Farmington man facing charges after dog attack
A Farmington man is facing criminal charges after his two dogs allegedly attacked and killed another dog and severely injured the dog’s owner in an incident at 2:30 p.m. July 18.
Patrick E. Seese, 40, was charged with several violations of the state’s Dog Law Act — with 10 misdemeanors and six summary violations — by Beth Newman, a state dog warden, stemming from the incident in which his female Pit Bull mix “Zeanna” and male Boxer mix “Hercules” attacked and killed a dachshund, named “Scrubbs,” and caused severe injuries to William Bryner, 74, while off Seese’s property at 154 Dinnerbell-Ohiopyle Road, Farmington.
In 2017, Seese was convicted of having the two “dangerous” dogs, according to court paperwork. Because of that conviction, Seese is required to keep the dogs restrained in a number of ways, including keeping them either inside a dwelling or in a “proper enclosure,” on the property, Newman wrote. He is also required to keep them muzzled and physically restrained by a responsible person on a leash when outside of that enclosure, according to Pennsylvania’s dangerous dog statutes.
Specifically, it is unlawful for an owner to fail at all times to keep the dog(s) “firmly secured by means of a collar or chain or other device so that it cannot stray beyond the premises on which it is secured,” Newman wrote.
Seese is facing two counts of dog attack with serious injury or death, two counts of negative conditions resulting in dog attack, two counts of not having the dogs dogs in a proper enclosure, two counts of allowing the dogs outside of dwelling/enclosure while not physically restrained and two counts of muzzling the dogs.
“On July 18, 2018, the defendant’s two dangerous dogs were running at large on the victim, William Bryner’s property located at 136 Dinnerbell-Ohiopyle Road in Farmington,” Newman stated in the complaint.
If convicted, Seese could pay a fine not to exceed $5,000 plus the cost to quarantine, kennel charges and destruction of the dangerous dogs, according to court paperwork. Seese has 10 days to file and appeal and if none is received, the dogs could be destroyed humanely after the necessary quarantine period has elapsed, Newman indicated.
The summary citations filed against Seese allege he failed to purchase dog licenses from the county treasurer and failed to provide proof of rabies vaccinations for Zeanna and Hercules within 48 hours of the dog warden’s request. An additional two summary violations were filed for Seese allegedly failing to have the dogs safely confined or controlled with a collar and/or chain.
Seese faces a preliminary hearing on all charges Oct. 10 before Fayette County Magisterial District Judge Nathan A. Henning.