Neighbors on Stonecreek Court in Palmer Township saw justice last fall when the owner of a dog that terrorized the neighborhood was found guilty of harboring a dangerous dog and eight other counts. The pit bull, Kadafi, had broken loose several times and had bitten at least two people and one dog in their driveways and yards.
Kadafi’s owner, Rashon Clark, was considering a resolution in which the charges would be dropped if the dog was given to a local dog shelter.
8-year-old boy tells of defending Gizmo
One of the people who took the stand against Clark and Kadafi was an 8-year-old boy. He described the events of May 23 when he was walking his 12-year-old dog, Gizmo, before school.
Security cameras caught the incident as Kadafi broke free from his chain and chased the boy and the dog. The boy pulled his dog into his arms and placed himself between Gizmo and Kadafi. As he ran away, the pit bull knocked him to the ground from behind. The boy and dog were able to escape.
The boy suffered scrapes and bruises. Gizmo suffered bites to his rear end.
Kadafi in quarantine
Kadafi was then placed into 10-day quarantine in which he could only be taken outside to relieve himself and had to be on a leash and under the control of an adult at all times.
However, seven days later a 15-year-old boy was bitten on the back of his thigh after Kadafi broke a chain and chased the boy down. Again, surveillance video caught the incident.
After the second incident, the dog was held for quarantine in Palmer Township police headquarters, then returned to Clark.
Neighbors testified problems with the dog had escalated. He has gotten loose and chased after other dogs and leapt at front doors. They said they kept baseball bats near their mailboxes in case Kadafi again got loose.
A designation of a dangerous dog means owners must:
- Register the dog with the state each year and pay a $500 yearly registration fee
- Muzzle the dog, keep it on a leash and under a person’s control whenever the dog is in public
- Spay or neuter the dog and have an identifying microchip placed under the dog’s skin
- Place large, yellow warning signs in the front and back of the property
- Purchase either a $50,000 surety bond payable to any person bitten by the dog or carry a $50,000 liability insurance policy
- Face misdemeanor charges if these requirements aren’t met
For those bitten, there is a two-year statute of limitations to file charges against the animal’s owner.
