Tom Barrett: Attack Dog

Beware of the dog.

He bites.



Bailey, Tom Barrett's Portuguese water dog, has a history of snapping at people and drawing blood.

According to records obtained by Mark Belling, "Last year, twice in six weeks, Barrett's dog bit someone, and the city of Milwaukee has done evidently nothing about it."

Belling had limited access to records. Attorney-client privilege was cited for withholding full details of the incidents.

Here's information on dog bites from the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services:

BITES--Nuisance Control (excluding birds, reptiles, or small rodents) (s. 78-27) Any time an animal, residing in the City of Milwaukee, bites or scratches a human being resulting in the skin being broken, the bite/scratch should be reported to the Vector Environmental Health Section at 286-2268. The person reporting the bite/scratch should have the following information available: Address of animal Type of Animal Date of Bite Name and phone number of animal owner (if known) Name of victim Address, age and phone number of victim Location of wound (i.e. hand, leg, face, etc.) Circumstances surrounding the bite/scratch How Bite Occurred Where Bite Occurred Description of Animal

Once the inspector receives the bite report, a visit will be made to both the animal's and victim's homes. The animal will be quarantined in the home for 10-14 days starting the date of the bite. After this period of time, the inspector will release the animal from quarantine by making another visit to the animal's home. At each visit, the animal must be observed by the inspector. During a quarantine period, no animal shall be taken for walks, left unattended outdoors, or be allowed to leave its premises for any reason. All animals are quarantined in their home unless the owner requests that the animal be taken to the Humane Society for quarantine, the animal was loose at the time of bite and apprehended by either the Police, Humane Officers or Health Officers, or the animal's owner does not obey quarantine restrictions and this is brought to the Vector & Environmental Health Section's attention.

If Barrett can't control his dog, can he manage the state of Wisconsin?

I know that's really lame. It sounds like how Phil Walzak would frame the matter if Scott Walker's dog had been involved in biting incidents.

"Willing partners" of the Barrett campaign, TMJ4, would probably run an EXCLUSIVE, and cover the story as a grave concern to public safety and a disturbing pattern of mismanagement on Walker's part.

Of course, this wasn't Walker's dog.

No exposé will be splashed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to tell the story of Barrett's biting pooch.

Double standard - AGAIN.

I wonder if Barrett was cut any slack by the city. Did the mayor's dog receive a pardon from the quarantine? Did an inspector visit Barrett's home? We don't know. This calls for some in-depth investigative reporting. Did Barrett abuse his power and position? Was there a cover-up of this EXPLOSIVE election year story?

Apparently, a lawyer was involved in handling at least one of the bite cases.

Dog Bite Law details Wisconsin's statues:

Wisconsin Statutes section174.02(1) provides that "the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property," and the statute allows for double damages if the owner of the dog "was notified or knew that the dog previously injured or caused injury to a person, domestic animal or property." See sections 174.02(1)(a) and (b):

Wis. Stat. Ann., sec. 174.02(1)(a)
(a) Without notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s. 895.57 (4), the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.

174.02(1)(b)
(b) After notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s. 895.57 (4), the owner of a dog is liable for 2 times the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property if the owner was notified or knew that the dog previously injured or caused injury to a person, domestic animal or property.

A dog owner also faces statutory penalties:

174.02(2)(a)
(a) Without notice. The owner of a dog shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500 if the dog injures or causes injury to a person, domestic animal, property, deer, game birds or the nests or eggs of game birds.

174.02(2)(b)
(b) After notice. The owner of a dog shall forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 if the dog injures or causes injury to a person, domestic animal, property, deer, game birds or the nests or eggs of game birds, if the owner was notified or knew that the dog previously injured or caused injury to a person, domestic animal, property, deer, game birds or the nests or eggs of game birds.

174.02(2)(c)
(c) Penalties in addition to liability for damages. The penalties in this subsection are in addition to any other liability imposed on the owner of a dog.

Bailey looks like a sweet dog.

Apparently, he just has a few anger management issues.