Montana: Golden Retriever attacked by pit bull

It's in her nature to bring the stranger a woobie to play
with her. It's in the pit bull's nature to attack.

MONTANA -- Animal control officers in Great Falls tell us that they have seen more dog attacks reported this month than in all of the last year.

One of them occurred last week, when Ginny Malby and her Golden Retriever, Honey, suffered injuries in an attack.

While walking Honey, Ginny came across a pit bull that was loose - and then it attacked.

Malby said, "It had its' mouth on Honey's head. It was biting her and Honey started to scream and I was hanging on to the leash for dear life."

Honey was taken to the vet and was worked on for hours, while Malby was at the hospital being treated for a fractured shoulder.

Honey's injuries from the pit bull

In an effort to make dog control policies more proactive in protecting citizens and their pets, Malby's husband Larry asked the Great Falls City Commission to consider mechanisms to hold the owners of pit bulls accountable.

Malby said that he is not advocating a ban of pit bulls, but some sort of measure of protection against irresponsible owners.

He said that if the policies change, they wouldn't be directed specifically at pit bulls.

Malby said, "It's an all-encompassing thing, people have to be aware if they have a dog that is more aggressive, they have to take special care to make sure it is on a leash and they're in control of the dog, not the dog controlling them."

They say pit bulls aren't inherently aggressive, yet most
people agree that Goldens are inherently sweet-natured,
loving, gentle and submissive. Who's right?

 Certified dog trainer Melanie Lattin noted, "A huge piece of what needs to happen is education for people."

Malby says through this whole ordeal has been unpleasant, but hopes the community and its representatives can find a way to have a more proactive approach in preventing problems before they arise.

(KRTV - Dec 10, 2011)