Nathaniel Pettiford, the dogs' owner, must now provide proof of a $500,000 insurance policy for each dog, sterilize and microchip the dogs and post warning signs on his property before he can reclaim the dogs.

The three pit bulls who fatally attacked a dog in northwest Gainesville are dangerous, the presiding hearing officer declared Wednesday.

Nathaniel Pettiford, the dogs' owner, must now provide proof of a $500,000 insurance policy for each dog, sterilize and microchip the dogs and post warning signs on his property before he can reclaim the dogs.

Once Pettiford acknowledges has received the hearing results, he has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the decision in circuit court.

If Pettiford decides not to reclaim the dogs, they will become the county's property and could be euthanized.

The decision comes after a heated hearing on Monday, where Pettiford and Linda Swinburn, who owned Bella, the dog that died in the attack, testified in the hearing to determine whether to declare Rousey, Yokai and Akuma dangerous.

Dave Wagner, an independent hearing officer, presided over the case to gather evidence and listen to testimony from both parties.

Wagner ruled that evidence presented by the county proves the dogs attacked and inflicted injuries to both Swinburn and Bella.

The attack occurred Sept. 22 while Swinburn was walking Bella in Northwood Pines. The pit bulls ran from Pettiford’s front yard and attacked Bella, a much smaller dog.

Swinburn tried to fight off the dogs with her leash, and subsequently was bruised, had chest trauma and a fractured middle finger.



Bella died on the way to the hospital from cardiac and respiratory arrest.





