Pit bulls still pose problem in Girard


Thursday, August 2, 2007
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — City officials are set to defend the city's ban on pit bull terrier dogs in court, shortly after two children were bitten by one alleged pit bull and a city employee was chased by another.

According to police reports, a 7-year-old girl from Verona Street and an 8-year-old girl from South Davis Street were walking in the 200 block of South Davis on Monday when the dog charged the girls. The dog was chained, but that was not enough to keep it away from the girls.

"The dog is chained, but the chain reaches the sidewalk. So, the kids are walking down the street and the dog comes out and scratches them. It did break the skin, so it is still considered a bite," said Jim Dobson, city health commissioner.

Police reports indicate that one of the girls has scratches below her bottom lip and the other girl has a gash in her left leg.

Police attempted to speak with the dog's owner, but no one was home.

According to Dobson, the owners will now get a letter from the city ordering the dog be quarantined for 10 days, then taken to a veterinarian to make sure all shots are in order — as with any dog bite. The owner will also be notified that the pit bull dog is not welcomed in the city.