A 13-year old West Toledo boy suffered puncture wounds and a broken arm this week due to a pit bull attack. The injuries required surgery. The boy also suffered lacerations to his ear. This is just one of a recent rash of dog bite incidents that increase as the weather gets warmer.
The Lucas County Dog Warden’s Office handled 642 dog bite complaints last year. Children and teens were the victims of more than half of those bites. One-third of the time, those children were bitten in the face or head. The dog warden has also seized more than 180 pit bulls so far this year.
“As summer approaches, kids and dogs each spend more time outdoors,” said Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon. “That can be a recipe for disaster if young people are not taught by their parents how to approach a dog properly and how to protect themselves if the dog starts to show signs of aggression. Pet owners can also take some extra precautions when they know there are children living nearby.”
Most often, children under the age of 10 are bitten on the hands, arms and face. Older children are bitten on the hands and arms and less often on the face. Dogs don’t have to jump up to bite the face of a small child.
The Lucas County Dog Warden and staff frequently talk to groups of young children about the proper way to approach a dog. This summer, deputy dog wardens will give presentations to children attending Safety City programs. Similar presentations are given throughout the year at day care centers and schools. ...............................
"It is highly likely that every dog will bite at some time in his life. The serious bites are reported, as are those involving helpless people such as children, and those from breeds that have been given a lot of media attention."
i have had dogs all my life and have only been bit once, and it was my fault for teasing the dog with a chicken bone.
What are the chances that the dog warden will use Safety City as a way to ask the kids (being tattle tales by nature) if they have pit bulls or if they know people who have pit bulls? Or whether or not these dogs have licenses?
The problem here is that the dog warden first tries to create some sort of crisis and then tries to resolve it by proposing that the only "final solution" is him. The dog warden presumes that parents fail to educate their kids about 'approaching dogs', therefore who better than a government agency to assume the role of parent and educator and then sending us the bill by way of outrageously high license fees.
But when it comes to canine behavior, who is more credible--someone like the "Dog Whisperer", or Tom Skeldon who Judge Francis Gorman:
". . . . thinks the dog warden has become too focused on pit bulls. . . . I think Tom is dedicated and works hard, but he certainly has a narrow view of his job duties, he [Gorman] said. He [Skeldon] sees pit bulls as the prime problem, and I don’t know if he addresses everything else." -- Toledo Blade article, 2005
FWIW, I personally do not own a pit bull and don't know anyone who does.
mailman chuck, i heard there are 10 dog bites per day for postal workers, do you agree, and what is your experience? it seems like a high number. if that was the case there wouldn't be any more vicious dogs left. then, skeldon would have to find something else to go after.
i agree about asking the kids. :)
I know a postal carrier, and I'm quite certain that he doesn't get 10 dog bites per day. Hell, I'm pretty sure he hasn't been bitten 10 times period. Was that supposed to be a per mail carrier number, or 10 bites per day city wide?
as a paperboy (back in the day when you actually slung a bag over your shoulder and hand delivered the paper to the mailbox hanger and not throwing it from the street) being bitten about a 1/2 dozen times or so.
Course, it was probably my adolescence testosterone teasing these poor pooches to bark at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning just to wake the neighbors! __________________________________________
- Just the KAT, thinking out loud again.
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are the problem. Dog ownership works well with knowledgable and caring owners . Otherwise, we see alot of bites. I side with Skeldon on this - too many pit bulls . Kids are in danger around them
mailman chuck,
thanks for you input. :) what about you, you've been a mailman for a few years, have you been bit?
the photo is of my vicious "pit-whippet," she really gets nasty for readi whip. :)
10 bites per day city wide. i'm looking for the source they got that from. i heard it on the radio.
Is littlered off her meds? What's she doing posting a local story of interest? I thought her forte was teens in some far-off state carrying a bag of excrement into a 7-Eleven. I believe the woman has lost touch with reality.
don,
i'm feeling pretty good on the new meds........ ahhhhhh look at that pretty pink polka dotted birdy. the colors, man, they are so beautiful!!!
I don't get the focus on pit bulls. As a paper carrier, I was bitten by more goldens and other types of "friendly dogs" than bulls, shepherds, and rotts.
Their bites just HURT a helluva lot more!