Louisiana: Boy, 12, recovering after being mauled by a pit bull

LOUISIANA -- A 12-year-old mauled in the arm and stomach by a pit bull Tuesday in the town of Washington is home with his family and doing well.

"He's got six stitches, but he will be OK," said Washington Police Chief Ronelle Broussard, who visited with the family Wednesday morning.

After it attacked the boy near the intersection of Prescott and West Hill streets about 1:30 p.m., the dog allegedly also attacked the officer sent to investigate the incident.

As a result, Broussard said the officer had to shoot and kill the dog.

Broussard said the dog's owner was incarcerated on an unrelated charge at the time.

"The dog had just been left. I'm not sure if it had been penned up or not, but at the time of the incident it was a stray," Broussard said.

Then the owner, who is in jail, needs to be charged. He could have had a family member take care of the dog. He could have had animal control take the dog to the shelter and surrender it. He could have done a lot of things. Instead, he did nothing and this child was attacked. Also, he should be charged with animal cruelty for abandoning the dog. All he had to do was make one phone call.

It's pure laziness if the police don't do anything about it.

He said this incident has convinced him it is time again to round up stray dogs, especially pit bulls, as the department did a year and a half ago.

"I will be getting with animal control in the near future and we will be picking them up," he said.

TOWN HAS BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (BSL)

In 2012 the Washington Town Council passed an ordinance that requires pit bulls to be kept at all times on leashes with muzzles or in kennels with secure roofs and floors.

That ordinance also required pit bull owners to maintain a $100,000 insurance policy.

After that ordinance was passed, Broussard conducted a roundup of noncompliant dogs that generated opposition from some dog owners.

Despite that opposition, Broussard said it is time to do it again.

"Enough time has passed. There is no excuse for people to not be following the law," Broussard said.

He told pit bull owners to make sure their animals are in compliance with the law.

"If not, they will be picked up," the chief said.

(Daily Advertiser  - ‎Jun 18, 2014‎)

Earlier:

• Pit bull mauls 12-year-old