Who Lunged First? Witnesses Testify

On one side of the courtroom was an attorney for Sidney, a bruiser from Brooklyn. On the other side was representation for the victim from Adams Morgan, who answers to Molly.

Attorneys for the 50-pound pit bull (who has some greyhound in him) and the 10-pound bichon frise faced each other yesterday in an administrative court. During more than five hours, they heard testimony from nine witnesses, including character witnesses and sworn affidavits, about how Molly ended up dangling from Sidney's mouth July 4.

Molly, 4, was nowhere in sight. She remained at Friendship Hospital for Animals, recuperating from three operations required after a casual walk near 20th Street and Wyoming Avenue NW was interrupted when Sidney grabbed her and shook her for about 10 seconds.

Sidney, meanwhile, was in a small cage in a New York Avenue animal pound, losing weight and becoming more frantic by the day, his owners testified before Administrative Law Judge Jesse Goode. Goode must decide whether to allow Sidney, 8, to return to New York with his owners or have him declared dangerous and euthanized.

Sidney was visiting town with his owners, Eric Wallach and Belinda Blum, who were here to see Blum's mother.

Duane Stillions, Molly's owner, said he wants Sidney put to sleep. "What if this happens again to another dog or a child?" asked Stillions, a doctor at Children's Hospital. "I love pets and animals. I understand how sad [Blum and Wallach] are. But this was the most violent thing I have ever been through."

Wallach said that in the eight years he and Blum have had Sidney, the dog has never attacked a person or a dog. He said that Molly and a Shih Tzu named Emma, also owned by Stillions, set upon Sidney first. Emma walked away unharmed.

"We love him very much," said Wallach, 35, his voice cracking and choking back tears as he testified. "He's a part of our family. He's our first child. He's never done this before. Ever. This is an abnormality."

Indeed, Sidney's owners love him so much they tried to break him out of the pound.

On July 22, with a letter from their attorney, Sean R. Day of College Park, Blum and Wallach persuaded pound employees to release Sidney. Blum, Wallach and Sidney made it to the parking lot before employees ran after them, crying out for them to stop.

Police were called, and Sidney was remanded to the pound. Wallach and Blum have started a Web site, http://titanicbugle.blogspot.com/.

Goode reprimanded Day and his clients and said he did not order such a release. "I was very clear that I was overseeing this and that any motions had to be filed with me."

Goode ordered both sides to continue mediation and ordered a temperament exam for Sidney. Both sides will meet Wednesday to say whether there was an agreement or if the judge must rule.