Surgery for victim of five dogs

Animal control officer calls attack ‘one of the worst’

By: Olivia Tattory
   Giovanni Rivera, 42, of Trenton remained in University Medical Center at Princeton on Thursday after being attacked by five German shepherds early Tuesday morning upon entering the yard of a Stuart Road West residence for a landscaping job.
   "This is definitely one of the worst attacks I have ever seen," said Mark Johnson, Princeton’s animal control officer.
   Mr. Rivera underwent three hours of surgery Tuesday afternoon and according to an attorney in the firm representing him, suffered "deep wounds and pretty nasty bites," including bites to the head.
   Police said Mr. Rivera and other landscapers, employed by On Target Staffing, arrived at an earlier time than the owners anticipated and when the dogs were roaming loose on the fenced-in property. According to the report, the homeowners were able to secure the dogs in the residence within moments of the attack with no other persons injured.
   Kevin Riechelson, managing attorney at Garces & Grabler’s Trenton office, and part of Mr. Rivera’s legal counsel, asserted the facts of the incident may be skewed because of the relationship between the homeowner, Guy James, and On Target Staffing owner, Roy James, his brother.
   "There may be some intimidation and falsification of what actually happened," said Mr. Riechelson. From Mr. Rivera’s description of the attack, the police report stating owners were able to control the dogs "within moments of the attack," is false, Mr. Riechelson said.
   According to the other workers, after several attempts to control the dogs, Mr. James’ wife, Elizabeth and son called on Mr. James to assist, said Mr. Riechelson. It was only then that the owners were able to secure the dogs and call 911, he said.
   Two other workers who accompanied Mr. Rivera, who suffered minor injuries in the attack, claimed that they were told by the homeowners they would be deported if they came forward with complaints, Mr. Riechelson asserted.
   "The two other workers denied our legal services stating the owners tried to get them to sign documents or (the owners) would have them deported," said Mr. Riechelson.
   Neither the homeowner, Guy James, or On Target Staffing owner Roy James could be reached for comment.
   Mr. Johnson, the animal control officer, said there were a total of six dogs at the house and all were unlicensed and four were unvaccinated. The five dogs involved in the attack have been impounded and are in the custody of Princeton Health Department Animal Control with their fate to be decided at a 1 p.m. June 19 hearing. Mr. Johnson stated there is a possibility they will be euthanized if the court "declares the dogs vicious."
   The court could also rule the dogs "dangerous," or "potentially dangerous," which would in both cases require the owners to follow strict regulations determined by Mr. Johnson. Possible medication, the use of a muzzle outside the residence, special licensing and dog training are a few possibilities, said Mr. Johnson.