BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Following the dog attack in June that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy and injured an 8-year-old girl, the City Council of California City is set to discuss possible solutions regarding stray animals in the community during its meeting Tuesday.
Shawn Bradley, the latest council member elected to the City Council and sworn in at the July 14 meeting, asked to schedule this matter for the next meeting.
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“In light of recent events in our community, I believe it’s critical that the Council consider an agenda item to address the stray animal issues in our community,” said Bradley.
Cal City is also planning to seek three members to fill the vacancies on the city’s Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dog Review Board, according to the City Council meeting agenda.
The board is responsible for reviewing any petition filed by Animal Control that seeks to declare a dog as a “potentially dangerous or vicious dog,” the agenda read.
The city has previously issued notice of vacancies for the board but doesn’t have any applications.
Each member would have to be at least 18 years old, live in Cal City and serve for two years unless a successor is appointed. Knowledge about canines or canine behavior is recommended but not required, according to city officials.
The city is looking to accept applications through Aug. 14 to be considered for appointment at the Aug. 25 City Council meeting, the agenda said.
Cal City staff is recommending the City Council to discuss the stray animals issue and call for the Review Board vacancies to be filled Aug. 25, according to the agenda.
The City Council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. July 28 at 21000 Hacienda Blvd.
On June 18, California City police responded to Central Park where they found Fernando Torres Moreno unresponsive at the bottom of a lake.
Fernando, 12, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The Kern County Coroner’s Office later determined he had drowned and ruled his death as an accident.
According to police, Fernando entered the lake to escape vicious, unleashed dogs.
An 8-year-old girl who was also at the park was mauled by the same dogs who bit her arm, leg and ponytail. Her mother was able to fight off the dogs.
The dogs’ owner was identified as Kenneth Dobbins, 68, who reportedly walked into the water to retrieve his dogs without helping the drowning boy, according to officials.
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Central Park does not allow dogs inside, leashed or unleashed.
Dobbins gathered his dogs and left without providing or offering assistance to the girl or her mother, according to a search warrant affidavit.
Dobbins was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and allowing a dangerous animal to go at large resulting in death or injury.
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