CANADA -- Locals are still in shock over a pit bull attack in Merritt’s downtown core that left an eight-year-old border collie badly injured last Thursday morning.
The attack occurred around 11:30 a.m. near the corner of Voght Street and Quilchena Avenue when the pit bull slipped its leash as a Merritt resident walked by with her border collie and her three-year-old daughter in a stroller.
['Slipped its leash'. Why? Because these idiot owners do not buy harnesses for their monsters. Because these idiot owners are simply not strong enough to restrain their wigglebutt nanny dog when it decides to go on the attack. Even if you see a pit bull being 'walked on a leash' do not turn your back on it.]
“When passing the border collie, the pit bull became excited and was able to break away from its collar,” said Merritt RCMP Cst. Tracy Dunsmore. “[The pit bull] chased after the border collie, grabbing it by its hindquarters and putting up a long struggle.”
Dunsmore said that several pedestrians including firemen and police jumped in to assist, and managed to free the dog. Merritt’s bylaw, officer Bob Davis, impounded the pit bull and the border collie underwent immediate surgery for injuries sustained, which included major damage to its tendons and hindquarters.
“Everyone involved was terribly traumatized by the attack — the mother in particular by what could have happened,” said Davis. “Luckily all Merritt’s responsible agencies came together in one place at the perfect moment to intervene in the drama.”
Davis said he was only a block away when the attack occurred and was able to intercept the pit bull’s owners as they moved away from the scene. Members of the Merritt Fire Rescue Department were driving by at the right moment, he said, and public works employees were also close at hand. With the Community Policing Office located close by, RCMP also responded immediately and assisted in breaking up the attack.
Because of the aggressive nature of the pit bull, Davis said those involved decided to euthanize the dog and, with its owners’ permission, the dog was put down Friday morning.
“It was the best decision for everyone,” said Davis. “The dog was likely to re-offend. The pit bull had a single focus, I could see that.”
Friday’s attack is the second pit bull attack this year. In August, Marjorie Barton’s five-year-old pomeranian was attacked as they walked along the river trail near Merritt’s recycling depot. Still, Davis doesn’t believe that all pit bulls are necessarily dangerous.
“Realistically, a pit bull is reflective of its owner and the experiences it has had,” said Davis. “I’ve met many that are kind and gentle, but this one wasn’t kind and gentle.”
There are no dog breeds banned in the City of Merritt and no dangerous dogs licensed in Merritt either. Davis said the city is not moving towards banning any dogs, but he said his focus has been on encouraging owners to be responsible and keep their dogs on a leash.
“This is a people place, not a a dog place,” said Davis. “Dogs exist with us, but they have to exist under rule.”
Overall, Davis described the attack as a tragedy for all involved.
“There were no winners,” he said. “The only winner might have been the mom and the daughter who weren’t injured and could have been severely injured.”
[Words of wisdom from Officer Davis! Well, thanks for telling us that not all pit bulls are bad and that it's how they're raised. Yet not one word of sympathy for the poor dog that was torn apart. Any responsible animal control officer would have used this media opportunity to discuss the real problem which is that these pit bull owners do not take seriously the INHERENT AGGRESSIVE NATURE OF THEIR DOGS!!! But yeah, let's throw it in there that 'there are no winners' and 'it's how you raise 'em'. What an idiot.]
(BCLocal News - Oct 27, 2011)