Vicious dogs continue to plague area

^{Ed Parsons – Staff Writer ([email protected]) , Tyler Star News – 4/8/15}

On April 1, at around 6 a.m., a Paden City woman became the second victim of a vicious dog attack within the last year.

Debbie McMahon and her small dog were walking near her home on Main Street when they were both attacked by a large pit bull dog. After screaming for help, McMahon’s son came out of their house and stabbed the dog several times to get it off of his mother. The dog, after being stabbed, was still able to run off before the Paden City Police Department arrived. Patrolman Mike Shreves arrived on the scene within minutes to help provide assistance to the victim. McMahon went to the Wetzel County Hospital on her own for treatment of her injuries.

After looking for the dog, it was later discovered it was at home on South First Ave., a few doors from where the attack took place. Police spoke to Cecil Allison, owner of the dog, who informed them the dog has had his shots. Allison was cited by the Paden City Police for allowing a dog to run at large. He will have a hearing in Paden City Court. Charges of harboring a vicious animal have also been filed in Wetzel County Magistrate Court and a hearing will be held in the matter before Magistrate Tom Shepherd.

Allison has been ordered by the Paden City Police Department to quarantined the dog in his basement for 10 days to make sure it is not rabid.

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In another dog-related matter, Robert L. Greathouse, 38, of Margery Run Road, Middlebourne, made his initial appearance before Magistrate Mary Dotson on March 31 to answer to four separate misdemeanor offenses of failure to rabies vaccinate a dog, keeping vicious dogs, failure to pay head tax on dog, and failure to pay license fee for vicious dog. All the offenses are alleged to have occurred on Feb. 25.

It is alleged that Greathouse owned a pit bull that escaped from a fence on the end of his residence and attacked an individual, biting him on the leg and arm at 4615 Elk Fork Road. Greathouse allegedly did not have a license for the animal, nor did he have it properly secured to prevent it from causing injury to another person.

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The ‘bull and terrier’ type was originally developed in England in the early 19^thcentury. The lineage goes back to the mastiff / molosser types, including what we now call the Olde English Bulldogge, that were used for bear-, bull- and horse-baiting from the 12^th through the 18^th century. This isn’t the bear-baiting we think of today, when hunters feed bears in order to bring them out in the open to shoot them. Rather, the bear, bull or horse was confined in a public arena where the mastiff ‘bulldogs’ would slowly tear them apart alive for the public’s amusement^1,2,3,4,5.

The popularity of this ‘sport’ declined as education became more emphasized in urban society of the Industrial Revolution and literacy among the population grew (from about 30% in the 17^th century to 62% by 1800)⁶. The ‘sport’ was banned altogether by Act of Parliament in 1835.

The lovers of blood ‘sports’ turned to dogfighting to satisfy their fancy, breeding the large, mastiff-type bulldogs to smaller working terriers to get dogs both smaller and more agile, easier to keep and to hide, but just as willing to attack and fight to the death. With the rise of the kennel clubs and the desire to distinguish dogs by looks and pedigree as well as by performance, this ‘bull and terrier’ type eventually divided into many official breeds. They all share the same ancestry and function, distinguishing themselves mostly by slight differences in appearance.

In North America, from 1982-2014, Pit Bull breeds and mixes have seriously attacked 3,595 humans that resulted in 2,233 maimings and 307 deaths

Click here to learn more about the American Pit Bull Terrier

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS

This is a list of dog breeds that have a history of being potentially dangerous to people, especially children. Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness understands that any dog has the ability to bite or inflict serious harm to humans. This list consists of several dog breeds that have a higher than average number of recorded human fatalities. Please use extreme caution if you choose to bring one of these breeds into your home. Rental communities and homeowners insurance may restrict many of the dog breeds on this list due to the likelihood of a serious incident.

Pit Bulls, Mastiff, and Rottweiler lead in fatalities and are listed first. The rest of the breeds are listed in alphabetical order:

Pit Bull Terrier Family