Pit Bull owners wake up!

Pit Bulls continue to cause mayhem in Florida

2011-01-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

PALM BAY — Jahvon Harrington may never smile the same again after being attacked by a babysitter's pit bull. The dog belonged to a friend of the childs mother, and the dog was raised around the owners children with no problems.

Yet, the 5-year-old is comforting his mother and bravely preparing for the surgeries to repair his face after the Friday afternoon attack by a Pitbull in Palm Bay.

"It's traumatic, but he's doing as good as can be expected," said his mother, Olivia Harrington. "I mean, he's telling me to sit down. I was running back and forth and pacing up and down at the hospital and he was like, 'Mama, its going to be OK.' "

"He's so amazing."

Harrington was headed to work and had dropped Jahvon off at the Seahorse Circle house of a longtime friend who has several dogs.

Moments later, the boy was outside playing and, according to Palm Bay police, attempted to ride the pit bull named "Blue Sky" like a horse.

The dog grabbed at the child's head with his jaws and shook him, crushing facial bones around one eye and ripping a portion of an ear, police said.

"The homeowner said she went to the restroom and then heard screams. She ran over and saw the child," said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.

"He'll need reconstructive surgery, and they had a plastic surgeon come in to evaluate him. No criminal charges were filed against the dog's owner, but animals services did issue a citation to remove the dog," Martinez said.

Brevard County Animal Services could seek to declare the animal as a dangerous dog, a process that could end in it being euthanized.

"It was a pretty significant bite to the face of the child," said Capt. Bob Brown, a spokesman for Animal Services.

Animal Services removed Blue Sky from the home and placed the dog under rabies quarantine after discovering the animal had not been vaccinated.

Agents issued a citation to 36-year-old Semakee Cunningham for an attack causing a severe injury.

Cunningham could not be reached for comment.

"I feel it was a terrible accident, but it was a terrible accident. I trusted my friend," Harrington said.

"She has her kids around the dogs and babysat for me recently," Harrington said.

The child was taken to Palm Bay Community Hospital's emergency room, where he was treated for numerous facial injuries injuries, including a four-inch wound beneath one of his eyes, along with an ear that was ripped to the cartilage

The child's mother left the home about 10 minutes before she learned of the incident.

Jahvon, whose face has numerous stitches, was back at home Monday.

Harrington has taken off the week from work to be with him.

Doctors have told Harrington nerve damage may prevent the child from showing the facial emotion of surprise or allow him to close his eyes fully to blow out a birthday cake.

The Department of Children and Families is also investigating the incident.

In the comment section, a nutter has the audacity to chime in and blame the child for this act of aggression.

The animal advocate writes:

"NO child should be left unsupervised with any large dog, especially one with the power of a pitbull. That said: How would you like it if someone grabbed you by the neck or tried to mount you like a horse? The dog reacted in surprise and/or fright, not in a deliberate attack mode.

How many times do we hear "child bitten/mauled by pitbull"? In most of these cases, the kid is taunting/teasing/kicking/hitting/etc. yet the dog is supposed to "behave"? And, yes, we hear all about pits because - again - they are the ones with those extremely strong jaws.

This is an issue that seems to continue ad nauseam and it usually ends in the dog being declared dangerous and subsequently euthanized. Which is unfair for, IMHO, keeping the kids under control is the key. But it's a rare mother who will blame her precious darling for causing such an incident. It's always the dog's fault...and that is beyond sad."

It's not "All how you raise 'em"

2010-12-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

People always comment on my blog and tell me how bad Pit Bulls are not born, they are made.
I used to believe that, just like you, until my own snuggly loveable pitty turned, as the majority of them will, eventually.

To those imbeciles, all I have to say is read on, and hopefully learn something in the process!

All of these people USED to think the same thing YOU think.
Hell, I even thought the same thing until my own PITBULL started killing other animals and then tried to turn on me in what I can only describe in an enraged, frenzied, bloodthirsty state of mind; like when Pirahnas attack!

ALL of these loving family Pitbulls turned, something their owners thought they would never do! Don't be a fool and let attacks like these happen to you!

RUGER

ATTACKED HIS OWNER AND THE LANDLORD

READ FULL STORY - http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/familys-pet-pit-bull-turns-into-a-terror-attacks-owner-and-landlord/1083982

PIT BULL TURNS ON IT'S OWNER
Evansville police shot and killed a pit bull late Thursday night after the dog attacked its owner.

According to Officer Tyrone Wood, the incident occurred at 409 E. Eichel Ave. around 11:30 p.m.

Wood said when police arrived, in response to a 911 call, the living room floor was covered in blood, the dog was ripping the arm of owner Tony Burden, 24, and a woman identified as Burden’s wife, Miriam Engelhardt, was screaming “He won’t let go” and hitting the dog, Brutis, with an aluminum bat.
READ THE STORY HERE - http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/sep/26/police-kill-pit-bull-it-attacks-its-owner/

SWEET FAMILY PITBULL KILLS NEWBORN BABY

The owner said that the dog never showed any signs of aggression toward anyone in their family, adding that his 4-year-old son "has never had any problems with this dog."

read the story - http://www.news4jax.com/news/25516673/detail.html

SWEET FAMILY PITBULL KILLS BABY

CONYERS, Ga. -- A 5-day-old baby girl died Tuesday after being attacked by the family's pit bull dog, according to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office.
READ STORY- http://www.wsbtv.com/news/22655771/detail.html

3 YEAR OLD ATTACKED BY THE FAMILY PITBULL

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A three-year-old girl was left with a gash on her eye and part of her ear missing after the family’s pit bull turned on her.
READ STORY http://www.foxcarolina.com/news/14241310/detail.html

This is just a small portion of very sad attacks that have really happened to people by Pitbulls that were part of the family. These dogs were trusted, and loved, and look what they did.

Don't let this happen to you!
If you have a Pit Bull, you should know that this can and probably will happen to you!
My own experience in owning a Pitbull is a prime example of why these animals are not fit to live in society.

Newborn attacked and killed by Pit Bull

2010-10-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is just horrible!
A newborn baby was attacked by the "loving, sweet, family Pit Bull", that has "never shown any signs of aggression", who "was raised since the day it was born", and "has never been beaten or abused".

http://www.news4jax.com/video/25527822/index.html?flv=1

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Investigators are trying to figure out why a family's pit bull described as a "very loving dog" attacked a 3-day-old baby in Arlington Sunday night.

Police said they when they arrived at the home on Dickson Road in Arlington at 10:40 p.m., the baby was being transported to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, where the boy died.

The baby's father told Channel 4 that he and his family are devastated by the loss of their new son, Justin Valentin. He said the dog attacked the baby on the bed while the mother took a shower.

"I don't know what happened," the father, Mark Valentin, said. "My wife went to the restroom and the dog got to the baby. We're not neglectful parents."

The father said he and his family are grieving over the loss of their child.

Valentin said that the dog never showed any signs of aggression toward anyone in their family, adding that his 4-year-old son "has never had any problems with this dog."

The father said he had raised the dog since the day it was born, and he said it was a very nice and loving dog who was never beaten.

Valentin said the pit bull had gotten loose before in the past, but it was returned by neighbors with his tail still wagging. Officers with animal care who picked the dog up after the attack painted a much different picture, saying that the pit bull was extremely aggressive with them.

"I want parents to know ... don't think you'll be quick enough," Valentin said. "It can happen in the blink of an eye."

The young, red pit bull was turned over to Jacksonville Animal Control and Protective Services, then euthanized at the request of the family.

Police, animal control officials and the Department of Children and Families are all investigating.

In a separate case Monday night, Manatee County deputies fatally shot a pit bull that charged them after attacking a 5-year-old boy in Bradenton. Authorities said the boy tried to climb a tree to get away, but the dog bit into his arm and tried to pull him down.

"I would never recommend leaving an animal alone with an infant, period," Animal Control Officer Robert Currey said. "Even if it's a family pet, you never know how they're going to react to a new, basically, living being in the residence with them -- which is basically the animal's territory."

One local lawmaker is working to change the state's law on dangerous dogs. State Sen. Tony Hill said this latest tragedy of an infant dying gives him more reason to push for change.

The current law, which was passed in 1990, prohibits counties from passing laws that are specific to certain breeds, meaning there cannot be special restrictions for pit bulls, for instance.

In the spring, Hill proposed a bill that would remove that restriction. The bill didn't make it out of committee, but Hill said he will try again. He said that if his bill passes, cities and counties would be able to pass laws that require pit bulls to be muzzled or on a leash, for example.

Memphis man injured in Pit Bull attack

2010-10-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

FAST FACTS:

Clarence Oliver attacked by pit bulls Neighbors say the dogs have been a problem for a while Animal shelter says dogs will be put to sleep

(Memphis 10/27/2010) Clarence Oliver has dog bites over much of his body

The pit bulls responsible are in the Memphis Animal Shelter.

Clarence and his wife were checking out a rental property on Benton Street Saturday.

They knew dogs lived next door.

"They were always in cages. I could hear them barking, but I didn't fear them. They were in cages," says Clarence Oliver.

A neighbor across the street tried to alert them about a problem.

"The problem they had in the neighborhood is the neighbor with the pit bulls. As she was explaining that, all of a sudden she yells out, 'here they come'. They came running out of the backyard," says Clarence.

Clarence Oliver got his young son out of the way as the dogs bit into his arms and legs.

"They were fighting in a pack, attacking both sides of me. I was kicking," he says.

He says the dogs even bit their owner. Another person had to use a shovel to get the dogs back inside.

By then, Clarence was unconscious.

"After the dogs knocked him down, he was on the ground with his eyes open. I thought he was gone," says Clarence's wife Sandra.

Her husband had a fractured skull.

Neighbors say the dogs had been in trouble before, even killing one neighbor's smaller dog.

"I am afraid to come outside. I look and look and look before I come out because I am afraid of those dogs," says neighbor Gustella Conley.

Now the dogs are under a 10 day quarantine at the shelter.

"Three adult dogs, five adult puppies were surrendered to the shelter by the owner. By ordinance and to protect the public they will be euthanized once the quarantine period expires," says Animal Shelter Director Matthew Pepper.

"Shouldn't nobody have a pit bull dog. These dogs are vicious. To me they are killer dogs," says Sandra Oliver.

Mr. Oliver is expected to be in the hospital a few more days.

Neighbors say they had called about the dogs before, but the owners always got them back.

This time the owners turned the dogs over to be put down.

But those owners are still not in the clear.

They have a November 14th court date on charges of dogs running at large and not having proper vaccinations and licenses.

http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-pit-bulls-attack-man-in-south-memphis-story,0,1475667.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wreg-news+%28WREG+-+News%29&flv=1

Also, this is a new Pit Bull attack story that happened in Memphis TN.

(Memphis 11/21/2010) An eight-year-old girl attacked by a pit bull in Whitehaven was recovering at home, after being released from LeBonheur Children's Hospital with 42 stitches.

FAST FACTS:

Eight-year-old Terriona Rhea was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull on Saturday afternoon.

Rhea received 42 stitches at LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

She said she still loves dogs.

Witnesses: Teen girl hit by car was fleeing pit bull

2010-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Henry County High School student Miracle Parham was struck by a Saturn on Jonesboro Road, just east of Rosewood Drive, at 7:20 a.m. She was in the middle of the road when she was hit by the eastbound vehicle, Maj. Jason Bolton said.

Miracle was walking to her school bus stop when she encountered the dog, which witnesses described as a pit bull, Bolton said. Witnesses told police the dog was approaching her aggressively, prompting Miracle to back up into the street, Bolton said.

Miracle was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Saturn driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to Henry Medical Center for evaluation, Bolton said.

A 14-year-old girl, who was reportedly trying to get away from an aggressive pit bull, was hit by a car and killed in McDonough Tuesday morning, Henry County Police said.

"I don't think they're going to be at fault," Bolton said of the unidentified driver. "She was in the center of the road.

"We're trying to establish who owns the dog," he added. "We think we might know the house the dog came from."

Letting a dog roam is an ordinance violation, Bolton said. Police also might pursue criminal charges against the dog owner, depending on what the investigation reveals.

"It's still early in the investigation -- we're looking into the possibility," Bolton said. "There is a potential for charges to be filed, but we've got to establish several criteria."

Woman in hospital after neighbor's pitbull jumps fence and attacks

2010-10-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

Roland Perez has a hard time believing his dog is culprit behind the attack.

"That would be devastating to have our dog euthanized," says Perez. "To let a dog go for something like that... my dogs are tame the way they are. They show discipline to their owners."

"When they told me it was Baby, our little dog, I said, 'Baby'?," says Perez. "She's been in the family for years and she's a good dog. It wasn't an attack, it was just a bite...

SAN ANTONIO -- A woman walking her dog Wednesday morning was charged by a neighbor's pit bull that jumped out of its fence.

It happened at the 6000 block of Royal Valley Lane.

"The pit bull was trying to get a hold of our puppy and my aunt got the puppy but it's leg got caught with the pit bull, and the pit bull ended up biting her," explains Fernando Wolf, the victim's nephew.

The woman, described to be in her forties, was transported to the hospital where she suffered a laceration to the hand. Her puppy is also recovering from minor injuries. Both are doing okay.

Animal Care Services took the pit bull away and cited the owner, Roland Perez, who has a hard time believing his dog is culprit behind the attack.

"When they told me it was Baby, our little dog, I said, 'Baby'?," says Perez. "She's been in the family for years and she's a good dog. It wasn't an attack, it was just a bite... My dog did jump over the fence and did bite [my neighbor] and I'm very sorry for that."

Animal Care Services will decide what to do with the dog in ten days. Until then, Perez says he'll be building a higher fence to keep his other three pit bulls from escaping.

"I think the dog should be laid to rest already because it's out of control," explains Wolf, who says Perez's dogs have gotten into his yard before.

"That would be devastating to have our dog euthanized," says Perez. "To let a dog go for something like that... my dogs are tame the way they are. They show discipline to their owners."

Classic Pit Nutter

2010-10-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

The possibilities of what could happen are endless...

I see this idiot ending up of craven desires blog in the near future.

Pit Bull Awareness Day 2010

2010-09-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

PITBULL AWARENESS DAY IS FAST APPROACHING.
THINKING ABOUT MAYBE GETTING SOME FOLKS TOGETHER THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN MY AREA, OR THE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD PETS OR LIVESTOCK KILLED BY PITS AND SEEING IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING TOGETHER.
THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS.

NOTE TO NUTTERS: WE ARE NOT AS STUPID AS YOU THINK! THERE'S A REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF THESE DOGS!

AND HERE IS A CASE WHERE PITS HAVE RECENTLY ATTACKED BUT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS EVIL BREED, COURTESY OF LOVE-A-BULL.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-City-Council-considers-waving-pit-bull-awareness-event-fees-103576884.html

Another bright Pit Bull owner

2010-09-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Pit Bulls are the most dangerous dog.

2010-09-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Click to View Larger Image

Visit Oklahoma-Law.com for more information on Oklahoma dog bite laws.

Thank you

2010-08-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I just want to say thanks to everyone who expressed sympathy to me during the time when I really needed it. You really don't know that I probably couldn't have made it through as easily without your support and words of kindness.

7 year old Jason Walter - KILLED by Pit Bulls

2010-08-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

Dogs attacked and caused the death of a 7-year-old La Salle boy this morning on a rural property between Varna and Wenona, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and coroner.

The sheriff’s department received a 911 call at about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday “advising of a dog attack at the Eric Shanklin Farm, approximately 2 miles northeast of Varna,” according to the report. An area resident advised that an Eric Shanklin is a renter of the house at that site.

“Jason T. Walter, 7, was outside the rural residence when he was attacked by a number of dogs. Family members found him lying in the driveway outside the residence and called 911,” according to the report. Marshall County Coroner Dave Lenz pronounced Walter dead "a short time later.”

“Four dogs, three pit bulls and a mixed breed, owned by other residents on the property were captured and taken to the Marshall County veterinary clinic to be euthanized and taken to Galesburg for further investigation,” according to the sheriff’s department’s initial report. Sheriff Rob Russell initially said the mixed breed was personally owned by Shanklin, but he did not provide any other specific information on the ownership of the dogs.

Walter was a student in the second grade at Northwest School, La Salle, superintendent Dan Marenda confirmed. After learning about the death, the La Salle school district was in the process of making social workers available to school children.

The sheriff’s department was assisted by Wenona Ambulance, Varna Fire and Ambulance and Lifeflight. State police and Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner continue to investigate.

Man Killed In Pit Bull Attack

2010-08-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

A Calaveras County businessman was killed by two of his friend's pit bulls, and the employee is now facing charges, according to authorities.

Mountain Ranch resident Jerry Yates, 69, was attacked on his own property after his employee, tenant and friend's pit bulls escaped their cages.

Yates' son found his body lying between two cars on the property parking area. The son was also attacked after finding the body, but was able to escape.

Deputies said they found a lot of blood on the two vehicles and saw obvious signs Yates was trying to escape when he died.

Friends described Yates as a valued member of the Mountain Ranch community and said the loss would be difficult to bear.

"Truck broke down? Jerry'd come and help you," said friend Doug Josef. "This isn't the way he should've went."

Calaveras County Sheriff's deputies said the pit bulls' owner was arrested and charged with owner neglect and having an animal that caused human death.

The two pit bulls were euthanized by Calaveras County animal control.

Yung Joc (rapper) Cited After His Pitbulls Attack Neighbor's Dog

2010-08-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yung Joc will have to pay a fine after police say two of his pit bulls attacked a local neighbor's dog.

Joc, real name Jasiel Robinson, has apologized for the attack on an unidentified neighbor's animal in his Fayette County, Georgia neighborhood.

According to 11 Alive, Joc says electric collars and a gate at his home malfunctioned when his two pets attacked the other dog.

He has since agreed to pay the dog's medical expenses and has apologized for the incident in addition to paying a citation.

WHAT? THIS GUN TOTIN' WEED SMOKIN' THUG IS A PIT BULL OWNER? NO FREAKING WAY!

Crowbar used to stop savage pitbull attack

2010-08-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

A pitbull that attacked another dog in Hastings on Tuesday had to be pried off with a crowbar.

A man who was cycling with the pitbull on a lead was pulled off his bike when it rushed a black labrador, a witness said.

Dog-control officers have now impounded the pitbull.

It's not known how badly the labrador or its owner were injured, but the woman was understood to have received bites to her hand. The attack occurred about 7am on Heretaunga St, near Riverslea Rd.

A witness said the pitbull, which was wearing a red bandanna, couldn't be controlled by its owner. "The guy had it on a lead but it just took off and pulled him off his bike."

The witness, who didn't want to be named, took a crowbar from his vehicle and ran to the other dog owner's aid. "I went over to it and stabbed the crow bar in its mouth and levered it open to get it off the other dog."

The man said the pitbull's owner was apologetic at first, but became aggressive when confronted by other passersby.

"People started telling him he should have had a muzzle on it and he got quite aggressive, saying he would smash over the people, then he took off."

Having seen the attack, the man said he would now back moves to ban pitbulls.

"It could have been pretty nasty if it had been a child or a smaller dog."

Hastings District Council community safety manager Phil Evans said dog-control officers impounded the pitbull.

They were waiting on more details on the attack from police, who interviewed the dog owners and witnesses, and investigating what charges could be laid.

Under Hastings dog bylaws, all pitbulls are classified as menacing, and must be muzzled and on a lead while in public.
HASTINGS, YOU GOT IT RIGHT! NOW GO THROW THAT PITBULL IN THE INCENERATOR!

Check out new blog about Pit Bulls

2010-08-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

http://thetruthaboutpitbulls.blogspot.com/

Residents fight back against pitbull attacks

2010-08-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Law enforcement officials are investigating two separate pitbull attacks in as many days this week on North Whidbey.

Wednesday night, an Oak Harbor police officer shot and killed a pitbull that charged at him on NE First Street, Oak Harbor Police Chief Rick Wallace said. The officer was responding to a report that the aggressive dog had attacked a man and his daughter, who took shelter in a neighbor’s house.

Nobody was injured in the attack, but that wasn’t the case Thursday night in the Rolling Hills development south of Oak Harbor.

Jim Murdy, a Diane Avenue resident, explained that he was working in his yard at around 4 p.m. and went to check on his 5- and 6-year-old grandsons. He heard a “blood curdling” yelp and turned to see a pitbull attacking his small dog, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Ringo.

Murdy hit and kicked the pitbull as hard as he could, but it didn’t seem to faze the dog. The pitbull dragged Ringo underneath the motorhome, so Murdy went to grab a hedger as a weapon.

“I thought, ‘you ain’t going to kill my dog, especially in front of me,’” he said.

Then he heard his wife, Sandi, screaming on the porch, where the pitbull had cornered Ringo. Sandi Murdy grabbed a broom and hit the dog, bending the broom.

“When I hit the dog she would just look at me,” she said. “I thought she was going to come after me.”

Jim Murdy said he cut the pitbull on the shoulder with the hedger and pushed hard enough that the motor stopped. It caused a laceration, but again the dog barely flinched as it was intent on attacking the corgi.

At that point, Jim Murdy grabbed the pitbull by the collar and it bit him on the hand, causing serious-looking puncture wounds. He finally was able to grab the dog around the neck and held it on the porch until deputies and animal control arrived.

Island County Animal Control Officer Carol Barnes said the pitbull wasn’t aggressive toward her or the two deputies when they got there. A neighbor woman who owns the dog was very upset about what had happened. She said the dog escaped after her son left a gate open.

“She’s led us to believe that the dog is going to be euthanized,” Barnes said. “She loves the dog very much and this is a difficult decision for her to make. She is being very cooperative.”

According to Barnes, the dog is a 13-year-old female that the family got from a pitbull rescue group in Seattle. The owner’s daughter said the dog has a history of being aggressive towards other canines, but has never bitten a person before.

Ringo the corgi suffered several bites and went to the veterinarian for treatment Thursday night. Jim Murdy headed to the hospital for treatment.

“I thank God we’re not burying one of my grandchildren,” Sandi Murdy said, noting that the dog attacked just a few feet from where the children were playing.

As for the dog that was shot in Oak Harbor, Wallace said the owner appeared to be suffering from dementia and he’s unsure whether the man will face any charges.

Terry Sampson, Oak Harbor’s animal control officer, said he had previously responded to a report of the pitbull aggressively barking at people. He said he doesn’t hesitate to call for backup when dealing with aggressive dogs and was sympathetic to the police officer.

“From what I know, the dog charged the officer a couple of different times,” he said. “There comes a point when you have to make a decision.”

North Fla. child apparently attacked by a pitbull

2010-08-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

CITRA - Authorities say a child was apparently attacked by a pit bull in north Florida.

The 2-year-old child's mother told authorities that her son was riding his tricycle between her and her neighbor's home on Thursday when she heard him crying and saw him covered in blood.

The woman told authorities that he was bitten by a pit bull. The child was bitten on the left side of head and face and had two puncture wounds on his scalp. Authorities said the wounds weren't life threatening.

The deputy captured the dog and animal services quarantined two pit bulls because of conflicting reports as to which dog had bitten the boy. The dogs weren't up-to-date with their shots. After a 10-day quarantine they will be euthanized because their owners said they don't want them.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/aug/13/officials-north-fla-child-apparently-attacked-pitb/life-pets/

Pit bull mauls 7-year-old boy in Warren

2010-08-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

A 7-year-old Detroit boy is recuperating today after being mauled by a pit bull that broke loose and rushed a group of children in front of 8702 Maxwell in Warren.

The child, Khalil Rocks, was rushed to St. John Hospital, Detroit, where he received several stitches to close severe wounds to his head, legs and arms.

The boy escaped more serious injuries when a neighbor saw what was happening and grabbed a flower pot and struck the dog in the head, causing it to let go of the boy.

"The boy is recovering today at home and neighbors tell us it was out of character for the dog to do something like this," Warren Detective Lt. Michael Torey said Friday.

Police said this is the second time Khalil has had an encounter with a vicious dog. He was attacked by a pit bull and severely bitten in Detroit when he was 3 years old.

Torey said the incident occurred at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday in the 8700 block of Maxwell. Neighbors said the dog broke loose from a chain restraint in his unfenced yard and ran after a group of children.

"Khalil fell down and the dog attacked and bit him for several minutes," Torey said. "A next-door neighbor, Timothy Anderson, saw this happening and ran over and slugged the dog in the head with a flower pot."

The dog then ran off to his back yard. Warren firefighters attended to the boy and then rushed him to the hospital.

The owner of the dog told Warren Detective Kevin Borycz that the dog was a house dog. Neighbors told police the only problem they had with the dog was that he barked often and loud but had never seen him roaming through the neighborhood.

The dog has valid license tags through 2011.

"The homeowner was emotionally upset and said the dog had never done this before," Torey said. "She said she once had a fence around her yard but the city made her take it down for some reason."

Torey said the dog's owner could be charged with harboring a vicious animal, a four-year felony. Police said the dog's owner also could be charged with being neglectful.

The dog is at the Macomb County Animal Shelter where it will be kept for 10 days. According to police, the owner said she doesn't care if the dog is euthanized.

Torey said police don't know if the children were harassing the dog.

Montreal woman attacked by 2 pit bulls

2010-08-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

A Montreal woman is in hospital after being attacked by two pit bulls in the Hochelaga Maisonneuve district, police say.

The 44-year-old woman, whose identity hasn't been disclosed, was bitten on her arms and back near Tree-City Lumber & Plywood by Notre-Dame East and Sicard streets on Friday morning.

Port of Montreal employees found the woman after she also injured herself trying to climb a barbed-wire fence to escape the attack. She suffered non-life threatening injuries and remains in hospital.

One of the two dogs, thought to be the more aggressive one, was captured but police were still hunting for the other until about 10:30 a.m. when they decided to pull back their search in hopes that it would come out of hiding.

Neglected Pit Bulls

2010-08-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

The badly damaged ear of Duke, one of five pit bull terriers taken from the manufactured home of Darrell Keith Cathey, 24, of 218 Blackfoot Trail in the Regency Mobile Home Park, stands outside of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 in Iowa City. Cathey is in jail on 13 charges, including eight charges of animal neglect. According to the official report, the conditions inside the trailer were deplorable with blood, feces and urine. (Brian Ray/The gazette)

An Iowa City man has been charged with animal neglect after Johnson County sheriff’s deputies say they found five pit bulls with no food or water inside a trailer with blood, feces and urine.

“I’ve never heard or seen it myself where they were this bad,” said Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek.

Darrell Keith Cathey, 24, of 218 Blackfoot Trail, is in jail on 13 charges, including eight charges of animal neglect, three of which are for serious animal neglect.

Deputies were dispatched to the trailer Monday for a welfare check after receiving a tip about several dogs living inside that were reported to be left in their kennels for extended periods of time, according to Detective Doug Gwinn.

Cathey told deputies by telephone that he was in Chicago and was on his way back to the trailer.

Officials say they found five pit bulls with no food or water, and that Cathey had made no arrangements for the dogs’ care while he was away.

“I think there were some fresh wounds on the animals,” Sheriff Pulkrabek said. “Some blood.”

Johnson County deputies called in Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Services to assist with the five dogs found inside the mobile home.

“I saw two dogs confined in a crate within a front room and another dog that was loose,” said Misha Goodman, director of Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Services. “All of the dogs appeared to have injuries of various types.”

Goodman said those injuries include “lots of puncture wounds, lots of rips and tears, mostly of the head areas.”

“The puncture wounds are from other animals,” Goodman said. “Thee are rips and tears and punctures that would be generally from other dogs, like biting, ripping, [and] tearing.”

Goodman said a dog could sustain similar injuries by getting his head stuck in a machine, though the puncture wounds on the dogs indicate “teeth wounds.”

The dogs also have a significant amount of scratches and scars all over their bodies.

“Some will need major surgery,” Goodman said. “Some of their wounds will heal, through they will continue to have scaring.”

Goodman believes some of the dogs have suffered injuries that they will never fully recover from. One dog, Duce, has swollen paws due to multiple puncture wounds. Goodman fears he may have muscle and tendon damage. Another dog, Duke, had one of his ears severely damaged. Officials say Duke was hospitalized for two days.

Goodman said all of the dogs are receiving antibiotics.

The Sheriff’s Department is investigating this incident, though they are not confirming suspicions of dog fighting.

“If someone came to us and said, ‘Well, I know for a fact the person’s been dog fighting,” then we’d be looking into it,” Sheriff Pulkrabek said. “Right now, it’s just a matter of animal neglect.”

Goodman said Iowa City Animal Services has dealt with another complaint involving Cathey.

“At that time, the complaint was that the owner was breeding dogs and possibly fighting dogs,” she said.

Goodman said their investigation did not find any evidence of dog fighting, but Cathey admitted he was breeding dogs.

Cathey was charged Thursday. He was in the Johnson County Jail Friday morning on a $6,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Johnson County Courthouse.

The nutters came out to oppose bsl in Worcester

2010-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Lee Casini of Shrewsbury and Joan Thompson of Leominster demonstate their opposition to the muzzling requirement of the proposed ordinance.

Ayanna Mack 10 holds up a sign last night expressing support for properly trained pit bulls.

Pit bull regulations are focus of hearing

WORCESTER — Residents packed City Hall last night to give testimony on the City Council's proposed pit bull dog ordinance.

And while the council listened to about an hour of testimony, most of it in opposition to the ordinance, the council never voted on it because Councilor-at-Large Michael J. Germain put a hold on the item, in accordance with council rules.

Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien said the council will take the item up at its Sept. 7 meeting.

People packed the chamber, some with signs. One woman wore a dust mask, symbolizing the muzzling that would be required for pit bulls leaving an owner's premises.

Most in opposition to the proposed ordinance said the pit bull is not an inherently dangerous dog, and said it has a bad reputation because irresponsible dog owners gravitate toward it as a cultural symbol.

Resident Richard Abdella said he owns a $1,200 show dog. His dog is used for breeding. He said that if the council passes an ordinance requiring that pit bulls in the city be neutered, he will lose money that he makes from the breeding services.

Mr. Abdella said unleashed dogs in the hands of irresponsible owners are the real problem.

“The most effective laws can be controlled by this right here,” Mr. Abdella said, holding up a dog leash he had been wearing around his neck.

The ordinance, which had been requested by the council, is modeled after Boston's Responsible Pit Bull Ownership ordinance. While the local ordinance does not ban pit bulls or restrict them to private property, it establishes additional licensing and registration requirements.

It also requires pit bulls to be leashed and muzzled, or placed in a secure temporary enclosure, when taken off an owner's premises.

In addition, the ordinance requires pit bull owners to obtain the consent of their landlord to keep a pit bull on the premises, place a warning sign on their property informing the public that a pit bull lives there, and notify animal control officers or the police whenever their pit bull injures or threatens any person or animal.

Read the rest here -- http://www.telegram.com/article/20100811/NEWS/8110436/1101

Pit Bull owners, it's time to wise up and think about what pushing against regulations is doing to your dogs, and more importantly, PEOPLE!!!

If a Pit Bull is attacking you -

2010-08-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

A new hub I ran across.

Do not kick or punch

These animals are very good at taking a beating without being discouraged. Pit bulls are noted for their lack of reaction to pain, and their outstanding tenacity, particularly with those strong jaws that pride themselves in "hanging in there." Obviously, these are beneficial traits for dogs bred to win a fight.

The practical human advantages over this dog are:

most adults are heavier than a pit bull -- think about how this might apply to falling on the animal instead of dancing around while it removes pieces of your flesh;

human beings have nifty little fingers that can poke, grasp, and pull -- with regards to a pit bull, think about how this might apply to their eyes and the collar around their throat, if they have a collar.

Do not play the dog's game; do not fight the dog's fight; you will lose.

Bring the match into your arena, where your skills are beneficial. The pit bull is a killing machine, but it has limitations, not the least of which are its:

stupidity;

squat posture;

collapsible chest cavity; and

soft little eyeballs that can be plucked out.

Read more here -- http://hubpages.com/hub/pit-bull-attacks

Boy bitten by family dog, airlifted to hospital.

2010-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Severe Facial Trauma' Reported

Trenton police are investigating a dog attack that seriously hurt a toddler Tuesday.

Officers were called to Barrington Court after a report of a dog attack just after 1 p.m.

When rescuers arrived, they asked that the 1-year-old boy be airlifted to Children's Hospital for treatment of "severe facial trauma."

Rachael Agee, who lives across the street, called the incident a “nightmare.” “All I saw were the paramedics carrying him out,” noting the boy was not crying or moving. “She (the boy’s mother) was covered in blood,” Agee said. “I was surprised he was not crying.”

Another neighbor, who declined to give her name, said she helped clean blood off the boy’s mother face, arms and legs with a cold wash cloth before she went to the hospital with her mom to see her son.

The boy's name and condition have not been released.

Officers said the Pit Bull mix belonged to the boy's family and is still on the loose.

Under the city’s dangerous and vicious dog ordinance, the Durbins’ dog as a pit bull mix is considered a “vicious dog,” requiring owners to have up to $100,000 in liability coverage for their pet.

Traud said he did not believe the dog was licensed, and that there were no previous calls to the home.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/crime/pet-dog-mauls-1pet-dog-mauls-1-year-old-boy-suffers-severe-facial-injuries-853664.html

I will post more info as it becomes available.

Pit Bull law considered in Blair

2010-08-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

An attack on a Labrador retriever by two pit bulls is prompting Blair officials to look at enacting an ordinance aimed at dangerous dogs.

Bill and Jane Straube of Blair are to speak about the need for the ordinance at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The Straubes’ dog, Sophie, was the victim of an attack by a pair of pit bulls on July 21 while in the family’s yard.

“It could have been disastrous,” Jane Straube said Monday. “Our 9-year-old son could have been out in the front yard. I got bit on the toe trying to pull (the pit bulls) off.”

The dog required numerous stitches but survived the attack. The pit bulls are being held at the Blair Animal Shelter.

Jane Straube said one of the pit bulls, which lived across the street, had been identified as a dangerous animal in 2007 after it chased some neighbors.

City Administrator Rod Storm said the current Blair dog ordinance gives a dog two strikes before it can be destroyed.

Jane Straube and her husband intend to ask the City Council to allow a dog to be destroyed after one unprovoked attack.

“We want them to toughen up the law, because right now two chances is one too many,” Jane Straube said. “This attack could have been much worse, and it was very traumatic for our family.”

Storm said his office is gathering information from several communities about their dog ordinances to present to the council.

“We were approached by one of the council members in the wake of the attack (upon the Straubes’ dog) and asked to come up with a stronger ordinance,” Storm said. “We’re working to give the council a complete picture so they can make their decision.”

Judge Judy on PIT BULLS

2010-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Judge Judy: Do you have grandchildren?

Man: Yes 3.

Judge Judy: Do they come to your house?

Man: Yes all of the time.

Judge Judy: It can happen in a second. Lhasa Apsas doesn't cause alot of damage. Just telling ya sir. I read about it everyday in the paper, and so do you.

Man: I know your honor. I know they are very different dogs and thats why he's well taken care of, he's always home, I walk him.

Judge Judy: Listen to me, so do all of the other people who are owners of this breed, that say I never had a problem with them, [snaps her finger] turn in a minute!

Update on 5 year old from Bush

2010-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is an update to my recent blog post -- http://bslforpitsmakessense.blogspot.com/2010/08/pit-bulls-attack-5-year-old-boy.html

BUSH — The 5-year-old victim of a dog attack Friday in Bush was taken off a ventilator when he came out of a coma at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center of St. Louis and had his breathing and eating tubes removed also, said Hurst Police Chief Ron Harvel on Monday about Winston Bankston.

“He is still in ICU (intensive care unit) and they are still watching him. But, he’s doing real well,” Harvel said about the little boy’s condition.

Two dogs mauled Bankston in Bush Village Park in the late morning as he and his 9-year-old brother were playing.

His mother, Regina Culpepper, suffered injuries to her legs as she rescued her son. A Bush city worker, Lester Taylor, drove the dogs away by honking and screaming from his truck as Culpepper and Bankston reached shelter at Bush Village Hall.

Harvel arrived at the scene and shot and killed one dog and wounded another. The dogs were identified as pitbull mix breeds and not up to date on their vaccinations. The wounded dog was euthanized at its owner’s request.

Harvel said he has removed himself from the case investigation because he was directly involved with the incident, having had to shoot to death one of the attacking dogs.

The city of Hurst acts as a first responder to emergency calls from Bush.

Williamson County Sheriff’s office is continuing a case investigation, he said.

It is good to see the child is doing better, but still has a long way to go. The temerity of Pit Bull owners continue to hurt innocent people.

Pit Bulls attack 5-year-old boy

2010-08-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

BUSH, IL (KFVS) -A 5-year-old boy is clinging to life after being attacked by pit bull dogs while he played in the city park.

The brutal attack on little Winston Bankston happened on Friday morning at the Village of Bush public park.

Winston and his brother were playing on the playground equipment when the dogs attacked.

Bush city worker Lester Taylor heard the boy's mother screaming for help.

"I was checking water meter, and I heard this woman screaming," said Taylor.

" I look up and I don't see anyone. So I get in my truck and come around the corner. And that's when I see three pit bulls on woman and kid biting them and chewing them up. I drove straight for them honking my horn and screaming at the dogs."

Taylor was able to distract the dogs long enough for Regina Culpepper to scoop up little Winston and run into the village hall.

"Scared me to death, I hope I never have to see anything like that again in my life," Taylor said.

Hurst Chief of Police Ron Harvel was the first officer on the scene. He described is as the worst thing he's ever seen in his years in law enforcement.

"What I saw was a horrific scene, the mother was sitting on the floor holding the child covered in blood, the child covered in blood. I was shocked," Chief Ron Harvel said.

"I ran back outside and called for an ambulance. That's when I saw the dogs over on the west side of the park by a big tree. I grabbed my shotgun and killed one and wounded another one."

Winston was airlifted to a Saint Louis hospital in critical condition.

"I spoke with a member of the family this morning. And Winston is in ICU at Cardinal Glennon, he is in a medical induced coma and on a ventilator," Chief Harvel said.

The Williamson County Sheriff's office is now handling the investigation into the dog attack.

I laid my Pit Bull to rest.

2010-08-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

I will probably not be blogging as much for awhile. I am grieving, and it may take some time for me to get back to normal.

As most of you know, I had a rescued Pit Bull.

The dog had been uncontrollable for about two years.

I really do not know what happened to her, it's just like a switch turned on when she turned five years old and we could not get it turned off.

I lived with her in her crazed state of mind for about two years, too long.

I took her to training and worked with her starting the week I got her, and like I said, she was fine up until she turned five, then she just changed drastically.

I still took her to several other trainers AFTER she started behaving in an unsafe manner, and even they could not figure it out. It was NOT that she was not loved, it was NOT that she was not excercised (we walked her two times a day for 45 minutes each time), and it definitely was NOT that she was not socialized... I took my baby everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.

But, as two of the trainers told me, she is just doing what comes naturally to Pit Bulls.

There was not the option of adopting her into a new home. Obviously is she was not safe with me, then she would not be safe with anyone else.

Her aggression and unpredictability got so bad, that it got to the point that she could no longer go anywhere, except on her walks, and I had to be very careful that nobody or no dog approached us.

Well, I cannot have an unsafe dog with children. I cannot have a dog-aggressive dog. I cannot have a dog that I cannot physically control, or one that kills anything that gets in our yard, or one that is such a liability, I just could not do it anymore.

Having a Pit Bull mentally drained me, seriously.

I loved her very much, but on August 5th, I had to say good-bye, to her, and Pit Bulls, forever.

Rest in peace baby girl . I will miss you forever. All dogs should be as lucky to be as loved as you were.

Even though I'm ok with my decision, I'm not ok..... Does that make sense?

Pit Bull mix attacks, leaves infant in critical condition

2010-08-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

9 month old infant attacked by a full grown pit bull recovering from bites on back and legs.

This pit bull mix dragged an infant to the back yard before adults could rescue her.

An infant who was bitten by a pit bull mixed breed in an Ellenwood home remains in extreme critical condition in a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, Clayton County police said Saturday.

Police have cited the dog’s owner, Bryant Sidney, 44, for prohibitive treatment of the dog and not having a rabies tag.

Sidney is the great uncle of the baby, believed to be about 9 months old, Clayton police said.

In information released by Clayton police late Friday night, a family member who was taking care of the baby had sat her on the kitchen floor. Another relative went outside through the kitchen door to give the dog some water, police said.

The dog unexpectedly entered the house and “he placed the infant’s lower left side in his mouth,” police said.

"The dog took a large bite out of the little girl’s buttocks," Lt. Tina Daniel with Clayton County police told the AJC.

The dog then dragged the child to the back yard before the baby's mother managed to snatch the baby away, police said. A family member walked up to the dog and struck it with an iron bar until it dropped the baby, police said.

Authorities at first said the baby's mother was in the process of feeding the child and the dog at the same time when the baby got out of her high chair and onto the floor near the dog. Officers told Channel 2 Action News the dog then dragged the child to the back yard before the baby's mother managed to snatch the baby away.

The baby suffered extensive injuries to her bottom and lower back, Daniel said. The baby's name is not being released.

The dog is an adult, pit bull mixed breed, Daniel said.

The baby was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and underwent emergency surgery, Daniel said.

Investigators have not yet determined if the girl was in her own home or visiting the home, Daniel said. The investigation into the incident continues, she said.

And, read an insensitive comment left on the news website about the attack. Not surprising. --
It's too bad that the media makes a big deal out of EVERY pit bull attack - that's why everyone thinks they are such vicious dogs. Posted by: pitbull owner
Yes sir, it is not a big deal at all that a baby is in critical condition from a Pit Bull attack... The damn media always makes them look like they are so vicious! Why don't they go pick on falling coconuts, since coconuts kill more people a year than Pit Bulls do!

UPDATE 8-10-10:
An 8-month-old Clayton County girl who was severely injured in an attack by a pit bull is improving, the girl's aunt said Tuesday.

Tabitha Sidney told the AJC that although the infant is still in intensive care unit, she is doing fine.

“We go see her every day,” Sidney said. “The doctors say she’s doing really well.”

Sidney said the family is unsure of when the baby will be released from the hospital.

The baby’s condition is also unknown. Saturday, the infant was listed in extreme critical condition in the neo-natal intensive care unit, according to Clayton County police.

Police have cited the dog’s owner, Bryant Sidney, 44, for prohibitive treatment of the dog and not having a rabies tag.

Pit bull spay, neuter ordinance pitched in Contra Costa

2010-08-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Two Contra Costa County supervisors are working on an ordinance that would require owners of pit bulls to spay or neuter their pets.

The effort follows the July death of 2-year-old Jacob Bisbee, who was killed by three of his stepfather's pit bulls in the garage of the family's Concord home.

Supervisors John Gioia, of Richmond, and Mary Piepho, of Discovery Bay, want to model the ordinance after a 2006 San Francisco law that followed the death of a 12-year-old child.

The measure will be aimed at reducing the number of unwanted, unclaimed or neglected pit bulls, Gioia said. Dogs that are spayed or neutered also tend to be less aggressive, he said.

"If you walk into a local shelter, the most prevalent breed is a pit bull or pit bull mix," Gioia said. "(Controlling overbreeding) is a humane thing to do since unclaimed animals are eventually euthanized."

Read the full article here http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_15684911?source=pkg&nclick_check=1

Pit Bull mauls and kills leashed pet.

2010-08-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

Edward and Courtney Pritchett with their Chihuahua, Abbey. Edward holds a framed photo of their other dog, Tink, who died after being attacked by a pit bull during a leashed walk.

An early walk on a recent summer morning has left a family pet dead and his owners devastated.

Edward Pritchett, 35, and his wife, Courtney, 25, of East Queen Street, were walking with their two small dogs, Tink, a 5 1/2 year-old Yorkie mix, and Abbey, a 1 1/2 year-old long-haired Chihuahua mix on June 30 when a pit bull attacked .

Courtney Pritchett said they had been walking down King Street and followed Eden Street to go back to East Queen Street, and home, because she was getting too warm.

When the couple reached the corner of Oakum and East Queen streets, they stopped to catch their breath. As they did, their dogs, both on leashes, also rested.

As they prepared to resume walking, Edward said, he and Abbey started ahead of Courtney and Tink.

“I heard Courtney scream, and I looked around,” Edward said.

What he saw was a pet owner’s nightmare. A pit bull had grabbed Tink around the waist and was shaking the much smaller dog like a rag doll.

Prior to the alleged attack, Courtney said, a “brown blur” had come rushing at her. Courtney said she tried to pull Tink up into her arms and out of harm’s way, but the pit bull was too quick for her.

“She was running full speed ahead,” Courtney said of the pit bull.

The Pritchetts said they tried to get Tink away from the pit bull while at the same time protecting Abbey. Ultimately, despite their best efforts, the pit bull killed Tink, they said. Abbey, terrified, escaped across the street under a car.

The Pritchetts said they might have seen Abbey killed too, and been seriously injured themselves had it not been for the efforts of a former neighbor, Mark Dawson, who came to their rescue.

Dawson said he could hear Courtney screaming for help from a block away, where he was mowing grass.

Dawson said he ran toward the scene and was able to get hold of the pit bull and lead it away from the couple.

The Pritchetts said they considered Dawson a hero, but Dawson said he looked at what he did as just being neighborly.

“They needed my help and I helped them,” Dawson said. “I was just being a good neighbor.”

A woman in the neighborhood rescued Abbey from underneath the car where she was hiding, returning her to the Pritchetts when the danger was over.

“We didn’t know her, and never found out her name, but we would like to thank her for what she did,” Courtney said.

Upon receiving calls about the incident, several officers and Chief Jay Fortenbery went to the scene to assist the Pritchetts and make sure the dog was taken into custody.

The dog, whose owner was in the hospital in Greenville, and ultimately died from gunshot wounds, had been entrusted to his sister for care. His sister, Kimberly Boston, has been charged with allowing an animal to run at large. The dog had been tied up in her yard but had broken free prior to the attack. Boston is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 14 in connection with the incident.

The dog was held at the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Tyner for 10 days then returned to family members with the provision that they not bring the dog inside the city limits of Edenton again.

Fortenbery said his department followed the law in doing so.

Physical and emotional wounds remain as the Pritchetts struggle to understand how their dog is dead and the dog they watched kill him has been set free.

Edward Pritchett said he tore four ligaments in one knee during the attack, losing his balance and falling to the ground, while trying to rescue his wounded pet.

“I’ve cried every day since it happened,” Edward said, holding a picture of Tink.

Still traumatized from the attack, the Pritchetts are making plans to leave Edenton and move to neighboring Bertie County where Courtney works.

“Staying here (in Edenton) would just bring back too many memories,” Courtney said. “When the attack was happening, we could see our home from where we were. There’s no way we could feel safe here anymore.”

A town of Edenton ordinance prohibits pit bulls from being kept as pets inside town limits. An exception was made for pit bulls already being kept when the ordinance was adopted in 2004.

Police kill pit bull as it attacks smaller dog in Gilroy

2010-08-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Gilroy Police say this is the dog that was attacked Monday by a pit bull.

A pit bull that was attacking a smaller dog in a residential neighborhood in Gilroy on Monday evening was shot to death by police.

The incident occurred Monday about 7:30 p.m. in the 500 block of West Ninth Street when dispatchers received a call that a pit bull was attacking another dog in the backyard of a neighbor's home, according to a news release.

When officers arrived, someone told police that the pit bull was killing the other dog. After entering the backyard, officers first tried to stop the attack by using pepper spray on the pit bull, which was unsuccessful.

Because small children were playing in the front yard and walking in the neighborhood at the time of the attack, officers believed the pit bull would have been a significant safety risk had it escaped the backyard. An officer fired one shot at the pit bull, which killed it, according to the release.

Police reported that the smaller dog's breath started to become shallow during the attack, an indication that it might have been suffering from life-threatening injuries. The small dog was taken to an emergency veterinarian for its injuries. Police said in the release they did not know if the smaller dog survived.

During the attack, police could not locate the dogs' owners. The person who lived where the attack occurred did not recognize either dog or who may have owned them. The owner of the pit bull was identified and issued a citation for a failure to restrain the dog, according to police. Gilroy police did not name the owner in the release.

This is not the first time the area has had problems with Pit Bulls.

This rescued Pit Bull named Sandy killed a goat in 2005

That attack, along with others, have apparently resonated with pit bull owners. The Sonoma County Humane Society reported that about 100 people had made appointments to have their pets spayed or neutered and they were being swamped by requests from pit bull owners who want their pets spayed or neutered, which can lessen the breed's aggressive tendencies.

Gilroy resident Yvonne Hyatt's arm after she was bit by a pit bull in 2009

Gilroy looked at the possibility of breed specific legislation at the end of 2009, but decided against it... Maybe it's time to have another look Gilroy?

Pit bull dog euthanized after injuring owner and guest at small party

2010-08-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

A pit bull dog is dead and two people are injured after a weekend incident at a small house party in Surrey.

Pit Bull dog (not the dog involved in attack)

According to the RCMP a 57-year-old man was bitten Saturday by the dog. And as the 22-year-old dog owner fought to get the pit bull to let go of the older victim, he was bitten as well.

A weapon was used to get the dog to let go off its owner.

“The pitbull apparently, to the best of my knowledge, was not used to gatherings and got a little overwrought,” explained Surrey RCMP Staff Sgt. Bruce Anderson.

“They tried to break the dog off the owner, but he wouldn’t release, and unfortunately they used a weapon on the dog resulting in fairly serious injuries.

“By the time we arrived the dog was severely injured and upon request of owner the dog was euthanized by the member.”

Both the dog owner and the other injured man went to hospital for treatment of their non-life threatening injuries and have since been released.

The incident happened in the 108th Avenue and 152nd Street area. No names are being released at this time.

Couple is honored for beating Pit Bulls

2010-08-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

Ajia Brown had part of his scalp and ears torn off during a vicious pit-bull attack in Hanover. While many of his wounds are healing, his mother Elizabeth Brown, said he still has a number of procedures to go - including stretching his remaining scalp to cover what was lost, and removing cartilage from his ribs to repair his ears.

Thomas Newell, the Browns' lawyer, said Ajia has undergone numerous surgeries, having his ears partially amputated and a significant amount of the back of his head removed.

Robert Beckner said he and his wife, Margaret, acted the same as anyone else would have that night June 1.

A small child and his mother were being attacked by two pit bulls in the yard across their alley, and the Beckners sprung into action.

Using a garden hose and a board, the Fulton Street couple beat the dogs, possibly saving the lives of 8-year-old Ajia Brown and his mother, Elizabeth, of Groton, Conn.

"I'd do it again if I got to," Beckner said Wednesday after Hanover Mayor Ben Adams commended the couple for their assistance.

Adams read the commendation to the Beckners during the Borough Council's meeting. The Beckners' family and friends were in attendance.

"Unfortunately, all too often the victim is left to fend for his or her own self while witnesses and others go about their business," Adams said. "Robert and Margaret, you ignored the dangers facing you that evening and provided assistance to two victims who may have suffered additional injury or worse, had you not intervened on their behalf."

The couple thanked the mayor and the council, appearing very humbled at the honor.

"Both are examples of what good citizens should be," Adams said.

Chester L. Little, 47, of 415 Pleasant St., the owner of the dogs, was found guilty of several charges relating to the care and licensing of the dogs, Angel and Midg. He also was fined $2,000 and told Angel must now be leashed and muzzled at all times. Hanover Borough Police officers shot Midg shortly

after they arrived at the incident.

Little also is facing a civil suit filed by the Brown family.

Thomas Newell, the Browns' lawyer, said Ajia has undergone numerous surgeries, having his ears partially amputated and a significant amount of the back of his head removed.

He now is under care of doctors from Yale, Newell said. They are waiting to see how the boy heals before deciding what surgeries to do next.

"On a sliding scale of one to 10, with one being the start and 10 being full recovery, we're at step two or three," Newell said.

However, he commended the Beckners, as well as the staff at Hershey Medical Center, where Ajia first was treated, for their work.

"Despite this traumatic and tragic event, they've encountered some very good human beings," Newell said.

Pit Bull attacks leave two people recovering

2010-07-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Mary Jane McKenzie said she has never been so scared in all of her life.

WHEELNG -- Two Wheeling Island residents are recovering after being attacked by two pit bulls on Wheeling Island.

The incident happened just before 7 p.m. Thursday near the corner of Florida and 312 S. Penn St.

Mary Jane McKenzie claims she was in the alley way between her Florida Street home and where the dogs live at 312 S. Penn St., when she noticed a gate was opened in a yard.

That’s when McKenzie said a pit bull named Coco came charging after her. A neighbor yelled for help. McKenzie said she was able to make it to her front porch, but was bitten. Neighbor, Desmond Lekandus saw what was happening and tried to help McKenzie. That’s when, he said, a second brown and white pit bull came after him, biting him on the hand. McKenzie has a gash on her arm and a pretty severe bruise. Lekandus said it was, “by the grace of God” that the pit bulls took off.

Both McKenzie and Lekandus went to the hospital for treatment and tetanus shots.

Those bitten along with several other neighbors, City Manager Bob Herron and Councilman Vern Seals met out in front of McKenzie’s home Friday morning to address the issue. Herron claims that the home owners at 312 S. Penn St. have been cited in the past for the dogs and were cited once again after Thursday night’s attacks.

Herron said, that the city does have provisions under a pit bull ordinance to deal with some of those issues and he plans to address the dogs right away.

Residents are calling on city leaders to remove the dogs. WTRF tried to talk to those at the pit bull’s home, but were told, “Go mess with someone else, people out here doing worse than this. Go somewhere else!”

Chief Matheny said that the two dogs were removed from the home late Friday afternoon and they are impounded, per the vicious dog ordinance. Samantha Demello has been charged with two counts of vicious dog violation, Matheny said.

Man accused of hogtying pit bull to stand trial

2010-07-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

A Lamont area man accused of hogtying a pit bull and abandoning it in a field will be arraigned Aug. 6 on two felony counts and a misdemeanor charge.

James D. Worley, 52, was ordered to stand trial on two counts of cruelty to animals and a misdemeanor count of abandoning a dog following a preliminary hearing Wednesday in the Lamont division of Kern County Superior Court.

The crimes are punishable by up to three years in prison.

Worley has admitted to investigators that he dumped the pit bull, since named England, in a field after it bit someone and the property owner told him to get rid of the dog, according to investigative reports.

However, Worley denied tying up the dog.

The dog was found April 22 in a muddy field southwest of Lamont. It had boot laces wrapped tightly around its mouth, neck and legs.

An animal rescue group associated with actress Katherine Heigl picked up the dog with the intention of rehabilitating it for possible future adoption.

Pit Bull owners need to push for breed specific legislation, to help keep Pit Bulls out of the hands of idiots and animal abusers.

tags: abandoned, animal cruelty, foundation, friends of the kern county animal shelters foundation, heigl, hogtied, james worley, england

Dead Pit Bull found stuffed in a suitcase

2010-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

NEW BEDFORD — Someone apparently threw a suitcase with an adult female pit bull terrier and several bricks inside into the waters off the Frederick Street boat ramp in the South End, according to animal control officials.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) - A gruesome discovery in New Bedford is under investigation.

New Bedford Animal Control officers say a dead pit bull was recovered from the water off Frederick Street.

The dog had been stuffed in a suitcase which was found floating by a boat ramp.

Investigators are not sure if the dog was dead before it was put in the suitcase.

A necropsy will be performed.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/massachusetts/new-bedford-pit-bull-found-stuffed-in-suitcase

Pit Nutter video

2010-07-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

A Pit Bull named Coby kills a groundhog in this video.
This is an insight to how most Pit Bull owners treat their dogs.
Pit Bulls are a fad breed, which attracts bad owners. The majority of Pit Bull owners are not 'normal' people that just want a dog for a family pet. They are usually acquired as status symbols.

10 popular Pit Bull excuses.

2010-07-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

Man if I had a nickel for every time I've heard one of these!!!

10. My Pit Bull will only lick you to death

9. But, Petey was a Pit Bull

8. He/she's never done that before

7. Pit Bulls get a bad rap

6. Pit Bulls are lovers not fighters

5. The pit Bull attacked because it was probably abused

4. My Pit Bull would not hurt a fly

3. Golden Retrievers are more likely to bite than Pit Bulls

2. Punish The Deed not the Breed

1. It is impossible to correctly identify a Pit Bull
NO IT IS NOT! JUST FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF BLOOD!

Cities Requiring Pit Bull Dog Permits in Mississippi (BSL)

2010-07-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

BSL has been passed, and guess what Pit Bull owners? Nobody will be coming to your door to take away your precious Pit Bull, unless you cannot comply with the law, in which case you should not have the dog anyhow.

BRANDON, Miss. (AP) - Pit bull owners in the city of Brandon have two months to obtain permits that require a special pen for the dogs and liability insurance.

Meanwhile, Flowood residents who own pit bulls have one month to obtain the permits.

The Clarion-Ledger reports both cities' leaders unanimously adopted regulations on pit bulls and similar dogs last week.

In order to obtain a permit, owners must have at least a 100-square-foot pen with a concrete floor and enclosed with at least a six-foot chain-link fence.

Additionally, the pen must have a roof. For Brandon residents, the pen has to be inside a fenced backyard.

Owners also must have a liability insurance policy of at least $100,000.

Those in violation can be fined up to $1,000 and jailed for up to three months.

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Cities-Requiring-Pit-Bull-Dog-Permits-in/AaAulkNhGUW-cRMf0dXb7Q.cspx

Pit Bull Bites Owner On The Neck Killing Him

2010-07-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

A Cape Town man has been mauled to death by one of the pit bulls he owned.

Jason Waverly (21) died on the porch of his home in Retreat on Sunday after one of his three dogs bit him in the neck.

A neighbour said she was not surprised that the aggressive dogs turned on Waverly; she claimed that she often witnessed him being physically abusive towards the animals.

According to The Daily Voice the neighbour said that she saw him leaving the house with one of the dogs when she saw him again he had all three dogs and was going to take them for a walk. She then told him it was dangerous and that it was not safe for him to walk alone with all the dogs.

"What happened is really tragic but it was just a matter of time before one of the dogs turned on him," the neighbour reportedly told the Daily Voice.

Steenberg police spokesperson Warrant Officer John Bartlett said the police were called to the home at 2.50pm after a friend found Jason's bloody body.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Hermanus van Dyk told the Cape Argus that man had tried to break up a fight between two of his dogs by putting a leash on one of them - which had jumped up and bitten him in the neck.

The SPCA's Allan Perrins reportedly said they were concerned about the amount of pit bulls on the Cape Flats. "Owners of this breed must be aware that most strive to dominate and at the first sign of weakness, they may react."

The SPCA said the family had requested that they put the animals down. They have since done so.

Pit Bull attacks kill 5 cows.

2010-07-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Pit Bulls can easily kill a 400 pound cow.

Five dairy heifers are dead and more than a half-dozen were injured in two pit bull attacks Sunday off Oktoc Road.

Mactoc Farm farmer Bill McGee was asleep Sunday just before 3 a.m. when he was awakened by the sound of a heifer in distress. When McGee went outside to investigate, he saw a tan pit bull "clamped down" on the head of one of his 3-month-old heifers, he said.

McGee shouted at the pit bull, then fired his 20-gauge shotgun at the dog and it ran away.

But the damage was done. One heifer was dead, two were maimed and another received minor injuries.

McGee eventually went to bed and woke up later Sunday morning to discover three more heifers were dead in another pasture and a half-dozen others were injured. Several were missing ears and tails, and chunks of meat were visible through torn skin.

"That tan pit was a powerful dog," he said. A small black and tan pit bull accompanied the tan pit bull during the attack, McGee said.

Sunday night, family friend Mark Murphy kept watch over the farm's approximately 420 heifers in case the dogs came back. They did and they brought friends.

Just before 10 p.m. Sunday, the tan pit bull returned with the small black and white dog and two others. Murphy shot the black and white dog, McGee said, and the remaining dogs scattered. But the group had killed another heifer, which brought the death total to five, McGee said.

Outside Starkville city limits, Oktibbeha County has no leash laws or vicious dog laws, Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy George Carrithers said. The county doesn't have an animal control officer either, so Sheriff's Department deputies sometimes take "wild" dogs to the county animal shelter, Carrithers said.

"But if you've got wild dogs chasing livestock in Mississippi, the law allows you to take care of the problem," Carrithers said. "It's not illegal to shoot a dog if it's chasing your livestock."

Sitting in their home Monday afternoon, Bill and Patsy McGee were distressed.

"I don't know what the solution is, but county-wide, something needs to happen," Bill McGee said. "It's just horrible to find these heifers all mangled up. It was just very depressing and distressing and now you've got that feeling like, 'I can't go to bed without somebody being on guard.'"

Monday afternoon, McGee was preparing for another encounter with the dogs.

"If they come back tonight, we'll be ready," McGee said. "We're going to have a lot of firepower out here."

The Sheriff's Department has been patrolling the area and questioning neighbors in an attempt to find the dogs, Carrithers said.

Bill McGee says he has contacted residents of the Browning Creek subdivision, located directly across Oktoc Road, and warned them to be wary of the wandering pit bulls.

"We've been out here 31 years and we've never had anything like this before," Patsy McGee said.

The largest heifer killed in the attacks weighed nearly 400 pounds.

Should some dogs be banned? Poll

2010-07-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

The poll is on the right side

http://montreal.ctv.ca/

Pit Bull bites boy, family's home condemned

2010-07-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

NASHUA - A 4-year-old boy was attacked by his family's pitbull on Friday in what his parents are calling an accident. The family’s home subsequently condemned following the incident due to an illegal basement and unsanitary conditions.

Twenty-four hours and just as many stitches later, 4-year-old Eric wants his 6-month-old pitbull Caesar back, even after an attack that left him with a hole is his lip and his family without a place to live.

Eric was playing in the dog’s water bowl when police say the dog nipped him in the mouth.

The Nashua family had two pitbulls, Caesar and another 8-week-old dog. They say the dogs love their three boys ages 1, 3 and 4.

The dogs were taken pending the outcome of an investigation. It's still unclear if or when they'll be returned.

The home has been condemned due to an illegal basement and unsanitary conditions inside.

Police say an illegal apartment was under construction in the 102 Ledge Street home and due to the conditions inside, police issued a vacate order.

Eric's mom says he's back to his happy self, but until this order is lifted life will be anything but normal.

No charges have been filed but the family be cited by the town for the building violation.

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/boy-attacked-by-pitbull-familys-home-condemned-20100724

Pit Bull bites Oakland child in the face

2010-07-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

OAKLAND — A 7-year-old girl was bitten in the face by a pit bull in an Oakland neighborhood Saturday afternoon, just days after a Concord boy was mauled to death by a group of pitbulls.

The girl was taken to Children's Hospital where she was in stable condition Saturday night, said Lt. Chris Landry of the Oakland Fire Department. Oakland police and Alameda County animal services also responded at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday in the 2800 block of 82nd Avenue.

Police spoke to a neighbor who owned the dog, but it was unclear what happened to the dog, Landry said.

The incident occurred two days after a 2-year-old Concord boy was killed when he was attacked by three of his family's pit bulls in the garage of his home.

The boy's stepgrandfather was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and owning mischievous animals that result in death. Steven Hayashi, 52, was being held in Contra Costa County Jail on $120,000 bail Saturday night.

Hayashi's five pit bulls were euthanized by Contra Costa animal services after the attack.

The county coroner's office identified the boy as Jacob Bisbee.

But they are such good nanny dogs!

Stray Pit Bulls Attack Lakewood Man

2010-07-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

A 63-year-old Dallas man said he thought he would die when two dogs attacked him Friday morning.

Two pit bulls attacked Dost Aryan in the 6300 block of Monticello Avenue as he was taking a morning stroll through his Lakewood neighborhood just before 7 a.m.

David Cunniff, who witnessed the attack, said it was something he will never forget.

"It lasted 10 minutes or something," he said. "It was horrible. I could hear this guy, you know, help and screaming and yelling at the dogs."

Witness Says Dog Attack Was "Horrible"

Cunniff said the dogs mauled Aryan "from head to toe."

"His lip was hanging from his chin," he said. "I mean, he had bites on his forehead. Every inch of his body appeared to be covered in bites."

Cunniff watched in horror as Aryan somehow managed to get away from the dogs and make his way to a nearby porch.

"My neighbor looked out of the side window and I said, 'Let him in, let him in,'" he said. "I don't think she knew what was going on either. We had no idea."

Neighbors called police.

"The police showed up, and they got aggressive again, and the police took a shot -- had to fire at them -- and then they ran off between the houses," Cunniff said.

Dallas Animal Services caught the dogs a short time later.

Animal control will keep the dogs for the next 13 days to test them for rabies. They will also check for any microchips the stray animals may have to try and determine who, if anyone, owns them.

Pit Bulls: Unleashing Hell

2010-07-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

This is a newly published article about Pit Bulls, and you know me, I have to read everything about Pit Bulls... Some of this I agree with, and some I don't, but at least they are taking on the subject again.

Pitbulls are widely feared and reviled for their instinctive aggression, and recent attacks have reignited the debate over whether they should be outlawed. But does the blame for a dog's viciousness lie with the breed or owners? Tim Hume investigates.

THE DOG attack which left eight-year old Andy "AJ" Maninoa with half his face torn off earlier this month was chilling, ferocious, but hardly extraordinary.

Everything about the incident, which took place at a Housing New Zealand halfway house, followed a depressingly familiar template. The dog, Red, was known to Waitakere authorities as an aggressive animal. The owner, 30-year-old Linda Sale, had never voluntarily registered the dog. Red was microchipped only after having been impounded for straying on to the streets without the muzzle which, as a menacing dog, it should have worn. That registration had lapsed and had never been renewed. Sale had been warned just days earlier about the animal running loose, although it had been chained up in the garage at the time of the attack. The dog savaged AJ, whose family were visiting Sale, when he entered his territory, approaching for a pat.

Sale's boyfriend flipped the bird at the press as he surrendered the dog to the council. Predictably, Red was a pitbull.

AJ was left with more than 100 stitches in his face and faces a future of painful medical procedures and permanent scarring. He told his mother he was grateful his younger brother and his sister had been spared. The fact that Red was destroyed did little to placate many horrified observers, who called for common sense to prevail and the entire breed to be banned.

Story is way too long to post all of it on my blog.
You can find the rest of this article here - http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/3952156/Pitbulls-Unleashing-hell

Best blog award goes to...

2010-07-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

This award goes to Craven Desires for best blog.

Not only is CD a great blogger, he has helped me along the way in my Pit Bull ownership adventure.

He has given me better advice about my Pit Bull than most trainers I have used. Especially with this most recent problem I am having.

He always takes the time out of his busy schedule to help me with the many problems with my Pit Bull, and CD I want you to know for that I thank you so much!

Pit Bull club meetup - EPIC FAIL

2010-07-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

If the job is to promote a positive Pit Bull image, then this is a hilarious joke, right?

Here is their website.
http://skin.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=10518395472

If you need a Bully group in the Rotorua area to help spread your 'postive' breed image booster, this is as positive as it gets.

Is it any wonder that Rotorua and other places in New Zealand are also having trouble with menacing Pit Bulls and their idiot owners?

Man who stabbed pitbull to face felony charges

2010-07-23T19:46:00.001-07:00

UTICA, July 23, 2010-- A Utica man faces felony charges after he allegedly stabbed a pitbull in the face multiple times.

26-year-old Brenton Browne, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, police said after responding to a complaint of animal cruelty on Gray Avenue.

According to reports, the dog was barking, which caused Browne to choke the dog.

According to reports the dog then bit Browne, causing Browne to stab the animal.

http://uticadailynews.com/daily_local_news/16104-Man-who-stabbed-pitbull-face-felony-charges.html

Pit Bull Attacks vs. other breeds - understand the difference!

2010-07-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

You can do an internet search every single day and find an appalling story about a Pit Bull attack(s). Even though it is said over and over that the Pit Bull population is lower than that of other breeds, they are involved in more attacks than any other breed these days, and often fatal attacks.

When you read stories of these unprovoked attacks on everyday common people, just walking to their mailbox, out riding bikes, or just having fun family time by pulling their toddler in a wagon, if it does not outrage you, then something is very wrong!

Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, etc. do attack, and yes, they have inflicted serious damage, but it is rare...

Pit Bulls on the other hand attack frequently and do major damage almost every time. There usually is no such thing as a warning bite with Pit Bulls. When they need to give a warning it is usually a full fledged relentless attack.
That is the difference between Pit Bulls and other dogs.

Other dogs don't feel the need to seriously maul someone to get their point across, Pit Bulls do.

Pit Bull attacks are different than other dogs. Think about the difference like this -- it's the difference between pliars, and the jaws of life.

If you still don't get it, let me show you some pictures so you can get the mental vision about what I mean...

Pliars

Jaws of Life

And now on to the attack pictures..
The difference between Pit Bulls, and other breeds is clearly evident in the amount of damage done when they attack.

Pit Bull Attack

Pit Bull Attack

NORMAL DOG ATTACKS

Normal dog attack

Normal dog attack

I mean seriously Pit Bull owners and advocates, there has got to be something different with a dog that has to have a breakstick used to pry it's jaws open during a fight!

See what Pit Bull owners say about breaksticks -- http://www.thebullyhouse.net/pitbullproducts/breakingsticks.html

So, Pit Bull advocates KNOW THIS
We know all breeds are involved in attacks.
But no other breed compares when it comes to the damage Pit Bulls do when they attack.

PITBULL POLL: Should Pit Bulls be banned in Concord?

2010-07-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

QUESTION: Would you support a ban on pit-bulls in the City of Concord?

Give your answer here: http://claycord.com/2010/07/22/question-would-you-support-a-ban-on-pit-bulls-in-the-city-of-concord/

Guns Have no will of their own.. BUT PIT BULLS DO!

And, my favorite comment coming from the poll on banning Pit Bulls goes to anonymous --

My GOD! I’m so sick and tired of the urban hyena, I mean pit bull, apologists with this “it’s the trainers (owners) fault” garbage. Some people keep lions as pets and claim they are the sweetest things as long as they are properly trained by the right owners. They claim lions aren’t dangerous. But I’ll tell you what, there is no way in hell I’d want someone with a lion living next door. Period. I feel bad for anyone that has to live next door to someone with these ticking time bombs. I read the neighbor couldn’t let her kids play in front for fear that one of the dogs would get loose.

The only silver lining is that this pack of sweet dogs didn’t get loose and go on a much more lethal rampage attacking more folks.

I really wish there was some law against owning these wild dogs.

Call to ban pit bulls in the west end

2010-07-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Amanda Gatti holds her dog, Puppy, yesterday. Gatti suffered bites on her knees, shoulder and armpit while defending the Jack Russell terrier when it was attacked by a neighbour's pit bull on Monday. "We got nowhere with the police basically," she says. "I'm surprised there aren't more laws about this."

'The bottom line is they're a danger,' councillor says

An attack on a woman by a pit bull has residents of Notre Dame de Grace wondering whether their borough shouldn't ban the dogs or at least toughen up its animal safety bylaws.

Amanda Gatti, 24, was attacked by her neighbour's pit bull on Monday as she was coming home from a nighttime walk with her small Jack Russell terrier, Puppy, and her boyfriend.

The pit bull had escaped from its yard and ran up the stairs to Gatti's apartment, chasing her dog.

"It happened so fast, I didn't even have time to shut the door downstairs," Gatti recounted.

Trying to protect Puppy, Gatti suffered bites on her knees, shoulder and armpit. She says her boyfriend eventually managed to restrain the pit bull by the neck.

"If my boyfriend hadn't been there, it would have been a lot worse," she said.

Gatti, who recently had heart surgery and is on blood thinners, had to go to hospital for a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

The pit bull -which had attacked Puppy once before -escaped.

Gatti filed a police report, but she said she was not convinced anything would come of it.

"We got nowhere with the police, basically," she said.

"I'm surprised there aren't more laws about this."

Commander Daniel Leduc, chief of the police station where Gatti filed her report, said the police are one part of a longer process. After the police report is filed, it is sent to the city's dog patrol unit.

"They're the ones responsible for the inquiry, not us," he said. "We don't have a lot of power."

According to Michel Therrien, a spokesperson for the Cote des Neiges/Notre Dame de Grace borough, an animal inspector visited the owner of the pit bull yesterday and the dog was taken into custody. The case is under review and the animal might be euthanized or the owner compelled to muzzle it for 90 days, he said.

Gatti and her neighbours have approached borough councillor Peter McQueen about banning pit bulls. The borough already faced the dilemma two years ago when an elderly man was attacked and severely injured by a pit bull. Then-borough mayor Marcel Tremblay had city officials look into a ban, but no changes came about.

McQueen said the city has not been moving quickly enough on the issue.

"I and my party ( Projet Montreal) are going to work toward pit bull bans throughout Montreal," said McQueen, who lives just a few blocks from Gatti's house.

Montreal's boroughs each have their own regulations on the breed. Lachine and Outremont, for example, have bans in place.

McQueen said he doesn't disagree with this point of view, but he added that people use pit bulls to intimidate each other. "The bottom line is they're a danger," he said.

"It's very frightening," said Gatti's neighbour Lawrence Pinsky.

He said many residents, including himself, have started to avoid the house where the pit bull lives because they fear the dog will attack their pets or children.

"There's nothing inherently wrong with pit bulls," said Alanna Devine, the director of animal welfare for the Montreal SPCA. "The problem is the owners."

Any dog can be trained to be aggressive, she said. Stopping pit bull attacks lies with responsible dog ownership. Instead of a ban, mandatory sterilization could be a solution, she said, because unsterilized pit bulls tend to be more aggressive than sterilized ones. "If you ban the breed, you punish responsible owners."

"Pit bull" in itself is not a breed. The breeds that make up the category include bull terriers, Staffordshire and American bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Tech+sector+struggling+attract+workers/3200372/Call+bulls+west/3311649/story.html

Pit Bull owner faces animal cruelty charge for giving the dog cocaine.

2010-07-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

A man indicted today on a charge of felonious assault in two attacks by his pit bull also faces an animal-cruelty charge because authorities say he drugged the dog with cocaine.

A Franklin County grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Donald L. Moore Jr., 34, who pleaded guilty earlier this week in Environmental Court in an unrelated attack involving the same dog.

Moore's girlfriend, Stephanie Shahan, 23, also was indicted today. Each is charged with one count of felonious assault, two counts of failure to confine a vicious dog, one count of assault and one count of insurance fraud.

The couple, whose most recent address was on S. Powell Avenue, lied to their insurance company to obtain an insurance policy on the dog, according to the indictment.

Moore also faces one count of witness intimidation, alleging that he threatened a witness in the case. The animal-cruelty count is based on an allegation that Moore gave the pit bull, who was named "Caine," cocaine.

The dog was euthanized after it attacked 12-year-old Ryan Fuller on S. Powell Avenue on May 9. The boy was rescued by family members and neighbors, including one who stabbed the dog to get him off the boy.

Ryan, who suffered severe bite wounds to his neck, underwent surgery at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Tests on the dog after it was put down showed the drug in its system, authorities said.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien told WTVN ((610 AM) Radio today that it's not uncommon for dogs used in dog-fighting to be given cocaine to "rev them up" before a fight.

According to the indictment, the dog also attacked Lori Velasco-Tapia on Oct. 5. The indictment mentions both victims.

The case in which Moore pleaded guilty to failure to confine a vicious dog was filed after Moore's pit bull, while roaming free, attacked a Rottweiler mix that was being walked by its owner on Wrexham Avenue in February. The owner, Chuck Zilich, said he used his dog's leash to choke the pit bull and tie it up until animal-control officers arrived.

Judge Harland Hale sentenced Moore to six months in jail Monday after Moore pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to confine a vicious dog.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/22/pit-bull-owner-indicted-in-attack.html?sid=101

Memphis firefighter recalls 'surreal' pit bull attack

2010-07-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

As Memphis Fire Department workers tried to save the life of an elderly man who had been attacked by two pit bulls, onlookers cried out a warning.

"Before you know it, everyone started screaming, 'Here come the dogs!' and there were two dogs charging us," said Lt. Ray Pelletier, a firefighter and paramedic on the scene shortly after noon Tuesday near Poplar and Manassas.

The emergency workers moved to shield the 71-year-old victim, William Parker, who died in the attack.

"I tried to get the (Fire Department) crew members behind me, and I took a long spine board and put it between us and the dogs and tried to protect the whole scene," said Pelletier, who was bitten on the calf.

But the dogs kept coming, forcing the rescuers away from Parker, who was down on the ground, Pelletier said.

"As long as we were there with the patient, the dogs were attacking us," said Pelletier. "If we got within 15 or 20 feet from the patient, the dogs moved in."

Parker's daughter, Gardenia Parker, was bitten as she tried to help her father, along with neighborhood resident Kevin Stringfellow and firefighter Ken Hartfield.

"It was surreal," Pelletier said.

Eventually police arrived and corralled the dogs, allowing the paramedics to work.

Parker did not survive the ordeal, suffering a heart attack at the scene.

The dogs are owned by Bernard Humphrey, who had been taken into police custody on Sunday because he failed to update his address for the sex-offender registry.

Police discovered Humphrey's registry offense after being called to his apartment on Manassas on Sunday because the dogs had a man trapped at his car.

Department officials say the dogs were "contained" in an apartment Sunday and Memphis Animal Services was not called to collect them.

Police haven't said if Humphrey will face charges related to the Tuesday attacks by his dogs.

The dogs are in quarantine at the Memphis Animal Shelter. An abundance of pit bulls and pit bull mixes at the facility has prompted Memphis City Council member Shea Flinn to propose a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for the breed.

His proposal wasn't inspired by the behavior of the breed, he says, but the proliferation of pit bulls in Memphis.

"If it had been 80 percent Chihuahuas (populating the shelter), it would have been a Chihuahuas thing," Flinn said.

The ordinance is still being written and will not be breed-specific, he said.

Last October, three pit bulls attacked a Cordova woman as she walked her son's dog, biting her more than 50 times on her arms and legs.

And in April, an 8-year-old girl in Raleigh was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull an hour before the start of her birthday party.

The child required extensive surgery and a five-day hospital stay.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jul/22/firefighter-recalls-surreal-dog-attack/

Unrelated Pit Bull attack in Memphis TN.
Also, this is a new Pit Bull attack story that happened in Memphis TN.

(Memphis 11/21/2010) An eight-year-old girl attacked by a pit bull in Whitehaven was recovering at home, after being released from LeBonheur Children's Hospital with 42 stitches.

FAST FACTS:

Eight-year-old Terriona Rhea was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull on Saturday afternoon.

Rhea received 42 stitches at LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

She said she still loves dogs.

Pit Bulls kills 2 yr. old child in attack

2010-07-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Cordened off: The cul-de-sac in Concord, California, is still closed as police investigate the mauling of toddler Jacob Bisbee by the pit bull terriers

A 2-year-old Concord, Calif. boy is dead after he was attacked by his family's pitbulls at home.

Police say the child walked into the garage where the three pitbulls are kept around 8:45 a.m. Thursday when the animals attacked.

The child was severely injured and later pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say two adult relatives and a young sibling were home at the time. The Contra Costa County Animal Services department is assisting in the investigation.

The child's death comes amid a recent series of pitbull attacks that have renewed calls to put restrictions on owning the breed, which was developed for fighting.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/22/national/main6703350.shtml

Memphis man killed in Pit Bull attack, others injured.

2010-07-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

FAST FACTS:

Elderly man killed, three other hurt in pit bull attack

Two firefighters were hurt when they attempted to help the man

(Memphis 7/20/2010) One person is dead and others are hurt after a pit bull attack in Memphis this afternoon. The man apparently died from a heart attack following the Pit Bull attack.

The attack happened at 230 N. Manassas near the intersection of Manassas and Poplar Avenues.

71-year-old William Parker was attacked by two dogs while walking from one yard to another.

Parker died after being taken to the hospital.

When firefighters arrived on the scene to treat the man, two of them were attacked.

Lt. Ray Pelletier and Ken Hartfield are being treated at a Methodist University Hospital and released.

William Parker's daughter Gardelia and Kevin Stringfellow were also injured and are listed in good condition.

Bernard Humphrey is the owner of the Pit Bulls. His own mother kicked him AND the dogs out because she was so scared.

This is not the first fatal Pit Bull attack in Memphis.

In 1990, a schoolteacher, Betty Lou Stidham, was mauled to death by her neighbors Pit Bull in a vicious attack.

THIS IS WHY THEY NEED TO BE BANNED OR HIGHLY REGULATED!

THERE ARE TOO MANY JUST PLAIN STUPID PEOPLE OWNING THESE DOGS!
THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY TO ENSURE THEY ARE ONLY OWNED BY COMPETENT PEOPLE THAT WILL MAKE SURE THE DOG DOES NOT CAUSE TROUBLE OR KILL SOMEONE, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON LAWMAKERS? HOW MANY MORE TRAGIC DEATHS DO WE HAVE TO SEE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE?
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OUTCRY FROM THE PUBLIC THAT DOES NOT LET UP UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

Unrelated to this attack, another Pit Bull has attacked in Memphis

Also, this is a new Pit Bull attack story that happened in Memphis TN.

(Memphis 11/21/2010) An eight-year-old girl attacked by a pit bull in Whitehaven was recovering at home, after being released from LeBonheur Children's Hospital with 42 stitches.

FAST FACTS:

Eight-year-old Terriona Rhea was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull on Saturday afternoon.

Rhea received 42 stitches at LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

She said she still loves dogs.

Favorite Pit Bull quote--

2010-07-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

Like a hand grenade, they are inert until you pull the pin. Once the pin is pulled, there is nothing you can do to stop the explosion.
--Gary Wilkes

PIT BULLS By Gary Wilkes - A must read!

2010-07-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Dogsbite.org originally posted this this morning.
I am reposting because I feel there cannot be too many of these circulating the internet.

http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/pit-bulls-gary-wilkes-spring-2010-off-lead.pdf

David Letterman says "Pit Bulls will kill you!"

2010-07-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

LEAVE DAVID LETTERMAN ALONE!!!!!

As some of you may know, I am signed up on just about every friggin Pit Bull info email list that can be subscribed to.
I got an email yesterday from one regarding David Letterman talking bad about Pit Bull dogs to an audience of millions, and now everyone needed to bombard the stations and say how wrong he is. The message is spreading like wildfire now.

Well actually, I would like to personally thank David Letterman for saying what he said. It has got to be hard to stand in front of millions of people and say what he said..
David Letterman is my hero of the week!!

Here is a copy of the email I received--

Please send this out far and wide.

On Thursday night, David Letterman made hugely disparaging comments about pit bulls, yet again, when he was talking to Kyra Sedgwick, as she has a dog that looks like a pit. Among other things, he said pits will chew your face off, attack your throat in the middle of the night, and that if you want to have a life in front of you, you should not get a pit. This is the second time he has done this – he did it the last time Sedgwick was on the show.

Please leave you comments at the following link:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

In the top box, choose the “The Late Show with David Letterman” and fill in your details and comment.

For him to make comments like that on one of the most popular shows on national TV is unacceptable and does huge damage to these dogs.

Let me correct you there, PIT BULLS are doing damage to Pit Bulls! Pit Bull owners feel like they have to attack anyone that speaks the truth.

MCABSL clarifies some things, to make killers look better to the public.

2010-07-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I blogger about an article about the loophole in Miami's service dog law that Pit Bull lovers and enthusiasts in Miami are grossly taking advantage of-- http://bslforpitsmakessense.blogspot.com/2010/07/pit-bulls-as-therapy-dogs-in-miami.html

And yesterday MCABSL came out with their own email to clarify a few things, which I thought was a bunch of bull because it is loaded with lies and fallacies!

Dear Board Members, Members and dog lovers:

The Miami Herald recently ran an article about “pit bulls” used as service dogs in Miami Dade County despite the ban on dogs that animal control officers believe look like “pit bulls”. We would like to clarify some statements made in the article and correct others.

Miami Dade County’s ban on these dogs was grandfathered in when Florida made it illegal to discriminate based on a dog’s breed. Dogs that look like pit bulls are protected elsewhere in Florida from discrimination based on breed.

Larry Steinhauser is quoted as saying the pit bulls he has seen are “aggressive”. Of course, we don’t know whether he has seen one or two or any “pit bulls”. People cannot look at most dogs and accurately determine their breed. Recently, in Denver Dr. Victoria Voith did a little test on animal shelter directors, dog trainers and others who work with dogs. They were asked to view 20 dogs on a videotape and identify each one by breed including whether the dog was a purebred or a mix. The professionals were surprised by how few dogs they identified correctly by breed. Voith believes as many as 75% of the pit bull identifications made by shelter workers, animal control or law enforcement are wrong. She is the author of Shelter Medicine: A Comparison of Visual and DNA Identifications of BREEDS of Dogs. As DNA testing becomes more reliable, it is proving that many of the dogs identified as pit bull are actually a mix of dozens of breeds with little or none of the DNA of pit bull type dogs.

That means a lot of dogs condemned by BSL are not even "pit bull" breeds.

In the last two legislative sessions pit bull bans like those proposed by Mr. Steinhauser were defeated. That is because legislators understand breed bans don’t work to make communities safe. Study after study has proven this. Dogs don't bite because of breed or appearance; they bite out of fear that could have been the result of poor socialization, neglect, abuse, tethering or confinement or isolation. In other words, it is the owner's negligent or criminal actions that are responsible, not the dog's breed or appearance.

Breed bans penalize responsible owners and mean the death of dogs that are not in any way dangerous. Breed discrimination is also very costly for communities. Think of it. It means taxpayers are paying animal control officers to run around and hunt down and kill dogs they think are pit bulls when we know even trained professionals cannot identify the breed of most dogs.

We would have like to see Mr. Steinhauser come to our Annual MCABSL BBQ Pit Event or Ernie Sims Pitbulls on Parade Event (in Tally). He would have the chance to meet dozens of Pit Bulls, Staffies and mixes and experience the true temperament and standard of these incredible dogs. We think if he had attended this event, he would have realized you can’t predict whether a dog may bite based on appearance or breed or what you think the breed may be. He also would have had a great time with some wonderful dogs!

The other person quoted in the article is Ms. Janet Severt, from New Horizons Service Dogs in Orlando, Florida, She is quoted as stating that although she disagrees with the ban she would never train a Pit Bull as a Service Dog. But remember the Center for Disease Control states: “There is no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.” In some “Bite Lists“ the top biters are Labs and Golden Retrievers which Ms. Severt recommends and trains as Service Dogs!

Again, it is not possible to predict whether a dog may bite based on appearance or some belief about breed.

There have been a number of Pits, Staffies and mixes who have been service dogs. There is Ruby who visited Hialeah Hospital and Ice Pop who constantly visits hospitals and has raised more than $10,000.00 dollars for charities by offering $1.00 per kiss…They were both rescued from inhumane conditions as pups. The list goes on...Pits, Staffies and their mixes make wonderful service dogs! Miami-Dade County’s recognition that pit bulls can be service dogs proves how illogical and irrational the breed ban is. And how tragic for the dogs and the people who love them.

Respectfully,
Dahlia Canes~Edel Miedes-Directors

The Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation.

Girl maimed by Pit Bull attack coming to terms with appearance.

2010-07-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A 6-year-old Colorado Springs girl is recovering from severe facial injuries after she was attacked by a neighbor's dog.

Meagan Garrow underwent a four-hour surgery and received hundreds of stitches after the attack on Monday.

The dog tore open the girl's cheeks, exposing her teeth. It also bit off one of her nostrils and tore off some flesh around one eye.

Her twin brother, Brendan, witnessed the attack but wasn't hurt.

The children's mother, Genevieve Riedel, says Meagan is doing better than expected. Riedel says that after the surgery, Meagan "looks like a little girl again."

The dog, identified as a pit bull, was euthanized. Its owner, Rachel Goran, faces a misdemeanor charge of owning a dangerous dog.

Full attack article here: http://www.gazette.com/articles/hospital-101610-monday-face.html

AJ Maninoa speaks about the attack by Pit Bull.

2010-07-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I blogged about a child that was bit in the face by a young punks Pit Bull...
Well now the child is speaking out about it.

An 8-year-old boy left with "half his face hanging off" after a pitbull attack told his crying mother he was grateful it was him and not his baby brother or sister.

AJ Maninoa spoke yesterday of the attack in the hope it might stop other children from getting too close to dogs they don't know well.

The West Auckland boy said he was with his mother, Liga Misa, 2-year-old half-sister Tali and 18-month-old half-brother Juergen at a friend's place in Hindmarsh St, Henderson, when the attack happened on Monday afternoon.

Speaking from the Kidz First Hospital at Middlemore, AJ said he had just finished eating some cake and was going to check on Juergen when he saw the pitbull, which was chained up in the garage.

"I went to touch the dog and I saw the teeth and all of a sudden it bit me and I screamed."

As the dog held on to the side of AJ's face - its teeth piercing the skin on his cheek - the terrified little boy fought back.

"It wouldn't let go so I punched it on the side of its face."

The dog released its grip on AJ's cheek and he ran - clutching a hand to his bleeding face - inside to his mother, who screamed when she saw his injuries.

It was on the way to hospital that AJ tried to offer reassurance.

"His Mum was crying," said AJ's father, Andy Maninoa. "He said to her, 'Mum, don't worry, it's lucky it was me and not my little brother or sister, otherwise the dog would have had them for lunch because they are really little."

AJ - short for Andy Junior - spent three hours in surgery, where surgeons worked to repair a tear that narrowly missed his eye and a nerve that controls his upper lip.

He now has more than 100 stitches. Although he's being brave, AJ said: "I'm still scared and I keep on thinking about it."

His message to other children is simple: "Don't go near strange dogs."

Mr Maninoa, who was at work when the attack happened, arrived at hospital expecting to see a few bite marks. He was shocked by the extent of the injury.

"I felt it in my heart," he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. "When I first walked into the room I knew he was brave. He said to me, 'Dad look at my face."'

Mr Maninoa said AJ, who used to spend time in front of a mirror working on his mohawk, was worried about the permanent scars, and kids at school laughing at him.

"We told him, 'You just tell them you are a strong man - you fought with the dog."

Mr Maninoa's partner, Kelly-Ann Julian, said AJ was a wonderful young boy, never once crying despite his horrific injuries.

"It was shocking to see how half his face was just hanging there."

The pitbull, which was destroyed after the attack, was known as an aggressive dog and had a history of rushing at people.

Waitakere City Council animal welfare manager Neil Wells said the council had warned the owners just days before the attack to keep the dog restrained and under control.

An investigation is under way to determine whether they will face charges.

Lynn approves pit bull muzzle ordinance

2010-07-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

LYNN — The Lynn City Council has approved a law that requires pit bull owners to muzzle their pets when off their property.

Councilors on Tuesday also agreed to ask Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy to increase the manpower of the city’s animal control department, which currently has only one full-time officer, to enforce the rule.

The Daily Item of Lynn reports that the ordinance was passed after the council listened to nearly three hours of often passionate arguments from people on both sides of the debate.

The muzzle law was proposed by council President Timothy Phelan in May after several pit bull attacks on people in the city.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1267872&srvc=news&position=recent

It's a start!

Crazed Pit Bull goes on the attack in Moscow

2010-07-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

Owner loses control of ferocious Pit-Bull, Police arrive to help.

Craigslist Pit Bull attack

2010-07-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

A big surprise for some people in Oregon. A family picked up a free dog, a pit bull mix, off Craigslist. Now, that dog is in quarantine at animal control, and the family is promising legal action against the dog's previous owner. Bob Heye explains why.

Pit Bull found burned in bad shape.

2010-07-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

MILFORD — Police are trying to locate the owner of a severely burned dog that was found Saturday wandering in the area of Colonial Avenue.

The female dog, which had recently given birth to a litter of pups, suffered third-degree burns on its neck and shoulder areas, police said in a statement. The injuries were severe enough to require “extensive ongoing medical treatment” at a local veterinary hospital, police said.

Police said they do not know where the pups are, or how old they are. Animal control officials “are concerned that the mother and her puppies may be affected by the undue stress caused by their separation,” police said in a statement. The Animal control officials had responded after receiving word that the injured animal was wandering, police said. The dog has been dubbed "Ginger."

Officers are investigating how the dog cam to be injured and are seeking to locate its owner, the statement said.
http://nhregister.com/articles/2010/07/12/blotter/doc4c3b48c6bfe95662095728.txt

Pit Bull bites boy in the face.

2010-07-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

This punk walks his Pit Bull to the animal control officers truck after the dog bit a child in the face.

An 8-year-old boy suffered a "nasty gash" to his face when he was attacked by a Pit Bull yesterday afternoon.

The boy, who was rushed to Middlemore Hospital by ambulance, was believed to have been visiting an address in Hindmarsh St, Henderson, when he was bitten on the side of his face by a pitbull terrier.

The dog was taken away and destroyed last night.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10658397

Pit Bulls as therapy dogs in Miami -- Nutters found a loophole

2010-07-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

A growing group of pit bull owners says the animals are ideal service dogs designation that exempts them from Miami-Dade's ban of the breed, which some say is instinctively dangerous.

Brian Guadagno is rarely alone -- whether he dines out, shops for groceries or flies on a plane. His dog Doc stays by his side.

The 5-year-old, 35-pound service dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier -- a breed that, like pit bulls, is banned in Miami-Dade County.

Guadagno, 32, said Doc helps him contend with a lifelong learning disability that makes it hard for him to focus.

``We've never spent time apart,'' said Guadagno, who said he no longer needs medication.

A pit bull may seem an unlikely savior, given its reputation for powerful jaws, lock-down bites and aggression.

But Doc and Guadagno are among a small but growing group of pit bulls and their owners who are exempt from Miami-Dade's pit-bull ban, enacted in 1989 after an 8-year-old girl was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull.

Within the past year, Miami-Dade Animal Services has registered about half a dozen pit bulls as service animals for people with disabilities, in what investigator supervisor Kathy Labrada called an emerging trend.

Under federal rules, any guide or signal dog that is individually trained to assist someone with a physical or mental disability qualifies as a service animal.

Federal law trumps Miami-Dade's ordinance, Labrada said.

`We're seeing a trend in an increase of citizens that claim to have a disability and their pit bull is their service animal. That is a loophole that people have found,'' she said.

Labrada said it is a challenge to verify that a dog is a service animal because federal rules do not require any special certification for the animal. In addition, the Americans With Disabilities Act restricts the county from asking specific questions about medical conditions, she said.

Anyone can train a service animal under the federal guidelines. International standards recommend a minimum of 120 hours over six months for service animals, which can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

``There are certainly concerns that some individuals may claim an animal as a service animal when, in fact, it isn't,'' Labrada said.

Toni Eames, president of International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, said she had heard of pit bulls as service dogs, but had not encountered one or a program that trains them.

``There's a lot of fraud and there's a lot of legitimacy,'' said Eames, who is blind and has a golden retriever as a guide dog. ``The training has to be the standard.''

In Miami-Dade, pit bull owners can face a $500 fine and possible court action to force the animal's removal. The dogs are still deemed dangerous.

``They were bred to bait and fight bulls,'' Labrada said. ``If and when they bite, the potential for damage is extreme.''

Miami-Dade's ban covers American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers or any dog that matches most of those breeds' traits.

Other U.S. cities, such as Denver and Cincinnati, have banned pit bulls. Broward County does not have a ban, though at least two cities there -- Sunrise and Tamarac -- require pit bulls to be registered. Broward resident Larry Steinhauser, 57, said he would campaign for a countywide pit bull ban -- though Florida now prohibits laws against specific breeds. (Miami-Dade's ban was grandfathered in when the state law was passed.) A pit bull once lunged at him while he walked his dog. He also witnessed another pit bull attack, he said.
``I've never seen one that isn't aggressive,'' said Steinhauser. ``I feel they're a danger to society.''

Many love and defend the bully breed. One was the lovable mascot of the Little Rascals children's movie shorts of the 1930s, and the dogs later became the inspiration for local rapper Pitbull's fierce stage name.

On the national stage, celebrity chef Rachael Ray, who owns a pit bull named Isaboo, has advocated for the dogs. (Isaboo made tabloid headlines this year for reportedly biting the ear off another pooch.)

In Miami-Dade, Dahlia Canes directs a group fighting to overturn the ban. The group -- Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation -- was scheduled to join other advocates in Tallahassee for a rally Sunday.

Canes said many owners in Miami-Dade keep their dogs under the radar -- walking them very early or very late and finding veterinarians who won't report them.

``These dogs are extremely loyal and loving. The ban should be removed yesterday,'' Canes said.
Canes pointed to Ruby, a pit bull who recently visited Hialeah Hospital. Her owner, Pat Bettendorf, of Minnesota, found Ruby as an abandoned puppy and now considers her his service dog, assisting him when he experiences anxiety attacks.

Dr. Reinaldo Carvajal, who directs the geriatric unit at Hialeah Hospital, said therapy dogs can help patients, and said the pit bulls' reputation is not deserved.

``It's due to the fact that some people have used them for activities such as animal fighting,'' Carvajal said.

Pit bulls that strictly provide therapy still face Miami-Dade's ban. While they may support emotional well-being, they do not perform a service, Labrada said.

Not all agree that pit bulls make the best service animals.

``Service dogs need to be above reproach,'' said Janet Severt, founder of New Horizons Service Dogs in Orange City, north of Orlando, and who trains service animals. ``They need to be able to handle anything life throws at them.''

That could be the sudden boom of a car backfiring to a child pulling the dog's hair.

At New Horizons, Severt trains Labrador and golden retrievers as service animals, primarily for people with mobility problems or in wheelchairs, like herself.

She said the retrievers -- originally bred as a gentleman's hunting dog -- are eager to please. She said she disagrees with the ban, but would not train a pit bull.

``My problem with pit bulls is if they're in a fight they can do a lot of damage,'' said Severt.

Guadagno's companion Doc didn't start as a service animal. He said Doc has more than 100 hours of training and was certified in 2007 by the International Therapy and Service Animal Association. Guadagno registered the dog with the county last year.

Sometimes Doc stands on his hind legs and gives Guadagno a friendly pat with his paws -- a hug -- to keep his attention from drifting.

``It's really grounding,'' said Guadagno.

Pit Bulls viciously attack college student

2010-07-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

NEW BEDFORD - Authorities say a UMass student might need plastic surgery on his face after being attacked by three pitbulls in New Bedford.

Police say the 22-year-old student was attacked while walking near County and Robeson Streets on Friday night. He sustained serious arm and facial injuries, including losing part of his lip in the attack.

He was being treated at Saint Luke's Hospital. Information on his condition was not immediately available Sunday.

Police say two of the three dogs are being quarantined, and that the third is with its owners. Police say the dogs belong to a 19-year-old and her mother.

Police are investigating. No charges had been filed as of Sunday.
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/umass-student-attacked-by-three-pitbulls-25-apx-20100711

If the dogs would have been registered, tagged, and they had pictures of the dog and the owner they may be able to identify the offenders.

Just a month before New Bedford was considering bsl, maybe it will pass now???

Article about bsl in New Bedford -- http://bostonpersonalinjurynews.com/2010/06/a-stricter-dangerous-dog-ordinance-in-new-bedford.html

Pit Bulls: It should be a Jerry Springer episode there's so much drama!

2010-07-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Pit Bull attack brings up questions about breed and owners.

DURANT, OK – A Pit Bull attack in Durant spurred controversy over the breed of dog and their owners. But even though there can be a negative view of Pit Bulls, most people might be surprised to find that everyone involved in this story and the attack has a Pit Bull themselves.

It happened Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m., Chauncey Nelson was walking I his neighborhood on Northeast 4th Street in Durant when he came across two loose Pit Bulls.

Nelson believes the dogs were riled up by a mower nearby, so he approached the house he believed they came from. But as Nelson went up to the house, to notify the owner the dogs were out, they started barking and then attacked him.

"These were really aggressive, when one got me the other one come charging up at me, they was running a pack,” said Nelson. "It scared me I didn't have time to think.”

Nelson doesn’t think he provoked the dogs, but thinks maybe they thought his approach was an aggressive move. He was able to fight them off his arms, but had many bites and cuts all over his body. Nelson needed 35 stitches total.

Two neighbors across the street saw it all happen. They have two Pit Bulls of their own and at first thought it was their dogs. They said the attacking dogs had never given them trouble before.

“I was close enough to where they could have got me also, I didn't move at all I just stopped and once they started attacking that's when I decided to run,” said one of the witnesses.

Turns out the dogs belonged to Desiree Ellison down the street. She said she was actually trying to give her two Pit Bulls to someone else out of town, because just the day before the younger male dog had attacked her miniature horse.

"It's not like them. And I gave him away the day that he attacked the horse which was three days ago and I had my neighbor babysit her because didn't know if I was going to put her down or not.... It's still my responsibility though,” said Ellison.

And though Nelson said he holds nothing against the two dogs, he has a Pit Bull of his own; he thinks they should have at least been tied up. And as for the owners, he has no hard feelings, just thinks more could have been done.

"I don't hold nothing against them really… I believe they could have raised them a different way. It's not the dog's fault, I believe it's the owner's fault the way they raised them,” said Nelson.

And even after EMS and police arrived, the younger male dog still went after Nelson and that's when police shot and killed the dog.

But Michele Crouse, a certified dog behavior counselor, said a common misconception about Pit Bulls is that they are naturally an aggressive breed.

"They are bred to be not-human aggressive... If you have one that is human aggressive then you need to get some training for that dog because that is not in the breed characteristic at all,” said Crouse, also a pit bull owner. (Michele Crouse just said herself as most all Pit Bull owners say, that they were not bred to be human aggressive yet alot of them are as we see with this attack!)

And though Ellison said her dogs have always been good with people, she knows putting both down was the right thing.

"You know I feel really bad about the whole situation, devastated that my animals did that to somebody because I know they hurt him,” said Ellison.

Animal control did go by Ellison's house on Thursday. She also put down her other dog involved in the attack, a female that she'd had for six years

And Crouse said if you are ever approached by a loose dog or one you might think is aggressive, have a non-threatening posture, don't look them in the eye and remain calm.

She said another trigger can be shouting, waving your arms or running. And because pit bulls are very athletic dogs, they can easily jump over low fences, so it’s important to keep them well contained and train them to be friendly around other people and animals.

http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/98076029.html

Pit Bull: Family pet or menace?

2010-07-07T05:50:00.001-07:00

So many people are saying that its not the animal, that it is the owner. Fine, well then why are owners of Labradors or Dalmations or Chihuahuas not being scrutinized? There are more Labs than Pitbulls in this world, Yet we don't regularly hear that Labs are attacking and killing people.
Face it, the animal has the capacity to kill people like no other dog, and they are a problem. Some say it's the owner, others say it's the dogs, whatever the reason behind it they are killing and maiming people and it needs to stop.

Comparing Pit Bulls to Chimpanzees.

2010-07-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've been watching a lot of the Animal planet shows about Chimps attacking their owner. So I was reading some stuff on the internet about Chimp ownership and believe it or not if you change up some of the words, it sounds like an article about Pit Bulls!

Original article:
Chimpanzee and monkey infants are irresistibly cute, and it might seem that raising one would be just like raising a human child. As infants, chimpanzees are affectionate, needy, and a delight to interact with. But chimpanzees grow up, and their unique intelligence makes it difficult to keep them stimulated and satisfied in a human environment. By age 5 they are stronger than most human adults. They become destructive and resentful of discipline. They can, and will, bite. Chimpanzee owners have lost fingers and suffered severe facial damage.

The article revised:
Pit Bull puppies are irresistibly cute, and it might seem that raising one would be just like raising a human child. As pups, Pit Bulls are affectionate, needy, and a delight to interact with. But puppies grow up, and their unique intelligence makes it difficult to keep them stimulated and satisfied in a human environment. By age 1 they are stronger than most human adults. They become destructive and resentful of discipline. They can, and will, bite. Pit Bull owners have lost fingers and suffered severe facial damage.

The Pit Bull Problem by the Trentonian

2010-07-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

TRENTON — They were in the attic for days. Chardonnay Evans paid no mind to the ruckus up there because the noise makers were just a couple of dogs barking and scratching and doing whatever else doggies do.

“But I never thought my roof — my ceiling — was going to get bit,” said Evans, the Trenton teenager, whose bedroom was below the attic.

What Evans didn’t know is that the dogs were gnawing on the floor, chewing through the wood planks, satisfying some kind of hunger. The constant abuse created a weak spot in the floor, and the weak spot caved, and then one of the dogs fell through and crashed onto the girl's head.

“He was just growling and barking,” Evans told The Trentonian a few days after the encounter last July. She said she was cleaning her room the day it rained wood planks and dogs. Presumably frightened and confused, the dog scampered into the hall even though the girl screamed “Mom! Mommy!”

Shouldn’t the dog have smelled her fear and sunk its teeth into the girl’s flesh with 10,000 jaw-locking pounds of pressure and eaten Chardonnay like a Milk Bone?

Why not? It was a stereotypical pit bull, right? Well, yes. But maybe not.

Because no one knows what breed of dog fell onto Chardonnay Evans’ head. It could’ve been a pit bull, or a dog that looked like a pit bull.

And therein lies the rub: There is no clear consensus of what a pit bull is even though you can’t turn around these days without reading massive headlines like “VICIOUS PIT BULL ATTACKS BABY AND CHEWS OFF HER FACE THEN TEARS OUT HER HEART, LUNGS & GUTS!”

Read the rest of this piece here -- http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/07/04/news/doc4c2fa25b512af457229390.txt

I think this piece is just a way for them to get hits. All they did was take bits and pieces from different people and put them together to show different sides of the issue. Just because they went to a house to 'meet' their Pits and because they were not mauled to death, what that is supposed to prove, they may be safe dogs? To Joey Kulkin, all I have to say is I hope you have an angel watching over you... Bill Owens clearly does not know the potential of what his dogs are capable of, and speaks very ignorantly about the breed. If you keep on going up to strange Pit Bulls like that, one day your luck could run out. As they say "Keep playing with fire and one day you will get burned."

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Dead Pit Bull found, reward being offered for information.

2010-07-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

$2,600 reward offered for info on dead pitbull

TROY -- A $2,600 reward is being offered for information about a pitbull found dead in the Poestenkill gorge earlier this week.

Animal control Officer Kevin McDonough said he remains puzzled about how the female pitbull’s body came to be in the water, where it was for at least a week before being removed Tuesday morning. The animal had a collapsed lung and a weight around its neck that McDonough said was likely used as a sort of strength training for the tan-colored, 5- to 7-year-old animal.

"I’m looking at it from every angle, and I’m dumbfounded by this," he said Friday morning.

He said he hoped the reward money, which is being offered by the Humane Society of the United States, will lead someone to come forward with information on the animal. He said he doubts it would be the animal’s owner, as the sand weight around the animal’s neck would likely constitute a misdemeanor charge of overdriving, torturing or injuring an animal under the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law.

"We’re hoping the public will step up to the plate," McDonough said.

The pitbull, which had no identifying tags or implanted microchip, was removed from about a foot of water at the bottom of the gorge. Nearby is a section of water roughly 10 feet deep, and McDonough said the animal may have floated to the surface from that section.

The sand weight around its neck became substantially heavier when wet and could have weighed the animal down, he said.

McDonough said he will be seeking more information from the animal hospital where an autopsy was performed Wednesday.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/07/03/news/doc4c2dfc9c6d4c0563882226.txt

How long does this have to go on before Pit Bull owners realize that the power to stop things like this is in their own hands...

Pit Bull puppy has jaw severed in what appears to be abuse case.

2010-07-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Rockford, a six- to eight-month-old pit bull, nearly had his jaw broken off. The CNY SPCA is investigating. He was treated at the Fruit Valley Veterinarian Clinic in Oswego.

What kind of person can do this to a dog?

The CNY SPCA investigators are trying to determine how a puppy’s jaw was nearly severed.

Rockford, a six- to eight-month-old pit bull, was found Tuesday by employees at Absolute Auto and Audio, in Fulton, in the van of a customer who came in to get new wheels, according to store manager Rachel Dean.

“The jaw was literally hanging from the dogs head,” Dean said. “It was only held on by skin. ... The bones were completely severed off the dog.”
Dean said the van owner, Reginald Stepp, who has been a customer at the auto shop for more than three years, told her that the employee should not worry about the dog in the car because “there is something wrong with his jaw, he can’t bite.”

The manager said she started to cry when she saw the dog.

Dean said she told Stepp the dog needed immediate medical attention. Stepp said he had an appointment with the veterinarian that afternoon, Dean said. Dean called the police and animal control and was given permission by the authorities and Stepp to take the dog to Fruit Valley Veterinarian Clinic in Oswego.

In addition to the jaw injury, the veterinarian found the dog had previously suffered broken bones in his left leg that hadn’t been treated, Dean said.

So far, the auto shop has helped raise more than $3,100 to help pay for Rockford’s medical bills.

Only in a Pit Bulls eyes is it really 'dog eat dog' world.

2010-07-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's finally Friday and I am pushed for time as we all are trying to get ready for this big holiday weekend.
I've got cooking, and cleaning, and a million other things to do, so the post for today had to be short and sweet.
Have a happy holiday weekend, and be safe..

Shelter gives pit bulls patriotic makeovers to boost adoptions

2010-07-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY — The Fourth of July weekend may mean fireworks, barbecues, camping and an all-around good time for most, but it could mean trouble for many of man's best friends.

To help promote animal adoption, pit bulls were dressed in Lady Liberty headbands, miniature Uncle Sam hats, sequined American crowns and red, white and blue leis Tuesday at Salt Lake County Animal Services.
You can dress them up, paint their nails, or whatever... It doesn't change what they are or what they do!
"We know that fireworks holidays get in the most dogs (at the shelter) because dogs get scared of the loud noises," said Melissa Lipani, a campaign coordinator for Best Friends Animal Society. "So we just want to educate people about the precautions they can take to keep their pets safe during the fireworks holidays. (We also want) to get people to come and adopt before the holidays so we can empty out some of these kennels ... for new dogs coming in."

The situation is more dire this year because Salt Lake County Animal Services is filled beyond capacity — before the holiday has even begun. There are more than 160 dogs in 82 kennels, which leaves no room for the 14 new dogs per day that are picked up this time of year. Around Pioneer Day, that number increases to about 25 dogs per day.

"If you've been thinking about getting a dog, it's the perfect time because we're full," Lipani said. "We need to get these guys into good homes."

Don't forget to warn them that fireworks could set off a fatal attack!

What they should have done is dressed them up to suit their personality

http://archive.deseretnews.com/article/700044238/Shelter-gives-pit-bulls-patriotic-makeovers-to-boost-adoptions.html

Pit Bull mauls 70-year-old woman and her dog in Florida

2010-06-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

A Lehigh Acres woman and her pet dog were attacked right outside their home while starting a walk on Haskell Street. The woman who says it was a neighbor's pit bull who bit her face and arms, then dragged her down the street.

Seven-year old Prince is a fighter. The 10-pound miniature pincher is recovering from an attack by a pit bull nearly 10 times his size.

And his 70-year-old owner is doing the same.

"I got him into my arms and I'm trying to protect him and I'm trying to back up and then he started biting on me so he went to the bone on this arm and went pretty far on this arm," said victim Sonja Mattick.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jun/29/70-year-old-woman-dog-mauled-pit-bull/

Pit Bulls were originally bred to be safe with people, but no plan is flawless. There have always been those Pit Bulls that are man biters and it seems that here lately they just keep getting more and more confused and going after people.. Many people are breeding human aggressive Pit Bulls on purpose. These days you just cannot tell which ones are only dog aggressive, only people aggressive, or both! It's just not worth the risk.

Bella aka Little Mauler AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION NOW!!

2010-06-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier

Size: Medium

Sex: female

Age: Young

Neutered? Yes

Good with dogs? No

Shots up to date? Yes

FROM THE SHELTER:Bella was in NYC happy as a clam when they said she 'turned on' their other dog -- :(

In short, Bella was surrendered because she showed a pit bull trait -- dog aggression. Dog aggression by pit bulls in various intensities, and for Bella, she needs to be an only pet -- that's all.

So, while Bella needs to be an only pet, she is WONDERFUL with people -- she can't LOVE enough -- !!

She is being sponsored by fellow rescuer Barb who had a great situation to allow this girl some time to chill and to get ready for her next home. We are very happy for those who gave this girl a chance -- she definitely deserves it!!

It's a good thing this FEMALE was neutered before going up for adoption.(neutered being THEIR word, not mine)

And, how dare the previous owner surrender her for showing a normal Pit Bull trait!

If you are interested in this little killer, just contact SMILIN' PITBULL RESCUE or email: adoptions@spbr.org

Pit Bull people, do you see why I believe that Pit Bull people are hurting, not helping, the breed? Little Miss Bella has issues and Pit Bull rescue angels do not see a problem adopting her out. PITTY-FUL!

PS. Check out Smilin' Pitbull Rescues tips on what to do if a dog fight breaks out -- If you are adopting Little Miss Mauler, I mean Bella, you will need it!
http://www.spbr.org/pictures/feb2305/feb23fight.htm

Man disfigured by Pit Bull attack

2010-06-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

OILDALE, Calif. -- An Oildale man is recovering in the hospital after being attacked by two pit bulls. The attack happened around dusk Thursday night at a home in the 500 block of Wisteria Street.

Family members who witnessed the attacked told ABC 23 that 29 year-old Luis Luque was attacked unprovoked by two pit bulls. According to Luque's girlfriend, he had been to that home many times before to talk to the residents who live there and nothing ever happened with the dogs.

"He just walked up to the door and knocked. They opened the door and one of the dogs went after his leg. Luis knocked off the dog from his leg, and that's when the other pit attacked his face and I started to scream," said Victoria Flye.

Dr. Vip Dev, a local plastic and reconstructive surgeon got the call to do the emergency surgery late Thursday. Luque had extensive reconstructive surgery done to his face, nose and lips as a result of the attack.

The attacked happened in front of Flye and Luque's daughter who said they are now dealing with the emotional scars. What makes matters worse for the family is that they don't have medical insurance.

Dev said he is not going to charge the family for his services to repair Luque's face, which would have cost more than $10,000.

My blog readers comment about his/her experience with their Pit Bull.

2010-06-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed reading your comment and appreciate you sharing it.

You know, as I continue to search the Internet, I'm stunned at the lame, tired excuses I keep hearing from pit bull advocates. I am the former pit bull owner from above that had to put the dog down, and this is our pit bull story.

My husband and I were young, healthy, didn't have kids yet, and both grew up with lots of family pets, and lots of dogs. We were finally in a home where we could have a dog, and we couldn't wait to get one. We were (and still are) committed to reducing the stray population, and supporting local animal shelters, and neither of us felt the need to insist on a purebred dog--for the purpose of a family pet, we felt a mixed breed was great.

And here is one thing that pit bull advocates have on their side--pit bull puppies are cute! They really are! With their kinda smooshy noses and their little triangle ears, they can totally grab a dog lover's heart at a glance. The pit bull mix puppy that we adopted did that to us, I know. Plus, she was that gorgeous brindle color that pits and bulldogs and some of those related dogs share. We talked to our vet about the temperament issue, and got the same, tired, "It's how you treat them," line that I've heard so often since.

So when reasonably kind, educated, animal- loving people hear that, you know what we think? We think, "Well, gee, obviously we have no intentions of training this dog to fight, nor are we going to abuse it in any way, including the fact that we do not intend to keep this dog on a chain. We plan on getting it spayed, appropriately vaccinated and wormed, and we will commit to exercising it every day." And we lived in the wide open spaces of high desert country in New Mexico, so we weren't in a highly populated area, although, we of course did have neighbors with children and dogs. "We will make a concerted effort to obedience train this dog, and we will socialize it with other people and dogs." And we did.

Now, the next time some pit bull fancier says that it's irresponsible, stupid, cruel, yada yada yada owners that are responsible for attacks, I am here to say that I believe that lots of those owners are well-intentioned suckers just like we were. Seduced by a pretty face and platitudes, we had no idea what we were bringing into our house.

The year we owned Maddie was insane. We introduced her to new adults and children all the time, and we were never sure how she would react to an individual. Sometimes she was just widdle puddle of doggy wuv who licked and wiggled when she met people, and sometimes she would just LOOK at someone and give this terrific WOOF!! (And it was one loud, scary-ass bark) and we knew we had to be uber careful. The same thing happened with dogs. Some she could and did play with for hours, and some we knew she would've swallowed whole if we'd let her.

I believe that because she was a mixed breed that was quite obviously crossed with something far away from the pit bull gene pool, we got a lot more advanced warning of aggression than a lot of owners get. The day she got loose, did NOT come back when called, and proceeded to chase a very pregnant neighbor down the street until she ran and shut herself into the house, was the last day we owned her. It scared the shit out of me. As soon as I got hold of Maddie and got back to my house with her, I had screaming death threats on my answering machine from the pregnant lady's husband. And who could blame the man? Maddie was put to sleep after that, and yes, it broke my heart, but I'd rather have my heart broken at losing a dog, than be haunted by the memories of someone getting severely hurt because of my stubborn pride.

I know this is long and rambling, but I hoped that it might make some reasonable people think before wading into this mess by adopting one of these pups.

Vicki Croke on the recent Bulldog attack in Massachusetts

2010-06-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Come on Vicki -- You don't have to beat around the bush to try not to hurt the Pitty peeps feelings!
Why is she talking about Rotties when the attack was by a Bulldog?
A young Massachusetts boy is hospitalized after he was attacked by a pet who then turned on its owner. Police say they had no choice but to put the dog down.

Family members say 38-year-old Karen O'Leary was babysitting for her neighbor's son and her own five year old daughter inside her Helen Street home in Lakeville, Massachusetts Wednesday afternoon. The family says the kids were playing with O'Leary's one-year-old American Bulldog when the dog lunged for little Lex Lizotte.
Lex's dad Kevin says the dog tore chunks of flesh from Lex's cheek and bit his neck, head, ear and hands.
Vicki Croke, an animal expert, and host of The Secret Life of Animals on NECN, joins Chet Curtis to provide some insight on the case.

Smooshy wooshy Pit Bull owner needs advice.

2010-06-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

Browsing the internet this morning I ran across this snippet on a website. It's a Pit Bull owner asking for advice. It's scary to think how many clueless people there are out there, but it tickles me to see how naive and just plain stupid people can be. I used to be that person and I am so glad I woke up so I don't look as dumb as this one.

I have a 7yr old red nose chocolate brindle.I've had her since she was 1hr old.She was the runt she was only 9grms when born.She was bottle fed and thinks she's a human.She's really spoiled rotten.She's(Boo Boo) the love of my life. From the moment she came into our lives she's had cats.She's always loved her babies.In most of the pictures I've taken of her thru the yrs there's usually a cat with her playing,sleeping,or just cuddling.It started 2 weeks ago she attack a 6 month kitten(Zac). She broke his Jaw and punctured his eye I had to have him put to sleep.He was a sickly kitten but he loved Boo Boo he'd rub on her & I never knew there was a problem.Since then she's went after 3 more of our cats.2 of them are getting up in yrs ones 16yrs & one is 14.Thank God someone has been around to holler at her before she does any harm.I just don't understand why.I make her go to our room and go to her bed for discipline.I hope someone can help me understand why & maybe how I can stop it.Shes a loving wonderful pet so WHY?

http://www.zimbio.com/Pitbull/articles/7JVhWf9CDPx/Pitbull+sudden+start+wanting+attack+cats

Lakeville Bulldog Attack Seriously Injures Boy, Woman

2010-06-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Police Shot Dog 9 Times To Stop Attack ― Two people, including a 5-year-old boy, were seriously injured in a dog attack in Lakeville Wednesday afternoon. It took nine gunshots to stop the dog's attack.
It happened just after 4:15 p.m. at 4 Helen Street while a woman was babysitting her neighbor. Police say Karen Bruno O'Leary, 38, was babysitting the boy and her one-year-old, 110 pound American bulldog went after him.

She stepped in and the dog started to attack her.

O'Leary's 5-year-old daughter called 911, and when police officers arrived at the house, the dog was still attached to O'Leary's arm.

An officer was able to distract the dog away from the woman and other workers got O'Leary out of the home.

The officer shot the dog three times, but then it started paying attention to the crews that were working on its owner. Another officer fired six more shots killing the dog.

The boy had run out of the home before emergency crews arrived.

The woman was able to tell emergency workers about the boy, and they found him a short ways from the house with severe facial wounds.

The 5-year-old boy was first taken to Morton Hospital, and then transferred by MedFlight to Boston Children's Hospital.

O'Leary was taken by MedFlight to Beth Israel Hospital. Wednesday night hospital officials said she was in good condition.

According to authorities, there are no previous reports involving the dog.

Am I the only one that sees a mauling in the near future?

2010-06-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Pay attention to the condition of these dogs, they sound like ex Pit fighters to me.
Kelly NUTTER (ironically that is her real name) anxiously awaits the day when they will go to their new home... WTF?

Pacific Junction, IA - It's a story you saw first on Action3news. It was in May that we brought you the story of 27 pit bulls rescued off a rural Mills county property. Sadly, some had to be put to sleep. Those that survived are in the care of Loess Hills Humane Society in Pacific Junction, Iowa. They look defenseless. As they sit in their large wire cages, they eagerly await the arrival of that special someone that will take them to a loving home.

It has been more than a month since their rescue. Kelly Nutter with the Loess Hills Humane Society tells Action 3 News that many of the dogs are extremely loving. She continues a daily observation of those she is still helping. "Right now we are still in custody of most of the pit bulls. I have sent a few out to foster, the ones that need more detailed medical help," she says. Those in foster homes will receive the care they need by foster parents who will pay the costs associated with their medical care. It's a special part of the rehab that Nutter says is essential.

Some of the dogs are missing their teeth. Many have raw skin exposed as a result of harsh conditions and prolonged sitting.

Since their rescue, many of the dogs have improved leaps and bounds over where their original condition over a month ago. Nutter believes with a little love, training, and fostering these pit bulls will be ready for adoption soon. Giggles, one male pit bulls has absolutely no teeth. Nutter believes the previous owner may have had them filed down or they could have fallen out. His face begs for love. He licks every time you say his name. While scared of his surroundings, Nutter tells me that he's like that at first and in time he'll adjust. As for the other dogs, "They probably have a couple more months. The optimal thing to do with these dogs is to get them in good foster homes," Nutter says.

After some TLC, they'll be ready to embark on their last journey to what Nutter calls their "forever homes."

San Bernardino County Pit Bulls will need to be spayed/neutered

2010-06-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- An ordinance was passed Tuesday for all pit bulls in San Bernardino County to be spayed or neutered.
City officials worked with the county's Animal Care and Control Division to create the ordinance. Authorities say the objective of the ordinance is to reduce the overpopulation of pit bulls in San Bernardino County, to encourage responsible pet ownership and to reduce the number of violent pit bull attacks.

"In the past five years, four people in San Bernardino County have been killed by this breed, and just this year there have been seven attacks by pit bulls. No other breed has viciously attacked or killed anyone in that time," said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.

The new rule requires all pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs older than 4 months to be spayed or neutered. Also, all such dogs used for breeding will be required to be licensed.

State law prohibits any breed of dog from being deemed potentially dangerous or vicious, but the law allows local agencies to enact breed-specific programs for spaying and neutering to control over-population.

Owners or pit bulls will be required to spay or neuter their dogs within 30 days of the new rule's implementation.

Animal Care and Control will help pet owners comply with the ordinance by offering education and vouchers to those who are eligible.

Pit bulls or pit bull-type dogs represent about 20 percent of all dogs that are admitted to animal shelters. They are also one of the top three breeds impounded at county shelters and the most frequent to be euthanized.

For more information or to access San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control services call 1-800-472-5609.

Hinds County Pit Bulls will have to register

2010-06-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hinds County residents who own pit bulls, hybrid wolf dogs and exotic animals must obtain a permit from the Sheriff's Department and hold insurance under changes approved Monday to the animal control ordinance.
Hinds County supervisors voted 4-0 for the changes.

If the owner does not meet the requirements and the animal attacks someone or is deemed vicious, the owner will be penalized. Penalties range from a $1,000 fine and 60 days in jail for a first offense to a $3,000 fine and 120 days in jail for a third or subsequent offense.

The amended ordinance also bans tethering dogs for long periods and transporting them unrestrained in the back of open truck beds or trailers. Violators will face a $100 fine for a first offense to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail for a third or subsequent offense.

"The first couple of months may be hard on everybody, but they'll get it," said Maj. Teresa Gardner, head of animal control in Hinds County. "Our goal isn't to write tickets because then we'll end up going to court all the time. We just want people to follow the law and take care of their animals."

The amended ordinance will go into effect in July. Thirty percent of all animal ordinance fines will be set aside to pay for the upkeep of the county's animal control shelter on the penal farm campus.

The previous ordinance was less strict on ownership requirements and penalties, District 5 Supervisor George Smith said.

"I hope these penalties will be enforced and give some fear," he said.

Smith's district includes the town of Terry, where 5-year-old Anataisa Bingham was mauled and killed by a dog in February. The attack helped spur the changes to the ordinance.

No charges have been filed in the case. Sheriff's Department investigators say it is still under investigation. The case has stalled because DNA samples taken from a dog suspected of the attack did not prove it killed the girl, and law enforcement officials say the girl's family has not been cooperative with investigators.

Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said his department is working with the Hinds County district attorney's office to determine what to do next.

In March, two proposed pit bull bans in Jackson failed to pass the City Council after opposition from the city's animal control chief and several dog owners.

Smith said he encountered residents of his district who are supporters of pit bulls and oppose any restrictions.

"I tell them to check the record. They could be peaceful with this individual at this moment, but they're subject to attack at any given time," he said.

Hinds County residents who own pit bulls, hybrid wolf dogs and exotic animals must obtain a permit from the Sheriff's Department and hold insurance under changes approved Monday to the animal control ordinance.

Hinds County's ordinance does not ban any breed.
(dang, too bad)

Gardner said owners will receive warnings before being cited.

"Say we get a call that someone has 10 dogs tied out on their property. We'll go out and give them a copy of the ordinance and warn them about it. They'll have five to 10 days to take care of the problem, and then we'll go out and check on it. If they haven't corrected the problem, we'll take their dogs and fine them," she said.

Deaths from Pit Bulls in Hinds County
http://www.wapt.com/news/22793251/detail.html
http://www.wapt.com/news/16961102/detail.html

Thank you Jackson, for keeping your citizens safe! Finally, it seems to be catching on!

Happy Fathers Day

2010-06-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

To all of you great guys out there that are dads to kids, four leggeds, or both, Happy Fathers Day!

Now get off of the computer and go enjoy it!

Never underestimate the power of a Pit Bull!

2010-06-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is not my video, I did not make it and I do not agree with some of the things they do in the video.
It's not really a Pit Bull fight, but I think it does a good job of representing how the Pit Bull is different from other breeds. I Mean, Pulling cars? Wow!

If the video is acting up and you would like to watch it on youtubes site go here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feWfqwcWkvM

Another Pit Bull owner "wakes up."

2010-06-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

It took an attack to push Gina Brashear (a Pit Bull owner) over the edge.

"They're used for fighting and guarding. It's a people problem. But if we can't do away with bad owners, we need to get rid of the breed."

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100607/COLUMNISTS40/6070351/Pet-s-death-in-Lehigh-Acres-leads-to-crusade

John Elliot issues warning after his own dog attacks him.

2010-06-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Jun 17 2010

A DAD suffered horrific injuries when he was attacked by his American bulldog during England’s World Cup game against the USA.

John Elliot, 24, had his bottom lip torn off when his pet turned on him – and says his daughter could have been killed by the crazed animal.

He was watching the second half of England’s World Cup opener on Saturday night when he heard the three-year-old dog growling in another room.

He walked in to find the dog, named Bully, attacking another of his dogs but when he went to separate them the animal attacked.

Bully clamped his jaws around John’s arm, fracturing it and leaving severe bite marks. When John freed himself Bully leapt for his throat, but John managed to move meaning the dog bit his face instead.

After he got free John was taken to hospital where he was given 52 stitches. Because of nerve damage he can no longer feel his bottom lip.

As the drama unfolded John’s girlfriend Amy Arrol, 21, protected their ten-month-old daughter Kenzzie Elliot. Amy’s three other children were sleeping upstairs.

Now John wants to warn other American bulldog owners just what their pet could be capable of.

“You read about all these horrific dog attacks,” John said. “But until this happened I had no idea just what an American bulldog could do in this situation. I just hope that people understand how powerful these dogs are.

“We’d had him for a year, he was a family pet. The crazy thing is when I first got him the police thought he was an illegal breed and took him away for testing.

“They eventually gave him back and said he was legal.

“I’ve had lots of dogs before and I’ve never been in a position where one has turned on me like that, but this has convinced me that it can happen to anyone.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that if the dog had got hold of my daughter he would have killed her.

“My lip was hanging off my face, it was horrible.”

Amy immediately called Coventry Police following the attack at their Aldermans Green Road home.

They arrived and took Bully away. At John and Amy’s request he was destroyed.

John has now given away his other two dogs and temporarily moved back to his parent’s house, in Henley Green, because he cannot face returning to the scene of the incident.

“As far as I’m concerned those dogs should be subject to tighter controls,” John said. “I’m relieved Bully was destroyed.

“When I saw him coming for my face I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen to me.

“But despite the injuries I’m just relieved that it was me and not my daughter who was hurt.”

You didn't know an American Bulldog was a Pit Bull?
Read here -- http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/faq-pit-bulls-dogsbite.pdf

"My dogs are nicer than Cocker Spaniels!"

2010-06-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

"My dogs are nicer than Cocker Spaniels!" says Summer Davis.
Funny, because Cocker Spaniels are high on the list for being biters, and stupid because so called nice Pits are frequently in the news for attacking

Woman upset over police shooting of her pit bull.

BOCA RATON -- A Boca Raton woman whose pit bull was shot by a police officer says her dogs are "nicer than cocker spaniels" and the use of a firearm wasn't necessary.
Summer Davis said her 75-pound pit bull, Max, would have to be euthanized. The 6-year-old dog was shot Tuesday night when officers responded to a call about pit bulls on the loose.
Police say the dog was shot when it ran out of a residence with another pit bull and charged toward officers. Max was shot once under its eye.
A police spokesman says it is too hard to effectively use a stun gun device on an animal. He says dogs aren't a wide enough target and it is difficult to hit the animals with both prongs of the stun gun.

LOL Couldn't help myself.

2010-06-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

There is a pit-bull, bull-dog, and a black lab all locked up in the local dog pound. The pit-bull decides to speak freely and says, "Ya know, it wasn't my fault I bit that kid's head off. Them kids have been throwing rocks at me for years and I just couldn't help but jump the fence one day and go after them. Now they are going to put me to sleep."

The bull-dog speaks up and says, "I'm in for a similar incident. My master just wasn't paying any attention to me since that stinkin baby came along and one day while it was crawlin around on the floor I bit its leg off. Now they are going to put me to sleep too."

Both the pit-bull and bull-dog look at the black lab and ask, "What are you in for?"

The lab replies, "Well the other day my master's lady was walking around the house naked all day long cleaning the house. When she went into the bathroom and bent over to clean the tub I just couldn't take it anymore. I came up behind her, put my front paws on her back and mounted her."

The pit-bull asks, "So when are you due to be put to sleep?" And the lab replies, "Oh, I'm not in to be put to sleep, I'm just in to have my nails trimmed and groomed."

Wierd news from Florida.

2010-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

LAKELAND, Fla. -- A pitbull named Tiger narrowly escaped with his life after he was attacked by an alligator near Lake Hunter in Lakeland Tuesday.

Tiger's owner was taking him for a walk near the Polk County lake when the nearly 6-foot alligator rose from the water and chomped into him.
Tiger was fighting for his life, according to the Lakeland Ledger.His owner even tried to pull his leash to get him out of the alligator's deadly jaws. In the end, the 66-pound dog was freed.
The dog suffered scratches and puncture wounds. Those wounds allowed water to get into his lungs.
For now he's being cared for at the Christina Animal Hospital. Veterinarians said Tiger should make a full recovery, but will have to have frequent doctor visits

What do I want to accomplish with this blog?

2010-06-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

As I go through a pile of emails from dissatisfied blog readers, and also the most recent rash of Pit Bull attacks, I can't help but wonder, where's the disconnect between owners of Pit Bulls and reality?

This recent increase in traffic to PIT BULL OWNERS WAKE UP! has caused me to reflect on why I will fight for bsl, and more specifically why I write this blog.

I have been asked over and over, how in the world I could have a Pit Bull and think they deserve different requirements than other dogs, I feel like I need to explain this in depth.

What is my Pit Bull like? My Pit Bull is very strong willed, often high strung and highly aroused, but sometimes a couch potato, hard headed, goofy, very protective of her yard and home, loving towards my family, and okay with certain dogs.

I'm going to tell you, taking care of her is a full time job! I have to go above and beyond to make sure everything is always properly secured so she does not escape, because she is very good at that! I have no doubt that if she got out and ran up on the wrong dog, she would kill it. And cats? Well, no cat is safe if she can reach them! Well, let me rephrase that, no small animal is safe around her, her prey drive is off the chain! So, we know what we have to do to keep her and everyone/thing around us safe, we deal with that, we do it, and that's just something we live with. There is too much chaos in owning a Pit Bull! If I didn't have a relative on the inside, I would never have been able to get insurance, WHAT A HASSLE! Not one single insurance company in my area will insure a Pit Bull! Insuring a Pit Bull is too much of a risk for them! It is such a pain in the butt having to always check and recheck the locks and gates and make sure there are no new holes in the fences. It's too much of a hassle to make sure no dogs come up in her space when we are out walking, so I just started muzzling her so I don't have to worry about it. I'm sick of the mean looks and sometimes harsh comments we get when she is seen in public. There are too many other breeds out there that are just as loving and don't come with such a big risk.
When you own a Pit Bull, you get a ton of extra baggage!

My dog is perfectly safe in my hands, I take all of the precautions to make sure of that. But you could take my dog that is safe under my ownership, give it to my parents (who have more of a laid back doggie ownership approach) and the results could be deadly. Heck, I highly doubt that my mom and dad could even handle her out on a walk! She has almost jerked my arm out of socket so many times I cannot even count, and that was just because she saw or heard another dog!

I apologize if this offends anyone, but I honestly DO NOT believe that dogs like these should be allowed in today's world. If you put a Maltese or a Schnauzer in the hands of an irresponsible owner, someone may get bit, but if you put a Pit Bull in the hands of an irresponsible owner someone can get killed, and that is unacceptable. Since I was an advocate of the breed for many years before I had a change of heart, I know hundreds of Pit Bull owners and their dogs. I know many that have killed dogs on more than one occasion. I know many Pit Bulls that were raised from puppies in good homes that have a screw loose in their head. I know some people that have dogs that are so aggressive they are never allowed around their children! How stupid do you have to be to own a dog that will kill your kid if given the chance? Not that it's a surprise, but there are many stupid Pit Bull owners, that can be seen in some of the "anon" comments on this blog.

When I say that we need bsl, let me be more specific. We need the following for Pit Bulls: they should be spayed and neutered, no felons can own them, they should be muzzled any time they are outside, if they are housed outside it should be inside a kennel with concrete floors and a roof. They should have to be microchipped, registered with the city, and the city should have a picture of said dog. Pit Bull owners should never be allowed to go to dog parks as they are a fighting breed. Pit Bull owners should have to pay an extra fee to own a Pit Bull, have to obtain separate insurance policy, and also be required to attend classes before they obtain one. Any new owners that move in the city should have to attend the class as well. There should be a limit on how many per household.And last but not least, any owner of a Pit Bull who's dog is involved in an attack on a person or an animal should be punished with higher fines and jail time (they knew the risk when they acquired the dog, and were not being responsible to let an attack happen, now people are paying the price for their stupidity.) Pit Bull owners have been shown to be careless, and there just isn't any room for mistakes when you have a Pit Bull.

To answer the questions before they are asked; WHY DO I THINK PIT BULLS NEED THESE REQUIREMENTS, here goes: Pit Bulls are very athletic and can easily scale a six foot fence. They will find a way to escape if there is a way. Criminals are attracted to this breed and use them illegally and sometimes as a weapon, so they should not be able to have one. Pit Bulls have been known to attack while on a leash being walked by their owner, so they should always be muzzled in public. Pit Bulls are dying by the millions in shelters each year so they need to be spayed and neutered ALL OF THEM! Pit Bulls often attack and cannot be traced to an owner so they should all be accounted for by the city they reside in so a person can be held responsible for the damage. Pit Bull owners often do not know the power and great responsibility that lies in their hands, and they need to be educated about the breed they choose to own. Often times when Pit Bulls attack the owner makes excuses and tries to downplay what happened. If owners were not just given a slap on the wrist when their Pit Bull attacks they would probably wise up and be more responsible with their killer. Now, this is what I would like to see happen, but more than likely no lawmaker has the cajones to do it.

I truly believe that when I got my Pit Bull and started doing research on the breed, if I would have been presented with THE FACTS by Pit Bull people, or ran across a blog like this, I would never have got into advocating for this breed. While I do love my own dog, I believe that because of their tremendous strength and being bred for the sole purpose of fighting and killing, I do not think they should be in society without restrictions and strict ones at that. Every opportunity I get, I will push for bsl and write lawmakers educating them on why we need it. I have opened my mind to perceive Pit Bulls in a different way, and I strongly encourage all Pit Bull owners to do the same for the safety of everyone, including Pit Bulls. It really didn't take much for me to change my mind. Just pay attention to the headlines and that should be enough.

The main goal of this blog is to get Pit Bull owners to change their thinking about bsl. Crazy Pit Bull lovin' websites lie to us about a lot of stuff. The main thing they lie about is saying breed specific legislation is our enemy. The truth is, if there are no more Pit Bulls it will hurt their pockets, so they do all they can to keep them around.

We bitch and whine every time a Pit Bull attacks someone and say we are sick of the irresponsible owners that let them do this. We hurt when we see another dogfighting ring broken up, and we cry when we see the awful acts of abuse inflicted on Pit Bulls. Well, if your truly sick of all of those things, then start looking at bsl in a new light. BSL will ward off all of those things.

So far today I have covered why I believe these dogs should be restricted. Sorry I rambled on for so long about it. Stay tuned for more coming soon!

And Pit Bull owners, if your still in the mood to read, please read this blog post for yet another reason you should change your mind about breed specific legislation:
http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-400-million-pounds-of-dead-pit-bull.html

I'm very busy today, so I'll serve you up the usual.

2010-06-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

I apologize for this but somedays I (like alot of people) are just too busy to sit down and write a long blog post.
So when I am, I will try to at least post one of the horrible Pit Bull attacks that happened that day.

So here is today's, this happens far too often in my neck of the woods!

4 Year Old Boy Hospitalized After Pit Bull Attack
The child is hospitalized, the dog's owner could face charges

SANTA CLARITA -- A four-year-old LA County boy is hospitalized in stable condition after being bit in the back of the head by a pit bull.

Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Wright says the boy was playing with other children Saturday night outside his apartment complex in Santa Clarita when the dog approached and bit him at the base of his skull.

Wright described the bites as "severe."

The boy was transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Sheriff's officials say he is in stable condition Sunday.

The pit bull's owner gave the dog to deputies, who turned it over to animal control authorities.

Authorities say the owner could face charges.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-pitbull-attack,0,3934638.story

Sad Sunday surprise (not really a surprise)

2010-06-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

NEWHALL, Calif. -- Witnesses say five-year-old Jose Sadino never had a chance. They say the pit bull was crazed and attacked with a vengeance, severely mauling the boys head.

"All we saw was dog going for his head," the victim's friend Anela Flores said. "And then the dog started pulling out his hair."

The attack happened around 6:45 p.m. in the middle of a large Newhall apartment complex full of kids.

"The dog jumped out of the window, started biting everybody and then went for the little boy," Flores said.

The boy's mother ran outside as she heard her son screaming. Witnesses say she threw herself on top of her son to try and save him from the pit bull. With the help of neighbors, the pit bull was finally scared away.

"The sheriffs came in around the corner," witness Steven Rodriguez said. "They drew their guns on the pit bull and the pit bull jumped over the balcony and then finally they apprehended him and they had him in the back seat of the sheriffs car, but it was already too late."

The pit bull is in the custody of animal control and will most likely be put down and there is no word on whether the owner will face any criminal charges.

Jose Sadino is in critical condition but his family says he is expected to survive.