Rosewood Dog Attacks: Post-Trial Results

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

Following up from the November article about the dog attacks in the Rosewood area of Trenton, the Sentinel spoke with TJ and Jenniffer Avans (whose dog was killed by neighboring dogs) and reviewed the court records from the trial. (Refer to the Nov. 27, 2024, issue of the Sentinel for the initial story.)

Per the court records for the Dec. 10, 2024, case of City of Trenton vs. Elton D. Poore, Poore was found guilty for two counts of restraint of animal and two counts of vicious animal. He was fined a total of $1,495 (including a $25 court fee).

The records include documentation of payment of the fines. Poore made the final payment in early March.

The narrative account in the case report aligned with the accounts told to the Sentinel as included in the previous article.

According to the records, the male dog—the one that directly killed the Avans’ Pomeranian—was euthanized by McMinn Regional Humane Society on Jan. 8, witnessed by Monda Wooten (city street commissioner). Meanwhile, the female dog was ordered to be removed from Dade County. Michelle Poore signed the following statement on Jan. 13: “I will remove the female dog from Dade County and not bring the dog back to Dade County.”

However, the Avans reported that the female dog was back at the Poore residence in mid-February. The dog was microchipped, so when the Avans called the city, animal control was easily able to confirm that it was the same dog. This time, the city ensured that the dog left the county.

Jenniffer told the Sentinel, “What upset me the most is that they said they had a plan for that dog, but they gave it back to her. I feel like the system and the city has failed me because they don’t go through with plans. It’s a big slap in my face, telling me there’s no consequences for the death of my dog.”

Per the court documents, it appears that it was left up to Michelle Poore to remove the dog from the county. When it was revealed that this did not happen, the city then enforced the removal.

As explained in the previous article, neighbors said that the city had been called to the Poore residence many times. The records document nine dates in 2024 that the city was called to respond to the address, but the reasons for each visit aren’t included. (It’s not specified whether the police department, animal control, fire department, or some other department responded.) The dates were:

• June 4
• Sept. 14
• Sept. 23
• Sept. 27 – issued a citation
• Oct. 10
• Oct. 17
• Oct. 18
• Oct. 21
• Oct. 29
• Nov. 1
• Nov. 5
• Nov. 14 – Avans’ dog killed

While these two vicious dogs have at last been dealt with by the city, the entire process left a bitter taste in the Avans’ mouths. Jenniffer was not happy that during the court proceedings, they were not asked for their account of the problems, so she asked to speak. The court listened as she explained that the dog owners hadn’t taken responsibility for the problems and the city’s response hadn’t met the Avans’ expectations.

According to the Avans, the Poores responded that these claims about the aggressive dogs were made up. Jenniffer was not happy that they showed no remorse and gave no apology for the death of Emma, her Pomeranian.