Pit bulls attack pet; owner cited
By Greg Rayburn / Editor / grayburn@sherwoodvoice.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:57 AM CST
A Sherwood woman was issued citations on Nov. 18 for allowing her two pit bulls to roam at large and for failure to get them rabies vaccinations.
The citations issued to Danielle Harris resulted after Sherwood police and animal control officers were dispatched to the home of Beverly Westlake, 8 Ridgewell St., who reported that two pit bulls attacked and mauled her dog.
Officer Darin Fuhrman said he arrived at Westlake’s home and was told by a neighbor that the two dogs were attacking her dog in the backyard.
“I entered the backyard through the garage and observed a large dog lying between a tree and a trampoline being mauled by two dogs that appeared to be pit bulls,” according to Fuhrman’s report. “I yelled at the dogs and the larger of the two turned toward me while the smaller one attempted to circle me.”
Fuhrman said he shot the larger dog with one shot from his service weapon which caused the pit bull to run toward the west side of the yard.
“I followed the two dogs and observed that they had both crawled under the deck by the way of a small opening,” Fuhrman reported.
Westlake and one of her neighbors, Jim Calloway, gave assistance to the mauled dog, Tucker, who was transported to a veterinarian, Fuhrman said.
Police notified city Animal Control Officers Gretchen Helton and Adam Tindall who arrived at the scene. The pit bulls were tranquilized and captured.
Fuhrman reported that the residence of 6 Ridgewell had indications that an animal was in the fenced backyard and had attempted and succeeded in digging under the fence that separated the two backyards.
According to a report compiled by Officer Mike Payne, the attacked dog was described as a large yellowish canine that had been severely mauled.
Payne said Westlake wrapped the injured dog in a blanket, loaded him in a vehicle en route to the veterinarian. However, due to the injuries being so severe the veterinarian had to euthanize Tucker.
Payne added officers shot at the pit bulls because they were concerned for their safety.
“Officer Fuhrman stated the larger male pit bull looked at him in an aggressive manner and the smaller female pit bull started to circle him,” Payne reported. “Officer Fuhrman stated he struck the larger dog at least one time and maybe two times. Officer Fuhrman stated he shot at the smaller pit bull but he did not know if he it the dog.”
Police reported they sustained no injuries. Officers determined that Fuhrman had fired three rounds from his weapon.
While officers were investigating the scene, Payne looked under the deck through an opening and shone his flashlight.
“It was very dark but I could see one dog sitting up looking at me approximately 15 feet away,” Payne said.
Police and animal control officers saw the larger pit bull sitting in the northwest corner of the deck and was still very active.
“Due to the aggressive nature of the dogs, it was determined that both dogs would need to be sedated before any attempt be made to retrieve the dogs from under the deck,” Payne said.
The larger pit bull was struck with a sedating dart three times. The smaller dog was struck with one dart. Helton and Tindall then crawled under the deck and retrieved both dogs. Both of them were taken to the Sherwood Animal Shelter for confinement.
Later in the day, Harris came to the animal shelter and claimed ownership of the two pit bulls. She told officers she was boarding them at 6 Ridgewell because she was in the process of moving to the country.
In her citation, Harris was issued a mandatory court date in the Sherwood District Court. She is to appear on Tuesday.
