Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Top Nevada court grants another stay for dog that killed baby

Updated Monday, June 4, 2012 | 6:55 p.m.

CARSON CITY — In another order from the Nevada Supreme Court, the killer dog Onion has received another stay of execution in Henderson.

In one of four appeals regarding the dog that mauled and killed a 1-year-old boy, the court has temporarily prohibited Henderson officials from taking any action against the dog. The ruling overrides other appeal decisions in which the court refused to delay the dog’s death.

Chief Justice Michael Cherry and Justice Mark Gibbons have signed the order granting a temporary stay “until further order of the court.” They said their order is in effect until parties have time to consider any motion opposed to the stay.

The Lexus Project, a New York nonprofit group formed to protect dogs, is waging the legal battle to save the dog and place it in an animal sanctuary in Colorado.

Elizabeth Keller, the dog’s former owner, signed over her 6-year-old, 120-pound Mastiff/Rhodesian mix to animal control in Henderson after it killed her grandson, Jeremiah Eskew-Skahan.

But the Lexus Project says Keller signed ownership to it. Henderson officials maintain they are the rightful owners.

The boy was at his grandmother’s house to celebrate his birthday on April 27 when he crawled toward Onion to pet him. The dog grabbed the boy by his head and started to shake him.

The youngster died at University Medical Center from the injuries.

This case has bounced back and forth between the Supreme Court and Clark County District Judge Joanna Kishner, who last Thursday refused to grant a new stay of execution.

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