[1]Jason Estimo and his son Buddy play with Hank on the floor. / Courtesy photo by Jan Propp-Estimo
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lawyers involved in the case of Hank the Centralia dog are meeting for mediation on the matter this week.
Lewis County Civil Deputy Prosecutor David Fine said yesterday that he, attorney John Justice and animal attorney Adam Karp will meet with a mediator on Friday afternoon in Olympia.
A preliminary injunction was issued on Oct. 18, allowing the pit bull terrier to be freed while the case continued in the courts.
Hank the dog went home to his Centralia family that day.
Jann Propp-Estimo adopted the animal from the Lewis County Animal Shelter in January, but the county impounded him in May, after discovering Hank was actually a dog named Tank which the county had previously designated a dangerous dog because he was implicated with his mother in the killing of two goats in Winlock last year, and was destined to be put down.
Propp-Estimo and her lawyer have been fighting in court since then to prevent the dog from being euthanized.
She says he is doing well.
“He’s very happy,” Propp-Estimo said today. “He came away a little bit needy from the shelter, but we just keep working on that.”
Fine declined to discuss further the planned mediation.
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[2]Hank on his way home the day he was sprung from the Lewis County Animal Shelter in October. / Courtesy photo by Jan Propp-Estimo