Jeb returns home

Kenneth Job had a hard time putting into words what his service dog, Jeb, means to him.

But the Belgian Malinois is back to being the disabled veteran's "right hand man."

Jeb, who has been at St. Clair County Animal Control since Aug. 24 after being accused of killing another dog, returned home Wednesday afternoon.

"The court has signed a consent judgment between the parties that allows for the Jobs to take Jeb home," said Prosecutor Mike Wendling in an email.

He said the judgment establishes conditions to provide safeguards "that will protect the community from any potential damage that Jeb could cause in the future."

Wendling said those conditions include adequate fencing and insurance coverage for any potential future damage.

"It is my understanding that several community members and animal and veteran advocacy groups have graciously stepped forward in our community to assist in the costs of compliance," he said.

Kenneth Job surrendered Jeb to St. Clair County Animal Control after the service dog was found standing over the neighbor's dead Pomeranian, Vlad, Aug. 24.

District Judge Michael Hulewicz ruled in September that Jeb was a dangerous dog and ordered him to be euthanized.

A dog is considered dangerous if it bites or attacks causing serious injury or death to a human or animal when it is under the control of its owner, according to Michigan law.

In October, Hulewicz issued a 30-day stay on the euthanization to allow the Jobs to conduct a DNA test.

DNA samples taken from Vlad did not match those of Jeb, according to a report issued by the University of Florida's Maples Center for Forensic Medicine dated Oct. 24.

The consent judgment was signed today.

A petition at change.org requesting Jeb's released has garnered more than 98,400 signatures. A Facebook page has nearly 650 likes.

Kandie Morrison, Job's daughter, picked him up from animal control. She said the ordeal has been emotional for the entire family.

Kenneth Job wasn't aware his dog was being released until Jeb showed up at his St. Clair Township home.

"He's awful skinny, but he's alive. He's well, we can take care of the rest," he said.

Kenneth Job said seeing Jeb was emotional.

"Don't get me started, because I'll cry," he said.

His wife, Penny Job, said her husband cried often since Jeb's departure. She said getting him home was a relief.

The owners of Vlad, the Sawas, declined comment Wednesday.

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard.