Ski World Orlando owner wants ‘dangerous dog’ label dropped
November to the county’s animal services classification committee.
Under Orange County code, a dog is considered dangerous if it “has aggressively bitten, attacked or endangered or has inflicted severe injury” on a person while on public or private property.
Missouri resident Morgan Alx Ruestman, 43, told the agency Marley bit her in the face, an injury that required plastic surgery and 40 stitches.
Ruestman said she and a friend asked permission from an employee of the sporting goods store to pet Marley and his buddy Gizmo, a miniature Australian shepherd.
A photo included in court documents shows Ruestman taking a selfie in the shop with the side of her face touching Marley’s forehead and her long blonde hair dangling near the dog’s mouth.
Chadwick didn’t witness the incident but alleged that Ruestman was intoxicated when she was inside the shop — a claim she denied to county investigators.
Chadwick previously said that Marley would never attack a person unless “extremely provoked.”
But Ruestman wasn’t the first person Marley has been accused of biting at the shop.
An Orlando couple sued Chadwick 2013 after their toddler was bitten on the mouth. Chadwick later settled the case out of court. The county has said it was not aware of this incident when it happened.
Marley’s designation comes with stringent restrictions under the county code. Secured housing and restraints such as a leash and muzzle when he is walked are required.
Marley also must have permanent identification — for example, a tattoo on the inside thigh or implanted computer chip — and a tag showing his current rabies vaccination.
Since the August incident, Marley and Gizmo — once staples at Ski World Orlando who greeted customers — have not been inside the shop.