, attacked the horse, “biting the stomach, and locking on a rear leg,” Levitt said.
“The horse fell and the US Park Police Officer was thrown to the ground,” Levitt said.
According to Levitt, David Gizzarelli, Charile’s owner “was on scene, but did not bring the dog under control.”
After the attack, the horse ran towards its stable, with Charlie in pursuit, Levitt says.
Charlie “chased the horse around the stable and into the area to the south of the stable,” Levitt said.
A kick to the dog by the horse apparently threw Charlie off-course, and he wandered toward the Lincoln Blvd. underpass of Presidio Parkway.
Soon after, Gizzarelli arrived, along with the Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit of SF’s Animal Care and Control, who promptly took possession of the dog.
Gizzarelli was then arrested, taken to the US Park Police Presidio Headquarters, and booked on several charges, including failure to maintain control of a dog and assault on a police officer.
The officer, who Levitt told the Ex was “badly bruised and shaken,” was treated at the scene by SFFD Emergency Medical personnel but was not hospitalized. The horse continues to be treated for its injuries.
At the time of the attack, Levett told KCBS the that horse “should recover but he was pretty chewed up.”
Now, as the Ex reports, in a hearing last week the ACC’s dog unit declared that Charlie should be destroyed.
The Ex reports that Gizzarelli is working to retain a lawyer, and hopes to file an injunction delaying Charlie’s sentence until his case can be heard by a court in SF.
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