On November 27, 70 year old Lowell Bowden went out for a walk in the hills Rural Lindside, WV. At some point, a couple of men out hunting came across Mr. Bowden as he was being attacked by four or five dogs. Bowden died six days later. The dogs were identified as 'pit bulls'.
The attack fits into what a major attack would look like: a pack of dogs that are roaming free in a secluded area that attack a singular, elderly victim. The area where Lindside is located is in the 24951 zip code. The entire area has a population of only 1700 people -- nearly 20% of whom live below the poverty line.
In a study from out of Spain a few years ago, it found that rural areas tend to be more susceptable to major attacks because of the frequency of packs of at-large dogs.
The worst part of this story may be that the family may not see much in the way of justice for this attack. The owners of the dogs were identified, but even though a loss of life occurred, the state cannot press charges for more than just a misdemeanor.
The family has issued a statement asking for the government "to change your laws so that irresponsible dog owners are held accountable for the negligent keep of their dogs." The media however has tried to make this into an appeal for controls on 'pit bulls' - however, there is nothing about the specific breed of dog quoted in the family's statment.
My heart goes out to the family of Mr. Bowden.
That is such a shame for all involved.
Posted by: Heartgard Plus for Dogs | December 09, 2009 at 07:49 PM
I don't understand how could the owner of the dogs be so negligent. I think he or she should be punished more severely.
Posted by: Vizsla Puppy | December 10, 2009 at 02:47 AM