MASON CITY – A dog was euthanized Christmas Eve after it bit an animal control officer and sent her to the hospital.
Mason City police disclosed today that animal control officer Pat Gansen was bitten by an American Bulldog on the morning of December 24. She was checking on the dog which had been under confinement for 10 days due to a prior dog bite reported on Dec 15. During the incident on the 15th, Gansen had been called to 109 19th Street SE to take a dog bite report. She was back to the same address on the 24th to check on the dog when it bit her. The house is owned by William Shafer.
Gansen called in for help and was taken to Mercy Hospital for medical attention; she was released the same day. The extent of her injury was not elaborated upon.
Police told NIT that the dog was euthanized the same day.
“As far as charges (against the dog owner) or restitution for medical bills etc, I do not know at this time,” police said.
Im shocked she didn’t do the usual drive by check up from her vehicle.
And shes called a animal control just think if it were a badger it would tear her up. If she knew it bit then why didnt she do things safer. She also doesnt sound like a person that works good with animals. What if she cornered the dog? Big mistake if she did so. A running dog is a dead dog. If the owner cared enough it wouldnt run free.
I’m looking for my heart pills, because I can’t believe that she got her ass out of the truck to go and check on this dog. She probably went to apologize for the first report she made, but the dog wasn’t having any. I would have bit her too. I hope I live long enough to see how much her sorry ass sues for.
Holy Crap woman if you can’t handle your job maybe its time to move on! This dog didn’t deserve this but the owner does. You are one stubborn woman why would you decide to do something like this? You of all people should know that its NOT THE ANIMAL ITS THE OWNER!! You stay on this position for what reason now? You euthanize someones dog on Christmas eve?? WTF
@MC Citizen-I agree with your comments. The problem is it is illegal to put down the dog owners like we should, so they take it out on the dog. Dogs generally only bite when they feel threatened or are protecting their property. It is up to the owners to make sure they are secure or trained. If we could put down the owners we could reduce the crime rate in town.
The animal laws NEED to change. She knows this. She didn’t have to do this. Take Michael vicks dogs for instance they took his dogs and turned them into loving pets. It can be done but NO she decides to put the dog down. Its pretty obvious that our Animal control officer has a power trip going on. Ms Gansen how are you any different than this idiot owner/! Dam woman YOU piss me off!
You two are a tad bit off the mark on this. Punish the owner but not the dog? That won’t fix the problem. The dog is already trained to be aggressive, or he just hasn’t had any obedience training. So the dog will continue to bite. What else can you do but put it down? Who else would adopt it? Would you take the chance that it would attack a child?
@JMO-I disagree. Dogs can be retrained with a little effort.I have a rescue dog that was very badly mistreated and after retraining him he has turned into one of the best dogs I have ever had. He loves people now but I still watch him very closely around strangers as he is very protective. Some of the scum bags that mistreat dogs should never be allowed to have a dog.
I agree with LVS on this one. The owner of the dog should be put down, not the dog.
JMO’ YOU obviously don’t no what the hell your talking about. Like I said Michael vicks dogs were all adopted out and are loving pets today!
MC Citizen, I disagree with you completely on this one. Many counties have laws on the books now that state the dog must be put down due to a severe bite. I am a delivery driver and these people order packages, I deal with it every day, I can fend some off with dog treats but not always, I know the difference. I have been bitten several times. I have only had to turn one owner in so far and the dog was put down after the sheriff in that county saw my wound.
continued… if you want me to come on your yard to deliver a package, and you know it might bite, tie your dog up or have it inside some place. If you don’t take that responsibility, you are going to lose your dog, period. I don’t feel sorry for the dog owner in this case. The dog already bit someone, a complaint was filed and did it again. The owner did nothing to correct the problem.
You and JMO are missing my point. These Iowa animal laws are twisted. So are you saying that for instance this dog was born aggressive? NO he wasn’t HE WAS TRAINED THIS WAY BY A HUMAN.
NO, the owner should be punished and taken to jail. That’s the common sense way of handling situations like this. I’ve rescued abused dogs before and know the difference. This dog could of been just scared, or naturally protecting his property we don’t no. Apparently ms gansen thinks she knows though.
MC Citizen, you don’t get it either, by the time I have a gash in my leg and the law suit is filed against the owner, (even before I file the charges,) the dog is put down by law. Change the law in the county I am talking about, but that is the way it works. I can’t afford to not work because a dog took a chunk out of my leg.
Don’t blame me, these people order these packages to be delivered, knowing full well they won’t be home and the dog will be there to “greet” me. your argument is…
Why are we so quick to put a dog to sleep but let humans, who can be guilty of so much more, run free?
If a dog bites someone, then the owner should be required to take the dog to obedience training. After all, humans tend to get several “second chances” around here.
I hope everybody feels safer walking the streets now that this dog is gone. Nevermind the drug dealers, burglars, stabbers…
IMO in you are in the business of animal control, getting bit once in a while is a job related injury. It’s not like the animal was rabid, it was probably abused or scared. If half the people who claim an animal is bad would take the time and effort it takes to forge a relationship with some of these poor creatures there’d be a lot less of these articles. 9 out of 10 times if an animal is vicious or aggressive it is out of fear, plain and simple. I’ve rescued enough of them to know that…
I concur. These “euthanizations” are just extensions of ignorance, abuse and control. Man believes beasts are his to do what he wants with them. Reincarnation into the very forms they once kicked around await for those ignorant abusive souls. We should take pity on all life forms, and as we are all subject to the forces of birth, death, and decay we should treat every creature as we’d like to be treated.
So, philosopuss, are you a life form then?