Norwich — A New Britain Superior Court judge last week reaffirmed a dog destruction order on two pit bulls that dates back to October 2013 following a vicious attack on three children and their grandmother on Talman Street. 

The two pit bulls, owned by Sheri Speer of 151 Talman St., have been held at the Norwich dog pound since they were seized following the attack, as Speer has filed several appeals seeking to reverse the order.

The latest appeal in New Britain Superior Court challenged state Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky’s Aug. 5, 2015, ruling that upheld Norwich Animal Control Officer Michele Lombardi’s dog destruction order.

The case initially was dismissed, but Speer asked the judge to reconsider.

On Thursday, Judge George Levine agreed to reconsider the case, but then denied Speer's request for a stay of the dog destruction order.

Speer and her attorney, Edward Bona of Norwich, could not be reached for comment on whether Speer plans to appeal the court ruling to state Appellate Court.

The city has been paying for the upkeep of the two pit bulls, an older dog named Skyler and Skyler's daughter, Dolly, and Lombardi has ordered her staff and volunteers to have minimal contact with the animals.

“It certainly has not been in the best interest of the animals or anyone involved,” Police Chief Louis Fusaro said Tuesday. “They were certainly not the best pets in the world, but they don't deserve two years of incarceration.”

According to the police record and testimony at the Aug. 25, 2014, Department of Agriculture hearing, the attack occurred in front of Speer's house on Talman Street on Oct. 8, 2013.

Grandmother Lisa Hall was escorting her three young grandchildren from their home at 123 Talman St. — a rental house owned by Speer — to the Bishop School playground.

One dog attacked the baby stroller carrying then-9-month-old Marquice Downing, knocking the stroller over and causing a minor bite wound on the baby’s forehead.

The baby’s sister, Marlena Downing, then almost 5, was hailed as a heroine after she stuck her arm out to protect the baby. The dog latched onto her arm, shaking it, tearing flesh and breaking her arm.

Hall kicked the dog and was bitten on her leg, and a passerby grabbed a stick and struck the dog.

During the attack, Marlena’s twin sister, Audrena Downing, ran screaming toward her home. The second dog chased her.

The girl banged on the door of another tenant in the house, and the woman let the child enter. She hid behind the couch until police arrived.

The Downings have filed a civil suit against Speer.

Speer pleaded guilty in August 2014 to two counts each of allowing dogs to roam, having nuisance, vicious dogs and unlicensed dogs and one count of failure to vaccinate against rabies. Skyler was not vaccinated. Speer paid a $385 fine.

Speer and Bona have argued in the appeals that Speer attempted to plead under the Alford Doctrine, under which she would have disagreed with the allegations but pleaded to avoid a trial, but the state did not allow the Alford Doctrine plea.

Speer also argued that city police never investigated whether other dogs in the neighborhood attacked the family.

c.bessette@theday.com