NORTH CAROLINA -- The owner of two pit bulls that injured two men inside an Arran Lakes residence Wednesday has agreed to surrender one of the dogs to Cumberland County Animal Control.
But Chris Vaughn wants to keep the other dog, said Dr. John Lauby, the Animal Control director.
If Vaughn does get to keep the dog, Lauby said, he'll have to abide by certain restrictions.
The attack happened Wednesday morning at Vaughn's home on the 5700 block of McDougal Drive, Lauby said.
A friend of his, Jamel Washington, was letting the dogs out when the female dog bit the male dog on the leg, Lauby said.
When the male turned to go after the female, Washington was between the dogs and wound up being attacked, Lauby said.
Washington struck the dogs with several items but couldn't stop the attack, Lauby said.
Vaughn's roommate, Joseph Askew, 32, came to Washington's assistance. The female turned on Askew and bit him several times, Lauby said.
Photographs taken in the house show a large amount of blood and a hole in the wall, as if someone hit or fell into it, Lauby said.
Washington, whose muscles were torn from the bones in both arms, is in good condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.
Washington declined to be interviewed.
Neither Vaughn nor Askew could be reached.
Vaughn has agreed to turn over the female to Animal Control. Lauby must now decide whether the male dog meets the criteria to be considered vicious. Vaughn told authorities that the dog does not have a history of aggressive behavior.
"If you take the female out of the home, the odds of another attack seem pretty slim," Lauby said. "There's nothing to show the propensity that the dog will bite again."
If Vaughn does keep the dog, named Max, he will have to keep him in a room with a locked door or in a crate at all times inside the house, Lauby said. The dog can go outside only if leashed and muzzled.
(Fayetteville Observer - August 17, 2012)
