Vicious dogs must not be allowed to roam
When two pit bulls attack a local mail carrier, there is cause for alarm and concern.
If this story has a reason to give thanks it’s that the post office employee, Nancy Jones, was able to fight her way back to the safety of her vehicle. Then, using her door as a weapon, she was able to separate the pit bull’s teeth from her leg.
The attack must have been absolutely horrifying. Unfortunately, it’s also somewhat of a regular occurrence. It seems dozens of times a year we hear of a child, or a jogger, or an innocent passerby who is suddenly attacked by a dog such as a pit bull or Rottweiler.
According to a CNN report, health officials say dogs bite or attack more than 4.5 million people each year. Around 20 of those attacks result in death.
Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control say that half of all children are bitten by dogs at some point. Boys age 5 to 9 are the group most at risk.
It would be reassuring to believe all dog owners would take precautions to ensure their pet is not a threat to others. It would be nice to think adults would act with a touch of responsibility.
Unfortunately we know that is not always the case. And sometimes that’s not the case when very dangerous animals are involved.
It’s one thing to allow a cocker spaniel to roam free around the neighborhood. For the most part, those dogs are lovable family pets.
It’s quite another thing to allow dogs like pit bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers to go where they please. These animals, while they may love up to their owners who provide food and shelter, can quickly turn on a stranger.
Allowing a pit bull to roam free could be compared to leaving a loaded gun by the side of the road. The loaded gun may sit there for weeks, or months, and never be bothered. But, sooner or later, the odds are likely that gun will eventually cause a problem.
Dog owners should be held firmly responsible for the actions of their pet – especially if previous aggressive behavior has been recorded. Last year, a pit bull owner faced charges that included reckless endangerment when his dog attacked a girl at the Jungle Jym playground. The pit bull had attacked people in the past.
Civil law does hold pet owners responsible for damages caused by animals allowed to roam at large. This means a lawsuit can be filed and monetary damages can be recovered.
But it would be a welcome shift if the criminal law concerning dog attacks got a little more teeth so to speak. Most of us, at one time in our lives, have been hounded by a neighbor’s dog who is allowed to roam free. And often the neighbor shows very little concern about this annoying and potentially dangerous situation.
A few days in jail and a stiff fine might be just the thing to get a few dog owners to wake up and realize the wonders of a leash or a sturdy pen.