Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Does dog ownership constitute child endangerment?

Ruling allows S.F. child put in foster care because of pit bulls to go home
News Channel 3: ABC

SAN FRANCISCO

A San Francisco woman who lost her son to foster care because of pit bulls in the family home is getting her son back.

During a hearing yesterday in the juvenile division of San Francisco Superior Court, a commissioner ruled that seven-year-old Andrew Louie could return to live with his mother, Valerie Louie.

The child had been removed from the home in December because social workers feared the dogs posed a threat.

In making the ruling, Louie says the commissioner stipulated that Andrew is not permitted to have contact with the remaining pit bull in the home. She says she's looking for a new home for the dog. The other pit bull has since been given away.

The ruling comes two weeks after a San Francisco jury deadlocked on child endangerment charges against another San Francisco mother -- Maureen Faibish.