Does Congo live or die?
19 Nov, 2007 By: Ron Hall LM Direct!
The fate of Congo, a 2-year-old German shepard owned by the Guy James family, which lives near Princeton, NJ, hangs in the balance. Will Congo be euthanized or will he be allowed to return to his owners but under heavy guard, so to speak?
That’s not clear, even after a judge ruled for the dog’s execution early in November. What’s certain, however, is the incredible amount of publicity that Congo and his case have received in the local and regional press. That publicity has sparked a torrent of comment, howls of protests directed at the sentence and, even a threat of a lawsuit from the dog’s owners.
Nobody disagrees that the dog attacked and mauled landscape worker Giovanni Rivera on the property of the James’ family the morning of June 5. And nobody disputes that fact that he and several co-workers arrived at the James property an hour earlier than expected that morning.
What is being disputed, however, are the events directly leading up to the attack. The family’s version, according to local newspaper reports, has them warning the landscape workers to remain in their vehicle until Congo and their four other German shepards were secured. There were two adult German shepards and three 6-month-old shepard pups. In spite of their warning, they claimed, Rivera and one other worker left their vehicle and began working on the James’ 10-acre property.
According to Elizabeth James one of workers began striking one of the pups with a rake, a claim apparently disputed by the worker who maintained he was trying to keep the pup at bay. She said that Rivera was hiding behind her as this was going on, and when he grabbed her and she reportedly fell to the ground Congo responded sensing that she was being attacked.
Rivera suffered numerous bites and scratches and received an insurance settlement of $250,000 plus medical costs as a result of the incident. Congo was labeled a “vicious” dog by a local judge and ordered put down, a verdict that angered many people, prompting them to send a torrent of emails and phone calls to the judge, holding protest marches outside the courtroom and handing out leaflets seeking the reversal of Congo’s death sentence. The James, meanwhile, are doing everything they can to save their dog. They’ve said they will appeal the death sentence verdict to higher court.
In the latest twist to the case, a superior court judge in mid November signed a consent order to free Congo from a homeless animal shelter to its owners’ care until the case is appealed. With some strict restrictions on Congo's freedom, of course.
Here are some links to articles relating to Congo and his controversial death sentence:
The Trentonian: “Dead dog barking: Should this pooch perish for chomping a gardener?”
NJ.com: “A different view of dog attack”
The Princeton Packet: “Free Congo!”
WABC Eyewitness News: “Judge upholds sentence of Congo the dog"
NJ.com: “Judge’s order will allow Congo to go home”
NJ.com: "Congo to get his day in State House"
Please send any technical comments or questions to our webmaster.