5 Things To Do During A Dog Attack
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
“If one gets loose and grabs on, it’s going to tear you up,” said Daniel Villegas, a pit bull breeder for the last three years at CP Kennels. “They were bred to have a lot of muscle.”
Slideshow Below: 5 Tips for Surviving a Dog Attack
Pit bulls, while not innately dangerous, are a breed of fighting dog. Pit bull breeds were responsible for 78 percent of fatal dog attacks last year in the U.S., more than double the next leading breed of Rottweilers. The dogs have been involved in three attacks in the Metro area in the last several weeks. They are banned in many cities, including all of Malheur County Oregon.
On Sept. 24, while on the Portland streetcar, a pitbull in the care of a 17-year-old girl attacked and killed a Pomeranian. On Oct. 6 a pit bull mauled a woman, Kimberly Shay, in Southeast Portland. Shay, a grandmother, suffered a broken arm and told KGW the dog had turned her arms into "hamburger." Then on Oct. 11, another pug named Maggie was killed by two pit bulls in Troutdale. The dogs attacked the 7-year-old pug in front of Maggie's owner, Annie Stark, and didn't relent even after Maggie's owner started trying to gouge the dog's eyes out, according to The Oregonian.
Director of Multnomah County Animal Control Mike Oswald said that his department deals with dog-bit cases two or three days a week, something that’s understandable in a dog-friendly town like Portland.
“It’s important to understand there are 180,000 dogs in Portland,” Oswald said. “There are lots of opportunities for incidents to occur.”
The Multnomah County Animal Control website has a page devoted to dog attacks, that offers advice on how to avoid and survive a dog attack.
Villegas said the pit bulls make good pets, but to keep them properly controlled they must have a lot of exercise, training, and affection. He said it was up to the owner to make sure the dog’s needs are met, and that the dog stays under control and leashed when in public.
Community members should also remember to report any incidents that occur, even minor ones. That's because dogs with a history of problems often go unreported until a serious incident occurs, according to Villegas.
“It could be just one case," Oswald said. "But.. sooner or later, someone’s going to be injured."
Related Slideshow: Slideshow: 5 Tips For Surviving Dog Attacks
Pit bull breeds accounted for 78 percent of fatal dog attacks last year. GoLocalPDX outlines five things to know about surviving pit bull attacks recommended by Multnomah County Animal Control.
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