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By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Monday, May 21, 2012 | 3:25 p.m.
Judge rules on euthanizing dog
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KSNV coverage of judge's decision about euthanizing Onion, the dog that mauled a 1-year-old child, May 13, 2012.
The fate of Onion, a dog that killed a 1-year-old Henderson boy in April, remains in the hands of a Clark County District Court judge.
Judge Joanna Kishner is scheduled to consider two motions Friday that could decide whether Henderson animal control can euthanize the dog.
The motions have been filed by the Lexus Project Inc., a New York-based animal rescue group that wants to place the dog in an animal sanctuary in Colorado and provide funds to care for it.
On May 11, Kishner denied Lexus’ request for a temporary restraining order to save the dog.
The judge ruled that because the dog had been turned over by its owner to Henderson animal control, Lexus could make no property rights claim to the animal and had no legal standing to seek the temporary restraining order.
Lexus has filed one motion for the judge to reconsider her order and a second motion to stay the order. Kishner is scheduled to take up both motions privately in her chambers on Friday.
The court docket shows that a hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. June 8 to hear a motion from Lexus for a preliminary injunction to keep the city from euthanizing the dog.
Lexus has set up a trust in New York that would provide funds to house the dog at the Colorado animal sanctuary.
According to city of Henderson attorneys, Elizabeth Keller, the dog’s former owner, signed over her 6-year-old, 120-pound Mastiff/Rhodesian mix to animal control after the dog killed her grandson, Jeremiah Eskew-Skahan.
The boy was at his grandmother’s Henderson residence on Navarre Lane near Arroyo Grande Boulevard celebrating his birthday on April 27 when he crawled toward Onion to pet him, Henderson Police said.
The dog latched onto the boy’s head and began to shake him as the grandmother tried to pull the boy away from the dog, police said.
Henderson Fire Department paramedics took the toddler to St. Rose Dominican Hospital–Siena Campus, and he was transported by helicopter to University Medical Center. The boy died at the hospital Saturday. The family subsequently turned the dog over to animal control.
Meanwhile, the dog is being cared for by animal control while the court is taking up the matter.
“We are simply trying to follow the law,” Keith Paul, Henderson public information officer, said Monday afternoon. “This is a public safety issue. The dog was deemed vicious after it killed a 1-year old. We are simply following the law.”
Under the city ordinance, once a dog has been deemed vicious, the owner can turn it over to the city to be euthanized, the owner can have it euthanized or the owner can appeal the finding of the animal being vicious, Paul said.
Why are we still talking about this. The dog viciously attacked and killed a baby that he was familiar with. Baby Jeremiah died the next day after the attack; the dog should have been put down that same day.
I'm sorry I have cared greatly for a dog in the past but if it killed my kid, it would have to die. You can't have an animal around that has done that.
These East coast lawyers should pay 10 times for every dollar it costs us to kill this murdering dog.
The dog did not mean to kill the baby. It is the parents' fault for allowing a large dog, one with a mouth big enough to fit the baby's head, living with a baby.
What the hell is this? The fact that people want to merclessly kill an animal that most likely felt threatened, is outrageous. There are tons of people. TRILLIONS! Animal abuse continues because we think our rights only extend to people (and only certain people usually). And honestly, survival of the fittest. That is human nature. Society is rewarding the dumbest and weakest and punishing the smartest and strongest.
Wouldn't it be interesting if someday animals had humans as pets?
Wouldn't it be interesting if some of you that want to keep this fight up pay for the judge and other court time.
I'm sorry for this family, but this only proves the point for speedy resolution of attack animals.
People don't fight over dead dogs, and this dog is a menace to society and itself. I hope the Judge sends this person back to New York on the next crazy train heading east. This new breed of ambulance chasing lawyer is right up there with the " fake work injury " crowd. Put the dog down, let the owners grieve in peace and close the places that harbor vicious animals.
It was an accident. Their "beloved pet" had never hurt the baby until this. The Grandmother has asked that the Lexus Project take Onion.
Why would anyone order any unnecessary killing (especially of a pet) when a sanctuary is an option?
This dog gave up it's " beloved pet" status when it killed human being. The grandmother turned the dog overe to Animal Control, this isn't a credit card deal where you have 30 days to make up your mind.
The reason one would call for prompt euthanization is so the dog doesn't kill again. It pulled biting out of it's "coping skills" toolbox once, and in the dog's mind it worked. No reason not to do it again. There was no inhibited bite, no
"whoops it's a living being" that dog will always be a danger to anyone around it so long as it draws breath. There is no sanctuary for the child or the family, and storing the poor dog in one of the " above ground cemetaries" is only hurting the dog, and endangering more innocents.