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David Bell/News-Herald Photo Mohave County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Trafficanty and River Medical Ambulance personnel interview the victims of a pit bull dog attack at SARA Park Sunday. The pit bulls reportedly attacked smaller dogs that were walking the Sara’s Crack hiking trail, and the people were injured when they tried to protect their dogs. Two people suffered minor injury in the attacks.

Five pit bulls attack hikers
Two treated for minor injuries

By David Bell
Sunday, October 7, 2007 8:45 PM MST

Two people suffered minor injuries Sunday in separate attacks by a group of five pit bull dogs on the SARA Park hiking trail known as Sara’s Crack.

Lake Havasu City Police responded first until Mohave County Sheriff’s Deputies resolved another situation in Desert Hills. Lake Havasu City Police Sgt. Joe Harrold said witnesses reported the pit bulls attacked the walkers’ dogs.

“It was a loose group of pit bulls; I wouldn’t call it a pack. It was a group of dogs their owners were walking unleashed just to the northwest when they got away,” Harrold said.

When the group of pit bulls came upon some walkers along the trial, they went after the victims’ dog. In each of the instances, the owner of the attacked dog tried to intervene and was injured. Lake Havasu City Fire Department personnel treated both victims for minor abrasions and puncture wounds. The victims were released on scene and would seek follow-up treatment on their own.

Fire Department personnel also traveled a mile into the trail looking for other victims, as early reports indicted a number of people injured by the dogs. The pit bulls reportedly did not attack any hikers who were without dogs and were rounded up peacefully by their owners.

The pit bull dogs were impounded by the Western Arizona Humane Society, who performs animal control services for the city.

“We’ll put them under observation for 10 days to ensure they don’t have rabies,” said Animal Control Officer Tim Carey.

If the pit bulls do not have rabies, they will be released to their owners.

“If they do have rabies, I’m not sure. It’s pretty rare for that to be the case. There’s only been one in Phoenix,” Carey said.

Carey said the attack is not unusual, especially for dogs of this type.

“Some dogs are more naturally aggressive, and they will attack a smaller dog if they are not under control,” Carey said.

Mohave County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident and charges are pending.

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Reader Comments

sir williams wrote on Feb 12, 2008 10:03 AM:

" i think the pit bull ban is stupid cuz its not the dogs fault that they are being forced to fight "

Proud pitbull owner! wrote on Dec 29, 2007 8:21 PM:

" I work at a local vet here in town also the owner of 4 pitbulls myself! If you could spend the day and see how many chihuahua's and other small dogs try to bite the Dr. and us versus the large breed like pitts and rotts you would be suprised, it is truely the owner and the breeding. "

Tom wrote on Oct 28, 2007 1:47 PM:

" Some people don't seem to grasp the simple problem: Numb people have selectively bred Terriers with the most agressive traits to develop a strain of Staff Terriers that are truly vicious by genetic disposition The breed as a whole is very gentle toward humans it is the selective breeding of "redneck" fools who want junkyard dogs that have destroyed the reputation of a beloved breed of dogs The dogs are not stupid or vicious, the owners/breeders are "

right or wrong wrote on Oct 24, 2007 7:56 AM:

" Deputy shoots dog to make arrest By Billings Gazette News Services MISSOULA - A Missoula County sheriff's deputy responding to a report of a man hitting a car with a bat ended up shooting at a pit bull after the man apparently ordered the dog to attack. That is a quote from the Billings Gazette today. Who is at fault the man or dog? Is it genetics or training? We can see who the loser was though. "

Izzy wrote on Oct 23, 2007 6:58 AM:

" In my hopes and dreams I hope one day your dogs and I meet on trail,as there will be less of this mongrel breed of garbage . "

Ty wrote on Oct 22, 2007 4:54 AM:

" No one is that dumb by mistake Izzy.Justin is born with the stupid gene fully intact. "

Justin(pitbull owner) wrote on Oct 22, 2007 4:50 AM:

" I think they should destroy people named "Shannon" and "Izzy". They are worthless and obviously lack intelligence. Just look at their responses. They have nothing intelligent to say to make ANY type of point and don't have the brain power to try to prove anything they say. They're pretty much a worthless breed and allowing them to post on these forums is actually making the rest of us DUMBER. Izzy, calling me ignorant was just plain stupid when you have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to say to prove me wrong, or as you would say, ignorant. Kinda makes you the ignorant one, doesn't it? Go back to your knuckle dragging clan of neanderthals and sit there quietly until you can come up with SOMETHING that you can use to make yourself look somewhat intelligent. I'm guessing both of you rocket scientists own little ankle biter dogs that probably bark and growl and act agressive towards people more than any other dog out there. "

Chase Michaels wrote on Oct 22, 2007 4:19 AM:

" The folks that were attacked should file a civil suit immediately against the owner of the Pitbulls. They should also find out if the owner of the dogs owns a house and if so contact the homeowners insurance company to make them aware of the vicious dogs so they can cancel the homeowner’s policy! If the victim is smart they will file a lawsuit against the City for negligence for not enforcing city laws and allowing a dangerous environment for the public. Regardless if there is a leash law or not the city is liable for any attack on city property. The city should maintain a safe protected environment at all public areas. "

Izzy wrote on Oct 20, 2007 8:13 PM:

" "Justin[another ignorant pitbull owner]",are you really that stupid or are you just playin' with us? "

NicoleP wrote on Oct 20, 2007 7:24 AM:

" Justin(pitbull owner)- Well said! "

Shannon wrote on Oct 20, 2007 5:31 AM:

" They're a useless garbage breed whose questionable temperment rends them useless. "

Justin(pitbull owner) wrote on Oct 19, 2007 7:50 PM:

" Hahaha, some of you ignorant people amaze me with your lack of intelligence. It's funny when one of you clan members says "It's always a pitbull!!111!@OMG!!" Is it really always a pitbull? Or is it that your little tiny mind has been warped by the media(that usually ONLY reports PITBULL attacks) and now you believe that pitbulls bite people and every other breed of dog is safe. Do you know that the big bad mean pitbull does NOT have the #1 rank of dog bites? I bet if I told you which breed of dog did hold the #1 position for dog bites you wouldn't be requesting the deaths of all of that breed. Do you know why? Because these cute and cuddly puppies were in a movie and kids love them....all 101 of them. That's ok though because we're just going to throw blind statements around because that's what our tiny minds have been trained by the media to do. You're all sheep and you need to do your homework and research before you go making UNEDUCATED remarks about a certain breed of dog that you know NOTHING about. I've been bit by a couple dogs in my lifetime and none of them were even a mixture of anything near a pitbull breed. I bet if the media would start making articles on shi-tzu attacks all you mindless sheep would want to hang shi-tzus in a matter of weeks. Funny thing is those are some of the meanest dogs I've ever seen. If one of those rat dogs came after my dog and attacked it and my 75lb. purebred pitbull fought back to protect himself it would be looked at as another "pitbull attack" and my dog would be the one to blame. Keep showing your intelligence(or lack of)by blaming this breed of animal. There are plenty of corrupt people in this world. Does that mean all people are corrupt? "

Gerry wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:16 PM:

" I'm going hiking this weekend,so if any of you dimwits have to many dogs make sure I get accosted on my walk. "

amazed wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:33 AM:

" I have been training and breeding dogs for over 20 years. Any breed, if the bloodline is not keep clean, can go psycho and attack. When you breed dogs you want the best characteristics of that breed. Pitt bulls have not been kept pure in America due to greed and pure stupidity on aggressive people who think it is cool to have a mean dog. Mike Vick should come to mind here. There is a leash law in Havasu and any responsible owner should keep there dog on a leash at all times when not secure in your back yard, yes this includes the dog being leashed when in your front yard. Read the ordinance. Both parties are at fault here for there animals being at large, how ever only the pits are getting the fines. It has been proven over and over again that a small breed dog will bite before a large breed and that small breeds are more aggressive with the snapping and snarling than any large breed dog. All the comments here are a matter of an uneducated opinion. Pits are not the only breed known for mauling and killing. As a dog owner you need to protect your dog by keeping it on a lease period. This also protects the human. However not all attacks are at parks, many are at the house and that bloodline of that animal is probably not clean. We could learn from Germany in respect that any signs of defect with in the dog it is put down immediately to prevent this kind of thing from happening and keep the bloodline with in the standards in which it was breed for in the first place. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility, not just a Christmas present and should be taken that way but we have to many lazy people in our country who want to pass the blame onto other people because it is easier than being responsible. "

Allie wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:55 AM:

" So by the way some of you "think",putting a Lion or Tiger on a leash would be ok . "

MaryG wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:30 AM:

" Most people fear Pits it's a common fact. Any owner of a pit bull with a brain should be aware of that fact. Im amazed of how many people that don't keep there dogs on a leash. To me any dog off a leash is frightening. I have a Boxer he is extremly friendly. I never seen him attack another animal but I don't want to take that chance. He is an animal and do we ever know when animals will attack ? People ask me if my dog bites I tell them he never has before but you never know. "

Formally from Havasu wrote on Oct 16, 2007 10:17 AM:

" Pit Bulls are a breed with a BAD NAME! When it is the responsibility of the owner to keep "any" animal under control, on a leash or in a fenced yard. People did not get attacked here, another animal did! People only got hurt b/c they were helping the animal that was being attacked. The only one to blame is the owner of the pitbull for not being "responsible" and keeping their dog on a leash in a "public area" HELLO!!! Isnt that why the pet industry sells collars and leashes??? Where I live now if you own any of these 13 breeds of dogs you must have insurence on them in case of an attack, serious or not! If you are found to own any of these animals and do not insure it, you will "not" be able to aquire home owners insurence or are liable to lose it! And yes Pit bull is #1 on that list. 1)Pit bull 2)Rottweiler 3)Doberman 4)German Shepard 5)Siberian huskies 6)Alaskan Malamute 7)Akita 8)American Staffordshire 9)Boxer 10)Great Dane 11)Wolf Hybrid 12)Lab Retrievers 13)St. Bernard. This list came from Allstate Insur. Co. If More states would enforce something such as this (considering you have to have a dog license anyway) The owners would be more aware and responsible with their pets and not let them roam as they please to cause problems. As for the WHAS keeping the dog for 10 days to make sure rabies are not present - isnt that why we spend millions of dollars a year on our pets, to the veternariens for vaccinations to prevent rabies? "

Morgan wrote on Oct 16, 2007 10:09 AM:

" bobaloo...you really need to do some research before you respond. Do you personally know pit owners who own the dog just because they are aggressive?? I highly doubt that. Who in their right mind would want to own an extremely aggressive dog? Yes, pit bulls have a history of violence and are sometimes aggressive towards other dogs. As an owner, however, you need to take the propper steps to assure that your dog will not be that way. Research American Pitbull Terriers and you will find that with the propper upbringing, they are perfect dogs. "

Sissy 1 wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:15 AM:

" Don't tell me about your pitbull playing with your baby-and you are o.k. with that?? I KNOW FIRSTHAND, a docel dog that turned on the families baby!! scarred face for life! I HOPE it doesn't take a persons death, in Havasu, to enforce the dog laws! NO dog is worth a persons life!! well, let me think about that one-there are angel dogs and devil people "

Sissy 1 wrote on Oct 16, 2007 6:23 AM:

" It is not the poor dogs fault-any of them-it is the owners, who don't obey the laws "

IMWITHYOU wrote on Oct 16, 2007 6:22 AM:

" will-good idea!! "

who knows? wrote on Oct 14, 2007 4:14 PM:

" Is there even a leash law in Havasu? "

Jessica wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:39 AM:

" 'pitbulls are a worthless breed and should all be eradicated ' - Sal People as ignorant as this should all be eradicated. I grew up having a pit bull as a family dog. They are great dogs, but are extremely protective of their family and territory. Pit bulls are also known to be extremely animal aggressive, especially when it comes to other dogs. This is what they were bred for. Each breed has its own idiosyncrasies that could be problematic for owners that don't do their research before adopting a dog. This is clearly the fault of the owner, not the dogs. Who, honestly, lets their dog, let alone FIVE, walk without a leash, especially when there's a possibility other owners may be walking their dogs along the route? Clearly someone who shouldn't have a dog, especially one that's notoriously animal aggressive. Please do some research before posting comments like the one above. 'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.' "

Resident of LHC wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:48 AM:

" Grow up people...pit bulls have a bad rep because of their owners...I've met pit bulls that are very gentle cause they have very loving owners....people are the cause for any dog getting mean! And as far as those who say they'll just shoot them?..I hope for every animals sake you don't have any animals...and Judgement day comes for everyone eventually.... "

LHC newbie wrote on Oct 14, 2007 6:13 AM:

" More idiot BOB ramblings "

rpp wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:19 AM:

" the paper says hickers attacked when in reality they got bit breaking up a dog fight. The dogs should have been on a lease and the owners should be held responsible. I have Pit bulls and im not on drugs,and i not a gang member. The most important thing in raising pitbulls is to socialize them with people and animals and be responsible!!. I can take my dog around horses dogs cats cows children and would trust it more than most dogs. I still would keep it on a leash in public. b4 you start trashing the breed maybe you should spend a little time with some well raised pits. I have some friends that thought the same as you until they met my loving pits. its irresponsible people that give these dogs a bad name. Personally i wouldnt have a mean dog no matter wat kind it is "

Bob wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:49 AM:

" Mark sounds vicious. Let's put him to sleep. Oh wait, this country does not convict on potential, it convicts on actual... except drunks with potential (unless you're Groe) and pitbulls. We don't convict all coyotes, all snakes, all bears, all people... just the ones that have caused injury. Again, this is not to say dogs should roam, and some of you pit owners need to check your anger. As for the rest of you, read a book or go to the pound and learn something. "

bombinmama wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:30 PM:

" Sal, johnsoni- you suggest killing the whole breed..johnsoni said all these problems would vanish..Well sadly you are mistaken..as not all dog attacks are made by pitbulls..so if you would like to get rid of the problem with your idea..why dont we just get rid of all breeds..one time or another any breed can attack..stop your iggnorance and research this breed..you will find the many great qualities to this breed..i especially love the one that they are used in childrens hospital therapy..yeah thats the kind of dog that should be eradicated..get over it "

why wrote on Oct 13, 2007 7:55 PM:

" o.k, so the 7 yr. old that was attacked and KILLED by the family pitbull was at fault. The dog was chained in the basement of the home-first clue, why did it have to be chained?? second, why didn't the family keep the child away if the dog was so gentle? another story-I know a little boy that was bit in the face by their family dog! another story-my husband was bit by my daughters Stafordshire terrier-(same as pit bull) just because we were playing a game in the back yd. All those dogs had been trained and the families thought the dog could be trusted!! It could happen to you too, at any time. I don't trust them and I am not afraid of your dog, mam, you are the ignorant one!! "

Will wrote on Oct 13, 2007 7:13 PM:

" Blame the dog and the owner!Sue one and put to sleep the other.But where would the dog come up with the money? "

What's next wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:20 PM:

" What breed is next Bobaloo? After cowards empower insurance companies to make it impossible to own American Pits, which breed will you go after next? It won't stop til rat-dogs are the only "allowed" breeds. And did you change the original problem of a few unbalanced, scary owners? No. Owners are responsible for their actions. If all pits were vicious, we'd see local so-called attacks daily. "

T75 wrote on Oct 13, 2007 2:28 PM:

" Wow! All I am reading is the "BAD PIT BULL". No! It is not just a pit bull, dogs are animals. I am just appauled at the ignorance. DOGS ARE DOGS REGARLESS OF THEIR BREED! When my child was little she was bitten by, of all breeds, A YELLOW LAB! Again I will say, it is not the breed, it is, OWNER KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, TREATMENT, ETC. Owning a dog is a responsiblility. I have as many dogs as I have due to peoples ignorance. Thus "rescue"! Ahhhh, what a cute little puppy. I have news for you, they grow up and get big and without training, they will be impossible. Every person I have ever known that owns a pit bull, put time training and dedication into their dogs. I am NOT scared. They are what they are trained, they are how they are treated. Turn off the TV and do some real research. ALL dogs need to be on a leash. Weather you have an American Pit Bull, or a Pug. They are all animals and are going to have their personallities that are driven somewhat by nature and much from their training!! "

Steve wrote on Oct 13, 2007 2:05 PM:

" What a mix of comments I must say! Those that blindly accuse a certain breed are the same weak minded folks who blame the city for the killer nose ameoba. I've had pitbulls, Rots, Mastifs, Great Danes and now own an "All American Labrador". Guess which one I've had to worry about most? Wrong... my current lab, that I got from the shelter, is animal aggresive. He watches over my seven year old daughter better than any guardian angel out there but he has issues with his own kind. Again, quit blaming the breed and point the responsibility at the owners. These dog owners should be punished. Please stop showing your ignorance, although it's easy to do on the internet now. All you folks squawking nonsense with no self education is what is really killing this town. Turn your TV off and read something to educate yourself. Geeeez! "

Shawna Thompson wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:37 PM:

" I really am astounded by some of the cruel comments on this message board. I know these dogs very well, I own the grandma of a few of the puppies. These dogs are not human aggressive in the least, they are just big babies. It is some dog's nature to be animal or dog-aggressive. I highly doubt that these five dogs were in "attack mode" because if FIVE "vicious" pit bulls were to truly and violently attack, there would be much worse injuries than puncture wounds on the victim's hands. And while I do believe that it is irresponsible to take your dogs into a public place without a leash, especially so many at once, these owners are definately not the first ones to do so. Make the punishment fit the crime, and let's not stereotype the ENTIRE breed and their owners as evil, vicious and white-trash or drug-dealers. There are so many more important issues in the world right now, why focus so much energy on hating and negativity? Use your energy to bring about positive change. For example, if you are truly upset about no leash law, contact the appropriate parties and lobby for change (ie stricter enforcement,etc.) instead of wasting your time ranting here. "

Alethea wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:29 PM:

" I have been reading the comments on this story and although I do not own a pit bull, I have to say that you can not blame the dogs. They are only doing what they were bred to do. Many breeds of dogs that are considered vicious had a specific purpose at the time of their development and now those needs are obsolete. Does that mean we should eradicate them as well? Every dog has it in them to be vicious no matter what the breed with terriers being some of the worst. Owners should be educated on the backgroud of a dogs breed before they decide to make them their pets. Obviously the owners of the dogs either did not know or did not care. Also, owners should train and socialize their dogs properly. Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer has amny pit bulls in his pack but he puts the work into making sure they know he is boss and they are well balanced. Something EVERY dog owner should do. Even lap dogs have the ability to hurt people. "

Navy Mom wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:08 PM:

" Pitbulls can be agreesive. But like all things there are not absolutes. I belive that that all dogs should be leashed unless you are out in the desert or at a dog park. If you are walking where other peole might be walking - please leash your dogs. As in people do not condemn all by the act of a few. Not all pitts are bad. Not all pitts are agressive killers. My son has a pitt bull that lays down and allows the my grandson to crawl all over him He is a kind, gentle and loving dog. Please don't condem all by the acts of others. Please leash your dogs in public. "

Evelyn wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:23 AM:

" This story is just amazing!! Right away I heard people in town saying how dangerous pits are. Thats sad.{I personally dont like this breed of dog because i like littler dogs that are lazy.} Events like this happens because of the people who own the dog. Its not the dogs falt. Some people who own these dogs have children too which they shouldnt have either. I read in a comment below that some drug atticts have these dogs. And there right. We need smarter non high individules in this world. SO COME ON LHC POLICE CRACK DOWN!! If we got on some of these people now.. maybe we wont have graffiety on our walls.. and no dogs attacking and some balence in Havasu. I think this town is becomming everything we dont want in a small town. Makes me want to move. I know there are special people everywhere but i live here and would like to see better qualities. "

Mark in Havasu wrote on Oct 13, 2007 8:56 AM:

" I carry a concealed weapon.....if ANY dog running loose(not just a pitbull breed) constitutes a threat to me or my family, it will be quickly removed from its mutated gene pool. "

johnsoni wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:32 AM:

" I THINK WE SHOULD KILL ALL THE PIT BULL DOGS,THEN ALL THE PROBLEMS WOULD VANISH,LIKE THOSE IDIOT DOGS,HAHAAAAA "

Sal wrote on Oct 13, 2007 5:32 AM:

" pitbulls are a worthless breed and should all be eradicated "

Toni wrote on Oct 12, 2007 5:39 PM:

" I have some experience with pit bulls, and to address some of the comments here: Yes, these dogs should have been leashed! It is the nature of the American Pit Bull Terrier to be dog-aggressive. Many are not, but all responsible pit bull owners SHOULD be prepared for their dog to be dog-aggressive. However, dog-aggression and human-aggression are two entirely different things. The vast majority of human injuries by pit bulls involve the human trying to break up a dog fight, or protect their dog from an unleashed pit bull, etc. An "18 month old child" is not necessarily in danger in the presence of a pit bull any more than a labrador retriever. On the other hand, an owner irresponsible enough to have off-leash pitbulls in public may not have mentally balanced, well trained dogs to begin with, so a child *could* be in about as much danger as with any other untrained dog. Back to the incident at hand, as someone else said... this is the case of the hikers' DOGS being attacked, and not the hikers themselves. It does, in fact, give the APBT a bad name if the media continues to irresponsibly promote the false danger presented to humans by the APBT. "

TLC wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:27 PM:

" How hard is it to put a leash on your dogs. No matter if it is animals or people you should feel safe walking anywhere especially on a hike to enjoy mother nature. All dogs can bite, all dogs can be mean. Put a flippin leash on your dog. If you can't control your dog you shouldn't have one or take it out in public! "

Morgan wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:25 AM:

" We often take our pitbull down to the dog park and have never had an incident where he attacked another dog. He loves to run around and play with the other dogs. I have seen other breeds of dogs be a lot more aggressive than American Pitbull Terriers. Our dog is such a fun-loving dog who loves the company of other dogs. As responsible owners of any breed, I believe that exposing your dogs to other dogs is a key element in raising a good dog. "

Morgan wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:22 AM:

" I am so sick and tired of the way people perceive pitbulls. They comment about the "few family loveing dogs" is an ignorant response. I own a pit and he is almost a year. We have enrolled him in an obedience school, and the leader of this school made a comment about pits that hit it right on the nose. When people see a pitbull, they automatically get scared and think they are going to be attacked. Pit bulls are extremely friendly and family dogs. I know so many people in Havasu who have pitbulls and children and have never had an issue. To blame the dogs in this incident is obsurd! It is the owners' fault for not having their dogs on a leash. "

Jim wrote on Oct 12, 2007 8:20 AM:

" Being that it's leagle to wear a side arm, maybe you should when taking a walk or visiting the dog park. You might need the protect yourself from the crazed and out of work crackhead natives that live here in Havasu. Thank you for not blaming the Californians for a change. Anyone with a Pitbull should be fully acountable. Oh, and great job law inforcement. "

Valarie wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:47 AM:

" IGNORANT!!! Blame the owner not the dog. I can guarantee you that if you shot my American Pit Bull Terrier - you would be the one that was sorry sir! And to the lady who got bit - HELLO didn't your mother ever tell you not to get in the middle of a dog fight! I do think that ANY dog regardless of breed or size should be on a leash, but DON'T STICK YOUR HAND IN A DOG'S MOUTH WHILE THEY ARE FIGHTING AND NOT EXPECT TO BE BITTEN! You may as well jump in front of a car and blame the person driving! Get a clue! I also hate that it is always the "viscious Pit-Bull" any person who believes that all Pit Bull's are viscious maulers shouldn't be alowed to breath (too bad for the industrial revolution!) When myself and my 70 lb cuddle bug pass you and you pee your pants for no reason I will laugh at your stupidity! "

Bobaloo wrote on Oct 12, 2007 7:21 AM:

" The only reason these people have pit bulls is because they are agressive. The people think they are cool when they own a vicious, agressive dog. There is no need for the breed. Every one of them should be spayed or neutered. Heavy penalties should be levied against owners that don't control them at all times. Those dogs will die if they ever attack me or my family. "

Sun wrote on Oct 12, 2007 6:32 AM:

" PIT BULL dogs should not be allowed at our city parks. They have the ability and aggressive behavior that can lead to horrible outcomes. "

WHY wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:39 AM:

" It is all breeds of dogs that can get aggressive, but the majority that kill and lame are pitbulls! It is the owners responabilty to have his dog under control! That is why there are leash laws-another law, that some don't want to obey. I don't get some people. WHY do they think they can have a dog off the leash, WHY do they think they can drink and drive, WHY do they think they can speed, on and on. Laws are made to hold people responsable! The owner of these dogs, SHOULD be held responsable-fine, jail whatever it takes to make him wake up. The dogs should be taken away until he can prove he is responsable-just like a child is taken away from parents that are not responsable. Who needs 5/7 pitbulls, unless they are going to sell them and who would want to buy them, if they are not trained properly-and by that I mean, not aggresive. Who knows how or for what purpose they are being trained. "

Michiel wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:28 AM:

" We should hold the owner responsible no matter what the breed. If an owner lets a dangerous animal loose on society to attack or kill people we should treat the owner the same as we would treat a person who shoots a weapon indiscriminately in a neighborhood. If an innocent person is attacked the owner should get a mandatory prison sentence of five years without the possibility of parole. If a victim is killed the owner should receive a twenty five year mandatory prison sentence without the possibility of parole. Don’t blame a certain breed but stop ALL vicious animal attacks. Also we should seize the assets of the owner and pay the victims compensations equal to their loses. We don’t allow vigilantes to shoot dog owners and in the same way we shouldn’t allow dog owners to harm innocent citizens. "

NicoleP wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:19 PM:

" My question to you Lake Havasu is this: Are all black people thugs/thief's? Are all Hispanic people illegals? If you answered yes, you may as well not read on. Saying that all pit bulls are viscous, mean, killers etc. is ludicrous and sterotyping. As an owner of 2 pit bulls, I have nothing but love and respect for the breed. My dogs sleep with my son every night, the cat curls up next to them, they are wonderful animals. I will agree that it is important to train them so they don't want to eat every cat-size dog or rabbits. I will also say that I have never run across a problem with a big dog. My first and thankfully only dog bite occurred from a small dog that was in a purse at the swap meet. I still have the scars to prove it. Now, do I think every small dog is a biter, no I don't. Clearly it was all in how they were trained. The small-mindedness of this city shouldn't surprise me, but it does sadden me to live in such a prejudice town. I also wonder if the small dogs who the pit bulls went after were on leashes. Reporters always seem to leave out the other side, they somehow forget to mention that the kid who got bit was hitting the dog with a bat, guess what? I'd bite too if someone hit me with a bat. Just something to think about. "

simpltion wrote on Oct 11, 2007 4:44 PM:

" Do any of you really know anything about these dogs. I was up at Sara's Crack were this happened and saw these dogs and their owners and had a few thoughts because i did stop and talk to them. THESE DOGS are 9 month old puppies. PLUS I didn't see a dog out there on a leash. Not a one. Being a dog owner and lover I to did not have my dog on a leash and had no problems. Could the owners of the other dogs have been doing the same and could their dog(s) have been unstable and could the puppies have been defending themselves and gotten the blame because they are a certian breed. Sounds kind of racist to me. Maybe all you haters should be "put down". Not all your creampuff dogs are soooo cute and sweet. "

Bobo wrote on Oct 11, 2007 12:50 PM:

" Since the victims didnt have guns, the pitbulls are still alive (unfortunately). Now their owners will hopefully be spending a lot of time in civil court and coming up with lots of dough$$$$$. Sorry Bob, we are a nation of LAW. "

Cheryl wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:06 AM:

" Here is something people might want to keep in mind about AZ laws. My son, who weighs a whole 55 lbs, was bitten by a pit bull in July. We found out from the police and animal shelter that dogs are allowed 3 bites before any serious action is taken. So for this 2 year old dog that attacked my son, it was only his first bite. I guess he gets two more before he is considered dangerous. "

doglvr wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:01 AM:

" These stories make me sick to my stomach. I will not take my dog to the dog park anymore because of these kinds of problems. I have a lab mix and it seems like everytime we go there something happens. These people that take their dogs over there (some that drop them off)and encourage their dogs to fight and watching their dogs attacking another and not doing anything are the ones that ruin it for everybody else. It sucks that there is a pretty nice park for your dog to play at, but you can't use it because you're afraid to go there. Also, there is too many germs, like sometimes you might be over there for a while, and out of the blue the humane society comes and posts a warning sign about something contagious going around which is after the fact and too late. I have heard of alot of dogs getting sick from something over there even though they were healthy and vaccinated. Not a risk I want to take! "

huckey wrote on Oct 11, 2007 9:32 AM:

" yea, since we are sharing stories,who are you kidding when you try to sugar coat owning a pit bull. they are vicious and in this town they are mostly owned by white trash trying to keep their drug houses safe- and in the process the dogs end up injuring countless pets and people-and causing alot of heart break and agony for people who are RESPONSIBLE pet owners. in the end it just comes down to being responsible- . "

T75 wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:03 AM:

" This stuff just amazes me. There are some really good points that some of you have brought up. I rescue dogs, so at any given time I have a "Pack". A pack in the dog world is more than one dog. That is their nature. The American Pitbull is an interesting controversy in our country. It is as interesting as "Not disiplining your children" and expecting them to behave well into their adult years.And say stay out of prison. An American Pit is by nature a very protective/ aggressive dog. I have heelers which "can" be unpredictable dogs, who are also very protective in nature. I have a responsibility to train those dogs. The biggest problem here is that those dogs "should" have been on a leash. The lack there of, is not the breads fault but the owners. They are animals. I have seen Pits that were very well controlled and loved by their owners and that had a wonderful disposition. I have seen those that have been poorly trained, have zero manners, and would turn given the chance. Lets take my heelers for example: My dogs are very protective, one in particular that is very aggressive, here at my home. When we leave our property she is no longer in her territory and her disposition changes. I TRAINED her this way. It doesn't however, make her fool proof either. Leaving our property with her in the back of my truck? Intant car alarm. It is all in the owner and the training the dog receives. And for those of you that think that American Pitbulls are "Bad" dogs, talk to someone whoe raises them, I think most of them will tell you they are great dogs. As with any dog training always has to be reinforced. In closing the general public needs to be aware that ANY breed can attack. I have a Chinese Pug that given the chance would attempt to eat you alive! All dogs must be trained, some more aggressive than others, but just as capable of turning. We only hear about the "scary" breeds attacking. Trust me there are a lot more than the muscle built scary looking American Pitbulls, that can and will attack! Kudos to those of you who have pits! "

Mike wrote on Oct 11, 2007 5:42 AM:

" What we need here is a good Koreon restaurant or two. "

Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:15 PM:

" Guero, that sounds Mexican, so you have enough problems in this racist town. But I can prove the same thing with misinformation about Black or Mexican folk all being bad. Anyone not completely blinded by racism would know how absurd that is. Perhaps you should consider that when referring to dogs?! "

Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 11:15 PM:

" Well said FedUp. A 2-lb, offleash rat-dog ran up to my 2, leashed pits and I. My older pit was afraid (as we like it), the younger wanted to "play". The owner of the rat thought it was cute. I should've given them a little leash, but we all know who would be blamed. "

Fed up in LHC wrote on Oct 10, 2007 4:00 PM:

" Let's starting holding the right end of the leash responsible. The problem with most large dogs (not just pits) lies in the hands of the irresponsible owners. Let's face it, all breeds have aggression but to not take proper precautions with a large dog is just foolish. I own two pits and would never walk them off leash, but, then again, I obey the law. Too bad most of the fools in this town think they are above the law. The leash law is for all breeds and applies to all owners. I don't think it's cute when your 10 lb ball of fluff runs up to me off leash and I certainly wouldn't allow my dog to act that way. My dogs have been to the AKC dog training classes and are Canine Good Citizens. Let all dog owners lead by example to their four legged friends and be good citizens, obey the law, and keep your dog on a leash in public. "

Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 12:46 PM:

" And since we're sharing stories, last Friday an Aussie Shepard leapt out of the front seat of his car and scratched the crap out of my new truck trying to get at my 2 USA Pitbulls in the bed. My dogs didn't leave their truck (cause they know better), but had they I'm certain it would have been a pitbull attack and I'd be at fault. It's not about the breed, it's about the upbringing (as with your brats). "

Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2007 12:40 PM:

" Most of you simpletons never cease to amaze me. 1st, get the name right. They are American Pitbulls, and they are what this country used to be; strong, determined and proud. Most of you seem to be weak cowards. Granted, dogs should be controlled, taught right from wrong (as should you), and it's the owner's responsibility. But how about getting a clue, getting rid of your cat-dogs and growing a set. Perhaps we can push the estrogen running this country back in the home where it belongs. "

baddog wrote on Oct 10, 2007 9:26 AM:

" If I was walking my dog on a leash and my dog was atacked by any dog, they would be dead, shot in the head. "

Guero wrote on Oct 10, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Simple! Go hiking in the desert carry protection, GUN etc.... and blow those stupid inbred vicious dogs heads off! Those dogs are vicious and attack children across the country all the time, I'm sure there are the rare few that are sweet and kid friendly, but the majority are mean and attack, just kill them, keep it simple. Return them to the owners and they attack again sure sounds like the makings of a large lawsuit. "

nuts wrote on Oct 10, 2007 7:49 AM:

" How can the authorities even think about giving these aggressive animals back to irresponsible owners!!!!! "

Dan wrote on Oct 10, 2007 5:04 AM:

" Any dog that runs in a pack has the ability to attack you,but because of their vicious nature pitbulls are the worst. "

Lady Bugs Mom wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:02 PM:

" This article brings back a flood of awful memories. As a responsible owner of a dog that loves people I take her where ever appropriate. I have spent countless hours at the puppy park socializing her and quite frankly everyone knows my dog due to the fact she is so silly and her non-stop ball chasing antics. Last April I went to the park on a Saturday and I didn't see the "Regulars" A friend intoduced me to a rough looking lady in a crowd of people with a darling little girl. There were many children in the park taking turns playing with my dog. One of the ladies dogs comes up, a Pitbull trying to start a fight complete with NO COLLAR, TAGS and TICKS INFESTED. Well this was already enough for me. Before I can leave her other pit bull in the same condition comes and attacks Bug as well.Lady Bug had a pitbull on each side of her neck, lock jaw she was sandwiched in the middle. I was yelled and screaming few people even tried to get these tick infested, non-registered, collared pit bulls off of my dog. As hard as it is to say "FORGET MY DOG IN THIS SITUATION" People did come in at a records pace and saved the 5 children standing there in harms way. There were no collars to pull the pitts off. I ended up with a shaken punctured bloody dog. As I layed on the grass trying to console my dog. This woman was escorted out. It took at least twenty minutes to check my dog over and get her up to leave. To my astonishment this lady is still wrestling with her two year old daughter and these two dogs just trying to get them in the back of her truck. I headed off to the Human Society only knowing this ladies first name and that she works for the probation department and has trouble getting home owners insurance due to these animals. Can I express my horror when I entered the Humane Society and EVERYONE KNEW WHO THIS LADY WAS!!This ladies dogs were not licensed. God only know since non of the other rules applied to this woman due to her position in town did the dogs even have shots? But the the story does not end here. Can you imagine my surprise when an hour after I came home and bathed my dog nursing her wounds the Humane Society came to my door giving ME A CITIATION!!! You see our friend at the probation who we are supporting with our tax dollas filed a complaint my friendly, registered, collared, clean, well kept pooch party in the the park ribbon winning dog came up and viciously attacked not one but both of her dogs and all but ate them alive. And well you see she had all of her cohorts on probation she was speaking to at the park as witnesses. INTERESTING... As if all of this this is not enough three months after the fact a friend of mine was in the channel and described this rude, crude, sexual behavior by some woman and her husband in public and yes she works for the probation department. He was so discusted he threatend calling the city which she begged him not to do. I can not even imagine owning a mean dog, much less a pitt bull. Who would even bring it to a public place with children? I guess the same type of a person who would mock sexual acts in the channel knowing they could get away with it due to their position in town. Oh and by the way Lady Bug has never been the same... "

Do the job wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Maybe if the police and courts spent more time on enforcing the laws against drug dealers (who own many of these dogs) and less time making false charges against innocent people there might be less real crime here? "

larry wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:29 PM:

" the owners of the dogs shpuld be "put down" "

anthony wrote on Oct 9, 2007 11:28 AM:

" I wish people would learn more about dogs before they judge a certain breed. You can make any dog mean. I was a baby who grew up with a brindle pitbull. That dog never growled at me, bared its teeth, or act agressive in any way. My dog did save my life when I was four years old when a doberman pincher jumped my fence outside and bit me by my arm triing to drag me off. I have continued to be around pit bulls through out my life and I have never been bitten by one, but I have been bitten by other breeds. Please remember that any strong dog 50 pounds or bigger can kill with the right circumstances. I do belive that the punishment to the owners of the dogs for not following the leash laws should pay restitution to the victims for the incident. This was a pure irresponsible act on the part of the owners and they should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for the aggrevators involved. "

neighbor wrote on Oct 9, 2007 10:18 AM:

" There are over 195 breeds of dogs. Must be some kind of primitive tribal status symbol reason as to why so many people in Havasu have pit bulls. Yet another sign that USA is heading back a million years to a culture that swings through the trees. "

Casey wrote on Oct 9, 2007 9:20 AM:

" The fact that these dogs are going to be released if they dont have rabies is frankly ridiculous. Obviously they are agrresive dogs that could very possible become aggressive towards humans. They should be put down. Will the authorities of this town wake up? Or will it take the death of some innocent child at the jaws of one of these "pets" to get them to take action. "

Michael wrote on Oct 9, 2007 6:41 AM:

" Just imagine if someones little kid was playing down there. My 18 month old loves to walk when we go down there. I can not even imagine why they are even thinking about giving these dogs back. "

Amanda Gould wrote on Oct 9, 2007 1:22 AM:

" I agree with some of you, Do not give the dogs back since the owner cant seem to keep them on a leash!! You idiots are nutts! "

Way to go DIRTBAGS wrote on Oct 8, 2007 9:35 PM:

" Thanks for running around in a public place with your ferocious dogs not on a leash. It's not the dogs fault as they are just being instictual and were put in a bad place by their owners, but unfortunately they will have to bare the brunt of the punishment and risk being put down because evidently HillBilly Jim and company can't keep their dogs a leash. I'm sure law suits are being drafted now against the owners, regardless of what the police decide to do. "

hiker wrote on Oct 8, 2007 5:55 PM:

" If the pit bulls do not have rabies, they will be released to their owners. HUH? Owners who would allow their animals to run off leash in a public park do not deserve to have them returned. What is the matter with these so called authorities - - are they waiting for a pit bull to kill someone? "

Shawna Thompson wrote on Oct 8, 2007 5:16 PM:

" I think the article on the pit bull's was mostly fair and accurate, but the headline says that the hikers were attacked, when the article says that the hiker's DOGS were attacked. This little difference in words has big implications for the reputation of the breed, American Pit Bull Terriers. "

Jenn wrote on Oct 8, 2007 2:12 PM:

" That's very irresponsible of the owners to not have their dogs on a leash. As the owner of a pit bull, I would not allow my pit to be off a leash in public. She is a very sweet dog, but can be a bit agressive with other dogs, just like most pits. It's good to hear that no one is forcing the dogs to put down. Pits are not bad dogs at all, but should be kept on a leash in public. "

huckey wrote on Oct 8, 2007 1:09 PM:

" when a dog is a know dangerous breed dog, they should have it muzzled and leashed- these owners have no excuse for this . i always carry protection just for this occasion and had they approached my dog and me ,they would have been shot right there. its just too bad that people cannot take responsibility for their dangerous dogs!!!! "

Debra Marston wrote on Oct 8, 2007 12:44 PM:

" There is no good reason that these dogs should be released back to the owners who do not have them under control. Dogs are supposed to be leashed on that trail and the owners should be cited under appropriate statutes for this assault and the dogs destroyed. A dog was attacked, this time, but a child, or adult, could be next. "

Barb wrote on Oct 8, 2007 10:22 AM:

" Several months ago, I took my dog to Sara Park where there is a fenced place for dogs to play. A young man with a pit bull in his back seat drove up and told me to take my dog out of the park. He said that his dog would kill my dog if I didn’t put her in the car. I was the only person there, so I did as I was told very promptly. I have not returned. Several years ago, two men were having an argument over the aggressive actions of a pit against a small Sheltie. I saw the pit owner sic his pit bull on the Sheltie’s owner--not the dog. He said: “If you think my dog is mean, I will show you mean.” Then, he said “Get him!” and shoved his dog forward. The dog obediently attacked and knocked the man to the ground. I, myself, pulled the pit away by grabbing his collar, while the pit’s owner just stood there and did nothing. The pit did not bite the man after knocking him down, so the guys didn’t want to report what happened. That pit bull was doing exactly what his owner had told him to do. It was not the breed or the dog’s fault. The pit bull was obeying his master. Even while attacking, the pit did not immediately bite. The dog was clearly less of a problem than his owner was. So what do we do? We can ban pit bulls, but the silly machismo fools will only turn to another breed. I think that it would help if the victims of dog attacks would report it every time a dog and its owner cross the line. We could ban offending individual dogs from public places. Perhaps irresponsible owners could be made to put up a fence if they want to allow their beloved “pets” outside. "

Mia wrote on Oct 8, 2007 7:02 AM:

" Sure, why not give them back to the owners, they are opnly aggressive pits. I hate this town. "

paul wrote on Oct 8, 2007 7:01 AM:

" the city has morans for law makers period wy is there not a leash law in havasu like in phx the dog problem in havasu is way out of hand and always has ben i would sue the owners and the city so the learn "

Awesome wrote on Oct 8, 2007 6:02 AM:

" Who lets there pitbull off there leash in a public place? The owners of these pitbulls should be punished some way. "

Jinx wrote on Oct 7, 2007 10:42 PM:

" I hope that the owners of the pit bulls are seriously fined. The people who were injured should sue the pit bull owners to get as much as they can. This was pure negligence on the part of the owners who owned the pit bulls. I am an animal lover, but it is dog owners like them who give all pit bull owners a bad name. "

Sandy wrote on Oct 7, 2007 9:32 PM:

" I don't know why the city/animal control does not do something with these dogs that are allowed to run loose. A few years ago, my dog was chained to the tree in my front yard, chained to a limb just low enough for me to reach, so didn't have much leaway. I came into the house to get a magazine and went back outside to sit. I saw him looking toward the road, but didn't see anything. Well, you know how you feel somethings there, I looked up and saw this Rottweiller at the edge of my yard. I knew if I said something to my dog he would bark and probably cause the Rottweiller to attack him. I quietly said, come here, Max, and started over to him, and the Rottweiller came tearing up into the yard and attacked my dog. I screamed for help, but of course, that falls on deaf ears in this town. Luckily, I had my water hose laying by the walk, and I always read to spray a dog if they were fighting, so I turned on the water and sprayed them and the Rottweiller left, but not until he slashed my dogs side and puntured his other side. My dog is only 17 lbs. so didn't have much of a chance against a Rottweiller. I was shaking so bad, but knew I had to get him to the Vet. I wrapped him in a rug and rushed him down there. They had to keep him overnight, as he had stitches and tubes coming out both sides. I missed a week of work to stay home and make sure he didn't pull out the tubes and keep them cleaned and open so they would drain. This same dog, whose "owner" said her dog wouldn't hurt anyone, attacked another dog that a dog sitter was walking right across the street from where the dog lived almost a month to the day of my dogs attack. That little dog was not as fortunate, It lost an eye and had it's throat slashed. I had seen this Rottweiller and another big one from the same household across the street in a neighbors yard just a couple weeks before my dogs attack and almost called animal control then, but being a good neighbor, I didn't want to cause any trouble, Now, I wish I would have, it may have eliminated these two attacks. But, you can bet, I won't hesitate to call, now. I got real paranoid about going out to the mail box, clothes line, or just sitting out in my own yard and still do. I think dogs should be kept on a leash or confined to their yard either in a fence or chain, or both, when they are dogs like that, that are bred to be killers. I just had two big dogs in my backyard a couple weeks ago which I took a picture of. You can bet, when I see them out running around or not leashed, I'll be calling animal control. There are kids up and down my street all day long. You can say all you want that your dog wouldn't do anything like that, but you don't know what that dog's thinking and don't know what that dogs going to do, when they see another dog, or maybe kids yelling and the dogs may feel they are threatened or in danger and consequently attack. The humans are the ones who need to think and take responsibility of keeping their dogs tied or confined to a fence, one that is high enough they can't climb over. "

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