In a letter sent to TheBAYNET.com, dated Nov. 18, Richard Miller wrote, “On Oct. 31, 2008, my 6 year old son, Grant Miller, was attacked in the face by Rosie, a Rottweiler, who lives in the 2100 block of Constellation St. in Lexington Park.
“The attack was unprovoked. Grant was not touching or looking at the dog. He did have a flashlight he picked up from Ms. Mogge’s (dog’s owner) kitchen counter and was pointing it to the ground, not at the dog. Just before the attack, Ms. Mogge was standing in the living room along with Grant, his parents and his Grandmother – the child and four adults. He sustained several laceration/puncture wounds and is extremely lucky not to have lost his eye. He had surgery on his face that night, with a second surgery that followed.
“Grant is a brave little boy and is on the road to recovery.”
Miller went on to state that Ms. Mogge, who is also Grant’s aunt, had originally said that once the quarantine period ended (state law required for rabies) that she would put the dog down. The quarantine period ended on Nov. 18, and Mogge has changed her mind, deciding not to put the Doberman-Rottweiler mixed breed dog down.
“Maryland has a “One bite” law that states it is acceptable for a dog to attack once without consequence. The second time, action will be taken. As a mother and citizen, I am outraged!” said Grant’s mother, Tina Miler.
The Millers ask the question, “Will you or your child be the next victim of a vicious dog attack before action is taken?”
Richard Miller went on to say, “We were notified Nov. 18 that Animal Control had deemed the attack as “PROVOKED!” Based on the following contributing factors:
1. Grant is a child
2. He was wearing a costume.
3. He had a flash light; and
4. He was in the dog owner’s home.
Ms. Mogge and Animal Control both went back to the dog with Ms. Mogge’s flashlight, resulting in NO reaction from the dog. So how could this be a contributing factor?”
The Millers indicated that there are neighbors who have given statements to Animal Control that this same dog has lunged at other children on their way to the bus stop. However, this was not taken into consideration because it was a statement and not an “official” report.
“Is this our justice system? Do we protect those who do us harm? And victims continue to be victims? I’m sure if a human being had approached Grant and cut his face, he would be jailed without hesitation. And yet a dog is held to higher standards and has no consequence,” asked Tina Miler.
“We are an animal loving family and have pets ourselves. We even have a dog that we adopted through the Humane Society. [Rosie was adopted from an animal shelter where he was registered as an abused fighting dog.] But when an animal show’s [sic] a violent tendency and attacks a six year old child unprovoked, something has to be done,” exclaimed Richard Miller
“The evening of the attack, my son was around our family dog, my mother’s dog and a friend’s dog without attack, pause or hesitation from these dogs so we didn’t anticipate any problems at our last stop at his Aunt’s house,” said the Millers.
In a follow-up interview with Richard Miller, TBN learned that the situation has turned somewhat rancorous between Mogge and the Millers since she faile