Hopkinton Dog Attack Victim Identified; City May Change Animal Ordinance

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

A back yard fence is removed from a home in Hopkinton, Iowa Sunday, March 6, 2011 after a family's two Rottweilers attacked and killed a 3-year-old girl in the back yard of the home Saturday evening, March 5, 2011. A sheriff's deputy says the dogs that fatally mauled a 3-year-old girl belonged to her grandparents. The grandparents asked to have the dogs euthanized, and deputies put the pets down, he said. (AP Photo/Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Mike Burley)

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By Richard Pratt

Story Created: Mar 7, 2011 at 11:49 AM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 7, 2011 at 11:49 AM CDT

HOPKINTON, Iowa - Delaware County authorities released the name of the 3-year-old who died in that weekend attack by two Rottweilers.

Vanessa Elizabeth Husmann suffered serious injuries when attacked by the two dogs in her backyard at 206 3rd Street, Hopkinton. Husmann was pronounced dead at Jones Regional Hospital in Anamosa.

Her parents, Vaughn Husmann and Rhonda Marty, live at the address where the attack happened Saturday afternoon. The dogs, who were euthanized by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, belonged to the child’s grandfather. The animals were usually kept in Monticello, according to the sheriff, although a kennel and fence was installed at the Hopkinton home.

Hopkinton Mayor Cathy Harris said the community has a vicious animal ordinance in place. And that ordinance specifically bans pit bull and pit bull mixed breeds from being kept within city limits. But that ordinance does not specifically mention the Rottweiler breed of dog.

Harris said members of the city council will discuss adding Rottweilers, and potentially other breeds of dog, to the ordinance that would prohibit anyone from keeping them within city limits. The mayor said the city clerk is drafting a change that officials will discuss tonight and possibly vote on next month. The Hopkinton city council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the town’s city hall.

Harris said the city was aware of the Rottweilers at the residence before the attack, but had no reports of any problems or vicious tendencies and could not take any action because that breed wasn’t banned by ordinance.

Hopkinton city council member Bob Porter lives next door to the home where the attack happened Saturday afternoon. Porter said when he saw Rottweilers move in next door, he wasn’t happy. But Porter admitted the dogs were well cared for and in a secured area and never caused any problems except for occasional barking.

Porter said he’s heard the arguments that banning certain breeds is ineffective as a safety measure because any dog can become vicious if treated improperly or not trained. Porter said he doesn’t know how he will vote if a change in the city’s animal control ordinance comes up for consideration.

No funeral or visitation information is available yet for Vanessa Husmann.