Pit Bulls Attack: Family Pets and Owners Were in Harm's Way on Monday

Two pit bulls that terrorized a Sandy Springs neighborhood, Monday afternoon, and seriously wounded two dogs are at Fulton County Animal Services, according to Dan Goerke, whose dog was attacked.

Goerke and his 23-year-old son, James, were practically at their front door after walking Zoey, in Amberidge subdivision, when two pit bulls started running towards the family pet.

“He had her on the leash and I said ‘Get her into the house,’ ” said Goerke. “And before I could finish that sentence they were on Zoey. They were so vicious about it and just attacked her.”

As they latched onto the German shepherd hound, Goerke repeatedly kicked one of the pit bulls in an attempt to get them to release her. 

At the same time, he noticed a Sandy Springs Police car.  An officer got out and tasered one of the pit bulls, Goerke said.

“It stunned the pit bull for just a few seconds and it started to get back up to attack Zoey again,” he recalled.  “It was just about then that the officer told us to get inside.”

Goerke and his son went inside. Wounded Zoey ran to the door, scratching to get inside too.

“And we were able to keep the pit bulls from coming in the house…Somehow the officer got them to go away.  I don’t know what happened,” Goerke said.

Four-year-old Zoey went under anesthesia on Monday evening, as medical staff at Georgia Veterinary Specialists applied sutures, Goerke said.

“They said she was in stable condition. She was in a slight state of shock. Her temperature was up but they expected her to be okay,” he said. 

Monday was only the latest incident of the pit bulls that managed to get loose from the yard at Amberidge Trail and River Valley Road.

It is believed the home is rented by music producer Rodney Jerkins, and the dogs are often left alone. However, Sandy Springs Patch has not confirmed that information.

“I could hear them barking for like eight, 10 hours, like something’s wrong, “ recalled David Davis, who lives across the street.  “I went over and checked the dogs.  They seemed friendly. They seemed upset.”

That was about a month and a half ago. 

Sandy Springs Police and City Councilman Chip Collins were notified about ongoing concerns and fears of the dogs, Davis said.

At one point the tenant had three pit bulls according to neighbors.

Two months ago, David Bailey, president of the Amberidge Homeowners Association, was running through the subdivision when the three loose canines ran towards him.

They did not attack.  Still, Bailey said, “I’m 6’5” and they were intimidating to me.”

He continued running and later learned the dogs attacked a woman in the neighborhood.

The dogs’ owner was taken to environmental court over the incident, according to Bailey.

The owner installed secure kennels in the yard and said the dogs would only be let out when under supervision, Bailey recalled.

“Since then nothing has happened,” he said. 

That is until Monday afternoon. 

Jodi Jackson was jogging, unaware, on the sidewalk of River Valley Road at about 3 p.m. with one and half-year-old Cooper, her black Labrador retriever. A neighbor, who she had never met before, urged her to come behind their fence.

“That’s when the cop came over with his loud megaphone and said, “You need to get inside,’ “ Jackson said.  “So I stepped into the fence.”

Suddenly, the pit bulls came charging her way covered in blood. 

“I was like, ‘Holy Cow,’ “ she said. “It was pretty scary. It’s very unfortunate because I know the tenants have been talked to many times and unfortunately they’re not doing anything.”

Jackson went inside her neighbor’s home and waited for a friend to come pick her up.

That home was spared, but the pit bulls chewed through another fence in the neighborhood and severely injured a family pet that was also treated at Georgia Veterinary Specialists on Monday night, said Dan Goerke, and was expected to survive.

On Monday night, Goerke called Animal Services to confirm the pit bulls were in their custody.  He was told there would be a hearing and it would be advised that the dogs would be put down.  Animal Services also confirmed that the dogs would not be released before the hearing.