For goodness sake! This is so out of control! The muzzle fell off. It was on an empty street ai 5:30 am. If the neighbor who was a cop going to work hadn't seen it none of this would be going on. How much money will this DA waste on destroying this family? I know their child needs a special education plan but isn't all this harming the boy? What keeps them in that area? Is it work? I feel so badly for them. Does anyone know if they have considered leaving the state? NJ is considering BSL laws so it will only get worse. This is shameful. I am stunned that more people have not protested this misuse of power and money. This must be some wealthy town with money to burn. Why else would this be permitted? Thanks to this paper for it's objective coverage. I live in Atlanta and am heartbroken for the Kolbs.

I agree with Chris. Google the Kolbs and Jersey City and see what you find? There is so much more to this story than what is presented in this article. The charges against these people date back to 2008! The reason it has been in court so long is because the Kolbs either disobey the Court Order or they appeal the case over and over again. They have been given so many chances to do the right thing by their dogs, but they continually disobey the law. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but without knowing the back story, you can't possibly understand why the residents of Jefferson are so outraged by this story.

Come on guys, whatever was 'alleged' in the past does not justify jailing Imani all this time in a shelter and depriving her of her family environment. It is so detrimental to her health and well-being. Dogs are our responsibility; fine the owners if laws are broken - do not kill the dog! Jumba has already died in shelter, a very sad way for him to go... how does it really serve anyone to keep an animal suffering when she herself has no comprehension of any crime - she's a dog for pity's sake, she did not commit this crime! I have a very large breed dog, and I know how some people can be about his size, but I have been fortunate to be free to walk around my community with him all the time so that many people have come to know him and it has dispersed most people's fear. If I had had to walk him at 5 in the morning, not many people would know him and so he would have remained a worry to some people who just innately fear big dogs. What we have now is a family in distress fighting for their family member, be it canine, and I would do the same - I would fight to my dying breath. The Kolbs have spent all the time they are permitted to seeing their dogs training them and trying to keep them as stimulated as possible. They are actively ensuring their remaining dog is obedient and trained whilst she waits and waits and waits in jail for humans to determine her fate. I hope one day soon, this dog gets her life back

Chris, no-one in their neighbourhood was at risk - it was 5.30 in the morning on a deserted street. Orders were obeyed - this was a simply slip up, it happens. No reason here to kill a dog

Really amber!!!!! What happens if they the dogs accidentally get out and attack my 4 year old twins???? You have children ??? what would you do if they attacked your children? Thank them

Im going to say this the "DOG" who has a name Jumba who was the one who injured people in Jersey City died what don't you people get if you have done the research. So why is Imani still locked in a jail cell? The family and the dogs become one as a family and this family would do anything for the dogs. The media tells you what they want to hear and thats it. I didn't see the media come to their visits with the dogs on a daily basis. So I think someone who watched on a daily basis would know if the dog is safe and I can tell you Imani is not a dangerous dog. As per the one of the newspapers it was Jumba. SO YES FREE IMANI and bring her back to Gary and Susan for good.

I am still waiting for answers to my questions Amber. ????????????? Just for you with the question marks.

And we all still don't know if Amber has children, because if not......stop talking. Do you even know where they live???? Ugh oh , another question you won't answer. It's really easy 3 questions...........you tell me the answers. "You see the train moves , not the station."... Anybody who thinks "pets" have a greater importance than humans, might want to run around the block a couple million times. I love cuckoo clocks!!!!!

I intended not to write any more posts, but I have a question I need to ask. It seems some people of Jefferson would have no problem if other breed dogs were to get loose. Other residents have dogs who are probably tied up or let loose in their back yard. Is someone going to write back they have 'researched' this question and all owners who have dogs keep their dogs in the house and always, always walk their dogs on a leash. (Yeah! Sure.) What if a neighbor's collie, mutt, dachshund, retriever, etc. were to escape - even if someone just opened the door - to run loose in the neighborhood. It could happen or has already happened. Is anyone going to write back that that dog would not be as 'dangerous' as Jumba and Imani would be if they got loose. ANY dog who can bite can be dangerous.
Amber: "Mob culture is the villain here, not Imani or the Kolbs." Good point. I wish I had said it.

J Ant

The notation J Ant on the bottom of my post is an error. I did not see it, but it should have been deleted.

This is my last comment. Amber please go back and take an English course. I asked "Do you know where THEY live??? Reading is FUNdemental !!!!!! And I'm creeping you out????
P.S. look up alleged and what was found factual in court , tell your friends the difference between alleged and confirmed. Should be a fascinating conversation!

Getting back to 2008 when this all started were there any photos or evidence of bite marks? Could this dog have been excited and jumped on a by-standard with no intent to cause harm? Do any of the posters really know? But now that the dog in question has passed away (my deepest sympathies to the family) why is the court keeping the remaining dog away from its family. This dog didn't do a thing to anyone from what I understand. Let's make decisions on facts and hard evidence. I believe that the case is public record so isn't it worth it to some who post to get a copy of what was alleged and what evidence there was back in 2008 and go from there?

I agree with Amber. "Mob culture is the villain here, not Imani or the Kolbs."
Let the remaining dog go home. There has never been any question their home is not secure. The dog was off the MUZZLE for a short time and in the company of at least one policeman for most if it if the official reports i found on Google are correct. The main ones benefiting from the current situation are the lawyers and the facility where the remaining dog is locked up. They have been paid many thousands of dollars of dollars for acting as a jail. For the price being paid to them I think it is shameful the condition the dog is being kept in. What is happening to all this money? It certainly doesn't cost very much to keep a dog locked up in a small cell. I doubt they are feeding the dog steak. They don't employ anyone to take it for walks like a proper kennel would. AND to top it all off, Imani, the dog that is locked up is innocent. Free Imani!

How many ways do I have to say it? The Kolbs VIOLATED A COURT ORDER back in 2009 - not talking about the muzzle issue here - that required the dogs to be sent to California. Given the track record and in my opinion, I don't see how they can be trusted, at all. When you disregard a court order, you waive all your rights to not be treated as a criminal. Don't like the court order? Then you must APPEAL it, all the way to the US Supreme Court if you have to. Court orders exist for a reason - if people don't obey them, we might as well consider ourselves an anarchy.

Here's the Jersey City original message thread that tells the story from the VERY beginning in 2008, skip over peoples' comments, but read ALL the news stories, it should explain everything pretty well (paste into browser):

http://jclist.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?order=ASC&status=&topic_id=16015

The people living in their neighborhood with small children have every right to be concerned and I hope they continue to show up in the courtroom against these people getting their dog back.

Here are some more Jersey Journal articles so you don't have to scroll through all the comments, although you may have to register on the website to read all of them (paste into browser):

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/jerseycity/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1232609228147250.xml&coll=3

http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-7/123243631718940.xml&coll=3

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/jerseycity/index.ssf?/base/news-7/123330036231670.xml&coll=3

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/02/bullmastiffs_owner_appears_in.html

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/jerseycity/index.ssf?/base/news-7/123641073371200.xml&coll=3

Here's the story that tops them all, when the dogs were brought back to NJ:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/02/boerboels_accused_of_attacking.html

Chris, The links you have posted are all from The New Jersey Times except for two which are for a website where some mom is posting. I have looked at the New Jersey Times and it's articles are as full of hysterical and subjective language as your comments. As Suzi above says, thanks to this paper for it's objective coverage.

Nancy first of all it's the Jersey Journal and the Hudson Reporter, never heard of the Jersey Times. The very first link I posted is from JClist.com, a local message board for Jersey City. But that's all beside the point. Believe whatever you want to believe... I don't care... I'm never going to convince you or show you any news source you consider unbiased. The Patch is a local paper that only covers Jefferson so they haven't covered anything that concerned what went on with these dogs in Jersey City and only briefly mentioned that the Kolbs defied the court order in 2009 requiring them to send the dogs out of state. Defied the court order! Does that mean anything to you? Maybe you'd like to talk with James Joyce or Jonathan Rodriguez, two people who were badly bitten by the dogs and were hospitalized? Or the woman and her young baby that were knocked over by the dogs? Or would all those people be too biased for you? In any case, maybe you can invite the family and its dog to come live in your neighborhood, and let the dog run unleashed. Welcome them with open arms, fine with me if they are away from New Jersey.