Officer Describes Pit Bull Attack on Police Chief
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Six-month-old puppy Shadow was one of two pit bulls officials said attacked Bruceton Police Chief Ronnie Stewart. Next Wednesday Shadow will be given two cans of soft food and then put to sleep. “We hold it for a 10 day period to see if it shows any clinical signs of rabies. If it does not then we will euthanize it after 10 days. It will not go up for adoption,” said Animal Control Director Jessica Brockman. A house on Smith Lane in Camden was where the pit bulls attacked Stewart. He put his life on the line to protect the life of his young granddaughter. “If the situation arises where the dogs thought they were doing something to protect someone than I can understand. Unfortunately it is not acceptable for a dog,” Brockman said. Investigators said Stewart was outside playing with his two-year-old granddaughter when Shadow along with another dog named Chance charged them. Stewart was able to toss the girl onto a trampoline for protection. Stewart suffered serious injuries to his left hand and right arm. He is listed in Stable condition in a Nashville Hospital. A Benton County Deputy shot and killed Chance, who was later decapitated by the vet. “Pretty much they are looking for rabies that’s the only thing they really test for which is why you have the head. They are looking in the brain to see if there is any type of rabies,” Brockman said. Shadow was wagging his tail and playing with his ball Tuesday. “He has been fine. He hasn’t shown any aggression to any of us here. He is a vocal dog. He will talk to you. So it looks like he’s growling at you but his tail is wagging away. He hasn’t shown any aggression here at all,” said Brockman. This facility has a policy that if a dog is surrendered because the dog has bitten someone after 10 days the dog will be put down. “I don’t think it’s the breed itself. I do believe it’s in the raising and their teachings not saying they raised these dogs wrong,” Brockman said.
