Fenced Dog Allegedly Bites After Man’s Prodding ; Makes 19th Bite Victim This Year

A white American Bulldog bit a hearing-impaired man Saturday which resulted in the 19^th reported dog bite case in Chattooga County this year.

Randy Wooten, of Hill Avenue, was bitten on the right arm and cops noted he had a “significant” amount of dried blood on his clothing, according to a Summerville Police report.

“The dog was in a fenced yard when it bit Mr. Wooten on the arm which witness stated he devils the dog through the fence on a regular basis and had been prodding at the dog with a stick earlier in the day. Officer Phillip Cox located and described it as a 2’x2′ piece of wood. Animal control was notified of the bite and the surrounding circumstances,” Officer Matt Pritchard stated.

Wooten was treated on the scene. Last week, however, a Lyerly woman wasn’t as lucky when a pit bull attacked her.

She was attacked just north of Summerville near El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant. Danielle Deberry was walking in that area when a pit bull came off a resident’s porch and attacked. Its teeth sank into the back of Deberry’s left leg.

She was able to escape the dog’s clutch and went to the sheriff’s department to report the incident.

“I did observe bleeding puncture wounds to the left calf of Deberry. Photos were taken,” Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Woods said.

After getting a description of the attacking dog and a general location, Woods and Animal Control Officer Danny Hayes drove to 11381 Hwy. 27 and found two dogs.

When they pulled up, the dogs approached.

“Hayes was able to capture the pit bull. A resident at the house attempted to put up the second dog but could not contain it. Animal control was unable to capture the second dog,” Deputy Woods said.

No one seems immune to the attacks. A pit bull bit a chunk of flesh out of a 4-year-old child’s face on June 14. It required a hospital visit and stitches. Earlier this month Deputy Daniel Sanford was attacked on Ridgeway Road by a stray. He went for medical treatment as well.

“My understanding is the dog came up and just bit him,” Sheriff Schrader said.

That attack happened while the deputy was conducting a traffic stop.

Pit bulldogs are the top offender on the list of culprits, according to animal control. However, they are not the only breed responsible. The list includes lab mixes, chihuahuas and a German Shepherd. There have even been two cat bite cases this year – one happened while a lady was bringing a stray feline into animal control in January.

Humans are not the only ones suffering from attacks. A dog killed Makayla Long’s prized pet goats on June 8.

“If you live on or near Ranchland Drive, Beavers Road, or Williams Road please beware that these two goats were killed by dogs during the night or sometime this morning. They were in their yard behind a four-foot chain link fence. They were exactly where they were supposed to be, their own yard. If you have goats, other animals or small children please watch them carefully,” Long said.

Long and resident Janet Kennett, who lives over in that area, said stray dogs have been a problem for a while.

“. . . In our neighborhood alone, there have been five animals killed by dogs, three goats and two small dogs,” Kennett said.

Then last Thursday, Dewaun Price, of Subligna, told deputies that three stray bulldogs were abandoned near his property and they attacked his horse.

Chattooga County has an animal control ordinance. It basically boils down to this, according to Commissioner Jason Winters: “Animals are not allowed to roam on another person’s property.”

The commissioner and sheriff encourage people to call animal control if there are strays at 706-857-0679.