Monday, May 30, 2011

Loose Pit Bull Attacks 4 People, Dog Sitter Cited


Quiet and
unassuming. Until it attacks
 CLARKSVILLE, TN -- A Clarksville dog sitter is in trouble after a pit bull in his care broke loose from the back yard and attacked four people. The dog is being held by Animal Control as investigators try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.

Luckily the victims are okay. A 13-year-old girl had to be rushed to the hospital after being bitten as she got off the school bus.

After an attack like this, administrators with Animal Control said the best thing to do now is put the animal down.

The dog sitter, Derek Johnson was really shaken up by all of this. He was actually caring for the dog for an ex-girlfriend, but he takes full responsibility for the dog and its actions.

"I don't want parents living in fear with their kids going outside. They should have peace of mind you know, I want them to feel safe in the neighborhood that's what you're supposed to feel," Johnson told NewsChannel 5.

Not one, but two pit bulls were
able to 'hop' this privacy fence
The dog, a 2-year-old pit bull named Nova, is now under isolation in the custody of Montgomery County Animal Control. The animal was not placed on a chain and was able to hop a gate and escape the back yard [there were 2 pit bulls that escaped, but only one is being identified as the attacking dog].

The pit bull then went on to attack four people in the span of about 30 minutes before animal control was able to round it up.

Homeowners in the area said it was a pretty scary scene. They're glad the animal has been removed from the neighborhood.

"The kids even today they said ‘any dogs around?' I said ‘no, that dog is gone, don't worry about it,'" said homeowner Vicky Craft.

Johnson was cited by Clarksville police for having a dog at large. He said he did go to each of the victims and their families and apologized for the whole innocent.
13-year-old Aliyah Lambert

Administrators with Montgomery County Animal Control said this is the first documented issue with Nova, however they're investigating a report that the dog may have bitten a child once before.

Timeline:
2:40pm: 13 year-old girl knocked to the ground, bitten on arm and thigh
3:30pm: 35 year-old man bitten on wrist
3:50pm: 6 year-old boy bitten on back
4:00pm: 30 year-old woman bitten on ankle

(WTVF, May 19, 2011)

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