Pit Bulls

Police: Pit Bull Attacks Man's Face
Officers Say Dog May Have Been Agitated By Family Argument
Pat McReynolds
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 10:47 pm MST February 26, 2010
UPDATED: 4:41 am MST February 27, 2010

MESA, Ariz. -- A pit bull attacked his young owner in Mesa on Friday, slashing the man’s face, police said.

Friends of the victim described sounds echoing through their apartment complex that are the stuff of nightmares.

“I just heard growling. I heard him say, 'Stop it,'” said Darrin Keser.

“Cops everywhere, ambulance,” said Malynzo Cofey.

According to police, an 18-year-old man named Raul went inside his home to get a video game for a friend when his pit bull, named Chico, attacked.

“The 18-year-old suffered severe lacerations to the face. We got him out of the apartment and he was transported to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital,” said Mesa Police Sgt. Dan Butler.

Police said that initially, the victim was so traumatized by his appearance, he told officers to shoot him.

The victim’s father was also in the apartment at the time of the attack and initial reports from police were that the two got into a verbal fight that riled the dog.

However, officers said they were having trouble confirming that.

“We don’t know where the father is at this particular point, so we’re still looking for him to get some kind of statement as to what happened ,” said Butler.

Darrin Keser identified himself as the friend who wanted to borrow the video game.

He said Raul always treated both of his pit bulls well, but Chico was known to have a temper.

“The dog does get vicious at times, and I heard the dog growling and then I heard Raul saying, 'Dad,'” said Keser.

Officers at the scene said the victim will most likely need multiple reconstructive surgeries to repair his face.

The attacking animal was taken to Mesa Animal Control. The family has not yet decided if Chico will be put down.

Feb 22, 2010 3:00 pm US/Eastern
Philadelphia Woman Killed During Pit Bull Attack
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

Philadelphia Police and Animal Control Officers are investigating the death of a 38-year-old woman who was attacked by a pit bull during an argument with her mother over the weekend.

According to police, Christine Staab was attacked at about 7 a.m. Saturday while at her mother's house in the 1400 block of East Oxford Avenue.

Staab and her mother reportedly got into an argument on the front steps of the home, prompting a pit bull named Jade to attack.

"When the police got here, they discharged on the dog because the mom couldn't get the dog off the daughter," said neighbor Erin Houdshell.

Officers shot and killed the attacking dog and another pit bull who reportedly charged at police. Four other dogs were taken to an area animal shelter.

Neighbors told CBS 3 that Staab's mother, Barbara Erb, had been raising six pit bulls in her North Philadelphia home.

"I think because they've had some physical altercations in the past. The dog was being protective and kind of jumped the girl," said Houdshell.

Staab was pronounced dead at the scene. The fate of the four remaining pit bulls has not been determined.

The incident remains under investigation.

Ore. daughter of 'Ax Men' star dies after family dog attacks
by KATU.com Staff and KATU News

Originally printed at http://www.katu.com/news/85850097.html

SVENSEN, Ore. " The 4-year-old granddaughter of Jay Browning and step-daughter of Jesse Browning from The History Channel's series “Ax Men” has died after family said she was attacked by their pet Rottweiler.

Around 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, deputies responded with fire and medical personnel to the home of Jesse and D'ette Browning at 42921 Hillcrest Loop Road, Svensen, Ore., just east of Astoria.

Jesse Browning called 9-1-1 with the frantic news that his 4-year-old daughter, Ashlynn Anderson, had been attacked by one of the two family Rottweilers. Paramedics tried to save the girl's life and a LifeFlight helicopter landed in a nearby field to transport Ashlynn to Oregon Health and Science University hospital in Portland. The girl was pronounced dead on arrival.

Though Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin said only one of the two family dogs mauled the girl, both were taken from the home at the request of the family. The couple also has another child living in the home, a 1 year old.

Deputies transported the dogs to the Clatsop County animal shelter where they are quarantined.

KATU has uncovered reports that the family contacted the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office about four months ago to report a third dog "showing aggressive signs" who, according to the Associated Press, bit an adult family member. That dog was reportedly destroyed.

Clatsop County Medical Examiner Dr. Joanne Stefanelli will be involved with the autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Clatsop county detectives will conduct a follow-up investigation "after the family has time to grieve," said Tom Bergin, Clatsop County Sheriff, in a prepared statement Monday. At this time, no criminal charges are being issued.

"This was a sad set of circumstances," Bergin said, "and a very unfortunate death."

Fatal bite by husky has dog owners concerned
Updated: 2/21/2010 11:44:32 AM

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP, Minn. -- The death of an infant in the city of Independence this week has raised concern.

Authorities say 11-day-old Robert Hocker was fatally bit by his family's Siberian husky while he was left alone with the dog while in a car seat on a bed.


Experts say it is a rare occurrence but it could happen with any breed.



It's something dog owners are talking about.



Nina Heider was at Otter Lake Dog Park in White Bear Township today with her dog Daisy because, "its good exercise for her and good interaction."



She was shocked when she heard about the attack.



So was Pete Fischer of Forest Lake. He said, "I was stunned. I've had a Siberian husky and I've actually worked with several others and they're just really gentle dogs especially around people."



Christopher Pachel is a canine behavior specialist with Twin Cities Veterinary Behavior in White Bear Lake. When talking about fatal dog attacks in general, Pachel said, "Certainly in situations involving infants or young children the most common motivation would be more of a predatory behavior where the dog is responding to the movement or the noise that the baby makes."

He doesn't know what the circumstances were in the Independence tragedy.



He said while extremely rare, fatal attacks have happened with many breeds.



He said, "You could replace husky with Laborador, golden retriever, and beagle. Most people assume the dogs they grew up with as family pets would never do something like that."



He continued, "In fact when we look at the fatal dog bite incidents, the list of breeds that have been implicated in that includes breeds like dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers, Labrador retrievers, including the more commonly labeled dogs like the pit bulls and the Rottweilers."



The website dogsbite.org says between 2006 and 2009 there were at least six fatal attacks by huskies in the United States. Three of the victims were infants.

While predatory behavior is one possible cause, he said other reasons our best friends can do the unexpected include fear, protective behaviors and how they were raised.



So first and foremost, Pachel says it's important for parents to always watch their children around dogs.



He said, "If you have dogs and kids in the same home that direct supervision is incredibly important."



And then pay attention to the dog's behavior.



Pachel said, "If you have a dog that continually moves away from a child or a dog that is growling or showing his teeth at a child, those are definitely signs that would warrant further investigations."



But it's also not that simple. He said there are plenty of other more subtle signs.



He said, "It actually varies depending the breed. Different breeds will signal in different ways."



So it's important to work with a professional if you have concerns about your dog.

And again, such attacks are rare. Overall, dogs are loving and faithful members of a family.

Child killed in pit bull attack
Posted: Updated: Friday, February 12, 2010 1:09 PM EST

TERRY, MS (WLBT) - A child was killed Friday morning during a pit bull attack. Sheriff's deputies say 6 year old Anastasia Bingham walked out of the mobile home she lived in at 1911 Green Drive around 7:30am to go to a friend's house across the street. The dog mauled her to death between the two homes.

Law enforcement got the call around 8 a.m. and processed the scene. The dog, a brindle color pit bull, was taken away for quarantine. It's believed the dog was kept with some other pit bulls in a small patch of woods behind a nearby house. The dogs do not belong to the little girl's family.

The girl's brother, Zavian Bingham, says he was asleep when the attack happened. "These pit bulls, they'll be back though. For another crime. They killed my sister. They didn't know the dog bite."

The hinds county sheriff's department says it's too early to determine if any charges will be filed. Anastasia Bingham would have turned seven on Sunday.

"it was just being protective when it killed its owner's child"


ummm. wasn't the victim 38 years old?


kinda misleading there, counselor...

Posted: 10:39 PM Feb 23, 2010
Baby dies from injuries in dog attack
Family pet blamed in 5-day-old girl’s death

CONYERS " A newborn infant died Tuesday after being bitten by the family pet last week.

According to a Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office press release, the mother of the 5-day-old baby girl heard the infant crying Thursday and found the family dog on top of the baby’s bassinet.

“As she approached the bassinet, she realized that the dog had bitten her daughter,” read the release.

The infant was taken to Rockdale Medical Center and later airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston for surgery. Doctors performed the surgery, but the infant was listed in critical condition and died Tuesday from the injuries.

No charges are expected to be filed, according the release.

RCSO spokeswoman Sgt. Jodi Shupe said the dog was a pit bull breed and has been in custody of Animal Control since the incident.

Danny Lowery, owner of Conyers K-9 Academy, said dogs need training before being introduced to new additions in the family.

“Any dog can be good with kids if you socialize it and train it the right way,” Lowery said. “He needs mental and physical stimulation every day, and you can’t set him aside when a baby comes or you’re going to have issues.”

Lowery has been working with dogs for more than 30 years and deals with specific behavior issues.

“You got to work at it. You got to let the dog know he can’t develop jealousy issues over the baby,” Lowery said, explaining specific, necessary steps to go through in the training and acclimation process.

“Training is so important ... because the dog is going to be curious,” Lowery added. “It all goes back to socialization. You can do a lot even before the baby gets here.”

Lowery suggested getting the dog used to characteristic sounds and smells of babies.

Though all dogs are different, Lowery mentioned there are typically warning signs that a dog is not adjusting to children in the family. However, many may not know exactly what to look for.

“A dog will tell you before it bites,” Lowery said.

And Lowery said he does not work with dogs who have already caused puncture wounds and often suggests the dog be taken out of the home.

“Kids are more important than a dog,” Lowery said.

Family of Man Killed by Dogs Asks for Tougher Laws for Pit Bulls
Posted Monday, December 7, 2009 ; 06:44 PM

The family of Lowell Bowden, 70, spoke out in favor of stricter regulation of the pit bull breed.

LINDSIDE -- The family of a man who was killed after a Nov. 27 dog attack now is asking state and local lawmakers to take a look at laws and ordinances regulating pit bulls.

Lowell Bowden, 70, of Monroe County died Dec. 6 after being attacked by a group of dogs six days earlier.

His family released a prepared statement Dec. 7. The family describes him as a husband, step-father and as an adored grandfather.

"He died because he took a walk last Friday, as he does every day, to think about all that life has given him," the statement reads. "… and four dogs viscously, brutally and fatally attacked him; mauling and destroying the most exposed part of his body leaving him unrecognizable by sight."

In the statement, the family blames lax laws for the attack.

"He died because of laws that do not send a harsh enough message to irresponsible dog owners to properly manage their dogs," the statement reads. "He died because the lack of ordinances that could provide stricter oversight of irresponsible dog owners and punish them to prevent tragedies such as this from happening.

"He died because the laws that deal with dog attacks within the state of West Virginia are categorized and charged as misdemeanors although a loss of life has occurred and allowing irresponsible dog owners to be convicted of a misdemeanor instead of a felony."

The family asked the community for help in pressuring lawmakers to toughen those laws.

"We ask for help from you … neighborhoods, communities, organizations and the media to send a loud and clear message to government officials, legislators, and lawmakers," the statement continues. "Change your laws so that irresponsible dog owners are held accountable for the negligent keep of their dogs ensuring that their dogs are kept in a manner to prevent another brutal mauling."

After the attack, Justin Blankenship, 20, and Kimberly Blankeship, 52, Anna Hughes, 32, and Mose Christian, 19, were arrested in connection with the incident. They all were arrested on misdemeanor charges, but those could be upgraded.

for me it was about 16...

just saying you are using language in a way that is dishonestly inflammatory.

it weakens your argument.

Yeah, that's a different thread, patiodog ... the Rotti thread.

Feel free to start it if you'd like.

This thread is to discuss the topic, and to post news accounts of pit bull attacks/maulings/killings. I've been meaning to start a thread for some time now.

Some folks want to repeat the same lie thinking they can convince others who may not have read the facts. This status, as has been stated ad nauseum, isn't JUST about Pitbulls (and the various Pit-mixes) but extends to Rottweilers, Doberman's, some Huskies, Chow-chow etc. The disproportionate skew of stats, shows Pitbull and the mixes are over-represented in dangerous mauling of elderly and small children.

Rockhead wrote:

for me it was about 16...

Comment withheld

Quote:

just saying you are using language in a way that is dishonestly inflammatory.

it weakens your argument.

How so? A mother watches her daughter mauled to death by her family pet pit bull, and is helpless to stop the attack. It's a scene that happens all too frequently. How would you prefer I describe the relationship between these two?

Some questions for you, as the originator of the thread:

1) What do you think of the suggestion that your experience of the pit bull population may not apply universally, just as mine may not apply universally?

2) What do you propose as a solution to the perceived problem?

3) How do you identify a full-blooded pit bull terrier?

4) If you can identify a full-blooded pit bull terrier, how do you identify a mixed pit bull terrier? And at what level of dilution does the dog no longer pose a significant threat to society?

3) How do you identify a full-blooded pit bull terrier?

4) ... {H}ow do you identify a mixed pit bull terrier?

Upon whose authority do these determinations ultimately rest?