Barrow County man hospitalized after dog attack

The man, Michael Cape, was visiting Scott Bowen when Bowen’s dog, an American Bulldog and Pit Bull mix, attacked.

According to Barrow County Animal Control Director Jimmy Terrell, Cape was familiar with the dog.

“He knew the dog and the dog knew him, but something set the dog off and he attacked,” he said.

Terrell said when Bowen attempted to rescue his friend from the dog, he was bitten as well.

Barrow County Animal Control Officer Danyal Harper said Bowen suffered numerous lacerations and puncture marks to his arms and scratches on the chest. Cape sustained more serious injuries including major lacerations on his legs, chest and arms. According to Harper, large chunks of flesh were missing from Cape’s arms necessitating surgery. The injuries were of such severity that Cape is expected to require rehabilitation in order to recover.

Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services dispatched Engine 5 and Med Units 5 and 6 to the Rockwell Church Road address to treat the injured men. Both men required transport to Gwinnett Medical Center.

Bowen has since been released from the hospital.

Harper said animal control has responded to two previous incidents involving the dog. In both cases, no charges were filed.

“With the dog’s previous history, there were other circumstances that hindered any further investigation,” Harper said. “The accusing parties failed to turn in appropriate paperwork to verify the bites were legitimate.”

In bite cases that do not involve severe or life-threatening injuries, protocol requires that animal control quarantine the animal for a period of ten days. A judge reviews the case and determines whether or not the animal should be seized.

“In the previous cases, there were no charges issued – just the required quarantine,” Harper said. As a result, animal control had no probable cause to remove the canine from its owner.

“In this case, the history of this dog and [with] the severity of the case, we did opt for the automatic seizure,” Harper said.

The dog is currently quarantined at the Barrow County Animal Shelter. The shelter has received a court order instructing that the dog be euthanized. The order will be carried out this week.