Pit bull mauls neighbor's dog
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers BEST FRIENDS- Lynn Jones of Camarillo and her dog, Dillon, a 3-year-old golden retriever, survived a surprise attack by a neighbor's pit bull which entered their home.

Lynn Jones couldn't believe how fast the late night attack had happened on the front porch of her west Camarillo home.

Several weeks ago, Jones was walking from her pickup truck parked in the driveway with her 3yearold golden retriever, Dillon, when a neighbor's pit bull streaked across her lawn and pounced on the young retriever.

Hearing his wife scream, David Migocki ran from their parked pickup truck and grabbed the pit bull by the collar, pulling with all his might. But it wasn't until Migocki began shutting the front door repeatedly on the dog's head that it loosened its grip on Dillon and Jones could pull their wounded dog inside and shut the door.

"I feel like David saved my life, and he definitely saved the dog's life," Jones said. "David really threw himself between me and that dog."

Jones quickly called the police. But the pit bull had already turned on her husband, who said he kept the attacking dog from biting him by holding its collar and kicking it in the belly.

The dog relented, giving Migocki time to scramble back into the truck.

"It was territorial, and that dog wanted to kill ours," Migocki said.

By the time police arrived a few minutes later, the pit bull was still trying to get at the golden retriever, Migocki said.

The pit bull was scratching at the front door and attempting to jump through a large plate glass window, he said.

Police said they sprayed the pit bull with pepper spray and were able to collar the dog until the owner and animal regulation officers arrived.

Attempts to contact the dog's owner were unsuccessful.

Kathy Jenks, director of the Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation, said the police allowed the owner to take the dog home and animal regulation officers later spoke to the owner about allowing it to roam the neighborhood unleashed.

Jenks said because the dog, which was licensed and had upto-date vaccinations, was tied up when her officers arrived, the owner was not cited for violating the city's leash law. The owner had been cited for a previous leash-law violation, she said.

According to another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, the pit bull has been a problem in the past. She said when the dog is outside alone, she stays in her home.

But others in the neighborhood said the dog hasn't caused any problems for them.

The pit bull did not bite anybody during the March attack, although Migocki said he suffered cuts and scrapes from the dog dragging him along the concrete.

But even if the dog had bitten a person, someone must file a complaint with animal regulation before the department can launch an investigation and hold a hearing to establish if the animal is a nuisance. Jenks said her officers explained that to the couple.

Once a dog is determined a nuisance, the hearing officer could order the owner to put better restraints in place. If the owner ignores the order, the department could take the dog away and place it in a new home. Destroying the animal is the last resort, Jenks said.

The Migockis filed a police report; however, they did not file a complaint with animal regulation. Migocki said he didn't know he needed to do so before the department took action against a dog that demonstrated its aggressiveness.

"We have to have our throats ripped open because the pit bull has rights. . . . I personally am outraged that this can happen," Migocki said, later adding that the rights of the animal owner seemed to supercede his.

"If this dog is animalaggressive, and that's yet to be determined, there's a way to care for it so it doesn't have to be that way with other animals," Jenks said. But "someone has got to register a complaint first."

Dillon is recuperating from the injuries he received in the attack- a cut eyelid and bites to the neck and legs. The veterinarian bill came to about $100. Jones said Dillon's thick leather dog collar prevented more serious damage.

Migocki and Jones said they don't feel safe anymore and worry about the other residents in their neighborhood. They wanted their neighbors to know about the attack.

"This little incident might benefit our community in terms of what are all of our respective rights," Migocki said. "We know we have a ticking time bomb in the neighborhood, and we don't like it."

The couple said since the attack they never take evening walks without bringing along a small spray can of bear deterrent and a golf club for protection.

They also make escape plans while they walk in case the pit bull or another dog confronts them.

But when walking Dillon, they usually drive to another part of town, they said.