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Published - Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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Dog that attacked workers to be euthanized


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A pit bull that escaped from a South Side yard and attacked two CenturyTel technicians last week will be euthanized, La Crosse County health officials said Tuesday.

Owner Cathy Bolling surrendered the dog, named Big Boy, that has been quarantined at the Coulee Region Humane Society since the attacks, said County Health Department Vector Control Manager Dave Geske.
Coulee Region Humane Society officer Dan Olson, left, impounds a pitbull that attacked two men in the alley of the 800 block of South Seventh Street. Dick Riniker photo

“This animal posed a threat to other people and her family,” he said. “I think she believes other people can get hurt.”

The dog will be euthanized Thursday at the Humane Society at the end of a 10-day quarantine the state requires after an animal bites a human.

Officials determined the 2-year-old black-and-white dog jumped the thin wire fence behind 815 S. Seventh St. about 9:15 a.m. Aug. 18 and made unprovoked attacks on Dale Proksch and Carmon Jostad while they were working in the alley, Geske said.

“You couldn’t make the case it couldn’t happen again,” he said.

Both Proksch, of Holmen, and Jostad, of Coon Valley, were treated for several bite wounds at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center.

Geske said he would have sought a judicial order to euthanize the dog had Bolling not surrendered him.
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HonestAbe wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:31 PM:

" Moosy, love ya!

The only reason I tried to feminize your name is because you try .... try to come off as a big man.

I don't do research ... I have my opinions from personal experience.

Have a good night all. "

Mr.Moose wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:13 AM:

" HA...you call me Ms. Moose, huh??? if you are trying to insult me by feminizing my post name what does that show me how you think of women in our society...also it seems from your last post you have become unhinged...

HA quote " won't hurt my feelings at all, ban 'em all, kill 'em all. 100% worthless they are"

Sounds a little emotional HA HA...also sounds a little Naziesque...no feelings, clensing of a certain "type" of animal and generalizing all behavior of said animal...WOW, HA!!!

Also, why do you think I get emotional??? because I use a lot of exclamation points...HA, your an IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Tanktastic wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:31 AM:

" see if you can spot the myths.

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/animal-witness/michael-vick/pit-bull-myths-quiz/index.html

Last night I caught Animal Witness on Animal Planet. It was on the Michael Vick case. I encourage everyone to at least watch the last 20 min of the program. It airs again on Aug. 31 at 6pm. Most of the pitbulls taken from the property were placed into family homes. One dog has become a therapy dog. Until you watch what dog fighting really does to the dogs, you do not have a leg to stand on. "

noBSL wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:10 AM:

" Abe, These dogs are nothing but trouble, thats why the most decortated dog in military history is a pit bull, Helen Kellers dog was a pit bull, The Little Rascals dog, yup a pit bull. Pit bulls were responsible for finding many victims during 9-11. Some of the the best narcotics dogs are pit bulls, boy your right these "missles with teeth" are worthless. DO some Research first. "

HonestAbe wrote on Aug 28, 2008 6:55 AM:

" tandj89, if you understand "this animal is a problem" why the heck would you own one? man, you're a gleaming example of the type of clueless people that own these missiles with teeth.

Euthenize them all!

When yours gets loose, it better not meet up with me, it will be its last day. "

HonestAbe wrote on Aug 28, 2008 6:53 AM:

" Ms.Moose LOL, love how emotional you get over my OPINION LOL LOL

Yep, hate all those oversized head muscle with teeth types. You can insult me all you want, won't hurt my feelings at all, ban 'em all, kill 'em all. 100% worthless they are!

Call me more names, I just love it, please. lol "

tandj89 wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:47 PM:

" I hope all of you realize how hard it is to lose a family pet....MINE happens to be a pitbull and he is the most loving, caring, gentle, and loyal dog I have ever had. I understand this animal is a problem, but we dont need to be so barbaric or childish in speaking about the subject. My heart goes out to the family in this hardship. "

noBSL wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:14 PM:

" Well said Mr. Moose, I am a owner of an Am-Staff but people ASSume he is a pit without asking or doing research "

Mr.Moose wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:06 PM:

" Owner Responsability!!!! First you ban the pit bull, then the rotties, then the german shepards, then the akitas...whats next??? When will it stop...ban all dogs that have EVER attacked people...cross off the pomeranian!!! "

Mr.Moose wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:00 PM:

" dutchboy - "When it comes to dangerous breeds of animals, the city needs to set clear standards and prohibit animals, such as American Bull Terriers, that are clear and present dangers to the welfare of the community." Wrong dog!!! Bull Terriers=Spuds McKenzie...2 different dogs

HA, WOW!!! - your ignorance never ceases to amaze me - read your 2nd to last statement again and ask your self...How Dumb am I!!!

HA, HA's comment: "All are worthless in my book, wish there was a hunting license for 'em." - The problem, you idiot, is that there are other dogs that look similiar to APBT...I happen to own one of those breeds that look similiar to a pit...He has no pit bull blood in him but people ASSume he is...its fools like you that ASSume all pit bulls are bad!!! "

LampLighter wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:51 PM:

" This should be "A WAKE UP CALL TO CITY HALL". Now we all know that Centurytel has good health insurance to cover all medical costs and time off days for illness w/ pay. But what if these were just two guys walking down a alley and were currently uninsured / unemployed. Then who "PAYS THE BILLS"??. There needs to be an law that states that all dog owners must provide insurance to cover the breed of dog. Also that landowners must provide same to cover for irresponsible tenants. So that law-abiding citizens are protected from acts and people like this. "

Eddie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:37 PM:

" Actually, my question about aggressive dogs was more rhetorical than anything. The woman in question does appear to be at fault, but we also have to admit that it's not always an irresponsible owner that causes the problem. Sometimes, it's just the dog. Given the right stimulus or situation, some breeds of dog will attack more often than others. "

HonestAbe wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Pitts have a tendency to 'protect' their territory and family more than any other breed. This attack was perceived by the dog as those guys were harming , or going to harm his family. Not a normal rational thinker,,, ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK.

Also when they get out on the loose they are on the prowl ... I've experienced this a number of times and was attacked once.

Until you have an experience on the business end of this muscle with teeth, you JUST WONT UNDERSTAND! Awwww, but there such a great dog, lovable, etc etc etc blah blah blah .......... until something threatens them.

All are worthless in my book, wish there was a hunting license for 'em. "

Tanktastic wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:13 PM:

" Eddie- I believe what Anna was saying is that the reason the dog is aggressive is because of the owner. I'll put it another way. The owner is to blame for the dog being aggressive. "

conscience? wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:10 PM:

" Eddie,
There are many aggressive dog breeds. Just because they can be aggressive doesn't mean they don't serve a purpose. Proper training and handling would solve most of the problems associated with them. The problem starts when people look to have a tough dog and don't train them. "

Eddie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:37 PM:

" "....it's usually the owners of aggressive dogs who are to blame."....now there is an interesting comment. If certain dogs are aggressive, then why do they have owners in the first place? Why would anyone want to have an aggressive dog as a pet - especially in a neighborhood full of children? "

Anna wrote on Aug 27, 2008 5:35 PM:

" Wow, well said Sully. Too bad the animal has to pay the price with its life as it's usually the owners of aggressive dogs who are to blame. "

Sully wrote on Aug 27, 2008 5:17 PM:

" If this dog was a person the judge would give them a slap on the wrist and let them offend over and over. Funny the line is so clear with dogs and not with people who act like animals. "

rick wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:12 PM:

" counterpoint- why is that? Aren't we just throwing it all into one pile and then saying the whole works is bad? "

Counterpoint wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:02 PM:

" That is without a doubt one of the dumbest comparisons and posts I have ever read. "

rick wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:46 PM:

" O.K., so you outright hate pitbulls and rott, are you so free to admit that you hate hmongs, blacks, indians,... why so different with dogs? "

fyi wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:32 PM:

" Can you say for certain that your poodle, lab, golden retriever, beagle etc etc etc isnt going to attack someone, No I guess not...but what i do know is this--i understand the breed of dog that i own and she is extremely well-disciplined because of it, and yeah, if she ever attacked anyone, i'd shoot her myself, but i am damn confident that would not happen. Rottweilers have a stigma attached to them that they are this horribly aggressive breed, but that is perpetuated by idiot owners who want a bad-ass dog and foster those negative qualities, mine is a well-disciplined, loyal, loving sweetheart "

CounterPoint wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:14 PM:

" Dawg...yes, there are statistics on how many people have been seriously injured by dogs, and what breeds they were. By the way, why do you think insurance companies shy away from owners with pitbulls, and rotweilers? Keep playing with your google search, you'll find them. I did in about 2 minutes. Anyone who truly believes that pitbulls and/or rotwielers are not more prone to serious attacks than any other breed should truly not own one. Again...over 50% of serious dog injuries are from PBs. "

cards wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:02 PM:

" So FYI, you can say for sure that your dog will NEVER attack anyone? For sure?? You can read dog minds and know what happens 1-2-5 years down the road, I don't think so now who is ignorant?? Any dog can attack at anytime,Good upbringing or not, to call people ignorant for their beliefs and what they have seen is very shortsighted on your part, nuf said................. "

Tanktastic wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:31 PM:

" Krusty- In the original story it did state that the dog Big Boy was current on all vaccinations and was licensed. It did not, however, state if he was neutered or not. There has yet to be any mention on what is going to happen to the owner. "

Krusty wrote on Aug 27, 2008 2:08 PM:

" So, did the city ban Cathy Bolling from owning a dog in the city again? I'm more worried about her getting another dog than anything. Also the story neglects to mention if this dog was current on his rabies shots and his license. "

Dawg wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:51 PM:

" [quote]...(for good reason ie statistics)[/quote]

There are NO such statistics.

http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dogbites1.asp
[quote]"

***** There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill."*****

[/quote]

The Truth about "Pit Bulls"
http://www.animalfarmfoundation.org/section.php?id=5

Wisconsin
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/WisconsinStats.asp

[quote]Over the past 43 years (1965 - 2007) there have been 14 fatal dog attacks in Wisconsin, or approximately one (1) fatal attack every three years.

*****Due to the fact that a number of Wisconsin cities and communities have enacted breed specific legislation restricting or banning Pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs, the NCRC is compelled to comment that of the 14 fatal attacks in Wisconsin, NONE involved a Pit bull or pit-bull-type dog*****.......
[/quote]

Read Pit Bull Placebo-The Media,Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0972191410/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link "

noBSL wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:46 PM:

" PBT's were breed to fight other dogs NOT KILL PEOPLE. If the dog turned on its owner or someone else it was put down.I'm sure Pete (a pit bull) from the "little rascles" who was around kids all the time was a killer too. I have seen, first hand a St. Bernard take a chunk out of a young womens leg, now does that mean we should get rid of St.Bernards, no! Like it has been stated before it comes down to responsible owners and nowing there dog no matter what the breed. "

Tanktastic wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:35 PM:

" Cards- You can go ahead and judge my character by the kind of dog I have.
Most people don't understand dog behavior. Just taking your dog through an 8 week obedience class does not mean they will be perfectly behaved the rest of their lives. It is a lifelong commitment of the dog. A lot of people do not understand this and that is where the problems start. It is the owners. Some people are not educated and dedicated enough to own these breeds. "

HonestAbe wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:12 PM:

" GOOD RIDDANCE

One down, many to go. "

CounterPoint wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:06 PM:

" Lovemyrottie...is at least responsible enough to realize her dog (any dog) can be dangerous. Its the ones that have pitbulls/rotts that have the attitude that the dog would "never hurt anyone" that end up having the problems. Pittbull/Rott owners need to understand the breed is notorious (for good reason ie statistics) for vicous attacks and take the necessary precautions. "

luvmyrottie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:00 PM:

" It really does come down to owner responsibility. When you own a particular breed, you need to be aware of its limitations. As a Rottweiler owner, I know that people are intimidated by him, therefore, we choose not to put him or our neighbors in situations that create stress. He is never left unattended with strangers or our child or even in our fenced in backyard. He is a gentle, loyal dog, but we understand that he has limitations. We adopted him from a Rottweiler rescue because we feel strongly that Rotties need to be in the right homes. I don't think that makes me irresponsible or trash. "

cards wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:01 PM:

" tanktastic and fyi,it is of coures your Choice to buy these dogs,it is your choice to buy these killer dogs, but, it is my choice to see your character by buying them also, and I don't know either one of you, but my first impression is not a good one, and I have seen a family pit bull who was friendly turn and kill 2 innocent family childern by a good family and the pitbull had obidenence training,you call me ignorant,I see your ignorance on your partowning a killer dog, I simply am baseing my opinion on what I have seen and Pit bulls and Rottweilers are involved in more attacks than any other dog according to the American dog breeders association FYI, just choose what you want to do with your dogs, that is your choice, mine is to watch all of them to not kill others.... "

eagle wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:15 AM:

" DJ...That's a pretty blanket statement. The people I know very closely who have a pit bull mix are good citizens. They have full time jobs, a nice house. They also keep their lawn mowed, etc. They put their dog through obedience training. It never sees violence (as suggested by the vet). They definitely are not trash! "

castafly wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:03 AM:

" RE: DJ
You can't be too observant, you obviously don't have good reading skills, because nowhere in any of the articles related to this story does it mention the fianacial position of the owner or that the animal was not well fed. Look at the picture, dog looks to be in very good health. After all it just ate two people. "

CounterPoint wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:47 AM:

" Eagle...Labs are NOT the highest offenders for dog bites. Actually mixed breed bites outnumber purebreds, but on the purebreds, German Shephards are the highest. HOWEVER, an important fact is the severity. Pitbulls make up of less than 3% of the dog population yet account for over 50% of the SERIOUS dog bite injuries. I think that says something. Also, more than 25 breeds have been involved in bite related deaths, but half of those DEATHS were from Pitbulls and Rotwielers. Thats 2 breeds accounting for half of all bite related deaths. "

je wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:42 AM:

" When you chose to live in a residential community, you give up some of the rights you would have if you lived in a more secluded, rural setting. Pets need space to run & play. A fenced-in yard does not offer that. Most cities and villages have had to put into place ordinances to control and monitor pets at large. Most neighborhoods are not acceptable areas for pets, especially larger breeds. If you choose to have a house pet-keep it there. And you don't need to respond that I am wrong. I know most pet owners are reponsible for their pets. I might have a different opinion than pet owners, but I have a right to that opinion. As for pit bulls and similarly-bred dogs, alot of the people who own them are insecure, attention seeking people. These dogs are too big to be confined to a house and yard. "

DutchBoy wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:28 AM:

" I think of the mauling suffered by Roy Horn by one of the white tigers that he raised and loved. When it comes to dangerous breeds of animals, the city needs to set clear standards and prohibit animals, such as American Bull Terriers, that are clear and present dangers to the welfare of the community. With such legislation, it would also help rid the town of the various "sleaze bag" elements that own this unpredictable "pets" "

DJ: wrote on Aug 27, 2008 10:27 AM:

" ...its been my observation that most PB owners don't have a pot, nor a window to throw it out of. How can they feed the dog? Trash is as thash dos. "

seabiscuit wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:42 AM:

" If Labrador Retrievers are high on the list for dog bites, it's because they are also high on the list of popularity; there are simply more of them around. They don't, however, seem to share the attack trait like Pitbulls do. Having said that, I am a dog lover and this story saddens me. A dog's behavior is ALWAYS the responsibility of the dog OWNER. It is based on environment and treatment. Companion animals are not disposable, and responsible pet owners understand that... As this is the second attack incident in the past few months (same owner, two different animals), I believe this person should NEVER be allowed to own another pet. "

OnaRes wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Ultimately it is the owners responsibility for a dogs attitude. However the group of dogs refered to as pitbulls were originally bred to be fighting dogs. "

Eddie wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:32 AM:

" There is a large difference between one bite and a sustained, life-threatening attack. If a specific breed of dog has a high rate of sustained, life-threatening attacks, then it is reasonable to consider the breed as a danger. Pitbull owners can be completely responsible, but the fact remains that the breed is unpredictable. All the love in the world cannot change a breed's genetic predisposition. Dogs don't have human-like ethics. They act on instinct (and training). Sometimes, their instincts are stronger than their training. "

fyi wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Hey Cards, I challenge you to come meet my sweet, wonderful Rottie that wouldnt hurt a fly because I am a good owner and then tell me that I have no regard for human life....you're ridiculous..and extremely ignorant "

eagle wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:04 AM:

" Thank you "JoeofLaCrosse" and "Tanktastic". I'm very close to someone who has a pit bull mix and it's one of the friendliest dogs I've ever met. Dogs are not born nasty. They learn that from irresponsible pet owners. Does anyone know what the number one dog bite in the country is? It's labrador retrivers, not pit bulls, rotts, or dobermans. "

kbg23 wrote on Aug 27, 2008 9:02 AM:

" RE: Cards
That's not fair. I don't even have a pitbull (in fact I have a Beagle!) and I do get nervous at a park when we come across one but it's not fair to target all. I don't think they are all natural born killers. The difference is the stregnth they have - my Beagle could get mean I suppose but he would never be strong enough to hurt someone like a pitbull. "

CounterPoint wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:46 AM:

" Pack 4 Life...so exactly how is it the landlord's fault? I'm sorry, but I am one of the few people left (it seems) that believe in personal responsibility. Why is this not the dog owner's fault? "

berkshirebull wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:44 AM:

" It's only with complete disregard for their neighbors that someone would own one of these dogs. "

Tanktastic wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Cards- I own a rott/pit mix. I got him from a guy in a bar 8 years ago. He wanted 150 dollars for him but all I had was 90. He sold me the dog any way. I was not looking for a dog at the time but I knew the breeds and didn't want him to end up in the wrong hands. I hold human life over any animals including my dogs. Where do you get off stating that anyone who owns these breeds has no regard for human life. You know nothing of me(my morals or values), my family or my dog. If my dog showed any signs of aggression towards a friendly party I would take him out and dispose of him myself. Do not judge a group by an individual. You prove your ignorance with your last statement. "

Cards wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:03 AM:

" Owning a pitbull or rottweiler means to me that you have no regard for other human life period. "

rick wrote on Aug 27, 2008 4:59 AM:

" re joe lacrosse;
So, if I own a pitbull, in your eyes I am considered a low-life? I would like to meet you and compare lifestyles. "

Joe LaCrosse wrote on Aug 27, 2008 3:24 AM:

" What is the deal with low-lifes and their obsession with Pit-Bull Terriers? Is it sort of a "Michael Vick-Quasi Rap Star" bit? I don't get it? Dogs are not born to be nasty, they are made nasty by their masters. Get a Pit-Bull, and turn it into a menace, and then leave it in the back yard to attack the mail carrier, or the water/gas meter reader, while you are sleeping off the night before, while respectable work-a-day folks are trying to make a living....How unreasponsible is that? You folks are too cool for me to understand.... "

PACK 4 LIFE wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:50 AM:

" they don't even eat pit bulls in CHINA,wake UP amerixco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

PACK 4 LIFE wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:48 AM:

" And the SLUMLORD gets CHARGED with what CHARGE??? What a JOKE,have cash=automatic rent,cassh=no BACKROUND CHECKS,slumlords=TRASH! "

wiseup wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:33 AM:

" You are worried about alcohol and these types of dogs are everywhere. I hope they sue the crap out of the owner and others take a second look at ownership of DANGEROUS DOGS/Pets. "

PACK 4 LIFE wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:01 AM:

" The "SLUMBED LORD" should pay the bills PERIOD!!! "


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