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Saturday, August 2, 2008
Pit Bull Owner and Vicious Dogs Continue Terror Streak in B.C.
Hal Harris, Suspect at Large
UPDATE 08/02/08: Hal Harris is believed to be the owner of the pit bulls responsible for eight different attacks. Harris was identified through licence plate checks and is thought to have five to eight pit bulls. He was seen driving a 1995 green Dodge Caravan and is listed as living at 2048 Weiler Ave. in Sidney, B.C. He's described as about 55 years old, tall and slim, with long grey curly hair and a beard.
07/31/08: Pit Bull Owner Uses False Names
Upon publishing our last post, new information was released that sheds light on the matter. Partly why the the pit bull owner has been able to elude authorities is because he has been using false names and addresses. Victoria officers that did find the man were unaware of the violent history. As soon as they became aware of it, the man had fled again.
The victim in Surrey -- whose dog was killed by the man's pit bulls -- thinks that after the pit bull owner's dogs killed the American Eskimo dog named Sofi, Victoria officials should have seized the pit bulls immediately. David Voss, the owner of Sofi agrees. But because Voss's small dog was unleashed at the time of the attack (and the pit bulls were not), his dog was considered the aggressor.
07/31/08: Officials Can't Locate Man (Again)
Victoria, BC - The owner of a band of vicious pit bulls eludes officials in BC again, and his dogs continue to unleash terror. The pit bulls' first violent strike occurred last August in Surrey, BC. There have since been seven more attacks. Two of the attacks injured a jogger and a cyclist and the rest targeted other, smaller dogs, killing two in total.
The last attack occurred in Victoria on July 7th and killed a mini American Eskimo dog. The owner, who may own up to seven pit bulls, reportedly received 50 stitches after trying to pull his dogs off the smaller dog. By the time bylaw officers went to the dog owner's address in Sidney, BC, the day after the attack, the man had fled with the dogs, which had been declared "dangerous."
Authorities caught the man once, declared his dogs "dangerous," the dogs attacked again and the man fled again. Currently, eight separate attacks are attributed to the owner of these vicious pit bulls. The owner has also fled multiple attack scenes. It is unclear why BC authorities did not seize these dogs prior to the eighth attack and place the man in jail. It is reported that the region's bylaw service has finally put out a warrant to seize and euthanize the animals. (Better late than never.)
Surrey is also seeking charges and if convicted, the man could face fines, be barred from owning animals in the future and face charges of criminal negligence. The BC SPCA is working with Surrey RCMP and regional SPCAs to try to capture the man and his dogs. Except that dog owner was caught once and it appears that authorities did little to penalize him.
Related articles:
07/31/08: Coverage of Pit Bull Attacks and SPCA Issues in Surrey, BCLabels: spca, surrey
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Coverage of Pit Bull Attacks and SPCA Issues in Surrey, BC
What began as a "wild animal" story after a nanny grabbed a child from a coyote's grip, turned into the Sean Bajwa story. At the time, DogsBite.org was commenting that it usually takes weapons and several grown men to stop a pit bull. As soon as we penned the words, Sean was saved from a pit bull by a man yeilding a baseball bat. The attack happened in Surrey, BC. Since this time, we've tracked attacks in Surrey and related SPCA issues.
07/31/08: Pit Bull Owner and Vicious Dogs Continue Terror Streak in B.C.
07/09/08: Citizens of Surrey Speak Out
07/04/08: Surrey Jogger Vows to Carry Hatchet After Pit Bull Attack
06/22/08: Pit Bulls Attack in Surrey Again; Owner and Dogs Flee the Scene
05/31/08: Pit Bull Attacks Seeing Guide Dog in Surrey
05/30/08: Flashback: Surrey SPCA Has History of Troubling Attitude
05/25/08: Bajwa Family Plans to Sue the City of Surrey, the SPCA and RCMP
05/21/08: Hero Unmasked: Sean Bajwa's Savior, Jason Slezak
05/09/08: I Was Almost a Goner Says Sean Bajwa After Attack
05/06/08: Nanny Rips Baby Girl From Jaws of CoyoteLabels: spca, surrey
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posted by bitbypit | permalink |
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Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Citizens of Surrey Speak Out
Pit Bulls’ Plight Not Our Concern
Surrey, BC - A citizen of Surrey agrees with DogsBite.org. In a recent post, we point out the ridiculousness of the Surrey SPCA blaming the media for the unadoptable pit bulls in the city's dog tank. According to the Surrey SPCA, the media's reporting of the recent pit bull attacks has made people afraid to adopt pit bulls, so they sit and suffer in cement cage "plight."
In the article, the Surrey SPCA does not address the human and animal victims that the recent pit bull attacks targeted, leaving most badly injured and at least one animal dead. Instead, they make a "puff piece," hoping readers will pull out Kleenex boxes and rush in to adopt pit bulls whose histories are unknown...
I am sure I join many readers who read the headline of last Wednesday’s edition of the Peace Arch News with outrage. PAN deemed that the plight of “homeless” pit bull dogs was the most important news of our region by placing the story as the front page lead. If the intent of this exercise was to provoke your readers, I’m sure you’ve succeeded.
First, I doubt if one per cent of the population has any concern for the welfare of this chronically troublesome breed. And second, the main thesis of the story is likely incorrect. Rather than reports of pit bull attacks discouraging adoptions – as contended by the SPCA -- they are more likely to increase interest from the typical owner, scary people with dangerous dogs, and the first choice for drug grow-ops.
I recall the author of this article -- reporter Tracy Holmes -- relating in a November 2001 column her irrational fear of an elderly neighborhood woman at a local craft show talking to Holmes’ son. And now we have her concerned for a dangerous scourge in our community that actually does pose a hazard to her children. Ms. Holmes, the community does not want any more pit bulls in our parks and on our streets.
G. Heath, Surrey Another person chimes in as well:My dog was attacked by a pit bull a few years ago. My three-year-old daughter and I were walking my dog, on leash, when an unleashed pit bull attacked him, completely unprovoked. I managed to pull the dogs apart, sustaining only a few bites myself. My dog required 39 stitches and complete reconstructive surgery on his shoulder ligaments, and almost died.
This could have just as easily happened to my daughter, who was standing right beside me. The only comment I received was, “He’s never done that before. I was worried that he was going for your daughter.” The dog just sat there as if nothing had ever happened.
I am just in amazement that we allow these animals to have free reign of our streets. Every time I see a pit bull, I turn in the other direction for fear that this might occur again. These animals are completely unpredictable and should not be allowed on our streets under any circumstances.
I have been an animal lover my entire life, and now find that I have a fear of these animals and we should not be put in this position. How many more pit bull attacks on children and other innocent animals do we have to endure before we actually take some action?
Angie Kronenberg, Surrey Related articles:
07/04/08: Surrey Jogger Vows to Carry Hatchet After Pit Bull Attack
06/22/08: Pit Bulls Attack in Surrey Again; Owner and Dogs Flee the Scene
05/30/08: Flashback: Surrey SPCA Has History of Troubling AttitudeLabels: adoption, spca, surrey
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Friday, July 4, 2008
Surrey Jogger Vows to Carry Hatchet After Pit Bull Attack
"It was an instantaneous attack"
Surrey, BC - Another pit bull attack has one Surrey resident threatening to carry a hatchet to protect himself and his dog. David Blair, 50, tells reporters, "I do not want to hear one more news report about a dog that hurt a child or an old person or killed a beloved pet." Blair was recently attacked by a leashed pit bull as he and his young German shepherd, Sadie, jogged along the river."As we passed this man, his [leashed] dog just ripped away from him and attacked my dog," said Blair. Blair, who kneed the pit bull in the head, said the pit bull still managed to bite Sadie. It also nicked Blair on the knee. The owner, after regaining control of his dog, just said, "Hey, sorry, man," and kept going. Like many victims of pit bull attacks, Blair was bewildered, "I just thought, 'My God, this kind of dog shouldn't be out in public.' What if it was a toddler or an elderly lady?"
Blair has seen his share of wild bears and wolves in his life. He said, "This dog acted exactly the same. It was an instantaneous attack. No noise, no warning." Blair's words perfectly describe the genetic traits that characterize a pit bull attack. What Blair leaves out is that unlike a wild animal, pit bulls do not retreat. Mankind had the courtesy of breeding the natural instinct of survival out of pit bulls.
In other news:A Real Surrey Sob Story
Surrey, BC - Due to the recent scourge of pit bull attacks in Surrey, one of our favorite organizations -- the Surrey SPCA -- blames the media for the rising number of unadoptable pit bulls. Forget the victims of these attacks, including: Sean Bajwa, Chris Bublitz and her guide dog Valerie and Judy Evans and her dog Tasha. Instead, let's talk about the many pit bulls left "high and dry" at the Surrey dog tank.
We picked up 15 boxes of Kleenex before writing this story because we knew we would shed enough tears to fill up an ocean just thinking about these unadopted dogs whose previous owners dumped them. There are always two sides to a story, particularly when it comes to the pit bull problem. There's the torn up victim and the misunderstood dog. According to the Surrey SPCA, the pit bull is the only victim.
Janice Levers -- who works with Lorie Chortyke -- would have you believe that the media is responsible for the unadopted pit bulls left sitting in cement cages. Such groups are perfectly aware of the overpopulation of pit bulls, which leads to countless euthanizations, but they often do not support pit bull sterilization laws. Instead, they blame the media for the number of unredeemable pits.
Every now and again, they also hurl blame at the irresponsible pit bull owner. Lever would like you to believe that a few bad owners pulled off the monstrosity known as the pit bull problem. "It is a concern that all pit bulls suffer when one dog owner behaves irresponsibly. It is the dog that ultimately pays the price." We're cracking open the Kleenex boxes now. The tears are gushing out like a mad flowing river.
Related articles:
06/22/08: Pit Bulls Attack in Surrey Again; Owner and Dogs Flee the Scene
05/30/08: Flashback: Surrey SPCA Has History of Troubling Attitude
05/25/08: Bajwa Family Plans to Sue the City of Surrey, the SPCA and RCMP
05/13/08: Pit Bull Attacks Seeing Guide Dog in SurreyLabels: spca, surrey
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Sunday, June 22, 2008
Pit Bulls Attack in Surrey Again; Owner and Dogs Flee the Scene
 BC SPCA: Too Many Ifs, Too Few Actions
Surrey, BC - Police and SPCA officials are investigating a horrific dog attack that left a Bishon Frise broken and battered. The dog's owners, Wayne and Judy Evans, say they want the owner held accountable. BC SPCA’s Lorie Chortyk is advising caution, noting neither the three pit bulls nor their owner have been located.This cautionary advisement is a change of tune from Chortyk. Last year, after an adopted pit bull attacked it's owner, Chortyk recklessly said that the attack "shouldn't dissuade people from adopting or fostering pit bulls." She went on to whitewash the incident by adding that the attack was merely a "pack mentality" attack, even though the police officer only shot and killed the pit bull. The other "attacking" dogs were left untouched.
The latest attack happened while Judy Evans was out with Tasha on their daily walk. The pair was approaching their turnaround point when Evans noticed a man waiting across the street. She thought it was odd, but didn’t think more of it until he turned and started yelling at her to pick up her dog. She was confused by his request but reached for Tasha anyway.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough. The pit bull got to her dog and two more pit bulls rushed in afterward. Evans said that the man did try to call off the dogs, and got physically into the fray, but to no avail. As usual, the pit bull owner did not wait around to see if everyone was okay. Evans’ fingers were bitten in the attack; she was knocked over in the struggle too.
In more evidence that Surrey officials can't do their job too well, Chortyk said the SPCA is working with the RCMP to locate the dogs and owner. She said a license plate noted at the scene has been traced to a man whose pit bulls were reportedly involved in an attack in Victoria; the same plate was also linked to a less-serious incident in Surrey back in April.
Who would have thunk it? A pit bull owner involved in more than one attack and he still has the offending dogs. Chortyk said the SPCA has been trying unsuccessfully to locate the man since April. She added that the RCMP has advised them not to approach the man, but to contact police once he is found. It is the SPCA’s role to take dogs involved in such incidents into custody. It is up to the city to decide if euthanization is in the community’s best interest, or if restrictions such as muzzling is needed.
The SPCA is looking into whether recommending a criminal-negligence charge is appropriate in the recent incident. They must first locate the man and dogs, prove they were involved and prove the owner knew his dogs posed a danger. "If we can prove...he had previous knowledge his dogs were dangerous and did nothing, there actually can be criminal charges laid," Chortyk said.
Fat chance Chortyk, officials can't even find the man. If the man is found there will be no way to prove the dogs stuffed into his car are the same dogs that attacked multiple times. Arcane dog laws work in the interest of pit bull owners, not in the interest of public safety. Pit bull owners consistently abuse these laws and endlessly draw on taxpayer's money in the process.Does everyone understand the logic of a pit bull ban? Most bans allow for immediate seizure of the dog if it is unregistered or has attacked. Officials do not have to prove "if" this or "if" that or "if" this and that -- nonsense laws. This pit bull owner is a perfect example of why Surrey needs a pit bull ban. His dogs are a perfect example why the genetic trait of animal-aggression in pit bulls is absolutely unacceptable.
Related articles:
05/30/08: Flashback: Surrey SPCA Has History of Troubling Attitude
05/25/08: Bajwa Family Plans to Sue the City of Surrey, the SPCA and RCMP
05/13/08: Pit Bull Attacks Seeing Guide Dog in SurreyLabels: dine-n-dash, spca
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Friday, May 30, 2008
Flashback: Surrey SPCA Has History of Troubling Attitude
Do Animal Agencies and Public Safety Mix?
Surrey, BC - In September of 2007, an RCMP officer in Surrey shot and killed a pit bull that had threatened to attack a woman who was already being mauled by two dogs in her home. The victim, who takes in previously abused dogs, was being bitten on the arms and legs by two of the adopted animals. The agency from which they were adopted is unknown.
The officer fired a single shot, killing a third dog that was acting aggressively. The officer pulled the injured woman out of the house and locked the other dogs inside, before administering first aid. The woman was then hospitalized, but the article does not specify her name or the nature of her injuries. Meanwhile, the SPCA took custody of the remaining dogs.
Lorie Chortyk, a spokesperson for the SPCA, offers a typical, reckless response to the attack. Maybe after the Bajwa family attorney sues the Surrey SPCA this response will shift. It's people like Chortyk and various animal advocacy organizations -- folks who whitewash the pull problem -- that ensure the appalling pit bull "mauling engine" continues.Labels: spca
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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Bajwa Family Plans to Sue the City of Surrey, the SPCA and RCMP
City Agencies Failed to Protect the Public
Surrey, BC - The family of Sean Bajwa, the 11-year-old boy who was viciously attacked by a pit bull in a school playground earlier this month, is planning to sue the City of Surrey, Surrey SPCA and the RCMP. The civil suit, which is expected to be filed in B.C. Supreme Court Monday or Tuesday, will allege each failed in its duty to protect the public from aggressive dogs.DogsBite.org will be following this case closely, as should US mayors and SPCA groups and the ASPCA. Sean's dad thinks the attack could have been prevented had RCMP responded to a complaint of two pit bulls circling a woman and her children about 30 minutes earlier. RCMP told the caller that they only get involved after a person is bitten and referred the caller to the SPCA. He dialed that number and got an automated recording. He gave up after the woman and children left the playground.
Paul Formby, the Bajwa family attorney, says the Surrey SPCA needs an emergency number, just as the SPCA in Vancouver has. Mounties also should have known they were giving out a non-emergency number. The City of Surrey will be named as a defendant because it contracted the SPCA to act as Surrey's dog pound, and is responsible for overseeing the society's operations."We're in the dark ages when it comes to aggressive dogs," Formby said. "The provincial government and the City of Surrey have to wake up -- people are angry." Formby is also representing the victims of two other dog attacks recently in Surrey. In those cases, the lawsuits will name the dogs' owners and the owners' landlords. The cases include two sisters attacked by a rottweiler, and a man that was knocked to the ground by a pair of dogs in front of his home last October. In both cases, writs of summons have yet to be served.
Related articles:
05/21/08: Hero Unmasked: Sean Bajwa's Savior, Jason Slezak
05/09/08: I Was Almost a Goner Says Sean Bajwa After AttackLabels: aspca, spca
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Bay Area SPCA is Taking Proactive Measures
Behavior Test Used To Cull Shelter Dogs
San Leon, TX - In a move that is causing upheaval in the animal shelter community, the Bay Area SPCA Shelter in Galveston County, Texas is euthanizing dogs and cats that fail to pass a behavior test. In other words, the animals that fail are not being put on the adoption floor.
Jennifer Rowan, manager of the Bay Area Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, wouldn't say how many animals the shelter has euthanized since it began temperament testing. Rowan said some animals are tested more than once because they can become hostile after spending time in the shelter.
The ASPCA, SPCA and Human Society organizations should use temperament testing, in addition to other methods of evaluation to assess animals before making them adoptable to the public. The cost of a massive lawsuit awaits them if they do not practice such measures and release dangerous animals back into the community.
In the fatality case of Tori Whitehurst, the Arizona Human Society adopted out an American bulldog, Kane, after it had been evaluated by three different dog behaviorists. The family who took Kane, then apparently gave the dog to the Whitehurst family. Within several months, Kane violently attacked and killed Tori.
Related article:
11/05/07: 2007 Fatality: Tori Whitehurst, Killed by Family's American BulldogLabels: spca
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posted by bitbypit | permalink |
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Friday, May 9, 2008
I Was Almost a Goner Says Sean Bajwa After Attack
Ban Pit Bulls, Sue the Mayor and the SPCA
UPDATE 05/09/08: Keith Blais from Vancouver writes to The Province newspaper. He thinks Sean's parents should sue the agencies responsible for failing to protect people from pit bulls. Blais is exactly right. Not only do these agencies often deny that pit bulls are dangerous, they lobby against citizen and victim efforts to make breed-specific laws."The parents of Sean Bajwa should be able to sue Mayor Dianne Watts, the SPCA, the dog owners and other local politicians for allowing this vicious attack on yet another of our innocent citizens. We've pleaded and we've voiced our concerns. We've lobbied our politicians, but nothing has been done. It doesn't help to destroy pit bulls after they maul or kill. Get all pit bulls out of our cities and our province now." Organizations like the SPCA, ASPCA and Human Society chapters have known for 20 years that pit bulls pose a unique danger to people and pets. Yet most of these groups oppose breed-specific laws designed to regulate pit bulls. Instead of sharing the truth about the breed's genetic characteristics -- tenacity (no "cut off" point once an attack starts), unpredictability, and high pain threshold -- they preach owner responsibility.
05/08/08: SPCA Refuses to Put Down Second Dog in Attack
The SPCA of Surrey, Canada may send one of the dogs that attacked Sean Bajwa back home. By law they may have to. Pit bulls that attack human beings and animals "have rights." They often get a second and third chance to attack again. Pit bulls, it seems, have far great rights than communities that get the offending dog thrown back at them.Thankfully, the other pit bull has been put down. But victim Sean Bajwa, who is still recovering in hospital, said both dogs attacked him while he was playing basketball with friends in the playground. Sean's father, said he can't understand why the SPCA has not yet interviewed his son three days after the attack and why only one dog was put down. The SPCA apparently is talking to all witnesses except the attack victim. Sean's father is hardly impressed by the agency. He told CBC news, "They never tried to contact me personally and my son. He's the prime witness. He had been attacked by two dogs." After the father's statement, the SPCA called on the family, whom they told, "the second dog is safely locked up,"(at least for now). On another front, Mayor Diane Watts said new discussions are needed to better manage pit bulls in the city. She wants pit bulls muzzled when they are on the street. She also thinks pit bulls "should be on a leash." It's unclear if Watts is just a third-rate politician or if she needs a mental evauluation. Citizens of BC are talking "pit bull ban" as in the province of Ontario, not muzzle and leash laws. 05/08/08: Boy Saved by Baseball Bat Swinging Hero SpeaksSurrey, BC - Sean Bajwa figures he had about a minute of fight left in him before the two pit bulls got his face and throat. "If it was a minute more I would be gone," said the plucky 11-year-old as he recovered in Surrey hospital. He added that pit bulls can "chew through steel, but I was able to protect my face. I managed to save my head, and that's a good thing." Sean's injuries required more than 100 stitches. Had Jordan Slezak not arrived, Sean would be missing a face today and his life. Bajwa was playing basketball with two friends when they spotted two pit bulls running loose nearby. The dogs were fighting with each other before they approached the three boys on the basketball court. Sean said that he tried to run away but he fell and tripped on something. After the dogs bit up and down his legs and arms, he said, "I could see my skin on the dogs' faces." Related article:05/06/08: Nanny Rips Baby Girl From Jaws of CoyoteLabels: baseball bat, spca
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posted by bitbypit | permalink |
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
SPCA offers free help to pit bull owners
SPCA Offers Help to Pit Bull Owners
Bay Area, CA - Animal advocates say there are too many pit bulls showing up in shelters. More than 30 percent of all dogs brought in to shelters are pit bulls."All of our shelters in our area are very concerned about the number of pit bulls we see coming to our shelters," says Eliza Fried, East Bay SPCA. The East Bay SPCA is taking part in the Bay Area 'Pit Fix Week'. It's one of eight shelters hoping to help solve the problem by offering free spay and neutering. The program was created due to the overpopulation of pit bulls.
Last year, a San Francisco ordinance took effect requiring pit bull owners to spay or neuter and to get breeding permits. The ordinance stemmed from the fatal attack of 12-year old Nick Fabish, who was killed by his family's two pet pit bulls, and for the attack on 10-year old Shawn Jones, who was nearly mauled to death by three pit bulls while riding his bike.
The SPCA and other rescue workers hope a little free surgery goes a long way in cutting down the number of pit bulls.Labels: spca
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posted by karen | permalink |
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