Three-strikes policy adopted by Saugus animal officer after dog attack

SAUGUS – Animal Control Officer Harold Young said he?s taking a three-strikes policy with a pit bull mix from Central Street after the dog bit a woman on the face Saturday afternoon. It was the second time K9 Control was called to the address since July.?If I?m at your house three times, we have a problem,” said Young. “I should only be able to go to a house once and that should be it. You know what?s going on, you know the problem, you?re responsible for it. You have to lock the dog up. I?m going to give him a verbal warning. If that dog comes out again, I?ll be going after him for a vicious dog law.”According to Young, a woman was walking her small terrier mix in the park near the Evans School when the 7-month-old pit bull got out of its home on 357 Central St. and went after the dog. Young said the woman tried to get her dog out of the way when she was bitten.?The girl bent down to pick up the dog and she was bit on the chin,” said Young.The woman was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital where she was treated and released.Young said the dog, which is licensed, was placed in quarantine at the home for 10 days and the owners were cited for having an unrestrained nuisance. The penalty for breaking the quarantine is up to a $500 fine or a year in jail.Saturday wasn?t the first incident at the home. In July the dog got loose and ran across the street when two people were walking their dog, but Young said no one was bitten.?There were no injuries or anything like that,” said Young. “The dog ran across the street when two people had their dogs walking around in the park. It didn?t cause any injuries or anything, but pit bulls are known to go after small animals.”Young said the dog is still young and the owners need to do more to get it socialized so it can be around other animals.?They have to go to training and socialization and learn to socialize the dog,” said Young. “They?re still in the training process. The owner and keeper is responsible at all times, just like a loaded gun.”Fire Chief James Blanchard said he isn?t a fan of pit bulls, even though they?re becoming more popular.?They?re scary dogs,” said Blanchard. “My wife is petrified of them. I don?t like them if they?re not on a leash. There?s more and more of them around. People use them as a status symbol which I think is kind of dopey.”Young said pit bulls have been gaining in popularity over the last 15 years, and can do more damage than other dogs but, he said, it?s up to all dog owners to make sure their pets aren?t dangerous.?If you go by people?s homes, they all have little dogs who run to the fence and run and jump,” said Young. “It?s a territorial thing. Always supervise your dog. I wouldn?t leave a dog alone with my child. I always tell people, ?You?re responsible, you?re liable for what that dog does.? Any dog can bite at any time.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.