Center Point considers banning pit bulls after attack

A attack by a pit bull dog in Center Point Wednesday afternoon will apparently prompt an attempt to get pit bulls banned in that Linn County community.

Ruby Vandaver, 314 Water Street, said she and her daughter were walking their dog late Wednesday afternoon when a pit bull came from behind an apartment building and attacked their pet Labrador retriever.  Vandaver said a number of people gathered to try to separate the animals.  Nothing was working and the attack continued. Finally, a man who had a weapons permit and a handgun heard the commotion and came out of a house and shot the animal.

The pit bull did not die from the gunshot wound to the head, but was corraled in a yard.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office did not have complete reports as of Thursday morning, but Sheriff Brian Gardner said the dog's guardian gave permission for the Cedar Valley Humane Society to put the animal down with an injection.  The sheriff said the person at the apartment was not the owner, but was taking care of the animal.

Vandaver said she signed a complaint with the city Thursday morning to get the issue of banning pit bulls on an upcoming Center Point City Council agenda.  Vandaver said her pet lab needed emergency veterinarian care after the pit bull attack, but will recover.