(CBS DETROIT) – The dying of a 4-year-old boy mauled by a canine on Detroit’s west facet is tragically highlighting town’s rising downside with its stray canine inhabitants.
“We haven’t addressed the problem. If that is nonetheless occurring, it is one thing that we ought to be . There are so many points that town is coping with. And fairly frankly, we’d like extra sources,” stated Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Detroit metropolis councilmember for District 6.
It’s the sentiment shared by many neighbors who won’t ever see four-year-old LaVel Anderson once more after a stray canine viciously attacked him as he performed in his grandmother’s yard.
“The complete neighborhood is upset about it. As a matter of truth, the little boy used to return over to my home as a result of his grandmother and my spouse are pals, and he or she got here down right here about two weeks in the past, and each time he got here down right here, he all the time needed a sucker,” stated a neighbor, who did not want to be recognized.
That neighbor stated the canine was seen wandering the streets final week. Others within the space referred to as for assist, however nothing was carried out.
“He was simply out and about and simply, you recognize, sniffing round and doubtless return home. I by no means knew the rattling canine was a killer,” the neighbor stated.
According to metropolis information, there are 23 animal management officers who final month dealt with greater than 1,800 calls – the very best within the final three years throughout the identical month.
“Understanding that they are understaffed or overburdened, however there’s additionally different sources that play a job in these animal shelters, funds for these individual entities, which do present some reduction. Those have passed by the wayside as properly. So the numbers type of communicate for themselves,” stated Peter O’Toole, an legal professional with Fieger Law, who’s representing Anderson’s household.
“We need to let the investigation take its course to search out out who the proprietor. Then, we even have to search out out if this can be a repeated difficulty with that animal and that proprietor. And in that case, we’ll attempt to maintain town accountable. We wish to search justice for the household. Whoever ought to be held accountable, we’ll maintain them accountable.”
CBS News Detroit reached out to the interim director for Detroit Animal Control a number of occasions asking about staffing ranges Thursday, however have not heard again.
