Dog that bit 8-year-old euthanized

The pit bull that bit a Mitchell boy over the weekend has been euthanized.

It was the second bite offense for the dog, named “Capone.” According to John Parker, animal control officer with the Mitchell Police Division, the 8-year-old victim was attacked by the same pit bull last fall.

The boy, who was a friend of the family that owned the dog, is expected to undergo surgery in Sioux Falls to reconstruct his cheek, Parker said. The dog’s owners do not face criminal charges. Mitchell police would not release the owner’s name Wednesday afternoon, saying an investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred in the 200 block of East 12th Avenue.

Parker said dog bites have been on the rise since he became animal control officer five years ago, though the only confirmed cases of rabies he recalls involved bats. That increase is due in part to the reporting process, which is stricter than it used to be, Parker said. Hospital and clinic workers are required to report a dog bite so an animal control officer can ensure the animal’s rabies shots are current and the bite victim is free of danger.

“We’re also getting dog bites reported that may not have been treated by a hospital, but the next-door neighbor saw it happen — that kind of thing,” Parker said. “We seem to have more of a problem at noon and after 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I’m guessing that’s because families come home from work turning the dog out, kids come home from school and turn the dog out.”

Weekends are a problem, too, Parker said — any time when interaction between pets and owners increases. He estimated Mitchell had 60 dog bite incidents last year, many of which were not caused by so-called “dangerous” dog breeds like pit bulls.

Once a bite is reported, an animal control officer verifies the pet’s owner and that the pet’s shot records are current. The officer also follows up with the victim. In some cases, the officer must decide whether or not to quarantine or euthanize the animal.

Several factors are taken into consideration in determining whether or not an animal is euthanized, Parker said, such as shot records and the animal’s history of violence. In the case of Capone, a “second offender,” there was little choice, Parker said. Capone’s owners were unable to provide proof of a current rabies vaccination, and the dog was put down. The rabies test is expected to come back this week. The severity and location of the bite were also factors. The bite incident Sunday in Mitchell “took most of the entire cheek off,” Parker said.

People aren’t in more danger than they used to be, he reassured, though many in the city don’t seem to know that Mitchell has a leash law, and that any violation of an animal control ordinance can bring a $104 fine. Parker also recommended pet owners keep a copy of the pet’s current shot record on hand.

Dog violations can also be costly to city residents, Parker pointed out.

“If people would just understand how much money it’s costing them as a taxpayer for me or the officers to run down an animal at large, maybe they would take better care of their animals — keep them secure in their yard, build a fence, that kind of thing,” he said.

Tags: dog bite, pit bull, police division, news