Maplewood Dog Shot on New Year's Eve Was Banned from Dog Park

Ann Ciaravino, the owner of Emmy Lou, the dog shot twice by a Maplewood police officer on New Year's Eve for aggresive behavior, said she feels responsible for what happened to her dog, and her greatest fear is that she’ll lose Emmy.

“I feel like I’m the one that should have been shot, not my dog,” she said.

Unfortunately, Maplewood has previously documented Emmy Lou's aggressive behavior.

A July 2011 memo from Director Public Works Anthony Traxler stated she bit a terrier named Jack while at the Maplewood Dog Park.

“Emmy Lou showed teeth as the owner of Jack came into the park, so she picked up her dog,” the memo stated.

“With Jack in hand, Emmy Lou came up to her jumping and snapping at Jack as she entered the park,” Traxler stated in the memo. “The owner of Emmy Lou controlled her dog and things calmed down. Approximately five minutes later as both dogs were in the park together, Emmy Lou bit Jack.”

Emmy Lou, a 5-year-old German Shepherd mix, was banned from the Maplewood Dog Park as a result.

The report states that another dog owner verified this aggressive behavior. It states that on another occasion Emmy Lou bit his hand, which drew blood, while at the dog park.

Read Traxler's complete memo (with names redacted) in the included PDF.

Emmy’s owner, Ann Ciaravino, said the aggression was a result of the other dogs not welcoming Emmy when she was new to the park.

“Ciaravino seems to be genuinely interested in keeping her dog in the park,” Traxler said in the memo. He said she suggested Emmy take an aggression test.

“To date, she has been the most agreeable owner of a dog accused of aggressive behavior,” he said in the memo.

Also in Patch:

• Loose Dog is Shot by Maplewood Police on New Year's Eve
• Police Issue Statement on Maplewood Dog Shot by Officer
• Maplewood Police Recommends 2 New Patrol Cars