Attacks continue
Valued readers are well aware of my disdain for pit bull and large dog owners whose animals frequently and suddenly attack, badly injure and even kill innocent men, women and children.
I have nothing against pit bulls and their mixes as a breed, any more than I dislike bears or tigers. My big (make that huge) problem lies with the irresponsible, sometimes criminally so, people who own these vicious animals yet fail to keep them effectively restrained from innocent people and their beloved pets.
I also have heard the arguments from pit owners who try to convince us how loving, sweet and playful they are. While that may be true 90 percent of the time, the facts of their DNA-inspired sudden and over-reactive savage behavior, killing and permanently maiming their owners and family members, have been documented many times, prompting 47 countries to ban or partially ban pit bulls.
I’ll always prefer facts over emotion.
Meanwhile, the following appreciated messages from readers about unprovoked attacks by inadequately restrained pit bulls in our state arrived in my inbox.
One writer quoted a story in the Dumas Clarion from April 17. It said a deputy had been dispatched to Portis Street in Mitchellville, where a pit bull reportedly had broken free from a chain and attacked a child, who’d suffered multiple lacerations to her face and body.
“While the child was being transported to the hospital, it was learned the owner had the dog taken to a rural area and released. The owner was charged with having a vicious animal and could possibly face other charges,” the sender said.
He also was incensed by the way the owner handled the maiming. “Can you believe this? Was taken to a rural area and released? Tampering with evidence maybe? Could face additional charges? How about should face additional charges?” he questioned.
How about also paying related medical expenses and reimbursing this child’s family for what his dog did to their peace of mind?
“Thank you,” the sender concluded, “for your attention to these issues and speaking for the many of us who have suffered vicious dog attacks.”
I respect the Dumas Clarion for covering this significant story that clearly is in the public interest. I hope they will follow up on it. Every local paper should handle such injurious dog attacks as they would if the victim in their community had been mauled, or killed, by the jaws of a cougar or bear.
ATTACKED IN PARK
The next slightly edited message was from attorney Chris Flanagin of Eureka Springs.
“I appreciate your attentiveness to the pit bull issue. I went to the South Maumee campground last Friday to set out on a three-day canoe trip to Rush with my Pyrenees Heeler mix, Pearl,” he explained.
“When I arrived I witnessed at least six pit bulls running loose. The moron who had them was camping there in a Suburban with the window busted out. He didn’t have any leashes.
“I parked by the water’s edge to unload my gear and canoe. I let my dog out and immediately saw two pit bulls come running down toward my dog and me.
“When I returned to the parking area I notified the man that I have my dog with me and I have to make it back down from my vehicle to my canoe. He said he’d put them up (in the Suburban), saying there were ‘only two I had to worry about.’ I set out walking quickly to get down to my canoe and get on the water. Halfway there I heard him yelling ‘no! no!’ and turned around to see five of the pit bulls charging me.
“Already having my knife handy and opened, I turned around and squared off. I crouched down with my knife open in front and my dog behind me. The two that were obviously the ones I needed to ‘worry’ about stopped 10 feet away from me and Pearl. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but I knew I would go down fighting.
“The damn fool came running down and got them to retreat back up the hill. I got in my canoe as quickly as possible, wondering to myself what is going to happen when they come across some unsuspecting older person walking their small dog in the campground, or children playing.
“Once on the water, I checked my phone and was surprised to find one bar of reception. I called the U.S. Park Service and later learned that thankfully the pit owner was made to pack up and leave the campground. [Hopefully permanently banned from any park with those animals].
“I read your editorial Tuesday and thought I would share this. As an attorney I have seen my fair share of vicious dog cases. I agree with your assessment for an increase in fines. I also feel a mandatory safety and training course to obtain a license should be required for any person desiring to own a pit bull or pit bull mix, and additional requirements for any persons wanting to breed or sell them.
“Again, thanks for your attention to this issue, which needs to be addressed sooner rather than later in Little Rock.”
Good and necessary suggestions, Chris.