Pit bull shot by neighbor had history
ADA COUNTY - An aggressive pit bull shot and killed Saturday had a prior record.
Idaho Humane Society Executive Director, Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, said authorities received a call about the pit bull June 7, 2009. Rosenthal said the dog was allegedly running free in the neighborhood and displaying aggressive behavior.
The neighbor that called authorities did not want to press charges, so the pit bull's owner was given a warning.
Rosenthal said it's difficult to know what a dog will do in a given situation, and there is no clear link that shows dogs that act aggressively are actually aggressive. Rosenthal says, in his experience, the Idaho Humane Society has never killed an aggressive dog on a call; but he understands how someone could be scared when faced with a snarling pit bull. He also said he doesn't want to second- guess the actions of anyone facing a threatening dog.
Rosenthal also says this incident shouldn't turn people against canines. He claimed the odds of being killed by a dog are less than being struck by lightning, and with approximately 70,000,000 dogs in the United States, dogs have a pretty good track record.
Josh Hobson says he's glad he was able to help the jogger being attacked, but wouldn't want to do it again.
"It isn't something you want to do, nothing you want to do," Hobson said. "I don't want to do it again if I don't have to."
Hobson came to a jogger's rescue Saturday night, shooting an attacking pit bull with his shotgun. It happened in front of his house on West Winton Street, just off Cloverdale Road. A second pit bull turned and ran back into its owner's house.
Neighbors say the jogger and his dog were running down the sidewalk when the two pit bulls ran out an open door and across the street, snarling and barking.
The man jumped into the bed of a pickup truck, taking his dog with him. The two pit bulls tried to jump into the truck while the jogger called for help. Hobson's wife heard the cries.
"She says, 'Get the gun! He's yelling for help!'" Hobson said. So he grabbed and loaded his shotgun and went out into his front yard to confront the dogs.
"They turned and came after me," Hobson said. "So I shot one of them and the other one went right back inside the house."
Ada County deputies responded to a 911 call made by another neighbor, and in their investigation found Hobson did nothing wrong. Deputy Nicole Hudson says the dog was in Hobson's yard when he shot it, and determined it was threatening another person or animal, so the shooting was justified.
The pit bulls' owner may not feel the same way. A man neighbors say owned the dogs was taking pictures and measurements where the attack and shooting happened. He didn't want to talk, but went back inside his house.
Deputy Hudson said it will be up to animal control to decide whether to bring any charges in Saturday's incident. Dr. Rosenthal says the pit bulls' owner could be cited for not keeping the dogs restrained- a nuisance violation. And the surviving pit bull could face vicious dog charges, and could be put down if found to be dangerous.
Hobson said he's glad he was able to help.
"He (the victim) was scared, really scared," Hobson said. "He just kept saying, 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.' He was very grateful."
Idaho Humane Society Executive Director, Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, said authorities received a call about the pit bull June 7, 2009. Rosenthal said the dog was allegedly running free in the neighborhood and displaying aggressive behavior.
The neighbor that called authorities did not want to press charges, so the pit bull's owner was given a warning.
Rosenthal said it's difficult to know what a dog will do in a given situation, and there is no clear link that shows dogs that act aggressively are actually aggressive. Rosenthal says, in his experience, the Idaho Humane Society has never killed an aggressive dog on a call; but he understands how someone could be scared when faced with a snarling pit bull. He also said he doesn't want to second- guess the actions of anyone facing a threatening dog.
Rosenthal also says this incident shouldn't turn people against canines. He claimed the odds of being killed by a dog are less than being struck by lightning, and with approximately 70,000,000 dogs in the United States, dogs have a pretty good track record.
Josh Hobson says he's glad he was able to help the jogger being attacked, but wouldn't want to do it again.
"It isn't something you want to do, nothing you want to do," Hobson said. "I don't want to do it again if I don't have to."
Hobson came to a jogger's rescue Saturday night, shooting an attacking pit bull with his shotgun. It happened in front of his house on West Winton Street, just off Cloverdale Road. A second pit bull turned and ran back into its owner's house.
Neighbors say the jogger and his dog were running down the sidewalk when the two pit bulls ran out an open door and across the street, snarling and barking.
The man jumped into the bed of a pickup truck, taking his dog with him. The two pit bulls tried to jump into the truck while the jogger called for help. Hobson's wife heard the cries.
"She says, 'Get the gun! He's yelling for help!'" Hobson said. So he grabbed and loaded his shotgun and went out into his front yard to confront the dogs.
"They turned and came after me," Hobson said. "So I shot one of them and the other one went right back inside the house."
Ada County deputies responded to a 911 call made by another neighbor, and in their investigation found Hobson did nothing wrong. Deputy Nicole Hudson says the dog was in Hobson's yard when he shot it, and determined it was threatening another person or animal, so the shooting was justified.
The pit bulls' owner may not feel the same way. A man neighbors say owned the dogs was taking pictures and measurements where the attack and shooting happened. He didn't want to talk, but went back inside his house.
Deputy Hudson said it will be up to animal control to decide whether to bring any charges in Saturday's incident. Dr. Rosenthal says the pit bulls' owner could be cited for not keeping the dogs restrained- a nuisance violation. And the surviving pit bull could face vicious dog charges, and could be put down if found to be dangerous.
Hobson said he's glad he was able to help.
"He (the victim) was scared, really scared," Hobson said. "He just kept saying, 'Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.' He was very grateful."
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting