Post by RealPitBull on Jan 11, 2008 8:25:45 GMT -5
Wautoma
Pit Bull Owner Defends Dog After Child is Attacked
Updated: Jan 10, 2008 11:31 PM EST
www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7608969
Neighbors' Dispute Over Pit Bull
By Jason Zimmerman
A Wautoma neighborhood is shaken after a pit bull attack left an eight-year-old boy with permanent scars.
After the dog's attack on her son, a Wautoma woman wants police to remove what she says is a dangerous dog from her neighborhood.
"His arm was broken. His arm was torn wide open, almost down to the bone," Miranda Riane says.
The dog's owner denies any wrongdoing.
"The dog noticed that finally it wasn't another dog, it wasn't an animal, it was a child -- and he let go on his own," Holly Mertens says.
Timothy Hughes suffered numerous bites last November and will have the scars for the rest of his life. "It's very painful for him. It was. He spent most of the time crying. They had him on pretty heavy pain medicine. Very traumatic for him," Riane says.
Months later, his mother says the pit bull responsible still lives across the street. A police report was filed, but she says almost nothing has been done and she fears for the safety of the neighborhood.
Wautoma police say no citation was issued. The reason? The responding officer says it was the boy who actually provoked the dog into the attack.
"I look out the side window and her child is coming from way in the back yard and ran up behind the dog when there was another dog being walked. Now, that's kind of being provoked. You don't run up from behind a dog," Mertens says.
Mertens admits she's been bit by the dog as well. While she feels bad for Timothy, she doesn't want the pit bull destroyed.
Outside the dog is kept on a chain.
"People should be more aware of how they train their dogs, how they socialize their dogs. I think citations should have been given," says Riane.
Mertens is going before the city council next Monday night to keep all four dogs she owns. The city has an ordinance prohibiting more than two dogs from being kept on a property.
The police chief says it's not unusual for a pet owner to make such a request, because many exceptions have been made -- including one for Timothy's mother, who has four dogs as well.
Pit Bull Owner Defends Dog After Child is Attacked
Updated: Jan 10, 2008 11:31 PM EST
www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7608969
Neighbors' Dispute Over Pit Bull
By Jason Zimmerman
A Wautoma neighborhood is shaken after a pit bull attack left an eight-year-old boy with permanent scars.
After the dog's attack on her son, a Wautoma woman wants police to remove what she says is a dangerous dog from her neighborhood.
"His arm was broken. His arm was torn wide open, almost down to the bone," Miranda Riane says.
The dog's owner denies any wrongdoing.
"The dog noticed that finally it wasn't another dog, it wasn't an animal, it was a child -- and he let go on his own," Holly Mertens says.
Timothy Hughes suffered numerous bites last November and will have the scars for the rest of his life. "It's very painful for him. It was. He spent most of the time crying. They had him on pretty heavy pain medicine. Very traumatic for him," Riane says.
Months later, his mother says the pit bull responsible still lives across the street. A police report was filed, but she says almost nothing has been done and she fears for the safety of the neighborhood.
Wautoma police say no citation was issued. The reason? The responding officer says it was the boy who actually provoked the dog into the attack.
"I look out the side window and her child is coming from way in the back yard and ran up behind the dog when there was another dog being walked. Now, that's kind of being provoked. You don't run up from behind a dog," Mertens says.
Mertens admits she's been bit by the dog as well. While she feels bad for Timothy, she doesn't want the pit bull destroyed.
Outside the dog is kept on a chain.
"People should be more aware of how they train their dogs, how they socialize their dogs. I think citations should have been given," says Riane.
Mertens is going before the city council next Monday night to keep all four dogs she owns. The city has an ordinance prohibiting more than two dogs from being kept on a property.
The police chief says it's not unusual for a pet owner to make such a request, because many exceptions have been made -- including one for Timothy's mother, who has four dogs as well.