Animal control officer severely injured in pit bull attack

GEORGIA -- A Columbus animal control officer was severely injured while responding to a report of two pit bulls running unattended Tuesday evening.

“When he went onto the property, he was attacked by the dogs and severely injured,” said Animal Care and Control manager Drale Short. “Both arms were severely attacked and bitten.”

Short said the officer, whom she declined to identify, killed one of the dogs while defending himself.

 

She said officers were out on the scene this morning talking to the dogs’ owner. The surviving dog will be classified as vicious.

“The owner of the dog will have a decision to make whether or not they are going to keep the animal,” Short said.

The dog’s owner was charged with two counts each of no rabies tag, no city permit, allowing the dog to run unattended and for biting the officer.

Short said at present animal control officers carry only a catch-pole when addressing reports of unrestrained animals. But her department received funding this fiscal year to equip them with pepper spray.

“That’s one of the things that we definitely make sure they have,” Short said.

Short also declined to say how the officer managed to kill one of the dogs.

Short said she could not describe the extent of the officer’s injuries, only that they were “severe.”
“I’m not a medical person, but I don’t expect to see him back in the next couple of weeks,” Short said.

Short said dog owners are responsible for making sure their pets are under control.

“People need to be mindful of where their animals are at all times, and they should not be in a location where they can get loose and be a threat to anybody, period, whether it’s a trained medical officer or a child walking down the street,” Short said.

(Ledger Enquirer - ‎Oct 28, 2015‎)