A Marysville man who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder says his service dog, Nanna, is missing. When police contacted him, he hoped for good news. Instead he was threatened with a citation, a fine, and possible jail time.
Shawn Slater, 34, took a number of medications for his anxiety and seizures until he got Nanna. The 3-year-old Rottweiler is a certified medical alert and therapy dog.
With Nanna, I didn't take any medication at all, said Slater. I was two years clean off all those drugs. I didn't have problems. I didn't even have to take her everywhere I went. I'm finally employed again.
But just before the 4th of July, fireworks in the neighborhood frightened the dog. She forced her way through a hole in the fence and escaped. Even worse, she ripped off her dog tags in the process.
Friends helped put up fliers through the city, but made the mistake of attaching them to utility poles and city property, which is illegal.
That's when someone from the police department called.
If I were to put another sign up, I will be getting a $250 fine and a day in jail per sign, Slater said the caller told him.
Marysville Police believe that the department's senior volunteers gave Slater a courtesy call.
This affords them the opportunity to place signs that are in compliance with the law rather than a police officer issuing a citation, Commander Robb Lamoureux said in a written statement.
That said, he continued, we are reviewing with our volunteers the precise message we want to provide to our community members to be certain that we accomplish our goal of educating.
Slater says he understands the city wants to avoid nuisance signage. But Nanna isn't just a lost pet.
It s my family and it's my sanity, I just want back, he said.
Nanna weighs 127 pounds. She s a full breed Rottweiler with classic markings, and she is not spayed.
An organization called Lost Dogs of Snohomish Countyoffered to help look for the dog. You can also contact Slater at shawnslater@live.com.
