Deputy dog's attack leaves bicyclist with 12 stitches
MATTHEW PLEASANT
Staff writer




Leward Boquet, 79, relaxes at his home in Bourg after he was bitten by
a Terrebonne sheriff's deputy's dog Tuesday morning while taking his
morning bike ride. Boquet has dog bites on both his legs and received
12 stitches. "Dogs have never really bothered me, except this one,"
Boquet said. (EMILY SCHWARZE/STAFF)

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BOURG -- Old age didn't keep Leward Boquet from riding his bicycle
Tuesday morning; it was a sheriff deputy's unleashed Belgian malinois.

Boquet, 77, was pulled from his bicycle by the dog Tuesday while
riding past the Bourg Recreation Center around 6:30 a.m., he said.

The dog mauled him twice, leaving his legs covered in bite wounds.

"I wasn't scared," he said. "I just thought he would stop."

A sheriff's deputy had unleashed the dog so it could urinate,
officials at the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said. As Boquet
rode toward the recreation center, the dog rushed toward him, knocked
him down and bit his right leg.

"He was giving him commands to stop," Boquet said, "but the dog
wouldn't pay attention."

Sheriff Jerry Larpenter confirmed that canine handler Philip Pitre was
the deputy on scene during the attack.

As the dog continued to bite his leg, Boquet said, Pitre pulled the
animal away and began carrying it toward his car. The dog freed itself
from Pitre's arms, pulled Boquet from his bicycle again, and tore into
his left leg.

"I was trying to turn around," he said. "Trying to get out of there."

Pitre managed to contain the dog in his car after the second attack,
Boquet said. That's when

Pitre called an ambulance.

"He could hardly talk," Boquet said, describing Pitre as he made the
emergency call. "He was so shook up."

Boquet was treated for bite wounds at Terrebonne General Hospital, he
said, receiving a dozen stitches on his right calf, knee and thigh, as
well as stitches on his left thigh. He was released later that
morning.

Larpenter said the department will review whether Pitre was at fault
for the attack. He has only seen one other instance of a sheriff
deputy's dog unexpectedly attacking a person.

"Pitre is an experienced canine handler," he said, adding that the dog
was relatively new to the K-9 unit. "We've only had the dog for five
to six months."

The dog will receive obedience training before it is allowed to be
unleashed, Larpenter said. However, deputies will still use the dog
while on patrol.

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Deputy dog's attack leaves bicyclist with 12 stitches
MATTHEW PLEASANT
Staff writer

snipped

A sheriff's deputy had unleashed the dog so it could urinate,
officials at the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said. As Boquet
rode toward the recreation center, the dog rushed toward him, knocked
him down and bit his right leg.

"He was giving him commands to stop," Boquet said, "but the dog
wouldn't pay attention."

Sheriff Jerry Larpenter confirmed that canine handler Philip Pitre was
the deputy on scene during the attack.

As the dog continued to bite his leg, Boquet said, Pitre pulled the
animal away and began carrying it toward his car. The dog freed itself
from Pitre's arms, pulled Boquet from his bicycle again, and tore into
his left leg.

"I was trying to turn around," he said. "Trying to get out of there."

Pitre managed to contain the dog in his car after the second attack,
Boquet said. That's when

Pitre called an ambulance.

"He could hardly talk," Boquet said, describing Pitre as he made the
emergency call. "He was so shook up."

Boquet was treated for bite wounds at Terrebonne General Hospital, he
said, receiving a dozen stitches on his right calf, knee and thigh, as
well as stitches on his left thigh. He was released later that
morning.

Larpenter said the department will review whether Pitre was at fault
for the attack. He has only seen one other instance of a sheriff
deputy's dog unexpectedly attacking a person.

"Pitre is an experienced canine handler,"


This guy is an example of their *experienced* canine handlers? I'd hate to
come across the inexperienced ones.


td

In article ,
"tiny dancer" wrote:

A sheriff's deputy had unleashed the dog so it could urinate,

You have to take unleash the dog so it can urinate? I've been doing it
wrong all this time!
--
Kevin Michael Vail* * | I would rather have a mind opened by wonder
* * * | than one closed by belief. * -- Gerry Spence

"Kevin Michael Vail" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"tiny dancer" wrote:

A sheriff's deputy had unleashed the dog so it could urinate,

You have to take unleash the dog so it can urinate? I've been doing it
wrong all this time!


With Pirate, you do. Its very weird. Actually, its not. Its probably that
his prior people yelled at him for peeing in the house so he is afraid to
pee around me.

"Beth In Alaska" wrote in message:


With Pirate, you do. Its very weird. Actually, its not. Its probably
that
his prior people yelled at him for peeing in the house so he is afraid to
pee around me.

Long line on Pirate. You either behind some bushes or around the corner of
the house so you're still attached to the leash, but he can't see you.
Slowly close the gap.

Suja

"Suja" wrote in message
...

"Beth In Alaska" wrote in message:


With Pirate, you do. Its very weird. Actually, its not. Its probably
that
his prior people yelled at him for peeing in the house so he is afraid
to
pee around me.

Long line on Pirate. You either behind some bushes or around the corner
of
the house so you're still attached to the leash, but he can't see you.
Slowly close the gap.

Suja


When I've had a dog that isn't used to being onleash to relieve themselves,
I've purposely turned my back on them, looking the other way, etc. Ignoring
them. Usually once I've done that, they find it okay to *go*.

td