BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) _ Prosecutors and the owner of a dog in custody for biting a 4-year-old boy have agreed to halt their case before a hearing officer and instead ask directly for a ruling from a circuit court judge.
On June 4, the dog, Padi, bit the child while he was in the office of its owner, a veterinarian. The child’s baby sitter has said the dog was not provoked. Owner Dr. Paul Gartenberg has said the sitter didn’t supervise the child properly.
The Bradenton Herald reports that a movement calling itself “Free Padi” says the Labrador mix shouldn’t be euthanized and should be released to Gartenberg while the case proceeds.
Manatee County Attorney Mickey Palmer says a scheduled hearing didn’t happen Tuesday, and a judge will decide whether Padi can be released while the case is active. Palmer says a decision could take 60 days.
Attorney Dan Dannheisser, representing the boy’s family, says social media commentary about the case is largely uninformed and includes threats against the family.
