It seemed like they had done everything right – and yet the love of couple Kerstin and Martina Ann from Narn im Machland for their dogs ended in an inexplicable tragedy. Her four-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier “Elmo” – highly respected in the breeding association – attacked the neighbor (60) who lived right across the street, biting her, and mauling the jogger beyond recognition. Later the husband could identify his wife only on the basis of her clothes.
The breeder, who had managed to get her dog into the house after snatching it from a neighbor, was seriously injured and was taken to the Kepler Clinic in Linz. He and his wife have now agreed that “Elmo” can be euthanized.
The brown and white male had never tested negative before. He had all the papers, he was trained at the club and he followed every word. The American Amstaff, which is listed as a Category 1 dog, is called a “nanny dog” and is commonly known as a “fighting dog”. “Nanny dog” because the muscular terrier can also care for children if properly trained.
And yet every responsible AmStaff owner knows that dogs should always be kept on leash and muzzled when in public. In Vienna, in addition to dog licensing, this is an absolute obligation for owners, which is also checked by the police and violations are severely punished.
“Elmo” had just become a father. A group of seven Amstaff puppies, including three males. Both breeders celebrated their success on the relevant Internet sites and received congratulations from all over Austria.
The pages have been partially removed after the drama unfolded around 9:15 a.m. Monday on a dirt road in the Seburn district. Just a few meters from the home of the murdered neighbor, who was attacked while jogging.
Responsibility for a fatal dog attack is clear: “Whoever keeps game must take care of the game,” says an ancient legal principle. The breeder couple will be held accountable in court for negligent homicide.
