Four legged friends (and enemies): Kansas: Dr. Randy Grill addresses council after being attacked by pit bulls during walks in Wellington

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Kansas: Dr. Randy Grill addresses council after being attacked by pit bulls during walks in Wellington

KANSAS -- Dr. Randy Grill has lived a lot of places including Northern sub-Saharan Ethiopia where there are dogs who “lived off the land and are free to roam.”

But upon retiring and returning to Wellington, Grill said he never feared more about dogs than he does here.

Grill was at the Wellington City Council meeting Tuesday evening asking that the city take a closer look at its dog law which he believes is outdated.

Grill was a popular dentist in Wellington in the 1980s and early 1990s and returned to live here just a few months ago. He is an avid walker, and likes to walk about 4 to 6 miles from his house across from Washington Elementary school.

But his walks have not been that tranquil. He states in a letter sent to the council:

“In the last month, I have been attacked three times by Pit Bull dogs on my daily walk with Millie, the young dog I rescued a while back. I never let her on property with a home on it… I love dogs and have a tender heart and remember years back having to stop my truck when I ran over a rabbit so I could cry. That said, I have not slept well after my last pit bull attack. I passed out from exhaustion trying to fight this dog off me and Millie.

Long story short, is to save my dog I tried to cut the retractable leash that was on Millie so she could out run our attackers. I could not cut this leash in a panic.”

Grill said the incident occurred on the 1600 block of North B.

He continues:

“The pit bull in question did release her (his dog) shoulder neck area when I kicked it in the rib cage with all the 68-year-old strength I had. Then when the pit bull jumped at me my pocket knife was handy to bury it in the attacking dog’s back with all my strength.”

He said 911 was called by one of the several adults that came to the rescue. He does not remember all but the first 90 seconds of this attack as he found himself on the ground waking up after he didn’t know how long.

“The Wellington Police are serious and good about filing the report, talking to witnesses and getting the information for the City Attorney to follow through. But the laws are outdated and lame and due to lack of definitions and needed actions, ties everyone’s hands but the offending dog and its owner. A young couple possibly saved me from further attack and serious harm by defending me while I was out.”

Grill said he didn’t believe in outlawing pit bulls was the solution. However, he does believe that a new law needs to be enacted with more teeth that prosecutes the offending dog owner.

Wellington City Councilman Jim Valentine is a proponent of more severe dog laws.

“If anyone who has ever been bit by a dog, and I have, it is like someone slapping you with barbwire,” Valentine said. “I got a real interest in this and we are going to pursue it. This council and the new council have a responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. And I’m going to make sure we are air tight on this.”

The council agreed to hold a work session on January 23. In the meantime a change of leadership will be taking place. On Jan. 8, the council will be initiating three new members: Jennifer Heersche, Joe Soria and Kevin Dodds. At least two were in attendance from the audience at the meeting Tuesday night.

Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath is also working on gathering dog bite information.

Whether or not pit bulls are the source of most dog attacks, it most certainly considered to be the two most deadly dog breeds in America according to dogbites.org.

In a 12-year period from 2005 to 2016, canines killed 392 Americans with pit bulls and rottweilers accounting for 76 percent of the deaths, according to the website:

It is important to point out that since 2005, pit bulls and their mixes have inflicted fatal dog attacks at nearly six times the rate as rottweilers. It is well documented by experts and humane groups that pit bulls pose a substantial danger due to their selective breeding for dog fighting. Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls frequently fail to communicate intention prior to an attack; possess a lethal bite style (hold and shake) and a ruinous, strategic manner of attack (gameness).

Valentine said he too would like a law that specifically targets dog owner and would like to initiate a law that could require a stiff fine. He, though, would rather keep the law more generalized and not target pit bulls specifically.

Currently, there are 88 Kansas municipalities that ban pit bulls. Argonia is currently the only Sumner County municipality that bans pit bulls in Sumner County.

(sumnernewscow - January 3, 2018)

PIT BULL ATTACKS IN KANSAS:

Kansas: Nine-year-old boy faces months of surgeries after pit bull attack, family says

Kansas: Seven-year-old Topeka boy attacked in the face by neighbor William Weber Jr's pit bull

Kansas: Little girl attacked by Pit Bull; "you could see the bone in her arm"

Kansas: Three people bitten by 2 dogs at Chesney Park; one dog shot, survives

Kansas: "My sweet cocker spaniel was killed by my mom's pit bull today"

Wichita family's plight over pit bull highlights limits of animal control staff

Pit bulls can be sweet, but they also figure prominently in Wichita attacks, officials say

Kansas: Labrador attacked by Pit Bull at dog park; Pit Bull's owner just stood there

Woman attacked by her beloved pit bull recovering in hospital

Kansas: Topeka dog owner, Angelo Aldridge, 29, makes pleas tied to 2015 dog attack in Chesney park

Kansas: Postal worker says dog attack was 'horrendous'

Kansas: Man, angered after reading about pit bull attack on little girl asks for prayers for her. He doesn't get them.

Kansas: Woman posts photo of her friend who'd been attacked by a pit bull last year; still enduring surgeries as a result

Kansas: Jessica Thimmesch, 35, hid her illegal pit bull for two years - until it attacked a child visiting her residence

Kansas: Piper Dunbar, 2, attacked and killed by two pit bulls that belonged to family friend.
http://fourleggedfriendsandenemies.blogspot.com/2016/09/kansas-piper-dunbar-2-attacked-and.html