I am writing to express my disappointment and frustration with the city of Parkersburg's policies regarding dog attacks.
On Sept. 30, while walking down a residential street with my young daughter and our leashed dog, two pit bulls came running out of their house and viciously attacked my dog. It took the owners of the pit bulls several minutes to get control of their dogs and by then my dog was seriously injured. Because of this, my dog had to receive emergency surgery.
I called the city police that same afternoon to report this incident. An officer came to my house, listened to my account and said there was no crime committed and therefore the police had no jurisdiction. I was unable to even file a complaint. Next I called the Parkersburg Humane Society and was told all they could do was check the dogs to see if they were current on the rabies vaccines and dog licenses. Three weeks later and this still has not been done. Then the sheriff's department also said no crime was committed and it would be a purely civil incident if I wanted the pit bull owners to reimburse my veterinary bills.
Although the police department says this attack was not a crime I have to disagree. What I had to watch and listen to was a very brutal crime and I am upset for two reasons. One, the offending dog owners are bearing no responsibility for their dogs actions and are suffering no consequences from this attack. What if my dog had not survived or my daughter had gotten bit instead? The city police say there would still have been no crime committed. So without repercussions these dogs can attack again and it could be worse next time.
Second, small claims court is not cheap and I have already spent several hundred dollars in veterinary bills. I do not believe that I should have to spend more money to attempt to right this wrong.
I have spent the past three weeks repeatedly talking to city departments to try and get some type of resolution to this attack and I have received no assistance from any department because they say no crime has been done. I now firmly believe the city of Parkersburg needs stricter laws regarding dog attacks so the victims can be helped.
Pamela Leigh Willey
Parkersburg
