PARKERSBURG -An official with the Wood County 911 center is disputing some statements made by the Humane Society concerning an incident with a vicious dog.
Randy Lowe, director of the 911 center, said the dispatcher who contacted the Parkersburg Humane Society regarding a pit bull did notify them that an officer was on scene.
"We absolutely did," Lowe said. "The dispatcher, who is a retired police officer, did tell their dispatcher that there was an officer on scene."
The News and Sentinel requested copies of the 911 calls and the calls made by the 911 dispatcher to the Humane Society. Lowe referred the request to the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney's office. Assistant Prosecutor Sean Francisco declined to release the recordings, citing there were pending warrants for the dog's owner.
The dispute stems from a call Monday regarding a vicious dog in a southside neighborhood. A Parkersburg police officer was dispatched to the scene, twice, according to Lowe, to deal with the animal. The officer made several requests for the Humane Society's animal control officer to respond, but that did not happen.
Tuesday, Mary Ann Hollis, executive director of the Parkersburg Humane Society, said her organization was told the situation was a dog at large. Hollis said they were never told there was an officer on scene.
Lowe acknowledged the 911 dispatcher told the Humane Society the incident concerned an at-large pit bull. He said an at-large pit bull should have set off some warnings to Humane Society officials.
"If I hear a pit bull running at large, I think I'm going to have a problem." he said. "I'm going to take it as mean and vicious."
Lowe said it was his understanding the dog had been an on-going issue for several days.
"The Humane Society should have been aware there is a problem dog in that vicinity," Lowe said.
The dog's owner, Ray Munson, was cited about two weeks ago for another pit bull found running loose.
Hollis said she also requested recordings of the 911 calls, but was told it could not be released.
"If it was my staff or if there was a mistake made, I will hold our feet to the fire," she said. "We can't get better unless we know we are doing something wrong."
"Obviously, communication is huge in these types of ordeals," Lowe said. "We normally work well with the police department and Humane Society. This is not the norm. It is the exception."
Lowe said the initial 911 call came in at 10:37 a.m. and advised the dispatcher of a pit bull running loose.
Less than 10 minutes later a police unit arrived on scene and requested the Humane Society be called. According to Lowe, the 911 center contacted the Humane Society and advised them there was an officer at the location.
The 911 center contacted the police officer, telling him the Humane Society was contacted and had been given the complaint's name and telephone number. Dispatch said it was unknown if or when the Humane Society would send an officer.
Around 11 a.m. police cleared the scene. According to Lowe, the officer said the dog was definitely vicious and roaming the neighborhood. Lowe said the officer reported he could not get close to the animal and had to pepper spray it.
Lowe said 911 did not relay the fact police pepper-sprayed the dog to the Humane Society.
"We strive to get information out as quickly and accurately as possible," he said. "You hope that if there is information agencies needed they would request it. ... We try to keep the air traffic short in case there other emergencies."
About 50 minutes later a second call was placed to the 911 center to the non-emergency line- regarding the dog. The caller was requesting a police officer return to the scene to take care of the problem. Lowe said the same officer was dispatched.
The officer remained at the scene for about 45 minutes. The officer said the Humane Society had not yet arrived and inquired if there was an estimated time of arrival. Animal control officers did not arrive at the scene until the following day.
"With the officer being on scene requesting the Humane Society something had to be done," Lowe said.
The officer did not issue any citations. According to Parkersburg police Capt. Delmas Barker, the officer would not have issued citations because the dog's owner could not be located. Baker said the incident was still under investigation.
Hollis said animal control issued a running at large citation to Munson on Wednesday.
