In the news:
Originally published February 8, 2012 at 6:41 PM | Page modified February 9, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Dog rescued from lake impounded after biting TV news anchor
The live TV news segment was aimed at reuniting firefighter Tyler Sugaski, who rescued the mastiff, and Michael Robinson, the dog's owner.
The Associated Press
DENVER — An 85-pound Argentine mastiff dramatically rescued a day earlier from an icy lake was impounded Wednesday after biting a Denver television news anchor on her face during a live in-studio segment.
Kyle Dyer was conducting an interview on the rescue of Gladiator Maximus, also known as Max, after the dog fell into a Lakewood reservoir Tuesday while chasing a coyote. The live segment was aimed at reuniting firefighter Tyler Sugaski, who rescued the animal, and Michael Robinson, the dog's owner.
According to KUSA-TV (on9news.tv/wOefIb), firefighters, paramedics and animal-control officers were called to the station after the attack.
Dyer underwent reconstructive surgery to repair injuries to her lip, according to a hospital media release.
The station later showed video of Dyer petting the dog, but stopped before the attack occurred and said it would not rebroadcast it. Other video posted online showed the dog lunging at Dyer and biting her face.
Meghan Hughes, spokeswoman for the Denver Environmental Health Department, said Robinson, 39, of suburban Lakewood, was cited with failure to have his dog on a leash, allowing a dog to bite and failure to have a vaccinated dog.
Hughes said the dog is being quarantined until a judge can hold a hearing on the charges and rule on the dog's fate.
Robinson did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Julie Lonborg, spokeswoman for Denver Health hospital, said Dyer was in fair condition after her surgery and was being evaluated by a trauma team. The hospital said she was awake and visiting with her relatives.
"The dog-bite accident that happened today at 9News was unfortunate and certainly not expected based on what we knew about the dog and his owner," Patti Dennis, KUSA vice president of news, wrote on the station's Facebook page. "Our goal was to unite the owner with the rescuer for a nice segment. We are all thinking of Kyle and her recovery."
According to the station, Robinson was taking the dog for a walk without a leash Tuesday about 5:30 p.m. when the dog saw a coyote running out of a bush. The dog chased the coyote onto the ice and fell into the freezing water, where the animal spent 20 minutes before firefighters arrived.
Sugaski broke the ice with his arms to get closer to the dog.
"The dog recognized right off that I was there to help, so he came toward me," Sugaski said.
