Donald Golas, 45, of the 500 block of Arborside Lane, who owns the pit bull-terriers with his wife, Melinda, was cited on two counts of animal at large after the attack. The Avon Lake prosecutor is now pursuing the use of state law to designate Golas’ pets as dangerous dogs.
According to Lt. Scott Fishburn, the Shih Tzu’s owner, Perry Pascarella, was walking Bella on Bridgeside Drive when the pit bulls ran up to Bella without provocation and began attacking.
Bella’s owner, Perry Pascarella, said 11-year-old Bella was on a leash when the attack occurred, and he received a minor hand injury while trying to break up the dog attack. He said Donald Golas was in tears following the attack because he felt so bad about what happened.
Pascarella said he thinks the Golas’ fence is too low to keep their dogs from getting out, and the dogs could probably get loose even if the gate is shut.
Pascarella said he hopes the city seriously considers limiting the number of pit bulls a person can own because two in a home is too dangerous.
“I’m pretty devastated after watching my little dog get dragged across the lawn,” he said. “If I had two pit bulls, I think I’d have a 6-foot electric fence. Those dogs ought to be taken out of town.”
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| RIP little Bella |
Melinda Golas said her dogs never attacked other dogs in the four years she’s owned them. She said she has walked her dogs on numerous occasions where other dogs, both large and small, have run at her dogs, but she has always been able to maintain control of the situation.
When a fight occurs between a 65-pound dog and an 11-pound dog, regardless of the breed, Melinda Golas said the worst-case scenario is always a possibility.
“I’m very sorry this occurred, but it was an accident,” she said. “I normally lock the gate, but we mowed the lawn last night and something obviously happened to where they were able to get out.”
Monday’s attack comes on the heels of a June dog attack on Orchard Park Drive in which a pit bull killed a corgi-beagle mix. Fishburn said the city didn’t seek a dangerous dog designation in that case because it wasn’t clear what provoked the dog fight.
After the June attack, residents pushed the city to revisit its dangerous dog ordinance, which it had repealed several years ago to bring city laws in line with state animal laws.
City Council, which is on summer recess, will continue to review its animal ordinance in the coming weeks.
If a dog is deemed dangerous or vicious, owners may have to adhere to any number of standards to keep the animal from additional fencing and insurance obligations to special licensing and filing fees.
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