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Letter carrier released from hospital after pit bull attack
By JOLENE CRAIG
POSTED: December 22, 2007
PARKERSBURG — A letter carrier attacked by a pit bull Thursday was treated and released from a local hospital, authorities said Friday morning.
Shelly Batton, 27, was mauled by the male pit bull while delivering mail in the 1700 block of Beaver Street, according to a report by the Parkersburg Police Department.
Batton received several lacerations to her arms and legs from the attack and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. A hospital spokesman said Batton was treated for the injuries and released.
The owners of the male pit bull were not home at the time of the incident and the dog has been quarantined by the Humane Society of Parkersburg, according to the police report. The identity of the owners was unavailable.
“Dog bites are the number one accident in the postal service,” said Parkersburg Postmaster Ray Church. “It just goes to show the importance customers need to take as far as their dogs are concerned.”
The humane society also is investigating the incident, said Sgt. Scott Elliott with the Parkersburg Police Department.
Multiple messages left at the humane society were not returned Friday.
Elliott said it is not unusual for people to be bitten by dogs.
Pit bulls “can be an aggressive breed,” Elliott said.
Last December, a 2-year-old Vincent girl was attacked by a 9-month-old pit bull at a friend’s home.
The girl received 57 stitches to her face, but did not need reconstructive surgery. The dog was shot by its owner.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site (http://www.cdc.gov) 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. These bites result in about 16 fatalities.
While any dog can bite, attacks by pit bulls and rottweilers were the most common, the CDC said.
Contact Jolene Craig at jcraig@newsandsentinel.com
Shelly Batton, 27, was mauled by the male pit bull while delivering mail in the 1700 block of Beaver Street, according to a report by the Parkersburg Police Department.
Batton received several lacerations to her arms and legs from the attack and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. A hospital spokesman said Batton was treated for the injuries and released.
The owners of the male pit bull were not home at the time of the incident and the dog has been quarantined by the Humane Society of Parkersburg, according to the police report. The identity of the owners was unavailable.
“Dog bites are the number one accident in the postal service,” said Parkersburg Postmaster Ray Church. “It just goes to show the importance customers need to take as far as their dogs are concerned.”
The humane society also is investigating the incident, said Sgt. Scott Elliott with the Parkersburg Police Department.
Multiple messages left at the humane society were not returned Friday.
Elliott said it is not unusual for people to be bitten by dogs.
Pit bulls “can be an aggressive breed,” Elliott said.
Last December, a 2-year-old Vincent girl was attacked by a 9-month-old pit bull at a friend’s home.
The girl received 57 stitches to her face, but did not need reconstructive surgery. The dog was shot by its owner.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site (http://www.cdc.gov) 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. These bites result in about 16 fatalities.
While any dog can bite, attacks by pit bulls and rottweilers were the most common, the CDC said.
Contact Jolene Craig at jcraig@newsandsentinel.com
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LiveSpacesMember Comments
View Comments: | 1-4 | Post a comment
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stang1
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12-24-07 3:23 AM
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Yes it is a shame that people can't be responsible about their pets. Instead we have people out their that would rather watch their pet hurt people or other animals and not do anything about it, like this situation with the letter carrier. I think its very unhumane and feel that something should be done to these people that don't care.
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stang1
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12-24-07 3:18 AM
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This girl has went thru a very traumatizing situation and then she has to read this article that is about half truthful about that day. It makes me very mas that people can say and write about something and only be half truthful about it. If you are going to only tell the truth about half of it than why even bother this girl has been put thru enough without people telling half truth and lying about the rest. Give her a break!
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TrixiesMama87
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12-22-07 5:46 PM
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It's a shame people can't be more responsable for their pets. I've seen a lot of underfed Pit Bulls in this city and I know people are owning them just for their look. It gives a bad rep to the dog and does nothing for the animals well being.
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cabaka
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12-22-07 3:03 PM
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We are required by law to prove basic ability to control a vehicle and supply proof that we have provided for dealing with financially responsibility for damages our vehicle causes others. Any responsible individuals having these dangerous animals should provide the infrastructure to control them, prove they have provided arrangements to pay for any damage they cause any person or to the property of others, and be prepared to face appropriate criminal charges if these animals cause injury to another person or domestic creature. Usually the owners of these creatures are fortunate to be able to control their own body functions and feed themselves let alone a dog.
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