Dog Attacks Have Neighbors Living In Fear

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I don’t really understand why the authorities aren’t doing anything about these two dangerous dogs.

Posted: March 30, 2009 08:21 PM

People in one Huntsville neighborhood say they fear for their lives.

Two pitbulls have attacked several people.

And as WAAY 31′s Haley Baker reports, the latest victim is fortunate he survived.

Chris Misterka was violently attacked by two pitbulls on Armand Drive, which is in Southeast Huntsville. He has a rare condition called Reitger’s Syndrome; he is legally blind and slow to react to any fast moving object.

 

He says, “I didn’t have time to react…the first dog grabbed my leg and ripped me to the ground and the other lunged at my throat I was able to catch it with my hand before it got to my throat…but it grabbed my arm…as you can see.

I didn’t have any time to react… the whole time I was screaming…asking for help!”

 

His mother Bridgette Barber got the terrifying call just moments after the attack. She’s furious and says neither police nor Huntsville Animal Services have done anything to the dog, or to the owner.

Barber says, “I was enraged…really -the people won’t even come to the door for police or for anybody.”

Tim Johns was attacked last summer, and says if something isn’t done, he’s moving for his family’s sake.

He notes, ” I hate to say someone can run you out of you’re house…but that’s what going on. there’s no law in place….that can protect us from it…it can happen over and over again…obviously.”

These residents say they are trying to change the system, and are pushing to get stricter dog bite laws in place.

For Bridgette and her son, they don’t want anyone to have to go through what their family has gone through.

She adds, “One attack should’ve been enough and too many already…that needs to be changed…do everything we can to get it changed.”

We contacted Huntsville Animal Services and they told us they don’t have the legal authority to take these dogs or anyone else’s…and that dogs are considered property. However, Animal Services officials have been working for the past five years to get a city ordinance in place where they could take an animal if they deemed it vicious or under the care of an irresponsible owner.

It’s a battle they’re still fighting, and a story we’ll continue to follow.

Reporter: Haley Baker