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Pound bars aggressive breed

Spotsylvania bans pit-bull adoptions after woman's mauling death

By PAMELA GOULD

Date published: 3/14/2005

By PAMELA GOULD

In the wake of last week's mauling death of a Spotsylvania woman, all pit bulls that come into the county shelter will be euthanized rather than being offered for adoption.

Spotsylvania Animal Control Director William Tydings announced that policy change yesterday at a meeting in Fredericksburg of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare.

Tydings said he felt he had no choice about the decision and put it into effect on Thursday, two days after the death of 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan and her dog, Buttons.

He said the move may not be permanent, but was essential for now.

"It's very disturbing to me that this even happened, but we're going to do everything we can to see the person responsible for this is held accountable--and anything we can do to see nothing like this happens again, that is our goal," Tydings said.

Sullivan was on her property walking her Shih Tzu on a leash when the three purebred pit bulls attacked and killed Buttons, then mauled Sullivan, Tydings told about 30 people attending a regional meeting of VVAW at the Colonial Inn in Fredericksburg.

Sullivan died while en route to VCU Medical Center in Richmond. All three pit bulls were killed by Spotsylvania officials.

Tydings said the incident profoundly disturbed him.

"I've been in law enforcement for 17 years. I've seen suicides, homicides, fatal accidents," he said. "This is one of the worst things I've ever seen. I'm still having trouble sleeping."

Prior to Tuesday's incident, Tydings said his office had "never discriminated against" pit bulls and had allowed rescue groups to adopt them. But he said the breed requires caution.

"The thing about a pit bull is it's a weapon," Tydings said. "A weapon in the right hands is not a problem."

Tydings said Stafford County already has a policy of not allowing pit bull adoptions, and Fairfax County had been "on the fence" about it until last week's incident. Fairfax has now banned them, as well, he said.

Yesterday, people attending the VVAW meeting echoed Tydings' sense of grief over the incident and observed a moment of silence in Sullivan's honor.

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Date published: 3/14/2005