A Hillsboro man is facing a court date for failure to control his dog after it allegedly attacked Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin earlier this week.

According to a Hillsboro Police Department report, Wilkin was jogging in the 100 block of South Elm Street Monday evening when he was attacked by the dog, which lunged at his face and left a number of scratches.

Sgt. Steve Browder, acting chief of the Hillsboro Police Department, said the dog’s owner had reportedly gone to a nearby store, and the dog, which appeared to be a bull terrier breed, apparently came out of a house and attacked Wilkin. Wilkin said later that the dog blocked his path into the entrance of the nearby fitness center where he was returning after his jog.

Wilkin contacted police, but when an officer responded, the dog and its owner were no longer at the scene, according to the report. The officer later located the owner and the dog at a residence in the 400 block of West Main Street.

The dog was confiscated by the county dog warden, and its owner, Debbenair M. Noble, 20, SR 73, was cited for failure to control and failure to register the canine, Browder said. Noble is scheduled for an appearance in Hillsboro Municipal Court on Aug. 30.

Browder said Friday that Wilkin refused treatment for his injuries. Wilkin had numerous visible scratches around his mouth and other areas of his face when he attended a meeting the next day.

Browder said interviews were conducted with individuals who were at the scene where the attack allegedly happened.

Browder said Hillsboro has a law requiring dogs to be on a leash, or otherwise secured on property with a fence or other measures that control them. He said reports of dogs running loose or menacing residents present occasional problems.

“It goes in spells,” said Browder.

Wilkin said Friday it was fortunate his young daughters weren’t with him, as they were just the previous day, along with his wife. He said he loves dogs,and his family recently acquired one, but he explained to his girls that if the dog ever attacked someone, it would have to go.

He said the dog “wasn’t going for my legs or ankles, it was going for my face and neck.”

Reach Gary Abernathy at 937-393-3456 or on Twitter @abernathygary.