On Saturday morning, Worthington Town Marshal Jim O’Malley issued the following information concerning a dog in Worthington that has chased bicycle riders, behaved aggressively and bit one girl out on a bike ride.

O’Malley released the following:

On Monday, April 6, 2020, the Worthington Police Department received a complaint of a large black dog that had been chasing two female bicycle riders. The women reported the animal had pursued them in an aggressive manner while riding bicycles on the streets of Worthington. No injuries occurred and the riders were able to distance themselves from the animal.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2020, officers of the Worthington Police Department were stopped by Shelly Carrico and informed that she had been aggressively chased by a large black dog while bicycle riding on the west side of Worthington. Shelly described the animal as black with white on its chest and wearing a chain style collar. Shelly stated she did not know the owner of the animal.

Also on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the Greene County Sheriff’s Dispatch was contacted by Gregg Roudebush. Gregg reported that his granddaughter had been bitten by a dog in the town of Worthington.

Worthington Police Officers Allen and Montgomery responded to the residence of Courtney Sparks on Dayton Street in Worthington, Indiana and spoke with her. Courtney stated she was riding bicycles with her daughter and son when a large black dog approached the cyclists in an aggressive manner. Courtney reported the dog went after her six-year-old son first and then turned its attention toward her daughter. The ten-year-old female stopped her bicycle and the dog approached her and bit her on the thigh. The trio then sped away from the animal and it did not follow.

Officers Allen and Montgomery spoke with numerous residents in the area of the complaints and were able to locate a dog matching the description provided by the Sparks family. The animal in question was located at the home of Joshua Kern located on Meridian Street in Worthington. A photograph of the animal was taken and provided to the Sparks family for review.

On Thursday, April 9, 2020, Courtney Sparks and her daughter were transported to the Kern residence to view the dog in the photograph. Both subjects confirmed this was the dog that had chased them and bit the daughter. Shelly Carrico also visited the Kern residence and positively identified the dog as the one that had pursued her.

Joshua Kern was issued a citation for “Animal Running at Large,” and the dog was placed on a ten-day quarantine per established guidelines.

With warmer weather approaching and Covid-19 restrictions, there are more pedestrians, cyclists, and children enjoying the outdoors in the town of Worthington. The Worthington Police Department wants to remind citizens that you are responsible for your pets and their behavior. Dogs and cats are not to be running at large, must be up to date on vaccinations, have clean shelter, adequate food, and water, and shall remain on the owner’s premises.