WEST VIRGINIA -- A Calloway Heights man appealed for help Tuesday from the Raleigh County Commission to deal with loose dogs in his neighborhood, relating a chilling tale of how a pit bull attacked an elderly woman while she was walking her dog a month ago.
In the same meeting, the commission revealed its list of priority infrastructure projects for the year ahead.
Chris Graham said the victim, in her 70s, was bitten by the pit bull and almost passed out, while slugging the animal with a fist in a futile bid to get it off her own pet.
“Several men hit the dog with sledge hammers but it wouldn’t let go of her dog,” he told the commission.
Graham said 911 was called numerous times and the incident escalated to the point where the pit bull was put down.
“It was a situation where it was either watch it kill or put it down,” he said.
Since then, he said, other dogs in the same neighborhood pose a threat. One neighbor fears walking to her mailbox and Graham said he worries about his mother being assaulted by canines.
Commission President Dave Tolliver said he has received a number of calls from concerned citizens and has taken up the issue with the animal control unit, supervised by the sheriff’s department.
Graham said animal control advised him it makes routine runs through the neighborhood but hasn’t seen any dogs running loose.
Tolliver suggested that patrols be beefed up.
(register-herald.com - February 20, 2013)
