Affidavit: Dog Owner 'Hostile and Uncooperative'

and killed a black Labrador Retriever last week were frequently allowed to roam by their owner and they sometimes caused a nuisance in the area, according to an arrest warrant affidavit released Thursday.

The affidavit, which explains the charges against Oxford resident Vickie Tkacz (pronounced Kach) who owns the dogs, also states that Tkacz was hostile and uncooperative with police and animal control officials during their investigation. She refused to turn over two of the four dogs involved in the fight or reveal their location, the affidavit states.

Four dogs were involved in the attack, according to the affidavit, although Tkacz’s Seymour-based attorney, Ralph Crozier, said that only two were involved. Two of those dogs were taken into custody by animal control officials, but two others are out of state and have not been returned to the area, First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said.

Two of Tkacz’s other dogs, who were not involved in the incident, are under quarantine, Drayton-Rogers said. Crozier is trying to help Tkacz get her dogs back; they are in an undisclosed location.

The affidavit also reveals the injuries from which the dog, Roxy, died.  After one dog bit the Lab on the neck and latched on, the other Newfoundlands (each of which was between 130 and 150 pounds) joined in the attack; the Labrador suffered a gash to the back of its neck that was about 10 inches wide, causing a large flap of skin to hang from the side of the neck, the affidavit states. The dog had another gash about four inches round on its shoulder, according to the affidavit. There was also a wound on the dorsum with two puncture marks present, the affidavit states.

The Lab’s owner, Patrick Severson, 20, of Oxford, who works at Jackson Cove part time, was sitting with his dog on a lead when the attack happened, according to the affidavit. He was bitten on the hand trying to break up the dog fight and has been undergoing shots for rabies in case it is determined any of the dogs have rabies while they are in quarantine.

Tkacz was charged with two counts of failure to obey a quarantine order, obstruction of the duties of an animal control officer and four counts of allowing a dog to roam, all misdemeanors. She plans to plead not guilty to all charges.