DENVER (AP) - A dog rescued by a firefighter from a freezing pond was impounded Wednesday after biting a veteran Denver television anchor in the face during a live morning broadcast.
The anchor, Kyle Dyer, was doing a follow-up interview on the dramatic rescue of 85-pound Argentine mastiff Gladiator Maximus, also known as Max, after he fell into a Lakewood lake Tuesday while chasing a coyote. Firefighter Tyler Sugaski, who put on a wetsuit and rescued the dog, was also being interviewed when the attack occurred.
According to KUSA-TV, firefighters, paramedics and animal control were called to the station after the attack.
The station later showed video of Dyer petting the dog, but stopped before the attack occurred and said they would not rebroadcast it. Other video showed the dog lunging at Dyer and viciously biting her face.
Meghan Hughes, spokeswoman for the Denver Environmental Health department, said 39-year-old Michael Robinson of Lakewood was cited with failure to have his dog on a leash, allowing a dog to bite and failure to have a vaccinated dog.
Hughes said the dog is being quarantined until a judge can hold a hearing on the charges and rule on the dog's fate.
Robinson did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Julie Lonborg, spokeswoman for Denver Health hospital, said in a statement that Dyer was in fair condition and being evaluated by a trauma team. The hospital said she was awake and visiting with family.
According to the station, Robinson was taking the dog for a walk without a leash on Tuesday around 5:30 p.m. when the dog spotted a coyote running out of a bush.
The dog chased the coyote onto the ice and fell into the freezing water, where the animal spent 20 minutes before firefighters with the West Metro Fire Department arrived.
Sugaski broke the ice with his arms to get closer to the dog.
"The dog recognized right off that I was there to help, so he came towards me," Sugaski said.
No phone listing was available for Robinson and the West Metro Fire Department said Sugaski was unavailable for comment.
Max suffered a few scrapes from the ice, but was recovering from his ordeal. Firefighters were never able to locate the coyote.