Iowa pit bull handed over to Furry Friends after biting two people, stopping mail service

Gage Miskimen | The Des Moines Register

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove a reference to one of the bites being provoked.

A West Des Moines pit bull has been voluntarily handed over to Furry Friends Refuge after two separate biting incidents, the latter causing mail service in the neighborhood to be stopped.

The pit bull's owners Martin and Kari Misner signed over the dog, named Teyo, to the care of Furry Friends Refuge on Sunday after West Des Moines declared Teyo vicious, according to a news release from the West Des Moines Police Department.

In June, Teyo bit Erin Sears, who was visiting her mother's house in the neighborhood. Teyo also bit a mail carrier in September, Sgt. Dan Wade of the West Des Moines police said.

Wade said postal service to the neighborhood resumed on Monday, around two months after it stopped. During that time, neighborhood residents had to pick up their mail from the post office as the United States Postal Service refused to deliver mail to the neighborhood.

West Des Moines began an investigation into the animal's temperament in September after the mail carrier was attacked.

The Misners said they love Teyo and wanted to keep him, but said the decision was bigger than them and they wanted to do what was right for the neighborhood they live in, according to the release.

Furry Friends is a nonprofit, no-kill animal refuge in the Des Moines metro area. The organization will evaluate Teyo's health and behavior over the next few weeks.

Furry Friends will also begin a training program aimed at teaching Teyo proper behaviors and reaction around other animals as well as people, according to the release.

Upon the completion of the training and evaluation process, it is possible for Teyo to be placed in a facility or home outside of the Des Moines metro area, according to the release.

Gage Miskimen is a news reporter mostly covering West Des Moines, Waukee, and Clive for the Register. Reach him at gmiskimen@dmreg.com or 515-284-8234.

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