Girl, Horse Fend Off Pit Bull Attack

Aberdeen, N.C. — Days after it was attacked by a pit bull, a Hoke County horse is ready to compete in the Stoneybrook Steeplechase on Saturday.

Twelve-year-old Casey Rounds was riding her horse, Diesel, from her home to the Carolina Horse Park last Sunday when a pit bull began chasing the horse.

"This pit bull was chasing and biting his heels, but we kept going and outran him," Casey said.

But the pit bull wasn't done. As Casey and her mother rode home, the dog attacked again, chasing Casey and Diesel to an intersection where they had to stop because of traffic.

"It was a nightmare in front of my eyes. I kept worrying about Casey and the horse," Michelle Rounds said.

"I was trying to kick him with my foot to get him off. Then, (Diesel) reared up," Casey said, adding that she fell off the horse but landed on her feet. "Then I was on the ground, kicking the dog, and (Diesel) started running."

Diesel harnessed all his horsepower and outran the dog, finding his way home on area trails.

The dog punctured the horse's side and tore at his chest.

Local animal control officers took custody of the pit bull on Wednesday and will keep it in quarantine for 10 days.

The dog's owner declined to comment on Friday.

But Casey said Diesel hasn't run out of gas. After a week of rest, he will be ready to run in the steeplechase, she said.

"I'm planning on winning," she said.

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I had a chihuahua-terrier mix dog...not a real scarry looking dog. He was raised in a loving home for 13 years. However, most dogs are jealous of others and as another person already said, they all have teeth and will attack. If I tackled my daughter in a tickle fight, he would attack ME! Dogs that are aggressive breeds should not be kept out doors...they're a timebomb waiting for a reason.

ncvaluer
April 9, 2007 1:49 p.m.

My son was attacked by two pitbulls in Hoke County and I can tell you I got really tired of everyone saying they would have done this or that. In reality no one knows what they would do. Everyone told me they would have gone to that owners house and shot the dogs. Well, I was to concerned about getting my bleeding son the emergency room. I wasn't gonna make him wait. And as far as going back later, my husband was deployed at the time, had I gone back and shot those on that persons property, I would have gone to jail. Then who would be there for my injured son? I feel for this family. Hopefully with the stricter laws that were passed something will be done about this. I also think the blame lays with the owner of the dog. And to those who say oh well the dog never did anything like that before....neither did the dogs that attacked my son...does that make it better some how? The dog should be put down, the owners should be held liable.

stephanyb
April 9, 2007 1:23 p.m.

It's not the dogs fault, the horses fault of the young girls fault. It is natural for a dog to challenge an intrusion to its perceived territory. It is natural for the horse to react to the dog. It is natural for the girl to be concerned about the reaction of the horse she is riding.

It is the fault of the dog owner that the dog was not contained or controlled properly. This is regardless of breed, family or church status, or road right of way.

Both families should learn fron this that they are not always in control of another animal and that horses are potentially hazardous to ride and that pitbulls a more likely to surprise their owners with unpredictable behaviour.

Be thankful more damage wasn't done.

Slip Kid
April 9, 2007 9:58 a.m.

i dont care what type of dog it is, if it attacks it needs to be put to sleep. i know all types of dogs bite, not just pit bulls so i think ribeye went a little far with their commments. pit bulls may be percieved as meaner bc of how they look and the fact that many people use them in dog fights and then just turn them loose, these are the dogs that attack people and children, that's what they've been trained to do.

happyday
April 9, 2007 8:59 a.m.

The dog needs to die. I love dogs, but in a circunstane such as this death is the best thing. They are waiting 10 days to see if it is rabied and if not will probably return it to the owners because it went after the horse and injured just the horse and not a human.

Although I do agree with it is how you raise the dog on weather or not they will be agressive, you have to think about nurture vs nature. They have their own insticts and in pitts they are just more agressive animals. They will turn more quickly on you.