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Nov 24, 2007 5:51 pm US/Eastern
Pit Bull With Taste For Trees To Cost Owner $3,100
ALTOONA, Pa. (CBS) ―
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Pit bulls usually suffer a bad reputation from biting people, not trees. (File)
AP
A pit bull that likes to get a lot of bark in its bite could end up costing its owner $3,100.
This summer, Tyler Port allowed his dog, Rossman, to run loose in a park. The dog apparently had a habit of chewing bark off trees, and Port was cited for failure to keep the dog under control.
John Iorio, the city's dog law officer, also is seeking $3,100 to cover the cost of replacing three honey locust trees, which a consultant said may die.
Port, 22, says his dog had an "infatuation" with trees and enjoyed rubbing up against them and hanging on their limbs from her teeth.
"The kids loved it, so I allowed it," Port said. "Once someone expressed concern, it ceased."
Port said he was optimistic an agreement could be reached and the charges would be dropped.
Pit bulls generally earn a bad reputation for attack on people, not trees - no thanks in part to people like suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick who was accused this summer of coordinating a dogfighting ring. There's no word on Vick's use of tree in these fights.
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