Greene County deputies corral pit bulls after attack because of limited Animal Control

Deputies, who didn't have any animal handling equipment, locked one of the pitt bulls in the back of a patrol car.

April 14, 2012|by Linda Russell, KY3 News | lrussell@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- A man and his dog were attacked by two pit bull terriers, a male and a female, just north of Springfield late Thursday afternoon. Greene County deputies had to lock up the male pit bull that was still on the scene when they arrived. Animal Control response changed January 1. With a $74,000 cut from the budget, that means there's no longer a full time Animal Control position for areas outside Springfield.

Deputies who were called out Thursday afternoon on the dog attack used the tools on hand.

"We don't have any equipment to deal with the angry dog. We have our sidearms, we have rifles, that sort of thing," said Greene County Sheriff's Dept. Capt. David Johnson.

Using their bare hands, they placed the male pit bull in a patrol car. Since January, Greene County Animal Control response isn't the same.

"He's on a call-out basis, so it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour for him to respond out to a situation like this," said Johnson.

Katie Phillips, whose husband, Noah, and dog, Buddy, were injured said, "I appreciate the deputies that did show up, but it infuriates me that we're not prepared for a situation like this. My husband said he was wrestling these dogs and fighting them off for 20 minutes before anyone showed up to help him."

Phillips is now caring for both victims of the attack.

"Noah was just holding Buddy, and they were both trembling and shaking, and of course, I was shaking too. I don't think we hardly slept at all last night. That was my worst fear, that something like that would happen," she said.

Noah Phillips says he was walking Buddy when the two pit bulls approached them aggressively. He says he picked Buddy up to try to protect him, but lost control, and the male pit bull bit Buddy in at least three different places before he wrestled the pit bull dog to the ground.

"He appeared to be worn out from struggling with the animal," said Johnson.

The dogs' owner, Tom Fielding, says he would like to apologize for the attack, and is considering an invisible fence to keep the dogs from running loose. He says he took the dogs in after they were dumped more than a year ago.

"It just infuriating that someone would be that irresponsible, especially in a neighborhood that's close to a school," said Katie Phillips.

If a similar situation arises, deputies will do their best to protect and serve.

"It's definitely not ideal," said Johnson.

The contracted animal control handler did respond later. The female pit bull was caught several blocks away. Both dogs are being held at a vet's office for a 10-day quarantine.

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