Brandon Twp.- There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.
This common sentiment was echoed by Oakland County Sheriff’s Sgt. Pete Burkett last week after a report of an aggressive pit bull on the loose in a local neighborhood.
‘It’s a problem with the owners,? Burkett said. ‘They can make dogs vicious or friendly… It’s just common sense to be a responsible pet owner and make sure that number one, they’re healthy, fed and watered; and number two, that they’re not a danger to anyone in the community and safe. You can’t let them run around and possibly hurt someone, or get hurt themselves by getting hit by a car.?
According to police reports, a Brandon deputy re-sponded to the 2600 block of Perry Lake Road at about 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 for a loose dog. When the deputy arrived, he observed a pit bull which appeared to possibly be aggressive. The dog stood outside the patrol car in an aggressive stance and after several minutes returned to a fenced area behind the home. The owner was not at the residence.
The complainant said his neighbor owns several dogs including pit bulls that climb the fence and return over it. He said he’s witnessed this on five separate occasions and that the dogs have charged at him twice. He added that the dogs are more aggressive when the owner is gone. Another nieghbor said he and his family had been forced into their home because of the dogs and the owner has not helped with the problem and is usually not at home when the dogs get out.
The deputy contacted the owner the next day and learned he has four grown pit bulls and five puppies. The man produced dog licenses for two of the animals, couldn’t find a license for the third and said he didn’t have a license at all for the mother of the puppies, because the township does not allow him to own more than three dogs.
The dogs? owner was cited for having a dog at large and owning an unlawful number of dogs.
Burkett said most dogs are territorial and if their owners aren’t around, the chances of them biting someone are increased. If that happens, he added, the owners are liable and will be prosecuted.
Some communities have banned or are considering bans on pit bulls.
‘I am opposed to a law banning any breed,? Burkett said. ‘It’s such a knee-jerk reaction. The actual problem is the owners.?