Suspect in Ridgefield Dog Attack Denies Allegations

by Dirk Perrefort, Staff Writer
newstimes.com

June 11, 2010

DANBURY — A Bantam man facing charges for an alleged dog attack in Ridgefield in April denies claims his German shepherds ever attacked anyone.

Robert Kahn, 51, who was arrested last month on charges including reckless endangerment, said Friday that his 3-year-old German shepherd saddle back show dogs are “very friendly and docile animals.”

“They’ve always been very well-behaved dogs,” Kahn said Friday, shortly after his appearance at state Superior Court on White Street. “They are not attack animals. I’ve had dogs all my life. I love animals, and I would never want to see anyone hurt, dog or human.”

Kahn was arrested in connection with an incident at the Ridgefield Recreation Center in April, when the shepherds allegedly attacked Guy Marchison, a Ridgefield resident, and his golden retriever puppy, according to authorities.

Police said the two dogs owned by Kahn mauled the puppy and bit and scratched Marchison after he picked up his pet to protect it.

Kahn, however, said his dogs never attacked the puppy, and that he didn’t run from the scene as some people have said.

He said it appeared to him that Marchison lost his balance and fell on his own dog. Kahn said he called his animals back and began to walk away from the area a short time later, after it appeared Marchison was leaving.

At no time, Kahn said, did Marchison indicate that he was injured.

William Bloss, an attorney representing Marchison, said Kahn’s story isn’t “wholly consistent with the physical evidence in the case.”

“It’s unfortunate that he’s not willing to accept responsibility for what he has done,” Bloss said.

The attorney added that his office is investigating information it has received about similar dog attacks in the area allegedly involving Kahn.

“We have significant preliminary information,” he said. “Apparently, there have been a number of disturbing incidents in the greater Danbury area. When we confirm the information we will bring it to the prosecutor’s attention.”

Attorney Mickey Sherman, who is representing Kahn, said there may have been one incident where his client received an infraction for allowing his dog to roam, but he is not the repeat offender that he’s being portrayed as.

“Clearly, he didn’t sic his dogs on anyone,” Sherman said. “There was never any intent on his part to harm anyone.”

Sherman added that his client is very passionate about animals and tends to be very outspoken.

“His passion can sometimes be mistaken for anger,” Sherman said. “He is only concerned about the sanctity of his two dogs. They are his family.”

The case against Kahn was continued in court to July 16.