Michigan Woman Jailed For Not Keeping Dog On Leash

EMPIRE, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A 69-year-old woman is serving a 15-day jail sentence in northern Michigan for failing to control her German shepherd.

Leelanau County Sheriff Michael Borkovich says he's glad that Mary Wreford was locked up Tuesday after she violated her probation.

He said it's "outrageous" that there have been more than a dozen incidents of this dog running loose in and around the village of Empire, 30 miles west of Traverse City.

Does it make sense to send someone to jail for this? WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton has seen similar cases before.

"The problem is not necessarily the underlying violation," Langton said. "The judge gave her a break by putting her on probation — giving her a chance to keep her dog under control — and I am assuming that just didn't happen."

"Judges don't like it when you violate the gift that they gave you," he said.

Langton said these small towns are typically pretty serious about their leash laws, because someone could get hurt.

The sheriff noted the fatal mauling of a jogger last year in Lapeer County — unrelated to Wreford and her pet. Those owners were sent to prison this week.

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