Union City: Dog mauled at Drigon Dog Park
By Matt Artz
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 11:43 am in Dog Parks, Uncategorized, Union City.
Another perspective:A woman who says she was at Drigon before and during the attack said that the Pit bull was playing well with the other dogs in the park before the incident. She thought it was a nice dog.
Draco, a 10-pound Miniature Pinscher was attacked and nearly killed by a Pit Bull Sunday afternoon at Drigon Dog Park in Union City.
The dog had been in the park for only a few minutes when three larger dogs, including the Pit Bull approached, said Draco’s owner Zendy Aguirre. When Draco ran away from the dogs, the Pit Bull attacked, shattering one of Draco’s ribs.
“I went to pick up (Draco) and the Pitt Bull bit me and ripped off my thumb nail, Aquirre said. The Pit Bull then sunk its teeth back into Draco until Aguirre’s boyfriend gave it a good kick.
The Pit Bull’s owner later took his dog and ran away. Aguirre doesn’t have a picture of the offending dog or the identity of its owner.
What she does have is a veterinary bill for nearly $7,000. Draco has been hospitalized for the past three nights. He has three broken ribs and doctors had to remove a fourth rib that was too badly damaged to heal. He also has numerous puncture wounds.
The Pitt Bull is described as a dark gray American Pit Bull Terrier with cropped ears and white fur on his chest. It wears a regular collar and a choke collar.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
August 6th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Pit Bulls are the reason I no longer go to dog parks with my dogs.
I consider Pit Bulls the same as a loaded gun.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:29 am
While it can not be disputed that some dog breeds were created to be “attack dogs.” At least 90% of the problem are the owners.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Sadly, 99 percent of Pit Bull owners have no clue how to handle their animals.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I would say more like 99.9% of pit bull problems are the owners fault. ALL breeds can have bad seeds, but if I chihuahua attacked you, would you really report it to the news? Its a shame the reputation pit bulls have received because of ignorant low class owners who do not give them the proper training. I have known quite a few pits who are the sweetest things in the world and wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’m very sad for little Draco and that he had to go through what he did…but I think the OWNER who took his dog and ran should be to blame here. I hope he heals quickly and can return to a normal doggy life soon.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I am totally agreed with Kylie (Kylie Says:
August 7th, 2008 at 9:39 pm). The OWNER of the pit bull 99.99999% dafenly should be to blame here. I pray for Draco get well soon.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Kylie:
I completely agree. The focus should be on the owners not on the animal. Unfortunately, pit bull attacks have become media blockbusters much like shark attacks. I’m sure the huge majority of pitbulls out there have never harmed anyone, but the exceptional cases make the news everytime.
I believe this is a small manifestation of a much bigger problem in the way our country views danger. Instead of looking at the source of the problem, we immediately blame the dog, the drug, or the gun. Pitbulls are a thug’s dog of choice which makes them more susceptible to abuse, dog fighting, etc. Obviously, an abused animal is much more likely to attack a human.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
$7000.00 to $8000.00 dollar’s for a vet bill is a scam! That kind of a bill would put a lot of people out on the street. Those thieves over at Ohlone Vet Hospital should bow down there head’s and be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of people and there pet’s in a time of need. And on another subject,I am sick and tired of being emotionally played by Sarah Mclaughlin and that TV commercial about all the animal’s in the shelter’s. They show those dog’s and cat’s with a sad look so they can pull on your heart string’s.One of the reason’s there are a lot of animal’s in these shelter’s is because people in their right mind know,it’s a $100.00 to get the dog and the first vist to a vet is probably going to cost you five times that amount! Who nowaday’s can afford that? Would you buy a $1000.00 car and put $5000.00 into it every time it needed a tune-up or a set of tire’s? Of course not. Oh and by the way,in case your wondering.I have two pitbull’s and four cat’s and all have come from shelter’s. I also belong to a pitbull rescue group in Berkeley. Just thought I would share my view.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am
David…
A pitbull is a thug’s dog of choice?
what an insult.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Charlene,
I didn’t mean to imply that all pit bull owners are thugs. I was suggesting that a lot of thugs own pitbulls which makes the breed more likely to be a victim of abuse.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
There is no doubt about it, for better or worse, Pit Bulls have been absorbed into Thug/Gangsta culture. And the breeds image has suffered for it.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I was there when the attack occurred!! The pitbull was a very mellow dog and was friendly with all the dogs that were there prior to the min pin…There was actually a very small dog at the park prior to the min pin arriving and the pit was fine with it. The min pin lunged for the pitbull first, which the owner failed to mention.Also, she stated that the pitbull resumed its attack which never happened. Her boyfriend never kicked the pitbull as the owner of the pitbull removed the dog from the situation. The owner of the pit did not RUN off as stated above. We left about 10-15 minutes after the incident and the pit and owner were still at the park. Please get the full story before you judge. She admitted her dog was”feisty”, It should be trained and in the little dog area.I feel for her but she needs to own up to the fact that her dog lunged first and the pit reacted!