MANSFIELD — The community is invited to attend a roundtable discussion pertaining to the recent pit bull attacks in the city.
Hettie and Dennis Rohwer asked members of Mansfield council to consider attending, as this issue has been ongoing and poses a safety hazard to residents.
In a recent incident, two pit bulls killed two pet dogs and injured another. Authorities say they also injured a local resident. The Rohwers lost one of their dogs as a result of the attack and their other dog was severely injured.
“It could have been children,” Hettie said. “We have a real problem.”
The discussion will take place at the Mansfield library on Thursday, April 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The goal is to prevent any more attacks by assessing the current situation and suggesting viable solutions.
“We’re just going to try and figure out what we can do and what kind of options we have,” Dennis said.
The Rohwers said that the county dog warden has been invited to attend, as well as the director of the humane society and a local veterinarian.
“You’re all invited, too,” Hettie said to the audience in council chambers.
Law Director John Spon said there are an estimated 2,000 pit bulls in Mansfield.
“We are not just trying to target pit bulls because there are large dogs that shouldn’t be living where they’re living with improper care and improper fencing,” Hettie said.
“That’s something that I’ve been stating, too,” Council President Phil Scott said. “I don’t think this should be breed specific to pit bulls. We should make it vicious dogs in general.”
