OKLAHOMA -- A teen is attacked by a pack of dogs in Creek County, and now he’s bracing for Rabies shots. It happened Sunday in a town called Oakhurst. It’s located between Tulsa and Sapulpa.
Now, the boy and his family are seeking justice in a county that is without animal control or a leash law.
Not only is Robert Staton feeling pain after the dog attack, but so is his mother, Tabatha.
"It hurts and there's nothing you can do to take that pain away,” she says.
Tabatha says her son had walked down the street to visit his cousins when the dogs lunged towards him, unprovoked.
"Once they let go and I could get away, I ran but then they got up to me and bit me again,” says Robert.
Desperate to get away from their teeth, he staggered towards his cousin’s home for safety.Tabatha reported the attack to the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, but was told there wasn’t much they could do.
"We have a population of approximately 70,000 people at this time, and we don't meet the criteria for animal control,” says Sgt. Allen Harwood.
The criteria a town needs to meet for an animal control division is typically 200,000 people or more. Along with no animal control, Creek County does not have a leash law either.
FOX23 drove around the neighborhood and saw numerous dogs roaming free. However, the dogs that Robert said attacked him are now back in their fence and chained. This was only after members of the Sheriff’s office visted the home.
"The numbers shouldn't matter. If there's a problem then they need to take care of it,” says Tabatha.
Unfortunately, Robert still has more pain to endure. He needs five more Rabies treatments in his arms, legs and in each puncture wound.
The Creek County Sheriff’s office took a report, but says they need evidence of more than one attack to pass it along to the district attorney’s office.
(KOKI - Nov 13, 2012)
