The saga of Meesha the dog has apparently come to a conclusion.
Meesha, a 2-year-old chow mix, was taken into custody by Metro Animal Services Feb. 11 after she was seen running in the road just 10 days after being labeled a “potentially dangerous dog” for allegedly killing a chicken in a neighbor’s yard.
She was returned to owner Darcie Severson in June while Severson’s appeal of a Bonney Lake Hearing Examiner’s decision upholding the “potentially dangerous” designation worked its way through the Pierce County court system.
On July 16, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck dismissed Severson’s appeal, meaning the potentially dangerous designation stands.
According to court papers, Severson’s appeal was dismissed with prejudice because the appeal was incorrectly filed.
Meesha had been returned in June, however, after spending months at Metro because Severson completed many of the requirements necessary for the dog to be returned, including proper fencing to ensure Meesha does not run free again.
Other requirements include the purchase of a $50,000 surety bond and having the animal microchipped, though Bonney Lake Police chief Mike Mitchell said the city is “not pushing” the bond due to “confusing” wording in the city’s ordinance.
Meesha will, however, have to be microchipped or could be taken again.
Severson said she is “never” getting a bond for Meesha, who is presently staying with family members outside of Bonney Lake. Severson also reiterated her position that Meesha was illegally taken and held, adding that is the reason she was returned.
“They wouldn’t give her back to me if they knew they weren’t wrong,” she said.
Severson also repeated her belief that chickens should not be included as “domestic animals” in the city code because the definition of “farm animal” includes “domesticated fowl.”
The Public Safety Committee of the City Council has plans to review the dangerous dog section of the city’s code.
Mitchell said since Meesha was returned there have been no problems.
“There’s been no issues with the dog and we just have this final step to do (microchip) and then life goes on,” he said.
