La Pine man cited, dog surrendered after two attacks

A La Pine-area resident was cited and surrendered one of his dogs to authorities Friday after two reported attacks by several of them, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

A 16-year-old boy was riding his bike around 3 p.m. near a home in the 52000 block of Golden Aster Road when he reported he was attacked by three to four “pit bulls,” said sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Bilyeu. (A family member later claimed in a Facebook posting that the aggressor dog that was taken into custody later was not a pit bull, but a Lab.)

The teen was not hurt when he was knocked off his bike, Bilyeu said, but the shoes he was wearing were chewed on by the dogs.

Earlier Friday, sheriff’s deputies had responded to the same address on a complaint from an anonymous caller, who said the dogs had charged them and they used pepper spray to defend themselves.

Since the caller wished to remain anonymous and police did not witness the incident, the dogs’ owner, identified as Charles F. Williams, 45, was contacted, advised of what took place and warned to secure and control the dogs, Bilyeu said.

After the second incident, Williams was cited on two violations, one count of nuisance dog and one of dog at large.

Bilyeu said the owner also agreed to release one of the dogs, a 3- to 4-year-old spayed female, to the custody of the sheriff’s office and the Humane Society of Central Oregon. The dog was believed to be the primary aggressor in the two incidents, the sergeant said.

The dog will be held at the humane society’s Bend shelter until authorities determine an appropriate course of action – which Bilyeu said won’t include releasing it back to the owner.