Man Attacked in Groin; Officials Still Determining if Dog is "Vicious"
Too Much Head ScratchingHastings, NE - To point out how bizarre and unsafe most existing dog laws are, in addition to how these laws guarantee news victims and do not adequately penalize owners of dangerous dogs, we bring you to Hastings, Nebraska. Here a man named Michael Heuertz was recently bitten in the groin by a pit bull because he had the
audacity to take his own dog for a walk.
Michael Heuertz isn't asking the City of Hastings to ban Pit Bulls, but to consider that his experience could happen to children playing on the street. They're not old enough or big enough to fight back. Monday night, Heuertz showed the city council a picture of his groin after a Pit Bull attacked. He wants the image to stay with them. "I'm asking you to be proactive instead of reactive," he said. He was out with his mother's dog when a Pit Bull attacked the dog, then bit him
in the groin. His incident brings a reminder of the Kearney attack two years ago, that sent
two people to the hospital. Heuertz is concerned for future innocent victims, like his two
year-old niece and nephews.
Laws that only substantially penalize a dog and its owner
after a second bite, were written long before pit bulls became popular. Two attacks by a pit bull can leave two victims with lifelong injury. A realistic starting point in medical bill cost for each victim is $50,000. Currently, Hastings officials are scratching their heads and asking: Should Heuertz's injury qualify the dog being labeled "dangerous?"
Related articles:07/11/08:
New Hampshire Pit Bull Owner Faces Charges After Second Attack04/05/08:
Pit Bull Owner Arrested After Second Child and Animal AttackedLabels: dog law
| 
