Letter: Pit Bull Attack Victim Tells Paper, "Print Both Sides"
Dog Attack Victims Need a VoiceMerced, CA - In response to a recent
Pit Bull Puff article published by the Merced Sun Star, a pit bull attack victim, Phyllis Boyer, wrote a letter to the newspaper. She voices often heard themes of dog attack victims: After the attack, animal control did nothing; the difficulty of emotional healing after an attack; and how she now feels like a prisoner in her own home due to loose pit bulls in her neighborhood.
Editor: Tuesday, you had a front-page story on pit bulls. I think it only fair that you print both sides of the story. In general, people who own and breed pit bulls are irresponsible and that is the reason our shelter is full of them. Do we have a pit bull problem in Merced?
On July 15, my dog, Nanny, and I were taking our daily walk when we were viciously attacked by a pit bull. We both had multiple stitches. When I inquired as to the fate of the dog that attacked us, I was told by animal control and the city manager that nothing was done because it was the dog's first attack. Until the second attack, no action would be taken. We have healed physically, but emotionally it's taken a little more time.
Then last Thursday when we were a block from home, one of my friends stopped us and told us a gentleman had just came by and told him his two pit bulls were loose and the female was very aggressive. Needless to say I was terrified. My friend gave us a ride home. Not long after we got home, the two pit bulls were in front of my house.
That same night I got up because my dog was barking at 4 a.m. When I looked out there was a different pit bull running in front of my house. I now feel I am a prisoner in my own home.
Related articles:08/25/08:
WALB News Editorial Supports Pit Bull Regulations07/24/08:
Letter: No Reason to Keep Dogs That Are Bred to Kill01/20/08:
Trapped in Home by Neighborhood Dangerous DogsLabels: letter to the editor, trapped in home
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