Phoenix judge who spared life of dog that mauled boy will decide where animal will live

PHOENIX – A Phoenix judge who spared the life of a pit bull that mauled a 4-year-old boy is set to decide where the animal will spend the rest of its life.

Municipal Court Judge Deborah Griffin is expected to make a ruling Tuesday. She declared the dog named Mickey vicious a month ago but declined to have him euthanized after animal-rights advocates came to the dog’s defence.

Instead, she ordered Mickey to be neutered and defanged and gave the dog’s advocates 30 days to find a rehabilitation centre or shelter to take him.

The Feb. 20 attack left Kevin Vicente with a broken eye socket and jaw.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has offered to house the dog at a no-kill shelter operated by his office.

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