Judge rules for the dog

Bella will go home after her yard is securely fenced MILFORD — Months of uncertainty and over six hours in a Milford courtroom yielded happy results for the Teichberg family Wednesday. “Bella’s coming home!” exclaimed Ben Teichberg. Magisterial District Justice Alan B. Cooper ruled dismissal of the charges, pending construction of a fence that will be certified by the state dog warden and with that, the state’s “dangerous dog” declaration would be dropped. Bella, who has been kept in Monroe County since shortly after the incident, was nine months old when the dog chased Vanessa Carlton while she was jogging in early May near her parent’s Shohola Township home. “I think if it hadn’t been Ms. Carlton, it may not have even come to court, it doesn’t appear these injuries are serious,” stated Kay Riviello of the Hudson Valley Animal Rights Alliance, “I’m not saying it should be ignored, allegedly the dog did bite two separate people.” But there were questions there as well. The defense reportedly provided expert testimony from Saylorsburg Veterinarian Dr. Karin-Susan Breitlauch, who had made a mold of the dog’s teeth, compared it to a photo of Carlton’s injury, and determined it was impossible for Bella to have inflicted that bite mark. Riviello said the dog should be evaluated, trained properly, and the family should be trained properly on how to take care of the dog. “This electric fence business should be addressed. I don’t believe an electric fence is something that should be trusted, but when it gets to the point that they want to euthanize the dog, that’s just out of control,” she said. The ruling came just after 5 p.m. Avoiding the waiting press, Miss Carlton left quietly through the back door of the courthouse and did not comment on the ruling. In court, she said she “wanted to pursue the case because she would never forgive herself if the dog bit someone else, like a small child.” Groups on Facebook have been giving Bella a lot of attention as well and this weekend a flea market, which was scheduled to be a “Defense fund” fundraiser is now going to become a “Fence fund” fundraiser. A petition supporting the dog has gathered 2,443 signatures since May. The family says there is no particular process to get Bella to come home other than to comply with the court and have the fence built as quickly as possible, “We’ve never been happier,” smiled Joanne Teichberg, “We have other dogs at home who miss her and we’re going to have a family reunion party.”