August 13, 2026

Pet wolf attack will mean jail time for owner

In Carson City Justice Court, George Soetje also was told to pay restitution in the form of any medical bills and have no substantiated complaints against his dogs for a year.

"We just can't minimize this anymore," Justice of the Peace Robey Willis said. "Your granddaughter could have been killed. It was so close."

The judge added Soetje is well-liked in the community - but he's a "bad neighbor" when it comes to his dogs.

Soetje pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor citation of "miskeeping of a vicious dog." He said the hybrid wolf, "Miko," wasn't vicious prior to the June 6 attack.

Soetje's 3-year-old and 5-year-old granddaughters were both bitten by "Miko" at his Ash Canyon Road home. The animal was later put to sleep.

The attack on the 3-year-old put her in pediatric intensive care in a Reno hospital for six nights. The 5-year-old wasn't seriously hurt.

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