Rescue takes 2nd pit bull from Shelby home

The following article can be found by clicking on this link


 

Owners' other dog bit girl, 6

BY JAMI KINTON • News Journal • May 20, 2010

SHELBY -- A Shelby pit bull will be picked up today
by a Fredericktown animal rescue group called Savin
'Em All.

The dog, McBeefy, was one of two that belonged to
Shelby's Larry and Tenille Hamm, 72 Mack Ave. The
other dog bit a 6-year-old neighbor girl in the face
twice May 9. Larry Hamm told police he then beat
the dog to death with a hammer.

Later, the couple surrendered McBeefy to the
Richland County Dog Shelter.

Kennel attendant Lori Miller said she would have
taken McBeefy home in a heartbeat.


"Pit bulls get such a bad reputation and they're not
bad dogs," Miller said. "A lot of it is due to the
owners."

Larry Hamm was charged with cruelty to animals.
Tenille Hamm was charged with possession of a
vicious dog. Larry Hamm's pre-trial hearing will be
9 a.m. May 26 and Tenille Hamm's will be 9 a.m.
June 16 in Shelby Municipal Court. Each could
receive up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pit bulls were bred
to be trustworthy and friendly, and earned the
nickname "nursemaid's dog" because they were
reliable with young children.

Today, the society reports, the breed often attracts
owners interested in them for fighting or protection.

"I do think some people get pit bulls for the wrong
reasons," Miller said. "Just for the stature of having
them. For the most part, these dogs are affectionate
and love people."

Miller fondly rubbed McBeefy's chocolate brown
ears earlier this week.

 

"He's the biggest baby," Miller said. "He's very
scared."

Mansfield and Shelby ban pit bulls.

"There are many good, responsible pit bull owners,
but like guns, if there's a good gun owner you won't
have any problems. There's just always going to be
that percentage that shouldn't have one," Richland
County Dog Warden Dave Jordan said. "You see a lot
of pit bulls associated with drugs and gangs, and
they just gain this terrible reputation.

"My opinion is based on my experience. Dogs will
be dogs no matter what breed they are, but pit bulls
have the strongest bite per pound -- and when they
bite, you're going to hear about it."

According to Richland County dog warden statistics,
German shepherds have been reported in 32 dog
bite incidents since 2008, the most of any breed.

Second is the rottweiler, third is the Labrador
retriever, fourth is the Chihuahua, fifth is the boxer.

In sixth place is the pit bull, the only dog
recognized in Ohio law as a "vicious dog," with 15
bites.

"If a pit bull is really ticked, it will do a lot of
damage," Jordan said. "But most pit bulls bite to put
a person in check."

Jordan said neutering, training and human socialization for pit bulls are key.

"Any dog has the potential to bite," he said. "It's just
a question of what the trigger may be."

jkinton@nncogannett.com
419-521-7220


 
I find the above article interesting because pit bulls place 6^th for dog bites per Richland County's dog warden. Hmmm… Yet, it is the only dog on the vicious dog list in Ohio. The Labrador retriever even places 3^rd and I thought they were "oh such sweet dogs." I am glad McBeefy has been given a chance to prove he can be a sweet and lovable dog. I do not like how the article doesn't provide details as to why the child was bit, where it happened etc. So many articles leave out important details, usually in an effort to mar the breed's reputation further.