Mercer Island City Councilman Mike Cero is the owner of a dog that bit a city maintenance worker at Island Crest Park on April 18 at 2:25 p.m.

Cero, who has three dogs, said he often lets them run off leash at Island Crest Park. The maintenance worker said that he was attacked by all three dogs. Two of the dogs are miniature poodles and one is a standard poodle. One of the miniature poodles bit the man, who needed care afterward. Cero was in his car talking on the phone at the time of the incident. A witness was present at the park.

Reached by telephone last week, Cero said that to his knowledge the fields are open to dogs unless a game or activity is underway. His dogs are licensed and up to date on their vaccinations, he said.

He said that since that time, he has been contacted by King County Animal Control and had a Mercer Island police officer come to his home about the incident.

Cero said that he tried to contact the worker later, but that the city would not give out his name due to privacy concerns.

“I am certainly very sorry and will not take the dogs there ever again,” he said.