Newport Jack Russell Deemed Vicious after Hearing

A local Jack Russell terrier that allegedly attacked a woman and her two dogs among other incidents has been declared vicious after a Thursday hearing in Municipal Court.

Police said the owner now has 30 days to complete a series of steps to keep the dog and lose the vicious status including obtaining a dog insurance policy, obtaining a microchip or tattoo, place vicious dog signs on his property, notify police if the dog gets loose, leash and muzzle the dog whenever it’s off the property and keep it leashed or enclosed when on his property.

The dog also cannot be sold or given away.

The owner, identified by police as Timothy Logan Haslam, 55, of 66 Bliss Road, has five days to appeal the decision.

Police said a complaint was previously filed alleging that Haslam leashed his dog to the fence, allowing it to reach the sidewalk or to the outside of the fence, giving it full access to the sidewalk in front of his house.

The most recent incident occurred on June 15, police said, and the victim told police she was walking her dogs between 6 and 7 p.m. when the dog ran out and attacked her and her two dogs, scratching her left arm and leaving both of her dogs with bite wounds. One of her dogs was seriously injured and the wound became infected.