In the 3-year period from 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 73% of these deaths. | More »
Pit Bull Kills Mini-Horse in Levelland, Texas, Injures Another
Mini Stallion Mauled to Death Levelland, TX - It was reported On August 17th that a Hockley County family had to stab to death a stray pit bull, after the dog attacked and killed one of their miniature horses and critically injured another. The attack happened at a home outside of Levelland. Debbie Whitley says she had just let her dog outside to play when she noticed a pit bull covered in blood.
When she went inside her barn to check on the animals, she found her prize-winning miniature stallion mauled to death, and her mini-mare barely alive. Whitley says her husband caught the pit bull on their property and killed it with a knife to make sure it couldn't attack again. She says she's had her mini-stallion for the past 14 years, and she's heartbroken from losing him.
She's hoping this story will convince dog owners to start properly constraining their pets and not let them roam free. She and her friends are planning to petition the county to start enforcing tougher laws to help control the stray dog population. Whitley says the mini-mare is expected to recover, but the horse is pregnant and may lose the baby.
Video: Two Pit Bulls Attack and Kill Horse in Kingsport
Kingsport, TN - In November 2007, two pit bulls attacked and killed Lisa Gilreath's horse named Scarlette. The pit bulls attacked the horse in its stall and the ensuing battle spread across the pasture. By the time Lisa's father-in-law arrived with a gun, Scarlette was already down. She said the pit bulls "ripped her horse to shreds." When the deputy arrived, the pit bull owner gave him permission to shoot and kill both dogs.
In the video, Gilreath words cut straight to the chase: "The seriousness of having dogs like pit bull terriers, they are bred to do exactly what they did last night. No matter how sweet and innocent they may look, at other times...we were out here Thanksgiving feeding the horses and my children were leaning over the fence petting the dogs. Yet, given circumstances or opportunity, they can do exactly what they did last night."
Scarlette was valued at $3,500. The dog owners, John C. Smith and Ray Ward, were cited into Hawkins County Sessions Court for allowing dogs to run at large.
Aurburn, CA - Back in April, we reported that a pit bull attacked a horse in a state park near Auburn. The attack sent the 77-year old rider toppling to the ground and her horse Dancing Dandi into a frenzied flight. The pit bull owner made no attempt to stop the attack then fled the scene and town. We'd like you to meet Odette Parker and her horse Dancing Dandi.
By late May, a regional grassroots effort to locate the pit bull owner kicked in. "Wanted" posters went up from Reno, Nevada to Stockton, California in pet stores and veterinarian offices. The reward for information was elevated to $4,700. As of July 29th, to our knowledge, there is still no word on the fugitive pit bull owner or the offending dog.
Video: Pit Bull Attacks Herd of Horses in Harford County
Harford County, MD - Back in May, we brought you the story of a pit bull that ransacked a herd of 8 horses at a Forest Hill farm injuring three. One horse was euthanized due to its injuries; a second horse may have been put down as well. Two full-grown men, one yielding a steel pipe and the other a pitchfork, managed to stop the attack. Now we bring the story to you in video.
Prior to the attack, the pit bull owner had been cited for letting his dog run loose. The dog was returned to its owner. Then the pit bull "got away" again, this time costing horse lives and the horse owner over $8,000 in damages. After the horse attacks, the pit bull was euthanized. The dog owner was left with 5 pit bull puppies, who in one year's time will be raring to go!
Flashback: Miniature Horse Killed by Pit Bulls in San Antonio
Prize Winning Horse Dies to Pit Bulls San Antonio, TX - On June 8th, 2005, it was reported that two loose pit bulls attacked and killed a prized miniature horse name Smokey just south of San Antonio. The horse breeder, Jeremy Beale, said he found Smokey lying in the corner of his pen. "He was breathing through a hole in his neck."
"His neck was completely full of puncture wounds. His muzzle was covered in puncture wounds," he added.
Beale said he's worried the dogs will attack a child. He warned his neighbors to be on the lookout for the two pit bulls that killed the 200-pound horse. "They mauled him," said Beale. "There was no trying to eat him or anything -- they just chewed him up. They completely ripped off one ear right at the skull," he said.
Beale said one of the black pit bulls had a white chest and legs. He said both dogs appeared to be well cared for. Beale said that Smokey's owners have offered a reward to help track down the owner of the pit bulls. DogsBite.org did not learn if the owners were ever found. If they were, please write to us.
Loose Dogs Attack Minis Saline County, AR - A woman is warning people of dangerous dogs that she says viciously attacked and killed her miniature horses. Jennifer Ahart says the sheriff's office called this a civil case, so she's taking her complaint to the prosecutor's office, hoping to raise awareness of vicious dogs in the area.
Ahart had been saving up to buy two miniature horses, Prince and Thunder. But just after she brought them home, she and her husband awoke to a nightmare. "He ran out and saw the dogs and saw thunder on the ground. I mean it wasn't just puncture marks and bite marks, they literally ate through those horses."
There is no mention of dogs breeds, but we've only run across one that consistently eats through horses: pit bulls.
Ahart confronted neighbors down the street who she believed owned the pack of dogs. She says the neighbors claimed the dogs, until Ahart told them what happened. Then they changed their story and said they were stray dogs that they "just fed." (DogsBite.org hears this same story all too often from pit bull owners, even in fatality cases: Rosalie Bivins and Jimmie McConnell).
Ahart plans to file a lawsuit in the future, because she wants to make sure something like this never happens again. "If dogs can do this to a 200-250 pound horse, they can do it to any child riding a bike or playing in the yard. It's no different than having a killer in the neighborhood; you never know when they're going to strike."
Two Pit Bulls Attack Shetland Pony then "Redirect" Attack onto Nearby People
Pit Bulls Hang from Pony's Neck Pelican Rapids, MN - On the same day that DogsBite.org released our first report: Dog Attacks on Livestock and Horses January - May 2008, a pony was viciously attacked by two pit bulls. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the attack. In true-to-form "bull baiting" style, two pit bulls bit the horse on the neck so hard that they were hanging by its neck when bystanders tried to pull the dogs off the horse.
After the dogs let go of the horse, they turned their attention to nearby people. The "redirected" attack onto humans left a 17-year old boy bit on the ankle and sent a pregnant woman toppling to the ground. The boy was taken to St. Mary's hospital in Detroit Lakes for treatment. The horse suffered several puncture wounds to its neck and injury to a hind leg. Charges against the dog's owner are pending.
Report: Dog Attacks on Livestock and Horses January - May 2008
Seattle, WA - DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks by creating common sense laws, has released its first report on dog bite trends. The report details the occurrence of dog attacks on livestock and horses in the United States from January 1st through May 20th of 2008.
The report shows the results of dog attacks on livestock have been devastating. While various breeds of roaming dogs pose a significant threat to livestock owners, the research revealed that only pit bulls have a history of attacking large animals without a partner or group of dogs. Furthermore, without immediate human intervention, pit bulls may not take down just two or three animals, but may continue until they have killed an entire herd.
"Another major attack occurred just a few months later in Quincy, Illinois. Three pit bull mixes killed 34 pet deer that were penned. The livestock owners were left with two animals. The valuation of the herd fell from $50,000 to $3,000 in a matter of hours."
Pit bull type dogs are the most common "fighting breed" and are comprised of several types of dogs: American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, bull terrier, and any other pure bred or mixed breed that is a combination of these dogs. Selective breeding of pit bulls has created a dog with powerful jaws and unmatched tenacity. The report shows the difficulty of constraining pit bulls as well:
"Pit bulls are also notoriously difficult to constrain, particularly when in high-prey drive mode. Ample evidence exists that a pit bull can scale a 6-foot fence, break tethering methods -- including chains -- bite through wood slats and chew through metal to reach their target."
In the area titled, "Livestock Attacks on the Rise," the report details the Pit Bull Epidemic that occurred in Lubbock County, Texas between January 1st - March 18th 2008. The epidemic did not end until a child suffered serious injuries by a loose pit bull and a senior citizen was mauled by a stray dog that still remains unidentified today.
"By March 18th, the death count had reached 23. Animals killed by loose pit bulls included over a dozen goats, three prize winning potbelly pigs and three miniature horses, two of which were therapy animals owned by Hearts and Hooves Ranch. Several more of their miniature horses were left badly wounded. The shocked community raised $10,000 in donations for immediate veterinary costs for Hearts and Hooves. Rarely are livestock owners as fortunate."
In the area titled, "Horse Attacks on the Rise," the report warns horse owners that a single pit bull is just as lethal as a pack of dogs to a horse owner. It also reveals that the number of horse attacks in Britain, primarily by pit bull type dogs, has increased so rapidly in the last year that the British Horse Society (BHS) is now tracking them. The report urges US horse organizations to do the same.
"This past April, three horses with riders were attacked by pit bulls in nearby parks. The first, an attack on a young Arab-Morgan gelding occurred near Auburn, California. The pit bull attacked the horse's flank first, then locked onto the horse's nose. The gelding flung the dog into a nearby tree before losing balance and sending the 70-year old rider toppling to the ground. The dog attacked a third time, launching the two animals into a dead run. The horse was found three miles out. The pit bull and his owner were never found having fled the scene."
The latter portion of the report addresses the ineffectiveness of current US dog laws in semi-rural counties, particularly when it comes to animal attacks (as opposed to human attacks). It urges US livestock and horse owners to actively engage in the legislative process to ensure that "animal attacks" are strongly penalized.
"By the time a dog is legally labeled a Dangerous Dog (DD), it may have inflicted three attacks. These attacks may result in the loss of many livestock animals. Furthermore, as is often the case with pit bull owners, once the dog is given the DD label the owner will put the dog down. The financial cost of ownership becomes too high. The owner is then free to go out and buy two new pit bulls, and the process starts all over again."
Finally, the report reviews a variety of laws that can help protect livestock and horse owners from future attacks including: placing "potentially dangerous" or "dangerous" designations on specific breeds, banning certain breeds and limiting the adoption of these breeds from county animal shelters. The report notes that the state of Ohio, a handful of U.S. counties and about 250 U.S. cities already regulate pit bulls and other fighting breeds.
"Wanted" Posters Go Up After Pit Bull Owner Flees Horse Attack
Community Keeps Hope Auburn, CA - Nearly two months after a pit bull attacked a horse (with a 70-year old rider atop) then fled the scene, the community has not lost hope. Reward posters are going up on walls in pet stores and veterinarian offices from Reno to Stockton in a regional drive to collar the man and dog involved in the attack.
On April 3, Odette Parker was riding her horse Dancing Dandi in the Auburn State Recreation area when an unleashed pit bull attacked her horse. The attack sent Odette to the ground and her horse trying to fling the pit bull from its nose. Dancing Dandi managed to toss the dog into the trees. Then both animals flew into a dead run. The horse was later found 3 miles out.
Meanwhile, the pit bull owner got into his car and took off.
The new posters are a grassroots effort meant to augment efforts by law enforcement to find the dog owner who fled after the attack. Posters started going up locally a week ago, showing artist renderings of the man, the dog involved in the attack and two other dogs that were with the man but didn’t take part in the attack.
1,000 posters were printed locally and are now spreading into the equestrian and pet-owner community throughout the region. A similar attack by a pit bull in the North Fork of the American River in Applegate two weeks later has helped galvanize the equestrian community. Posters are now plastered from Sacramento to Foresthill to Modesto to Reno.
Margot Farrelly, a local pet groomer, is convinced the pit bull owner will be found. She said, "People are incensed that he would stand by and watch his dog attack a horse, have the rider thrown off, and never have a thought to pull the dog off and help the lady." Authorities have tried to find the man since the attack. But the investigation had reached a dead end.
Now it's up to the community, and it sounds like they're fired up.
Parker said that it’s been frustrating to think that the dog is still at large. She recently took Dancing Dandi out last week for his first trail ride since the attack. "He was very wary," the Lincoln equestrian said. "Whenever he sees dogs, he looks at them askance." Parker said that she’s seen the posters all over the place and hopes they’ll do some good.
Rider Thrown from Horse after Pit Bull Type Dog Attacks
Dog Owner Flees the Scene Newport, UK - A woman was thrown onto a busy road after a vicious dog attacked her horse and left her badly bruised. Rider Lindsay Rusack, 45, was making her way across the fields from her home when her horse was set upon by an off-lead Staffordshire bull terrier (which is indisputably a pit bull type dog).
"It was a terrifying experience," she said. "I was screaming at the dog's owner to try and get it under control.
She said her horse was panicking and leaping closer to the busy road. "I hit the ground hard and I'm very bruised and sore, but it could have been more serious." A member of the Saffron Walden and District Riding Club, Rusack regularly competes in dressage and show jumping events, but has been left shaken by the incident.
Her husband Andrew said that the dog was out of control and biting Lindsay's horse on the legs. The horse was bucking and rearing and eventually jumped from the field onto the busy main road. She was thrown from her horse and has painful bruising to her leg, arm and side, but luckily she missed the oncoming traffic.
After the dog owner got control of the dog, he fled the scene. Police are currently trying to track the man down.
Lindsay's horse suffered bite wounds to his legs from the attack by the dog. After she was thrown from the saddle, the horse bolted up the London Road still being pursued by the Staffordshire bull terrier. Fortunately the horse found his way back home. Lindsay says, however, that it will be quite a long time before she gets back on a horse.
Pit Bull Attacks Three Horses Killing One (Possibly Two)
Dog Owner Keeps 5 Pit Bull Puppies UPDATE 05/11/08: Several weeks prior to the attack that left three horses injured, authorities removed the same dog from the horse owner's property. The offending dog was returned to its owner. But the pit bull "got away" again, this time costing horse lives and the horse owner over $8,000 in damages.
Authorities euthanized the offending dog after the attack and also left the dog owner to care for 5 pit bull puppies. In about a year, all five puppies will be raring to go. The dog owner could not constrain one pit bull, how will he constrain five? Moreover, each puppy will have a clean slate: each dog must have 1-2 documented attacks before authorities can euthanize.
You see how existing dog laws grossly favor owners of dangerous dogs and not the victim?
DogsBite.org imagines that the horse owner Debbie Wilson, and neighbor to the dog owner, must be in an absolute state of shock.
05/11/08: Another Pit Bull Attacks Horses in Maryland Harford County, MD - A pit bull, whose owner was previously cited for failing to secure his dog, has now attacked several horses. Of the various breeds that attack large livestock, DogsBite.org has only come across one that will attack a group of horses by itself: a pit bull. This aggressive trait in pit bulls stems back 2,000 years to the sport of bull and bear baiting.
Three separate attacks on horses (and herds) by these dogs have occurred in Maryland in the last 2.5 weeks alone.
The young male pit bull attacked the horses pastured at a local farm, injuring one so severely that it was put down. Another horse might not survive its injuries and a third has nearly 50 stitches on its face. Harford's animal control officer said that based on the dog's past history and witness accounts, the dog was destroyed for the safety of the neighborhood.
The dog was often seen running loose in the Forest Hill area near the Grier Nursery Road farm. Twice since March, Jonathan Russo, the dog's owner and the farm's neighbor, had been fined $60 for not securing the animal. Russo, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, received another $95 fine Thursday.
Minute fines hardly prevent future attacks. So far, Russo is out $155 dollars and the horse owner's loss is $8,500.
Phil Klein of Darlington witnessed the attacks on the horses and struck the dog with a metal pipe. He had been helping his 12-year-old daughter lead her horse to pasture when the dog ran toward them and lunged at the horse. As the horse ran away, with the dog in pursuit, Klein and his daughter, Danielle, raced to the barn, where she remained.
Klein grabbed a pipe and returned to the pasture. "The dog ran into a herd of horses and started attacking," Klein said. "One horse kicked him hard but couldn't stop him." The dog grabbed a 6-year-old Welsh pony by the nose and hung on, despite the horse's efforts to shake it off. It took 45 stitches to close the pony's bite wounds.
The dog then chased a 2-year-old Chincoteague pony and tore at its left hind leg so deeply that its survival remains in question. A 350-pound yearling sustained a fatal injury when the dog grabbed its foreleg and pulled it down. The deep bites exposed joints and tendons -- its leg was broken. Dell Bearsch, who was baby-sitting her three grandchildren at the time, saw the scene unfold.
"It was like a lion attacking gazelles," she said. "Thank God that the children were not out there."
Wilson, the horses' owner, credited Klein with saving the remaining animals. She has mounting veterinary bills, already in excess of $1,500 and has lost a horse worth about $7,000, she said. As of yesterday, Wilson said that Russo -- once again following the pit bull owner's Conduct Unbecoming Guide -- had not even bothered to contact her.
Donkey Dies Following Bull Terrier Attack in Ballyclare
Donkey Mauling Dog Living in Larne UPDATE 10/22/08: It was discovered that an English bull terrier which viciously mauled a pet donkey in Ballyclare has not been destroyed, but is being kept by a breeder in Larne. The concern is that the dog could be used for breeding purposes. Additionally, council officers are troubled by the idea that Morrow could easily acquire a dog and reside in a neighboring borough unfettered by the ban that restricts him in his current borough.
09/23/08: Dog Owner Fined; Banned from Owning Dogs Kenneth Morrow of Ballyclare has been fined £1,850 and banned from keeping dogs for five years after his dog mauled a donkey nearly to death. The pet donkey, Isabella, had been a familiar sight to local people for over 30 years. In May, her owners were left heart-broken when the little donkey was mauled by a dog as she grazed in a field beside their house. Despite a vet being on the scene quickly, the animal died of her injuries.
05/08/08: Pit Bull Type Dogs Pose Great Risk to Horse Family Ballyclare County, Northern Ireland - A donkey died after being attacked by a bull terrier, a breed that resides within the class of "pit bull type dogs." Other breeds that make up this class, and share the genetic history of "bull baiting" and dogfighting, include: pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, bull terrier and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs.
The Bull Terrier is a British breed of dog. Its predecessors were developed for the purposes of pit fighting, in the middle of the 19th century. The "sporting enthusiasts" of that time loved to bet on dog fights, bull fights and bear fights. Some of them started mating two formidable breeds of dog, the Bull Dog and the Black and Tan Terrier. They wanted to combine the Bull Dog's tenacity, courage and high threshold of pain, with the terrier's lightening speed, agility and unsurpassed ratting (killing) instinct. What resulted was called the Bull and Terrier dog.
This particular donkey was in a field beside her owner's home when she sustained injuries to her face and throat. Despite a vet being on the scene quickly, Isabella the donkey died of her injuries. The dog's owner was identified and has voluntarily placed the dog in kennels outside the borough. The council said it was investigating the incident with the intent of initiating legal proceedings under the provisions of the Dogs (NI) Order.
Molly the Pony Survives Katrina and Pit Bull Attack
A Book About People, Ponies and Hope New Orleans, LA - "Molly the Pony," is a children's book. It is a story about a speckled pony that was abandoned after Katrina. She spent weeks on her own before she was taken to a farm where abandoned animals were kept. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her future grim.
Surgeon Rustin Moore was taken by Molly. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.
"Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain," Moore said.
The other important factor, according to Moore, is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse. Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana: The little pony gained weight, her mane felt a comb, and a human prosthesis designer built her a leg.
Allison Barca DVM, Molly's vet, says that the prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life. "She asks for it! She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too." Molly can even get away from Barca. "It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse," she laughs.
Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers -- anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people. She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is gives hope.
"Molly the Pony," is a children's book written by Pam Kaster about the pony who has already inspired thousands of people around New Orleans. It's not a book about amputation or prosthetics, it's a book about people and ponies. Molly's MySpace page
SPCA Trained Pit Bull-Mix Had Been Tested Twice San Francisco, CA - In November of 2003, a pit bull-mix attacked a police horse in Golden Gate Park. The dog belonged to an SPCA volunteer who took the dog to senior centers. The attack landed the dog owner in the hospital after being kicked by the horse and the dog in the vet after being shot by an officer. The officer riding the horse suffered back injury from the attack.
The dog attacked the police horse, named AAA Andy, after the dog owner, Anna Klafter, let her off her leash to play with other dogs near the Conservatory of Flowers, something she had done in the past. The dog had been through extensive training and behavior tests that had shown her to be sociable, Klafter said, so she didn't see any harm in it.
The area near the conservatory is not one of Golden Gate Park's 24 designated off-leash areas, and Sgt. David Herrera, who was patrolling on horseback, ordered Klafter to put Nettie on a leash. This is when the pit bull charged the police horse, biting its leg and belly. Klafter tried to regain control of Nettie from underneath the horse and was struck in the face with a hoof.
Besides the possible skull fracture, Klafter suffered a broken finger and head laceration. The horse suffered bites to his belly and one hind leg, and Herrera suffered a back injury caused when he fell from the horse. Another officer shot Nettie, who is expected to survive -- at least for now. A hearing would determine the ultimate fate of the dog.
Officials who trained Nettie said the dog belonged with kids and old folks, not in the pound. Klafter adopted Nettie from the SPCA, where she had volunteered for more than two years, sometimes leading dog-training classes. Nettie's previous owners gave her to the city's animal control because they were moving to an apartment where dogs were not allowed.
Nettie was given basic behavior evaluations by Animal Care and Control in addition to an aggression test for pit bulls. She was tested again by the SPCA and trained for animal assisted therapy. Netty received references from eight people after Klafter adopted her, including animal trainers from the SPCA and Animal Care and Control, and received no negative reports.
Though Nettie's response to children and seniors was tested, she had never met a horse. The novelty may have caused her to give way to her aggressive instincts, said Daniel Crain, president of the SPCA.
Sgt. Phil Downs of the San Francisco police equestrian unit said AAA Andy was fine. Luckily, the dog did not "lock on" to the horse's leg. But Downs fears the horse may be more than skittish when confronted with dogs in the future. The ill effects will be seen down the road, he said. "Unfortunately, a horse has a long memory.''
Semi-Rural Area Endures Another Horse Attack by Roaming Dogs
Pack of Dogs Kill Horse in Prince George County Prince George County, MD - A neighborhood in the northeastern portion of Prince George County is on alert after residents say a pack of wild dogs attacked and killed a horse. The owner of the horse, Charles Poole, says he has seen several stray dogs, including a reddish-brown pit bull, in his yard.
"She'd run all over the place, struggling. Blood was everywhere," he said. "She put up a fight. To be her age, she was strong and healthy.
Animal Control says the agency has received several calls about loose dogs roaming the area where the horse was found dead. In reponse, officers have put out traps. Animal control is encouraging residents to secure their pets and warn against approaching any dog they're not familiar with.
American Bulldog and Bullmastiff Attack Pony and Rider
Boy Suffers Facial Injuries; Pony Diagnosed Lame UK - A 12-year-old boy is now facially scarred after falling from his pony during a dog attack. Jordan Lye was riding his pony, Poppy, in Langley Park when two dogs attacked them. Nicky Barnes, his mother, said Jordan had asked the owner to put the dogs on their leads three times prior the attack -- they ignored him.
The bullmastiff and American bulldog jumped up at Poppy and bit her, which caused her to bolt. Jordan fell off into a tree, leaving him with cuts to his face. Ms Barnes said the dogs chased Poppy for a couple of miles, down a main road where she was nearly hit by two cars. She eventually stopped in an industrial estate.
Four-year-old Poppy suffered puncture wounds to the legs, lost a shoe and is now lame.
"It took Jordan four days to go back into the park as he was scared it might happen again. I'm worried it could happen to someone else. Jordan is now facially scarred." The police are currently investigating the incident. It is unknown if authorities have the dogs in custody.
After a spate of dog attacks on horses in the past year the British Horse Society (BHS) are calling for victims to contact them. A spokesman from the BHS said they have had an excellent response so far. The more reports we get the more we can do. "By people contacting us we can collate the information and form concrete evidence," she said.
Pony Attack Caught on Cell Phone Severn, MD - Two pit bulls have been taken into custody after attacking a pair of ponies on a Severn farm, Anne Arundel County police said. The ponies were outside when the dogs, which live in a nearby trailer park and were running loose, clamped onto their noses, said Lt. Jeffrey Silverman.
The ponies suffered minor facial injuries. One of the children on a passing bus recorded the mauling on his cell phone and handed it over to Animal Control. The dogs are being held at the Millersville headquarters of Animal Control pending results of its investigation. The dog owners are "fighting" to get the dogs back.
Due to their bull baiting and dog fighting heritage, pit bulls have no qualms about attacking large or small animals.
Pit bulls are "animal aggressive." This trait is unacceptable without regulation. Animal lovers that refuse to listen to the rational behind breed-specific measures only have themselves to blame for the countless attacks pit bulls inflict on the rest of the animal population.
Pit Bull Owner Gets Jail Time After Dogs Kill Arabian Horse
30 Days and $21,951 in Restitution After Terrible Crime Livingston, MI - David Clyde McGalliard, whose pit bulls mauled a neighbor's horse in January, was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He was also ordered to pay $21,951 in restitution, two years probation, community service at the county animal shelter and substance abuse counseling. He is prohibited from owning pets during his probation.
"You are terribly lucky that this was not a human being," Judge Carol Sue Reader said. "The trauma is the same (for the victims). Our animals are our family members."
McGalliard pleaded no contest in an agreement with prosecutors last month on five misdemeanor charges: two counts of allowing animals to stray and three counts of having unlicensed dogs. His two pit bulls left his property and viciously attacked a 25-year-old Arabian mare inside its stall. A sheriff deputy arrived and shot both dogs. The horse had to be euthanized due to its injuries.
The horse's owner Kara Sepulveda spoke briefly to the court saying she would never be able to erase the memory of what she saw that morning. "I'm happy (McGalliard) showed remorse this time," said Kara. "I don't think he was at the last hearing." The restitution was welcomed, however, she called her mare "irreplaceable, the matriarch of our farm."
Pit Bull Attacks Horse in Classic Bull Baiting Form
New Leads Emerge in Pit Bull Attack UPDATE 04/11/08: Nearly a week after a pit bull and his owner fled after attacking a horse, the investigation into finding both was bolstered by new information and a growing reward -- one report says $2,000 another $3,600. The rider has also provided a clearer description of the dog and the car the owner fled in.
Between the rider's better description and information received from the Placer County Animal Services Division about a possible person of interest, new life is being breathed into the case. For people with information on the dog or owner, the state Parks Department can be reached at (530) 885-4527. For people wishing to add to the reward, Echo Valley’s phone number is (530) 823-1482.
04/09/08: Reward Offered in Pit Bull Attack on Horse and Rider An Auburn feed store put up reward money to help locate a pit bull and owner involved in a bloody attack on a horse. Echo Valley Ranch owner Greg Kimler said he was shocked when he learned of the unprovoked attack on a Lincoln rider’s horse last Thursday.
The pit bull owner fled in his SUV after the attack, which took place on an Auburn State Recreation Area trail. He and the dog are now being sought by the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Echo Valley of Auburn is offering $500 to the person whose information leads to the owner being held responsible for his actions.
Kimler said he was "disgusted with the owner not helping." All my customers are shocked, he said, because we all ride out there. Kimler, a Western States Trail Foundation board member, said some customers have already pledged additional reward funds and he expects the equestrian community to provide more backing.
04/05/08: Attack Pit Bull Still at Large The pit bull and its owner are still AWOL. The man is described as in his mid-to-late 20s, balding, with a short fringe of black hair near the ears, stocky and about 5 feet 5 inches tall. He wore jeans and a white T-shirt. Anyone with information can contact the Auburn State Recreation Area: (530) 885-4527.
Parker said her horse, Dancing Dandi, had to go back to the veterinarian after swelling was noticed in a hind limb. The horse now has two legs wrapped, as well as stitches in its face for puncture wounds and additional wounds near its tail. Parker is still in shock andconfused by the pit bull owner's behavior during and after the attack. “I didn’t think he would take off,” She said.
04/04/08: Unleashed Pit Bull Attacks 961 Pound Horse Auburn, CA - Traffic was halted for a short time on Foresthill Road to protect a riderless horse that was galloping down the roadway to escape an attacking pit bull. The horse's rider, Odette Parker, had been on an Auburn State Recreation Trail about 4 miles east of Auburn.
Parker said the dog, followed by two other smaller dogs and a man who stayed silent during the attack, ran yelping at the horse as it approached in a run, circled it and then jumped onto the horse’s flank, biting into the tail area. (What Parker may not know is that she just described classic bull baiting form, which has been in the bulldog bloodline for 2,000 years.)
Parker’s horse -- a 916-pound Morgan-Arabian named Dancing Dandi -- kicked its attacker away. But as a baiting pit bull would, he stuck around and continued to look for an opening. Parker said the dog was, "feinting, he was definitely out for the kill, there was no question." She yelled and screamed at the dog to no avail.
Then the dog leapt at the horse's face and locked its jaws around its nose. Dancing Dandi lifted the dog up and flung it into a tree. Parker tumbled off the horse as they both lost balance. With the horse on the ground trying to regain his footing, the dog attacked a third time. Fortunately, Dancing Dandi lurched to his feet. He took off down the trail with the pit bull in pursuit.
Meanwhile, the owner of the dogs began loading the other canines into his car. Parker said the man refused to help as he silently drove away, even after she asked him for a ride to find the horse.
Classic pit bull owner behavior.
Parker later learns that Dancing Dandi took a loop around the trail and the dog chased it to Foresthill Road. The dog apparently gave up the chase after that and was subsequently picked up by its owner as he drove toward Auburn. The gelding was finally caught by James Anderson about 3 miles from where the attack started.
In the chaos, Parker and Debbie Torres, who was out on the trail with her, did not get the license plate of the dog owner. The vehicle was described as a small silver SUV. The man was in his mid-20s, balding, with a short fringe of black hair near the ears, stocky and about 5 feet 5. He wore a white T-shirt, jeans, and had a sweatshirt tied around his waist.
Parker wants the dog that attacked her horse to be euthanized. Her horse was treated at the Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center for a swollen knee, lacerations to the face and inner side of the nose, and puncture wounds on the underside of the tail and thigh. Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Inoue said she’d treated horses attacked by a mountain lion and a coyote but never a dog.
Flashback: Race Horse Euthanized After Pit Bulls Attack
Pit Bulls Deemed Dangerous and Put Down Spokane Valley, WA - On February 28, 2007, a racehorse named, Drink the Wind, was attacked by two pit bull terriers. The horse was so badly injured that it had to be euthanized. The dogs were ordered destroyed after they were deemed to be dangerous.
Drink the Wind, won 22 races during his career at Spokane's former Playfair Race Course. He was 33 years old and in failing health. The dogs' owner was cited for allowing dangerous dogs to run at large. Both dogs were impounded at the regional shelter, where they were to be euthanized. The horse's owners, Bob and Leigh Ann Lightfoot, said laws regarding dangerous dogs are too lenient.
The pit bulls attacked the horse in its pasture after breaking out of their fenced yard a block away. They grabbed on to the horse's neck and muzzle, pulling the stunned animal to the ground before mauling its face and neck. The dogs' owner, Mike Schelin Jr., was apologetic. "I'm really sorry it happened," Schelin said. "I feel bad about it, but dogs will be dogs, I guess."
Loose Dogs Strike Again in Lubbock Lubbock, TX - A pair of dogs killed a miniature horse in south Lubbock County, bringing the animal death count from dog attacks up to at least 23 this year. The dogs -- a Lab mix and the other described as a chocolate brown mix of Lab and pit bull -- attacked 3-month-old Minnie in the 1600 block of CR 7340, which is near where two pigs were killed by dogs about three weeks ago.
The first dog was shot and later euthanized. "The more aggressive one got away," the horse's owner said, who was concerned about children playing in the area.
Ricky Martinez, the owner's son, said a full-size horse saved the other miniature horse's life. After the dogs attacked Minnie, they headed into the stable area, where the bigger horse charged to protect Mickey.
Mickey was shaken up on Monday and wouldn't leave the bigger horse's side, Martinez said. Minnie was also a new addition to the Martinez home. The family got her last week for their four grandchildren. "The kids are in shock," he said. "They loved that horse... She was a beautiful horse, gentle."
Pit Bull Attacks Another Horse Swindon, UK - Tracey Johnson was thrown from her horse as a pit bull leapt up at it repeatedly biting and clawing at the horse's stomach. "It was an absolute bloodbath," Tracey said. "I have never seen anything like it. I just kept screaming over and over again: Please get away from my horse, please get off Hattie!"
In classic pit bull owner behavior, the dog-walker, a man in his 50s, apparently stood by and did nothing during the attack (for 25 minutes).
Holding back her tears, Tracey said: "I screamed, I pleaded but he just stood there and watched. It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen." When there was no sign of the 25-minute attack coming to an end, Tracey called 999.
The terrified horse eventually bolted towards the road -- the dog still clinging on to her underbelly by its teeth. She was found back at her stables bleeding heavily and with her attacker sitting injured and panting nearby. The horse was given emergency surgery to close her gaping wounds and has been left with 16 stitches.
Rescuers took Tracey to the hospital where she was treated for a twisted pelvis, torn ligaments in her legs, and back and wrist injuries. She says the incident has left her terrified and reluctant to allow her children to ride their Shetland pony Tara along the path. Tracey has no idea how long it will be before she rides again.
In other news:
Staffordshire Bull Terrior Kills Yorky Wales, UK - When the UK Dangerous Dog act passed in 1991, it outlawed the breeding and sale of pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, the Dogo Argentinos and the Fila Brasileiros. Staffordshire bull terriers, which can weigh up to 40lb, are not covered by the act.
Brinley Davies, from Gwynedd Avenue in Townhill, who suffered hand injuries in the incident, said he was walking his dog at around 11pm on Thursday when the attack happened.
"This Staffordshire appeared from nowhere. At first I thought it was just going to sniff Tiza, but then it went for him and locked its jaws around his throat. Its strength was amazing.
Faced with the loss of his own dog, and that he could not help save him, Davies is also concerned that the crazed dog has not been located. That dog, he thinks, could strike again with even more tragic consequences.
Pit Bull Attacks Penned Horses in Texas Amarillo, TX - In another horse attack in Texas, an Amarillo man clung to hope as veterinarians worked to repair his horse, Shadow. Three days earlier, the mare was attacked by a pit bull that scaled a 6-foot fence surrounding Shelley's property. Doctors worked to save Shadow's left eye, which also was injured in the attack. It was too early to say whether her vision could be saved.
The pit bull was eventually captured, and owners Edwina and Jerry Lynn Ratliff agreed to have the dog euthanized -- neither owner was cited in the incident. Mr. Ratliff conceded that Boss, his dog, invaded the Shelleys' property but believes Shadow's injuries came from barbed wire fencing, not his dog.
"They talk about ripping and tearing" wounds, Ratliff said. "I don't see how a dog can do that kind of damage."
Shelley saw the dog hop his fence as he was hauling a load of hay behind his home on East Bonita Avenue. The pit bull ran straight at Misty, Shadow's filly. Shadow and the other horses encircled Misty and fought back. Shelly said the dog got kicked pretty good -- one threw him back about 20 feet. "But he kept coming back. He [the pit bull] wouldn't stop."
This wasn't the first time the dog had tried to make its way to the horses either. AC officers were called to the Shelley residence about a month ago when a dog was spotted attempting to climb the fence. That time, Shelley used a stick to get the dog off the property. A warning was issued, but no one was ticketed because it was determined that no law had been violated.
The Shelleys say they repeatedly asked the Ratliffs to raise the fence and to do more to keep Boss off their property. Ratliff said he installed sheet metal on his side of the fence and thought that would do the trick...
Pit Bull Owner Pleads Not Guilty After Dog Kills Horse Livingston, MI - Emotions ran high in the arraignment of a Handy Township man whose pit bulls mauled a horse in its stall last month. The owner of the horse, Kara Sepulveda, fought back tears as she watched David Clyde McGalliard plead not guilty to two counts of allowing animals to stray and three counts of having unlicensed dogs, all misdemeanor charges.
Magistrate Brian Brown ordered McGalliard to pay a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. He also can not have any dogs in his care. He ordered McGalliard to turn a third dog not involved in the attack over to the Livingston County Animal Shelter within 24 hours.
"You have proven you're not competent to handle pets and certainly not dangerous pets," Brown said.
Afterwards, Kara Sepulveda's husband, David, confronted McGalliard with a few heated words outside the hearing room about his responsibility for the incident. The Sepulvedas said this wasn't the first time McGalliard's dogs were seen roaming the area. They didn't think their horses were in danger.
After paying his bond, McGalliard said the incident was an accident and that he only let the dogs out that previous night to relieve themselves. He said they didn't return as usual.
"I've had these dogs around my kids and thought they were friendly," he said. "I'm just really sorry and apologize. Of course I feel really bad. I've taken a loss, too."
Lubbock, TX - Jolly, who was attacked by pit bulls at the Hearts and Hooves ranch, has died. Veterinarians said Jolly was doing well until blood clots began to form. Her kidneys and other organs began shutting down, but her heart stayed strong until the end.
"The vet said it was overall toxemia which is an infection that spread throughout the horse's body."
Honor (pictured) still has serious injuries. Since Jolly's passing away, Hearts and Hooves says they're angry. They spoke to a lawyer recently. You can keep track of their story and mission at their vox website. If you would like to help Hearts and Hooves of Lubbock, towels, blankets, and hay or monetary donations can be sent to:
Security State Bank 7801 Quaker Ave. Lubbock, TX 79424
There is Still Hope for Jolly Lubbock TX - As Hearts and Hooves struggles to get their horses back on their feet, city officials consider charges against the owners of the pit bulls that attacked the horses. Kim Sparks has been hoping the four horses who survived the attack would recover.
Jolly, though, has taken a turn for the worse. Sparks transported the 5-year-old horse to a hospital after a blood clot in her back right leg was discovered. A determination will be made whether the leg can be amputated. If amputation is not an option, Jolly may have to be euthanized.
Meanwhile, vet bills are climbing. The community has donated more than $10,000. The pit bulls' owners, Les and Laura Hurley, have not offered restitution for the medical bills. Their attorney disputes that.
"They intend to pay all the vet bills," said attorney Dan Hurley.
If Jolly survives an amputation, Sparks hopes a prosthetist can build him a new leg. Jolly's appetite also is good, Sparks said, so she and her family and friends are hopeful he will pull through. "He's hopping along on the three legs," she said. "We have to try."
Kevin Overstreet, the city's animal services director, said the dogs' owners likely will be charged with violating the city's leash laws, a class C misdemeanor with a $165 fine. Overstreet said charges have not yet been filed because officials had been looking for the strongest charge possible.
Michigan: State Legislature needs to take up debate on dangerous dog breeds
Michigan Serious About Dangerous Dog Breeds Livingston, MI - On Sept. 13, 2007 four American bulldogs mauled to death Edward Gierlach, 90, of Fowlerville, and Cheryl Harper, 56, of Iosco Township. The dogs' owner, Diane Cockrell, is charged with two counts of keeping dangerous animals, causing death, and a separate misdemeanor charge of allowing the dogs to stray.
Just last week two pit bulls on the loose in Handy Township jumped into Kara Sepulveda's horse's stall and viciously attacked and killed her Polish Arabian mare. Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse has since charged David Clyde McGalliard, 44, with two counts of allowing animals to stray and three counts of having unlicensed dogs -- all 90-day misdemeanors.
In an opinion article, LivingstonDaily.com editors discuss themes that state legislature members should address in upcoming months:
Prosecutor David Morse is sending the right message: If your animals attack, you will be held responsible. Period. If you own a dangerous breed, it's incumbent upon you to keep your animals secured.
Though debate exists on what constitutes a "dangerous breed," it's hard to deny that pit bulls and American bulldogs are potentially dangerous breeds.
Harper's family is promoting legislation that would make it illegal for someone to own dangerous dogs, and Sepulveda said she supports that measure. While it may appear a drastic measure, at the very least in needs to be studied.
Pit Bulls Attack Five Miniature Horses, Killing One
Horse Attack Sparks Outrage UPDATE 2/2/08: The four little horses that survived a pit bull attack are doing better. But the attack that left wounds and bite marks over much of their bodies has sparked outrage within a community that has suffered too many pit bull attacks recently.
Kevin Overstreet, Animal Services director, said he has received dozens of calls from residents asking, "What can we do to ban pit bulls in the city of Lubbock?"
The city of Lubbock cannot easily ban a specific breed. Texas state law prohibits such action. Lillian's Law, a state law that went into effect last year, holds owners more responsible for dog attacks against humans. But the new law does not include attacks on other animals. Sadly, the owners of the pit bulls that attacked the horses will not face criminal charges.
2/1/08: Pit Bulls Attack Five Miniature Horses, Killing One Lubbock, TX - Two pit bulls went on a violent rampage, killing one miniature horse, and seriously injuring four others. The horses are part of Hearts and Hooves of Lubbock, a non-profit organization that brings them to people who need therapeutic healing. The horse owner, Kauli Sparks said she got a knock on her door that morning.
"There are some dogs attacking your horses," said the neighbor.
It was a scene Kauli Sparks was not prepared to find. Four of her miniature horses bleeding profusely from their necks, ears and hind legs. Sparks quickly realized one miniature was missing. Oreo, which was one of the larger miniature horses, was actually dead in the stall. Sparks was outraged and confused.
"To think two dogs could do this to five horses is unbelievable to me." she said.
The two pit bulls were trapped in the barn and animal control found a microchip in one of the dogs identifying the owner's address. Overstreet says they have been called out to that address in the past. The dogs were signed over to be euthanized. Authorities are checking state law to find out if the dogs' owners will be held criminally for this attack.
Veterinary expenses will cost thousands of dollars. A fund has been set up for the Hearts and Hooves Organization at Security State Bank or you can make donations at HF&C Feed at 7811 W. 82nd.
Prosecutor's Office Issues Charges in Horse Attack UPDATE 1/31/07: Livingston County prosecutor’s office announced today it is charging David Clyde McGalliard, of Handy Township, with five misdemeanor charges in connection to the Monday pit bull attack on a Polish Arabian mare.
Prosecutor David Morse, who is also prosecuting Diane Cockrell in the fatal double mauling of Edward Gierlach and Cheryl Harper, said his office authorized a felony complaint against McGalliard, 44, for two counts of allowing animals to stray and three counts of having unlicensed dogs.
UPDATE 1/30/08:Horse Owner Haunted by Animal's Awful Death Inside the barn at Red Rock Arabians Farm, the blood-soaked evidence remains. The stall had been home to Helvezia, the matriarch of the 12-acre Arabian horse farm. But on Tuesday, the day after two pit bulls viciously ripped the 1,000-pound mare apart, the stall was a crime scene.
The owner, Kara Sepulveda doesn't like to speak of what she saw -- the bloody-mouthed pit bull ripping the flesh from her 26-year-old mare -- or of what happened next: a Livingston County sheriff's deputy shooting the two pit bulls dead. She knows that Helvezia's ear was bitten off and her face was mutilated, but she didn't ask the vet exactly what injuries made it necessary to put the creature down.
The attack is the second vicious dog mauling in recent months in the same stretch of rural Livingston County. Last November, Four American bulldogs -- generally known as a dangerous breed -- fatally mauled Edward Gierlack, 90, and 56-year-old Cheryl Harper. The owner of these dogs, Diane Cockrell is currently facing multiple felony counts.
1/29/08"Horse Euthanized After Pit Bull Attack Livingston, MI - In another pit bull horse-attack, Livingston County sheriff’s deputies responded to a horse farm in Handy Township after it was reported there was a stray dog attacking a horse in a stall. When police arrived, they found two pit bulls attacking the Arabian mare. The farm owner told police that he did not recognize the animals. A veterinarian was called to the scene to care for the horse, but was forced to euthanize due to the extent of the injuries caused by the dogs.
Pit Bull Attacks Horses and Riders at Muriwai Beach
Pit bull Attacks 4 Horses and Riders New Zealand - A pitbull attack on horses and riders near Muriwai Beach is one of the worst Rodney animal control officers say they have seen. They describe the unprovoked attack on four horses as particularly vicious. "It was horrific," says Kim Bell, who is a trek guide. "Several of the horses will be out for a couple of months because they have injuries."
Police say the dog ran into a group of eight horses, attacking four of them. Two riders were also injured in the attack.
Kumeu police sergeant Murray Smith says the dog owners then appeared and tried to grab the dog. "They were confronted by the people riding the horses and the pair -- a man and woman in their mid-20s -- became quite angry and abusive towards the horse riders." He added that "one of them pushed one of the riders over on the ground."
The police say the couple then got into a vehicle and drove off. "Members of the riding party took down the license number and reported the incident to the police and dog control," said Smith. A council spokesman says the dog has disappeared and strenuous efforts are being made to locate it. Police plan to lay prosecution against the dog owners.
In 2003, New Zealand passed the Dog Control Amendment Act that banned certain breeds from future importation, including: American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila, and Japanese Tosa. Importation bans, however, do not necessarily address dogs living in the country prior the ban.
Horse Dies in Smith Valley Pit Bull Attack Smith Valley, NV - Unfortunately, this is a common story -- a small group of pit bulls (sometimes just one) attacking and killing ponies and horses. In this instance, the pit bulls attacked the quarter horse while it was in its stall. The horse owner tells the Reno newspaper:
The horse had part of its face torn off. Injury to a front leg left it almost completely detached...the animal surgeon recommended the horse be put down."
Below is a small sampling from Google. Apparently even "companion-trained" pit bulls attack horses.
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DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks.
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