Monterey City Council Hearing: Bingo Dog Viciousness Determination (Jan 12, 2026)

On January 12, 2026, a hearing was convened to determine whether a dog named Bingo is "vicious" under Monterey City Code and should be euthanized. The City of Monterey presented evidence alleging three unprovoked attacks on humans and multiple kills of domestic animals, seeking a ruling that Bingo is a dangerous threat to public safety. The property owner, Albert Labonte, defended the dog, asserting it was never unprovoked and that the city's evidence was insufficient or misrepresented.

Consent Calendar

• Not applicable; the meeting focused entirely on contested evidentiary hearings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Leo Gomez (DA Investigator): Provided testimony that he was unprovokedly attacked by Bingo while serving a subpoena at 1001 Hellam Street on June 2, 2025. He sustained puncture wounds, lacerations, and bruising requiring six rabies injections. He expressed strong support for the city's position, stating the dog's behavior was unprovoked and the owners were hostile and irresponsible.
• Officer Austin Luke (Monterey Police): Testified that while speaking to Labonte 10 feet away on June 11, 2025, Bingo lunged across the street without warning or growling, biting his thigh. He expressed full support for euthanization, noting the attack occurred during a non-confrontational, normal police interaction.
• Lieutenant Jake Pinkas (Monterey Police): Submitted reports and testified regarding a notice of vicious dog status issued to Labonte on June 12, 2025, after two unprovoked human bites. He disclosed a previously unknown 2023 incident where Bingo killed a cat, noting the records system had hindered prior discovery of this report.
• Officer Brendan Diaz (Monterey Police): Testified regarding an incident on December 31, 2025, where a neighbor's cat was found dead. He described lacerations on the cat, fur found at the scene, and a gate buckled outward. He opined it was possible for the dog to escape its property based on the home's layout.
• Stephanie Dominguez (Neighbor): Treated as a witness for the City. She recounted her 11-year-old daughter hearing Labonte shouting "Bingo, come here" followed by a cat's death. She expressed deep fear for the safety of her children and other pets, supporting the view that the dog is a menace to the neighborhood.
• Jack Cordier (Neighbor): Testified that an officer intervened in 2023 to stop Bingo from killing his cat, Gregory. He expressed full support for euthanizing the dog, calling it a "menace" and unsafe for the community.
• Chief David Hober (Monterey Police): Expressed strong support for euthanization, stating that no lesser remedies (leash, muzzle) would adequately protect the community. He cited the history of unprovoked attacks on humans and animals, noting the dog is untrained, uncared for, and poses a severe threat.
• Neighbors (General): The testimony collectively reflected a community position that Bingo is a danger, with residents expressing fear and describing the dog as having a history of aggressive and lethal behavior.

Discussion Items

• Definition of Vicious Dog: The City argued that under Monterey City Code Section 631H, Bingo qualifies as vicious due to unprovoked attacks inflicting severe injury (lacerations, bruising) on two separate humans within a 36-month period.
• Nature of Attacks:
  • The City argued all attacks were unprovoked, even those involving Labonte's presence.
  • Albert Labonte argued that all biting incidents were provoked, stating he warned officers the dog is "not friendly" to uniformed personnel and that the dog was acting in self-defense or protecting him from perceived threats.
  • Labonte disputed the narrative regarding the death of the cat, suggesting it was more likely a raccoon or mountain lion, and claimed the cat was killed while the dog was on the roof.
• Compliance with Remedies: The City argued that previous mandates to keep the dog leashed and muzzled failed to prevent the dog from escaping (reaching the cat's death scene) or biting officers. Labonte denied the dog left the property uncontrolled during the cat incident and maintained the dog was always on a leash.
• Evidence Sufficiency:
  • The City presented photographic evidence of injuries, a deceased cat, and a buckled gate, alongside multiple eyewitness testimonies.
  • Labonte challenged the identification of the dog in the cat incident, the extent of the injuries described by police, and the claim that the dog acted unprovoked, characterizing the hearing as a "witch hunt."

Key Outcomes

• Hearing Status: The hearing concluded with both the City and the respondent presenting their cases and closing statements.
• Decisions/Votes: No decision was reached during the session. The hearing officer stated a written decision determining whether Bingo is a vicious dog and whether it should be euthanized will be issued within 15 days.
• Directives: The City petitioned for the humane euthanization of Bingo and a 36-month prohibition on Labonte owning any dogs, seeking to cover impounding and euthanization costs.
• Next Steps: The hearing officer will review testimonials, exhibits (including photos of injuries and the deceased cat), and the written decision will be mailed to all parties by late January 2026.
• Discrepancies Noted: A conflict exists regarding the dog's status at the time of the December 31st cat incident, with officers stating the dog likely escaped its property and Labonte maintaining the dog was contained and was actually howling for assistance from the roof.