Ugly the Pit Bull Granted a Reprieve Until Monday

Ugly, the pit bullterrier who is under a death sentence, will stay alive at least until Monday despite the expiration of an injunction that kept San Clemente officials from acting against him.

The injunction, which had been issued Friday by an Orange County Superior Court judge, kept the city from killing the dog until after 5 p.m. Wednesday. The city did not object to the order obtained by owner Kyeli Beckmann but asked the court to require a $10,000 liability bond before Ugly could go free.

Beckmann had not posted the bond by 5 p.m. Wednesday but is “making every effort” to arrange payment, said Wendy J. Park, her attorney. Detailed paper work has slowed Beckmann, but she may be able to pay the bond today.

Must Meet Conditions

“We have told them we will not do anything (about Ugly) until Monday,” San Clemente Assistant City Atty. Jeff Goldfarb said. “The conditions are there, and it’s up to (Beckmann) to meet those conditions.”

San Clemente Animal Shelter officials impounded Ugly on July 12 when they received reports that the dog and Skinny, another of Beckmann’s dogs, were behaving aggressively while chained to the bed of a truck in San Clemente, Animal Services Officer Marc Lemieux said. Moreover, the truck was on private property and the dogs lacked food, water, shade and a proper license, he added.

Beckmann got Skinny back, but shelter officials transferred Ugly to the Orange County Animal Shelter in Orange after he scaled two six-foot fences and attacked and killed another dog on July 13.