Owner of dogs in Schenectady attack says she’s innocent

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Lamendola

A former Schenectady woman pleaded not guilty in City Court Wednesday to charges she harbored three dangerous and unlicensed dogs that attacked and seriously injured a woman in August.

Jasmine Tirado, 21, formerly of 347 Hulett St., now living in Albany, appeared with a public defender before City Court Judge Guido Loyola.

Loyola adjourned Tirado’s case until Oct. 19 to allow her time to prepare for a potential trial. Tirado faces up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $500 for each of three allegations of harboring dangerous dogs should she be convicted. She had no comment after her arraignment.

Tirado’s three pit pulls, since destroyed, attacked Shirleen Lucas as she was running errands early Aug. 22 on Hulett Street. Lucas needed nearly 200 stitches to close injuries that ran nearly from head to toe.

According to the police report, city police officers found Lucas on the sidewalk surrounded by three dogs. “Three dogs owned by Tirado did escape out of the rear yard and did viciously attack and repeatedly bite Lucas,” the report stated.

Police said that they used Tasers on the dogs and that Lucas suffered facial, leg and arm trauma and punctures. She was unable to sign the report, according to the report.

In addition to the charges leveled in August, Tirado faces several violations from 2010. That charges were never resolved because she failed to show up for court, according to a bench warrant.

According to court papers, city animal control officers cited Tirado on April 7 for having three unlicensed dogs. She also was cited on April 7 for having a dangerous dog.