Seriously, doesn't the prosecutor have anything better to do? Aren't there any real dangerous criminals that he should be focusing on, instead of trying to kill a family dog?

Agree. A family pet who is gentle is not a concern. Thank goodness we have common sense in Oregon. It seems to be lacking in this town.

I hope the tax paying residents see what a WASTE of time and money this prosecutor has spent!
Fire or vote his butt OUT!!!

LaSala is another animal hater. Useless waste of public money ( Paid in by working people) not the certain type called the entitled ones.Welfare users etc. The NEW breed. But then look at the 1st. family's spending.

As an American Staffordshire Terrier mix parent, I understand what this family is going through. With educating the public as to the natrual nature of such deemed vicious breeds, it is so many have already died. All of the Pit Bull, other Bully Breeds and mixes, I feel locally we are making progress, one dog at a time. Every year localy for NPBAD (day), we have a great turn out and some who have seen our Bullys as mean vicious dogs, we are bringing the public around. It's a slow process, but we keep being the voice of the voiceless. My prayers go out the family. I hope they can Imani home, I'm sure she is lonely since Jumba died. I have 4 personal dogs, all are rescues, even my Staffie. Their breeds range from German Shepherd mix, Border Collie mix, Staffie mix and Doxie/Dalmation mix. My Staffie is the most social of my dogs. I deemed her my Social Butterfly. She charms everyone she meets. RIP Jumba, your life ended way too soon.

I am so sadden by this whole case and for 16 months of not being with your dogs and then not taking care Imani and the death of this dog inside a prison How shameful!!!! LaSala is uncaring and obviously does not want to LOSE!!!!!. A dog's life is at stake and I hope with all my heart they are able to get their dog back. If a dog even look like a Pit Bull type, the dog is doomed if something goes wrong. I wish them al the best in court and that the Kolb's win this case and save the life of Jumba. Let this dog come home to their family and child!!!!!

Why is it no photo(s) was taken at the time when Jumba had no muzzle on along with a photo of Imani wearing a muzzle. It would not be believable that Jumba was wearing a muzzle and Imani was not. The newspaper article states that Jumba's muzzle had slipped, not Jumba and Imani's. Everything seems to hinge on what people.are saying and people can say anything they want. The Kolbs might not have had a camera with them just to walk the dogs but it seems odd that the police would have no camera.

I need to clarify what I wrote in my last email. Clarification: "It would not be believable that the Kolbs had consciously not put a muzzle on Jumba but had put a muzzle on Imani. " That Jumba's muzzle had slipped and the Kolbs took the dogs to a lighted street light to replace Jumba's muzzle would be true.

Mr. LaSala's point about not trusting the dog comes from his experience with the dog? Has he even been to see the dog? The Kolbs have suffered enough and it does seem that Mr. LaSala is acting irrationally about the incidents. These dogs were family members and he needs to understand their value. I am praying that the courts will have the intelligence to see this and free Imani!

i feel sorry for this family but common sense would be not to take the dogs back out in public just incase the muzzle id come off and the dogs get caught without a muzzle no matter what i would havekept my dogs inside and away from people so this wouldnt happen again

The DA is clearly on a personal hate campaign. I had 2 Bull Mastiffs who were convinced they were lap dogs. Every kid in the neighborhood including mine learned to walk holding on to ears or a mouth of one of them. These big drooling pups may look scary but they are not. Not all dogs like other dogs. They may love "their" dogs but not other dogs. Only an idiot would not understand that.
This family has been through hell. Why should I donate to Sandy relief if this city has money to waste on destroying one family? Also the cop was a neighbor I think and wasn't "called" in at 5:45 am. And the person who noted that the child is suffering is correct. The dogs were for him. This DA needs to be impounded not the dog. Call the Gov. Ask if he thinks this is a good use of time & money for NJ.
FREE THE DOGS AND LOCK UP THE DA.He is nuts.

La Salle was clearly brought up in a very deprived childhood where he had no toys to play. As his parents came from a third world country, !!! see this is what happens when you take in immigrants from third world countries they do not improve!!! this is America you got to learn that you cannot take peoples things from people just because you do not like them , here we are protected by what is called the constitution!! furthermore wasting time on fighting animals is not what you are paid for if you have balls and common sense prosecute mobs and crimminals not innocent citizens who pay your salary, it does not come from god you see!! cet to some real work and leave the poor animal alone.

They moved from another town where their dogs bit people along with the couple incidents in Jtown... hmm sounds like La Salle is doing the right thing to me. I am a dog lover and have a big dog but if my dog ever bit anyone I wouldn't defend him, sorry but that is unacceptable!

There is alot to this story that wasn't mentioned in this article. These dogs have bitten people before and the owners made a promise to the courts that in exchange for not euthanizing them they would send them to California. They lied and kept the dogs instead. Then they were found out and were told that if they moved out of Jersey City to a rural area they could keep the dogs. So they move to a RESIDENTIAL neighborhood in Jefferson, where I live, and take these massive dogs out for walks without the required muzzles. There are children out playing in their yards and people walking their dogs on a daily basis and these dogs pose a threat to everyone's safety! These dogs have attacked before and no one really knows what they will trigger them to act aggressively. If they go on attack there is no way their owners can stop them, they weigh over 110 lbs! This family seems to think they are above the law and have repeatedly disobeyed court orders, now they are trying to play on everyone sympathy by bringing their autistic son into it. I'm all for pets! They should buy their son a gentle family dog like a Golden Retriever, they make great therapy dogs and excellent companions. I am not an advocate for putting dogs down, it is sad, but at the same time I think there are certain breeds of dogs that do not make good family pets and when an animal has been PROVEN to be a danger to people then the no longer deserve to be a part of our society.

Les...I bet you didn't know that Golden's account for more dog bites than amy other breed. This is clearly some kind of vendetta by some ignorent neighbors and some cowardly proscequter trying to bully the "new guys" one the block.

Rita, Where do you get off calling me rude and saying my statements were baseless?? Who are you? Is Rita Ross an alias for Susan Kolb, because she is the only one with firsthand knowledge of the "facts." I am basing my OPINION on the numerous articles I have read in regards to this case. If there was no foundation to the claim that these dogs were dangerous, I would be in agreement with you, but they have been cited for previous incidents. What do we have to wait for? An innocent child being mauled to death before you can say the town is justified for taking the dog away from its owner? I love animals but I don't place their value over the value of a human being.

First of all, I wouldn't be surprised if majority of these responses are the "Kolbs" using fictitious names, I have never ever seen this many people comment on an article in the patch, ever. That being said....the Kolbs, and everyone else on here need to stop blaming Jefferson residents, Jefferson police & the Prosecutor for the dog situation. If the Kolbs obeyed the law when they were in Jersey City, you wouldn't be in this predicament. You, the Kolbs, chose to lie to the courts by saying the dogs would be sent to CA, then you move, with them to a residential neighborhood in NJ...hmm, that wasn't the agreement. Once again, not Jeffersons fault, your fault. There are many children living and playing in this development, stop lying about the dogs not being dangerous too, a simple google search will show a multitude of articles about the dogs attacking people, which was found to be true in court, which is why the dogs were to be sent out of state.
So, I'm not sure who all these people are that are responding and harassing the law abiding neighbors of Jefferson, from your track record you are probably paying them, like you tried to pay off the kids in the development to get people to follow your nonsense. However, I hope all the wasted time spent on this case, most of which was dragged out by you, is finally over and the truth really does come to light...you disobeyed the law, and your dogs are dangerous.

To: Susan Kolb

Dear Susan,

I am glad photos were taken of Imani and Jumba wearing their muzzles before your walk. Then why is there a court case? The photo(s) would be proof that what you and Gary claim is true: Both dogs were wearing muzzles and Jumba's muzzle slipped off.

You may not have had the photo on you when you were stopped by the police but you had photo(s) to show to the prosecutor, James LaSala. How did this case get so far?

How did Police Officer Bryan Christie.know that Jumba and Imani were to be muzzled that he wrote you up when he saw Jumba without a muzzle. Did Christie think you were consciously walking Jumba without a muzzle and Imani with a muzzle. There are some missing pieces in this newspaper story.

Rita Ross is a real person, not the Kolbs in disguise. I believe however that leslieaw67 is really James LaSala.

And I feel sorry for any pet owned by anyone criticizing the Kolbs for doing whatever they have to to save Imani. These others would throw their animals under the bus. So what if the Kolbs initially said they would give Jumba/Imani to people in California. They changed their minds. They did not want to give their dogs up. That is no lie. That is loving your pets.

And, Jayne, you commented on all the people writing in. Well, you and leslieaw67 have been writing in quite a lot. Where did you two come from? .

And Leslieaw67, dear one, you are rude.

I am not sure of what the 2009 court order says (per Chris Johnson). I am aware of the 2008 court order stating muzzles and short leash,. Would Chris Johnson be good enough to state what the 2009 court order said.

Would Jayne give us the URLs of her 'simple Google search" showing a multitude of articles about the dogs attacking people. I, and I am sure others, would like to read those articles. It is not enough to say "simple Google search" without furnishing some identification/the addresses of the articles. Were the artilcles about dogs attacking people or about Jumba/Imani attacking people?

Oh, yes. I forgot to add that Rita Ross is real, but I believe that leslieaw67 is James LaSala in disguise.

I commend Leslieaw67 for her reasoned response to me. What is to be said and done about a parent who defies the law by taking his/her child out of state or country? What is disturbing are the statements that the Kolbs defied the law. That is why we are all writing to each other. It has not been proven, though, tomorrow, the 15th, we will know what the decision is.

Censorship runs amok in the.Jefferson Patch. I wrote a comment, it initially appeared and now it is gone.

I also wrote a comment in reply to Stephanie's comment, below, but this newspaper placed my comment between Chris Johnson and leslieaw67's comments, totally out of date/time place. What is in Jefferson Township's drinking water anyway?

Stephanie

9:19 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
They moved from another town where their dogs bit people along with the couple incidents in Jtown... hmm sounds like La Salle is doing the right thing to me. I am a dog lover and have a big dog but if my dog ever bit anyone I wouldn't defend him, sorry but that is unacceptable.

Ross' comment below that was incorrectly placed
Rita Ross
12:19 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
[To Stephanie]
Of course, you wouldn't, you couldn't defend your dog . If he bit someone it would be your fault that he was not under your control. You would need to be defended, not your dog

I find it 'interesting' Jayne, Stephanie, leslieaw67 nor Chris Johnson have responded as to what they believe should be done to a parent who, say, in a custody case, defies a court order and leaves the state, country with the child. Why no answer?
No, Jayne, I am not from Jefferson Township and that means what? It was you who noted all the people writing in on the Kolbs. Are you going to respond that I am defending the Kolbs because I have no child(ren) to worry about being knocked over' or 'bitten.' I live in a rural area where there is no leash law - dogs run loose - so the chance of a child's being bitten is as strong, or stronger, in my area. As for your being an 'animal lover,' that comment is similar to hunters who 'respect' the deer right before they blow the animal's head off. Anyone can write he/she is an animal lover. It's what you do as an animal lover that counts, not just writing it.
I find it amazing that the Kolbs have supposedly defied every court order - example: Jayne writes they were not 'supposed to be living here, in nj [sic] with the dogs' - but yet the Kolbs were never arrested for defying the court order(s) that Stephanie, Jayne, leslieaw67 and Chris Johnson are complaining about. Wouldn't you think that if Jumba/Imani had knocked people over, had bitten people, they would have been taken away from the Kolbs - or destroyed -way before the Kolb's move to Jefferson Township?

Thanks Chris, I think Rita must not have a life to sit on here all day and night and make comments about things that are not relevant to what we are discussing. That is why I refused to waste any time. Just stop talking Rita you sound more ignorant with every post!

Rita, on another note, do you have anything to say about what I posted? This particular story is officially old news now, as there's already been another story on last night's court ruling. I don't want to put words in your mouth but if I understand you correctly (and because this is only an internet forum, maybe I don't understand you correctly) that you likened the Kolbs' defiance of the court orders as similar to a non-custodial parent who takes a child out of state or out of the country, in defiance of a court order, and therefore what they did was okay. Am I right, or were you trying to say something different? Are you familiar with some of the non-custodial parent abduction cases I mentioned?

Chris, it was my intention to respond to you. I should have noted that in my reply to Stephanie. Your questions are concise and to the point. Allow me some breathing time, however, as all these (my) posts have taken time from my doing other things in my life that needed to be done. One accomplishment you have achieved is that I will google / read the stories on the Kolbs. But, please remember, as you wisely wrote that you spoke only for yourself (when I grouped you with 3 other people) I am expressing my values, not the law. If the law is something I don't agree with, then so be it! I will still do what I think should be done based on my values. At the risk of being 'irrelevant" I once took a cat that 'belonged' to someone else as the cat was being neglected. Obviously that 'crime' cannot be placed in the category of harming another human being as we are discussing here re. Jumba and Imani, but it was still against the law and, yes, I would do it again. You've posed some interesting questions for me.

Chris im pretty sure her entire argument is that, at least the understandable posts. To me it sounds exactly that she condones child abduction and people in general disobeying the law. It's fine to say what you want Rita but you don't need to post on everyones opinions! We did our research we don't have anything to prove to you yet you continue to post the same questions more then once, let me answer so you have a clear understanding. No I do not think it is ok for non custodial parents to kidnap their children, and no, I also don't think it is ok for people to not follow court orders as this entire conversation is about. I am not being nasty I'm just stating my personal opnions! Get over it poor baby, I too suggest you don't rea my posts. And if you didn't want a confrotation then you should keep other commenters names out of your posts!

I just wasted way over an hour responding to Chris Johnson's post and find that this hick newspaper did not print it. Just deleted it. This hick newspaper also seems not to furnish a phone number, just email. What a town! People who write vulgar criticisms, don't know "you're" (for 'you are') from 'your' - that's Monica - and hick newspapers like the Cabbage - err! - Jefferson Patch. No wonder America is being dumbed down.

Rather than allow the Jefferson Patch to censor me, I will compose my answer again. Let me be perfectly clear. I would defy any law in which my pets would be taken from me. No one, no one would take my pets. If others do not feel that way, that is fine with me, but don't shove your opinion down my throat and become vulgar.
As for Monica Soules' wailing about the danger of these dogs to children, read the sane comments that Amy Gould wrote to Heather Boise on March14 re. Heather's comments: " Heather, I am not sure you read the details of the article. The dogs were being walked at 530am in the dark, before daybreak. The owners were taking huge precautions and even if, as it did, the muzzle comes off, who is really around at 530am to be endangered by the dogs."
Read what Monica Soules wrote to me: "Oh and to Rita Ross shame on you for being so hostle [sic] you seem like a vicious dog yourself." This is the "intelligence" of those criticizing the Kolbs.
Chris Johnson: Whoa! Back up. You were the one who named certain stories re non-custodial parents and asked if I knew the stories. I did not but said I would research them. I thought you wanted me to and I thought to be courteous. Why then did you mention these stories to me? Also, you should blame the law, not the Kolbs, if you think they got away easy all these years.

Enough misery! The right thing to do is give the Kolbs back their dog. What a shame one has died and enough has been done to this family. Really, the dogs were taken away because the owner was walking his 2 dogs down the street with a muzzle and one dogs muzzle got loose so the owner took it off and was in the middle of readjusting the muzzle back on the one dog at 530 am. Sounds to me that this officer could have been more reasonable. But instead made huge issue of it and took the dogs away. These poor dogs and now one died. This poor couple. Enough is enough. Give the dog that's still alive back to the Kolbs . They have been through enough. As far as people saying the dog bit someone. Show me the proof because if there was proof and this was true the dogs would have been out down back then. Some neighbors will say anything to be spiteful. Three was

I read a story where a neighbor called the cops because their next door neighbors dog barked and it annoyed this neighbor. So another time the neighbor said the dog bit her. She never went to the doctors for it but wanted the dog to be put down they took the dog away and there is litigation going on after almost 3 years. There are a lot of mean people out there. This woman wanted her neighbors dog to be put down and it's obvious the neighbor that was complaining just didn't like the dog because the barking annoyed her. This neighbor caused misery to this dog and her neighbor because of being spiteful. This is the kind of stuff going on out there. It's terrible. This is why people can say anything and I don't believe it unless I see it. Best of luck to the Kolbs. God bless you and pray this nightmare is over and you get your dog back. One thing is for sure, get your dog and get the heck out of that town . Far, far away.

To: Danielle Doran Liberio

Thank you for your comments.