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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Metro Medford brings art downtown Motorcycle crash southwest of Grants Pass kills one Ecologist leads free hike to see salmon Ashland's Iron Mike statue has its gun stolen Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra performs in Medford Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Motorcycle crash southwest of Grants Pass kills one Ashland's Iron Mike statue has its gun stolen Emergency services Talent man and Texas fugitive arrested on drug charges in Lane County Officials warn of frauds touting fake Ebola cures Politics and Elections RVTD says its future is riding on the election Stricker steps down from Talent council Commissioner's race: Talbert wants to diversify economy Commissioner's race: Roberts seeks accountability in government Ward 4 Q&A: George Schroeder Education SOU students protest university's free-speech zone Boys & Girls Clubs bursting at the seams Phoenix High School restores homecoming parade EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Environment Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries James Waldo Littlefield Francis Bagley Cecile (DeLozier) Death Notices Marc Lee Sprang Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories No. 20 Utah sinks Beavers in two OTs Challengers rally to claim Southern Cascade crown Senior Erin Riley has been key to South Medford's success Pirates tops in Skyline with win Ishikawa's homer sends Giants to World Series Varsity 541 College Sports No. 20 Utah sinks Beavers in two OTs Third-ranked Concordia fights off SOU, 3-1 Part II: This time, No. 4 SOU visits No. 3 Carroll Gutches invited to wrestle in All-Star Classic Young Ducks impress early Pro Sports Ishikawa's homer sends Giants to World Series Patriots survive scare from Jets, 27-25 In NBA, 3's are most definitely wild Cink, Laird share lead in Las Vegas Royals’ Guthrie apologizes for post-game T-shirt Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories Blog: Early Holiday Shopping Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Business Resource Fair has answers Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 Our view: With respect, our support goes to Bates Isolation won't work for U.S. or the world Matthew T. 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Elk season starts damp but not snowy ... Free forage seed available ... Ashland's Iron Mike statue has its gun stolen ... Elk season starts damp but not snowy ... Free forage seed available ... A breed apart: Residents are divided over pit bull issue As Medford considers possible measures against pit bulls because of various attacks, advocates on both sides of the issue speak up A vicious dog attack against Kathleen Olmstead's Anatolian shepherd, Halee, has helped to spark a debate in Medford over laws that could ban dangerous dogs such as pit bulls. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 11, 2014 at 1:43 AM By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 11, 2014 at 1:43 AM » RELATED CONTENT Dog bite statistics in Medford 2011-13 --> 89 reports of dog bites over three years. 43 attacks on humans, 24 on dogs, 13 on humans and dogs, and nine on cats. 45 cases, or 51 percent, of the dog bites attributed to pit b... » Read more X Dog bite statistics in Medford 2011-13 89 reports of dog bites over three years. 43 attacks on humans, 24 on dogs, 13 on humans and dogs, and nine on cats. 45 cases, or 51 percent, of the dog bites attributed to pit bull or pit bull mix dogs. The next most common dog breed involved in a dog bite was a boxer or boxer mix at 5.6 percent, or five cases. 11 fatal attacks on dogs or cats. Of those, eight, or 73 percent, were attributed to pit bulls or pit bull mixes. Source: Medford Police Department National statistics on dog bites 251 fatal dog attacks on humans from 2005-12. Pit bulls were responsible for 151 deaths, or 60 percent. Rottweilers were responsible for 32 deaths, or 13 percent. Source: Dogsbite.org • Online petition seeks to stop any pit-bull ban in Medford » Social News A vicious dog attack against Kathleen Olmstead's Anatolian shepherd, Halee, has helped to spark a debate in Medford over laws that could ban dangerous dogs such as pit bulls. Olmstead, a 63-year-old Ashland resident, had just taken Halee to a Medford vet on Sept. 27, 2013, when she stopped at Hawthorne Park so her dog could relieve herself. Two pit bulls and another dog charged Halee, wrestling the 90-pound dog to the ground. One dog ripped at Halee's neck, another at her stomach and a third gnawed on her leg. "I was really scared for her life," Olmstead said. The owner of the dogs, a Medford transient, was unable to restrain them. "During the attack, he sat down on the ground and put his hands over his head, and I was screaming and screaming," Olmstead said. Some bystanders broke up the attack by punching and kicking the attacking dogs, which were later euthanized. After $4,000 in veterinarian bills and being confined to a crate for two months, Halee has recovered, though she remains wary. Olmstead made a presentation to the Medford City Council, but initially thought her pleas had fallen on deaf ears. She also appealed to councilors in Ashland because she's seen pit bulls in that city as well. The attack on Olmstead's dog by pit bulls resonated with many councilors who have heard stories about attacks by that breed of dog. The reports include an attack last year on a woman walking her cockapoo, which was leashed to a stroller. A pit bull tried to drag the cockapoo and the stroller away from the woman. Medford Councilor Karen Blair asked the Medford Police Department to look into the issue because she was familiar with other pit bull problems in the community. The council, at the urging of Medford police, is considering several options, ranging from banning pit bulls to requiring sterilization of the animals. Medford police have recorded 89 attacks by dogs in three years, of which just more than half were by pit bulls or pit bull mixes. Police also say pit bulls are the dog of choice at drug dealer houses. Police Chief Tim George said he was surprised by the high number of attacks and believes it probably represents only a portion of the actual bites and attacks that have taken place within the city. Other cities in the country have banned pit bulls, while many have opted for sterilization or muzzle laws. In some cases, cities have banned pit bulls and other dog breeds considered dangerous from city parks. As the city looks at its options, other groups, including pit bull supporters, are urging the city not to take extreme measures. Scott Beckstead, senior Oregon director for The Humane Society of the United States, said he would discourage the city of Medford from an outright ban on a particular breed. "A breed-specific ordinance has the potential to be explosively divisive," he said. Beckstead, whose wife owns a Labrador/pit bull mix, said he thinks other breeds such as cocker spaniels are more prone to bite, but pit bulls are a bigger dog and when they do bite they cause more damage. "They have strong jaws, but there is no such thing as a locking jaw," he said, trying to dispel a commonly held belief about the jaws of pit bulls. Beckstead said Oregon has an effective dangerous-dog law in place, and he thinks a newly enacted state tethering law, if followed, would limit the time dogs are chained up, which causes aggressive behavior. "Any dog in the wrong hands can be dangerous," Beckstead said. "People out there that are wonderful owners have wonderful pit bulls; then there are the bad people." Barbara Talbert, manager of the Jackson County Animal Care and Control Center, said pit bull mixes are the most common type of dog at the animal shelter in Talent. She said her staff carefully evaluates the family situation before allowing the adoption because pit bulls have a particular kind of temperament that doesn't always make them suitable around other dogs. "We watch how the kids and parents interact," she said. On Friday, Talbert had three dogs in quarantine, all for biting someone. Two were pit bull mixes and one was a golden retriever. One of the pit bulls, which ripped open a woman's shoulder, may be euthanized, she said. Her center is preparing statistics on pit bulls and other breeds to present to the city of Medford as the council weighs its options. Most of the time a dog is brought in because it has bitten its owner rather than an innocent bystander, Talbert said. Many different breeds of dogs come to the shelter because they have bitten someone. She is currently a foster parent for Thumper, a 9-month-old pit bull mix, who was given up by a family for nipping at their children. "There was too much kid energy at the house," she said. She said the dog's behavior is something that she is trying to discourage, and so far at her home, Talbert said, Thumper has been behaving well. "I think he can grow out of that," she said. She said Thumper will likely be given up for adoption to a home where there aren't children, or possibly sent to a rescue center in Salem. Talbert said the animal shelter and the county haven't taken a position on some of the options being considered by Medford. Pit bull owners have started Facebook pages that show their friendly looking dogs and are organizing to counter any potential bans in Medford. Juston Menteer, a 33-year-old Central Point breeder of pure-bred pit bulls, said he would prefer the city of Medford not pass any laws against dogs, particularly banning a specific breed. "We see the writing on the wall, that at some point they're trying to make the breed extinct," he said. "People that are responsible shouldn't be penalized." Menteer said pit bull owners need to be responsible, and stricter laws should be directed at the owners of these dogs, not the dogs themselves. "I'm not opposed to some sort of regulation, but a ban is excessive," Menteer said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 11, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 11, 2014 at 1:43 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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