Neighbours want pit bulls out; Essex Street residents say keep the breed away

There was an incident in Sarnia about a Pit bull attack that has spread right across Canada. If this were any other breed of dog, it might have made the local papers. Each article has basically the same wording except for the condition of the woman. Some stated she was taken to hospital with minor injuries while others reported she was in severe injuries.

When they talk of Pit bull attacks as high profile, it only stands to reason that since it's make the headlines throughout Canada, it becomes high profile. You're not going to spread the news country wide if it was Lassie.

As everyone knows, if police are involved, they will have an ambulance come to take you to hospital just to make sure you are alright.

The woman had two Pit bulls, yet it doesn't say anything about the other one or why she was trying to get this one inside. We're the two fighting and she tried to get one inside? Questions such as these are never mentioned. What caused this break out in the first place? What took place prior to the incident?

The other is when it says they (the woman and police) had the dog cornered in the kitchen. It doesn't take a genius to understand that any dog cornered is dangerous, especially with running police pointing weapons at the dog and all the hollaring and screaming going on. I can only imagine the scenerio.

This article is from The Sarnia Observer in response to this recent iccident.

Neighbours want pit bulls out; Essex Street residents say keep the breed away
Poirier, Jack / The Observer Local News -
Thursday, April 26, 2007

There is a place for pit bull dogs, just not in a residential neighbourhood, say a group of Essex Street residents.

Following the vicious attack of an Essex Street woman Tuesday that ended with police shooting the dog with a shotgun, residents on this quiet, central city street say the incident justifies calls to keep the breed out of communities.

"I think there is a place for all animals, including pit bulls, just not in a residential area," said Joe Goertz. Goertz, who lives just down the street from where the attack location, called himself a dog lover.

"I love pets but these dogs were bred for fighting," he said. "How can you trust them when even their owners aren't safe?"

Following a number of high-profile attacks Ontario passed legislation in 2005 making it illegal to acquire a new pit bull. The law also stipulates that pit bull owners who don't muzzle their dog in public can face charges and have their dog put down.

Essex Street homeowners George and Christina Padazis said Tuesday's mauling has raised fears in the neighbourhood.

"I'm afraid of them," Christina said of the breed. "They look mean. They're vicious dogs."

Although the couple no longer have pets, George said he and his wife once owned a doberman. Known for their unpredictable temperament, their doberman was just like any other dog only as bad as the owner, George said.

"It comes down to how you treat them."

Sarnia police say they are continuing to investigate whether Tuesday's attack violated city bylaws, the Criminal Code or the provincial pit bull ban

While the attacking dog was killed after police taser shots had little effect, a second pit bull was removed from the home and taken to the humane society. The female owner was transported to hospital with what are described as severe injuries.

Critics of the provincial law say it ignores the reality that any animal can turn vicious and bans one breed unfairly.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he is not in support of the pit bull ban, adding that pit bulls rarely appear on the annual list of dog bites in Sarnia.

"Trying to ban by species is very difficult," he said. "I'm against it."

Tami Holmes, shelter manager at the Sarnia & District Humane Society, said every pit bull is different, just like every dog is different.

"What people forget is that every dog is an animal ... just like some people are vicious, so too are some animals."