Couple charged in dog-mauling case

Charges were filed Monday against the Kalispell owners of a pit bull that late last month allegedly mauled a 64-year-old woman and then charged police, forcing an officer to shoot it to death.

David Earl German, 29, and Summer German, 31, each are charged with one count of negligent endangerment and two counts of having a dog at large, all misdemeanors.

"We are truly sorry that this happened," Summer German said in an interview, adding that her family didn't want any more trouble to arise from the incident. "It was an unexpected thing."

The couple is scheduled to appear Sept. 19 in Kalispell Municipal Court to face the allegations.

According to the Kalispell Police Department, officers responded to a home near the intersection of Second Avenue East North and California Street at 7:59 a.m. Aug. 29 after receiving reports that a woman had been attacked by a dog.

The woman was in her yard, reportedly shooing the couple's pit bull puppy back onto its property, when the couple's second pit bull jumped a 24- to 30-inch fence and attacked her, investigators said.

The woman suffered extensive bite wounds to her chin and head and a large portion of her ear was detached. She also suffered defensive wounds on her arms and hands.

The Kalispell Fire Department transported the victim to the emergency room at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Another neighbor, who also was chased by one of the dogs, helped the woman back into her home and called police. The aggressive dog was still in the woman's yard when officers arrived. It charged, forcing an officer to shoot it three times, investigators said.

The year-old dog was a family pet and reportedly had shown no signs of aggression in the past, Summer German said.

"Not once was there any aggressive behavior," she said. "We did everything responsible pet owners should do. It was just all of the sudden."

The pit bull, named Bear, has been in socialization and training classes since he was 12 weeks old, said German, noting that the dog had never before been aggressive with any of her six children.

German said the alleged attack occurred while she was dropping her children off at school. Her husband, oldest son and sister-in-law were home at the time.

German also said she suspected her dog may have been antagonized; the neighbor reportedly used to spray the pit bull with water to drive it away.

"She did something that morning to set him off," said German. "He didn't do it just because."

If convicted, the Germans each face up to two years in jail and $2,000 fines.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com