The owner of two pit bulls that attacked and killed a white terrier in December was found guilty of owning a dangerous dog Friday.
Aaron Christopher Ripley, 19, of James City County was found guilty in Williamsburg/James City County General District Court of having dogs without updated shots, allowing his dogs to roam and owning dangerous dogs, according to the court clerk’s office.
It was not clear Friday what would happen to the pit bulls involved, which had been confiscated by James City County animal control officials in December. The owner of the dog that died did not return calls Friday for comment.
Ripley was fined more than $500 for the Dec. 11 attack that killed one West Highland Terrier and critically injured a second, police said.
Police were called to the area of Wedgewood Drive, just off Centerville Road near Colonial Heritage Boulevard in James City County, after neighbors there called about three dogs being on the loose.
A woman who lives in the area was walking her terriers when they were attacked by two large dogs, according to police reports. The two dogs tore the throats and legs of the terriers before they were separated. Authorities rushed the terriers to a local veterinary clinic, but one dog died of its injuries, police said. The other required extensive care, police said.
After the attack, police found the owners and took two of the dogs. The pit bull owners told officers the dogs had gotten out of a farm’s fence.
December’s attack was not the first time Ripley was charged with animal-related offenses. In 2015, he was charged with letting two dogs run loose, online court records show. He was found guilty and fined, the court’s clerk confirmed Friday.
Canty can be reached by phone at 757-247-4832.
What to do if a dog attacks your pet
1. Don’t try to pick up your pet – you could get hurt
2. Comfort your dog after the attack
3. Take your dog to the vet, even if they have no visible injuries
4. Collect as much information from the attack as possible, get names, numbers of witnesses
5. Report the incident to animal control.
Source: PetMD.com
