Tennessee Citizen Speaks Out After Pit Bull Attacks Elderly Man

Dog Owners Have Responsibility Toward Human Beings
Nashville, TN - The people of Tennessee continue writing to their newspapers. Beth Mitchell tells a story we know too well at DogsBite.org. Published in full from the Tennessean.com:

"Two weeks ago Sunday, an elderly man was attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull while rolling his trash container to the street in Green Hills. This is an action that he had performed hundreds of times before, but for whatever reasons, his life was imperiled as he did this mundane task.

The pit bull was on a leash held by a youngster and when it saw the elderly neighbor, it jerked away from the child and went for him. The results were severe facial lacerations primarily to his nose, possible trauma to the eyes, and, in addition to the physical outcome of this dog attack, he will suffer emotionally for a long, long time.

Needless to say, the medical expenses are adding up. No one knows what triggered the attack. We will never know. I think this is a warning to all of us who own and love our dogs to ensure the safety of our own beloved family members, our neighbors, and the public in general by always, always keeping the dog on a secure leash which is held by an adult.

 The use of a muzzle is sometimes called for, too.

Along with owning certain breeds of dogs, comes great responsibility toward our fellow man and, sometimes, dog. Safety first should be our first goal as dog owners. 

I hope we will all learn something from this tragic occurrence. I know I will."

Labels: chain snap, Grandparents, letter to the editor