A Richmond dog deemed vicious by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety has a second chance.
During their March 26 meeting, board members opted against pursuing euthanasia for Andrew Mowell’s dog that bit Mowell’s mother’s face Oct. 10 inside the South A Street home they shared. Citing the severity of the injuries and a previous nipping incident in Hawaii, the board voted the dog vicious March 19, triggering statutory requirements such as kennels, muzzles, a 4-foot leash, warning signage, a yellow warning collar and an insurance policy.
Desiree Durbin, Richmond Police Department’s animal control officer, reported that Mowell had complied with each requirement except an outdoor kennel. Mowell said he interpreted city statute as reading he needed an indoor kennel because that’s where the dog spends most of his time and would have needed an outdoor kennel if the dog spent most of its time in the backyard.
Mowell had the dog evaluated by a trainer and filed a report indicating the dog showed no aggression when exposed to other dogs and a child. Mowell also told board members he’s discussed at length with a mental health professional how the dog helps him.
“He’s my immediate family,” Mowell said. “I need him. I function much better with a dog in my life.”
Board members voted that Durbin continue monitoring Mowell’s compliance and the city’s law department draft a contract addressing issues such as installing an outdoor kennel, solidifying the backyard’s chain-link fence and providing a gate lock. Mowell agreed that he’d sign a contract.
In other actions, the board approved a contract and an addendum to a contract involving Richmond Fire Department. The contract with Stryker Sales of Portage, Michigan, is for three years and $88,151.67 to provide maintenance, inspections and repair of medical equipment, such as chest compression devices, cots and stair chairs. The addendum to a 2025 contract with Pro Air Midwest of Ellettsville is for $2,948 and covers air compressor maintenance and air quality samples for two machines that fill self-contained breathing apparatus bottles.
A version of this article appeared in the April 1 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.