Pit bull attacks and prevention in 'Pretty horrible': Billings man describes vicious October pit bull attack

In October, a Billings resident, Will Hyatt, experienced a harrowing encounter with a pit bull while skateboarding with his dog, Dixie.

The pit bull attacked, biting Hyatt's finger and inflicting injuries on Dixie's ear and body.

Hyatt recounted, "This dog ends up lunging at Dixie and grabs her by the neck and is thrashing her."

Despite his efforts to separate them, the pit bull persisted.

Hyatt and Dixie managed to retreat to their home, with the pit bull in pursuit.

The dog aggressively pounded on the screen door, prompting Hyatt to retrieve his firearm and fatally shoot the animal in his yard.

The incident led to significant medical expenses for both Hyatt and Dixie.

Hyatt noted, "Had I not been on my parents’ insurance, I would have been 2K in debt due to the nature of my medical bills and Dixie's emergency vet visit."

The pit bull was found to be unregistered, complicating the situation further.

Billings police are currently investigating the attack.

According to Billings Animal Control, Hyatt's case is among 448 animal bite incidents reported in the area.

Stacie Pannell, communicable disease program manager at RiverStone Health, highlighted an unusual increase in animal bite cases during the warm winter months.

She advised victims to secure the animal when possible to facilitate appropriate medical treatment.

Pannell emphasized, "An animal can be vaccinated against rabies, but that doesn't mean that they weren't carrying rabies, and that the person wasn't exposed."

This incident underscores the critical need for responsible pet ownership and vigilance in preventing dog attacks in Billings.