Former House Speaker Paul Mannweiler's pet bulldog, Lance, is no longer welcome at a Lake Monroe subdivision according to this week's Indianapolis Business Journal. The IBJ reports:Homeowners there have become so feaful of "Lance" that they have asked a Monroe Circuit Court to banish from the premises the pooch with a penchant for biting.
The lawsuit brought Oct. 5 by several people details incidents in which they, or someone they know, were bitten. One of the victims, though not seriously injured, is Jason C. Darko, the 33-year-old son of Indianapolis lawyer Richard Darko, a neighbor of Mannweiler's at the lake retreat who is representing the plaintiffs.
A carpenter constructing a log cabin suffered severe enough wounds that the Mannweilers offered to take him to the hospital, the complaint claims . . .
The complaint charges that the Mannweilers are committing a nuisance by maintaining a dangerous dog of such "vicious propensities" . . .
According to the IBJ report, Mannweiler has promised to keep Lance confined to his property, but that's not sufficiently reassuring to the weary neighbors. They wanted an assurance he wouldn't bring Lance back to his Lake Monroe home. Mannweiler would not agree to that condition so they're headed to court.
Ironically, the report notes that Mannweiler authored legislation in 1993 as a legislator which made dog owners liable for their dogs' actions. The law makes dog owners responsible for damages resulting from a bite, and it subjects them to a Class C misdemeanor for intentionally failing to restrain a dog. Mannweiler currently works as a lobbyist for Bose Treacey & Associates.
The arrogance!
ReplyDeleteIf I were a neighbor, I'd shoot the fucking dog!!!!
I am a huge animal lover, but for the life of me, do not understand the propensity for people to own dogs who are so aggressive by breed and nature.
ReplyDeleteOften, it's a Napoleanic thing...then there are other cultural factors involved sometimes, too.
Any breed which is predominantly aggressive should be heavily regulated.
I know all the principles involved here...a Darko-Mannweiler courtroom fight would be a hoot.
There is no such thing as the first bite is free anymore. Control the dog or it has to go.
ReplyDeleteI am not going to regulate dogs, but if I see what is considered to be an agressive breed I give it a wide berth.
maybe if Lance could be trained to smile he wouldn't be so scary to neighbors ?
ReplyDeleteWilson I heard the dog was a lot like you, all bark and very little bite.
ReplyDeleteI was watching a dog show on Sunday and guess which breed won a class? The bulldog. When I would see that bulldog strutting around the show ring I kept thinking "kibbles and bits, kibbles and bits". And a rottweiler won a class too. Both the rott and the bulldog looked like big babies. So cute!
ReplyDeleteLot has to do with how you approach a dog. If you smile - DON'T. That to a dog is baring your teeth. The owners should be aware of how to be the "alpha dog".
Doesn't anyone watch the news about the little girl that was mauled by the dog? This dog already has a track record of biting. Several neighbors of Lance have small grandchildren and the grandparents are supposed to be comfortable letting them be outside knowing that the dog could arrive any time. Lance has no fence and only is kept on a leash and how many dogs on leashes get away? I can't believe the owners are so callous. Didn't Paul co-write the dog rule for the state since his friend was mauled by dogs? Can't he show equal respect for his neighbors?
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