Posted on: Saturday, November 20, 2004

Maui dog impounded after attack on woman

By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui Humane Society yesterday impounded a pit bull that mauled a woman and tore off most of her scalp.

The large male dog, which weighs an estimated 90 pounds, also was responsible for biting a man Nov. 5, and will be kept at the animal shelter until the Maui County Animal Control Board can meet to determine its fate.

The dog owner told the humane society the blue American Staffordshire terrier, a breed commonly known as pit bulls, was used for home security. The dog, named Faust, was tied up when it attacked the Hali'imaile woman from behind at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Aimee Anderson, animal control supervisor for the Maui Humane Society.

She said the woman was visiting the Old Haleakala Highway property and sitting on a rock wall when the incident occurred.

The victim grabbed her loose piece of scalp and drove herself home, where she called paramedics. Anderson said the woman also suffered a fractured left arm and numerous bite wounds on her torso, and has undergone two surgeries at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

On Wednesday, animal control officers discovered a police report filed by a man who said he was bitten by the same animal while visiting the Pukalani home. The man sought treatment at the hospital's emergency room for wounds on his left forearm.

Pit bulls or pit-bull mixes have been involved in several well-publicized cases, but Anderson said the breed has been unfairly labeled as being vicious. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as "affectionate, reliable and an especially good dog for children."

Anderson pointed out that the Maui Humane Society's mascot, Simba, is a sweet-natured female pit bull that is used for school visits and other public events.

"Unfortunately, when a pit bull does bite, it's a very strong animal and they tend to produce grievous injuries," she said.

A bigger factor in dog-bite cases is whether the animal is neutered or spayed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 80 percent of dog-bite cases involve intact animals, and that 90 percent of the dogs involved in attacks are unneutered males. The dog in this case has not been neutered.

Dogs that are chained up or encountered on their own property also are more likely to be aggressive, she said.

Anderson noted a worrisome increase in dog-bite cases on Maui. From July 1 through Sept. 30, there were 22 reports of dogs biting people and 15 reports of dogs attacking other animals.

"Maui needs to wake up to the fact that if you own a dog, you'd better be sure the dog doesn't have access to the public because all dogs are capable of attack under given circumstances," she said.

Faust's case has not yet been scheduled before the animal control board, which has the authority to order that the dog be killed. Anderson said Dec. 15 is likely the earliest the matter would be taken up.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.