Posted on 11/06/2009 6:42:09 PM PST by Chet 99
November 06, 2009 7:19 PM
Corey Friedman
STANLEY — An 11-year-old boy playing backyard football was tackled not by another child, but by a snarling pit bull whose deep bites required hospital treatment.
Austin Breedlove tripped over a horseshoe post and the dog leaped on him, biting his arm, shoulder, side, leg and ankle, said mother Wendy Creighton. The incident happened Sunday at Travis McSwain’s 3000 Drake Drive home, according to a Gaston County Animal Control report.
An ambulance rushed Breedlove to Gaston Memorial Hospital, where he received stitches and about six hours of treatment. Breedlove missed a week of school at Kiser Elementary and has been in extreme pain, his mother said.
An Animal Control officer investigated the incident and spoke to McSwain, who was required to quarantine the dog in his home for a 10-day observation period in case of rabies infection. Bingo, the 10-month-old pit bull, has had all required vaccinations.
The Gazette interviewed Creighton about the attack, but she asked not to be quoted for this story after consulting her attorney.
Gaston County Animal Control Sgt. Larry Lingafelt said the dog was not seized because the bite occurred on the owner’s property. He said no violation of the county animal control ordinance had occurred.
Creighton could submit a letter to Animal Control asking that the dog be declared potentially dangerous, Lingafelt said. The dog’s owner would be asked to respond, and Animal Control Administrator Reggie Horton would make a final determination.
“That’s been offered to them as part of the investigation — they could submit that letter to us and we would pursue it,” said Lingafelt.
An animal can be declared potentially dangerous if it has “inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization,” or if it has killed or injured an animal off the owner’s property or approached a person in a vicious manner off the owner’s property, according to the county ordinance.
Animal Control can require owners of potentially dangerous animals to keep them in secure fences or enclosures, post beware of dog signs and have the dog tattooed with an identification number or have a microchip implanted, the ordinance states.
McSwain said Bingo has never exhibited aggressive behavior toward children before. He said one of the kids playing football let the dog out of his backyard cage.
“The word on the street about pit bulls is they’re dangerous,” he said. “I had this dog since he was born and I’ve never had any problem with him. He’s been a good dog. I just don’t know what provoked him to do this.”
Bingo is a playful pup who romps with McSwain’s young children, he said. While he expressed sympathy for Breedlove, he doesn’t see the need for enforcement action.
“I don’t think the dog should be declared dangerous,” he said. “I’m sorry that it bit the little boy, though.”
GLAD TO HAVE A BOXADOR!
A good hammer should always be available to stop these pit bulls or other nuisance dogs. An adult can strike the dog hard once or twice in the top of the skull and render the dog neutral. Yea, it will die, but so be it.
I hate Pit Bulls.
Even the so-called “Nice” ones.
The owners need to get a life.
If you have to show how manly you are go buy a Corvette or something and leave the rest of us alone.
In related news, fire is hot.
I’m with ya, mowowie.
This story is lacking so many important facts. It appears to be cheap sensational journalism.
That’s like hating hot water because it hurts to drink it. Must be a cat person.
When i was a young kid we had a neighbor that always had a vicious German Shepard tied out in his driveway with signs allover saying “Warning K-9 attack dog” etc all over the place.
The day after halloween my buddy walked up to the dog with his bag of candy in hand with the reasoning that since it was a police dog he would just smell him and know that he was not a bad guy and be nice to him.
Well, that didn’t happen. The dog got a hold of him and ripped him into shreds right in front of my eyes.
Pure Horror!
I totally crapped my pants and my buddy ended up getting hundreds of stitches.
Yea, i don’t like vicious dogs.
But i still like German Shepards.
Pit Bulls should be banned.
Naw, I love dogs.
Actually I recently had a rescued Greyhound, Henry.
He was one cool dude and FAST as hell but he just passed away almost 2 years ago.
Now i got Charlie, A fat little Chitzu(sp?).
What a cuddly little great guy he is.
maybe the nicest dog i ever owned.
Two pit bull articles posted back-to-back. Two different incidents...
I’m going to resist... biting my tongue...errr... bad choice of words...
Dogs of Peace®
I had that feeling. God Bless You for rescuing.
That’s his family name I believe...
“Dogs of Peace®”
LOL
Pitbulls must be of the muslim religion. With them, it’s not a matter of whether, but when...
Cage?!
Woo must of made the limie made.
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