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| The substandard containment used by the pit bull's owners to keep their dog from attacking |
OREGON -- A pit bull jumped out of a window, latched onto a smaller dog and two people are bit while trying to free one of the dogs.
The pit bull had such a strong lock on the Cairn Terrier that even spraying a fire extinguisher at it didn’t make it release its grip.
The owner of the pit bull declined to be interviewed for this story but Dina Montez, the owner of the Cairn Terrier, said she doesn’t blame anyone and isn’t mad at the other dog owner.
While Timmy, the Cairn Terrier, was playing in the backyard, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies said the pit bull jumped out of the next door neighbor’s window.
“The dog next door had gotten out, and I don’t know if my dog was provoking their dog or what,” said Montez. “It was a blood curdling sound he (Timmy) was making. It was so sad.”
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| This woman thinks the Cairn Terrier 'provoked' the attack |
“First I heard yelping. When I went out to get the dogs and then this guy just ran out trying to grab the dogs off each other,” said Annie Montez, Dina’s daughter.
Spraying the pit bull with the fire extinguisher in the eyes, nose and mouth didn’t convince the dog to let go and neither did throwing a wagon full of water on it.
With the pit bull clenching its neck, Timmy hurt Dina Montez’ hand and toes and bit the neighbors.
Deborah Wood, with Washington County Animal Services, said the agency sees a spike in animal service calls in the spring and summer. She said it is important to have your animals licensed, fences and gates around your home working and their rabies vaccines are up-to-date.
“If your dog isn’t up-to-date on a rabies vaccine and it bites a person, it becomes a more serious situation and it puts a person in some level of concern,” Wood said.
Montez said she’s never had problems with the otherwise 'sweet' pit bull but, “I just will watch my dogs more carefully and my children more carefully.”
Neither of the dogs have any history with animal control. No one was cited.
The Cairn Terrier received stitches and is quarantined at home for 10 days. It’s standard procedure to make sure it doesn’t have rabies. Animal control will stop by periodically to make sure it stays inside. But rabies doesn’t seem to be a concern.
(KATU - April 27, 2011)
