Dak Prescott's dog that bit neighbor will remain in custody... for now

FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s dog will remain in custody until a judge determines if it is a “dangerous dog.”

Frisco police said Prescott’s two dogs escaped through an unsecured door and got away from his home last Monday. One of the dogs, a 90-pound pitbull named Icon, then got into a fight with a neighbor’s dog in their front yard.

The dog bit a neighbor who tried to break up the fight. That neighbor had to be taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Frisco Animal Services captured both of Prescott’s dogs and Icon was put into quarantine for 10 days. The quarantine was lifted Thursday morning, but Frisco police said the dog will remain in custody at the Collin County Animal Shelter pending the outcome of a hearing set for March 20.

"After the investigation, the case was referred to the City of Frisco Municipal Court for a hearing to determine whether or not the animal should be classified as a dangerous dog as defined by the Texas Health and Safety Code," said Frisco PD Sgt. Evan Mattei.

By the state's definition, a dangerous dog is one that meets a number of criteria, including whether its believed to be a threat to the community.

"Any dog, no matter how sweet you think they are, any dog has the ability to bite,” said Lisa Doran with Collin County Animal Services. “It all depends on the circumstances surrounding it, whether they were provoked, whether they just all of a sudden, something spooked them and they decided to go bite somebody. Every dog is different."

Safety codes define a dangerous dog as one that makes an unprovoked attack on a person outside of its enclosure and causes bodily injury or one that acts in a way that causes a person to believe they will be attacked or injured.

Attorney Bryce King, who is not associated with this case, has experience with these kinds of hearings.

King says the severity of the victim’s injuries will be one of many factors the judge will consider when determining if the dog should be deemed dangerous.

”Best case scenario, the judge does not find that there is enough evidence for the dog to be dangerous and they might order Mr. Prescott to pay the boarding fees and then the dog would be released back to him in his custody,” King said.

If classified as dangerous, Prescott may have to register Icon and take out an insurance policy or he could be euthanized.

“Mr. Prescott would have to comply with the regulations, such as possibly removing the dog from the municipality, obtaining insurance on the dog, for I believe up to $100,000. The city could order him to keep the dog enclosed whether in the backyard or inside,” King added.

There is also a possible criminal offense for the incident, a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500.