Indiana Accident News

Indianapolis Animal Control Chief Debates Future Of Pit Bulls

With the advent of a new chief of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control may come a new attitude toward the city's pit bull population - and perhaps new policies. In an article that appeared in indystar.com, Heather Gillers investigates the topic of pit bulls, dog bites, and the safety of the citizens of Indianapolis.

Animal control records show that pit bull attacks are at an all-time high, with 282 pit bull bite incidents recorded in 2008 - one third more than the number of dog attacks by this breed in 2006. Pit bulls were by far responsible for the most bites of any other breed and caused more damage to humans when they did bite. These frightening statistics lead the last mayor of Indianapolis to try to ban the breed in the city and an animal control policy that put the dogs to sleep instead of adopting them out.

Douglas Rae, the new Animal Control Chief as of last month, wants to reach out to pit bulls and their owners. Instead of killing incoming dogs, he wants to try and rehabilitate them and return them to the community.

"I really want to give every dog the last possible chance I can," Rae said. "I know I'm going to have some very spirited conversations with people."

The potential pit bull ban failed two years ago, as it has in many other parts of the coutry, with animal activists arguing that all pit bulls should not be blamed for a few aggressive dogs or the negligence and abuse of their owners. Other, however, argue that lives could be save and injuries could be prevented - just last week, a Northside woman was mauled by two pit bulls when taking out her trash and is still in the hospital recovering.

Rae would simply like to save the dogs that do not have records of aggression and that appear to be adoptable after being evaluated. The city killed 2,500 of the 3,000 pit bulls that entered the system in the last year.

"I don't treat a pit bull any different than I treat a Lab, than I treat a (Rottweiler), than I treat an Akita," Rae said. "It just wouldn't be fair."

However, some argue that the more pit bulls that exist in the community, the more dog attacks and dog bites will take place.

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