Oregon: Woman's Golden Retriever mauled by man's pit bull that has attacked before. Why won't Marion County Dog Services do their jobs and get this dog declared vicious?

OREGON -- A Salem woman said she was frustrated after her golden retriever was attacked by a pit bull, which she said had a history of attacks.

“I was thinking ‘I’m going to see my dog die. I’m watching him die right now,’” recalled dog owner, Aimee Whitney of the Sunday morning attack.

 

 

Whitney said she was walking her golden retriever, "Chase," when the pit bull attacked them on the corner of Northgate Ave. NE and Portland Rd. in Salem.

“He just saw us and immediately charged at us,” said Whitney. She said the dog locked its jaws around Chase's neck, leaving multiple puncture wounds down to his muscle.

“It was a pit bull so he had a locked grip,” she said. “I've never seen such a vice grip in my life.”

 

     
Whitney said several strangers stopped to help them, though she couldn’t remember exactly how they managed to free Chase.

“We were being separated and somebody was holding that dog by the collar and laying on it.”

Whitney said the dog was wearing a leash but its owner wasn't holding onto it. She said the owner couldn't help because he was in a wheelchair.

“He said, ‘your dog is ok, right?’ He just didn't seem like he cared.”

Whitney reported the attack to Marion County Dog Services. She said they told her this was the second time someone had reported being attacked by that dog and that after serving another ten days in quarantine, the owner would likely get the dog back, again.  

“I was kind of horrified that that's all that they do,” said Whitney.

KGW reached out to Marion County Dog Services and is waiting for a response. We also reached out to the dog's owner but he wasn't home.

Whitney said Chase’s surgery was successful and he should make a full recovery. She hopes this is a lesson for all dog owners, no matter what breed they have.

“Know their behaviors and if they have an issue, get training or do something,” said Whitney.

 

She's wasting her breath. She thinks by telling irresponsible people to be responsible that they'll listen to her? The only way she'll get results is if she gets the laws changed in her area. If they don't have vicious dog laws or won't apply them, she needs to do something about that. There's no reason this guy should get this vicious pit bull handed back to him after two attacks. 

VIDEO (KGW)

MARION COUNTY, OREGON CODE

A hearings officer may impose any corrective action including but not limited to the following:

1. Requiring that the dog be muzzled, leashed and under the control of a keeper at all times when off the keeper’s property;

2. Requiring that the keeper and the dog attend and complete a dog behavior and training class authorized by the dog control director;

3. Requiring that the keeper spay or neuter any dog that was the subject of the violation;

4. Requiring that the keeper repair, construct or maintain a secure enclosure for the dog subject to the approval of the dog control director;

5. Requiring that a dog be kept in a keeper’s residence during hours specified by the hearings officer;

6. Requiring that a bark collar be kept on a dog when the dog is outside the residence;

7. Requiring that the dog be relocated to a new location;

8. Requiring that the keeper’s rights to the dog be relinquished to Marion County, to a new owner as approved by the dog control director or to an approved adoption agency;

9. Requiring that the dog be euthanized after consideration of the factors outlined in subsection (C) of this section;

10. In the case of repeated violations by the same keeper, suspending the keeper’s right to own or keep a dog in Marion County for a period of time not to exceed five years as specified by the hearings officer; and

11. Requiring that the keeper take other corrective actions reasonably designed to abate any future violation.

C. In determining whether a dog shall be subjected to euthanasia, the hearings officer shall consider the following factors:

1. If the dog has injured a person, the circumstances and severity of the injury, including whether the dog was provoked by the person injured;

2. If the dog has injured a domestic animal, the circumstances and severity of the injury, including whether the dog was provoked;

3. Whether the dog keeper has a history of maintaining dogs that are a public nuisance;

4. The impact of a dog keeper’s actions on the behavior of the dog;

5. The ability and inclination of the dog keeper to prevent the dog from biting, menacing or injuring domestic animals;

6. Whether the dog has unjustifiably chased or menaced a person on a prior or subsequent occasion;

7. Whether the dog can be relocated to a secure facility;

8. The effect a transfer of ownership would have on ensuring the health and safety of the public; and

9. Any other factors that the hearings officer may deem relevant.

(KGW - May 23, 2017)