SHAMOKIN - A Ranshaw woman who had briefly been jailed after her Rottweiler bit a man on the forehead last month was banned Tuesday from possessing a large breed dog weighing more than 40 pounds.
The Rottweiler, named Junior, was expected to be euthanized Tuesday, according to the defendant, police and a state dog enforcement officer.
Cindy Santore, 45, of 217 Third St., pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Charges of recklessly endangering another person and animals running at large were withdrawn.
The judge sentenced her to one year of supervised probation. He did not impose a fine nor court costs but did issue an order barring her from having a large breed dog in her home.
Santore's dog and a second Rottweiler owned by her daughter, Cynthia Hippenstiel, 22, of 211 Third St., Ranshaw, were running loose near Route 61 near Palmer's Diner on May 24. Joseph Drost, 23, of 1025 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, pulled his vehicle over and attempted to keep the dogs from running into traffic. Drost was bitten in the forehead by "Junior," causing deep puncture wounds.
Santore turned herself in to police on May 30 and was jailed on $10,000 bail, which she posted later that evening. Hippenstiel was issued a citation.
The dog was quarantined at Santore's home for 10 days, according to Alan Fegley, state dog enforcement officer. He said he would check Santore's home today to confirm that the dog was put down.
Court records show Santore had been cited for dog ordinance violations five times by Coal Township Police between June 2011 and November 2012.
William Carpenter, police chief, says both Santore and Hippenstiel had each been warned prior several times prior about their dogs running loose. "Junior" in particular was known to be aggressive, he said, having previously attacked other canines and a Ranshaw man. The chief told his officers to not hesitate to shoot it if it was seen running at large.
The dogs are each estimated to weigh more than 120 pounds.
