Montgomery County dog saved by Cesar Millan trainers is on death row again





WARNING: Photos contain graphic dog bite images. less Gus, a Texas pit bull saved from death row earlier this year when Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center agreed to take him in for rehab is facing a new death sentence after biting two people in California. Gus, a Texas pit bull saved from death row earlier this year when Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center agreed to take him in for rehab is facing a new death sentence after biting two people in ... more Photo: Save Sweet Gus/Facebook Photo: Save Sweet Gus/Facebook Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Montgomery County dog saved by Cesar Millan trainers is on death row again 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

A Texas pit bull saved from death row earlier this year when Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center agreed to take him in for rehab is facing a new death sentence after biting two people in California.

Gus was held for more than a year by Montgomery County animal control after he severely injured a Magnolia woman who had fostered him as a favor to the dog's owner, Jennifer Romano of Maggie's House Rescue.

Amber Rickles suffered serious bite wounds to her arm and chest after an altercation with the dog at her home in February last year.

County attorneys successfully argued Gus should be put down, but after opposition from Romano, backed by animal advocates the Lexus Project, the ruling was squashed and Gus was released to be housed at Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita.

Now just five months later, Gus is once again facing his last rites after biting another woman and a man, believed to be Romano's boyfriend, earlier this month.

"(Gus) is in our custody, we are investigating an incident involving him," said Patricia Learned, executive assistant at the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control. Learned says they are seeking a destruction order.

"(Gus's) had his second chance and he didn't make the best of it and we will not allow him the opportunity to hurt anybody else," said Learned.

The dog, a pit bull mix, was seized on October 15, according to animal control. Few details of what happend were available and Romano did not return calls. An email from Lexus Project executive director Robin Mittasch suggested the dog had bitten two people when they tried to get him off furniture.

"We were told he was removed (from rehab) by his owner and brought to her boyfriend's house," said Mittasch, "Everything was fine until they tried to get him off the bed ... he bit the boyfriend ... and another woman."

An email said to be from Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center posted online said that Gus had been removed from their facility against the advice of trainers.

Gus was brought back to them after the incident but shortly after, animal control officers arrived to take him into custody.

"Attorneys did contact Animal Control and they came and seized Gus and he is in quarantine at an undisclosed location," the email reads. It also suggests that instructions not to allow Gus on furniture or to feed him food from the table had not been followed.

Montgomery County Attorney's Office formulated the deal which allowed Gus to be taken to rehab after a lengthy court battle they feared could drag on for many more months.

"We hope that putting this matter to rest, along with avoiding any potential appeals that the animal rights group would likely pursue had the case gone to trial, will allow the victim to continue her physical, mental, and emotional healing from the effects of this vicious attack," County Attorney J.D. Lambright said in a news release back in April.

The agreement required that Gus be kept in the rehabilitation center until trainers certified he was fit for release. It's not clear if Romano will face legal action for breaching the agreement.

The Dog Psychology Center is estimated to cost between $80 and $100 a day. Romano also was required to pay legal fees of around $3,000.

Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control say it is gathering relevant information and it could be several months before any final decision is made.

"The investigation is on-going at this time, we are still working on making contacts, gathering statements and medical documents," said investigating officer Kim Schumann, "The Dog Psychology Center was extremely co-operative; he was taken without incident."

Lexus Project officials said it is no longer involved, but adds that the situation is very unfortunate.

"(It's) unfortunate that another person was hurt, unfortunate that the dog was removed when he was doing fine and now will die because of human error again," said Mittasch.