OMAHA, Neb. --
After dealing with numerous calls involving pit bulls this summer, the Omaha Fire Department said it may train crews to handle dangerous animals.
The departments current policy requires crews to call the Omaha Police Department and the Humane Society when confronted by a dangerous animal during an emergency call. But waiting for help can often take time that rescuers dont have.
With the rash of animal attacks, we believe this is a wise course of action, said Omaha Fire Capt. Jim Gentile.
The problem for the fire department getting to the scenes of emergencies is that sometimes it takes us 20 minutes to get there, said Mark Langan of the Nebraska Humane Society. So if they have a dog they have to secure, this training will come in handy for them.
Langan said the Humane Society is pleased that firefighters may seek special animal restraint training and is willing to offer it.
The training would likely involve the use of a device called a catch pole. Humane Society officers use them to safely and humanely secure animals.
The Humane Society taught the Omaha Police Departments Emergency Response Unit how to use the device last year and said firefighter training would be similar.
Wed show them how to use the catch pole, how to keep the animal secured and how to keep the animal away from the injured, Langan said.
The mayors pit bull committee is set to meet again next Monday and could finalize details of a dangerous dog policy to be forwarded to the City Council.
