By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
NEW ALBANY — A New Albany man has been charged with violating two city ordinances after his two pit bull mix dogs attacked a neighbor’s golden retriever and then ran into their home. Albert Cross, 40, of the 1900 block of Culbertson Avenue, was charged by New Albany-Floyd County Animal Control with harboring a dangerous animal and harboring an animal with no license.
Animal Control and Shelter Director David Hall said Cross faces no more than a $100 fine for the dangerous animal violation and a possible $25 fine for the license violation. The case will go before a Floyd County judge.
According to a New Albany Police Department report, the owner of a golden retriever said two pit bulls began attacking her dog in the back yard. When she was able to bring her dog inside the home, the attacking dogs followed her inside and then left the house.
The woman’s husband was in the shower when he heard his wife screaming for help. He grabbed his handgun and fired several shots, killing one of the dogs as it was aggressively attempting to re-enter the home.
The golden retriever suffered a laceration to the neck, but no people were injured.
Hall said the city has no ordinance regarding pit bull dogs.
“We don’t want one either. That’s why our ordinance is fantastic,” Hall said. “Technically, those animals were not pit bulls.”
Hall described them as pit bull mixes and said it is difficult to prove whether a canine is a pit bull or a similar mixed breed. He said New Albany’s ordinance regulating “dangerous animals” can include any type of animal that is declared dangerous or has shown a history of violence.
Hall said Cross promised he will remove the surviving dog from the community. If at some point the dog returns to the community, the owner would face strict regulations for where and how to keep the dog.
