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May 25, 2007

City considers pit bull ban after incident

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

PLATTSBURGH -- One of the pit bulls that attacked another dog and its owner Monday night has been put down.

The incident has spurred the Common Council to seriously consider banning all pit bulls in the city.

"I don't understand why anyone would need a dog like that," Councilor George Rabideau (R-Ward 3) said at Thursday night's council meeting.

"What if that had been a child that was attacked?"

Councilors and Mayor Donald Kasprzak said they were all flooded with comments and concerns following Monday night's incident.

According to Plattsburgh City Police, Sadie led the four-dog attack on Ginseng, a shar-pei/terrier mix, who was walking near the corner of Pine and White streets with his owners Paul and Victoria Babbie.

Police said Sadie was unleashed inside her Pine Street home when someone opened the door to bring the two other leashed pit bulls outside and she saw Ginseng walking and sprinted out the door.

As she ran down the lawn, lunging and biting at Ginseng, the other dogs quickly followed and began mauling the 9-year-old dog.

"He just couldn't get away. They just kept biting him and dragging him down the street," Babbie said. "They just wouldn't stop. It was bad."

When Babbie attempted to save his dog, who required immediate veterinary care and several sutures to close his gaping wounds, Sadie lunged at him, latching onto his hand.

"My hand is still swollen and tender, but it's getting better," Babbie said Thursday evening. "(Ginseng) is doing a little better, but he's still a mess. We're having trouble getting him to move and eat.

"He's starting to lose weight and his skin is sagging on him. He used to be such an active dog and he's slowed right down. We can barely get him to get up."

As police continued investigating the attack, paperwork regarding the dangerous-dog complaint was filed in Plattsburgh City Court, prompting Judge Mark Rogers to issue a seizure order for Sadie Thursday.

When police arrived to the home to take the dog to an area shelter for observation pending further court hearings next Tuesday, they discovered its owner, Christopher Pavone, had already had the dog put down.

"I was surprised to hear it was put down," said Babbie, who said Ginseng will have several more veterinary appointments to monitor his progress and to determine whether he will need surgery on one of his legs.

"We'll be going to court next week for the complaint, but I don't know what's going to happen. We've had such a hard time though and we're so stressed about him. He's our baby and he's just not himself anymore."

Police Chief Desmond Racicot said the head of the downed dog has been turned over to the Clinton County Health Department who will test it for rabies.

Kasprzak said he would research information about possibly banning pit bulls in the city and let the council know if it is legally possible.

Without an animal control officer, Racicot said all dog complaints should be forwarded to the police.

The animal control position was eliminated from the city budget this year in a cost-saving move.

-- Staff Writer Joe LoTemplio added to this report

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