Loose Pit Bull Leaves Elderly Woman Afraid Inside Her Home

An elderly woman says she feared for her safety after a neighbor’s loose dog tore through her trash and lunged toward her doorway. Deputies responded to a South Point residence following an animal complaint involving a pit bull that neighbors said had been roaming outside its property. When deputies arrived, they observed multiple bags of garbage ripped open and scattered along the sidewalk. The homeowner told deputies she was sitting inside her living room when she noticed a truck pass by on her Ring doorbell camera. When she went to check the front door, she saw a reddish-brown pit bull tearing through trash she had placed outside. According to the report, the woman attempted to open the door and scare the dog away. She said when the dog noticed her, it began moving toward the open doorway and lunging in her direction, causing her to quickly shut the door. Her daughter later attempted to scare the dog away by throwing a metal doorstopper toward it. The daughter told deputies she was concerned for her mother, who is 86 years old, and worried neither of them would be able to get away if the dog became aggressive. The family identified the dog as belonging to neighbors who live nearby and asked them to keep the animal restrained. Deputies then contacted the dog owner and observed the dog outside the residence. The owner confirmed the dog belonged to the household and explained that the other adult was away with the family vehicle, leaving him caring for six children. He said he had difficulty watching the dog while also tending to the children inside. Deputies advised the owner that the dog needed to remain restrained and warned that continued issues could result in penalties or possible consequences involving the animal. The owner disagreed with the neighbors’ description of the dog’s behavior but said he would work to keep the animal contained. The incident was documented and forwarded for follow-up. Loose Dogs Can Become Dangerous Situations Animal control officials remind residents that a dog does not have to bite someone before it becomes a safety concern. Repeated roaming, chasing, growling, lunging, or entering neighbors’ property can create dangerous situations—especially around children, elderly residents, and people with mobility issues. Dog owners should: Keep pets securely fenced or restrained Repair damaged gates or tie-outs Address aggressive behavior early Avoid allowing dogs to roam neighborhoods Take complaints seriously before someone gets hurt A loose dog may only be looking for food or exploring, but neighbors cannot always know the animal’s intentions—and every encounter carries risk.

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