DRIGGS — Two Teton County residents are responsible of two misdemeanor crimes of “keeping a dangerous dog” and obtained two years of probation following a brutal assault that despatched a 5-year-old boy to the hospital.
Trent Dayton and Joey “Lisa” Dayton, who stay simply outdoors of Driggs, have been every charged with one rely of possessing a harmful and at-risk canine following the April 6 assault.
During the bench trial on Sept. 7 in entrance of Magistrate Judge Jason Walker, Teton County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauretta Welch stated the Daytons’ canine crossed the fence and entered the neighboring yard of John and Jessie Vrabrec. The canine was capable of achieve access due to a considerable amount of snow that had amassed alongside the fence line on the Daytons’ property. She stated the canine then went after the Vrabrecs’ son Sawyer.
Sawyer was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center after the Daytons’ canine mauled the boy. The little one sustained extreme wounds to his face, legs, arms and eye.
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The Daytons obtained a suspended sentence of 30 days jail, a nice of $100 plus court docket prices and two years of probation. The circumstances of probation specify the Daytons should preserve the canine confined in a safe, locked enclosure when outdoors; keep enough snow removing to stop the canine from leaping over the fence; preserve the canine on a safe leash when off the property; set up a transparent “Beware of Dog” signal on the property; and supply the Teton County Sheriff’s Office with a colour photograph of the canine to maintain on file.
The court docket additionally reserved the suitable to order the canine to be humanely put to demise and impose jail time if the Daytons violated the phrases of their probation.
The Daytons could also be ordered to pay restitution to the sufferer’s household for medical payments and different financial losses sustained on account of the crime. The Teton County Prosecutor’s Office has 90 days from the decision to file a movement for restitution itemizing the losses sustained.
John Vrabrec didn’t want to touch upon this story however stated that his son was doing properly. A neighborhood GoFundMe buoyed the household, netting greater than $16,500 after the assault. In April, Jessie stated that Sawyer was sporting his snowsuit and winter jacket on the night of the assault, and she or he credit that with saving the little boy’s life.
In April, John requested Driggs elected officers to tighten up canine ordinances and contemplate hiring an animal management officer.
Driggs Mayor August Christensen informed EastIdahoInformation.com a committee of elected officers referred to as the “Council of Governments” have been assembly often and speaking about methods to deal with dog-at-large instances round Teton Valley. The Council of Governments is made up of three valley mayors — Christensen, Victor Mayor Will Frohlich and Tetonia Mayor Brent Schindler — and Teton County Commission Chair Cindy Reigel. Department employees are invited to those conferences, in addition to the Teton County Sheriff Office.
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“Everyone is concerned, and everyone wants to do something,” stated Chirstensen whereas talking of dogs within the valley. She acknowledged whereas the Vrabrec case was not the norm for the realm, dogs roaming and not using a leash or collar can chase youngsters and or chew an individual.
“There are a lot of dogs in the city and county that are just loose,” she stated. “Dogs escape their yards because the owners don’t keep them fenced up. Everyone has a story where they or a family member has been scared or chased or bitten by a vicious dog. A lot of the people in the community want to do something. Now that the number of people (living here) is increasing, it’s just not sustainable for (dog) owners to feel that it is fine for them to let their dogs loose.”
Christensen stated the council is taking a look at quite a lot of methods to deal with the neighborhood together with ramping up training, taking a look at hiring a non-public animal management particular person or funding an animal management place by means of authorities funding.
Riegel stated the county wouldn’t be funding an animal management officer right now. The county commissioners set the sheriff’s finances, which has already elevated from $1.24 million in 2018 to $2.24 million in 2024, in keeping with the county clerk’s workplace. This doesn’t embrace dispatch and jail providers.
“We still need more money to cover basic law enforcement services without adding the additional expense of a specialized officer with a specialized vehicle and specialized equipment who may not even be on duty when an incident occurs,” stated Riegel.
“If the cities of Victor and Driggs want an animal control officer, they can fund one,” she informed EastIdahoInformation.com. “The county is already maxed out on our general fund budget since the state caps counties at a 3% budget increase from property tax each year, even when growth and inflation exceeds that. Victor and Driggs have local option sales and lodging taxes, in addition to property taxes, that allow them much more flexibility to fund an animal control officer. The sheriff’s office already responds to calls and addresses vicious dog issues as needed, like they did with the case you are referring to.”
Teton County Sheriff Clint Lemieux has maintained that he would choose to fund one other deputy over an animal management officer.
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