Dogs that attacked had history of viciousness

McCOOK, Nebraska -- One dog has been destroyed and another is likely to be after they attacked an elderly McCook man out for a walk earlier this month.

According to public records, the McCook Police Department responded to the man's cell phone call at 5:36 p.m. on May 8, while he was being attacked by the two dogs while going for a walk near the 1500 block of West 10th.

The man, who was treated at Community Hospital and released, declined to be interviewed for this story.

"He was walking down the sidewalk and did nothing to provoke the animals, which were running loose" said McCook Police Chief Isaac Brown. "His wounds were serious but not life-threatening" Brown added.

Both dogs were taken into custody and it was discovered that one of them had been ordered destroyed in Red Willow County Court on March 31, a sentence handed down from a citation issued on March 24.

The owner had been given 10 days to provide proof to city offices that the animal had been destroyed, according to court documents, which places the attack on the eighth day after the order.

The primary aggressor in the attack, which also was the dog that had been ordered destroyed, was received at the Humane Society and was quickly determined to be vicious to the point that it could not be cared for and was taken to a veterinarian to be destroyed.

The second dog is being held as evidence; however Chief Brown said he expected the court to order it to be destroyed as well.

"We have had a number of calls for vicious dogs for biting or attempting to bite -- it seems to be an increasing trend" said Chief Brown.

When asked if there was a trend regarding the breed, Chief Brown commented that "the vast majority, particularly within the last year are pitbulls or a pitbull mix of some kind."

The dog owner originally was found guilty of two counts of dog at large, a $40 fine, in January of 2004, then cited and found guilty again for two counts of dog at large, a $40 fine, in February 2006, and also found guilty for a single count of dog at large, a $20 fine, in August 2008.

These cases came prior to the March 24, 2010, finding of guilty for vicious dog, a $20 fine, and dog running at large, a $20 fine, which saw the court order the dog to be destroyed and proof provided to the city within 10 days.

He was also cited for no rabies tag and animals running at large but those charges were dismissed.

"We will be looking at immediate surrender of vicious dogs as a possibility for future cases" City Attorney Nate Schneider said in a phone interview regarding the incident.