Norwich — The order to euthanize two pit bulls that allegedly attacked a grandmother and three young children in October 2013 has been delayed again, as owner Sheri Speer has appealed a second Superior Court ruling affirming the destruction order. 

This is the second time Speer has appealed the case to the state Appellate Court, having prevailed in an earlier appeal with a ruling that a New Britain Superior Court judge inappropriately dismissed the first case.

In its second review, however, New Britain Superior Court Judge Sheila A. Huddleston on May 6 denied Speer’s challenge to the state Department of Agriculture’s decision to uphold the Norwich Animal Control Officer’s dog destruction order following a court hearing. Speer’s request for reconsideration was denied by Huddleston on May 16 .

On June 4, Speer filed paperwork in state Appellate Court appealing the May 6 decision.

The two female pit bulls, Skyler, now 10 years old, and Skyler’s daughter Dolly, now 6, have been in city custody at the Norwich dog pound since shortly after the Oct. 8, 2013 attack on a grandmother and three young children in front of Speer’s home on Talman Street. The city has been paying for their daily care throughout Speer’s appeals.

One 4-year-old girl suffered a badly torn and broken arm after she put her arm out to protect her younger brother in a stroller. The second dog chased their sister, who ran to a neighbor’s house for protection. The toddler in the stroller suffered a wound to his forehead, and the dog also bit the grandmother as she kicked the dog to try to stop the attack.

Throughout the appeals, Speer argued that her dogs were properly confined in her yard during the attack and the city never considered that other roaming pit bulls in the neighborhood could have attacked the family. She also objected that the destruction order was applied to both dogs, while only one dog bit the victims. The city argued that police could not determine which dog carried out the attack and that the second dog likely would have attacked the girl who ran had she not reached the safety of the neighbor’s house in time.

Several witnesses at the state Department of Agriculture hearing testified that the two dogs ran from Speer’s yard and returned there when they were called back by a contractor working at the house. Huddleston ruled that the destruction order was reasonable on both dogs, citing the second dog’s intent to attack the child and the vicious disposition of both dogs when they were taken into custody.

c.bessette@theday.com