Animal regulation officers and Redding police were called to Roanoke Avenue in Redding’s Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood about 1:45 p.m. after several reports of dogs attacking people.
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| Redding Animal Regulation officer Kenneth Zachman watches as the owner of a pit bull loads the dog into Zachman’s van. |
Witnesses said 57-year-old Charles Osborn, who lives on Roanoke Avenue, was taking his dog outside when the two pit bulls got loose from an apartment on the 1800 block of Roanoke.
Several neighbors said Osborn suffered scratches to his arms and was bloodied because he was trying to protect his dog from the pit bulls, who pulled the man out of his wheelchair.
A medic en route to the hospital reported over his radio that Osborn suffered bite marks on his arm and an injury to his ankle.
Animal regulation Capt. Lee Anne Smith said Osborn suffered punctures and lacerations to his hands, left wrist and right forearm while protecting his dog and fighting off the pit bulls.
Osborn’s dog was not seriously injured, Smith said. That dog’s breed wasn’t known.
Neighbors said the owner pulled the pit bulls off Osborn and took them back to the apartment.
The owner cooperated while officers loaded the dogs into an animal regulation van.
Officer Kenneth Zachman took the dogs to Haven Humane Society for a 10-day quarantine, mandated by public health standards, he said.
Zachman said he’d been to the apartment once before for an incident involving one of the pit bulls.
Smith said the pit bulls will be held until they’re released to the owner or the city holds a dangerous dog hearing, which could be next month.
“They will remain here until we can decide what to with them,” Smith said.
At least two dangerous dog warnings have been issued for the pit bulls in the past, she said.
(Record Searchlight - Oct 22, 2010)
