Dogs Bite Blog

Letter to the City of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey from Wendy Blevins

2008-08-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

Omaha, NE - Wendy Blevins, the mother of Charlotte, has given DogsBite.org permission to post her letter that she sent to Mayor Mike Fahey. Charlotte was violently attacked by a pit bull back in June and suffered severe scalp injury as a result. Wendy has urged Fahey and his committee to design a pit bull law that would prevent future tragedies like Charlotte. So far, they have not.

Letter to the Mayor of the City of Omaha:

"My name is Wendy Blevins and on June 25th of this year my life changed forever. I know you have heard from the media, witnesses, and police reports what happened but you have not heard my story. I'm asking if you would please take a few minuets and read my side. I would just like you to feel what my daughter and I went through on that day, before you weigh in on the Pitbull issue. Here is my story.

On June 25th I had gone to my friend Carly's home to let my daughter play with her son Cade. It was such a nice day that we decided to go for a walk. About a month earlier I had gotten my daughter a Red Radio Flyer Wagon and I keep it in the trunk of the car because she LOVES it so much and you never know when you may need to, like that day, go for a walk. So we strapped the kids into the wagon, it was one that had seats and actual belts to hold the kids in, and we were off.

We had only made it to the second block when as we were crossing the street we saw two women and a yes that's right a PITBULL!!! Carly (my friend) and I both came to a dead stop in the middle of the street and blocked the children in the wagon with our bodies. Just taking a few steps one way or the other to stand in between the dog and our children. That's when the dog just backed his head out of his collar and began walking, yes walking to us like any other curious dog would. As he started his walk the owner said "oh shit" and we knew. We knew something was going to go really wrong. The dog got to about 4ft from us and just lunged.

The dog (Duke) grabbed a hold of the left side of Cades chest right over his little heart and did a thrashing motion and pulled the wagon over on its side. Carly was the closest to her son at that time and reached in to get Cade from the wagon but he was belted in. In her attempt she was bitten on the hand. As the dog moved from Carly back to Cade I jumped in the middle. I blocked this dog from further biting him, but in doing so I left my baby girl wide open. The dog just turned from me and grabbed a hold of my baby. I could not get between them fast enough.

The dog went right for her head. He managed to get her whole head in his mouth, but by the grace of God his teeth only caught on the back side of her head. Leaving only bruises on her face. As this dog pulled on my daughters head I watched her scalp get ripped away. Its odd the things that go through your head during these moments. "THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, NO, NO, NO, HER HEAD, HER HEAD, ITS GONE, OH MY GOD, ITS GONE, STOP, STOP, STOP, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING TO US!!!"

The dog took a "breather",he let go for a split second to get a better grip the next time it seemed, and went back to pull the rest off. It all happened so fast, and at the same time it just kept going on and on. I threw my body over hers just as he was biting her shoulder. It seemed at that moment he was set on getting her out of the wagon. I managed to push/pull him away to the point where I could attempt getting my daughter out of the wagon. But as we all know she was strapped in and I was unable to release the belt.

The dog just kept trying to go back for more, more of my daughter, but with me blocking her I guess he decided I was just as good. He bit into my neck twice, missing my main artery by a fraction of an inch. This was another moment I remember thinking so very clear. "IS HE GOING TO BITE AND LET GO? OR WILL HE BITE AND RIP IT ALL OUT? THIS IS GOING TO HURT." That's what I thought. My hands were also bitten along with over my right eye.

After biting me a few times the dog paused a moment as he walked around the back side of the wagon. I jumped to my feet and followed. At this moment Carly was attempting to get Cade from the wagon and the dog was headed right for them. I guess the best way to describe it is, I threw myself onto the dogs backside and took a hold of the nape of his neck fighting with him to keep him from going back for the children and Carly. There was so much blood coming from my neck at this time. It was just spraying on the dogs back as I fought with him. I held the dog yelling to Carly, "GET THE KIDS, GET THE KIDS AND GO, GO, GET THE KIDS NOW, RUN, GO!!!" She got the children free handing my daughter to the dog owners mother as she struggled to calm Cade.

As I held the dog looking up to see what was happening with the children I see the owner about 3ft in front of me with the leash. I'm yelling to her to get her dog, get the leash on her dog. As she slipped the leash over his neck I realized it was going to be a matter of seconds before he was free again. This collar was not going to hold him. I looked up, saw the children were free of the wagon and I went for it. I let go of the dog, ran to my daughter grabbed her from the woman and ran for our lives! I jumped a small fence with my daughter limp in my arms and covered in blood. I began banging on a house with no answer. My thought at this moment was "WERE GOING TO DIE! HES GOING TO COME AROUND THE HOUSE, AND WERE GOING TO DIE!" I went to another house where a man answered and helped. Carly ran around to the back of the house and came inside. We waited for help to arrive.

The EMT's showed up and yet we were still waiting. We waited for them to come around the house and surround us as we walked to the ambulance. We feared for our lives. Not knowing where the dog was. But aware that he had gotten loose again. As I walked out of the mans house I looked down at my babies head and thought "HOW, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO FIX THIS? ITS SO BIG!"

Charlotte's left ear was partially detached, split in half and punctured. She lost 1/3 of her scalp and has undergone 3 surgeries so far and will need 4-6 more to stretch her scalp in order for her to be able to grow hair. Cade and Carly are doing as well as can be expected. I myself still don't have full function of my left arm. The dog had bitten me on the left side of my neck and his bite effected both the muscles and nerves.

I truly feel had those kids not been strapped in we would have lost one or both of them. I feel the dog would have taken off with them. So even though the straps stopped us from grabbing the children and running away, they also protected there lower bodies by keeping them in the wagon itself and it didn't allow this dog to just grab and run. This little red wagon may have been the only thing that saved our children.

What if, what if there would not have been a wagon? Or the power of two mothers fighting for there children's lives. Instead of playing with my daughter would I be planning a funeral. Would there be two funerals? Not everyone in Omaha is protected by motherly love and a wagon. Please look at this as an insider. What if it was your daughter, grand-daughter, son, grand-son, niece, nephew, someone you love.

I understand the views of the Pitbull owners, I do. Two of my cousins have owned Pitbulls since they were puppies so I have also been around them. I was a zookeeper for 4 years and own 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 turtle and 2 rats. I love animals and wish no harm on them. But I wish, hope and pray more, that NO ONE, NO ONE, has to ever suffer what my family, my baby girl has had to go through. And will have to go through for the next 5-6 years. I truly feel after seeing first hand the unpredictability, unprovoked aggression, and the desire to KILL of this breed a ban is the only option.

I know there are many, many things to consider before making a decision dealing with all this but I have faith in my city and the men and women put together to represent it. I just ask that you please remember this letter before you vote.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this."

Sincerely,
Charlotte's Mommy

Related article:
06/28/08: Coverage of the Omaha Pit Bull Attack - DogsBite.org

08/12-19/08 Police Shoot Pit Bulls

2008-08-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

#227: Loose Pit Bull Shot in Fremont
08/12/08 | Fremont, CA
Summary: A stun-gun malfunction prompted police to fatally shoot a pit bull-mix that had gotten loose. Officers shot the dog after it acted aggressively toward people walking along the street, then turned on the officers who were trying to corral it.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#229: Two Pit Bulls Shot Dead
08/13/08 | Sacramento, CA
Summary: Two pit bulls are dead and their owners are behind bars after authorities tried to catch a pair of alleged robbers, and now detectives are connecting the dots to a pit bull attack that happened almost a month ago. See full story here.
Pit bulls killed: 2

#230: Elgin Police Shoot Pit Bull to Stop Fight
08/13/08 | Elgin, IL
Summary: Elgin police say they had no choice but to shoot an attacking pit bull outside of the dog owner's Elgin home. Officers were called to the area by a woman claiming her neighbor's pit bull was attacking her Siberian husky.  
Pit bulls killed: 1

#231: Dog Shot After Attacking Two People
08/13/08 | Hillside, NJ
Summary: According to a police spokesperson, "The dog was biting the second victim’s hand while violently shaking his head from side to side. Sgt. Cove exited his police vehicle and shot the dog twice in the chest to stop its attack of the second victim."
Pit bulls killed: 1

#232: Grand Rapids Officer Kills Pit Bull
08/14/08 | Grand Rapids, MI
Summary: In a protocol that seems to be gaining strength, police shot and killed a pit bull with a shotgun after it attacked a child. The child's injuries and condition were not immediately known, but a resident in the area said the child was bitten in the leg.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#233: Citizen Kills Attacking Pit Bull
08/15/08 | Fairdale, KY
Summary: Charles and Karen Barr were driving home from a family's house when they saw the 15-year old girl under attack. Charles said the girl's legs were mangled. He shot and killed the dog. The owners of the dog stayed in the house while the dog shredded the girl in the front yard. The owners were fined $150.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#234: Dedham Police Kill Pit Bull
08/15/08 | Dedham, MA
Summary: Described as a "Chinese pit bull," the dog pinned a woman against a car and bit into her torso. One officer fired a shot into the dog’s chest. The dog wandered to a nearby porch and died. (It is unclear what a Chinese pit bull is, perhaps a shar pei, which has a history of dogfighting or a bullmastiff cross.)
Chinese pit bulls killed: 1

#235: Rancho Cordova Police Kill Pit Bull
08/15/08 | Rancho Cordova, CA
Summary: A pit bull terrier was shot and killed in Rancho Cordova as it attacked a Sacramento County sheriff's police dog. The officer had been trying to serve a no-bail felony warrant to the dog owner. That makes three pit bulls killed by Sacramento law enforcement officers in less than a week...
Pit bulls killed: 1

#236: Pit Bull Bites Omaha Officer
08/16/08 | Omaha, NE
Summary: The day after Mayer Fahey piddled the "pit bull" regulation down from a ban to a muzzle law, an Omaha police officer shot and killed a pit bull after it bit him. The officer had been responding to gunshots in the area. See full story here.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#237: Fort Wayne Police Shoot Pit Bull
08/17/08 | Fort Wayne, IN
Summary: Officers shot and killed an aggressive pit bull that had escaped its fenced yard. Police were told that the dog had bitten a small boy and then prevented the woman who called police from going inside her home.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#238: Pit Bulls Killed in Drug Raid
08/18/08 | Ada, OK
Summary: The narcotics unit and critical incident response team (CIRT) were refused entry to the house at which time CIRT members forced the door open and were attacked by a large pit bull dog. Members shot and killed the dog.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#239: Police Shoot Pit Bulls Attacking Woman
08/19/08 | East Alton, IL
Summary: Police shot and killed one pit bull and captured another after the dogs severely attacked a woman, then attacked the man who tried to help her. Fire Chief Randy Mortland said, "I think those dogs would have killed her if he hadn't been there to help."
Pit bulls killed: 1

Toddler Attacked by a Pit Bull Outside Day Care Center

2008-08-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

Toddler Suffers Facial and Scalp Injury
UPDATE 08/18/08: The victim has been named as Demetrious Allen. His body now bears the scars of a pit bull attack. Allen underwent surgery after a pit bull at his private daycare clamped down on his head and ripped off part of his scalp. His mother, Ericka Lewis, told reporters, "They took his bandages off, and it was too much for me..."

Dr. Patrick Byrne with Johns Hopkins Hospital -- where Allen is being treated -- speaks frankly about his injuries. "I can't think of a single injury of this nature that was incurred by any other species other than a pit bull or a rottweiler." Due to horrific nature of these bites, surgeons have had to develop new techniques to try to mend them. These procedures are highly expensive and still leave the victim with scars.

Aberdeen is located in Harford County. Just two counties away, is Prince George's County where pit bulls are banned.

08/18/08: Finger Pointing Games
The child is out of surgery, but hospital officials said they can't comment on the condition of an unidentified patient. According to neighbor Ida Hendrix, her husband James witnessed the attack. His yells prompted the dog to drop the child. Ida then grabbed the child and applied pressure to his head to stem the boy's bleeding scalp.

The dog, an 18-month-old pure-bred male, belonged to the son of the day care owner. The owner said the animal had interacted with children in the past without incident. The provider, whose day care business is licensed through the county Health Department, said she was unaware the toddler had slipped out the back door and into the yard. One other child was in her care at the time.

The caregiver is registered with the post's Children and Youth Services program, which can refer parents to providers. The name of the provider was not given. The presence of a pit bull would not preclude the Health Department from licensing the day care. "We can't discriminate against any breed of dog," said Pamela Arney, Harford's animal control officer.

May the liability lawsuits roll; maybe one will snag Arney's agency.

08/17/08: Day Care Center Housed Dog
Aberdeen, MD - This morning, an 18-month-old boy suffered a serious head injury when he was attacked by a pit bull outside a day care. The police said the day care provider was unaware the boy had gone out a rear door and into the back yard of the residence, where the encounter with the pit bull happened. The boy is being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The pit bull ripped off the boy's scalp.

Anita Brunke, the day care provider, is the owner of the dog. The pit bull was fenced in the backyard of the day care center (a residential home) and hanging on the chain link fence was a Beware of Dog sign. It's unclear how a day care center could legally operate under these conditions. It's also unclear how any parent could drop their toddler off at a house with such visible signage.

Police are not pressing criminal charges. How could there not be criminal negligence in this attack? Animal control is debating if the dog is dangerous and if they should put the dog down. How could animal control knowingly give this dog back to a day care center operator? It sounds as if both entities live on the planet Mars.

Related stories:
06/28/08: Coverage of the Omaha Pit Bull Attack - DogsBite.org
06/16/08: Flashback: Amaya Hess 2 Years After Violent Pit Bull Attack

2008 Fatality: Isis Krieger, 6-Years Old, Killed by Family Pit Bull

2008-08-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Father Arrived from Iraq
UPDATE 08/19/08: Clarifications around Isis's death have been revealed. Medical officials declared her legally dead Thursday morning, August 14th, after undergoing surgery. Isis was then placed on life support machines while the family awaited for Isis's father, deployed to Iraq, to return to the county. Upon his return she was taken off the machines and died.

08/18/08: Isis Krieger Has Died
Anchorage, AK - 6-Year old Isis Krieger did not survive the severe injury she endured after being attacked by her family's pit bull last week in Anchorage, Alaska. Police now report that she died Thursday morning, August 14th, after undergoing emergency treatment at Alaska Native Medical Center. There are no words to describe this type of tragedy. There are only the memories of Isis that her family and friends can try to keep clasped in their hands.

People across the United States and world have been moved by Isis and her story. We have been moved by the efforts of two men, Troy Danforth and Specialist 4th Class Kyle Mayeaux of the U.S. Army Alaska, who tried to preserve her life and by the efforts of the Anchorage Police Department, the paramedics team and the emergency doctors who also tried to keep her small heart beating. Her tragedy and violent death has shaken us all.

Related article:
08/06/08: 6-Year Old Anchorage Girl Critically Injured by Pit Bull

Snip the Pit Ordinance in Manteca Being Considered

2008-08-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

1st Reading Passes City Council
UPDATE 08/19/08: The Manteca City Council adopted the first reading of a municipal ordinance that would make spaying and neutering of pit bull breeds mandatory in the City of Manteca with one exception -- for breeding under strict conditions that require a city issued permit. If a second reading passes in two weeks, the law will go into effect in mid-October.

08/18/08: Can't Trust Owners to Act Responsibly
Manteca, CA - Following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Ripon, Manteca is debating a pit bull sterilization law. This ought to delight the organization called Chako that sued the City of San Francisco and lost after the city passed its pit bull ordinance. Chako held the opinion that the law was breed racist and that it violated the rights of people with disabilities. The judge disagreed.

California law still prohibits local ordinances from placing a ban on specific breeds. But it does allow breeds to be regulated, including requiring them to be sterilized. The result in Manteca's ordinance is an 8-page essay that that lays out how the city can demand the sterilization of pit bulls. City Attorney John Brinton has reviewed the measure and approved its language.

Pit bull refers to any dog that is a Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or any other dog displaying the physical traits of any one or more of the previously mentioned breeds...
The only reasons a person may have a pit bull that isn't fixed include the pit bull being under eight weeks of age, if there is a high degree of suffering serious bodily harm or death due a physical abnormality based on a veterinarian certification who must also say...
The first violation may result in the department impounding the pit bull and disposing of the pit bull in accordance with municipal ordinances or the owner may reclaim it by paying fees including the department's cost of having a veterinarian spay or neuter the dog...
The second violation is a misdemeanor publishable by imprisonment in county jail for a period not to exceed six months or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. The second violation may result in impounding and destroying the pit bull.

2008 Fatality: Henry Piotrowski, 90-Years Old, Killed by Two Pit Bulls

2008-08-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Henry Piotrowski Has Died
Staten Island, NY - On July 1st, Henry Piotrowski was brutally attacked by two of his neighbor's pit bulls. Crime scene tape flowed, a LifeFlight helicopter hovered and many first responders gathered at the crime scene. Initially, Henry suffered an amputation to one leg. Within two days, it was reported that he might undergo additional amputations.

By July 13th, Henry was fighting for his life. As a World War II veteran, Henry had likely witnessed injury that most of us could not imagine. What Henry could not imagine, is that in his twilight years, he would be savagely attacked by two pit bulls because he stepped into his own backyard. By August 6th, it was reported that his eyes rarely opened, he needed a tracheotomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube for nourishment.

On August 17th, Henry Piotrowski died, 47 days after the attack.

Currently, the Piotrowski family is suing the City of New York for 7 million dollars. The suit alleges that the city failed to take appropriate and adequate measures to control the vicious dogs, despite numerous complaints from neighbors and 311 and 911 calls about the animals. The family's lawyer, Micheal Gervasi, said, "It seems to us it was a danger that was known to the city," and no measures were taken to abate the danger.

DogsBite.org wholly agrees.

Related articles:
07/03/08: Coverage of the Henry Piotrowski Pit Bull Mauling

15-Year Old Attacked by Pit Bull in Jamestown

2008-08-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Special Citations Needed
Jamestown, NY - Over the weekend, Jamestown police responded to a call about a dog attacking a boy. Upon arrival the officers saw a pit bull holding a 15-year-old boy by the neck. The owner of the dog was able to gain control of the dog and put it back inside the house. The victim was transported to WCA for treatment. Specific injury information was not provided.

According to officials, the victim said that he walked onto the porch of the home and saw the pit bull coming at him through the screen door. He ran away toward the street and was attacked. It's unclear if the dog opened the screen door or smashed through it to reach its victim. The owner of the pit bull, Torry Knight, was issued several citations.

There ought to be a special citation when a pit bull clamps down on your neck.

Related articles:
06/06/08: Cincinnati Police Kill Two Pit Bulls in Separate Shootings...
04/29/08: Pit Bull Tears Through Screen Door to Attack Dog

Officers at Pit Bull Owner's Door Days Before Baby's Death

2008-08-18T02:23:00.000-07:00

A Complicated Catastrophe
Wichita, KS - So much happens in this article that all we can do is summarize. Jonell Lloyd was a fugitive for nine months, but the illegal status didn't stop him from keeping pit bulls that terrorized his neighbors and ultimately brought the police to his doorstep. Two days after the police first knocked on his door, Lloyd was charged with first-degree murder for killing 17-month old Chavira Brown, whose body was found hidden in his attic.

The story is packed with many details, including: multiple calls to animal control, neighbors terrified by the dogs, neighbors afraid to report Lloyd due to retaliation; animal control confiscating the dogs, Lloyd retrieving the impounded dogs; dogfighting in his backyard...it's unclear how the toddler died, but people have set up a memorial -- a growing pile of stuffed animals and artificial flowers -- in the front yard of the house where her body was found.

In other news:

Use of an Animal to Avoid Capture
Newark, NJ - Our Peach of the Week award goes to Samantha Rutter, 19-years old. After her boyfriend fled police and flung a drug a stash, he landed in Samantha's yard. When police tried to arrest him, Samantha ordered her pit bull to attack the officer. Rutter was charged with disorderly conduct and use of an animal to avoid capture, which is a felony. She was committed to the Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of $7,000 secured bond.

Related articles:
08/02/08: Pit Bull Owner and Vicious Dogs Continue Terror Streak...
07/21/08: Continuous Crime Wave: Pit Bull Owners and Their Dogs

2008 Fatality: Detroit Man Killed by Stray Pit Bull Attacking Dog

2008-08-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

UPDATE 08/18/08: Still waiting on the media's "over-reporting" of fatal pit bull attacks. Since Howard's story was first released on August 15th, DogsBite.org appears to be the only other source that picked up the story. (robert howard, dog attack, detroit.) On the other hand, the fatality of Zane Earles, who was killed by the family's Labrador two weeks ago, has endless stories (zane earles, dog attack, tulsa).

08/16/08: Robert Howard Tried to Help
Detroit, MI - In a developing story, a Detroit man died after he was bitten by a pit bull. Police said a woman came out of her home when she saw a pit bull attacking her two chained dogs. When the woman tried to stop the attack, the pit bull went after her. She grabbed a shovel and beat the dog. Robert Howard came out of his house to help.

According to Howard's friend Isaiah Brown, "The dog had tore into his calf and when he let go, he just snatched and pulled all the arteries out. He was lying on the steps, and when I checked his vital signs he was already dead then." Police said the dog bit a main artery in Howard's leg and he later died of his injuries. Police have been unable to locate the attacking pit bull.

Loose fighting dogs are a problem in the neighborhood and witnesses believe this pit bull to be one. According to the ASPCA, "fighting dogs do not attack humans." Fighting dogs, in fact, are human friendly because dogfighters cull manbiters out of the bloodline. But famous fighting bloodlines such as, Bolio, Chinaman and Zebo were all reportedly manbiters and likely many others as well.

One more reason to distrust the ASPCA when it comes to pit bulls.

Related articles:
07/23/08: 2008 Fatality: Mississippi 3-Year Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull
06/02/08: ASPCA Pushing Pit Bull Adoption: Adopt-A-Bull Contest
01/23/08: 2008 Fatality: Kelli Chapman Killed by Two Pit Bulls

The Art of a Pit Bull Scaling a 6-Foot Fence

2008-08-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

Up, Over and Down
DogsBite.org - Some pit bull owners praise their dog's ability to scale fences. In this instance, the owner says, "Up, up, up, up, up!" Followed by a female voice that says "Weeeee" as the dog easily climbs up, over and down. It appears that the dog has climbed a fence that was designed to protect a school playground. It's unclear why any dog owner would want to teach his dog this trick.

Don't miss the pit bull climbing into and back out of a tower of tires.

Related articles:
08/14/08: Spring Poling: How to Increase a Pit Bull's Jaw Strength
07/24/08: Video: Pit Bull Climbs Tree

Abducted Pit Bulls Shot and Killed; Owners Jailed

2008-08-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

Owners Previously Won Claim Against City
Sacramento, CA - A couple who won a $210,000 judgment against the City of Richmond after police shot their pit bull were jailed this week after their new pit bulls mauled a hotel maintenance worker. Sacramento County sheriff's detectives, looking for Cynthia Peters, 41, and Mark Parr, 43, in connection with an unrelated robbery, found them in a hotel.

"The door was ajar. When they knocked, they heard a woman inside," sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran said. "Unfortunately, at that moment, a maintenance worker was pushing a cart down the hall." The couple's two pit bulls, Brutus and Smokey, charged into the hallway and "shredded" some of the maintenance man's limbs. A detective shot and killed both attacking dogs.

After the couple won the judgment against Richmond, they picked up two new pit bulls, Brutus and Smokey and moved to Carmichael. The two dogs quickly proceeded to attack a Sacramento Municipal Utility District worker that was sent to the house to investigate a report that the residents were stealing power. The worker was severely bitten on his arms and legs.

Sacramento County Animal Control confiscated the dogs and an order came down July 9th to destroy them. But on the evening of July 8th, someone cut through the fence at the pound in Sacramento County, cut the locks on the cages containing the dogs, and took the dogs. The facility lacks security cameras and authorities lacked evidence of the culprit.

The next day, two people matching the description of Peters and Parr were caught on video surveillance robbing an 80-year-old woman of her purse. Sheriff's detectives recognized the suspects as Peters and Parr and began searching for them. They found them in the hotel with Brutus and Smokey who subsequently attacked a hotel maintenance worker.

In other news:

Child-Killing Rottweilers Donated to Police
Bangkok - In other head scratching news, two rottweiler dogs that mauled a 2-year-old to death this week were donated to a special police task force for training. The dogs would be trained to track down criminals but will first be tested for two months to see if they are suitable for the job, the English-language Bangkok Post reported.

The two dogs were originally purchased by a Dutch man to protect his house. Instead of doing this, they killed the man's 2-year old daughter. Jintana Ploo, the girl's mother, said she had placed Nina on the ground to unlock her front door when the two dogs dashed out and attacked her daughter. Ploo also sustained bites to her legs when she tried to save the child.

Now the dog owners have donated the animals to the police after the army's dog-training center rejected them for lacking the qualities of military dogs. Under the right guidance, the dogs may do well tracking down criminals. But the donation is certainly an odd choice after the same dogs killed the dog owners child and attacked the mother.

On another note, the street price of fresh dog meat (for eating) in Thailand goes for a buck a kilo. Talk about a dichotomy...

Omaha Mayor Fails to Construct Adequate Pit Bull Regulation

2008-08-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Omaha Officer Kills Pit Bull After Bite
UPDATE 08/16/08: Less than a day after the mayor's proposal was announced, an Omaha police officer was bitten by a pit bull after being led into a home. Officers shot and killed the animal. The owner of the dog, Edwin Horton, was arrested on several charges. The mayor's "muzzle" law would only apply to pit bulls when off-property, not serving police officers who must enter a dog owner's home or a person or a child that might enter either.

08/15/08: Chiseled Down to a Muzzle Law
Omaha, NE - DogsBite.org is sorry to announce that the mayor of Omaha has failed to construct an adequate pit bull regulation. Thanks to the helping hand of the ASPCA and Nebraska Humane Society members, Judy Varner and Mark Langan, Mayor Fahey has proposed a watered down dangerous dog ordinance that includes all dogs. The only special requirement for pit bulls is to muzzle the dog when off-property.

Fahey had many excellent examples to follow including, the City of Council Bluff's pit bull ban and Little Rock's pit bull law, which labels pit bulls as "potentially dangerous" and requires spay-or-neuter, microchipping and a special sticker. We hope that Fahey's failure does not dissuade other Nebraska towns from pursing common sense pit bull laws that are designed to protect citizens and pets.

Here’s what the mayor's stacked committee -- some of which oppose all breed-specific laws -- came up with for the citizens of Omaha. In short order, the mayor will present these options to City Council members for a vote. Dan Welch, the City Council president appears to not even support the pit bull muzzle law. This is presumably because he wants to hear about future children getting their scalps ripped off in the news.

The Nebraska Humane Society has the authority to designate dogs as "potentially dangerous" if it displays menacing behavior or slightly injures someone. The label could apply to a dog that chases a mail carrier to his truck, for instance.
Once a dog is labeled "dangerous," mandatory spaying or neutering and microchip identification is required. The dog owner will also be required to attend classes on responsible dog ownership.
Under the "reckless owner" provision, any dog owner convicted of three separate violations of city pet control laws within two years must surrender all pets. The owner would be prohibited from owning a pet for two years.
Any pit bull, whether it is labeled as potentially dangerous or not, would have to be muzzled in public and accompanied by someone at least 19 years old. It also would have to be fenced in on the owner's property.
The committee oddly added several bully breeds to the definition of a pit bull, but left out the American bulldog. They included: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentina, Presa Canario or Cane Corso.

Fahey formed the committee after Charlotte Blevins, then 15 months old, was violently and suddenly attacked by a pit bull. The girl's mother, Wendy Blevins, another toddler and Carly Spring were also injured in the attack. Wendy Blevins has called for a pit bull ban and sent the Mayor's Office a letter. Sadly, her first hand experience and wisdom went unheard by Fahey and the committee. She wrote in her letter:

"I truly feel, after seeing first hand the unpredictability, unprovoked aggression, and the desire to kill of this breed, that a ban is the only option."

Related article:
06/28/08: Coverage of the Omaha Pit Bull Attack - DogsBite.org

6-Year Old Anchorage Girl Critically Injured by Pit Bull

2008-08-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

UPDATE 08/18/08: Isis Krieger has died due to the injuries she sustained in the violent pit bull attack. Police report that she died last Thursday after undergoing emergency treatment at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Please see the related story.

08/16/08: Girl in Critical Condition
The young victim has been named as Isis Krieger. She is currently in critical care at the Alaska Native Medical Center and her fate remains unclear. Her father, a soldier in Iraq, is being flown home on emergency leave. Her great-grandmother, Wanda Injasoulian, says the child is fighting for her life.

The attack by Dozer at Isis' East Anchorage home was not the dog's first, but it was the worst -- leaving the girl with severe neck injuries. Kristine Smith, 20, was baby-sitting Isis and her sister at the time while their mother, Jessica Krieger, was at work. Wanda said, "(The 2-year-old) sat there and saw the whole attack." She does not want the toddler near the two dogs that remain at the home.

Wanda also said she had warned her 24-year-old granddaughter about the dogs before and tried to get animal control to take them away. "The same dog bit Jessica and it also bit her sister Andrea," Wanda said. "I've told her and called animal control. I even threatened to go over there and shoot the damned dogs. I can not tell you how many times I've told her, 'One of those dogs better not bite one of my great-granddaughters.' "

Baby Isis Benefit Donation Fund
Please visit any Wells Fargo branch to help with Isis' medical expenses.

(The dog named Dozer in this case is not the same Dozer that attacked a cat in June. One can only imagine that Mr. Short might be reconsidering his choice of buying "more scary" dogs.)

08/15/08: Two Dozers; Two Violent Attacks
A DogsBite.org reader pointed out a horrific coincidence. Back in June, an Anchorage pit bull named Dozer attacked and killed a cat on camera. The owner of this dog, Chris Short, was photographed with a young child and appeared to live in a mobile home. We hope that the Dozer that attacked the young girl just a few days ago is not the same Dozer that attacked in June.

The six-year old victim has reportedly sustained life threatening injuries to her upper torso and is in critical condition. The Anchorage Police Department would like to thank those persons who extended their help during and after this animal attack. The immediate efforts of Troy Danforth and Specialist 4th Class Kyle Mayeaux of the U.S. Army Alaska may have saved further injury and possible loss of life.

08/13/08: Family Pit Bull Violently Attacks
Anchorage, AK - A pit bull that attacked a girl inside her home was shot by a neighbor who rushed to the scene after hearing the screams of the girl's baby sitter, whom the dog also bit. The girl, about 6-years old, was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery for critical injuries. The injuries were so severe, she was at first presumed dead.

Troy Danford heard the screaming next door and ran outside with his .38-caliber handgun. He saw the dog on the front porch with the baby sitter's arm in its mouth, tugging at her. He fired into the air because he didn't want to shoot the woman. Then, when he had a clear shot, he took aim at the pit bull. At least one shot hit its legs.

Neighbor Kyle Mayeaux, a soldier at Fort Richardson, said he ran into the home after hearing the screaming and gunshots in the Glacier Terrace mobile home and found the girl bleeding from the neck and appearing lifeless. He felt a faint pulse and put pressure on her neck wound to stop the bleeding until medics arrived. The story goes that:

The family pit bull, Dozer, "snapped" while playing with the child.

After the girl and baby sitter left in ambulances, Animal Control arrived to haul away the offending dog, which was injured but alive underneath a trailer. They wrangled the animal out with catch poles and loaded it into the back of their truck. The pit bull had blood dripping down both its front legs, and its mouth was stained red.

According to volunteer coordinator Megan Premer, who specializes in working with pit bulls at the Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center, the pit bull "needed better leadership." Take a critical look at Premer in the video. Then share your thoughts in comments below.

Related articles:
07/29/08: 10-Year Old's Arm Amputated After Family Pit Bull Attack

06/12/08: Pit Bull Caught on Camera Killing Cat

What's the Difference Between a Bear and a Pit Bull?

2008-08-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

One is Deemed Domesticated
The difference between a pit bull and a bear, alligator or lion is that the former is considered a domesticated pet. What makes pit bulls more dangerous than a wild animal is that pit bulls often do not retreat when under attack; wild animals often do. Pit bulls were selectively bred to "fight to death" and will continue to fight even after extensive pain is inflicted upon them.

Some passages from a famous dogfighter book sums up this pit bull trait clearly. The book, The Complete Gamedog - A Guide to Breeding and Raising the American Pit Bull Terrier by Ed and Chris Faron, is considered a relic and can be purchased for a price. We challenge anyone to find an example of a bear with only two working legs, or stumps as dogfighters call them, to continue attacking its competitor.

"The gamest dog I ever saw in my life was King David. At ten minutes, his right leg was broken. At twenty-three minutes, his left leg was broken. At thirty-seven he scratched on stumps, and at forty-eight minutes when he scratched he scratched down one wall and down the other until he got to Beau again."

"Ajex gradually worked his way to the top and at forty-five minutes broke on of Bandit’s front legs with a loud snap. The leg dangled uselessly for the rest of the fight."

The most recent wild animal attack that we bring to your attention involves a bear. An 8-year-old boy and his father were recently mauled by a black bear that pounced on the boy in a creek without provocation in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Evan Pala was cut, scratched and bitten. His father, John Pala of Boca Raton, also was cut before driving off the bear with rocks and sticks.

Hurling rocks and sticks at a pit bull typically does not stop an attack. Baseball bats, rakes, hoes, pitchforks and two-by-fours also do not always stop a pit bull attack. Pepper spray and Tasers used by law enforcement officers may not stop a pit bull attack either. Firearms are the most common weapons used by officers to bring a pit bull attack to a final halt.

Park spokesman Nancy Gray said black bears have injured people eight times in the past decade in the Great Smokies, a 520,000-acre preserve straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border that has about 1,600 bears and draws more than 9 million visitors annually. One attack was fatal. Just last year, pit bulls attacked and killed twenty-one Americans.

Related articles:
07/31/08: What's the Difference Between an Alligator and a Pit Bull?
06/06/08: Nanny Rips Baby Girl From Jaws of Coyote
05/18/08: The Natural Survival Instinct of a Pit Bull is "Missing"

Just a Few Family Pit Bull Attack Stories

2008-08-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

DogsBite.org - The devastation of these attacks are the child and senior citizen victims; individuals that do not stand a chance against suped up pit bull in attack mode. These are just some of the stories that we have gathered since October 2007. In most cases, after the first report of the attack, little else is reported. We do not learn what happened to these people, the degree of injury suffered and how they may be moving forward with their lives.

Child Attacks

Adult attacks

Public Safety Hero Tom Skeldon Under Fire by Pit Bull Advocates

2008-08-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Support the Lucas County Dog Warden
Toledo, OH - Tom Skeldon needs your support, and you can give it by leaving a comment at this blog post. Skeldon is the Lucas County, Ohio Dog Warden and the most experienced employee of the United States when it comes to dog law enforcement, particularly pit bull law enforcement. He is currently under fire by a "pet advocacy" group, AKA a pit bull advocacy group.

The City of Toledo, where Skeldon is empowered, does not ban pit bulls, but the city does enforce Ohio State and Toldeo pit bull restrictions. If you put these two together, the restrictions appear as the following: $100,000 in liability insurance; a chain leash and muzzle when off-property; a special containment facility that includes a secure top; and households are limited to owning a single pit bull.

A "pet advocacy" group called 4 Lucas County Pets is demanding that Skeldon be fired. Tamara Ernst, one of the founders, claims Skeldon does not collaborate enough with animal rescue shelters and promotes discrimination against pit bulls by treating them as inherently vicious dogs, "the canine version of racism." (Using the word "racism" in relationship to a dog breed is not supported by the US constitution or any known US court.)

Please leave a comment for Tom Skeldon showing your support.

The group has created an online petition with a paltry 474 signatures. The group plans to submit the petition to county commissioners and request a public meeting about Skeldon. The group has yet to set a deadline or signature goal. DogsBite.org will write a letter of support and will forward comments left at this blog post to Tom Skeldon, the Toldeo Blade newspaper and the county commissioners.

DogsBite.org also recommends to the Lucas County Dog Warden that the office check each signature with the "pit bull compliance" list. As what happened in Lakewood, Ohio illustrates, the most outspoken local pit bull advocates were noncompliant Ohio State pit bull owners, but sure thought they had a right to oppose the pit bull ban being debated. These noncompliant owners later got nailed by animal control.

As one might imagine, the removal of Skeldon is only one of the group's goals. The group also wants to change the Ohio State law that labels pit bulls as "vicious" and alter Toledo's public safety laws regarding pit bulls. The State of Ohio already bends over backwards for pit bull owners, yet the group is also wants low-cost obedience and spay-or-neuter programs at the cost of Ohio State tax payers.

While defending his position at a county commissioner meeting in April, Skeldon reminded officials that pit bulls are "the number one biter in Lucas County." Skeldon also defended his decision to prohibit animal-rescue groups from adopting dogs from the pound with the intent to readopt them to others. As a rule, the warden only adopts animals out as family pets and does not adopt out pit bulls at all.

Pit bull advocates have flooded the county commissioner's office with complaints about Skeldon. The commissioner said he has received more emails and phone calls from so-called "constituents" complaining about the dog warden than any other matter. Emails and online petitions hardly validate senders as constituents. We hope the commissioner is not fooled by pit bull propaganda tactics.

Tom Skeldon is a national hero to victims of serious dog attacks, family members and friends of these victims, plastic surgeons and doctors, first responders, senior citizens -- particularly those that enjoy gardening -- parents that desire their children to have full scalps and limbs and pet owners that suffer the wrath of pit bull attacks. We leave you with several golden Tom Skeldon quotes to further emphasize the man's genuis:

"A lot of rescue groups ... don't have a long record of standing. They almost tend to be cults of personality around a few activists."
"Some humane groups have been manipulated by these pit bull factions to where they fight breed-specific legislation using scare tactics like 'your breed will be next.' And for 13 years, their breed hasn't been next."
"Nationally when you talk about maimings and disfigurations and death, pit bulls are so far ahead of the next closest type of dog you can't even see them in the rearview mirror."
"When we go into a drug house, as we do regularly, I do not run into Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. We run into pit bulls."
"[The owners] all think that these pit bulls are nice sweet animals and some of them are, but by the time they get to be a year and half or two years old, they're pretty intent on what they're bred to do and that’s grab a hold of things and shake it until it's dead."

Comment: Reporting a Dangerous Pit Bull as Suspected Insurance Fraud

2008-08-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

DogsBite.org - A commenter recently left a message about a family being terrorized by a neighbor's pit bull. The person outlines potential steps a person can take to evoke action to get the dog removed. The comment was left as a suggestion and an information tool. DogsBite.org is a dog bite victims group -- we are not attorneys nor are we insurance agents. We publish this comment as an information tool that may help prevent future dog bite victims.

Comment: I have some very important information to share, and I hope this helps so many of you who have experienced being terrorized by a neighbors pit bull. A friend of mine is in a situation where her family, including her two small children, have been terrorized by a neighbor's pit bull.

For various reasons, going through our small town AC and police department have not accomplished anything; the owner simply refuses to comply, and the dog continues to roam loose. The dog has a bite history, yet because it did not result in serious injury, nothing was done. We have seen time and again, even in towns with dangerous dog ordinances, it is very difficult to get a dangerous pit bull removed from a home; usually the only time it happens is after a horrific attack causing devastating injury.

I suggested to my friend that the dog owners home insurance carrier is probably unaware that its customer is harboring a banned breed with a bite history. My friend called a few major carriers in our state to see if they were her neighbors carrier; the response she got was surprising. Both companies she called were EXTREMELY interested and cooperative, checked their data bases and told her, if the dog owner was their customer they would have an agent out to the home the following DAY. Unfortunately, neither carrier had the neighbor as a customer.

That's when I had another idea.

We all know that most pit bull owners try to remain under the radar...they often don't license and register their dogs, and when they do, they usually falsify the dogs breed, listing it as a "terrier" or "terrier mix", or even a "boxer mix". Failure to disclose a known risk to your insurance carrier is insurance fraud. (You can't, for instance, fail to disclose that you are manufacturing fireworks in your basement when you apply for homeowners insurance). I suggested my friend contact the state insurance fraud anonymous hotline and report suspected insurance fraud.

The response was immediate...the investigators confirmed that this was, indeed considered insurance fraud if the carrier was not aware that the dog owner owned a pit bull with a bite history. They eagerly took all the information, and assured her that she would remain anonymous. They requested dates of police resports of incidents, etc. The owner of the dog has a mortgage, which requires home owners insurance; it is quite likely his insurance carrier will cancel his policy if the dog remains, which means his lender can call in the loan. This may be the easiest way to remove a dangerous dog from a neighborhood, and I hope other posters take note.

Don't wait until you, your children, or your pets fall victim to a dangerous dog in your neighborhood. Make sure to make reports of threatening behavior, or of the dog roaming off leash. Write down everything, take photos if you can. Then contact your states insurance fraud hotline. The homeowner or landlord can lose their insurance coverage if the dog remains. Honestly, there isn't an insurance carrier in the world who would insure a pit bull with a documented history of aggression. They have a database which can locate the carrier and will work to eliminate the actuarial risk of a potentially huge claim by forcing the dog owner to get rid of the dog.

The Commenter's Steps Summarized

Do not wait until after an attack to take action. The attack may result in lifelong debilitating injury and massive medical costs.
Always report threatening dog behavior and off-leash dog roaming to animal control and the building/property manager of where the dangerous dog resides when appropriate.
Record detailed information regarding each incident, such as, the description of the dog, time of day, where the dog was scene and the activity it was engaged in.
When possible, take photos of the dog when it is loose or engaged in offensive behavior. It is also important to take photos of related "scene" information, for instance, the hole in the fence the dog may have escaped through.
Then contact your state's insurance fraud hotline. You can locate this information by typing into Google: "YourStateName Insurance Fraud Hotline." This is an example for the State of Texas. That said, all states work differently, and you may need to pursue your online search futher.

Spring Poling: How to Increase a Pit Bull's Jaw Strength

2008-08-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

Meet Ghetto Star
DogsBite.org - This video depicts a pit bull in the act of "spring poling" (also known as "swing flying"), which is an activity used to strengthen a pit bull's already exceedingly strong jaws. Breeders, dogfighters and your basic pit bull owner encourage their dog to hold on as long as possible during the activity. Please watch the whole video and consider a child's arm, face or neck.

Related articles:
04/02/08: Pit Bull Bites Man, Man Chokes Dog to Get Free
03/23/08: Screwdriver Used to Pry Open Pit Bull's Mouth During Attack

Texas Mother Charged with Felony After Pit Bull Attack

2008-08-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Child Blinded for Life
Edinburg, TX - The County of Hidalgo, Texas has a deadly track record with pit bulls. There have been two fatalities due to "family" pit bull attacks since 2006 including: Pablo Lopez in 2008 and Mirella Puga in 2006. In the instance of Pablo, Child Protective Services (CPS) placed the child with his aunt and uncle who owned a pit bull. The dog named Greco ended up killing Pablo. No neglect charges were filed.

The mother of a different Hidalgo toddler, however, mauled by the family's pit bull will face neglect charges for leaving her daughter unattended while she went to the salon. The 2-year-old remains in a San Antonio hospital enduring dozens of reconstructive surgeries. The toddler lost sight in one eye, the left side of her face is paralyzed, her tear ducts don't work and she can't breath normally. She will need special care for the rest of her life.

The cost of a family, chained pit bull is immeasurable.

The 29-year-old mother, Marissa Abrego, faces one count of injury to a child, a second-degree felony. If convicted, she may face up to 20 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. But this report is likely incorrect. Under Lillian's Law, which penalizes Texas dog owners after an attack, the dog must be loose and off the owner's property for such a penalty, neither of which appear to be true.

Authorities say Abrego left home without telling her fiancé, Daniel Ross. Unattended, the toddler wandered into the front yard of the couple's home. Investigators think the pit bull became excited and sprinted around the girl, binding her with its tether. Then the dog tore into the toddler's face and upper torso. When authorities arrived, they found the child on the ground with a "large piece of skin" missing from her forehead.

Related articles:
08/14/08: Family Pit Bull Attacks Continue to Rise
06/20/08: Fatality 2008: No Charges in Weslaco Fatal Dog Attack
01/09/08: Lillian's Law - Texas State Dangerous Dog Law

Family Pit Bull Attacks Continue to Rise

2008-08-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Children Being the Prime Victims
Upper Darby, PA - In Pennsylvania, a 12-year-old boy, who was bitten on the nose and face by the family's pit bull late Monday night, still remains hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Alexander Lester, suffered serious bite wounds to the facial area and was transported to CHOP for treatment.

According to Lester's sister, Tahara Dawson, 16. "They're going to have to keep him for awhile." The dog, a 2-year-old American pit bull named Sunny, was chained when he attacked the youth. Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood asked: "Why would you have a family pet chained up inside your house? And why would you have a pit bull with young children in the house?"

Good questions.

Questions the child victims will continue asking their whole lives.

In other news:

Texas CSP Charges Father
Henderson, TX - It appears Child Protective Services (CPS) in Texas may be catching on. After the fiasco of placing Pablo Lopez with a his aunt and uncle, who had a family pit bull named Greco that brutally attacked and killed Pablo, they are now arresting a man for leaving his 18-month old child alone with a pit bull in addition to several other charges.

"Benjamin Terrance Rawls, 24, was arrested Friday on suspicion of hitting and shaking his 10-week-old son, said Rusk County Investigator William H. Brown. Rawls also is suspected of leaving his 18-month-old son alone with a pit bull dog when he went to seek help for the younger son. The 18-month-old was on the floor with the pit bull, with marijuana and knives also nearby on the floor, according to a Rusk County sheriff's deputy's report. The 10-week-old baby remains in critical condition at the Children's Medical Center of Dallas. The 18-month-old is in the custody of Texas Child Protective Services."

Announcement: Why Flashbacks Are Published

2008-08-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

DogsBite.org is a volunteer website with limited bloggers. When these bloggers are unavailable to write, "Flashbacks" are written in advance and published in the absence of these bloggers. Flashbacks are also written when core research and backend site technology is being developed, both of which outweigh the importance of blog posts. We do all that we can with our limited resources.

Thank you for your patience as we catch up!

Related articles:
08/06/08: Facebook Group: The Pit Bull Regulation Project

07/30/08: Announcement: DogsBite.org Donations

08/07-13/08 Pit Bulls Shot By Police

2008-08-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

#218 Police Shoot Pit Bull that Attacked Child
08/07/08 | Birmingham, AL
Summary: Birmingham police shot and killed a pit bull that attacked a 6-year-old boy. Family members had been keeping the dog. The child, who had deep lacerations on his face and head, was rushed to Birmingham's Children’s Hospital.

#219 Pit Bull Shot by San Antonio Officer
08/08/08 | San Antonio, TX
Summary: A loose pit bull was shot by a police officer after neighbors reported that the dog was chasing after kids and trying to attack them. The officer fired one shot at the dog. The shot hit the dog in the neck.

#220: Rochester Police Shoot Pit Bull
08/08/08 | Rochester, MN
Summary: Animal control searched for an hour and a half for a loose pit bull. In attempt to corral the aggressive animal, the officer tasered it, this launched the dog into attack mode, so the officer shot it with a gun. The dog reportedly had a history of biting family members.

#221: Another Amarillo Officer Shoots Pit Bull
08/09/08 | Amarillo, TX
Summary: An Amarillo police officer shot a pit bull type dog while responding to an alarm call. The officer initially believed the dog was on some sort of leash that would limit its movement. Two weeks ago, a separate Amarillo officer shot a pit bull when responding to a call.

#222: Officers Shoot, Kill Dog During Search
08/09/08 | Colorado Springs. CO
Summary: A police officer shot and killed a dog in the bathroom of a home while searching for a man. Deanna Gonzales says she was showering when she heard the shot fired. Gonzales claims to not know 28-year-old Francisco Aragon, who the police had been after, but admits the dog was trained to attack people.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#223: Jackson Police Kill Dog That Charged Them
08/11/08 | Jackson, MI
Summary: A Jackson police officer shot and killed a dog Sunday morning after the animal attempted to attack another police officer. The officers were responding to a complaint from a neighbor who told dispatchers a pit bull tried to attack her in her carport.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#224: Elgin Police Shoot Pit Bull
08/11/08 | Elgin, IL
An Elgin police officer shot a pit bull in the right front leg after it came at the officer several times. According to a police report, the officer was called to a home when a neighbor reported the dog was loose and was fighting with her dog, a Siberian husky, which was chained in her front yard.

#225: Citizen Shoots Attacking Pit Bull
08/12/08 | Anchorage, AK
Summary: A pit bull that attacked a girl inside her Anchorage home was shot by a neighbor who rushed to the scene after hearing the screams of the girl's baby sitter, whom the dog also bit, according to police and witnesses.
Pit bulls killed: 1

#226: Fort Pierre Police Shoot, Kill Pit Bull
08/12/08 | Pierre, SD
Summary: Stanley County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a pit bull after it attacked two people in Fort Pierre. The pit bull apparently broke loose from a chain and attacked a 7-year-old girl. The dog also turned on the girl's 58-year-old grandmother when she tried to help.
Pit bulls killed: 1

Flashback: Ava Price, 22 Months Old, Mauled by Family Pit Bull

2008-08-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

Mom Blames the Bone
London - In December of 2007, a 22-month old girl received 25 stitches in her face after being bitten by the family pit bull. The girl's mother, Melissa Price, said her daughter Ava had backed the dog into a corner and was taunting the dog with a bone. She believed the dog tried to grab the bone, but instead it clamped down the child's cheek and tore it off.

Price had adopted the dog 8 months prior. She admits that at first, she was skeptical, but she decided to do it anyway. The family and dog originated from Ontario -- a Canadian province that bans pit bulls. Yet, the attack seems to have occurred in London (where the interview takes place). The presumption upon watching the video is that the Price family moved to London and took their dog with them.

The attack occurred when the girl was left alone with the dog, as she had been "100 times before," according to Price. But in this instance, a bone was involved. The 99 other occasions must not have involved a bone. Price added, "We all loved and cherished this dog, and at no point did we think that she was aggressive or going to be aggressive. But now, I truly don't think a pit bull should be a family pet."

Price had the dog euthanized after Ava was injured. She said, "I loved that dog to pieces -- I still wish she was here with us -- and I still do not support [Ontario's] ban on pit bulls." She believes her daughter will miss the pit bull named Mugsy. They were best friends. "[Ava] would hop on her back and ride her like a horse, and they would chase each around the house."

Then one day, Ava's best friend flipped.

Related articles:
06/09/08: Spokane Toddler Mauled by Family Pit Bull-Mix, Mom...
01/30/08: Nominated: Mother of the Year

2006 Fatality: Dogsitter Killed By Pit Bull in New York

2008-08-12T03:00:00.001-07:00

Jeannine Fusco, 44 Years Old
Airmont, NY - It was reported on October 8, 2006 that a Rockland County woman was killed after being bitten in the head and throat by a pit bull she and her sister were watching for a friend. Police said the dog violently attacked 44-year-old Jeannine Fusco in the garage of her home. The victim suffered severe bites to her throat, head and neck.

By the time officers arrived, Jeannine was already dead, and the dog had disappeared. Her sister, Valerie Wall, 43, was bitten on the leg and hand and taken to a local hospital. Police officers later found the dog in the home's backyard and killed it. Two dogs owned by the sisters, which were not involved in the attacks, were taken to the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona, N.Y.

The two sisters lived in a split-level home and mostly kept to themselves, neighbors said. They often took in the dogs of friends or other people who could no longer care for the animals. At the mouth of their driveway was a hand painted sign reading, "Dogs at play." A coworker said that he had seen Jeannine the night before at a wedding. He described her as "incredibly dedicated, smart and lots of fun."

Related articles:
05/02/08: 2006 Fatality: Matthew Davis, Attacked by Pack of Dogs
01/30/08: 2006 Fatality: Dog Owner Pleads Guilty in North Carolina