Seaside dog attack victim fights for change in city laws

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) A plea for change Thursday night after horrific dog attacks in Seaside left some families without their beloved pets.

Ena Rosa's eight pound puppy Jasper was mauled and killed by two unattended german shepherds last month. She has been going to council meetings in Seaside ever since to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone again.

"The new year has been kind of hard for me, to be perfectly honest. And I miss him. But I'm trying to find a learning experience from this," said Rosa. "I just want to make sure that the city ordinance on vicious dogs is reinforced to sustain and maintain the accountability of negligent dog owners."

"My heart really went out to them because I witness a lot of things, myself walking my two dogs. We've had a lot of problems," said Gisel Ray, a Seaside resident.

Ray is one of the people who attended Thursday's meeting. The Seaside City Council is looking at ways they can strengthen and revise their laws to protect dog owners in these attacks and hold the right people responsible.

"Our concern is to make sure you take care of your dog and keep your dog on the leash, inside your house or the gate," said Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby.

Right now, the council has only public input on what changes residents would like to see, but they will bring the issue back to council at a later date to amend the current laws.

Residents think more needs to be done.

"I've just left Seaside in order to walk my dogs. I go to other communities that have HOA fees or military bases where I know I'm going to be a little more secure," said Ray.

For Rosa, she wants to see more communication with victims of attacks and more transparency with information about what can be done.

"It can be a passive topic over time and I just want to maintain the importance of it right now and for it to last," said Rosa.

Those two attack dogs have been euthanized, according to Rosa. The owners of those dogs have been contacted.