Surveillance video captured of David Roeck’s backyard shows two brown Pit Bulls, wearing collars, attacking and killing Roeck’s Black Lab, Bear.
“He was like one of my children. He was one of the family,” said Roeck.
Tuesday, with shoes still muddy from burying his best friend, Roeck wonders who will be next.
“They need to be taken care of before somebody else or some child is killed or maimed for life,” said Roeck.
This is the fourth dog attack in the county in the last four days. Dan Bugg at Hot Springs Animal Control quarantines dogs after vicious attacks. He’s currently housing one dog accused of biting a Garland County Deputy and another accused of biting a little girl on her birthday. Wednesday morning, Bugg put down another Pit Bull after he says it castrated a 12-year-old boy over the weekend. The two dogs that killed Bear are still on the loose.
“You might as well just pull a gun or point a knife at somebody because that is your property and it is put attacking people and doing damage to others. You don’t have that right,” said Bugg.
“The law just doesn’t have enough teeth to get people to take on that responsibility and control their animals,” said District 4 Justice of the Peace Mary Bournival.
County officials like Bournival are considering everything from collecting a bond from owners of dangerous dogs to banning Pit Bulls from the entire county.
“When I think about the number of people who have been affected this weekend alone by Pit Bulls, I don’t know what to do. I’m at a loss as to what we should do,” she said.
We reached out to all known owners of the caged dogs and have yet to get a response.
A public hearing is set for 5:30pm, September 17th at the Garland County Courthouse where county officials will hear what both Pit Bull owners and attack victims have to say before moving forward with any legislative action.
Currently, an attack off your property results in a misdemeanor charge for the pet owner. The last time an attack happened in Garland County, the owner was charged, but left the state. She still hasn’t paid any medical bills for the victim, despite the court order, and those involved in the case don’t believe she ever will.