Dog Bites KUSA Anchor During Newscast

February 8, 2012 2:30 PM

Max is rescued from Smith Reservoir on Feb. 7. (credit: CBS)

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Dog Ice Rescue, Kyle Dyer

DENVER (CBS4) – A dog who was rescued from icy waters in Lakewood on Monday bit KUSA’s Kyle Dyer on the face on Wednesday morning, sending the TV news anchor to the hospital.

The incident happened during the “My20″ morning news broadcast on KTVD, which is owned by KUSA.

The dog, whose name is Max, was detained by animal control officers after the incident, according to a co-worker of Dyer.

Dyer was described as being in fair condition at the hospital a few hours later.

The dog is a white 86 pound Argentine Mastiff. He ran onto the ice at Smith Reservoir near Kipling and Jewell apparently after seeing a coyote and chasing after it.

Copter4 captured images of the dog stuck in the water at about 5:20 p.m. Max was swimming around but he was surrounded by ice.

Watch video of Monday’s rescue.

A few minutes later a member of the West Metro Fire ice rescue team who was attached to a rope crawled out on the ice, grabbed Max and he and the animal were pulled to safety.

Denver Animal Control Director Doug Kelley told CBS4 it was “a pretty major bite,” so they impounded the dog. The dog is at Denver Animal Shelter and will be held for a 10-day quarantine to check for illnesses, as is done with any dog bite that breaks the skin.

The dog’s owner was cited for three violations — a dog bite, a leash law violation, and a rabies vaccination violation because the dog didn’t have a vaccination.

Kelley said the dog appears healthy.

Statement from KUSA News Vice President Patti Dennis

The dog bite accident that happened today at 9News was unfortunate and certainly not expected based on what we knew about the dog and his owner. Our goal was to unite the owner with the rescuer for a nice segment. We are all thinking of Kyle and her recovery. I have reached out to the dog owner, Michael Robinson, as well as he came to the station on our request.

We have enjoyed having dogs and all kinds of pets in our building for nearly 30 years as a part of our Petline9 program. We will continue to support animals and the well-being of a community that supports animals. We are going to look at our procedures when animals come into our building as part of learning from this accident. Our goal is continued support of Petline9 but we want to be very careful to protect our people, the volunteers and the pets themselves.

We love Kyle and what she and her family do for this community. We also love animals and will continue to do all we can to use 9News to improve animal welfare in Colorado.

ann

Never ever put your face next to any dog
Sal from Cal

especially never put your face next to a dog who is anxious, hurt, scared, and generally not feeling safe
Sam

Since the dog was rescued from the icy water yesterday, I assume Kyle Dyer was doing a story when she was bitten today. Yes, the rule is never put your face next to a strange dog’s face, particularly if the dog has been through a traumatic event like this one. If you want a cutesy shot for the camera, let the owner put his/her face next to the dog; the dog will probably accept that and the reporter doesn’t run the risk of being bitten. I hope the dog is not killed because of this bite. I hope the damage to the reporter’s face was minor and heals quickly.
Maria

It was a MISTAKE people, geez I am sure Kyle was just happy the dog was okay & didn’t expect to get bitten. With that being said I hope she heals quickly and that the dog heals quickly from all the stress he has also been through.
judy gee

I hope the station will put the video of the attack up, along with comments from a certified behaviorist like Animal Behavior Associates as to what went wrong here.
That could really be a community service re how NOT to interact with a strange dog.
I’m sure there will be lots of hue and cry about “dangerous breeds” but from the way this sounds (I didn’t get to see it) this could have happened with many dogs. Remember the vet tech a while back that got bitten in the lip by a dachshund?
Robinsons

As the owners of Max, we are extremely distraught that he is now quarantined and will not be able to come home for 10 days after suffering his ordeal yesterday in the water. This was a great story for the rescue swimmer efforts with a happy ending that has now been tainted by this event. We feel very bad for the Anchorwoman and hope that she heals quickly.

Garner

Thinking of you and your family, So sorry to hear they quarantined Max. Please don’t give up on him and continue to advocate for him. Hope everyone recovers from this unfortunate incident.
kj

Dear Mr & Mrs Robinson- I saw the interview and am totally appalled that YOU would be cited when YOU had your hands on Max all the time (how much more under control could you possibly get?), and SHE stuck her face in his while grabbing under his jaw??? (Someone who does a segment called “Kyle’s Critters” should know better!) It IS terribly sad that she made such a terrible mistake, and I am so sorry she and you and your poor dog all have to suffer for it. Are you allowed to visit him at all? (Even human prisoners get visitors!) Maybe you can send him familiar blankets/stuff from home?

Diane

Sadly I do not feel bad for the news anchor. I like most feel sorry for poor Max! He just had a horrible thing happen to him. Then the next day you want to put him in a scary studio with unfamiliar people, bright lights and weird sounds. Oh and the icing on the cake a newscaster who obviously doesn’t know the first thing about animals. Mistake one, she grabbed him under his face, dogs see that as a threat. Their jugular is there! Mistake two, she put her face in his face. I hope she learns and i hope poor Max is let out soon. Max’s family, stay strong and don’t listen to anything negative anyone has to say. It is the newscasters fault not your Max!
Dennis

The one to feel sorry for is the dog – Max. What he has been though the last couple of days!! The anchor putting her face so close to him. Then putting him in a strange place. Where is the common sence that people are suppose to have!!!!!!! What is up with 9 News!!! The one suffering now is the dog, again, being lock up for 10 days!!!!!!!!!
Kathy Thompson

I pray Max will be returned to his family where he can continue his normally calm life, and that the news woman will read something about dogs before she gets in their face! People don’t like you in their face, neither do dogs!
jeff

I feel really bad for the dog. Why do people hate the system?
David Woodward

9news is so willing to co-opt any situation for their ratings benefit – I think it’s called Instant Karma. Unfortunately it is Max that suffers for their stupidity.
Lenny

1st Mistake: Letting your dog OFF a leash in the first place is never a good idea, obviously Max was not under your control; had he been, he wouldn’t have ran onto the ice. 2nd Mistake: Don’t put your face next to a dog you do not know….duh. Common sense is so rare sometimes I swear its like a super power! 3rd Mistake: The thought the owners had when the news crew called them of “Lets get our faces on TV”, and put the dog in a studio surrounded by hot lights, strange people, strange noises, and assume the dog will behave like a stuffed animal. This dog is not dangerous, he swam right to the rescue diver and allowed himself to be held, and pulled out of the water. You could tell Max was darn happy to go with him, the dog was cold, and ready to get out of the water. Max has been put in quarrantine because of careless human action…..so sad for Max! I hope he is allowed to go home and that his owners will learn to keep him on a leash for his safety.
Beverly

I too feel sorry for Max. What an ordeal he has had to endure over the last few days! I sincerely hope that nothing happens to him. This accident was clearly not his fault. I pray for a safe return to his family and also pray for a qiuck recovery for Kyle. The dog sensed a threat of some kind and reacted to that threat. Even though Kyle had been loving on the dog, a simple jesture by her is what caused this event to occur. Prayers for Max that no repercussions happen to him. Prayers for Kyle for a speedy recovery and that no ill will towards to dog from her happens.
jt

I supposed all you people would be delighted to have that dog bite your kids in the face?
lawrence

they shoud quarantine the achor to make sure Max doesn’t come down with somehing! poor dog– there better not be any talk of putting him down and by all means keep him away from Erie cops…
j

Argentine Mastiff….right…I hate pitbulls no matter what owners pretend they’re otherwise to be called. I just don’t trust them.