Posted on 05/04/2009 9:43:55 AM PDT by Chet 99
By Ashley Roberts WSLS10 Reporter
Published: May 4, 2009
A four-year-old child is recovering, after Galax Police say a pit bull attacked the child and an adult at a birthday party on Sunday.
Officers say Gregory Hatcher was walking his pit bull on Webster Street, across from the Galax Police Department, when the dog began barking, and police say Webster and some adults at the birthday party “exchanged words.“
Investigators believe the dog then got loose, attacked Tyonda Ravenell and then the child.
EMTs took both the child and Ravenell to Twin County Regional Hospital. EMTs then took the child to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for surgery. Police describe the child as having “severe leg injuries.“ Ravenell has since been treated and released.
Police charged Hatcher with two counts of assault and battery, as well as two counts of allowing an animal to attack.
The Galax Animal Control officer has quarantines the pit bull.
Here is an article with a list of breeds banned or restricted around the country. It’s instructive because it’s not just pit or pit type dogs.
http://www.newsnet14.com/2009/04/list-of-75-banned-or-restricted-dog-breeds/
A dog is not like a human being; it is not diabolical, grudge-bearing, nor does it hate...it only reacts. It reacts to attack because either it is (1) hungry (2) It wishes to defend either itself, its master, or his territory. (3) It wishes to dominate another species. The first is an example of involuntary reflex; the others are a matter of temperament and conditioning--WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED.
My dogs are kept leashed and muzzled in my neighborhood when walked, kenneled and penned on my property; and they are put in another room when guests come over and I'm not around to supervise.
Should an unwanted intruder come into my home, or another dog/animal breach the kennel fence they will attack. I would expect nothing else.
You simply said what you had been told--but my take on what you posted is that you disagree with the statement. Perhaps I misunderstand you and you think they ARE rare? Please clarify.
Wow. A pit bull attacked a child. That’s a first. /sarcasm
Think about it.
If I have to be told, REPEATEDLY, that these attacks are rare, then the need to tell me this would also be rare.
That’s the beauty of sarcasm.
To clarify (and disrupt the poetic nature of my original statement): NO. I don’t think these are rare.
Joins the oft-repeated “He was quiet and kept to himself. Sometimes he would wave at us”.
If you want on the Pit Bull Kills Another Kid ping list let me know, but expect to be pinged often, this is America’s favorite past time ....
Then you misuse the word rare. I was right the first time.
The fact that you often see these articles on FR only means someone posts every one they see. The larger percentage of these dogs appear NOT to bite anyone. However, that’s not news.
Of course, I don’t expect to change your mind (and I don’t really even care). It’s just important to correct your misuse of the word.
That is exactly the same tone of argument that gun-grabbers use when speaking about so-called "assault rifles;" .50 caliber firearms, large capacity magazines, high-velocity ammunition--so where does it stop? I point this out because I notice that you seem to be a 2nd Amendment supporter from your profile; so would you advocate that eliminating one or two kinds of firearms wouldn't army anyone's ability to have freedom as well?
Would you believe that snakes and lightning have killed more children than PBTs last year?
Ha ha you haven't seen my neighbors schnauzers :-), but kidding aside if what you said were true, then there would be no significant difference in breeds in the attacks and fatalities, yet pit bulls and rotweilers together account for 67% of all dog bite fatailites, so there is clearly a breed factor
I would like to see this law passed:
Your dog kills somebody you die, period.
Your dog bites somebody the person who got bit gets to hit you twice as hard as they can with a 2x4.
Dead serious and tired of these damned dogs ...
Wow, that’s a relief to the child that was attacked. The Pit Bull elected to spare his life
Pit Bulls and similar breeds are known for their loyalty and readiness to defend their owners. Several persons arguing with the owner could be seen by the dog as a threat and trigger an attack, or the owner might have set the dog to attack due to the argument.
Should Pit Bulls and similar breeds be vilified or banned as too dangerous? Absolutely not. I have seen the virtues of a Pit Bull type dog.
A few years ago, a retired, wheelchair bound friend of mine in ill health got an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy after petty thefts and escalating break in attempts at his residence. In a short while, the puppy grew into a large, muscular, menacing-looking dog with a head the size of a bowling ball but a calm and gentle disposition, utterly obedient to his owner, and friendly to legitimate visitors.
No one though could get into that yard without the dog barking and approaching. No more break ins.
It was also rare when a pit-bull here in Omaha got loose and ripped the scalp off a 14-month old toddler in her stroller being walked by her mother. It was another rare incident when a year or so prior, a different pitbull bit the genitalia completely off a 9 month old baby boy during another unprovoked attack.
Yeah...
Your point makes sense until you realize that a Pit bull is the Equivolent of a .50 cal and most of other breeds you are comparing to are Red Ryder BB guns.
Yeah...a Poolde can kill...just like a well placed BB gun shot will kill. When a .50 cal hits a human body...it’s going to do some serious Killin...
Who comes UP with these names??
Wow!!! Galax made Free Republic.
For those of you in Rio Linde, Galax is a wildwood flower and wonderful small town nestled near the North Carolina boundary in Virginia.
Very poor writing here.
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