Dog bite victim says town isn't doing enough

ARIZONA -- A Patagonia man who was recently attacked by a German shepherd said the town is not doing enough to protect its citizens from similar incidents.

During the June 23 regular meeting of the Patagonia Town Council, Richard Howells told the council members that he had been walking his small dog in his neighborhood when a pair of German shepherds left their yard and came at him.

“It would have been all over for my dog,” Howells said.

He managed to pick up his dog and protect it, but still got bit, he said.

Later, Howells said, he discovered that the rabies vaccination certification for the dog that bit him had expired.

Howells said he is not alone and the town is getting a bad rap due to the culmination of dog bite incidents.

“All you have to do is go to the clinic (Family Health Center) and you will hear of many, many bites in Patagonia,” Howells said adding that such incidents should be rare rather than commonplace. “It’s not a good situation. Anything the town could do to make that better would be great.”

Councilwoman Andrea Wood said she would like the council to find out how many bites there have been and how those incidents are being addressed. Wood said that a mother she knows won’t even walk down her alley with her baby because of a vicious Rottweiler that bangs against the fence, and that she fears might bust through.

Councilwoman Meg Gilbert, who has been bitten in the past, agreed. Gilbert said she would like to hear from the town marshal about the matter.

“I don’t understand why we still have this problem,” Gilbert said.

Marshal Joe Patterson, who was on a call during the meeting, said he was familiar with the incident involving Howells that occurred on Rothrock Alley. He said Howells did not want to press charges.

Patterson said it was unfortunate that Howells had to ask the council to address dog issues once again. Patterson added that he wished more people had attended the council meetings earlier this year, in which the town code was revised and issues such as loose animals and the number of dogs an owner could have were discussed.

(Nogales International - July 30, 2014)