The owner of a dog that was attacked Monday night by another dog in the 2400 block of West Ridge Drive wants to find the attacking dog to learn if it has current rabies vaccinations.
Vicky Sikes said the dog came out of a field behind a house and attacked her dog, then retreated into the field. She described the attacker as a white, wiry-haired West Highland terrier kind of dog with a collar and what looked like red and blue tags. If the dog was vaccinated, Sikes’ dog will not have to spend 6 months in quarantine.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sikes at (316) 651-6149.
louwho (anonymous) says...
Oh my goodness!!! I really hope the owner calls! It makes me so upset to think I would have to be without my dog for 6 months! :(
I hope Ms. Sikes gets a call with information!!!
February 3, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Reminds me of my old neighbor's dog. We had a large black Lab and their Westie attacked her while I was walking her on a leash on the road. My dog finally grabbed the little monster in her mouth and picked it up. I thought, whoa, that's the end of their pet! but I got her to drop it. And it came after us again! The son appeared about the time my Lab snatched it up in her mouth again. I'd seen her bite thru a wood pallet to get a rat before and figured she could easily crush the little dog if she wanted to. I got her to drop it finally. The owners never stopped by to check if I'd been bitten or talk about it. Some people shouldn't have dogs.
February 3, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Six month quarantine?
February 3, 2009 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Do you mean me or my dog, neighbor? I didn't get bitten and my dog's skin wasn't broken and since she was vaccinated the vet said it was ok. If Labs didn't have such dense fur, the little monster could have broken skin. I don't know if all Westies are that bad, that's the only one I've encountered. Didn't give me a good impression of the breed, though.
February 3, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YaHooSis48 (anonymous) says...
I don't think it's a breed issue Madpoet, it's an owner issue. The owner has not trained the dog and is obviously not a responsible pet owner or would have the dog leashed or under control. I do feel badly about the attack. We have neighbors where we live and they have a dog which they refuse to bring under control in Jones Park and it lunges and me and my dogs when walking. I really think the dog just wants to play or be social but doesnt know how. I wish these owners would get some training for themselves and the pet they certainly must care for.
February 3, 2009 at 6:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
Ya this law needs revised. Guess who pays for this quarantine? The owner, even though it was anouther dog that was the culprit, will have to pay I believe $100 a week at the city pound. Thats messed up!
February 3, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaMama (anonymous) says...
It is a 6 month quarantine. If the owner of the dog that was bitten would have had their own dogs rabies vacinations up to date it wouldn't be an issue. If a dog is vacinated against rabies they don't have to be quarantined.
February 3, 2009 at 7:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
No one will claim this dog. They would be liable for dog at large, a vicious dog, fees, fines and restitution. I had a pit bull at my house, no tags, hungry, thirsty and out of control. So many people should not be allowed to have dogs. She was a sweet dog too. But they had cropped her eyes almost completely off, she had been bred but zero social or behavior skills. This town just wont get with the program until someone gets killed. Mauled doesn't seem to be enough, domestic animals dying isn't enough.
I will say it seems that animal control is trying. But still no full time or enough officers on duty. (JMO)
February 3, 2009 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jallanpoe (anonymous) says...
I live in the area and I just called the sikes, I know the dog. It roams the neighborhood, the dog once tried to attack my dog while I was walking, I almost called the animal control. It use to run up and down my fence and tease my dogs. I wish the besy for the sikes family!
February 3, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
No Madpoet, I was questioning why 60 days quarantine is necessary. I thought rabies exposures would be evident after 10 days. I love my dog, but there's no way I would pay to have the dog quarantined for 60 days to prove she didn't have rabies, she'd be put down first.
February 3, 2009 at 11:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
February 3, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. ( permalink )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Neighbor, I think the virus can take a while to show up. The only way to verify it is to kill the animal and examine the brain and spine. So they just watch for it to act funny.
I know I couldn't afford the quarantine. It doesn't cost much to get a rabies shot for your pets and it protects everyone. We only have cats now but they're all vaccinated. You can get the rabies shot by itself and it cost around $20, I think. Much cheaper then the gamma gobulin shots if someone gets bit by a suspect animal!
February 4, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )