Dogs Bite Blog

4-Year Old Boy Killed by "Pit Bull Terrier Type" Dog in United Kingdom

2009-12-01T08:00:00.001-07:00

Dog Breed Identified
UPDATE 12/01/09: Merseyside Police say that the dog was a "pit bull terrier-type," a breed banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. A criminal investigation has begun. The force has apologized after reports of dog breeding at the home were not followed up. The deadly attack upon John-Paul, which unfolded before his 13-year old brother's eyes, also involved his grandmother being attacked. The owner of the dog is reportedly 26-year old Christian Foulkes, the dead boy's uncle.

11/30/09: "Dogs Bred" at Fatal Attack House
UK - On the same day that DogsBite.org penned the London guide dog post -- who was savagely attacked by a pit bull-mix captured on CCTV -- the BBC reported that a 4-year old was mauled to death by a "pit bull type" dog. John-Paul Massey was killed at a home in Ash Grove, Wavertree, just after midnight, according to the BBC. His grandmother, 63-year old Helen Foulkes, suffered injuries trying to save the child and required hospital treatment.

The "breed of dog" as well as a previous complaint against the dog continues to be under investigation. In February, a person informed police officials that "dog breeding" was occurring at the residence. Ch Supt Steve Ashley, of Merseyside Police, said they are currently examining why no action was taken. He said that an officer who is an expert on dangerous dogs should have spoken to the caller who was concerned and, if necessary, visited the house to examine the dogs.

In 1991, the United Kingdom passed the Dangerous Dog Act, which bans four fighting breeds: pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros. The act also covers crossbreeds and any other dogs that appear "to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose." The death of Massey patterns the 2007 death of 5-year old Ellie Lawrenson, who was attacked and killed by her uncle's pit bull at the family's Merseyside home.

BBC coverage:
12/01/09: Dog that mauled boy to death was an illegal breed
12/01/09: Breed inquiry into boy death dog
11/30/09: Boy's death leaves community shocked
11/30/09: Four-year-old boy killed by dog
11/30/09: Dangerous dog mauling 'latest in line'
11/27/07: Ellie's death 'unlawful killing'
09/11/07: 'No excuse' for owning banned dog
01/10/07: Police seize 28 pit bull terriers (Merseyside)
01/10/07: Girl killed by pit bull terrier

In related UK news, read how West Midlands Police are grappling with the pit bull problem.

Related articles:
02/10/09: UK Toddler Killed by Family Dogs Under Grandmother's Watch

2009 Fatality: Flora Woman, 85, and Her Dog Killed by Pit Bull

2009-11-30T20:29:00.004-07:00

Rosie Humphreys
Flora, IL - In a fatal dog attack that appears to have begun with "pit bull dog-aggression," an 85-year old woman was mauled to death by a pit bull after the animal killed her small poodle. Police say Rosie Humphreys had taken her dog for a walk Monday afternoon. The pit bull had reportedly been secured with a log chain and a heavy collar, but broke the chain, freeing the dangerous animal to kill Humphreys and her dog. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

PRESS RELEASE FROM FLORA POLICE CHIEF JOHN NICHOLSON
FROM PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT 8 P.M. IN FLORA:

"On November 30, 2009, at approximately 2:18 p.m., Clay County 911 dispatch center received a 911 call of a pit bull attacking a woman at a residence on the 200 block of Austin Ave. here in Flora. The 911 telecommunicator dispatched Flora City Police Officers and Clay County Ambulance Paramedics to that location.
Upon officer’s arrival, neighbors had gained control of the pit bull which had attacked an elderly female. The pit bull had apparently also attacked and killed a smaller dog owned by the victim. Officers along with citizens rendered first aid to the victim until paramedics arrived. The efforts to save the elderly female were not successful.
Pronounced dead at the scene by Clay Co. Coroner Gary Bright was 85-year-old Rosie Humphreys of Flora. It appeared she died of injuries she received from the attack by the pit bull. The dog’s owner and police officers were able to contain the dog in a pet carrier until Clay County Animal Control personnel arrived. An autopsy has been scheduled for Dec. 1, 2009.
Nicholson would like to thank the assistance provided to his agency by the Clay County sheriff’s office, Clay County state’s attorney’s office, Flora/Clay Co. animal control/health department and by the crime scene services provided by the Illinois State Police."

Service Dog Organizations Urged to Support Breed Specific Laws (BSL)

2009-11-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

Relentless Attack
UK - London police officials recently released a shocking scene captured on CCTV cameras. The October 4 incident shows the full-length assault of a pit bull type dog attacking a guide dog near the dog's blind owner. The grisly scene unfolds at a London railway station. The blind woman had walked by a man standing in an underpass, reportedly drinking a can of beer, next to his dog. The unleashed dog bolted and violently attacked the woman's dear guide dog.

Please watch how this grown man cannot stop his pit bull once it has launched its attack.

The argument of whether or not to regulate pit bulls boils down to a few simple issues: 1.) The average person cannot stop a pit bull when it chooses to attack. 2.) The average person cannot tell the difference between a "nice" pit bull and one that may suddenly launch an unbridled and unprovoked attack. As demonstrated by this video, the pit bull appeared to be having a "good" day up until it saw the guide dog. Yet, with no warning, the animal violently attacked.

Neela is Recovering

Just before Thanksgiving, The Sun reported that the guide dog, named Neela, was lucky to survive after her "neck was ripped open by the dog." Police are still searching for the dog's owner, who did not provide assistance to the victims after the assault. The 57-year old blind woman told The Sun, "For her to be attacked in such a vicious way, when she was doing her job assisting me, was a horrendous experience and one I hope no other guide dog owner ever has to go through."

It must be noted that Neela is a rare service dog in that she has been able to continue working as a guide dog after the attack. Such vicious attacks are commonly "career ending" as the guide dog is left too traumatized to perform its service duties afterward. Given the genetic dog-aggression inherent in pit bulls and the great risk this poses to guide dogs and their disabled owners, one would expect guide dog organizations to be active supporters of "preventative" laws (BSL) and "hindsight" laws.

Related articles:
09/19/09: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks
05/16/09: Pit Bull Attack Claims Two Victims, Requires Two LifeFlight Helicopters
04/25/09: 2009 Fatality: Family Pit Bull Kills 11-Month Old Child in Eastpointe
04/13/09: Class D Felony in Arkansas for Killing or Injuring a Service Animal
03/19/09: 10 Shots Stop Pit Bull Attack on Pregnant Woman and Officer
12/11/08: 2005: Authorities Investigate Frequency Of Guide Dog Attacks
09/09/08: Top Dog Experts Fooled and Suprised by Pit Bulls
08/22/08: Pit Bulls Attack Blind Man and Service, Therapy Dog
05/13/08: Pit Bull Attacks Seeing Guide Dog in Surrey

2009 Fatality: Dog Kills Retired Librarian in White Mills, Kentucky

2009-11-27T09:30:00.001-07:00

From left: Victim Karen Gillespie and the offending American bulldog.

Previous Biter
UPDATE 11/27/09: Fox 41 News reports that the dog's owner, Howard Miller, said that "their American bulldog is a stray they were feeding and he was not fenced in." The News Enterprise, which serves Hardin County, Kentucky, reports that the dog had a history of bites, including previously biting a U.S. Census worker at the home and biting a firefighter involved in the search for Gillespie, and blood -- believed to be Gillespie’s -- was transferred to the firefighter during the incident.

According to the county coroner, the majority of Gillespie’s injuries were head-related and she died shortly after the attack. The coroner's investigation also revealed Gillespie died between 4:15 and 5 pm Tuesday evening -- more than 12 hours before her body was located. KSP Detective Walker said Gillespie’s death probably could have been prevented, but there was no criminal intent by the dog’s owners. Harboring vicious animals is a misdemeanor under Kentucky law.

11/26/09: Death Due to Dog Bite Injuries
Following the autopsy done on Karen Gillespie, deputy coroner John Clemens said, "The cause of death was head injuries from a dog attack." Hardin County Animal Control removed the dog believed responsible for the attack from an adjacent property on Web Mill Road. The dog was photographed, and appears to be an American bulldog, but officials have not yet identified its breed. DogsBite.org prays for the Gillespie family on a day that celebrates the joy of family.

11/26/09: Retired Librarian Likely Killed by Dog
White Mills, KY - In a developing story, Kentucky State Police say the body of a woman was found near her home and she had sustained "dog-related wounds." Deputy Hardin County Coroner John Clemens says it is too soon to discuss the cause of death of 53-year old Karen Gillespie, a retired librarian with the Grayson County Public Library. Hardin County Animal Control removed a dog (pictured) from the property of Howard Miller, adjacent to where Gillespie was found.

KSP Detective Larry Walker said Gillespie suffered no additional wounds, and he did not know if an underlying medical condition could have played a role in her death. Gillespie’s husband, Stephen, said he was unaware of any medical problems. He said his wife left her home that day to photograph an old one-room school house in the area. Interested in genealogy, he said she had been researching some family history and photographed older structures as a hobby.

When darkness fell and she had not returned home, Stephen Gillespie knew something was wrong. He reported his wife's disappearance around 7 pm Tuesday, and search crews worked through the night trying to find her. Gillespie's home eventually became a command center for the search and rescue teams. It was there that first responders were alerted of Gillespie’s location around 9:30 am Wednesday. An autopsy is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.

Back in August, retired librarian Sherry Schweder and her husband, Lothar Schweder, were mauled to death by a pack of "mongrel" dogs in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Related video

Related articles:
08/18/09: 2009 Fatality: Senior Couple Killed by Pack of Dogs in Oglethorpe County
07/26/09: History Channel Airs Segment of Double Fatal Attack; Images of Dogs Shown

The Resignation of Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon

2009-11-21T21:53:00.022-07:00

From left: Tom Skeldon and chart depicting dramatic drop in euthanizations.

Interview with Dog Warden
Toledo, OH - On Friday November 20th, the "Yellow" Blade1 reported that Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon submitted his resignation (view letter), effective January 31, after 22 years of service. According to Pete Gerken, president of the board of Lucas County commissioners, Skeldon will take advantage of accrued vacation time and make December 31 his last day in office. Skeldon's resignation follows weeks of unfair journalism by JC Reindl at the Toldeo Blade.

Skeldon's stepping aside should have marked the end of the anti-Skeldon crusade led by Commissioner Ben Konop and penned by JC Reindl, but it was not. After damaging Skeldon's reputation by printing false and misleading data about the Lucas County Animal Shelter, as well as by branding him a "puppy killer," the two2 are now trying to exclude Skeldon from a proposed county buyout program that he is eligible to receive, and that Konop actually designed and introduced.

The Price of Telling the Truth

Konop and Reindl, along with heavy backing from the "Yellow" Blade, essentially ousted Skeldon for telling the truth about county shelter euthanization rates3, which are mimicked nationwide, and his enforcement of Ohio State and Lucas County pit bull laws. A recent report showed that the Lucas County Animal Shelter's kill rate was 66%4 (with the Blade reporting 77%). Yet, half of these dogs were pit bulls and county policy prohibits the adoption of pit bulls (view chart).

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. -Schopenhauer

Last year, DogsBite.org bestowed upon Tom Skeldon its award for "Dog Warden of the Year," which details the contributions Skeldon has made to Lucas County residents. By vigorously enforcing the "no adopt out" pit bull policy, which lies at the heart of the anti-Skeldon crusade, Skeldon has refused to place residents and their pets at risk to a disfiguring attack. Also, while under Skeldon's leadership, Lucas County had the highest dog license compliance rate in all of Ohio in 2008.

The Loss of a Powerful Advocate

As Bard Knapp, president of the Ohio County Dog Wardens' Association and the Erie County Dog Warden, recently told the "Yellow" Blade, "It's a sad day for the dog warden profession in Ohio. We lost a very valued and experienced person who succumbed to the pressure of the media and personal vendettas." Current and future victims of serious dog attacks in Lucas County and across the nation have also lost one of the most powerful voices that speaks on their behalf.

DogsBite.org and all of our followers will dearly miss Tom Skeldon.

Video Note: On Saturday, we posted a "preview" video of the Conklin and Company segment with Tom Skeldon. Late Sunday, we were able to post the complete segment. Skeldon explains in the full interview that the latest "puppy killing" claim did not involve non pit bull puppies as reported by the dog owner and the "Yellow" Blade. The puppies, it turns out, were pit bulls and under county law, the county shelter cannot adopt them out.
Skeldon also details the number of dogs euthanized during his reign. In 1979, the last year the Toledo Humane Society held the animal control contract, the society euthanized 10,581 dogs. By 1989, 10 years after the county assumed the role of dog warden -- Skeldon was appointed in October 1987 -- the number of euthanizations had dropped to 3,312. By 2009, the number fell even lower to 1,784.
Ohio statewide pit bull legislation (Section 955.11) was passed in July 1987, several months prior to Mr. Skeldon being instated as the dog warden. Skeldon told Conklin, "Those groups that have championed my dismissal, those groups can't change the law in Columbus, but they might be able to kill the messenger in Toledo."

1John Robinson Block is the publisher of the Toledo Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and has a history of hijacking dissenting voices.
2Qualifying both Konop and Reindl as "pit bull jihadists," as neither fall into the larger category of being "pit bull advocates."
3Unlike private humane groups, county shelters cannot "choose" their dogs, they must accept all incoming dogs, many of which have behavioral and health issues.
4The 66% or 77% issue lies in the incorrect data gathered by the oversight committee. The committee failed to include the number of dogs the Lucas County Dog Warden sent to the Toledo Humane Society and were adopted out. The "Yellow" Blade is perfectly aware of this fact, yet continues to report the "77%" statistic.

After Fatal Pit Bull Mauling, the City of Prescott Bans Pit Bulls

2009-11-20T15:17:00.005-07:00

Emergency Declared
Prescott, AR - Nineteen days after a pit bull killed Matthew Clayton Hurt, the Prescott City Council declared an emergency to approve an ordinance banning pit bulls. The ordinance was approved on November 16. Prescott now joins a number of Arkansas cities that ban pit bulls including: De Queen, Dierks, Jacksonville, Lonoke, Maumelle, Mineral Springs, Mountain Home, Nashville, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Russellville, Sherwood and Siloam Springs.

Other Arkansas cities regulate pit bulls by declaring them "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous" and include: Little Rock, Siloam Springs and Stuttgart.

View all related Arkansas ordinances.

Related articles:
10/29/09: 2009 Fatality: Toddler Wanders from Babysitter's Home; Killed by Pit Bull
06/22/09: Troy, Missouri Bans Pit Bulls; 60 Days to Register Current Dogs
06/22/09: Fayette, Alabama Passes Pit Bull Ban in City Limits

Lafourche Officials "Set Up" Second Attack; Rebuff State Representative

2009-11-19T00:05:00.001-07:00

From left: State Rep. Rickey Hardy, Judge Jerome Barbera III and double-mauler "Shank."

The Lafourche "Compromise"
Larose, LA - On October 19, a pit bull owned by Jerome and Lillian Jarreau escaped its home and attacked a woman. Police said the attack was "brief but furious," after the dog ripped into 48-year old Tecla Smith's left arm. Smith's son Juan, who witnessed the attack, said he was surprised that the pit bull did not let go after being beat on the head with a two-by-four. Smith's injuries required immediate multiple reconstructive surgeries and more are expected in the future.

After the attack, the pit bull, named Shank, was taken to the Lafourche Animal Shelter. The Lafourche Sheriff's Office initially requested that the dog be declared "dangerous" and enuthanized. In a letter to State District Judge Jerome Barbera III, sherrif's staff attorney Mike Jimenez said the dog would "pose an immediate threat" to the public if ever released. Yet just before the dangerous dog hearing, a humane group intervened and a compromise was struck sparing Shank's life.

This "compromise" proves to be disastrous.

It is important to point out that prior to the compromise, not only had the Sheriff's Office initially and strongly urged Judge Barbera to put the dog down, but State Rep. Rickey Hardy weighed in on the matter as well. Hardy authored the new Louisiana state dangerous animal law (HB 155). In response to the issue of "Shank," Harding said, "Not only should the pit bull be killed, but the owners should face charges of negligent injury and go to jail." He added, "One incident is too much."

The Compromise

"I was not satisfied," Hardy told DogsBite.org upon learning of the judge's decision. "We cannot give a dog like that a second chance," he said. "If it had been one of his family members how would he have dealt with the situation?"

Despite the wisdom offered by Hardy, Judge Barbera agreed to spare the dog based on sparse information provided by Michael Grunblatt of the Pontchartrain Humane Society, a rescue group that does not have a facility. According to their website, "The pets are cared for in foster homes until a permament home is found." (Spelling error included). Grunblatt agreed to care for Shank for six months while the Jarreaus worked to meet state laws for housing a "dangerous" dog.

Following the arrangement, Jimenez told reporters: "I think with this compromise, everybody will be safe and it will give the Jarreaus a chance to become responsible dog owners." We have two thoughts for Mr. Jimenez: 1.) The community was not safe due to this arrangement, and 2.) Why do Shank's owners deserve a second chance at becoming responsible? Their dog already seriously injured a woman requiring her to undergo "multiple reconstructive surgeries."

On November 6, it was reported that the Pontchartrain Humane Society would not be allowed to take custody of Shank, as the group did not meet state requirements to house a dog deemed "dangerous," namely carrying $100,000 in liability coverage. Trusting that the rescue group could meet state standards in a few weeks, Shank continued to be housed at the Lafourche Animal Shelter, where the dog launches a violent attack upon an animal control officer 6 days later.

The Second Attack

Officer Joe Lamartina survived the assault1, that he described as the dog "chewing my stomach." The pit bull's broken tooth was still in Lamartina's arm when he was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. The attack occurred when one of Shank's owners, Lillian Jarreau, visited the shelter for a 20-minute "play period" with Shank outside of its kennel. Unsurprisingly, Jarreau lost control of her 95-pound pit bull and Lamartina quickly intervened to try to help.

Shortly after the second attack, Shank was euthanized.

The Moral of This Story

By Sheriff's officials and Judge Barbera agreeing to a "compromise" with the Pontchartrain Humane Society, they set up the attack on Lamartina. Both entities placed their trust in a small rescue group -- who approached Sheriff's officials in the courthouse hallway moments before the scheduled dangerous dog hearing -- instead of honoring the advice of State Rep. Rickey Hardy. Furthermore, each aspect of the compromise was predicated on the following unreasonable assumption:

Within six months time, the owners of Shank could comply with state "dangerous" dog ownership laws, which include: Carrying a half million dollar liability policy ($400,000 greater than a rescue group is required to carry); installing a secure fence; and posting Dangerous Dog signs. Given that a $100,000 policy in Ohio2 can reach $800 annually for a pit bull with a non-biting history, it's extremely unlikely the Jarreaus could afford a $500,000 policy for a pit bull with a bite history.

What's Next?

Jerome Jarreau could be charged with "negligent injury" based on State Rep. Rickey Hardy's new legislation. Unlike many dangerous dog laws involving criminal repercussions, Hardy's legislation is not specific to on- or off-property attacks. The state law is specific to whether or not the dog owner is "reckless" in confining or restraining the animal. So though Tecla Smith was on the dog owner's property at the time of the attack, Jerome Jarreau could still be charged.

(HB 155 § 32) "The inflicting of any injury upon the person of another by a dog or other animal when the owner of the dog or other animal is reckless and criminally negligent in confining or restraining the dog or other animal."

It's unknown if Lillian Jarreau faces charges regarding the attack on Officer Joe Lamartina. As discussed in our recent phone call with Mr. Hardy, in instances when city and county employees -- Officer Joe Lamartina of the Lafourche Animal Shelter -- are injured, taxpayers are required to pay these costs. Not only did the Lafourche Sheriff's Office and Judge Barbera make the grave error of agreeing to a "compromise" with Shank, they left taxpayers to foot the bill.

Citizens of Lafourche Parish may wish to contact the following persons:

Judge Jerome J. Barbera III
17th Judicial Court (Lafourche)
303 W. 3rd St., 2nd Floor
Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 446-0517 - main
(985) 446-6423 - fax

Sheriff Craig Webre (Email)
Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office
200 Canal Blvd.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
(985) 449-4420 - main
(985) 447-1854 - fax

1Lamartina greatly thanks his partner Kamie Burgos, who got between him and the dog, and helped him fight off the attack.
2The State of Ohio is the only U.S. state with breed-specific pit bull laws.

ASPCA Euthanizes "Unpredictable" Pit Bull After Rehabilitation Fails

2009-11-15T22:10:00.004-07:00

Oreo Euthanized
New York, NY - It was recently reported that a pit bull, named Oreo, who had been thrown off a Brooklyn rooftop last summer, was euthanized by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Once hailed as a "miracle dog" for surviving the fall, Oreo's aggression following the healing process proved to be unmanageable. Ed Sayres, the society's president and chief executive said, "Oreo's aggression is triggered by, basically, everything."

"Society officials said a major factor in their decision to put Oreo to death was that she was unpredictable -- so unpredictable that she even attacked her handler, someone she saw regularly. Oreo had to be kept in relative isolation for the safety of society employees and other dogs at the society's headquarters at 424 East 92nd Street, between First and York Avenues."

The issue of Oreo and the ASPCA brings up a number of concerns that directly relate to our cause of preventing future violent pit bull attacks. We do not have a bone to pick with the ASPCA for euthanizing a very unstable and aggressive pit bull that attacked its handler and bit a fake hand during a behavioral test -- though the "No Kill" movement, headed by Nathan Winograd does1, despite the fact that the ASCPA put the dog through 59 training sessions, at nearly 45 minutes each.

We do have a bone to pick with the ASPCA regarding several other items, however.

#1. Pit Bulls in the Shelter Environment

In the ASPCA's PowerPoint presentation, "The Care of Pit Bulls in the Shelter Environment," several of the screens discuss the need for pit bulls to be stored in isolation from other dogs and shelter employees. Page 10 even recommends that a "panic button" be installed in rooms housing pit bulls. We remind readers that the ASPCA strongly opposes breed-specific laws, yet as demonstrated by their own safety guidelines, the group is very specific in the handling and housing of pit bulls.

#2. 49 "Were Immediately Adoptable" (?)

In the Times article about Oreo, Mr. Sayers makes a terribly inaccurate statement concerning Michael Vick's dogs. He said that the ASPCA evaluated the Vick dogs and that, 49 of the 50 "were immediately adoptable." As stated on the Best Friends website, of the 47 Vick dogs, 25 were classified as "sanctuary" dogs -- dogs too unstable to ever be adopt out -- by a U.S. federal court. As the president of the agency that evaluated the Vick dogs, how could Sayers make such a huge error?

"Of the 47 surviving dogs, 25 were classified as sanctuary dogs; Best Friends received 21 of those. (The 22nd dog that Best Friends received was assessed as being highly adoptable.)
The resulting stipend to Best Friends was $388,775. The other rescue groups, who took in four sanctuary dogs and 21 adoptable dogs, received $178,100.
The court paid the remaining $361,198 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was responsible for the dogs during the legal proceedings. That amount includes the cost of transportation, care and feeding; $31,051 for the ASPCA's behavioral assessment; and $100,000 in hourly payments and travel expenses for Huss."

#3. "Rehabilitated" Fighting Dogs

Following the announcement to euthanize Oreo, the ASPCA launched a Ready for Adoption "rehabilitated" fighting dog campaign. Perhaps the timing of the two was to appease "No Kill" forces and pit bull advocates, who criticized the euthanization of Oreo. The ASPCA made the correct choice in euthanizing Oreo, but that choice still forced them into a corner by zealous groups that wanted to "save" the dangerous pit bull by consigning it to a lifetime in isolation, which is less than humane.

DogsBite.org does not believe in the "rehabilitation" of fighting dogs -- pit bulls seized in dogfighting raids. They are too unstable and present substantial risk to the public and our pets (See: Explanation: The Policy of Not Adopting Out Fighting Dogs). Moreover, there are too many behaviorally sound dogs that are euthanized today because they cannot find homes. This reality, however, has not stopped the ASPCA from jumping onto the "rehabilitation" bandwagon led by Best Friends.

4. Unreliability of Temperament Testing

Lastly, we must also mention behavioral assessment (temperament testing) that is done by animal groups to determine if a shelter dog is a safe candidate for adoption. According to a study published by Applied Animal Behaviour Science in 2007, "Aggressive Behavior in Adopted Dogs that Passed a Temperament Test," a considerable number of dogs passing temperament tests exhibited aggressive tendencies in their new homes within 13 months of being adopted.

"Despite the limitations, this study strongly suggests that signiﬁcant numbers of dogs with certain types of aggression have the potential for escaping the notice of shelter workers even when employing a standardized temperament test and combining its results with shelter observation, histories, and strict euthanasia policies. The majority of dogs with aggression-associated behaviors were in the low aggression category (barking only); however, many of the dogs were in the moderate category (growling and/or lunging) and some did exhibit high levels of aggression (biting/snapping)."

Dogs examined in the study were common shelter dogs -- not pit bulls seized in dogfighting raids that are likely products of multi-generational breeding for the purposes of dogfighting. (See: Dogfighting 'Godfather' Ed Faron Pleads Guilty to Felony Dogfighting to learn why Michael Vick's dogs did not meet this criteria.) Recent examples of rescued pit bull temperament testing disasters include: Kip Leggard, 5-year old Frankie Flora and an 8-month old infant.

1Once again showing that today's "No Kill" movement is more accurately defined as a "No Kill Pit Bull" pressure group.

Family Pit Bull Berserks, Kills 85-Year Old Owner in Peru

2009-11-13T13:35:00.009-07:00

Santos Garcia Ramirez
Lima, Peru - As written previously on DogsBite.org, the pit bull problem is a world problem. Dangerous pit bulls attack and kill human beings in North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Africa -- the scope is too expansive to list. Given that pets, horses and livestock are victims in these attacks more often than humans, one can only imagine -- dog-on-animal attack data is infrequently tracked -- the "pet death toll" attributed to pit bulls.

"LIMA – An 85-year-old man who owned a pitbull bled to death after being brutally attacked in the leg and face by the animal, which apparently became enraged after being punished, Peruvian media reported Thursday.
Santos Garcia died Wednesday at the Casimiro Ulloa Emergency Hospital after suffering severely torn muscle tissue in one of his legs and the loss of part of his nose, his upper lip and right eye, the El Comercio newspaper said.
The elderly man had punished the dog two days ago for destroying some household objects and did so again on Wednesday, which prompted the dog to retaliate.
The victim, who lived in Lima’s San Juan de Miraflores district, died en route to the hospital.
The dog was locked in a room in the house after the attack and later taken at the request of the family to an anti-rabies center, where a decision will be made on the animal’s fate.
Pitbulls have become very popular in Peru in recent years as guard dogs, but they also are used by gang members to attack their victims."

Other articles reported that the pit bull, named Gernaro, had been living with its owner for 7-years1 prior to the fatal attack and that Ramirez suffered the loss of over half of his face2 in the incident. The son, Angel Garcia, who may have been the original owner of the pit bull then dumped it on his father,3 denied that his father hit the dog and that the animal tore into his father's face. "My father has yelled and the dog has gone crazy and attacked him in the leg," he said.

1,2You can translate these articles by going to Google Translation.
3Pit bull owners frequently dump their dogs on mothers, fathers, grandparents or friends when they are "in transition" or can no longer care for the animal.

Pit Bull Owners Force the Removal of Justin Clinton's Small Memorial

2009-11-10T00:01:00.002-07:00

Justin Clinton's memorial being dismantled as grieving family members watch.

Continued Trauma
Leverett's Chapel, TX - On June 15, 10-year old Justin Clinton was viciously struck down by two pit bulls owned by Ricky and Christi George. After the attack, classmates of Justin created a make-shift memorial at the spot where he took his last breath. The location is next to CR 133 and falls at the very back of the George's property, a distance from their house and fenced yard. Recently, the George's demanded that the memorial be removed from their leased property.

On November 7, Justin's grieving mother, Serenia Clinton, attended a brief ceremony at the memorial and witnessed as family and friends broke apart Justin Clinton's memorial piece-by-piece and stowed it into the back of a truck. Mrs. Clinton still suffers from the horrific death of her son this past summer and will now suffer the added trauma of the "demanded removal" of her son's harmless memorial. In a press release issued on November 6, Mrs. Clinton states:

"Our family has been touched by the love and prayer of our community when they established this small make-shift memorial for Justin. Everyday my daughter would go by the memorial on her way to school. As a cheerleader for the school, she would each day say a prayer and give Justin a cheer at the site of his gruesome death. This helped her cope with her grief. The small memorial was a source of some consolation to me and now that the owners of these vicious dogs that killed my son have demanded the removal of this memorial, my grief is almost too great to bear.
We hope that this incident will bring attention to the vicious nature of this breed of dog and the need for responsible dog owners to safely secure these dangerous animals. I hope that even without this small memorial people will not forget Justin and the lessons to the public about the likelihood of substantial harm to life and health caused by this breed. I had hoped the memorial would remind people to make responsible decisions about which breed is a family pet and which breed is a loaded gun waiting for the trigger to be pulled.
Our attorneys, Don and Cynthia Kent are working to try and seek new legislation to protect future victims of these dangerous dogs. It is my sincere hope that the Texas Legislature and other government officials will create an even larger memorial for Justin by stepping forward and responding aggressively in protecting the life of a state full of Justin Clintons. Justice for Justin may be obtained by remembering Justin, better public awareness of the dangers of this dog breed, and hopefully legislation banning pit bulls."

2009 Fatality: 16-Month Old Killed by Pit Bull of Babysitter's "Boyfriend"

2009-11-09T16:45:00.003-07:00

Pit bull owner Jerry Westmoreland, has a "pit bull memorial" painted on his vehicle.

"Boyfriend's" Pit Bull
UPDATE 11/09/09: The New Albany Gazette published an update to the fatal pit bull mauling of Destiny Marie Knox. At the time of the attack, Destiny was under the care of her babysitter Tonya Graham. According to Union County Sheriff Tommy Wilhite, Graham and Knox were at Graham's boyfriend's residence, the home of Jerry Westmoreland, when the incident occurred. The offending pit bull, named Foolish, was shot and killed at the scene by a police officer.

The mother of the victim is Nicole Howard and the father of the baby girl is Detrick Knox. In regards to possible charges, Wilhite told reporters, "We have not been able to prove any neglect and haven’t established a criminal violation at this time." Charges, if any, will be determined in the March term of the grand jury. Westmoreland, who has a "pit bull memorial" painted on his vehicle, surrendered his four remaining pit bulls to the Oxford Humane Society.

11/07/09: Dog Was "Very Healthy, Very Stout"
New information concerning the death of Destiny Marie Knox has been released. The pit bull owner had a total of five pit bulls, one of which "slipped its collar" and chain and entered into the owner's home. The dog quickly attacked the toddler, who had not been left unattended as previously reported. Investigators found no signs that the pit bull had ever been mistreated. Chief Deputy Jimmy Whitten said, "This dog was very healthy, very stout. It was well-kept, well-groomed."

According to Whitten, Union County had not had a fatal dog attack in his memory, but he and fellow officers said vicious dogs are a frequent problem. Sheriff's Investigator Anthony Anderson said he'd favor a ban on pit bulls and other vicious breeds. "Every dog bite case I've worked at the hospital has involved a pit bull," he said. Investigator Roger Garner agreed. "When I was at Tupelo and we had attacks by dogs, almost 100 percent of the time it was by a pit bull or some pit mix," he said.

Both Whitten and Anderson believe that state legislators need to look at the growing pit bull problem and take action to prevent future maulings.

11/06/09: Victim Named: Destiny Marie Knox
Union County Coroner Mark Golding has released the identity of the Union County toddler killed by her babysitter's pit bull Thursday evening in the Martintown community. Golding identified the 16-month old child as Destiny Marie Knox. According to Union County Sheriff Tommy Wilhite, sheriff’s deputies are continuing their investigation into the killing. No other names of people involved, including the babysitter, have been released.

The child was killed at the home of its babysitter when the babysitter’s chained pit bull "slipped out of its collar" and followed the people into the house as they unloaded groceries. A 19-year old man in the house tried to stop the attack, but by the time sheriff’s deputies arrived the child was dead. The pit bull was later killed by sheriff’s deputies, presumably by gun fire.

"It’s devastating anytime you have the loss of a child," said Sheriff’s Investigator Anthony Anderson. "Especially in these circumstances, where the child was mutilated, it’s devastating."

The vehicle identified as belonging to the owner of the pit bull bears a "pit bull memorial." The dog, named Bam Bam, is apparently a former pit bull owned by the person. Two of the lines in its poem state, "But some of you don't like me, I'm sure I don't know why. The only thing I'm guilty of is courage, love and try." (Read full poem.) This pit bull owner is a "classic pit bull advocate" who undoubtedly stated on many occasions: "My dog would only lick you to death."

11/06/09: Child Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull
New Albany, MS - In a developing story, a 16-month old child was attacked and killed by a pit bull in Union County on Thursday, November 5. Union County Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said a family was babysitting the child and left the child unattended in a room when the dog attacked. The incident happened on County Road 87 about 5:30 p.m. A 19-year old, who was at the home at the time, hit the pit bull and stabbed it several times trying to get it off the toddler.

This death marks the third death of a child by a pit bull mauling in less than two weeks. Each of these instances involved a "babysitter."

Related articles:
10/29/09: 2009 Fatality: Toddler Wanders from Babysitter's Home; Killed by Pit Bull
10/27/09: 2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home

Unnamed Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victim - DogsBite.org Needs Your Help

2009-11-09T00:04:00.004-07:00

Photo text: "Five year old boy was attacked by a pit bulldog and lost almost all of his scalp and forehead."

Unnamed Victim
DogsBite.org - On October 31, a blogger named "thinkinfyou" wrote a post titled, "Fear, Loss and Much Needed Legislation." The post details a deadly attack inflicted by a pit bull on the writer's Chihuahua named Spotty. The four-month old pit bull apparently "feasted" on Spotty as its owner stood by and watched. This attack marks the third pit bull incident experienced by the writer, one of which includes being bitten. We've included a portion of the blog post below.

Also within the post is an undated photo of a pit bull attack victim. The five-year old boy suffered the loss of most of his scalp. If any of our readers know the name of this victim or any details pertaining to this attack, please leave this information in the Comments section. The photo was at one point published to Ogrish.com, a "shock" website that now points to LiveLeak.com. Depictions of pit bull injuries are frequently posted to "shock" websites, as these injuries are horrific.

We must also note that the pit bull attack victim website, pit-bulls.christianunfair.org, shows this same photo, but links to a story that does not quite match the photographed boy's injuries. This child, who could be a young man by now, may be American, Canadian, British, Australian or from a different country. Pit bull maulings that result in permanently disfiguring injury occur across the world everyday, which is why some countries ban the importation and ownership of pit bulls.

Fear, Loss and Much Needed Legislation
"The sight of walking out into my backyard and finding my fence ripped open and seeing my dogs right outside of the gate was enough to get me running, but as soon as I got to the opening, the horror that my eyes beheld stopped me in my tracks. This pit bull puppy had my chihuahua underneath him and when he heard me walk up, he lifted his head slightly to reveal that my dog’s neck was gone. I panicked and started screaming, while the dog’s owner came running to the scene. I felt a sense of relief feeling that she would be able to control her dog, but that was quickly replaced by terror, when the dog picked up my dog like it was just a stick and ran with him sagging out of his mouth. Not knowing what to do, I ran inside called the cops, and went back out the front door hoping to find her and her savage beast gone, but to my surprise, she had caught her dog and was allowing him to feast off my dog shaking and ripping flesh from him, right in my front yard. The sight of this was too much for my eyes and my stomach, for I started puking right there."

Collection of Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victims - DogsBite.org

2009-11-09T00:01:00.002-07:00

DogsBite.org - We've gathered a modest number of pit bull scalp attack victims and placed them into a single blog post. Stories not recorded in the DogsBite Blog link to a PDF file, as these articles will eventually disappear from news websites or fall into less reachable archive systems. We ask that DogsBite.org readers leave links to additional stories that involve pit bull scalping attacks (or more information regarding a listed attack) in the Comments section.

11/09/09: Unnamed Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victim - DogsBite.org Needs Your Help
10/28/09: 55-Year Old Gladys Roberts (Jones County, NC) (PDF)
10/05/09: 5-Year Old Hunter Aldridge (Cardiff, AL)
08/28/09: 5-Year Old Hunter Thorp (Cherokee County, TX) (PDF)
06/29/09: Shaylee Crosson, 3, Loses Scalp in Pit Bull Attack
06/02/09: Zupf: Justin Cutrer's Story and the Help-Justin Website
05/16/09: Pit Bull Attack Claims Two Victims, Requires Two LifeFlight Helicopters
04/22/09: Wappingers Boy Suffers Life Altering Injures in Pit Bull Attack
04/20/09: 4-Year Old Nathaniel Stafford (Rockdale County, Ga) (PDF)
04/20/09: Pit Bull Attack Victim Airlifted to Regional Burn Center in Tampa
02/27/09: Pit Bull Attack Victim Files Lawsuit; Appears on Discovery Channel
11/30/08: Jaydin Embry: One Year After Pit Bull-Mix Tears Off Scalp
11/15/08: Pit Bull Rips Off Scalp off 6-Year Old Johnson County Girl
10/29/08: Flashback: Emily Stinnett, 4-Years Old, Scalp Ripped Off by Pit Bull
10/12/08: Video: Charlotte's Crusade, Surviving a Pit Bull Attack
09/17/08: Pit Bulls Send Second Victim to Harborview Trauma Center in One Week
08/19/08: Toddler Attacked by a Pit Bull Outside Day Care Center
06/30/08: Flashback: Pit Bulls Scalp Man in Guyana
06/22/08: 4-Year Old Xander van Zyl (South Africa) (PDF)
06/16/08: Flashback: Amaya Hess 2 Years After Violent Pit Bull Attack
06/14/08: 2007 Fatality: Mary Diana Bernal Killed by In-Law's Pit Bull
12/01/07: Medical Study (Graphic): Pitbull Mauling Deaths in Detroit (PDF)
07/25/07: 5-Year Old Martin Collier (Highland City, FL) (PDF)
01/31/06: 3-Year Old Destiny Campbell (New Castle, PA) (PDF)
01/05/06: 2-Year Old Noah (Louisville, KY) (PDF)
12/21/05: 82-Year Old Dorothy Sullivan (Spotsylvania, VA) (PDF)
10/01/05: 88-Year Old Mabel Wong (Concord, CA)
11/20/04: 46-Year Old Sandra Sardinha (Maui, HI) (PDF)
10/12/03: 38-Year Old Charlotte Cooper (Hudson, OH) (PDF)
06/04/03: 56-Year Old Carol Dennison (Port St. John, FL) (PDF)
03/11/03: 4-Year Old Abigail Register (Jacksonville, FL) (PDF)
08/20/02: 2-Year Old John-Michael Macias-Drisner (La Habra, CA) (PDF)
10/08/01: 36-Year Old Patricia Hallet (Pittsburg, CA)
05/22/00: 4-Year Old Jeffrey Morris (Rocky Mount, NC) (PDF)
02/18/00: 40-Year Old Ascension Cervantez (Los Angeles, CA) (PDF)
12/01/79: 7-Year Old Frankie Scarbrough, 1979 Attack (Miami, FL) (PDF)

Pit Bulls Attacking Owner's Brother Caught on Camera in Bakersfield

2009-11-04T12:50:00.006-07:00

iPhone Snapshot
Bakersfield, CA - In a rare photo captured by Damon Hill via iPhone on Tuesday, 35-year old Steven Herrera is shown being attacked by three pit bulls in the front yard of his brother Salvador Romero's East Bakersfield home. Neighbor Andy Castaneda could hear Herrera's screams from four houses down. He was screaming, "Oh God, please somebody help me," Castaneda said. When 69-year old Castaneda arrived at the scene, he had no weapon except a hardwood cane.

"The big pit was chewing the man's arm off. It was horrible," Castaneda said. "I've never seen anything like that."

As neighbors gathered outside the fenced front yard of Salvador Romero, one shot a few photos with his cell phone. Others were reluctant to enter without a weapon to defend themselves against the powerful pit bulls. According to Castaneda (pictured right), by this point, "the man's arm was shredded." So he entered the yard, used the bicycle to shield himself, and started beating the dogs with his cane until they retreated long enough to get Herrera out of the yard.

Damon Hill also heard the commotion. "His son was outside the yard crying and throwing up," Hill said of the victim. Hill said he believes Herrera would probably have been killed had someone not intervened. "The dogs were just going wild," he said. Romero, who runs a backyard breeding operation, initially said he would not seek the return of the three pit bulls that are currently being held in quarantine, but later suggested he may want the two pregnant females back.

Related video

Related articles:
09/17/09: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks
04/14/09: Camera Catches Pit Bull Attack on Bichon Near Fort Collins
12/05/08: Video: 4 Pit Bulls Kill Pit Bull in Owners Back Yard

Tennessee "Loose" Dog Attack Law: Pit Bull Owner Charged with Aggravated Assault

2009-11-03T09:00:00.006-07:00

From left: Helen Marshall, Skye, Andre Robinson and unnamed judge.

Judge Strips Bond
11/03/09 UPDATE: The anticipated Wednesday court hearing regarding Andre Robinson's half million-dollar bond was pushed forward to Tuesday so that the victim, 62-year old Helen Marshall, could be heard at the hearing. WREG TV video captures the terrified victim as she enters and leaves the courtroom, where she had to face pit bull owner Andre Robinson, who has a felony record of robbery and burglary, as well as multiple prior complaints against his vicious dogs.

The judge, who is unnamed in the article, essentially evacuated the half million-dollar bond by dropping it to $50,000. It seems the point of the high bond was to keep this potentially dangerous man behind bars, unable to harm someone else or to "suddenly move," as he did following the incidents with his dogs in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Now, along with dreams of vicious pit bulls "crushing" her bones, Marshall has the added fear of Robinson back in the neighborhood.

11/03/09: Held on Half Million Dollar Bond
Cordova, TN - On Saturday, Shelby County sheriff's deputies arrested the owner of three pit bulls that attacked and injured a Cordova woman and her dog two days earlier, charging him with Aggravated Assault. Andre Robinson, 33, is now being held at the Shelby County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Robinson's dogs attacked Helen Marshall, 62, on Thursday, October 22, as she walked her son's Husky, named Skye, past Robinson's house in the 8600 block of Oak Trail Lane.

This is the first instance of an Aggravated Assault charge -- that does not involve the dog's owner "siccing" his dog on a person -- DogsBite.org has recorded.

Doctors at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis told sheriff's detectives Marshall was bitten more than 50 times on her arms, legs and forearms. She is now recovering at home. Her dog Skye also suffered many wounds and lacerations. According to sheriff's office spokesman Steve Shular, the steep bond was set because of the extensive injuries to Marshall. It was likely also set this high due to past infractions by Robinson and his dogs and new Tennessee State dog law.1.

Zero Tolerance for Dog Attacks

On the same day the above article was published by the Commercial Appeal, an editorial was published by them as well, "Zero Tolerance for Dog Attacks." The editorial outlines the new Tennessee "loose" dog law that was passed in 2007 (See: 44-8-408 or view PDF). Unsurprisingly, the law provides numerous exceptions for owners of loose dogs, for instance "temporary harborers" are excluded2, but due to Robinson's history of not properly restraining his dogs, he is not excluded.

We presume that Robinson is being charged with a Class E felony, which according to the editorial is punishable by one to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. Under the same statue, if a loose dog kills a person (off the dog owner's property), a Class D felony applies, which is punishable by two to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. If the dog has been trained to fight or has previously inflicted serious injury or death upon a person3, the penalties worsen.

The editorial also mentions the horrific -- and preventable -- 1990 death of 57-year old Betty Lou Stidham and the lowly sentence her neighbor, Edwin Hill4, served after his two pit bulls first mauled Hill's own wheelchair-bound mother, in a subsequent attack, tore the leg off Stidham's pet pug, then 6-months later killed Stidham as she walked away from her mailbox. Hill was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and served five months of a two-year sentence.

Related ZUPF video

We've gathered news articles and court documents about the Betty Lou Stidham case, whose family successfully sued the City of Memphis after her death. Please visit our Scribd page to download.

1In addition to Robinson's pit bulls running loose and attacking pets in his current neighborhood, his former neighbors in Horn Lake, Mississippi filed similar complaints against him. He moved from that location prior to being taken to court.
2Serious and fatal dog attacks frequently occur when the dog is in the hands of a "temporary harborer."
3As in other U.S. states, after a dog kills a person, the State of Tennessee does not mandate the euthanization of the animal.
4Edwin G. Hill, a former Memphis police officer, apparently "sobbed on the witness stand" at his sentencing hearing.

Pregnant Woman Attacked by Pet Pit Bull, Airlifted to Trauma Center

2009-10-29T20:30:00.006-06:00

Fractures Arm
Oak Hills, CA - A woman nine months pregnant was attacked by her own pit bull, breaking her arm and prompting her to be airlifted to a trauma center, according to officials. Rescue personnel arrived at the home in the 7300 block of Braceo Street near Ranchero Road, found the victim bleeding profusely and said she appeared to be going into shock. The 20-year-old was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, said a spokeswoman for the Victor Valley station.

San Bernardino County Animal Control officers took custody of the woman's pit bull.

Related articles:
09/10/09: The Pit Bull Bite: Pet Pit Bull Bites Off Owner's Hand
08/12/09: 2009 Fatality: Leesburg Man, 20, Killed by His Two Pit Bulls...
05/11/09: Animal Agency, PSPCA, Distorts History of 25-Year Old Pit Bull Problem
03/17/09: 10 Shots Stop Pit Bull Attack on Pregnant Woman and Officer
03/15/09: Pregnant Woman Attacked by Pet Pit Bull at Own Baby Shower

2009 Fatality: Toddler Wanders from Babysitter's Home; Killed by Pit Bull

2009-10-29T01:25:00.006-06:00

From left: Offending pit bull and his doghouse, Chief Brian Russell and Richard Ray Smith.

Another Accident?
UPDATE 10/29/09: New information has been reported about the death of Matthew Hurt. According to a KTHV video, family and friends1 said the boy saw a puppy and chased it to a backyard where a pit bull was chained. Matthew's 3-year old brother followed him, then rushed home to alert the family. Neighbor Bridgette Monroe, who tried to help, described the horrible scene, "The babies' jugular, throat was bitten and from his mouth up to his eye was bitten."

Authorities seized two adult pit bulls from the dog owner's home2, one of which was male. Though not stated in the article, it's likely that the puppy Matthew had been chasing came from a litter of the two pit bulls. Richard Ray Smith, whose mother owns the dogs, said, "The dog has been raised with us and all the kids have played with the dog. It's not a violent dog, we don't know what happened." He added, "We don't want the family to be mad at us, it's just an 'accident.'"

But two adult chained pit bulls, likely part of a backyard breeding operation, that wind up severely injuring or killing a child is far from an accident. The situation is a ruinous attack only waiting to happen. Chief Brian Russell said police and emergency crews arrived within minutes and the boy was airlifted to St. Michael's where he was pronounced dead. "There very well could be charges either way," he said. "We'll just have to see where the investigation goes from here."

Related ZUPF video

1Matthew and his two siblings stayed with Kevin Taylor and Christy Godwin while their mom worked. The couple was afraid of the dogs and told the dogs' owner they were vicious in the past.
2The loose puppy of an unnamed breed has still not been caught.

10/28/09: 2-Year Old Killed By Chained Pit Bull
Prescott, AR - Five days following the fatal pit bull mauling of 17-month old Colton Smith at his babysitter's home, two-year old Matthew Clayton Hurt of Prescott, Arkansas is also dead by a pit bull. Matthew arrived at his babysitter's home just before 10 am this morning. At some point, the boy wandered a few blocks away and into a backyard where a pit bull was chained. The dog savagely attacked the toddler. A woman walking nearby tried to help, but it was too late.

"He wasn't moving at all he was bitten all on his throat across his face just limp," Bridgette Monroe said.

Arkansas State Police are still investigating. No charges have been filed at this time.

Related articles:
11/20/09: After Fatal Pit Bull Mauling, the City of Prescott Bans Pit Bulls
10/27/09: 2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home
09/17/09: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks
06/29/09: Shaylee Crosson, 3, Loses Scalp in Pit Bull Attack
05/14/09: 2009 Fatality: 18-Month Old Killed by Pit Bull in Luling, TX
04/08/09: Pit Bull Attacks Toddler While Being Baby-Sat in Bay County
02/06/09: Babysitter's Pit Bull Attacks Infant in Newport News; Critical Condition

In Massachusetts, Landlords May Be Liable When Tenant's Pit Bull Attacks

2009-10-28T00:15:00.004-06:00

Pit Bulls Singled Out
Waltham, MA - The second-highest court in Massachusetts recently ruled that a landlord may be held accountable if a tenant's pit bull goes on the attack. The Court specifically singles out the breed as one known to have a propensity for aggression. The appeals court ruling, which reversed a lower-court decision, arose from a 2005 lawsuit against landlords Emil and Clara Florio in which a 10-year old boy's leg was badly injured by their tenant's pit bull named Tiny.

The appeals court opinion, written by Justice Gary Katzmann, stated: "While the defendants may not be held strictly liable by virtue of Tiny's breed, knowledge of that breed and its propensities may properly be a factor to be considered in determining whether the defendants were negligent under common-law principles." Katzmann ruled that the lower court erred in dismissing the negligence charge. The case was returned to superior court for further proceedings.

In its argument, the appeals court made use of a 2008 state Supreme Judicial Court decision -- which had not been issued at the time of the lower-court's ruling -- that found pit bulls are "commonly known to be aggressive." In that decision, the Court determined police officers may not have to "knock and announce" their presence to execute a search warrant if a pit bull is on the premises. The ruling comes as state lawmakers push to update existing animal control laws.

Killian Nutt vs. Emil A. Florio
"Our assessment of the defendants' knowledge of Tiny's propensities, however, is informed by a decision of the Supreme Judicial Court issued after the summary judgment here and thus not available to the judge in the proceedings below. There, in the criminal context, the court observed that the pit bull is a breed "commonly known to be aggressive."[ 7 ] Commonwealth v. Santiago, 452 Mass. 573, 577-578 (2008). The court justified an exception to the "knock and announce" rule for the execution of a search warrant where, among other factors, on the premises to be searched was a pit bull -- an animal the court stated was "known to be dangerous and aggressive" -- that could be used to confront the officers."

On July 18, 2005, 10-year old Killian Nutt was playing in a sprinkler when Tiny the pit bull "bolted" from its porch, "leapt into the air and over the retaining wall" and violently attacked Killian. According to Harry Vlachos, the attorney representing Killian, the appeals court ruling says that it is "up to a jury to decide whether a pit bull has to bite somebody before it's considered dangerous." He added, "What it says is pit bulls may present certain issues that Lassie doesn't."

Related ZUPF video

Related articles:
11/17/08: Common Wealth vs. Luis Santiago

2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home

2009-10-27T16:15:00.003-06:00

Future In-Law's Dog
UPDATE 10/27/09: Sheriff's Deputies confirmed that the 65-pound pit bull named Max did not belong to the babysitter, rather she had been "watching it" for a week for her future in-law's. This is despite the fact that a KMPH video shows a "Warning Security Dog" sign hanging on the babysitter's fence with rusted screws. A preliminary autopsy released Tuesday confirmed that Smith's death was a result of loss of blood due to a puncture wound to the subclavian artery.

Sheriff's Deputies say there are "no plans" to arrest the babysitter at this time. The case though will be sent to the District Attorney's office.

Related ZUPF video

10/26/09: Young Victim Named: Colton Smith
Authorities have identified the latest pit bull fatality victim as 17-month old Colton Smith. On Friday, while under the care of a babysitter, the toddler was bitten in the throat and dragged around the yard by a pit bull-mix living at the babysitter's home. The boy was airlifted to Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, where he died shortly after arrival. The boy's body was returned to Merced for further investigation by the county coroner on Friday as well.

The identity of the babysitter will not be released until the Merced County District Attorney's office decides if criminal charges will be filed.

10/23/09: Babysitter's Pit Bull Fatally Attacks
Delhi, CA - In a developing story, authorities report that a 17-month old Merced County boy has died after being mauled by a pit bull-mix. Authorities say the little boy wandered into the backyard while his babysitter was in another room. By the time she noticed he was missing, the dog had already attacked. The news video shows a "Warning Security Dog" sign posted on the fence of the babysitter's home where the boy was attacked by the 65-pound pit bull.

Sheriff Pazin states in the video, "These are rugged vicious animals, that can just that quickly snap." According to Pazin, the babysitter tried to stop the attack by beating (or stabbing) the pit bull with a two prong barbecue fork. The dog eventually let go, and that's when the sheriff's office received a 9-1-1 call from the hysterical babysitter. She dropped the phone and tried driving the little boy to the hospital, but was pulled over by a deputy for driving erratically.

She literally handed the blood soaked toddler to Deputy Cardenas, who performed first aid until the ambulance arrived to take the toddler to a hospital. The boy was later flown to Children's Hospital Central California where he was pronounced dead. The pit bull, who reportedly belongs to the "babysitter's fiance's parents," is now under quarantine at the Merced County's Animal Shelter. Police are investigating whether any criminal charges will be filed.

In the 3-year period of 2006 to 2008, 14% (12) of the fatal attacks involved a "watcher," a person such as a grandparent or babysitter watching a child between the ages of 0-4.

2009 Pit Bull Awareness Day by YouTube Artist Zupf - DogsBite.org

2009-10-24T00:10:00.006-06:00

They're Not Letting Go
DogsBite.org - Back in July, YouTube artist Zupf created a video in anticipation of this year's Pit Bull Awareness Day1, when pit bull lovers unite around the country to "praise" the breed. As in our own video last year, Zupf hopes to bring true awareness to the American public about pit bulls on this day. Pit bulls were selectively bred to fight, to inflict maximum damage in these fights and thereby have an unmatched 30-year track record of killing and maiming our children and pets.

DogsBite.org praises Zupf. The artist's continued commitment to this cause has clearly prevented innocent persons and pets from suffering disfiguring injury and death by a pit bull.

Victims Shown in Zupf Video
In order of appearance and those which had blog posts on DogsBite.org: Nancy Thomas, 21 > years old (Cortez, CO), Shaylee Crosson, 3-years old (Odessa, TX), Frankie Flora, 5-years old (Wappingers Falls, NY), Nick Foley and Jourdan Lamarre, each 10-years old (Cary, IL), Justin Clinton, 10-years old (Leverett's Chapel, TX), Jayden Allen, 6-years old (Henry County, GA), Alan Hill, 55 > years old (Independence, MO), Bianca Zangari-Dacey, 1-year old (Haverhill, MA), Charlotte Blevins, 15-months old (Omaha, NE).

1Note the "pit bull kissing booth" and that Fulton County Animal Services is attending.

Pit Bull Attacks Owner's Mother; May Suffer Arm Amputation

2009-10-22T13:17:00.009-06:00

The Pit Bull Bite
Pierceton, IN - Janet Hartman, 63-years old, may lose her arm after her son's pit bull attacked her at his Pierceton home. On Tuesday, October 20, Mrs. Hartman underwent the misfortune of stopping by her son's home to "drop off money" for him. She had been to her son Kevin's home before and met his pit bull. On this occasion, Kevin was not home. The dog was tied to a tree at the front of the house, but the walkway to the front door was within the dog's reach.

According to police, when Mrs. Hartman approached the house, the dog attacked. She put her arm up to protect her neck and face, and the pit bull’s jaws "locked on." The dog chewed her arm down to the bone and doctors believe it might have to be amputated. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Detective Josh Spangle, who was the second officer on the scene, said is was a "gruesome, bloody scene." As far as a dog attack, "I’ve never seen anything like that," he said.

Mrs. Hartman was airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne in serious condition. She was upgraded to fair condition the following day. Spangle told reporters that because the dog's vaccinations are current and the attack occurred on the owners’ property, the animal was not taken into custody. Kevin Hartman and his girlfriend, Heather Hersha, are allowed to keep the potential "arm amputating mauler" as the attack did not violate any state or county laws.

Like the majority of U.S. states and counties, Kosciusko, Indiana has few preventative dangerous dog laws. Furthermore, once an attack of this nature occurs, there are no laws after the fact either. What will happen, for instance, when this pit bull chooses to snap the rope or cable that attaches it to the tree? Which unlucky child playing in a nearby yard will meet this animal's jaws? Which unlucky child will be ripped from his bicycle and suffer broken bones or worse?

Related ZUPF video

Recent Amputations by Pit Bulls in Indiana

The State of Indiana continues to amass more limb amputations than any other state. In at least three instances, the victims were attacked by "family" pit bulls.

Oct. 09: Janet Hartman, 63, Pierceton. Victim expected to lose one arm.
Feb. 09: Scott Sands, 47, Elkhart. Victim nearly suffered one arm amputation.
Jan. 09: Brenda Hill, 68, Indianapolis. Victim suffered a lower leg amputation.
Jun. 08: Annette Williams, 45, Greensburg. Victim had both arms amputated.

Announcement: DogsBite.org Turns Two-Years Old

2009-10-15T07:15:00.001-06:00

DogsBite.org officially turns two-years old today, October 15, 2009. In these two years, we have built a sizable website with nearly 1,750 pages, documented nearly 5-years of fatality data and produced three national reports1. Additionally, we continuously track new U.S. cities and foreign countries that adopt breed-specific (pit bull) laws. By the end of 2009, we will have recorded a full year of U.S. media reported pit bull attacks and police and citizen shootings of dangerous pit bulls.

The Pit Bull Problem Continues to Grow

Back in August, we published a post concerning the 2009 U.S. shelter data report by Animal People. Of the 1,663,167 shelter dogs projected to be euthanized in 2009, pit bulls account for 58%. This is an 8% increase from 2007, indicating that the "pit bull problem" is only growing. Unless more cities adopt laws to correct the breed-specific problem that pit bulls present, we can presume a substantial number of new mauling victims and pit bulls euthanized in the next two years.

Who Is DogsBite.org at Two-Years Old?

DogsBite.org is a public education website about dangerous dogs -- specifically pit bull type dogs. We are the only website dedicated to putting the safety of humans before dogs, as we are the only source of information on this topic that is not owned, controlled, or funded by pit bull breeders, pit bull owners, dog fancying organizations, dog registry and breeder organizations, veterinarian organizations, animal welfare groups or any of their associated influential lobbying groups.

We thank our readers for their continued participation in our comment sections and writing to us directly to share important information. We rely on both to continue our mission.

Tanner Joshua Monk, Breckenridge, TX

Over the past two years, we have focused many resources on the State of Texas due to the volume of serious and fatal pit bull attacks that occur in this state, as well as organized dogfighting. Texas citizens have begun to mobilize against the 1991 statewide anti-BSL measure that prohibits pit bull laws. In memory of the innocent Texans who have suffered death by the powerful jaws of a pit bull, we leave readers with the images of Tanner Monk, who now only flies in the arms of angels.

1Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008; Report: U.S. Police and Citizen Shootings of Pit Bulls 2008; Report: Dog Attacks on Livestock and Horses January - May 2008

"Non Bite" Pit Bull Injury Leads to Death of Plainfield AC Officer

2009-10-11T22:00:00.007-06:00

Officer Theresa Foss
Plainfield, CT - An incident that raises many questions regarding what defines a "fatal dog attack" recently occurred in Connecticut. On September 29, Plainfield Animal Control Officer Theresa Foss was hospitalized with head injury after being knocked to the ground by a pit bull. Foss had responded to the call of an aggressive dog that had trapped a family inside their home. A resident of the home, Ron Roberts, shot the dog several times after it attacked Foss, causing the animal to flee.

News articles were quick to point out that the loose pit bull, named Buddy, had not bitten Officer Foss. The owner of the dog, David Coombs1, told reporters "he had no idea" the trouble Buddy had caused when the dog returned to Coombs’ 180 Moosup Pond Road home the following morning. Though news reports clearly stated that the dog had not bitten Foss, Coombs took the unusual step of shooting Buddy to death then burying the animal in Canterbury, about 4 miles away.

Authorities did not attempt to locate the buried dog2, because the incident did not involve a bite.

Up until Foss' death on October 8, she remained hospitalized at Yale-New Haven Hospital with serious head injury. While it could have been an error on his part, Charles Gagne, of Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, said that Foss' death was unrelated to the dog incident. This appears to be impossible, as Foss never left the hospital after the attack. State Animal Control Officer Linda Wenner later told reporters that Foss "died of organ failure," begging the question as to why?

Two Heart Attack Victims in 10-Day Period

Foss' death comes during the same 10-day period in which two people suffered a heart attack following a terrifying "pit bull incident," thus highlighting the issue of "non bite" pit bull injury even further.

On October 2, 70-year old Mary Garcia of Adams County, Colorado was attacked by two dogs, a pit bull-mastiff mix and boxer-pit bull mix, when she stepped outside to lock her car doors. Garcia suffered serious bite injury in the attack, but the immediate threat was a heart attack that struck after the incident.
On October 11, 56-year old Timothy Neimeyer of Indianapolis hopped a fence to stop a fight between his pit bull and a neighbor's dog. The pit bull broke its chain and jumped a fence to attack the dog. While trying to stop the fight, Neimeyer went into cardiac arrest. His condition is listed as "grave."

1Combs was ticketed for dog nuisance, allowing a dog to roam and failure to license. He was fined $242.
2For all we know, Buddy could have been shipped across state lines to live with a friend or relative of Coombs.

2005 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org

2009-10-08T13:33:00.011-06:00

Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 28 fatal dog attacks in 20051. Citations of each victim's story are located on the Fatality Citations page. The last year the CDC recorded or studied dog bite fatalities by breed was 1998. Likely due to pressures from animal advocacy groups, dog fancying groups and pro-pit bull groups, the CDC stopped recording these deaths by breed. The only other known entity that tracks this vital information is Animal People News. DogsBite.org has joined in this effort.

2005 Dog Bite Fatalities

282 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2005. Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 57%. Pit bulls make up approximately 5% of the U.S. dog population.
The combination of pit bulls (16) and rottweilers (5) accounted for 75% of all fatal attacks.
46% of the attacks occurred to children (11 years and under) and 46% occurred to adults (21 years and older)3. Of the adults, 85% occurred to ages 55 and older.
57% of fatal attacks in 2005 involved multiple dogs; 7% involved chained dogs.
64% of the attacks occurred on owner property and 36% off owner property. Of the off-property attacks, 90% (9) involved pit bulls.
61% of the victims were female; 39% of the victims were male. Of the female victims, over half (9) were 11 years and under.
The state of California had the most fatalities (4), followed by the states of Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Virginia each suffering 3 three.

1DogsBite.org launched in October 2007. By January 2010, DogsBite.org will have five years of fatal dog attack data available to the public and 250 megabytes of downloadable PDF documentation about these victims.
2Various websites report 29 fatal dog attacks in 2005. This is due to the December 30 death of Cody Adair and the initial media reports falling on January 3, 2006. Cody is included in the DogsBite.org 2006 dog bite fatalities.
3Two victims fell within the 12 to 20 age group, ages 12 and 14.

Pit Bull Owner Lies After Dog Declared "Dangerous," Dog Attacks Again

2009-10-04T12:34:00.016-06:00

Two Children Severely Injured
Millcreek, PA - On September 16, 3-year old Alorah Havern was violently attacked by a pit bull-mix while being babysat at her grandmother's home. The grandmother, Debbie Havern1, often watched the child at Alorah's home. But on that Wednesday, she brought the child to her own home in Millcreek to do some laundry. Also living at the home was her 25-year old son Matthew Havern and his 7-year old dog. The results of this combination proved disastrous.

Alorah, who continues to be treated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, will be permanently scarred by the attack and may be blind in one eye, doctors have told her family. The nerve damage, according to doctors, is also likely permanent. Alorah's mother, Julie Havern2, said her daughter suffered a fractured skull and required more than 300 stitches to close her wounds. She also lost many teeth and had numerous bones in her face shattered.

In November 2006, this same dog attacked the 4-year old daughter of Matthew's girlfriend. Her injuries included: partial loss of sight in one eye, a broken jaw and the loss of many teeth.

We wish we were writing to you from the Twilight Zone readers, but we are not. The girlfriend3 from the 2006 attack is apparently still in a relationship with Matthew. According to the article, she has talked to him "repeatedly" since the attack about the need to euthanize his dog, named Graham. She said he has not brought the dog within sight of her or her daughter since the attack. Yet Graham has attacked a different child in the family since causing devastating injury again.

Q: Why wasn't Graham euthanized after the first attack?
A: Pennsylvania State law.

Like many states, after a dog inflicts "severe injury," Pennsylvania declared the dog "dangerous" and required its owner to abide by new rules, such as keeping the dog in a secure enclosure; attaining liability insurance; and posting warning signs. Unwilling to adhere to the requirements, Matthew lied. In a written statement, he told the dog warden he "gave" the dog to a person in New York State. Not long after, Matthew and his dog moved into his mother's Millcreek home.

Q: How easy was it for Matthew to lie to Pennsylvania officials?
A: Provide a false written statement.

We frequently run across owners of dogs declared "dangerous" that say to judges, "I'm sending my dog out of state." The judge okays the arrangement dismissing the danger the dog will pose to its new location and that the dog's bite record may be erased upon crossing state lines, whereby eliminating future victims' claim against it. As the case of Matthew Havern demonstrates, one now must question how many of these dog owners simply lie, keep their dog and relocate nearby.

Matthew Havern is Being Charged

Millcreek authorities have charged Matthew J. Havern with at least seven offenses including: 1.) Owning an animal that caused severe injury or death 2.) An attack by a "dangerous" dog 3.) Reckless endangerment 4.) Failure to register and restrain 5.) Failure to vaccinate 6.) Failure to license and most notably 7.) Tampering with physical evidence because Matthew attempted to leave the scene of the Alorah attack in a vehicle with his two-time mauler, named Graham.

Q: Why should any state law trust a "Matthew" or known mauler over the rights of future victims?
A: No state law should.4

Faced with seven charges, Matthew "agreed" to have the dog put down September 17.

1Debbie Havern is Julie Havern's mother-in-law. It is unknown if Debbie faces charges.
2Julie Havern is married to Tom, which we presume is the brother of Matthew Havern.
3The girlfriend, whose daughter was attacked by Matthew's dog in 2006, did not want to be identified.
4Due to Dog Mauling Fancier groups that protect owners of dangerous dogs and humane groups who believe, "A dog shouldn't be euthanized just because it ripped the teeth out of two children and broke a few jaws," we have state laws that allow second and third chances for dogs that have inflicted severe injury.