Woman Sentenced To Jail For Having Loose Dog
March 22, 2005
http://www.komotv.com/stories/35883.htm
A Lynnwood (WA) woman has been sentenced to jail time, after her dog got out
of the yard one too many times.
Her dog Dakota is friendly, active and compulsive about fetching balls. So
much so, that when no one's around to throw a ball, the black lab has been
known to escape to find someone who will.
But after Dakota got out of his Lynnwood yard five times, an animal control
officer had enough. He charged owner Deborah Linnell with 'dog at large.'
"I decided to plead guilty and possibly do community service. I had no idea,"
said Linnell.
No idea that the judge would actually sentence her to jail.
"I was in shock, devastated. I was so upset, I couldn't go back to work. It
didn't seem real," said Linnell
Deborah never dreamed the judge would order her to three days behind bars...
especially since she installed an invisible fence to make sure Dakota wouldn't
get out again.
The dog won't cross it, not even when his coveted ball is tossed just over the
line. But it didn't matter in courtroom.
"If he was a vicious dog, I could understand, or if I was a terrible citizen I
could see that, but... it just doesn't seem real," said Linnell.
Deborah has an appeal hearing on Thursday. But if the sentence sticks she'll
be finger printed and photographed for mug shots.
She will have to find someone to take care of her disabled son and for the
first time since her husband died two years ago, she will have to remove his
wedding ring from her around her neck.
No jewelry is allowed in jail.
"I'm scared to death," said Linnell fighting back tears.
Lynnwood judge, Stephen Moore could not comment on the case, saying it would
be unethical to discuss it before the appeal.
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