Indy dog official sticks up for pit bulls

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Indianapolis' new animal control chief says he wants to try to rehabilitate captured pit bulls, 2,500 of which were euthanized in the city last year.

Even though a review of animal control records by The Indianapolis Star revealed that pit bull bites were at a record high with 282 in 2008 -- a jump of 33 percent in a year -- Douglas Rae told Sunday's edition of the newspaper he wants to give the dogs another chance.

"I really want to give every dog the last possible chance I can," said Rae, who took over Indianapolis Animal Care and Control last month. "I know I'm going to have some very spirited conversations with people."

Pit bull defenders successfully thwarted a 2007 proposal to ban the breed from the city, saying they are peaceful dogs that if raised and cared for properly pose no greater risk than other breeds.

But the Star said its review of dog bites in Indianapolis found that pit bulls not only are responsible for more of them than any other breed, but that their bites more often cause significant damage.