Hold Dogs’ Owners Liable

It’s a tragic story, one that shouldn’t be repeated. But dog attacks continue despite hard talk by authorities and the inevitable wave of media coverage. This time, the victim was a helpless 2-year-old boy in a La Habra neighborhood who was savagely mauled by a pit bull.

Though the boy is now in stable condition, his scalp was torn from his head; his forehead, cheek, chest, legs and eyelid were punctured. Doctors say the boy’s greatest danger now is infection. A surgeon described the injuries as “of a very vicious nature.” Had not neighbors and roofers working nearby pulled the boy to safety, the attack would have ended with his death.

What is it going to take for people to recognize the fact that dogs that traditionally have been bred for their fierceness have no place in city and suburban life? Apparently, owners of these dogs will act only when there is no longer any doubt that they’ll be held liable for their animals’ actions.

Dog attacks are going to occur. About 3,000 Orange County residents have been bitten this year, and about 4,000 were attacked last year. A majority of the attacks are thankfully mundane, and the number of incidents hasn’t risen in recent years.

The boy injured earlier this month luckily escaped with his life. But the attacks are too frequent. Last week, a pit bull charged a Garden Grove woman and bit her more than a dozen times. And a Los Angeles postal worker was mauled by a pit bull and a shepherd mix while delivering mail. All escaped with their lives, unlike Diane Whipple, a 33-year-old San Francisco resident who was killed last year by two ferocious dogs as she opened her apartment door.

The pit bull involved in the recent attack will be put to death. Its owner hasn’t commented since the incident, but a family member maintains that the dog never before exhibited this kind of frightening behavior. Similarly, dog owners in the La Habra neighborhood fret that the attack will further cloud the reputation of pit bulls.

But that dark shadow probably is the only way to underscore the reality that certain dogs don’t belong in urban and suburban neighborhoods.

In addition to initiating criminal proceedings after attacks, government should underscore the potential for danger by levying heftier fees on breeders of animals known to create problems. Perhaps the higher cost of buying these dogs will force potential owners to think twice. Neighbors also must do their part by reporting incidents involving dangerous dogs before a tragedy occurs. But those reports will be made only if citizens believe law enforcement will take them seriously.

No one wants to take away or punish pets that serve as companions and protectors. But owners must be made aware through fines and criminal proceedings that humans are responsible when their animals attack.