Just over a week ago my dog, while on its leash being walked by me on my property, was attacked unprovoked by a dog in the neighborhood that had gotten loose. It was dark and the attach was sudden and traumatic. Neighbors called the police who arrived after I was able to get the attacking dog to release and run home. Police went to the dog owner’s home, received another call and had to leave.

My dog, with bites, was taken to a local veterinarian and has three broken ribs and penetration bites. I contacted the Randolph County Dog Warden, who single-handedly works this entire county. He informed me that currently no substantial means to deal with dog attacks exists. Randolph County supervisors are aware of the issue but no action has been taken for some time.

City officials (police, city clerk) here in Elkins were at first not aware of an ordinance until I requested time with our mayor, who has been out with illness, but his administrative assistant was very helpful meeting with me and in fact finding a city ordinance on unprovoked dog attacks.

The police chief was then made aware of the ordinance and hopefully now the city officials, along with county, can address this incident and protect both human and animal life in my neighborhood.

So here’s the concern. Where is the coordination and adherence to our public safety? Why did it take my personal time and persistence to, after hearing “nothing we can do” from county, city officials, council members and law enforcement, actually find out yes, there is something that can be done to protect humans and domestic animals from future unprovoked attacks from the same dog. What if I hadn’t said that day “I would like to see the mayor” when I went in to pay my water bill? Would a child getting attacked get someone’s attention?

I have had the fortune to live in other parts of this wonderful county and each community I have resided in has either an official or unofficial neighborhood watch program.

We here in our Elkins neighborhoods are seeing or fearing drug dealing, property theft and speeding vehicles in alleyways and roaming dogs.

We shouldn’t put it all on our police department’s shoulders. As citizens we need to watch out for each other. Where are the neighborhood watch programs and signs in each ward?

Jeffrey Burgdoerfer

1st Ward

Elkins