Former owner of Chaos defends her pit bull, which has sparked a ban proposal

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By Mike Frazier - Herald & Review Staff Writer - CO.

Chaos is at the center of a push to ban pit bulls citywide.

The pit bull's owner defends her former dog, Chaos,–;which was euthanized earlier this year after attacking a former inspector for the Decatur Housing Authority.

Now the owner, Emma Patton, is urging the Decatur City Council not to go forward with a citywide ban on pit bulls proposed by one of Chaos' victims.

"If they ban one breed of dogs because they bite, then they're going to have to ban a lot of breeds of dogs," Patton said. "My mom was bitten by a German shepherd and couldn't walk for almost a week. Are we going to ban them?"

Patton faced court action for reckless conduct and owning a vicious dog. Both charges were dismissed, according to online records from the Macon County Circuit Clerk's Office.

"There were no charges and no court costs as long as I agreed to have him euthanized," Patton said. "So I had to say goodbye."

The victim in the case, Barbara Brooks, urged the city council on Monday to restrict ownership of pit bulls in the city. Brooks was accompanied by Decatur attorney Bill Faber, who suggested that the city consider a ban similar to one enacted in Denver, Colo.

Under the plan, pit bulls already in the city could remain with registered and insured owners, but no new pit bulls would be allowed. The ordinance in Denver has been upheld twice by Colorado's Supreme Court, Faber said.

Brooks said she loves animals, including dogs. She thinks pit bulls are born and bred to be aggressive, but they also can be loving animals.

"It's not the dog's fault; it's the owners' fault," Brooks said. "Let's make the owner responsible and take them away from irresponsible owners. If that means we take (pit bulls) out of our city, then that's what we need to do."

Brooks also said an all-out ban on pit bulls "would not hurt my feelings." She is especially troubled by teenagers owning the dogs.

"Take them away from the kids," Brooks said. "We don't let them have guns or knives. Why do we let them have killer dogs?"

Patton expressed regret for the attack but says Chaos was a beloved and trusted family friend.

"It was unfortunate, it really was," Patton said of the attack. "I don't want to sound unapologetic, but it's not like my dog was running around loose."

Patton said Chaos was kept on a chain at her fenced-in property on the 1600 block of–;East–;Marietta Street.

Brooks said in a statement that the pit bull would hide under the porch "stalking his victim." Brooks said the dog also attacked a mail carrier and "bit a plug out of the buttocks" and bit off a finger. The finger later was reattached, Brooks said.

Patton acknowledged Chaos did bite a mail carrier.

"I wasn't aware of the finger," Patton said of the attack.

Patton said she received letters from the U.S. Postal Service informing her that letter carriers were unable to deliver mail because of the dog.

"All the postal workers knew (about Chaos)," Patton said. "That's why they wouldn't deliver my mail."

Patton suspects the dog became aggressive toward people in uniform after being sprayed with mace by postal carriers.

"That's where the first sign of aggression came from," Patton said.

Brooks said she was bitten in the stomach by Chaos during a home inspection for Decatur Housing Authority and developed psoriatic arthritis from an infected bite.

Patton said she got Chaos to protect the family after her home was broken into.

"I don't believe in firearms, but I did need some form of protection and safety," Patton said. "I feel very bad. But I have eight nieces and nephews in addition to six children who played with Chaos. My sister is terrified of dogs, but she never worried about Chaos."

Brooks said she still is dealing with the effects of the attack.

"My life has been changed forever," Brooks said.

[Beryl]

Patton said Chaos was kept on a chain at her fenced-in property on the 1600 block of–;East–;Marietta Street.

She kept her dog on a chain but blames the dog's aggression on the postal carriers for using mace. *Sheesh*

[pitbulliest]

This is why I am for the banning of chaining..not the dogs...
too many people abusing the 'chaining' priveledge...way too many...if you don't keep your dog inside or in a safe yet comfortable area while you are not there to supervise, then don't have a dog..I'm sorry, but there's no excuse...

[elegy]

Originally Posted by Crossfire Bulldogs

"There were no charges and no court costs as long as I agreed to have him euthanized," Patton said. "So I had to say goodbye."

i don't agree with this AT ALL and i think this is part of why we have so many problems. she kills the dog and that's that. no charges pressed. no penalty for her. sorry, that just doesn't fly with me.

yeah, so the dog is no longer a menace to society, but the owner still is. we're taking the responsibility off the owner and putting it on the dog, which is wrong. just flat out wrong.