out in Hephzibah, out in the country. You know, that encompasses a lot. Brown Road is probably four or five miles long. “I’d love to have something specific.” Several suspects in organized dogfighting rings have also been arrested throughout the state in recent months, the latest being a Millen man who was operating a large-scale fighting operation on his property. There, investigators reportedly found a blood-stained, plywood pit in which the dogs fought, as well as treadmills that were used to build the dogs’ stamina. A total of 41 pit bulls were also found on the property. Consiglio said his patrol area, which encompasses the location where Heggs was attacked, is rife with drug-traffickers who often use the pit bulls to protect their wares. “There are pit bulls all over that area,” Consiglio said. “Most households in that area have at least one or two pit bulls. Trying to check residences in that area, you know if an alarm goes off, we’re always on the lookout to see if they’ve got pit bulls or that kind of animal in there. “A lot of them are bred defiant, and that’s what makes them so vicious in that area. They’re bred to protect their product, as they like to call it.” Just recently, Consiglio responded to a call at a home in the area. As he made his way around the side of the house, he noticed a roughly 60-pound, brown pit bull, anxious to make his acquaintance. Consiglio thought about drawing his weapon, but decided to bank on the dog’s chain running out before it got to him. He was lucky. “You never know where they’re at,” Consiglio said. “Some people, like I say, have two or three of them. And not to say everybody who has them has them for illicit purposes. “But I would say, my personal opinion, the majority of them do.” Lovers or Fighters? It’s so common as to be cliche. Most Web sites maintained by breeders of pit bulls include at least one photograph of the dogs devotedly and lovingly cuddled with a napping child. It’s as if to say, “I can be cute and cuddly, too.” But convincing those like Heggs and other victims of vicious pit bull attacks would likely be a hard sell. Breeders and lovers of pit bulls, nonetheless, stand behind the dogs, blaming poor handling and ill-intentioned owners for their bad rap. However, attempts to get any local breeders to come forward and tell their side for this story proved fruitless. One local breeder, who advertises his Hammerhead Kennels of Augusta on the Internet, spoke with high regard for pit bulls, saying he trusts them around his children. The breeder, who asked not to be identified by name, said he would mull over an interview request with his family. He never called back. Another local breeder, contacted through an IWANTA ad, said he merely raised his dogs as pets, not for fighting. He initially agreed to meet in Harlem, where he said he keeps his dogs, but later canceled the meeting. E-mails to other breeders outside the continued on page 16 15 HEALTH PAGE Take care of yourself. Let University help. “HealthTalk” on WGAC-580 AM Tune in Monday, Aug. 19, at 8:30 a.m. to hear Sherry Barinowski, M.D., a board-certified family physician and member of University’s medical staff, discuss new information about vitamin use in prevention of chronic diseases. Frederick A. Merrill III, D.O. A U G R. Daren Marionneaux, M.D. a r e p l e a s e d t o a n n o u n c e t h e a s s o c i at i o n o f 8 David B. Hogue, M.D. and Sherry Barinowski, M.D. c o m p l e t e c a r e Sherry Barinowski, M.D. f o r y o u r Camp Whispering Wind for children 8-14 with asthma will be held Oct. 4-6 at Camp Bishop Gravatt in Aiken. Deadline to register is Sept. 6. For more information or to get an application, call 706/774-8535. • Preventive care to help keep you well. School physicals, well-woman visits, skin cancer screenings and evaluation and removal of lumps and moles. • Immediate care for acute problems such as colds and minor injuries, including sprains and lacerations. • Ongoing care for chronic problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or asthma. • Coordination of care with other medical specialists. • Hospital care when and if you need it, with personal physician visits for all patients. Drs. Hogue and Barinowski are located at 4106 Columbia Road Suite 103 Martinez, GA 30907 Drs. Merrill and Marionneaux are located at 4321 University Parkway Suite 103 Evans, GA 30809 FOR AN APPOINTMENT, CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 706/868-3212. 706/854-2160. Your resource for healthy living. Healthy Adults Healthy Older Adults Healthy Women !"#$%&'#( )*$+,# 5*+$'#3&#$2.0$'03*67$3*89 5*+$'#3&#$2.0$'03*67$3*89 -&.&+*/*.#01.%23/&#$2. <&@@0ABCDAKGFLMGB0 <&@@0ABCDAAEFENEN0 4*''$2. 230GBBDENKFCCML0%230 %230$.%23/&#$2.02.0#,*0 University is proud to host a back-to-school festival for students and their families. Thursdays 5-6 p.m. University Hospital Nutrition Center $.%23/&#$2.02.0#,*0 %2@@2O$.+0?@&''P Aug. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., H. Odell Weeks Recreation Center 5*+$'#3&#$2.0$'03*67*'#*89 >20?,&3+* “Nutrition and Weight Management” Presented by Holly Ford, manager, Nutrition Center Aug. 16 11:30 a.m. The Grand Buffet Restaurant, 3435 Wrightsboro Road 5*+$'#3&#$2.0$'03*67$3*89 R7#?,0#3*�@7.?, University Health Care System is the proud sponsor of the United Way of the CSRA Campaign Kickoff 2002. Call 706/774-8917. :3*',04#&3#04/2;$.+ <*''&#$2.0=32+3&/000 Tuesdays, Sept. 3-24 Noon-1 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. University Hospital Cafeteria Q3*&'#F:**8$.+0 Aug. 15 7:30-9:30 p.m. Babies R Us, Bobby Jones Expressway >20?,&3+* %2@@2O$.+0"32+3&/'P Q3*&'#04*@%FVW&/0<@&''*' 4*.$23'0I7.?,0Q7.?, Second Monday of each month 5 p.m. University Breast Health Center )**;*.8*30<,$@8S$3#, >20?,&3+* UNBB =3*"&3&#$2.0<@&''0 Friday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17 5*%3*',*30<,$@8S$3#, Healthy Parents =3*"&3&#$2.0<@&''0 Aug. 19 and 21 7-9:30 p.m. UMB Q3*&;%&'#0)$#,0#,* All classes are held in the Women’s Center classroom on the third floor unless otherwise stated. I*+'0%230I$%*( R2?#23 5*+$'#3&#$2.0$'03*67$3*89 -2/F#2FQ*0Y*&0 National screening to identify people who suffer from peripheral vascular disease Sept. 28 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. University Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center “Glaucoma, Cataracts and other Aging Eye Disorders” Presented by Manuel Chaknis, M.D. Aug. 22 9-11 a.m. University Hospital Dining Room 1 <&@@0ABCDAAEFLGLM0%23 $.%23/&#$2.0230#203*+$'#*3 Aug. 22 2-4 p.m. %230#,*0%2@@2O$.+0?@&''*'P >20?,&3+* )2/*.X'0<*.#*30Y273 1.#3287?#$2.0#201.%&.#0<=50 TODAY 7-9:30 p.m. Aug. 26 6:30-8:30 p.m. >20?,&3+* UM0 >20?,&3+*0 4*.$23'0<@7S0/*/S*3'P J""2$.#/*.#0$'03*67$3*89 %3**T .2./*/S*3'P UK 4$S@$.+0Q$3#,8&Z0=&3#Z0 Healthy Children <&@@0ABCDAAEFGHBB9 Aug. 15 3-4 p.m. <&@@0ABCDAAEFGGAB9 :5VV04"**?,0&.8 [*&3$.+04?3**.$.+' >20?,&3+* University Hospital Speech and Hearing Center J""2$.#/*.#'0&3*03*67$3*89 www.universityhealth.org FOR FREE 24-HOUR 2 0 0 2 f a m i l y Complete Care. Two Convenient Locations. Come to Camp Whispering Wind! This festival, which is FREE for attendees, offers valuable educational resources covering nutrition, substance abuse awareness, child-care programs and health screenings. For more information, please call 706/828-2460. S P I R I T Family Physicians David B. Hogue, M.D. Time for School M E T R O HEALTH INFORMATION , CALL ASK•A•NURSE AT 737-8423 (SER-VICE) <&@@0ABCDAAEFMAAA9 OR 800/476-7378 (SERV) TODAY !