Vallejo, CA: A mother and her young child were brutally attacked by 3 pit bull type dogs belonging to a relative in their home. The child was hospitalized for over a week. Police Sergeant, Steve Darden at the scene of the attack stated that without police intervention, the victims would have died from the attack. Animal Services quarantined the dogs at the shelter. Instead of humanely euthanizing these dogs after they inflicted serious injuries on two people, the shelter has released the dogs to a rescue group, NorCal Bully Breed Rescue. The dogs will be given another chance to harm someone else because shelter workers said the dogs passed a temperament evaluation.
NorCal Bully Breed Rescue stated in a Facebook post:
“They have been evaluated by shelter staff and passed literally every single behavioral test they could throw at them.
They are not reactive to someone taking a toy from them.
Or to someone taking their food away from them.
Or to being handled in every possible way including feet and mouths touched.
They are amazing with other dogs. And they’ve been wonderful with every person they’ve met, including us.
Our interaction with them today was really sweet. They were some of the most well behaved dogs we’ve ever met.”
This response exemplifies why shelter workers and rescues should never be trusted as “experts” when it comes to dangerous dogs. Shelter staff should have based their decision to release the quarantined dogs on facts from the investigation, the major injuries sustained by the victims, not the dogs behavior while being temporarily housed at the shelter. It is worse than naive to think that because the dogs acted “sweet” while at the shelter, that it is indicative that they are “safe” to send into the community. It is criminal. The shelter should be held criminally liable for any future attack from the 3 dogs released.
Solano County Animal Services is overseen by the Solano County Sheriff Department, both taxpayer funded agencies charged with protecting public safety, but in Solano County, proven vicious pit bulls are released to the public.
On 4/25/19, Responsible Citizens for Public Safety requested of Solano County Supervisors and Sheriff Department, a review and reevaluation of Solano County Animal Services policies after this egregious breach of duty to protect the public. We will report their response if and when it is received.
Thank you so much for putting the truth out there. A temperament test or a few hours or days in a shelter means nothing about what the dog will do in real life. Especially one that’s already proven to be violent and dangerous! Shame on them! They need to be held responsible for injuries sustained by these irresponsible decisions.