Pit Bull Owner Lies After Dog Declared "Dangerous," Dog Attacks Again
Two Children Severely Injured
Millcreek, PA - On September 16, 3-year old Alorah Havern was violently attacked by a pit bull-mix while being babysat at her grandmother's home. The grandmother, Debbie Havern
1, often watched the child at Alorah's home. But on that Wednesday, she brought the child to her own home in Millcreek to do some laundry. Also living at the home was her 25-year old son Matthew Havern and his 7-year old dog. The results of this combination proved disastrous.
Alorah, who continues to be treated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, will be permanently scarred by the attack and may be blind in one eye, doctors have told her family. The nerve damage, according to doctors, is also likely permanent. Alorah's mother, Julie Havern
2, said her daughter suffered a fractured skull and required more than 300 stitches to close her wounds. She also lost many teeth and had numerous
bones in her face shattered.
In November 2006, this same dog attacked the 4-year old daughter of Matthew's girlfriend. Her injuries included: partial loss of sight in one eye, a broken jaw and the loss of many teeth.
We wish we were writing to you from the Twilight Zone readers, but we are not. The girlfriend
3 from the 2006 attack is apparently still in a relationship with Matthew. According to the article, she has talked to him "repeatedly" since the attack about the need to euthanize his dog, named Graham. She said he has not brought the dog within sight of her or her daughter since the attack. Yet Graham has attacked a different child in the family since causing devastating injury again.
Q: Why wasn't Graham euthanized after the first attack?
A: Pennsylvania State law.
Like many states, after a dog inflicts "severe injury," Pennsylvania declared the dog "dangerous" and required its owner to abide by new rules, such as keeping the dog in a secure enclosure; attaining liability insurance; and posting warning signs. Unwilling to adhere to the requirements, Matthew lied. In a written statement, he told the dog warden he "gave" the dog to a person in New York State. Not long after, Matthew and his dog moved into his mother's Millcreek home.
Q: How easy was it for Matthew to lie to Pennsylvania officials?
A: Provide a false written statement.
We frequently run across owners of dogs declared "dangerous" that say to judges, "I'm sending my dog out of state." The judge okays the arrangement
dismissing the danger the dog will pose to its new location and that the dog's bite record may be
erased upon crossing state lines, whereby eliminating future victims' claim against it. As the case of Matthew Havern demonstrates, one now must question how many of these dog owners simply lie, keep their dog and relocate nearby.
Matthew Havern is Being ChargedMillcreek authorities have charged Matthew J. Havern with at least seven offenses including: 1.) Owning an animal that caused severe injury or death 2.) An attack by a "dangerous" dog 3.) Reckless endangerment 4.) Failure to register and restrain 5.) Failure to vaccinate 6.) Failure to license and most notably 7.) Tampering with physical evidence because Matthew attempted to leave the scene of the Alorah attack in a vehicle with his two-time mauler, named Graham.
Q: Why should any state law trust a "Matthew" or
known mauler over the rights of future victims?
A: No state law should.
4Faced with seven charges, Matthew "agreed" to have the dog put down September 17.1Debbie Havern is Julie Havern's mother-in-law. It is unknown if Debbie faces charges.2Julie Havern is married to Tom, which we presume is the brother of Matthew Havern.3The girlfriend, whose daughter was attacked by Matthew's dog in 2006, did not want to be identified.4Due to Dog Mauling Fancier groups that protect owners of dangerous dogs and humane groups who believe, "A dog shouldn't be euthanized just because it ripped the teeth out of two children and broke a few jaws," we have state laws that allow second and third chances for dogs that have inflicted severe injury. Related articles:09/08/09:
Typical "Deviant" Pit Bull Owner Captured on Video at Special Magistrate Hearing07/30/09:
Pennsylvania Towns Seek Pit Bull Laws; Must Lift State Anti-BSL Measure06/20/09:
James Harrison's Pit Bull "Patron" is Up for Adoption Under New Breed Name05/01/09:
Pit Bull Owner Hides Dogs After Attacking Senior Citizen04/02/09:
Editorial: Pit Bull Owners "Too Vacuous" to Consider Consequences
| 
