Charges filed against pit bull owner

PORT ORCHARD, Kitsap County — Kitsap County prosecutors have filed felony charges against a Poulsbo woman whose pit bull attacked and injured a woman neighbor last week.

Because of the vicious attack, Poulsbo police are also looking into changes to the city's code concerning dogs, including the possibility of banning dangerous canines outright.

Diane M. Law, 53, has been charged with the crime of "unlawful aggressive dog," stemming from a Poulsbo police investigation that found Law's 3-year-old dog attacked a neighbor.

The charges against Law are a Class C felony. She will appear in court in May, deputy prosecutor Jim Mitchell said.

The victim was hospitalized for two days, suffering a broken foot and deep lacerations to her feet and elbows.

Police said the woman was attacked in mid-morning on April 10 when Law's gate surrounding her home was left open. Police said the pit bull either knocked the victim down or pulled her down and then dragged her into its yard.

Neighbor Jerry Sage said he used a brass fireplace shovel to get the pit bull to let go of the victim's right arm.

The dog was taken to the Kitsap Humane Society by animal control officers and placed into a 10-day quarantine. Law has told police she plans to have her pit bull killed.