Punish the Dog Owner?
UPDATE 01/21/09: What is vital for readers of DogsBite.org to understand is that the mantra: "Punish the Owner Not the Dog," is nearly always a deflated balloon. It is extraordinarily difficult to effectively punish a dog owner after a violent dog attack. This is why we must do all that we can to prevent these attacks before they occur. In the instance of Tamara Anderson, who was nearly killed by a pit bull, dog owner Pia Adamson was fined $373. Her 90-day jail sentence was suspended as well.
01/17/09: Pocatello Police Officer Receives Award
Pocatello Police Officer Doug Frei has been presented with a Lifesaving Award and Medal of Valor for saving the life of animal control officer Tamara Andersen. When Frie arrived on the scene, he saw Andersen collapse, with heavy bleeding coming from her right arm. He used his necktie and gun magazine to form a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, and took measures to prevent her from going into shock while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
The article did not mention the victim's recovery process.
12/24/08: Mayor Pushes for Vicious Dog Registry
After a pit bull -- with a documented violent past -- nearly killed Animal Control officer Tammy Anderson, the mayor of Pocatello is asking state legislators to establish a state vicious dog registry. The registry would track animals when their owners move from one jurisdiction to another. A more powerful, lifesaving law would be to eliminate Idaho state's "one bite free" rule and mandate that after a dog kills another domesticated pet in an unprovoked attack, the dog is euthanized. Now that is prevention!
12/11/08: Charges Filed by Animal Control
Pocatello animal control has filed charges against two women. Sabina Adamson, the dog's owner, has been charged with vicious dog and failure to prove vaccinations. Her sister, Tia Adamson, who resides where the attack happened, is being charged with harboring a vicious animal. But once again, we fail to receive the information that truly matters: Did either of these women have an insurance policy to pay for the victim's medical costs?
12/09/08: Tourniquet Was Required
Pocatello, ID - After a Pocatello Animal Control officer was severely attacked by a pit bull and hospitalized for three days, Mayor Roger Chase was quick to point out that he has no plans to ban any one breed of dog. In the same breath, he said, "This was a very serious incident and our officer nearly lost her life. We were fortunate that police officers were able to get there on the scene and put a tourniquet on her arm from where it was bleeding."
The seriousness of a pit bull attack is why cities choose to regulate them. As Chase states, this officer nearly "lost her life."
The attack isn't the first time the dog has shown aggressive behavior. The animal has also been reported as a vicious dog in Power and Bingham Counties. What is unclear from the article are the following questions: Was the dog previously declared "vicious" in either of these counties? If yes, what are county and state laws regarding shuffling vicious dogs between counties? Was the owner of the dog required to have liability insurance?
Officer Tammy Anderson was on a routine check when the dog attacked. She immediately underwent a series of surgeries to treat injuries to her left arm.
Related articles:
10/02/08: Sumner Wants Owners of Dangerous Dogs to Declare Themselves
09/07/08: "Vicious" Dog Laws Stop at State Lines; Pit Bull-Mix Whisked to New State
Not even Idaho can escape the nutters. Here is a nearby town that is considering pit bull regulations:
http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?S=8875107
Another Pocatello attack:
http://www.kidk.com/news/12962127.html
“The statutes that we have concerning vicious dogs are incredibly inept,” says Harding.
Idaho has a one bite rule — first attack free!
“Mayor Roger Chase was quick to point out that he has no plans to ban any one breed of dog.”
Idiot. Replace ASAP.
I think Idaho must have a 2 free bites rule. It was declared dangerous in TWO counties. why would one county declare a dog vicious just because another county did?
There need to be state registries of dangerous dogs, and people who own dangerous dogs
When declared dangerous (though it SHOULD be euthanized) the dog should be photographed, tattooed, microchipped, and entered in a state database so that if the dog is moved and attacks again, it can be traced
These criminals are flaunting the law by just moving the dogs to another county or state so they can kill
“But once again, we fail to receive the information that truly matters: Did either of these women have an insurance policy to pay for the victim’s medical costs?”
C’mon…It’s becoming clear that you have a better chance of seeing Bigfoot than a Pit owner with liability insurance! The Tax payer will end of footing the bill on this one.
It will be interesting if the the outraged Mayor goes after this pit schuffler for the costs of his employees medical treatment.
Second dog owner jail time suspended
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MARCH 31, 2009 – “Judge Rick Carnaroli sentenced Sabina Adamson 60 days in jail and two years probation for vicious conduct by the dog and for failure to provide proof of a rabies vaccination. Adamson was also ordered to pay a $1000 fine and half of the nearly $36,000 in medical costs incurred by the animal control officer. Judge Carnaroli did suspend the jail time and 950 of the fine. He also ordered that Adamson not own any animals during her probation.”
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=10106650
Lame…This dog was previously declared dangerous and had been trafficked into town.
Why only half the medical costs? Who pays the other half?
No jail time? A slap on the wrist considering the dogs history and her illegal conduct!
Victim speaks out:
Animal Control Officer Thankful to be Alive
Nov. 4 2009 – "Pocatello Police Officer Doug Frei was first to arrive on scene. He used his necktie and spare magazine from his gun as a make shift tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Anderson says without his quick thinking she wouldn't be here today. That sentiment was echoed a few weeks later as Frei was honored by Pocatello Police Chief JR Miller for his heroic actions but at the time Frei said he didn't feel like a hero. Officer Douglas Frei: "I didn't do anything I don't think anyone else would have done. I told the Chief I was just trying to get rid of my necktie." After the attack Anderson missed three months of work while she recovered. Now the mental and physical scars remind her of one more reason she has to be thankful this year. Tammy Andersen: "I'm glad to be here. Because I didn't think I was going to make it."
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http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=11570048
Personally, I would support all dog owners having to carry insurance with the rates being based on the breed and its history of violence. That way, the pit bull apologists won't be able to scream that they're being discriminated against. The cost would be nominal for breeds who do not inflict serious injury but, the cost would increase in accordance with those breeds who cause the most damage. As a dog owner, that seems fair to me.