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ST. GEORGE — Prospects appear brighter for Champ, the German shepherd set to be euthanized for being aggressive toward police officers, after city officials met Thursday with family members of the dog’s owners and their attorney.
“We are getting close … on a resolution to keep Champ around,” attorney Ryan Blake said after emerging from a meeting in City Hall.
He said he could not divulge details of the meeting, but that “it sounds like everybody is satisfied,” adding that a final resolution is expected by next week.
City officials declined to comment.
Champ’s owner, Willie Mosher, did not attend the meeting because he is being held in Purgatory Correctional Facility in connection with the incident that eventually led to the decision to euthanize the dog.
On May 3, officers were called to a domestic incident involving Mosher at a home where the dog was present.
According to officials, Champ acted aggressively toward officers on the scene, as well as a passerby. Police released footage from officers’ body cameras that appear to show the dog lunging toward them.
KSL's Southern Utah News Section
Looking for more news from the southern part of the state? Visit our southern Utah section for more stories, events and features.Mosher was arrested and Champ was impounded.
A hearing examiner determined May 17 that the dog should be euthanized the following day.
However, Mosher’s father, Shane Mosher, used social media to “get the word out” about the dog’s plight, he said. His post went viral, prompting the city to postpone putting the dog down and reconsider the order.
