Pit bull owner trying to raise funds to save dog

A pit bull owner in Greeley vowed Friday she and her friends will be standing on street corners this weekend with signs to raise enough donations to save at least one of her dogs, who are accused of attacking a man last week.

While Sherry Gerdie said she will probably have to release one of her dogs to the city, she wants to save the other, a female named Budha. On Friday, Administrative Hearing Officer Al Dominguez told Gerdie she has until Monday to pay $750 per dog to keep them from being turned over to the Humane Society of Weld County. If that happens, the dogs will probably be euthanized.

A series of Greeley police officers appeared at the hearing Friday to describe what they saw when they were called to Gerdie's apartment on the night of May 8. Officer Bryan Self, like the other officers at the scene that night, said he entered the apartment to find Gregario Rios, 54, on the floor of the apartment. "There was blood on the floor and the walls," Self said, "and blood on the muzzles of both dogs."

Despite the officers' statements, Gerdie said that Budha did not bite Rios. Rios was not in court to testify Friday, but officers said he lost one ear in the attack; the other ear had to be sutured to the side of his head and he had numerous deep bites to his leg, groin, both arms and his head.

Officer Jeff Smith said Rios told him he kept his neck covered to survive the attack.

Gerdie was not at home during the attack, and Rios was helping care for the dogs while Gerdie served a 10-day jail sentence for traffic violations.

However, Gerdie said witnesses of the attack told her Rios was trying to control both dogs and "punched Tech (the male dog) in the mouth." She said that punch precipitated the attack.

Gerdie defended the female dog, Budha, and told Dominguez the dog did not participate in the attack. "That was not blood on her mouth, her face is pink around the mouth area, and police probably thought it was blood."

After listening to testimony from the police officers, an animal control officer and Gerdie, Dominguez ruled that according to the city ordinances, there is cause to impound both dogs for the 30-days following the attack, and he ordered that Gerdie must pay for the dogs' care -- a total of $1,500 -- by Monday.

If the fees for the dogs aren't paid by Monday, the dogs would be turned over to the humane society for either euthanasia or to be adopted out.

Near tears, Gerdie said she doesn't condone what Tech did to her friend, Rios, but she doesn't want to see the female dog, Budha, euthanized. "Please give Budha a chance," Gertie told Dominguez. "I'll put her in a permanent muzzle, I'll take her to obedience training, anything to save her."

Assistant City Attorney Mark Gonzales said it's likely, if the $750 per dog isn't paid by Monday, the dogs will be euthanized.