A door-to-door salesperson has reported that a cattle dog on County Road L bit him. The homeowner, however, said the dog in question was a toy poodle.

While seeking medical treatment at Southwest Memorial Hospital, the 29-year Kirby Vacuum salesman called the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office to file a report at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The alleged dog-bite victim told authorities that a black and white heeler bit the “upper rear” of his right leg about two hours earlier.

The salesperson reportedly left the scene only to return for a second visit to confront the homeowner. Saying he didn’t want to get bit again, the salesperson “honked his horn” from the driveway without exiting the vehicle. After informing the customer that he was bitten, the 67-year-old homeowner said he wasn’t surprised, because his dog had bitten trespassers before. The resident disputed claims that a cattle dog was responsible, saying it was a toy poodle instead.

The responding deputy noted in his report that the salesman didn’t immediately leave the scene after being bitten. The salesman said he “continued to try and talk” to the customer, because he was paid on commission. The alleged victim said the homeowner was rude and refused to allow him to shampoo his carpet.

Authorities requested that the alleged victim email photographs of the injury. It’s unknown if charges were filed.

Also on Tuesday, deputies responded to a complaint about a pack of dogs that had attacked livestock on County Road N. Not an eyewitness to the incident, the cattleman reported that a steer and four heifers were injured after their ears were bitten.

After an initial investigation, a deputy reported that a neighbor’s pit bulls had escaped a fenced area the same day, but no evidence was available linking the dogs to the livestock attacks. Agreeing to assist, the neighbor requested that his contact information be shared with the cattleman.

tbaker@cortezjournal.com