TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The News 4 Tucson Investigators have received new information on the future of a dog with a violent past that was put up for adoption by the local rescue Lucy’s Hope. The N4T Investigators first told you about the concerns raised in a report in August.
“At this point I wouldn’t consider him adoptable,” said Lucy’s Hope owner Ben Garagazloo.
In August, we told you about concerns that were raised after Lucy’s Hope posted an adoption listing on Facebook for a small poodle named Romeo.
The post did not mention Romeo’s violent past, he only ended up at Lucy’s Hope last year after nearly biting off the fingertip of his former owner’s elderly mother.
The post said in part, “I’m ready to shower you with all the love and affection in the world however I’m a bit sensitive to touch so don’t require too many pets.”
The N4T Investigators spoke to Ella Nesius who knows the original owners and previously volunteered at Lucy’s Hope, she was one of the most vocal about the adoption listing.
“It was a surprise to everyone the dog went so far with that attack,” she told us.
When the N4T Investigators spoke to Garagazloo in August he told us, “He seems to be doing well, there haven’t been any issues with him.”
But he didn’t mention that Romeo had repeated issues within thee foster homes he was sent to.
We followed up with Garagazloo in October. Our Chief Investigative Reporter Chorus Nylander asked him why he didn’t make that clarification when interviewed in August.
“Well he had no issues with us. We’ve never had any issues with him while he was in our direct care but I know he had issues when he was in other homes which is why he’s back with us,” he responded.
“There are times he would cuddle with you and then there’s times you’d put your arm around him and he’d turn to bite you,” said Thomas Stark.
Thomas and his wife Maureen fostered Romeo for three weeks in March. They told us they became fearful of Romeo after Maureen got bit.
“He’s on my lap and all of a sudden he turns and latches on to my finger,” said Maureen.
They still tried to make it work but Romeo continued trying to bite them, they wrote this report back to Lucy’s Hope with the good and the bad, they say he was house broken and many times behaved well but raised concerns about him being “extremely sensitive to touch, petting at times. Sometimes he is perfectly fine; other times just placing your hand next to him elicits a snarl, growl.” they wrote. They also said “We just fear the what ifs being around other people/dogs.”
There tone was much more concerned in their interview with us.
“The last words I said to the lady who picked him up was don’t put him in another home,” Thomas said.
Garagazloo previously told us that every foster is provided full disclosure of a pets past, including all the information on the original biting incident. The Stark’s claim they had no idea that Romeo had bit someone so severely until, “Reading your article. If they told us there were such emotional and biting issues we would never have said yes.”
Garagazloo provided us an agreement signed by the Starks, where it acknowledges the dogs may exhibit behavioral issues and that Lucy’s Hope is not responsible for any bites that may occur. Garagazloo did not provide proff that they were in fact informed about the dog nearly biting off the elderly woman’s fingertip.
“There was a minor biting incident when we picked him up, were there words to us,” Thomas explained.
Romeo isn’t the only issue Lucy’s Hope is facing right now, a lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County in April by a woman who says she worked at a shelter in Phoenix where Lucy’s Hope was sheltering a pit-bull. According to the lawsuit, she was mauled by the dog and is accusing the rescue of negligence. We asked Garagazloo about the lawsuit.
“I can’t comment on this because it’s an open legal matter,” he said.
The Starks feel that rehabilitating troubled dogs is a noble pursuit but question if the risks are worth it.
Garagazloo told us Romeo is now in their sanctuary program and not up for adoption but that doesn’t mean he can’t be put up for adoption in the future.
Garagazloo said Romeo has been working with their professional trainers and showing a lot of progress. He stands by his business model and efforts to help troubled dogs.
If you have a story you’d like us to investigate email us at investigators@kvoa.com or call our tip line at 520-834-9446.