Photograph: George Davy discusses his attack by a pit bull several months ago. Parish Council member Wayne Ardoin who attended the meeting also discussed the matter with the Opelousas Board of Aldermen Tuesday night. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor and Contributing Writer
George Davy doesn’t sleep well anymore.
There are also times now when Davy admits he becomes wary, especially if he is alone on a familiar street.
“I can’t walk to the park anymore. I’m looking behind now, to make sure there is something else that’s not coming at me,” Davy told the Opelousas Board of Aldermen on Tuesday night.
Life is certainly different since that day in April when Davy was attacked viciously on Court Street by a pit bull that Davy says scaled a four foot fence, knocked him down and began tearing away at bits of flesh.
In addition to dealing with the physical trauma from deep cuts and wounds, the episode Davy said, eventually caused him to consult a therapist.
There are still visible bite mark wounds where apparently the dog tore away at his arms, neck and parts of the face, before Davy recalled he took assertive action and began strangling the animal.
Davy also recounted details of his attack.
“I reached down to keep (the dog) off my legs. I was pulled down to the ground and to keep him away from me and getting in my face I began putting my hands around his neck,” Davy said.
Those attending the meeting became silent and there were furtive gasps from some of them as Davy’s ordeal and bloodied injuries documented in a hospital recovery room photos were viewed on a large television screen.
Alderwoman Chasity Davis left the meeting room in tears as he recounted her own experience with a recent dog attack.
Davy said he came to the meeting with a purpose, as he asked city officials to help him and perhaps others who face similar threats from dogs who are apparently vicious and improperly confined.
“I just want closure. I just want to know if you can help me,” Davy told the Board after they had reviewed the bloody photos that also left Davy in a cast.
Alderman Marvin Richard said it’s up to city officials to assist in making sure an incident such as the one experienced by Davy doesn’t happen again.
“Think about what might have happened if a child or woman had been walking down the street that day,” Richard said.
“I thought (the city) had a dangerous dog ordinance. I think all of you will agree (after seeing his wounds) that this is a dangerous dog,” Davy said.
From what Davy said he has been able to ascertain, the owner of the dog was issued a citation due to the incident.
At the time of the attack, the dog Davy said, had apparently been living with the owners on rental property prior to an eviction. The dog owners left the dog on the Court Street property, Davy said, after they had moved elsewhere.
Mayor Julius Alsandor said he knows where the dog and the owner now live, but he didn’t provide the location or further details.
Alsandor said he and Davy have had conversations about the Court Street attack and since then Alsandor has met with parish officials.
The dog identified as the one that attacked Davy was quarantined by St. Landry Parish animal control authorities and the dog had been vaccinated according to state standards, Alsandor said.
Alderwoman Sherell Roberts said she has noticed a number of loose dogs in Opelousas.
“It’s dangerous to walk anymore. There are dogs running freely. I just want to know if there is something available and see what our policies are on dogs that are going after people,” Roberts added.
Davy said he was surprised after he reviewed an Opelousas Police Department report which provided details of his incident with the dog.
What he saw on the report seemed almost incomprehensible to him, Davy noted.
“I looked for places on the report where there should have shown there were lacerations, bones broken or bruises, but there were none of these listed on the police report,” said Davy, whose injuries were still visible on the television screen as he spoke.
City Attorney Travis Broussard said there are state laws in place that allow courts to assess fines for dogs whose owners fail to properly restrain the animal.
The decision about whether a dog should be declared dangerous rests ultimately with parish government and animal control, Broussard said.
Parish Council Wayne Ardoin said that parish animal control as well as city government are both faced with the problem of funding for properly housing animals that have been collected, dangerous or have been turned over for adoption.
Walkers have also become aware of potential hazards, Ardoin said.
“People that I know who love to walk are walking now with a stick because of dogs running loose. What needs to be done right now is all about funding. I just know we have got to do something and get these dogs off the streets,” Ardoin said.
