Omaha To Consider Pit Bull Restrictions
Posted: June 26, 2008 04:32 PM CDT
Updated: June 26, 2008 04:48 PM CDT
OMAHA (KPTM) -- A baby girl is recovering after she and three other people were attacked by a pit bull. The attack happened Wenesday afternoon.
Witnesses say two mothers were pulling their children in a wagon when the dog came off a leash and attacked them.
15-month-old Charlotte Blevins was taken to the hospital in critical condition. She's now in serious condition.
The other victims, her mom Wendy Blevins, Carly Spring and Carly's son Cade have all been released from the hospital.
Charlotte suffered severe damage to her head, and went through three hours of surgery Wednesday night.
Doctors say the surgery went well. "Obviously she has a very devastating injury," Dr. Amardip Bhuller with Creighton says. "Our main thing is to stabilize the injury to place a temporary coverage on monday, we're going to take her for a second surgery to see how much of the scalp took back."
Doctor Bhuller says Charlotte has to go through several more surgeries, and they are keeping an eye on the injuries, which can still get infected.
Wednesday's attacks are sparking new interest in a possible pit bull ban in Omaha. Mayor Mike Fahey will meet Monday with the Nebraska Humane Society and the Omaha Police Department to try to prevent future attacks.
Wednesday night's attack on a 15 month old girl marked the 48th pit bull attack this year in Omaha. Last year there were 88, and in 2006 there were 109.
It's an entirely different story across the river in Council Bluffs.
"We have zero pit bull bites thus far this year," said animal control officer Galen Barrett.
Barrett credited that statistic to the city's pit bull ban, created three years ago. Now, there are only about 80 of the animals in town that were grandfathered in when the ban took effect.
Before the ban, Council Bluffs had 29 attacks in 2004. Since then the numbers have dropped significantly.
"The ban is the only thing that's been introduced since then. I have nothing else to attribute that to," said Barrett.
Omaha city leaders are now looking for ways to prevent future attacks. The Nebraska Humane Society said a pit bull ban may not be the best answer.
"We just don't think breed specific legislation works. We have no evidence to support that," said Pam Wiese of the Nebraska Humane Society.
Wiese said pit bull owner restrictions, education, and mandatory spay and neutering may be better options. Wiese said those options would be more enforceable for animal control.
"Everything is on the table and we'll do whatever it takes to protect the citizens of Omaha," said Wiese.
http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S= ... =menu606_2Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys
Education...Awareness...Advocacy
There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.
Debby