Questions still remain in bite case of Padi the dog

Congratulations to the Bradenton Herald for the Nov. 4 headline "County talks time spent talking on animals" and the extensive article in your Nov. 5 edition: "Padi defense: Dangerous dog law is unconstitutional."

The Padi case has been a priority news item in the newspaper for five months now. Wow, we have a judge, two attorneys, and a state legislator involved, plus a lot of Padi supporters showing up for a hearing at the Manatee Judicial Center on Nov. 4.

Perhaps I don't have all of the facts but, as reported, a 4-year-old child and his baby sitter were visiting the Pet Clinic owned by a veterinarian, Dr. Paul Gartenberg. Accounts differ as to what happened for this large mixed-breed dog to bite the child's ear.

Questions remain as to: Where was the baby sitter and Dr. Gartenberg during this fracas and attack? Surely, the noise from Padi and the child could be heard from within the Pet Clinic?

One might assume that Dr. Gartenberg allowed Padi to roam about his property freely, maybe as a watchdog. Was Padi wearing a collar, with a current license, at the time of the attack?

The Herald article stated that Padi is under "house arrest" on Dr. Gartenberg's property. Lots of pictures of Padi in a playful mood with his owner.

Whatever happened to the 4-year-old victim? Who reached him first after the attack? Did they have to pull the dog off the child? Was the child taken to an ER at a local hospital, or did Dr. Gartenberg attend to him?

I pray for this child's recovery.

I wonder how the folks feel that had their pets euthanized after the pet bit somebody in the past. I pray that these wise people will resolve the issue in a non-political way.

John Hudak

Bradenton

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Questions still remain in bite case of Padi the dog ."