Dog In Seaside Heights Attack Quarantined; Owner Seeks Its Return

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — A dog that attacked two adults and a child on Sunday as they walked along the Boulevard remains quarantined at the Ocean County Health Department's animal shelter, according to the health department.

The dog, a 1-year-old gray Cane Corso named Bear, was seized and impounded on May 14, and quarantine for dogs in bite situations typically lasts 10 days, said Brian Lippai, spokesman for the health department.

Bear attacked the people — a 35-year-old man from Williamstown, a 35-year-old woman from South Toms River, and a 7-year-old boy from South Toms River — near the Hotel Charlee Villas at 1211 Boulevard, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman said.

The woman suffered a severe laceration on her right hand and her left forearm; the man had a bite on his right arm and the boy had a bite on his left forearm, Korman said. All three were treated and released.

Three men worked together to hold the dog down and control it until authorities arrived, Korman said.

Bear's owner, Bobbi Dunn of Beachwood, was issued summonses for having a dog at large, an uncontrolled dog and an unlicensed dog, Korman said.

Lippai said Bear is vaccinated against rabies, and the three people who were injured were not receiving rabies prophylactic shots since he was properly vaccinated.

"In most instances (after a dog bite) the owners will take the dog back," Lippai said. In some cases they will surrender a dog to the county "if they feel it’s too dangerous or are afraid of any further dangerous situations," he said.

Dunn, Bear's owner, has told county officials she wants her dog returned to her.

Under New Jersey state law, dog owners are liable for any dog bite injuries that occur when the person bitten is in a private place or lawfully in a public place, "even if he or she used reasonable care to restrain the dog or to protect or warn others," according to the website for New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association.

The law does not mandate consequences beyond the 10-day quarantine.