Judge rules Rolo the dog will live

ARVADA – The judge charged with determining the fate of a German Shepherd ruled on Wednesday that the dog would not be euthanized, despite the fact that its owner was found guilty of having a dangerous dog.

Arvada Judge Mike Graber's ruling that saved the life of the dog, Rolo, included a 90-day suspended sentence for the dog's owner, Laura Hagan and behavioral training classes for Hagan and Rolo. If the dog stays out of trouble for a year, Hagan will not have to serve any time in jail.

While on the stand on Wednesday, Hagan apologized for what happened.

"I'm really sorry to the community," she said. "I take full responsibility."

Rob Ramirez, the Arvada city attorney, remained firm in his push for Rolo to be euthanized.

"Peoples' lives should be higher than that of an animal," he said in his final argument. "If there isn't euthanasia in this case, what are we going to wait for?"

Additionally, the judge ruled that the city must inspect the higher fence installed by Hagan, and she must carry $100,000 in liability insurance.

In his ruling, Judge Graber said he did not find evidence that Rolo was a vicious dog, or a clear and present danger to the community.

On Tuesday, a six-person jury found Hagan, guilty on one count of having a dog running at large and one count of having a dangerous dog.

In August, an Arvada judge ordered Rolo to be euthanized for biting a neighbor. Hagan, however, says Rolo has no history of violence and only scratched the woman.

Hagan filed an appeal and the decision to euthanize Rolo was reversed, but since then, the dog had been incarcerated at the Table Mountain Animal Shelter, after being deemed a danger to the community.

"In my mind, I couldn't let it happen. It wasn't an option," Hagan said on Wednesday.

The victim, Kathy Hardin, testified saying that even though she has since moved from the neighborhood she is "genuinely terrified" for the safety of Old Town Arvada.

"I am extremely concerned about the safety of the community," said Hardin.

Others agreed with her.

"I would say this is the most aggressive dog I personally have ever seen," said Ray Sandoval.

"I just really had a fear of him," said Paul Wedlake. "That dog meant business."

Hagan's attorney, Joe Lazzaro, says her aggressive public campaign led the city of Arvada to go overboard on this case.

"A lot of money, a lot of time, and a lot of effort was spent on this case, where I think the money, the taxpayer money, could have been spent elsewhere in a more appropriate fashion," said Lazzaro.

Dog trainer Ted Terroux has worked one-on-one with Rolo since the incident. He says Rolo is not dangerous and the judge adopted his behavior remediation plan almost verbatim. Terroux agrees with Lazzaro, saying the case has been overblown.

"This is the lightest 'bite case' I have ever seen," said Terroux.

Hagan says she will follow the judge's orders.

"I will stick to my training. I will muzzle him whenever he's out," she said.

She says she's glad the judge did not punish her dog for her mistakes.

"It's really the humans who need more training, not the dogs," said Hagan.