Juneau Assembly upholds dangerous animal decision

The Juneau Assembly has upheld a dangerous animal designation for a dog that killed another during an attack last Thanksgiving.

Douglas residents Joyce and Jody Vick appealed the label for their pit bull-mastiff mix, Sushi. The Vicks argued that the Animal Control Board did not have sufficient evidence to support the designation. Jody Vick also testified at an appeal hearing last month that he saw the other dog bite Sushi on the nose prior to the attack.

The other dog was a Shiz Tsu mix named Sophie, owned by the Vicks’ neighbor. Three witnesses testified that Sophie was not a nipper or a biter. A city attorney representing the Animal Control Board also presented evidence to the assembly that Sushi grabbed Sophie by her neck and shook her, and that Sushi had to be restrained after he tried to attack Sophie a second time.

The Vicks also argued their due process was violated by the delay in scheduling the appeal hearing.

The assembly voted unanimously Monday to uphold the Animal Control Board’s ruling. The written decision says the Vicks failed to produce enough evidence on either of their claims seeking to overturn the board’s action. Assembly members Jerry Nankervis and Mary Becker did not vote on the decision, because they were not at the hearing.

The Vicks have now lost in two separate venues where they’ve tried to defend themselves and Sushi. Last month, Jody Vick was found guilty in Juneau District Court of failure to acquire a special collar and tags for the dog, failure to maintain dangerous animal liability insurance, and objectionable menacing for the attack that killed the other dog.

Ice arena task force created

The Juneau Assembly has created a task force to study whether the Eaglecrest Ski Area Board should manage Treadwell Ice Arena.

Both facilities are owned and operated by the city. The Eaglecrest board is empowered by the assembly to set operating policy and hire a manager for the ski area. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department runs the ice arena.

The task force will consider whether the ski area board would be able to reduce operating costs for the rink. It also will study alternate management structures for Treadwell, including an independent empowered board

In October, Juneau voters will be asked whether to allow the assembly to establish an empowered board to run both city-owned swimming pools, Augustus Brown Swimming Pool and the Dimond Park Aquatic Center.