The Ada County Sheriff's apprehension dog that attacked a Meridian boy is off the force, and his human partner will face disciplinary action, Sheriff Gary Raney said.
Duce, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been quarantined since the June 29 attack, will likely be sold to another law enforcement organization or traded for another dog, Raney said.
The dog escaped from his partner's Meridian home by breaking through a backyard fence and mauled 13-year-old Jacob Yoneda, biting him on the face, neck and shoulder. The boy received stitches at a hospital before being released the same day. Duce also bit a neighbor who intervened to save the boy, police said.
Raney stressed that the dog, with more social training, would not be a threat to the community. However, Raney said he decided even the perception of safety problems with the dog outweighed the benefit of keeping Duce.
"It simply came down to, I wanted to make sure that his neighbors and anyone else in the community was comfortable," he said.
Yoneda's mother, Bobbi Yoneda, said Jacob is doing well and that she is glad to hear the dog will be out of her neighborhood.
"I think it was a good idea, definitely," she said. "I don't know about selling him to another agency. As far as not bringing him back into our community, he doesn't need to be back there."
She said the Sheriff's Office has been paying for her son's medical bills and that she and her husband have not yet decided if they will pursue legal action.
Raney did not specify any discipline the deputy might face and would not release his name, citing personnel issues. But he said the deputy is a "fine handler" and has taken full responsibility for the incident.
All deputies with K-9 partners living with them will have new, more sturdy fences installed in their yards and kennels with a uniform, cement base, which should lessen the chances of another escape, Raney said.
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