Pit bull attack victim says owners should know their dog could kill someone (VIDEO)

Pit bull bans in Denver and Colorado cities like Aurora have stirred controversy among activists, who insist that bad owners, not the breed, are to blame when the dogs attack. But while Nederland's Michael O'Neill, who was recently injured by a pit bull, doesn't back a ban, he says, "I...

By Michael Roberts

July 5, 2011

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Pit bull bans in Denver and Colorado cities like Aurora have stirred controversy among activists, who insist that bad owners, not the breed, are to blame when the dogs attack. But while Nederland's Michael O'Neill, who was recently injured by a pit bull, doesn't back a ban, he says, "I want people to be very aware when they're making a decision (to own a pit bull): Someone could be killed by their dog."

O'Neill, in an interview with the Boulder Daily Camera, believes he only survived an unprovoked assault from a pit bull named Rocco because he's carried a knife with him since his own dog died after tangling with a mountain lion. But even though he stabbed Rocco numerous times, he says the dog didn't release him until wrestled off by his owner; the dog reportedly didn't respond to voice commands.

Look below to see a Daily Camera video of O'Neill sharing his experiences:

More from our News archive: "Leaked: photos of pit bulls killed due to Denver ban."

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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