Woman gets 3 days for her dog’s escapes

LYNNWOOD, Wash. – A Lynnwood woman has been sentenced to three days in jail after her dog escaped from her yard five times.

Deborah Linnell was cited for “dog at large” by an animal control officer after her black Lab, Dakota, made his most recent escape.

Linnell said she pleaded guilty, believing she would receive community service at worst, especially since she has now installed an invisible fence to keep Dakota corralled.

Instead, Municipal Judge Stephen Moore sentenced her to jail time.

“If he was a vicious dog, I could understand, or if I was a terrible citizen I could see that, but … it just doesn’t seem real,” she told KOMO-TV.

An appeal hearing was set for Thursday. If her appeal is denied, Linnell said she’ll have to find someone to care for her disabled son.

Moore declined comment pending the appeal.