Father, daughter attacked by pit bulls

NEW YORK -- A father and daughter preaching door to door in Greenburgh find themselves fighting for their lives after being viciously attacked by two pit bulls.

Animal control officers were forced to kill one of the dogs when it turned on them.

Greenburgh police officers says they have never seen a dog this violent before and coming face to face with it over the weekend, they were then faced with making a split second decision.

"It was a pretty chaotic scene when the first officers got there," said Sgt. Anthony McVeigh.

That chaotic scene was at a cluster of houses on Juniper Hill Road where a 90 pound pit bull viciously attacked a man and his 18-year old daughter.

Police say, they are members of the First White Plains Seventh Day Adventist Church.

They had left the church and headed up the street, passing out flyers door to door.

When they headed down the driveway to 103, where there are "beware of dog" and "no tresspassing" signs the pit bull suddenly attacked.

The dog's owner while trying to pull his dog away was also severely bitten on his hands. A neighbor saying he was in the hospital.

Responding officers, Sgt. Anthony McVeigh, and Officer Steven Deastis with the special operations unit had to capture the dog and remove it.

"We did get a dart into it and thought it was sedated well enough. We got a snare pole onto the dog," adds McVeigh.

"This dog almost took out our animal-control officer," said Detective Sgt. Frank Pumillo of the Greenburgh police. "It was a pretty horrific attack, one of the worst I've seen."

But then as they were ready to take it out of the house, the dog turned unexpectedly violent again at which point Officer Deastis fired, killing the dog.

The officer shows how close the pit bull came to biting
the face of the animal control officer, prompting the other
officer to fire two shots, killing the dog

(WABC - May 31, 2011)

Read More:

• Greenburgh pit bulls attack man, daughter passing out church fliers

Dog owner horrified by vicious attack

CANADA -- After watching her small pooch mauled by a larger dog, Melanie Dyke is demanding consequences.

Angel, a seven-year-old miniature pincher, was let out from “doggy daycare” Monday afternoon and wandered around to the front of a Thorncliffe-area duplex where she ran afoul of a considerably bigger dog belonging to a neighbour.

Dyke said an exchange of barking turned gruesome when the bigger animal attacked her “football-sized” pet, puncturing flesh and tearing patches of skin.

“We try to make sure they are not out at the same time — we didn’t realize (the other dog was there),” said Angel’s owner.

“The other dog just ran in, grabbed her, picked her up and shook her.”

Dyke’s friend, who owned the home, tried to intervene but in the seconds it took to reach her, Angel was on the ground.

Many stitches and a drainage tube later, Angel is recovering at home, but is not eating, drinking or doing much of anything beyond just laying there, stunned by antibiotics and pain killers.

“It’s not good,” said Dyke.

But the bigger concern for her is not Angel — Dyke alleges this is the fourth time this particular neighbour’s dog has attacked another animal without much in the way of provocation.

“It’s not safe,” said Dyke.

“What happens if next time it’s a small child? This is already a vicious dog.”

Bill Bruce, director of the city’s Animal and Bylaw Services, agreed.

“It needs to be dealt with and dealt with quickly — aggressive behaviour tends to escalate,” he said.
Bruce said the city will investigate once he gets details from Dyke.

He said there is no such thing as a free bite — his people investigate every complaint they receive — unless it turns out there was some justifiable provocation.

If a dog is defending itself there is unlikely to be charges.

But it is rare that a charge of some sort is not laid, said Bruce, noting Calgary is strict on animal attacks.

There is a $250 fine for aggressive acts or $1,000 if another animal dies as a result.

Conviction could also lead to specific terms being legally imposed on an animal’s owner, such as having to muzzle the animal or take it for behavioural training

(Calgary Sun - May 31, 2011)

Police: Vt man threw puppy, broke its leg

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT -- A Vermont man is charged with animal cruelty after police said he threw a puppy across a room, breaking its leg.

David A. Levchuk, 29, of St. Johnsbury, took the injured five-month-old part Chihuahua puppy named Sophie to a veterinary clinic, saying he found it injured near his apartment. His girlfriend told police he'd thrown the dog after it urinated on his bed.

Levchuk pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge Monday, and a Caledonia Superior Court judge released him on conditions, including that he not own any animals and turn over any he does own to a humane society.

The Caledonian-Record says the dog, whose leg was put in a cast after the March 30 incident, is recovering and in foster care.
(WGGB - May 26, 2011)

Dog dies after being left in parked vehicle

NORTH PLATTE, NE -- A North Platte man faces up to 2 years in prison after leaving his pet dog inside his vehicle during an 80-degree day while taking care of personal business at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.

Ted Cook exited the hospital to find his dog in distress and contacted the North Platte Animal Shelter.

Animal Control Officer John Petit responded to the call and arrived to an unresponsive animal.

"We arrived to find the dog laying on the ground in distress," said Petit. "We rushed him to a local veterinarian and by the time we arrived the dog was already brain dead and died a short time later."

Petit said that Cook initially reported that he was only in the hospital for 5 minutes, but later said it was 15 minutes.

"The vet said it was likely more than that," said Petit. "The dog's body temperature wouldn't even register on the vet's thermometer, which maxes out at 120 degrees. It can get hot really quick inside a vehicle and it's important to know that if you go out on errands, don't take your dog with you."
(North Platte Telegraph - May 26, 2011)

Animal Cruelty arrest made in Covington County

ANDALUSIA, AL -- On Thursday May 26th 2011 Deputies arrested Christopher Shannon Hall of Airport Rd in Andalusia on 9 counts of Cruelty to Animals 2nd.

The arrest was a result of numerous complaints about a residence on Hester’s Store Road in Red Level where Mr. Hall was keeping numerous Bulldogs that were being staked out on chains around the property with no food or water.

At two different times deputies have found one of the dogs deceased and still on the chain.

“From the complaints and deputy reports, Mr. Hall was (allegedly) keeping the dogs there on a family member’s property without food or water,” he said. “At two different times, deputies found one of the dogs deceased and still on the chain.”

The property belonged to a family member of Mr. Hall. He was booked into the Covington Co jail on a total of $27,000 bond.

Cruelty to Animals is a Class A misdemeanor. Andalusia Animal Control Officers assisted in the removal of the animals to the Andalusia Pound.

One of the dogs chained on the property 

This dead bulldog is one of the numerous dogs
Hall is accused of starving.

(WKNI - May 26, 2011)

Read More:

• Andalusia man hit with 9 counts of Animal Cruelty
• Man accused of starving dogs

Aurora Man trying to get Animal Abuse Charges Dropped

AURORA, IL -- An Aurora man with a history of animal abuse is seeking to have charges that he beat his dog with a chair leg dropped.

What a six foot tall, 350 pound monster looks like

The attorney for Phillip Rinn filed a motion to quash Friday in Kane County court, where Rinn is facing felony charges of animal cruelty for the alleged beating of his German shepherd mix dog last November.

The motion says Kane County sheriff’s officers illegally searched Rinn’s house and found evidence used to charge him. Rinn, 42, was coerced into consenting to the search, and had told the officers that he had not struck the dog, but had only yelled at it, according to the motion.

His defense agues that, in their opinion, police obtained the evidence illegally. They are trying to convince the judge of this so that it cannot be used in the prosecution.

However, a previous prosecution motion said a witness peered into Rinn’s windows and saw him swinging a club-like object in a downward fashion over and over again, and that whenever Rinn swung the object down, the witness heard the sound of a dog loudly crying.

When police entered the residence, they found the dog with injuries to its mouth and a facial fracture, and nearby they found a broom handle and a splintered chair leg that appeared to have blood on it, according to the document.

The dog was turned over to the country animal control department, which later found a foster home for it.

Rinn is facing felony charges in the incident because he was convicted in the 1990s for killing his pet dog by dragging it behind his car. He is free on bond as he awaits trial, but is not allowed to own any dog as a condition of his bond.

(Chicago Breaking News - May 28, 2011)

Read More:

• Judge: Aurora man can’t have his dog back
• Dog killer faces new abuse charge
• New Animal Cruelty Charges For Man in ’93 Dog Killing
• Man Learns He Gave Beloved Pet to Abuser

Suspect lets pit bulls loose on cops, dogs shot and killed

CHICAGO, IL -- Chicago police shot and killed two pit bulls after their owner ordered the animals to attack the officers, police said.

Police were investigating a report of gunshots in the 2500 block of North McVicker Avenue about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when they went to the home of 23-year-old Ivan Bernabe.

While inside talking with Bernabe’s parents, the officers saw him outside, so they walked outside and asked him to come over and speak with them on a porch, police said.

Instead, Bernabe opened a gate and let two pit bulls loose before saying, “Go get them — sic ‘em,” police said.

The officers shot the dogs before arresting Bernabe, who was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated assault, police said. No one was bitten or injured during the incident.

(Sun-Times - May 1, 2011)

Memphis police track disturbing new dog fighting trend

MEMPHIS, TN -- Memphis police are trying to crack down on a disturbing new dog fighting trend.

The next time you hear loud music from the car next to yours, pay attention.  According to Memphis Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Karen Rudolph, the people inside may be committing a crime other than violating a noise ordinance.

"There's other things to look for just than the loud music," she said. "There could be a cover up for the dog fighting, which is called 'trunking.'"

Trunking is not the typical dog fighting that often makes headlines and results in arrests.  It's a new and disturbing trend. 

"Apparently what they're doing is they're taking two dogs they're putting them in the trunk of the car," Rudolph said.

Suspects may leave the car parked or drive around with the music up very loud.  They let the dogs fight until one of them is dead, and then pop open the trunk and declare a winner. 

"It's really scary, and it's usually younger kids," said John Robinson of the Memphis/Shelby County Humane Society. "It's people just popping up and doing things like that, but that is becoming more and more popular."

Memphis police have been training officers on trunking since it came to their attention about a year ago.  But often, it's difficult for the public to know it is happening.

"It's very challenging for officers and also citizens to even know that it's going on," Rudolph said.

Police want dog fighters to know officers are being trained on trunking, and they'll be watching and listening. 

Rudolph said anyone considering committing this animal cruelty crime should know that trunking is a felony, just like any other kind of dog fighting. 

"Any dog fighting will be handled the same way," she said. "Just because they're in the trunk it doesn't stop it."

A former dog fighter discusses how he would
fight his dog this way. When asked, he said he didn't care
about the dogs other than their job and existance to be
for the purpose of making him money. 

(WMCTV - May 20, 2011)

Read More:

• Trunking: The Hidden World of Dog Fighting

Woman Attacked By Rottweiler

PENNSYLVANIA -- A woman said she was attacked by a Rottweiler while she walked her dog Thursday morning in Knoxville.

The reporter points to where the dog easily escaped
this four foot chain link fence

Channel 11's Jodine Costanzo spoke to the woman who was taken to an area hospital to be treated for her injuries. The woman said she suffered bruising and had to have stitches after her neighbor's dog got loose and went after her Collie mix [Smokey].

"The dog went after her dog. She broke it up, and it [the Rottweiler] jumped up and bit her in the eye," said the victim's daughter. "I think she's more angry than scared. Thank God she didn't lose her eye."

Animal control Officers said the dog was behind a fence that was latched but was able to use its power to break through the fence.

Neighbors said while the Rottweiler is large, it has never shown signs of aggression before.

Smokey was being walked by its owner

The victim shows the injuries to her face
from the Rottweiler's attack

"My kids have actually been in the house a few times playing. I never heard anything about the dog being aggressive," one neighbor said.

Animal control officer said the dog owner was cited in the attack. The Rottweiler had its rabies vaccine and is being quarantined in its owner's home for 10 days.

[NOTE: The video clip says that the owner was given three citations and that the dog was NOT current on its rabies vaccination and therefore had to be quarantined at the shelter.]

(WPXI - May 5, 2011)

Boy Recalls Dog Attack: 'I Fell, Then They Started Biting Me'

ATLANTA. GA -- Two southwest Atlanta boys are back home, recovering after being attacked by two rottweilers at a bus stop Friday morning.

Witnesses said Vondarrius Andrews and brother Darius Fielder were at the bus stop on Sylvan Road, near Arden Avenue, when the two rottweilers started racing and attacking.

“When the bus came at the bus stop, I tried to run. They chased after me. I got on the bus. They got my brother,” Darius Fielder said.

Dale Price said he saw the dogs attack the children and started beating the dogs with a stick.

“One was at the top of the boy, one had the leg and one had the arm,” Price said.

Vondarrius Andrews received the brunt of the injuries from the attack.

“I fell, then they started biting me,” He said.

Andrews was rushed to the hospital. He had several deep bites to his legs, according to his mother, Laquilla Andrews. "I can't even describe them, they are so deep. You can see his tissue. They are very bad," Laquilla Andrews said.

She said she was terrified when saw what was happening.

"I was hysterical and I run out the house," Laquilla Andrews said.

The owner of one of the dogs told Channel 2 Action News he believes his dog may have jumped out of an open window to go attack the boys.

Laquilla Andrews said that the dog needed to be tied up.

"They need to have their dogs in the house, on a chain or wherever, away from kids, period," she said.

Now she fears if something is not done with the dogs, they might attack again.

"They need to put 'em to sleep, cause if they do that child, my child like that, they’ll do another child like that,” Andrews said.

(WSB-TV - April 15, 2011)

2 Vicious Strays Terrorize Westside Neighborhood

Neighbors On Segura Street Report Dog Attacks On Children

Fabian Vera voices his concerns about the strays

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Some residents in a Westside neighborhood report living in fear because of two vicious dogs that have been on the loose and roaming the streets for the last two weeks.

Chris Smith, who lives on Segura Street, told KSAT that the two dogs, a Rottweiler and pit bull mix, have been growling at people and chasing them for the past two weeks.

Smith said Monday that his neighborhood has not been the same since two strays started roaming around their street.

"A lot of people would ride their bikes here. A lot of kids walk to school here," said Smith. "And you don't see them anymore. They're just afraid to walk up this block now."

KSAT's cameras only captured the pit bull mix on Monday afternoon, but neighbors said the two dogs attack when they are together, which is a concern for Smith, who has two children, ages 5 and 8.

"I know if one of my kids gets bit, I'm going to lose it," he said.

The Pit bull mix seen roaming the streets

Fabian Vera, whose mother lives the next street over, told KSAT he is also concerned.

"Especially the kids, they can't defend themselves. They're too little," he said. "The dog should be behind the fence or chained up at least."

Smith said that last week, he had to use a stick to fight the dogs off his nephew who was coming home from school and that the two dogs came after him.

KSAT cameras captured what appears to be a Chow mix
and a German Shepherd mix roaming the streets

"When I was walking from the store with my kids, the dogs tried to attack me as well," he said. "And I had to rush my kids inside the yard and tried to get them away from the dogs."

Smith said he has made numerous calls to the city's Animal Care Services, but that the dogs are still on the loose.

KSAT called Animal Care Services and several other city agencies on Monday, but as of Monday afternoon, the calls were not returned.

Vera shows what he and his neighbors have to
deal with whenever they leave their homes

(KSAT - May 9, 2011)

Rottweiler picked up terrier in jaws

UNITED KINGDOM -- A family are devastated after their tiny Yorkshire Terrier dog was mauled to death by a Rottweiler.

The rottweiler put his jaws around two-and-a-half-year old Tilly while she was walking with her family to the beach at West Mersea.

Owner Richard Neal wrestled her free and hurried her to the nearest vet, but she died within minutes of arriving.

Mr Neal said he and his nine-year-old son, whom he did not want to be named, were still horrified by what happened.

He said: “It’s breaking me up. To be there and to lose a pet in such a horrific way. No child should see that.”

The incident happened when Mr Neal, his son, Tilly and their three-year-old Springer Spaniel, Daisy, were walking towards the beach down Cross Lane on Wednesday, April 27, at about 6pm.

They saw a woman in her thirties with the Rottweiler and a light chocolate brown Labrador on leads and a girl of about ten pushing a pram.

The girl approached Tilly and started petting her. She was followed by the Labrador and then the Rottweiler.

Mr Neal said: “Because the girl was so friendly towards Tilly and the Labrador was so friendly, I didn’t expect the Rottweiler to suddenly attack.

“I would say within five seconds, it was over. Tilly was dying as soon as it get hold of her. Nothing could be done.

“She was just being the friendly lovable little thing. She had never seen any aggression in her life, so she had no idea what would happen.”

Mr Neal has put up posters around the island to see if anyone saw what happened or knows the owner.

He said she may have been staying at one of the holiday parks on the island or a beach hut, or was visiting for the day Rottweilers are not one of the breeds which have to be muzzled under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The act also covers dogs that are “dangerously out of control”, but it is not clear if the Rottweiler, which was on a lead, would fall under this category.

PCSO Adam Ryder said until the owner is tracked down, it is not clear what action can be taken.

He said: “Until we speak to the person who owns the offending animal, we can’t decide what action we can take.

“We obviously take it seriously because the family were very shocked and upset about it. The dog was part of the family.”

(Daily Gazette - May 11, 2011)

Pit bull attack leaves puppy owner hysterical

CANADA -- A dog owner watched in horror as her three pound puppy was seized in the jaws of a pit bull and carried off.

Pebbles, a Yorkie Shih Tzu mix, was being walked by Katelyn Beale in McAdam Park, Duncan, when the puppy was bitten from behind.

“Pebbles was squealing, I was hysterical,” said Beale, 20.

Beale and the pit bull’s owner managed to prise the dogs apart. Pebbles had been on a leash but the pit bull was leash-free, which is permitted in the dog park.

Afterwards, the pit bull owner brushed off the attack, saying Pebbles was fine, Beale said.

But when she took Pebbles to a vet following Thursday’s incident, she was told the puppy is lucky to be alive after the amount of blood it lost from cuts to its body. It also had bruises around its neck and ribs, and an inflamed tongue.

Beale has only had 13-week-old Pebbles for a month. It is her first dog.

Following the attack, Pebbles has become nervous of people and other dogs, and sticks close by her owner’s side.

Beale told Coastal Animal Services about the attack but has yet to file an official statement.

“That dog should maybe be put down,” Beale said of the pit bull. She fears that it may attack another dog.

The pit bull was white with brown spots and had a brown mark around one of its eyes.

Duncan does not have bylaws about pit bulls having to wear muzzles, but if any breed of dog is deemed dangerous after an incident, it must wear a leash and muzzle, said Judi Burnett, office manager for Coastal Animal Services.

Dog attacks can be carried out by any breed, it depends on how the owner treats and trains the animal, said Farouk Jiwa, a Vancouver-based lawyer who deals with dog-bite claims.

Pit bulls have never stood out as the most vicious dog among cases he has handled, he said.

(The Victoria Times Colonist - May 20, 2011)

Woman Attacked by Pit Bull, Neighbors Rush to Help

HOWARD CITY, MI -- A woman and her dog walking the White Pine State Park Trail in Howard City were attacked by a large pit bull Sunday afternoon.

Howard City Police say the pit bull ran across a highway adjacent to the trail and first attacked the woman's small dog, and when she tried to protect her dog, the pit bull then attacked her.

Police were called to the White Pine trail in Reynolds Township of Montcalm County, near Federal Highway and Almy Road.

They say the 49-year-old Reynolds Township woman was dragged to her knees by the dog when neighbors in the area heard her screams for help.

Michele Gillespie relaying the horror

"It wasn't just somebody scared, it was somebody being attacked by something [...] my gut thought pit bull," said Michele Gillespie.

Her significant other and her cousin grabbed a shovel and another garden tool and hit the dog until it left the woman and ran away.

When fighting off a pit bull, be sure to have one (or more)
of these items on hand: shovels, baseball bats, tasers,
knives, crowbars, ice picks, weed eaters and guns

The victim went to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries and rabies shots. Her dog survived the attack.

Police found the pit bull at a home nearby, and called Montcalm County Animal Control. John Gonzales says he had taken in the animal a week ago.  It was a stray in the neighborhood.  Gonzales says he can't believe the dog would attack.

Clueless owner with the "I can't believe my dog
would do such a thing!" defense

"He was a really loving dog.  He wouldn't even hurt my sister, he slept with her," he said.

This is the second pit bull attack for Montcalm County in a matter of weeks.  The last one also sent a woman to the hospital.  Animal Control Director Patty Lentz says calls on the animals are common.  They've received around a dozen just within the past few weeks of the animals being aggressive, running loose or biting someone.

But she says, it's also likely authorities and the media don't hear about other types of dogs that attack.

"It's different if you get bit by a pit bull or if you get by a pit bull or a spaniel or a chihuahua or something of that order that bite usually isn't going to be as severe.  They're very powerful dogs," Lentz said.

Animal Control Director Patty Lentz thinks pit bulls
are just talked about more in the media

(Wood TV - May 16, 2011)

Read More:

• 49-year-old woman treated at hospital
• Howard City Police are investigating a pit bull attack
• Woman, small dog attacked by American Bulldog on White Pine Trail

Investigation underway after boy attacked by dog twice

ROSEVILLE, MI - Roseville police said they are going to pick up a large Akita dog that bit a 14-year-old boy for the second time in three years and have the dog quarantined at the Macomb County Animal Shelter to make sure he doesn’t have rabies.

Roseville Deputy Police Chief Anthony Cona said the dog will be given back to its owner when the quarantine period expires. He said police also will make sure the fence is high enough to prevent the dog from either getting out or leaning over the fence and terrorizing people walking down the street.

Hunter Blackwood’s father, Frank Blackwood, said his son, an eighth-grader at Richards Middle School in Fraser, was walking down Roycroft Street with a friend when the dog leaned over the fence and bit the child on the shoulder.

Hunter suffered a puncture wound to his right shoulder and had his shirt ripped off. He and his friend told police the dog came out of nowhere and they didn’t see him until it was too late.

“If Hunter and his friend would have seen the dog outside they would have stayed clear of it,” Frank Blackwood said. “People should be allowed to walk down the street without the fear of being attacked by a vicious dog.”

The fence runs along a public sidewalk. Blackwood said he is afraid someone else will get attacked by the dog.

Hunter was also attacked last year when he jumped over the 4-foot fence to get a baseball when he was attacked by the same dog. Blackwood said his son spent five days in the hospital and he had to undergo months of rehabilitation to repair the physical damage.

“Hunter also had to go through a long session of counseling to deal with the psychological problems he faced,” Frank Blackwood said. “I dread the day when a little kid walks down the street and is attacked by this same dog.”

The owner of the dog, George C. Kortis, could not be reached for comment.

Blackwood said he spoke with his son after the incident and he told him that neither he nor his friend provoked the dog. He said that even though his son is only 14 years old, he wouldn’t lie to his father.

“My son is a straight A student at Richard Junior High and wouldn’t lie to me,” Blackwood said. “I know my son. He wouldn’t lie.”

When asked if he talked to Kortis about the attack he said no.

“He won’t talk to me. He’s afraid I’ll knock his teeth down his throat. I don’t have any feeling for the man.”

When asked if police will try to take the dog away from Kortis, Cona said not at this time. He said the first time the boy jumped the fence and got into the dog's yard.

“This time it’s a little different,” Cona said.

(Daily Tribune - May 4, 2011)

Read More:

• (WXYZ - May 3, 2011)

Toddler has three hour face operation after being mauled by vicious dog

Two-year-old Natasha Marriett was visiting a

relative's home with her mother when she was

savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier, leaving

her with horrific injuries.

A toddler has been forced to undergo reconstructive facial surgery after being mauled by a vicious dog.

UNITED KINGDOM -- Two-year-old Natasha Marriett was visiting a relative's home with her mother when she was savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The little girl was nearly blinded after the animal sank it's teeth into her face, just centimetres from her right eye.

Natasha required three hours of surgery after she was left with a broken nose and had two teeth removed so surgeons could stitch wounds inside her mouth.

Natasha's nine-year-old sister Rachael watched in horror as the dog pounced and started biting into her on Sunday evening at a relative's home in Downhill, Sunderland.

A young relative attempted to pull the dog away before Natasha's mum, Margaret Baxter, 41, rushed to her assistance.

The toddler was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital for treatment.

Ms Baxter, of South Hetton, Sunderland said: 'It all happened so quickly. 

'The kids were playing with the dog in the dining room and we were in the kitchen when we heard a noise like someone falling down the stairs.

'It was a crashing sound and then just loads of noise. We went through and saw them trying to pull the dog off Natasha.

'I flew over to where she was and stayed with her while we waited for the ambulance.

'It was horrendous and difficult to believe what happened.'

Natasha required three hours of surgery after she was
left with a broken nose and had two teeth removed so
surgeons could stitch wounds inside her mouth.

Natasha was finally discharged from hospital and allowed back home on Tuesday.

But her family fear the attack may have long-term effects on the little girl, who is now too scared to leave home.

'She's up and about now, but she won't go out,' Ms Baxter said. 'She's a bit self-conscious of it all, which makes sense because her face is a mess.

'There's absolutely nothing I can do except hope and pray she gets better and isn't scarred for life.

'Doctors have said it's too early to tell yet what the long-term injuries may be. We're all just praying at the moment.'

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman confirmed they received a report of the attack from the ambulance service on Sunday at just after 10.25pm.

She added: 'Officers attended the scene where the girl was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital to be treated for a cut to her eye and lip.

'Her injuries are not life-threatening. Inquiries have been carried out into the incident.'

It is understood the dog was not put down after the attack and no charges have been made.

(Daily Mail, May 5, 2011)

Lorain boy, 5, bitten on face by dog at grandmother’s house

LORAIN, OH — A 5-year-old boy was badly bitten Wednesday by a Rottweiler in the backyard of his grandmother’s home.

Eliyamil Rolon had to undergo two hours of reconstructive surgery on his face at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, according to his mother, Yaitza Rolon. Eliyamil had cuts on his neck and above and below his right eye as well as a bone fracture above the eye, Rolon said.

Eliyamil tried to pet the dog, which was tied up in the backyard, before being attacked, according to a police report.

Richard Robles, the boyfriend of Eliyamil’s grandmother, had borrowed the dog from another man, Elizer Figueroa, about a month-and-a-half ago after the garage at a home in the 1000 block of West 17th Street was broken into. The dog had never showed aggression before, Robles said.

Yaitza Rolon was working while Eliyamil’s grandmother babysat. Rolon said her son was hysterical when she saw him after the attack, which occurred about 4 p.m. Rolon said screws had to be set in Elyamil’s face, but she is hopeful there won’t be permanent scarring.

“It looks pretty bad right now,” she said. “He’s sutured up, but there are big lacerations on his face.”

Rolon said the person who lent the Rottweiler to Robles had gotten it from the city pound. She suspects the dog may have been previously abused.

“Everybody’s devastated. We did not expect anything from the dog,” Rolon said. “I know it’s not his fault. He’s only an animal, but I started asking myself, ‘Where did this dog come from? What could have possibly caused him to do that?’ ”

The dog is under a 10-day quarantine. The police report said the dog warden and city Health Department will contact Figueroa and Robles.

(The Chronicle Telegram - May 13th, 2011)

The grandmother's house where the attack occurred

A pit bull mix also on the property

The Rottweiler before being impounded



Read More:

• 5-year-old Lorain boy mauled by Rottweiler

Illinois: Woman mauled by own Bulldogs in rural Monmouth

MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS — Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies were sent to a rural Monmouth home at 8:20 p.m. Thursday after a neighborhood report of someone calling for help.

The first deputy on the scene discovered a woman being mauled by two American Bulldogs. The Deputy destroyed both animals in order to save the woman, according to a news release from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

The 36-year-old woman who lived at the address where the animals were kenneled, was taken by ambulance to OSF Holy Family Medical Center for treatment. Her condition is unknown. The sheriff’s department is withholding the name of the victim and address of the incident.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Edwards said this morning that the woman received “numerous punctures and lacerations on the lower extremities.”

He said the wounds required “closures” at the hospital, but he was not sure if she received stitches or staples.

Edwards said the woman’s name and address were not immediately being released because her condition was a medical, rather than a law enforcement, issue. However, after speaking with the Animal Control Officer, he said that may change and a second news release containing the woman’s name and address may be sent.

“Citations may be issued,” the sheriff said, although he did not specify the nature of any possible tickets.

The animals’ remains were taken from the scene by the Warren County Animal Control Officer for medical study.

The investigation is continuing.

(The Register-Mail - May 20, 2011)

Child Attacked By Pit Bull In Southwest Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA -- A 5-year-old boy is recovering Tuesday after he was attacked by a pit bull on the 700 block of Lexington Avenue in southwest Atlanta.

Marquez Broner suffered severe lacerations to his face and head after he was attacked in his family's driveway Monday night.
The attack happened in front of the boy's mother and aunt.

Victoria Broner said the pit bull attacked her nephew while they were outside listening to music.

"He was dancing and when we looked, the dog came out of nowhere. It was dark back there, it just jumped on him and started attacking him," Broner said.

Broner said she felt helpless because she’s afraid of dogs. She said the boy's mother ran to a neighbor’s house for help.

"He jumped straight up on his face," Bronner said.

She said the attack lasted several minutes.

"One of them had to kick the dog, the other grabbed the dog with a belt. It was hard though, the dog still wouldn’t let go," Bronner said.

The boy's family believes the pit bull is not a stray.

"It's healthy, had a collar on, so it's somebody’s," Bronner said.

The victim's aunt said after visiting Marquez at the hospital she realized he’ll never be the same after such a scary experience.

"He's just terrified now. That’s all he's talking about, the dog," Bronner said.

Fulton County animal control has custody of the pit bull. Animal control officials said they searched the neighborhood for the dog's owner but had no luck.

If the dog is not claimed within 10 days it will be euthanized.

(CBS Atlanta, May 10, 2011)

Read More:

• 5-Year-Old Boy Attacked by Pit Bull Returns Home
• Pit Bull Attacks 5-Year-Old Boy



Florida: Janice Ramirez, 55, and Ashley Ramirez, 21, duct-taped a pig's mouth shut and then encouraged their two dogs to attack, maul and kill it in their backyard say police

The pigs who filmed the pig

VERO BEACH, FL -- A mother and daughter from Florida's Treasure Coast allegedly duct-taped a pig’s snout shut and provoked two dogs to attack and kill it in their backyard and then posted a video of it on Facebook, authorities said Friday.

Janice Ramirez, 55, and Ashley Ramirez, 21, of Vero Beach, were charged with animal cruelty after an anonymous tipster sent a copy of the video to authorities in March.

In the four-minute-plus video, the pig looks like it has duct tape wrapped across its snout and along its joints, the arrest affidavit said. Meanwhile, the pig can be heard squealing throughout the attack. At the end, it appears to be dead, authorities said.

Ashley Ramirez is also seen provoking the dogs to attack it, authorities said.

"Get him! Bite him," Ashley barked out orders to the dogs, Thor and Tank, during the attack. "They are doing some damage."

Janice Ramirez filmed the attack and can be heard laughing as the dogs tear at the pig's flesh. Near the end of the video, the duo discussed whether to feed the pig to the dogs raw or cooked.

The video was posted on her private Facebook page on March 3.

Ashley Ramirez also posted on Facebook that the tape on the pig was to protect her dogs and to prevent the noise the pig was making from attracting her neighbors, authorities said.

Deputies subpoenaed the social networking site to get the address for the home in the video.

“It's one of the worst animal cruelty cases we've seen," Deryl Loar, Indian River County sheriff, told The Stuart News.

The women were arrested and charged with cruelty to animals and baiting animals on Wednesday. They were released on $10,000 bail each Thursday.

"You can see the dogs were hesitant at first," said Ilka Daniel, director of animal protection services for the Humane Society of Indian River and Vero Beach. "They were encouraged by their owners to attack. This is not the type of behavior these dogs normally do."

On Facebook, 40 comments were posted on the video, Deputy Luke Keppel told the paper.

"Some of the comments were negative," Keppel said. "Some people agreed with what the women were doing."

The women told authorities they bought the pig at a local farm.

"Their justification was they were going to kill the pig anyway," Detective Sgt. Nancy McNally said. "You can't justify this."

Police took the two dogs, along with 10 pit bull puppies and a Chihuahua found at the home.

No telephone number was listed for either of the women, and their attorneys' names weren't immediately known.

(NBC Miami - May 2011)

Read More:

• Ashley Ramirez booking info
• Janice Ramirez booking info
• Indian River mother, daughter charged with animal cruelty for using dogs to kill a pig