MICHIGAN -- A landscape worker bitten in the face by a dog while working at a residential property in the City of Troy received a $ 50,000.00 settlement.
The gentleman was referred to our office by another law firm because of our expertise in handling dog attack cases in Michigan. The client suffered a laceration on his cheek that required emergency treatment at a local clinic. He has a permanent, small facial scar as a result of the dog bite.
We contacted the dog owner and the claim was submitted to the homeowner’s insurance company. Our firm obtained the medical records, medical bills, and photographs to present to the insurance adjuster. We also had the gentleman evaluated by a local plastic surgeon to provide an opinion on treatment options and long term prognosis.
The scar had finished the healing process and left a small, but noticeable scar on the face. The client is African American and this scar formed a keloid scar on a conspicuous part of his face. The plastic surgeon did not recommend treatment because the surgery might leave additional scarring and there was no guarantee of improvement.
Before the filing of a lawsuit, we discussed a settlement with the insurance adjuster of the dog owner. After lengthy negotiations, we obtained a pre-suit settlement in the amount of $ 50,000.00 for our client. This was a substantial settlement in light of the relatively minimal scar and the limited amount of medical expenses.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - June 29, 2015)
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Montana: Garrett Baker, 48, charged with animal cruelty
MONTANA -- No other information about this case could be found.
Name: Garrett Regan Baker
Sex: Male
Race: White
Age at arrest: 48
Booking date: 06/29/2015
Booked by: RAVALLI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Charges:
Name: Garrett Regan Baker
Sex: Male
Race: White
Age at arrest: 48
Booking date: 06/29/2015
Booked by: RAVALLI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Charges:
- Cruelty To Animals - STATUTE: 45-8-211(2)(a)[1st] (1 M)
Alabama: Ronrico Scott charged with animal cruelty after allegedly slamming kitten against wall
ALABAMA -- An Alabama man is accused of bashing a 3-month-old kitten to death after refusing to leave a woman's home.
Suspected cat killer Ronrico Jovan Scott, 33, was arrested Saturday for cruelty to animals after allegedly smashing the feline against a wall, Alabama Media Group reported.
Montgomery police, responding to a 911 call, reported finding the kitten lying on the house's welcome mat.
It was described as having blood coming out of its nose and having a pool of blood under its head.
The homeowner told police that the deranged man kept coming into her home uninvited and after her repeated orders to stay out.
She said he eventually flew into a rage and took his anger out on the tiny animal.
Records show him being held on a $7,500 bond Monday.
ARRESTS:
Date of arrest: March 14, 2016
Name: Ronrico Jovan Scott
Arresting Agency: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Location of arrest: Montgomery, Alabama
Charges:
- #1 Cruelty to Animals. Bond $0
- #2 Unlawful distribution of controlled substance. Bond $5,000
Date of arrest: April 7, 2014
Name: Ronrico Jovan Scott
Location of arrest: Montgomery, Alabama
Charge:
- By Order Of Court
Two dogs killed by Siberian husky at Grafton kennel
MASSACHUSETTS -- A Shrewsbury couple is struggling to come to terms with their two small dogs being mauled to death by a Siberian husky while the animals were in a local kennel.
On the weekend of June 12, Roger Demers and Brenda Davis-Demers went on a cruise for their 25th wedding anniversary. Before their departure, the couple dropped off their dogs, Graham, a 6-year-old mini-poodle, and Odin, a 4-year-old longhaired Chihuahua, at Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort, owned by Bob Gibson.
They went to pick them up on June 14. But something was wrong.
“During our morning routine cleaning, one of our staff members heard a commotion and went outside and realized that this dog (an 8-year-old Siberian husky) had broken out of its kennel, causing the kennel’s casing to be loosened up, thus allowing her to get to these two dogs (Graham and Odin),” Mr. Gibson said. “The girl (worker), when she came out, it was too late. They already passed.”
After the grisly discovery, the kennel’s manager called Mr. Gibson, who was vacationing in New York with his wife and two of his three sons. Mr. Gibson immediately returned to Grafton and frantically tried to reach the couple by repeated email but was unsuccessful. By the time he finally got them on the phone, the couple was already on their way to pick up their dogs.
“It’s probably the worst thing I had to say to somebody in my entire life,” Mr. Gibson said. “It’s not something I would ever, ever want to do again.”
Mr. Gibson theorizes that the Siberian husky, named Ticqua, was able to loosen and then break the brackets on a portion of its own run, gaining access to the adjacent, outdoor portion of the run.
“All the dogs here are in their own separate kennels. They are locked in their own individual runs when they’re here,” Mr. Gibson said. “We never had to have somebody on the outdoor area of the kennels in the morning because they are locked in these chain-linked fences. We never had a dog escape. We have so many precautions in place to prevent that.”
However, according to his incident report, Grafton Dog Officer Eugene G. Ploss said Mr. Gibson believes the two small dogs were in the holding area and the Siberian husky was in a holding area. The Siberian husky pushed the gate open and the smaller dogs squeezed under the gate from the holding area into the common area.
Ms. Davis-Demers said she and her husband have a series of unanswered questions for the kennel owner.
“I don’t know how it (the Siberian husky) can loosen a bar two cages over? Then, I’m thinking, how are they in the same area, a big dog and two little teeny dogs? They don’t even weigh seven pounds,” Ms. Davis-Demers said. “We said to him, 'How is it possible that this dog is going crazy, can make all this racket, get out of its kennel and go after my two dogs, nobody sees anything, nobody hears it and it has the chance to do this to my two dogs?' ”
Ms. Davis-Demers said she feels that Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort should be fined and the Siberian husky who ripped her dogs apart should be euthanized, instead of being allowed to go home to its owner in Northbridge.
“If that dog was that aggressive and angry and to get out and get at them, then there’s something wrong with that dog,” Ms. Davis-Demers “It’s not a safe dog. I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood.”
“Animals can do some amazing things, sometimes, but you have to look out for that. We have been in the business long enough to know what a bad dog is,” Mr. Gibson said. “We don’t take aggressive animals here … I don’t know why this dog all of a sudden turned and did what she did. I don’t understand it.”
Daniel A. Chauvin, animal control officer in Northbridge, Sutton and Millbury, said he never had any calls or issues about the dog that killed Graham and Odin.
Northbridge Animal Inspector Rochelle C. Thomson said Ticqua was placed on a 45-day in-home quarantine, which is standard protocol under state Department of Agricultural Resources procedures. The Siberian Husky is properly licensed and up-to-date on all its shots.
The Siberian husky’s owner did not return calls.
While Mr. Gibson acknowledges that there is rust on some of the kennels, he insists that all the runs in the facility have been thoroughly checked for structural integrity since the incident and, as an added precaution, reinforcements have been installed to ensure an incident of this nature does not occur again. Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort has been in business for 13 years. Prior to this incident, Mr. Gibson said, the kennel never had an incident like this before.
“This poor woman, you have no idea what she must be going through. I mean, she’s lost her two babies, which is incomprehensible. I couldn’t imagine coming home and not being able to see my dogs. They were gone and I never got to say goodbye. That’s how she feels,” Mr. Gibson said, fighting back tears. “We try to give these animals a safe place to be while their owners are away and then something like this happens. It’s just beyond devastating.”
Ms. Davis-Demers finds little solace to overcome her loss.
“We come home to an empty house,” Ms. Davis-Demers said while sobbing. “Our children are grown and there’s no little feet pitter-pattering around. No toys. My husband had to pack everything up. It’s horrible. We’ll never see them again.”
(Telegram.com - June 24, 2015)
On the weekend of June 12, Roger Demers and Brenda Davis-Demers went on a cruise for their 25th wedding anniversary. Before their departure, the couple dropped off their dogs, Graham, a 6-year-old mini-poodle, and Odin, a 4-year-old longhaired Chihuahua, at Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort, owned by Bob Gibson.
They went to pick them up on June 14. But something was wrong.
“During our morning routine cleaning, one of our staff members heard a commotion and went outside and realized that this dog (an 8-year-old Siberian husky) had broken out of its kennel, causing the kennel’s casing to be loosened up, thus allowing her to get to these two dogs (Graham and Odin),” Mr. Gibson said. “The girl (worker), when she came out, it was too late. They already passed.”
After the grisly discovery, the kennel’s manager called Mr. Gibson, who was vacationing in New York with his wife and two of his three sons. Mr. Gibson immediately returned to Grafton and frantically tried to reach the couple by repeated email but was unsuccessful. By the time he finally got them on the phone, the couple was already on their way to pick up their dogs.
“It’s probably the worst thing I had to say to somebody in my entire life,” Mr. Gibson said. “It’s not something I would ever, ever want to do again.”
Mr. Gibson theorizes that the Siberian husky, named Ticqua, was able to loosen and then break the brackets on a portion of its own run, gaining access to the adjacent, outdoor portion of the run.
“All the dogs here are in their own separate kennels. They are locked in their own individual runs when they’re here,” Mr. Gibson said. “We never had to have somebody on the outdoor area of the kennels in the morning because they are locked in these chain-linked fences. We never had a dog escape. We have so many precautions in place to prevent that.”
However, according to his incident report, Grafton Dog Officer Eugene G. Ploss said Mr. Gibson believes the two small dogs were in the holding area and the Siberian husky was in a holding area. The Siberian husky pushed the gate open and the smaller dogs squeezed under the gate from the holding area into the common area.
Ms. Davis-Demers said she and her husband have a series of unanswered questions for the kennel owner.
“I don’t know how it (the Siberian husky) can loosen a bar two cages over? Then, I’m thinking, how are they in the same area, a big dog and two little teeny dogs? They don’t even weigh seven pounds,” Ms. Davis-Demers said. “We said to him, 'How is it possible that this dog is going crazy, can make all this racket, get out of its kennel and go after my two dogs, nobody sees anything, nobody hears it and it has the chance to do this to my two dogs?' ”
Ms. Davis-Demers said she feels that Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort should be fined and the Siberian husky who ripped her dogs apart should be euthanized, instead of being allowed to go home to its owner in Northbridge.
“If that dog was that aggressive and angry and to get out and get at them, then there’s something wrong with that dog,” Ms. Davis-Demers “It’s not a safe dog. I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood.”
“Animals can do some amazing things, sometimes, but you have to look out for that. We have been in the business long enough to know what a bad dog is,” Mr. Gibson said. “We don’t take aggressive animals here … I don’t know why this dog all of a sudden turned and did what she did. I don’t understand it.”
Daniel A. Chauvin, animal control officer in Northbridge, Sutton and Millbury, said he never had any calls or issues about the dog that killed Graham and Odin.
Northbridge Animal Inspector Rochelle C. Thomson said Ticqua was placed on a 45-day in-home quarantine, which is standard protocol under state Department of Agricultural Resources procedures. The Siberian Husky is properly licensed and up-to-date on all its shots.
The Siberian husky’s owner did not return calls.
While Mr. Gibson acknowledges that there is rust on some of the kennels, he insists that all the runs in the facility have been thoroughly checked for structural integrity since the incident and, as an added precaution, reinforcements have been installed to ensure an incident of this nature does not occur again. Gibson’s Natural Pet Resort has been in business for 13 years. Prior to this incident, Mr. Gibson said, the kennel never had an incident like this before.
“This poor woman, you have no idea what she must be going through. I mean, she’s lost her two babies, which is incomprehensible. I couldn’t imagine coming home and not being able to see my dogs. They were gone and I never got to say goodbye. That’s how she feels,” Mr. Gibson said, fighting back tears. “We try to give these animals a safe place to be while their owners are away and then something like this happens. It’s just beyond devastating.”
Ms. Davis-Demers finds little solace to overcome her loss.
“We come home to an empty house,” Ms. Davis-Demers said while sobbing. “Our children are grown and there’s no little feet pitter-pattering around. No toys. My husband had to pack everything up. It’s horrible. We’ll never see them again.”
(Telegram.com - June 24, 2015)
Boy, 4, is recovering from pit bull attack, family says
NEW YORK -- Jayden Zweifach, 4, of Campbell Avenue in Port Richmond, was left with several lacerations and puncture wounds after being attacked by a pit bull during an outdoor family gathering, his family says.
"This is something you hear about, but nothing I've ever seen," says Stephen Monteleone, the grandfather of the victim about Thursday's mauling. "Attacking Jayden wasn't even a challenge for the dog, his head alone was bigger than him!"
According to the boy's mother, Michelle Monteleone, a neighbor opened his apartment door and the pit bull came running out, pouncing on Jayden, who was playing with friends.
"When he got a hold of my son, he started shaking him viciously," said Ms. Monteleone. "There's lacerations to his face, two punctures on the back of his head and two on side of his head."
The dog is said to have attacked with nails and teeth until Jayden's father, Sanmiguel, was able to pry him away -- but the pit bull knocked the man down just seconds later.
"When my husband went to grab my son, the dog let go and tried to attack my husband," she added.
With the help of friends and family, the dog was pulled off Sanmiguel, who then rushed to the front of the house clutching injured Jayden.
Despite Ms. Monteleone's several phone calls to 911, EMS and FDNY did not immediately respond to the scene, she said. But the NYPD arrived and was able to transport Jayden and his parents to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.
Jayden was discharged Friday after an overnight stay in RUMC, but is due back soon for plastic surgery, his family said.
The dog was reportedly taken to an animal control site.
(SILive.com - Jun 26, 2015)
"This is something you hear about, but nothing I've ever seen," says Stephen Monteleone, the grandfather of the victim about Thursday's mauling. "Attacking Jayden wasn't even a challenge for the dog, his head alone was bigger than him!"
According to the boy's mother, Michelle Monteleone, a neighbor opened his apartment door and the pit bull came running out, pouncing on Jayden, who was playing with friends.
"When he got a hold of my son, he started shaking him viciously," said Ms. Monteleone. "There's lacerations to his face, two punctures on the back of his head and two on side of his head."
The dog is said to have attacked with nails and teeth until Jayden's father, Sanmiguel, was able to pry him away -- but the pit bull knocked the man down just seconds later.
"When my husband went to grab my son, the dog let go and tried to attack my husband," she added.
With the help of friends and family, the dog was pulled off Sanmiguel, who then rushed to the front of the house clutching injured Jayden.
Despite Ms. Monteleone's several phone calls to 911, EMS and FDNY did not immediately respond to the scene, she said. But the NYPD arrived and was able to transport Jayden and his parents to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.
Jayden was discharged Friday after an overnight stay in RUMC, but is due back soon for plastic surgery, his family said.
The dog was reportedly taken to an animal control site.
(SILive.com - Jun 26, 2015)
Michigan: Meter reader attacked by dog files lawsuit for injuries
MICHIGAN -- Our dog bite attorneys recently filed a lawsuit in the Macomb County Circuit Court on behalf of an 18 year old client attacked by a dog.
Our client was working as a meter reader for the utility company when the attack occurred on the defendant’s property. The attack resulted in significant puncture wounds to his hand which required him to undergo surgery.
The incident occurred in a yard in Clinton Township, Michigan. The 18 year old was lawfully on the property because he was working for the utility company and was entitled to full access of the property.
Under Michigan law, he was not considered a trespasser and therefore the dog owner is liable for the injuries suffered in the attack.
The lawsuit seeks a settlement for his pain and suffering, scars, medical expenses, and lost wages. No trial date has been set by the court.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - june 29, 2015)
Our client was working as a meter reader for the utility company when the attack occurred on the defendant’s property. The attack resulted in significant puncture wounds to his hand which required him to undergo surgery.
Under Michigan law, he was not considered a trespasser and therefore the dog owner is liable for the injuries suffered in the attack.
The lawsuit seeks a settlement for his pain and suffering, scars, medical expenses, and lost wages. No trial date has been set by the court.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - june 29, 2015)
Police: 3-year-old Lawton Boy Dies After Pit Bull Attack
TEXAS -- A 3-year-old Lawton boy is killed after being attacked by a pit bull in the backyard of a home there.
Captain Craig Akard says it happened at 9 a.m. at 505 Southwest 17th Street.
A family friend was babysitting and watching the little boy out the window playing in the backyard.
When the babysitter looked again she said she saw him laying on the ground with injuries.
Police say she then called for help and when emergency personnel responded, and the pit bull was aggressive towards them and had to be shot.
(KFDX - June 29, 2015)
Captain Craig Akard says it happened at 9 a.m. at 505 Southwest 17th Street.
A family friend was babysitting and watching the little boy out the window playing in the backyard.
When the babysitter looked again she said she saw him laying on the ground with injuries.
Police say she then called for help and when emergency personnel responded, and the pit bull was aggressive towards them and had to be shot.
(KFDX - June 29, 2015)
Monday, June 29, 2015
Michigan: Woman who suffered permanent nerve damage to her dominant hand, after being bitten by her hairstylist's dog, files lawsuit
MICHIGAN -- We recently filed a dog bite lawsuit for a 37 year old woman bitten on her dominant hand by a dog.
She was getting her haircut at the stylist’s home when the family dog bit her in the hand. She suffered puncture wounds to her hand that have resulted in permanent nerve damage.
The damage to the nerves was confirmed by her doctor after an EMG study.
The lawsuit was filed in the Macomb County Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. The case seeks compensation for her pain and suffering, disability, lost wages, and medical expenses. No trial date has been set by the court.
Under Michigan law, the dog owner is liable for the injures caused by the dog bite attack. Our client was lawfully on the property and did nothing to provoke the attack. We expect to win her a substantial settlement in the case.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - June 29, 2015)
She was getting her haircut at the stylist’s home when the family dog bit her in the hand. She suffered puncture wounds to her hand that have resulted in permanent nerve damage.
The damage to the nerves was confirmed by her doctor after an EMG study.
Under Michigan law, the dog owner is liable for the injures caused by the dog bite attack. Our client was lawfully on the property and did nothing to provoke the attack. We expect to win her a substantial settlement in the case.
(Buckfire & Buckfire - June 29, 2015)
Michigan: Man attacked by pit bull while standing at the bus stop gets nearly $300,000 in lawsuit
MICHIGAN -- Our Macomb County dog bite lawyers recently settled a lawsuit for $ 290,000.00. Our client was waiting at a bus stop in Roseville, Michigan when a van pulled up to him.
When he approached the van to speak with the driver - who he was familiar with, a pit bull lunged out of the window and bit him in the face. The dog then ran away.
He suffered a severe facial laceration from the bite and required emergency medical treatment and surgery.
The defendant left the scene to get his dog, who ran away, and never returned.
The Roseville and Warren animal control officers were able to track down defendant with the assistance of the Roseville Police Department. A report and investigation substantiated how the attack occurred.
He should have been charged for failing to render aid, for failing to contact the police regarding a dog that needed to be quarantined, for owning a vicious dog. Was he able to keep the dog after all this??
The dog owner was given a citation for the attack. The matter was turned over to his homeowners insurance coverage due to the dog attack.
We filed a dog bite lawsuit on his behalf in the Macomb County Circuit Court. The case sought compensation for the significant injuries, the medical expenses, and for his permanent facial scar.
The parties agreed to accept a mediators recommendation of $ 290,000.00 as a settlement for the case prior to a jury trial.
(Buckfire & Buckfire PC - June 29, 2015)
Earlier:
When he approached the van to speak with the driver - who he was familiar with, a pit bull lunged out of the window and bit him in the face. The dog then ran away.
He suffered a severe facial laceration from the bite and required emergency medical treatment and surgery.
The defendant left the scene to get his dog, who ran away, and never returned.
The Roseville and Warren animal control officers were able to track down defendant with the assistance of the Roseville Police Department. A report and investigation substantiated how the attack occurred.
He should have been charged for failing to render aid, for failing to contact the police regarding a dog that needed to be quarantined, for owning a vicious dog. Was he able to keep the dog after all this??
The dog owner was given a citation for the attack. The matter was turned over to his homeowners insurance coverage due to the dog attack.
We filed a dog bite lawsuit on his behalf in the Macomb County Circuit Court. The case sought compensation for the significant injuries, the medical expenses, and for his permanent facial scar.
The parties agreed to accept a mediators recommendation of $ 290,000.00 as a settlement for the case prior to a jury trial.
(Buckfire & Buckfire PC - June 29, 2015)
Earlier:
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Owner gets $606 fine for pit bull which attacked woman and her dog. Where's the pit bull? No one but the owner knows since it wasn't seized
OREGON -- The owner of a pit bull that attacked another dog and its owner on a neighborhood sidewalk earlier this year was fined $606 in Veneta Municipal Court on Thursday. He told the judge, through his attorney David Hill, that the pit bull is no longer in the city limits.
Oh that's great. It's no longer in the city limits. This dog WILL attack someone else.
Brian Lozano pleaded guilty to charges of having a dog at large and failing to license the dog. Each violation carried a $167 fine. Lozano pleaded no contest to a new charge of having a dog that chased or killed pets or livestock and was fined $272 for that offense.
As a result of attorney negotiations, the city’s charge of having a dangerous dog was dismissed.
Lozano had no comment after paying his fine and leaving court.
It was dismissed because he paid for an attorney and because the dog was taken out of the city. It wasn't dismissed because the dog isn't aggressive. Money talks.
The victim, Sheri Ascariz, however, asked if she could speak before Municipal Judge Alan Leiman imposed the fines.
“Have you seen the video?” Ascariz asked Leiman, of a neighbor’s surveillance video that shows the pit bull busting through the fence of Lozano’s home and racing straight for Ascariz and her dog, Hachi.
The video shows Ascariz frantically trying to keep the pit bull away from Hachi before friends of Lozano arrived to help.
The judge answered that he deliberately chose not to watch the video as doing so could be prejudicial against Lozano and the city of Veneta.
Leiman told Lozano that if his dog is brought back to the city of Veneta it will be impounded, to which Lozano replied, “I accept that.”
When offered an opportunity to say anything else in court before the fines were imposed, Lozano declined.
Ascariz appeared disappointed in the penalties imposed, but said she couldn’t comment further without her lawyer.
After the trial ended, Ascariz said she is preparing a civil lawsuit. Ascariz said her dog, a Shiba Inu, is recovering, but that she herself is still struggling over the incident.
The attack happened in late February when Ascariz took her dog for a walk around her Eighth Street neighborhood. The pit bull ripped open Hachi’s throat, Ascariz said at the time, and the wound required stitches “too many to count.”
The pit bull also severely bit Ascariz’s hand. The hand required surgery, including pins to hold her fingers in place.
(The Register-Guard - June 19, 2015)
Oh that's great. It's no longer in the city limits. This dog WILL attack someone else.
Brian Lozano pleaded guilty to charges of having a dog at large and failing to license the dog. Each violation carried a $167 fine. Lozano pleaded no contest to a new charge of having a dog that chased or killed pets or livestock and was fined $272 for that offense.
As a result of attorney negotiations, the city’s charge of having a dangerous dog was dismissed.
Lozano had no comment after paying his fine and leaving court.
It was dismissed because he paid for an attorney and because the dog was taken out of the city. It wasn't dismissed because the dog isn't aggressive. Money talks.
The victim, Sheri Ascariz, however, asked if she could speak before Municipal Judge Alan Leiman imposed the fines.
“Have you seen the video?” Ascariz asked Leiman, of a neighbor’s surveillance video that shows the pit bull busting through the fence of Lozano’s home and racing straight for Ascariz and her dog, Hachi.
The video shows Ascariz frantically trying to keep the pit bull away from Hachi before friends of Lozano arrived to help.
The judge answered that he deliberately chose not to watch the video as doing so could be prejudicial against Lozano and the city of Veneta.
Leiman told Lozano that if his dog is brought back to the city of Veneta it will be impounded, to which Lozano replied, “I accept that.”
When offered an opportunity to say anything else in court before the fines were imposed, Lozano declined.
Ascariz appeared disappointed in the penalties imposed, but said she couldn’t comment further without her lawyer.
After the trial ended, Ascariz said she is preparing a civil lawsuit. Ascariz said her dog, a Shiba Inu, is recovering, but that she herself is still struggling over the incident.
The attack happened in late February when Ascariz took her dog for a walk around her Eighth Street neighborhood. The pit bull ripped open Hachi’s throat, Ascariz said at the time, and the wound required stitches “too many to count.”
The pit bull also severely bit Ascariz’s hand. The hand required surgery, including pins to hold her fingers in place.
(The Register-Guard - June 19, 2015)
Postal worker hospitalized after being attacked by pit bull mix
OHIO -- A postal worker has been taken to the hospital after a dog bit him in Oregon.
The postal worker was on the 1600 block of Norcross when he came around the corner of a home and was said to have startled a pit bull mix. The dog went after the man, biting him on his hand and leg.
The man was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
The dog has been quarantined into the home.
(WNWO NBC 24-Jun 18, 2015)
The postal worker was on the 1600 block of Norcross when he came around the corner of a home and was said to have startled a pit bull mix. The dog went after the man, biting him on his hand and leg.
The man was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
The dog has been quarantined into the home.
(WNWO NBC 24-Jun 18, 2015)
Neighborhood pet attacks
TEXAS -- The city of Laredo has three pit bulls in observation after a number of neighborhood pets were attacked earlier this week.
Tony Reyes found his cat dead on his door step and his neighbor's dog was attacked--but survived.
“The dog goes kills your pet there is a remedy there is something that can be done,” said Reyes.
On Thursday the Laredo Health Department along with Councilman Roque Vela have acted on the allegation.
“Because the ordinance was reinforced six years ago. Because they showed aggressive tendencies and the owner obviously had not, was not providing the type of environment to make sure they were enclose.
We were able to go have policy power to make sure go in there and take the animals into custody,” Said Vela.
The city discovered the dogs in question were not vaccinated.
They have the pit bulls in observation for 10 days to monitor their behavior.
“That they aren’t exposing or showing that aggressive tendency if they do show aggressive tendency during out observation we will take the proper precautions,” said Vela.
Reyes said he is very happy with the fact the city has acted so quickly to the report.
“There a lot of people who love their pet so at least there is something that we can do to help say they will be picked up,” said Reyes.
Councilman Roque vela says his main concern was to get those dogs off the streets before any other attack happens.
He says it's not about the dogs breed but the environment they are brought up.
“We need to make sure that your animal is being kept in your property make sure these animals are behaving correctly, and make sure that you have your animal on a leash because if they act inappropriate they attacks other animals, go on a rampage or worst case scenario if they attack human then City of Laredo is going to do to make sure we protect the people in this community,” said Vela.
(KGNS.tv - June 19, 2015)
Tony Reyes found his cat dead on his door step and his neighbor's dog was attacked--but survived.
“The dog goes kills your pet there is a remedy there is something that can be done,” said Reyes.
On Thursday the Laredo Health Department along with Councilman Roque Vela have acted on the allegation.
“Because the ordinance was reinforced six years ago. Because they showed aggressive tendencies and the owner obviously had not, was not providing the type of environment to make sure they were enclose.
We were able to go have policy power to make sure go in there and take the animals into custody,” Said Vela.
The city discovered the dogs in question were not vaccinated.
They have the pit bulls in observation for 10 days to monitor their behavior.
“That they aren’t exposing or showing that aggressive tendency if they do show aggressive tendency during out observation we will take the proper precautions,” said Vela.
Reyes said he is very happy with the fact the city has acted so quickly to the report.
“There a lot of people who love their pet so at least there is something that we can do to help say they will be picked up,” said Reyes.
Councilman Roque vela says his main concern was to get those dogs off the streets before any other attack happens.
He says it's not about the dogs breed but the environment they are brought up.
“We need to make sure that your animal is being kept in your property make sure these animals are behaving correctly, and make sure that you have your animal on a leash because if they act inappropriate they attacks other animals, go on a rampage or worst case scenario if they attack human then City of Laredo is going to do to make sure we protect the people in this community,” said Vela.
(KGNS.tv - June 19, 2015)
Wichita family's plight over pit bull highlights limits of animal control staff
KANSAS -- Johnny Denney’s family has lived in their Planeview neighborhood home for 29 years, long enough for the rose of Sharon bush out front to set down deep roots and send out a tower of magenta blooms.
But because of a neighbor’s aggressive dog, they have become prisoners in their own home, Denney says.
He is 65, suffers from Parkinson’s disease and has a knee replacement. He carries an aluminum bat when he goes outside. He has stared down the white pit bull while gripping the bat, after it has repeatedly lunged at him or tried to tear through a front-porch gate to get to his 83-year-old mother, he said. They fear for their pet Yorkie even when it is in the fenced yard because the pit bull is big enough to leap over.
“We shouldn’t have to live like this,” Denney said Friday morning, newly frustrated after seeing the white pit running loose again. He said he has called 911 several times, but each time Wichita animal control officers told him they were unable to find the dog or that it was in an enclosure when they spotted it or that they couldn’t find the owner.
Denney’s frustration isn’t unique. The city animal control unit has limited staffing, and they respond to thousands of calls a year. At most, the city has three animal control officers citywide per shift, but usually it’s one or two officers, said Wichita police Lt. Steve Kenney, who oversees animal control.
In the past year, animal control has logged 992 calls in which the caller initially indicated a dog was aggressive, 318 calls in which a dog was reported as having attacked someone by, for example, running at someone or inhibiting a person’s movement, said animal control supervisor Dennis Graves.
Animal control also recorded 4,930 calls about pets, mostly dogs, being stray or running loose, Graves said.
The calls are prioritized so that the highest is a dog biting someone or being aggressive, Kenney said. The next priority is a dog being aggressive toward or harming another pet. A dog simply running loose is a lower priority.
The challenge is that dogs move quickly, so spotting and catching them can be difficult. And because dogs are considered property, police usually need to know who owns them, Kenney said.
The legal process
The fortunate thing, Kenney said, is that there is a streamlined process for people who have problems with dogs. It basically involves filling out an affidavit, which is reviewed by an animal control officer to make sure it qualifies under the ordinance, and if it meets the criteria, it goes to Municipal Court, where the owner has to show up and answer to the complaint.
Denney said he doubts he would be willing to take the steps to pursue it through the court.
Most people don’t want to prosecute; they just want the problem to end, Kenney said. Many times, he said, it’s because people don’t want to have conflicts with neighbors.
Denney said his family’s problem with the white pit bull began around the time of Riverfest, in late May. He said he has no opposition to the pit bull breed. It depends on how they are raised and cared for, he said. He thinks the white pit bull belongs to a neighbor.
While (some) animal control officials say pit bulls can be sweet dogs, the breed also has plenty of critics who say pit bulls have a reputation for being fighting dogs because of their disposition, musculature and powerful jaws. Whether or not the breed is unfairly labeled, pit bulls are “overrepresented” in city statistics, Graves said recently.
In a previous Eagle article about problem dogs, Kenney cited these numbers: In 2014, pit bulls accounted for 110 of 208 reported and investigated dog attacks, 188 of 569 dog bites and 35 of 53 dogs deemed dangerous under a city ordinance.
Pit bull siege
Denney said that the white pit bull, which he estimated at “a good 75 pounds,” showed up outside his house and tore up a lattice gate to the front porch as it snarled at his 83-year-old mother. The pit bull didn’t appear to have tags. A city ordinance sets specific requirements for pit bulls, including that they be sterilized and have a microchip for identification. Pit bull breeders have exemptions, but very few people qualify for a breeder’s license.
The white pit bull also caved in chain-link fencing in front of the Denney home, Denney said.
The dog has lunged at him four times, he said. His daughter took a cellphone picture of the pit bull outside the house on a recent night, facing a bat-carrying Denney. But an animal control officer and police officer declined the family’s offer for the officers to view the photo, he said.
According to Graves, on May 31, the 911 emergency dispatch system received a call about two pit bulls – one white, the other brown and white – running loose near Denney’s home. The animal control officer was able to catch and impound the brown-and-white dog but couldn’t find the white dog after a search. Animal control officers have returned to the block five times since catching the brown-and-white dog, Graves said.
Denney said he also worries about the safety of his neighbors, many of whom have small children.
Over the years, his family has built a decorative pond with gurgling spouts of water in a yard ringed with established flower beds. On Friday, a hidden cardinal sang above flowering moss, waxy-green hens and chicks and rain-soaked honeysuckle.
But with the pit bull loose, Denney said, his mother is “afraid to come out here and work on her own plants.”
Holding the bat in the yard Friday, Denney said, “I don’t want to carry this every moment of my life. I shouldn’t have to.”
(Wichita Eagle - June 28, 2015)
But because of a neighbor’s aggressive dog, they have become prisoners in their own home, Denney says.
He is 65, suffers from Parkinson’s disease and has a knee replacement. He carries an aluminum bat when he goes outside. He has stared down the white pit bull while gripping the bat, after it has repeatedly lunged at him or tried to tear through a front-porch gate to get to his 83-year-old mother, he said. They fear for their pet Yorkie even when it is in the fenced yard because the pit bull is big enough to leap over.
“We shouldn’t have to live like this,” Denney said Friday morning, newly frustrated after seeing the white pit running loose again. He said he has called 911 several times, but each time Wichita animal control officers told him they were unable to find the dog or that it was in an enclosure when they spotted it or that they couldn’t find the owner.
Denney’s frustration isn’t unique. The city animal control unit has limited staffing, and they respond to thousands of calls a year. At most, the city has three animal control officers citywide per shift, but usually it’s one or two officers, said Wichita police Lt. Steve Kenney, who oversees animal control.
In the past year, animal control has logged 992 calls in which the caller initially indicated a dog was aggressive, 318 calls in which a dog was reported as having attacked someone by, for example, running at someone or inhibiting a person’s movement, said animal control supervisor Dennis Graves.
Animal control also recorded 4,930 calls about pets, mostly dogs, being stray or running loose, Graves said.
The calls are prioritized so that the highest is a dog biting someone or being aggressive, Kenney said. The next priority is a dog being aggressive toward or harming another pet. A dog simply running loose is a lower priority.
The challenge is that dogs move quickly, so spotting and catching them can be difficult. And because dogs are considered property, police usually need to know who owns them, Kenney said.
The legal process
The fortunate thing, Kenney said, is that there is a streamlined process for people who have problems with dogs. It basically involves filling out an affidavit, which is reviewed by an animal control officer to make sure it qualifies under the ordinance, and if it meets the criteria, it goes to Municipal Court, where the owner has to show up and answer to the complaint.
Denney said he doubts he would be willing to take the steps to pursue it through the court.
Most people don’t want to prosecute; they just want the problem to end, Kenney said. Many times, he said, it’s because people don’t want to have conflicts with neighbors.
Denney said his family’s problem with the white pit bull began around the time of Riverfest, in late May. He said he has no opposition to the pit bull breed. It depends on how they are raised and cared for, he said. He thinks the white pit bull belongs to a neighbor.
While (some) animal control officials say pit bulls can be sweet dogs, the breed also has plenty of critics who say pit bulls have a reputation for being fighting dogs because of their disposition, musculature and powerful jaws. Whether or not the breed is unfairly labeled, pit bulls are “overrepresented” in city statistics, Graves said recently.
In a previous Eagle article about problem dogs, Kenney cited these numbers: In 2014, pit bulls accounted for 110 of 208 reported and investigated dog attacks, 188 of 569 dog bites and 35 of 53 dogs deemed dangerous under a city ordinance.
Pit bull siege
Denney said that the white pit bull, which he estimated at “a good 75 pounds,” showed up outside his house and tore up a lattice gate to the front porch as it snarled at his 83-year-old mother. The pit bull didn’t appear to have tags. A city ordinance sets specific requirements for pit bulls, including that they be sterilized and have a microchip for identification. Pit bull breeders have exemptions, but very few people qualify for a breeder’s license.
The white pit bull also caved in chain-link fencing in front of the Denney home, Denney said.
The dog has lunged at him four times, he said. His daughter took a cellphone picture of the pit bull outside the house on a recent night, facing a bat-carrying Denney. But an animal control officer and police officer declined the family’s offer for the officers to view the photo, he said.
According to Graves, on May 31, the 911 emergency dispatch system received a call about two pit bulls – one white, the other brown and white – running loose near Denney’s home. The animal control officer was able to catch and impound the brown-and-white dog but couldn’t find the white dog after a search. Animal control officers have returned to the block five times since catching the brown-and-white dog, Graves said.
Denney said he also worries about the safety of his neighbors, many of whom have small children.
Over the years, his family has built a decorative pond with gurgling spouts of water in a yard ringed with established flower beds. On Friday, a hidden cardinal sang above flowering moss, waxy-green hens and chicks and rain-soaked honeysuckle.
But with the pit bull loose, Denney said, his mother is “afraid to come out here and work on her own plants.”
Holding the bat in the yard Friday, Denney said, “I don’t want to carry this every moment of my life. I shouldn’t have to.”
(Wichita Eagle - June 28, 2015)
Man Attacked By Dog Speaks Out About 'Terrifying' Ordeal
MICHIGAN -- "The scariest part for me is seeing that dog leaping up at my throat with his mouth open."
A man talking about a morning jog gone bad ... A neighbor's dog charged and mauled him.
It's a dog attack we first told you about earlier this week in Crawford County.
The dog attacked a jogger in Beaver Creek Township just south of Grayling earlier this month.
69-year-old Larry Kelley was returning home from a run on this road when his neighbor's dog ambushed him.
This pit bull knocked him over and attacked him, sending him to the hospital with bite injuries.
Mr. Kelley met with 9&10's Cody Boyer and photojournalist Melvin Kimbrough today to talk about the horrifying ordeal.
The dog managed to bite Larry Kelley on nearly every part of his body.
It was a morning he says he cannot forget.
"We had just come back from an all-day trek back from North Carolina, so I was up and out not as early as usual but to get a four-mile run," Kelley says.
A routine Larry Kelley has held onto for more than 20 years.
This time, everything changed.
"I first noticed that the dog wasn't on its chain back by the house and, almost the same instant, noticed it was in the center of the yard and in the next instant, saw that it was charging at me," Kelley says.
Larry says he held up his hand and told the dog to stop but it kept coming.
"He charged me and tried to knock me down, did not succeed and just proceeded to attack in different parts of my body," Kelley says.
"It's by far the most the scariest situation I've ever been involved in," Kelley says. "I really was doubtful of a positive outcome when I did lose my balance and get knocked down. I was able to get back up. I knew I didn't want to be on the ground with it."
Larry's wife and his 89-year-old neighbor were nearby and came to his rescue, along with the dog's owner.
"She was yelling at the dog but she couldn't get the dog to respond," Kelley says. "She had a hold of it once and couldn't hold it because no collar on it."
Larry went to the hospital. He needed more than 40 stitches.
Larry's lawyer, Heidi Tanner, says the next step depends on the prosecutor's decision.
"We do not know the extent of his damages are," Tanner says. "We are making a determination as to whether or not a civil action would be appropriate in this matter."
As for Larry, he'll keep running. But will always be cautious.
"You hear scary things like this happening and I guess I'm fortunate," Kelley says. "I know I'm fortunate and you hear ones that don't end this well."
We reached out to the dog's owner but have not heard back from them.
The case is now on the desk of the Crawford County prosecutor. He will determine if charges will be filed and if the dog will be put down.
(9&10 News - June 19, 2015)
A man talking about a morning jog gone bad ... A neighbor's dog charged and mauled him.
It's a dog attack we first told you about earlier this week in Crawford County.
The dog attacked a jogger in Beaver Creek Township just south of Grayling earlier this month.
69-year-old Larry Kelley was returning home from a run on this road when his neighbor's dog ambushed him.
This pit bull knocked him over and attacked him, sending him to the hospital with bite injuries.
Mr. Kelley met with 9&10's Cody Boyer and photojournalist Melvin Kimbrough today to talk about the horrifying ordeal.
-----------------------------------------------
The dog managed to bite Larry Kelley on nearly every part of his body.
It was a morning he says he cannot forget.
"We had just come back from an all-day trek back from North Carolina, so I was up and out not as early as usual but to get a four-mile run," Kelley says.
A routine Larry Kelley has held onto for more than 20 years.
This time, everything changed.
"I first noticed that the dog wasn't on its chain back by the house and, almost the same instant, noticed it was in the center of the yard and in the next instant, saw that it was charging at me," Kelley says.
Larry says he held up his hand and told the dog to stop but it kept coming.
"He charged me and tried to knock me down, did not succeed and just proceeded to attack in different parts of my body," Kelley says.
"It's by far the most the scariest situation I've ever been involved in," Kelley says. "I really was doubtful of a positive outcome when I did lose my balance and get knocked down. I was able to get back up. I knew I didn't want to be on the ground with it."
Larry's wife and his 89-year-old neighbor were nearby and came to his rescue, along with the dog's owner.
"She was yelling at the dog but she couldn't get the dog to respond," Kelley says. "She had a hold of it once and couldn't hold it because no collar on it."
Larry went to the hospital. He needed more than 40 stitches.
Larry's lawyer, Heidi Tanner, says the next step depends on the prosecutor's decision.
"We do not know the extent of his damages are," Tanner says. "We are making a determination as to whether or not a civil action would be appropriate in this matter."
As for Larry, he'll keep running. But will always be cautious.
"You hear scary things like this happening and I guess I'm fortunate," Kelley says. "I know I'm fortunate and you hear ones that don't end this well."
We reached out to the dog's owner but have not heard back from them.
The case is now on the desk of the Crawford County prosecutor. He will determine if charges will be filed and if the dog will be put down.
(9&10 News - June 19, 2015)
Pizza delivery man attack dog was 'dangerously out of control'
UNITED KINGDOM -- A DOG owner whose pets savaged a pizza delivery driver has admitted the animals were dangerously out of control.
Blackburn Magistrates' Court head how a Bullmastiff and a Staffordshire bull terrier belonging to Lynda Taylor attacked Mohammed Farhan Siddeeq in February this year.
Mr Siddeeq, who lost conciousness during the incident, required four hours of surgery on his arm and leg injuries and missed his brother's wedding as a result.
The court was told how Mr Siddeeq claimed he heard a man's voice shout 'get in' moments before the dogs pounced on him.
Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the victim had asked to collect the £10 owed for the meal he delivered when Taylor said she would go and get it, leaving the door open.
Miss Allan said: "She opened an internal door and stood looking at the delivery man as the two dogs ran out and attacked him. The first dog jumped up and went for his throat and as he put his arm up to protect himself the dog bit his arm and locked on."
Gareth Price, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and considered herself a responsible dog owner.
"It will be my client's intention to seek the return of the dogs on the basis they are not a danger to the public," said Mr Price.
Taylor, of Rothesay Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control resulting in injuries.
She was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.
Miss Allan said Mr Siddeeq had suffered 'significant injuries' and the incident had left him physically and psychologically scarred.
She added: "As far as he was concerned this was a life changing attack.
"He has been left with permanent scars and will need plastic surgery. He used to work to support his family, as a sales rep during the day and a delivery driver at night, but has had to give up both jobs because he is frightened to go out.
"If he sees a dog he has to cross the road. He says he suffers from nightmares and wakes up in a sweat as a direct result of this incident."
(Asian Image - June 20, 2015)
Blackburn Magistrates' Court head how a Bullmastiff and a Staffordshire bull terrier belonging to Lynda Taylor attacked Mohammed Farhan Siddeeq in February this year.
The court was told how Mr Siddeeq claimed he heard a man's voice shout 'get in' moments before the dogs pounced on him.
Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the victim had asked to collect the £10 owed for the meal he delivered when Taylor said she would go and get it, leaving the door open.
Miss Allan said: "She opened an internal door and stood looking at the delivery man as the two dogs ran out and attacked him. The first dog jumped up and went for his throat and as he put his arm up to protect himself the dog bit his arm and locked on."
"It will be my client's intention to seek the return of the dogs on the basis they are not a danger to the public," said Mr Price.
Taylor, of Rothesay Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control resulting in injuries.
She was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.
Miss Allan said Mr Siddeeq had suffered 'significant injuries' and the incident had left him physically and psychologically scarred.
She added: "As far as he was concerned this was a life changing attack.
"He has been left with permanent scars and will need plastic surgery. He used to work to support his family, as a sales rep during the day and a delivery driver at night, but has had to give up both jobs because he is frightened to go out.
"If he sees a dog he has to cross the road. He says he suffers from nightmares and wakes up in a sweat as a direct result of this incident."
(Asian Image - June 20, 2015)
Two pit bulls kill third one in backyard attack
TEXAS -- The Victoria County Sheriff's Office and Victoria Animal Control responded to a dog-on-dog attack at a Quail Creek home Friday night.
Three dogs were in the backyard of a Duck Drive home, when two attacked and killed a third one.
All three dogs belonged to the property owner, said Roy Boyd, Victoria County Sheriff's Office chief deputy.
It was unclear late Friday whether the dogs were removed or what led up to the attack.
(Victoria Advocate - June 20, 2015)
Three dogs were in the backyard of a Duck Drive home, when two attacked and killed a third one.
All three dogs belonged to the property owner, said Roy Boyd, Victoria County Sheriff's Office chief deputy.
It was unclear late Friday whether the dogs were removed or what led up to the attack.
(Victoria Advocate - June 20, 2015)
Officer helps save man from pit bull attack in Pike Township
INDIANA -- A man is recovering after police said he was attacked by three loose pit bulls on the northwest side of Indianapolis.
It happened in the 6800 block of Middleton Court Thursday.
Pike Township Police said the man was taken to the hospital with punctured wounds. Police said the victim was mowing the lawn in the backyard when the dogs attacked him.
An officer arrived on scene and was able to get the dogs off of the man using his baton.
“I was in my room lying down at around the time it happened and I just heard like a yell, like a scream, and I heard some dogs barking,” said Fatima Diaz, neighbor.
Fatima Diaz and her family live down the street from where the attack happened.
She claimed she has seen the same dogs loose several times before. She said the last time was the day before the attack.
“I was really scared because I’ve been attacked by a dog before,” said Diaz. “I’m really scared of them and when we saw them in my backyard, I was really scared.”
Diaz said her mom was sitting in the backyard when the dogs came running through.
“I was inside and my mom she was yelling at us because she was in the backyard on the balcony on like the third step,” said Diaz. “She thought she was going to get attacked by the dogs.”
Diaz said her mom rushed inside of the house and the dogs ran off.
Her sister took a couple of photos of the dogs and shared them with 24-Hour News 8.
“It’s shocking because there’s not really a pit bull problem in this neighborhood,” said Tracie Rhim, neighbor. “There are a few dogs that run loose. It has been an issue, ongoing.”
Other people living in the neighborhood like Tracie Rhim said she’s surprised by the news.
“We have a couple of little dogs that run loose. As far as pit bulls, there’s only really one pit bull that I’ve ever seen loose,” said Rhim. “I did say something to the owner the day before yesterday that if they didn’t leash it, I was going to call animal control.”
Rhim told 24-Hour News 8 it’s a concern because her daughters are always playing outside with other neighborhood kids during the summer.
She said she never had a problem with the owner in question.
“I’ve always seen him with his dogs leashed when he does walk with them and he usually doesn’t walk them through the neighborhood,” said Rhim. “They’re usually walked up to the main street, 71st Street, and out that way and they’re always leashed so it’s shocking if that’s who it was.”
Indianapolis Animal Care and Control ended up removing the three dogs and a fourth one not involved in the attack.
A community outreach coordinator said it will be up to a judge to decide what to do next with the dogs.
24-Hour News 8 stopped by the owner’s home, but no one came to the door.
Police said the officer was not hurt and the victim is expected to be OK.
(WISHTV - June 19, 2015)
It happened in the 6800 block of Middleton Court Thursday.
Pike Township Police said the man was taken to the hospital with punctured wounds. Police said the victim was mowing the lawn in the backyard when the dogs attacked him.
An officer arrived on scene and was able to get the dogs off of the man using his baton.
“I was in my room lying down at around the time it happened and I just heard like a yell, like a scream, and I heard some dogs barking,” said Fatima Diaz, neighbor.
Fatima Diaz and her family live down the street from where the attack happened.
She claimed she has seen the same dogs loose several times before. She said the last time was the day before the attack.
“I was really scared because I’ve been attacked by a dog before,” said Diaz. “I’m really scared of them and when we saw them in my backyard, I was really scared.”
Diaz said her mom was sitting in the backyard when the dogs came running through.
“I was inside and my mom she was yelling at us because she was in the backyard on the balcony on like the third step,” said Diaz. “She thought she was going to get attacked by the dogs.”
Diaz said her mom rushed inside of the house and the dogs ran off.
Her sister took a couple of photos of the dogs and shared them with 24-Hour News 8.
“It’s shocking because there’s not really a pit bull problem in this neighborhood,” said Tracie Rhim, neighbor. “There are a few dogs that run loose. It has been an issue, ongoing.”
Other people living in the neighborhood like Tracie Rhim said she’s surprised by the news.
“We have a couple of little dogs that run loose. As far as pit bulls, there’s only really one pit bull that I’ve ever seen loose,” said Rhim. “I did say something to the owner the day before yesterday that if they didn’t leash it, I was going to call animal control.”
Rhim told 24-Hour News 8 it’s a concern because her daughters are always playing outside with other neighborhood kids during the summer.
She said she never had a problem with the owner in question.
“I’ve always seen him with his dogs leashed when he does walk with them and he usually doesn’t walk them through the neighborhood,” said Rhim. “They’re usually walked up to the main street, 71st Street, and out that way and they’re always leashed so it’s shocking if that’s who it was.”
Indianapolis Animal Care and Control ended up removing the three dogs and a fourth one not involved in the attack.
A community outreach coordinator said it will be up to a judge to decide what to do next with the dogs.
24-Hour News 8 stopped by the owner’s home, but no one came to the door.
Police said the officer was not hurt and the victim is expected to be OK.
(WISHTV - June 19, 2015)
Just call them investi-gators!: Policemen's shock as man with sick alligator named Babe asks them for directions
MISSOURI -- Two Missouri police officers got quite the surprise this Saturday when a man stopped them to ask for directions to the nearest hospital for his very green friend in the back seat.
Wentzville Police Officers Anderson and Houtz were shocked when Ken Henderson pulled up in his car with his alligator named Babe.
Henderson, who owns Reptile Worlds, in Independence, Missouri, was on his way to Animal talk, a medical center in Wentzville but he got lost along the way.
The officers helped take Henderson and babe to the nearest animal clinic, reports KSDK.
Animal talk was hosting an event on Saturday to introduce new veterinarian Dr. Jacob Lucas. The clinic was offering free exams as part of the promotion.
Henderson was concerned about 21-year-old Babe because he seemed sick and so he pounced on the opportunity at a free exam.
Dr. Lucas gave Babe an X-ray and discovered a heart-shaped stone in the animal's stomach.
Doctors are not yet sure as to how they will remove the swallowed rock but babe is expected to recover.
(Daily Mail - June 28, 2015)
Wentzville Police Officers Anderson and Houtz were shocked when Ken Henderson pulled up in his car with his alligator named Babe.
Henderson, who owns Reptile Worlds, in Independence, Missouri, was on his way to Animal talk, a medical center in Wentzville but he got lost along the way.
The officers helped take Henderson and babe to the nearest animal clinic, reports KSDK.
Animal talk was hosting an event on Saturday to introduce new veterinarian Dr. Jacob Lucas. The clinic was offering free exams as part of the promotion.
Henderson was concerned about 21-year-old Babe because he seemed sick and so he pounced on the opportunity at a free exam.
Dr. Lucas gave Babe an X-ray and discovered a heart-shaped stone in the animal's stomach.
Doctors are not yet sure as to how they will remove the swallowed rock but babe is expected to recover.
(Daily Mail - June 28, 2015)
Pit bull attacks girl’s service dog, city posts animal up for adoption
NEW MEXICO -- The family of a service dog that was attacked by a pit-bull is in shock after they said the city advertised the attack dog for adoption on its website.
“She is a very integral part of our family,” said Dana Kelley.
The Labradoodle named Bell is 9-year-old Makenzie’s lifeline. The home-schooled elementary student has a severe allergy to peanuts. If she even smells them, she could die. The family got Bell about five years ago to protect her.
“Bell has allowed my daughter to have more of a regular life because she can finally go to places,” said Kelley.
However, that all changed in early June. The family, who lives in Colorado, was in Albuquerque for a swim meet.
Makenzie’s grandpa took her precious pup for a walk around Johnson field on the University of New Mexico’s campus when a dog charged them.
“I tried to get in between them and the dog attacked Bell and it got me on the hand,” said Makenzie’s grandpa Ron McPherson.
McPherson suffered minor cuts to his hand and Bell nearly lost his life. She’s gone through two surgeries since the attack costing the family more than $1,500 in medical bills.
Then on Thursday, the family found a post on the city’s Animal Welfare website saying the pit-bull that almost killed Bell was up for adoption.
“It made me very angry,” said Kelley.
Animal Welfare said the dog was put on its online adoption site to track down it’s owner, not to find it a new home.
According to police, the person with the pit-bull before the attack who was also with the dog after the attack claimed it wasn’t his. It’s unclear if the person with the pit-bull simply lied about not owning it to avoid any charges or fines.
Animal Welfare said it euthanized the pit-bull on Thursday.
(KRQE News 13 - June 18, 2015)
“She is a very integral part of our family,” said Dana Kelley.
The Labradoodle named Bell is 9-year-old Makenzie’s lifeline. The home-schooled elementary student has a severe allergy to peanuts. If she even smells them, she could die. The family got Bell about five years ago to protect her.
“Bell has allowed my daughter to have more of a regular life because she can finally go to places,” said Kelley.
However, that all changed in early June. The family, who lives in Colorado, was in Albuquerque for a swim meet.
Makenzie’s grandpa took her precious pup for a walk around Johnson field on the University of New Mexico’s campus when a dog charged them.
“I tried to get in between them and the dog attacked Bell and it got me on the hand,” said Makenzie’s grandpa Ron McPherson.
McPherson suffered minor cuts to his hand and Bell nearly lost his life. She’s gone through two surgeries since the attack costing the family more than $1,500 in medical bills.
Then on Thursday, the family found a post on the city’s Animal Welfare website saying the pit-bull that almost killed Bell was up for adoption.
“It made me very angry,” said Kelley.
Animal Welfare said the dog was put on its online adoption site to track down it’s owner, not to find it a new home.
According to police, the person with the pit-bull before the attack who was also with the dog after the attack claimed it wasn’t his. It’s unclear if the person with the pit-bull simply lied about not owning it to avoid any charges or fines.
Animal Welfare said it euthanized the pit-bull on Thursday.
(KRQE News 13 - June 18, 2015)
New Mexico animal cruelty bust seizes 100 animals
NEW MEXICO -- A huge animal cruelty bust took place in southern New Mexico after Dona Ana county deputies seized 100 animals.
Authorities searched the property south of Las Cruces and found eight goats, nine dogs, two cats, 16 ducks, a chicken, a rooster and nearly 70 pigs and piglets.
It took about 13 hours to collect the animals from the one-acre area. Authorities say the owner didn’t have permits for the animals.
They are now in the care of local vets.
(KRQE News 13 - Jun 19, 2015)
Authorities searched the property south of Las Cruces and found eight goats, nine dogs, two cats, 16 ducks, a chicken, a rooster and nearly 70 pigs and piglets.
It took about 13 hours to collect the animals from the one-acre area. Authorities say the owner didn’t have permits for the animals.
They are now in the care of local vets.
(KRQE News 13 - Jun 19, 2015)
Dog owner avoids jail over frenzied mauling by Staffordshire bull terrier that left toddler needing 240 stitches to her face and three hours of surgery
UNITED KINGDOM -- A toddler suffered horrific injuries and needed more than 240 stitches to her face and three hours of specialist surgery after a Staffordshire bull terrier attacked her at her home, nearly biting off her nose.
Mayzee-Jo Gaspa was just 18 months old when the dog savaged her as she stood next to her mother in their kitchen in Archway, North London.
Today at Blackfriars Crown Court Gemma Neil, 29, the owner of 'Gully', was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury to a child.
The dog has since been destroyed on the order of the court.
The court heard that Mayzee's mother Maria Dew, 34, was at home with Mayzee-Jo and another friend on September 6 last year when Neil called at their Archway home.
But the court heard instead of killing the animal, the dog sprang up and trotted off towards a group of children.
Following the attack Mayzee-Jo was left drenched in blood with half her nose severed and wounds to her lip and cheek. She is scarred for life.
After being rushed to St Bartholomew's Hospital Mayzee-Jo needed three hours of specialist plastic surgery to reattach her nose.
Her mother said Mayzee lost four teeth in the attack and will need ongoing care and at least one more operation - in which surgeons will need to re-break her nose - as her face grows.
The scar stretches from her nose all the way across her left cheek and down to her lip.
Neil was sentenced to four months, suspended for two years, and ordered to attended a drug rehabilitation programmed.
Speaking following the sentencing Ms Dew said: 'There really has been no justice for Mayzee.
'For allowing a dog to do what it did to a child, I really expected her to be behind bars.
'It's outrageous that something so horrible can happen and she can be allowed to walk free. It just shows that dogs, even the ones that their owners think are good-natured, can be dangerous and have devastating consequences.
'Especially around babies, dogs should be muzzled and kept on a short lead, or better yet, kept away all together. You never can never know what will make a dog snap or what it will do. I don't think I'll ever let my kids be around dogs again.'
She was banned from owning or having control of a dog indefinitely.
Speaking outside court, Ms Dew said: 'I had known Gemma for 15 years as we used to live near each other.
'We weren't close but I always felt sorry for her because she'd had a tough upbringing, so when she popped by I was polite. Mayzee was standing right next to me in the kitchen with her arm cuddling my leg.
'Suddenly the dog made a noise and before I could do anything it jumped up at her, head butted her and locked its teeth around her face. I was screaming. I was completely hysterical and I didn't know what to do. But my friend just kept saying 'don't pull the dog, you'll pull the baby's head off.'
'Then when the dog opened its mouth again to taker a better hold of her I kicked it away and scooped Mayzee up in my arms. Her face was completely hanging off. Then Gemma just threw the dog over the balcony and said, 'it's dead now.'
'But the dog wasn't dead, it landed on its feet and then cool as anything, just wandered over to a group of playing children.
'There was blood everywhere, all over the ceilings and the walls and Mayzee was just screaming and screaming - it was horrific.
'My neighbour called 999 and the air ambulance landed on the reservoir behind our house and then the paramedics from the helicopter came with us in an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital. We had a police escort and made it in 12 minutes.
'They rushed her straight into surgery but I really thought she was going to die. When the surgeon came out she said that Mayzee needed so many stitches that she had stopped counting at 240.
'She lost four teeth and the doctors aren't sure what effect that will have on her. And she is going to need continuing care to look after her scar - they might even need to re-break her nose in one operation.
'Mayzee has always been an outgoing little girl - she never stopped singing and dancing. But the attack has dramatically affected her. She's terrified of dogs and if she sees another dog that looks anything like the dog that attacked her she freezes and won't go anywhere near it.
'Now we just want to raise as much money for the Air Ambulance as possible to say thank you for saving Mayzee's life.'
Sentencing Judge Deva Pillay said: 'You ought to have been aware of the dangers that these dogs can present, especially in the presence of very young children.'
Mayzee lives with her mother Maria, father Michael Gaspa, a 33-year-old plumber and her two older brothers John, 8, and Teddy, 10.
(Daily Mail - June 16, 2015)
Earlier:
Mayzee-Jo Gaspa was just 18 months old when the dog savaged her as she stood next to her mother in their kitchen in Archway, North London.
Today at Blackfriars Crown Court Gemma Neil, 29, the owner of 'Gully', was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury to a child.
The dog has since been destroyed on the order of the court.
The court heard that Mayzee's mother Maria Dew, 34, was at home with Mayzee-Jo and another friend on September 6 last year when Neil called at their Archway home.
But the court heard instead of killing the animal, the dog sprang up and trotted off towards a group of children.
Following the attack Mayzee-Jo was left drenched in blood with half her nose severed and wounds to her lip and cheek. She is scarred for life.
After being rushed to St Bartholomew's Hospital Mayzee-Jo needed three hours of specialist plastic surgery to reattach her nose.
Her mother said Mayzee lost four teeth in the attack and will need ongoing care and at least one more operation - in which surgeons will need to re-break her nose - as her face grows.
The scar stretches from her nose all the way across her left cheek and down to her lip.
Neil was sentenced to four months, suspended for two years, and ordered to attended a drug rehabilitation programmed.
Speaking following the sentencing Ms Dew said: 'There really has been no justice for Mayzee.
'For allowing a dog to do what it did to a child, I really expected her to be behind bars.
'It's outrageous that something so horrible can happen and she can be allowed to walk free. It just shows that dogs, even the ones that their owners think are good-natured, can be dangerous and have devastating consequences.
 |
| Gemma Neil, dog owner |
'Especially around babies, dogs should be muzzled and kept on a short lead, or better yet, kept away all together. You never can never know what will make a dog snap or what it will do. I don't think I'll ever let my kids be around dogs again.'
She was banned from owning or having control of a dog indefinitely.
Speaking outside court, Ms Dew said: 'I had known Gemma for 15 years as we used to live near each other.
'We weren't close but I always felt sorry for her because she'd had a tough upbringing, so when she popped by I was polite. Mayzee was standing right next to me in the kitchen with her arm cuddling my leg.
'Suddenly the dog made a noise and before I could do anything it jumped up at her, head butted her and locked its teeth around her face. I was screaming. I was completely hysterical and I didn't know what to do. But my friend just kept saying 'don't pull the dog, you'll pull the baby's head off.'
'Then when the dog opened its mouth again to taker a better hold of her I kicked it away and scooped Mayzee up in my arms. Her face was completely hanging off. Then Gemma just threw the dog over the balcony and said, 'it's dead now.'
'But the dog wasn't dead, it landed on its feet and then cool as anything, just wandered over to a group of playing children.
'There was blood everywhere, all over the ceilings and the walls and Mayzee was just screaming and screaming - it was horrific.
'My neighbour called 999 and the air ambulance landed on the reservoir behind our house and then the paramedics from the helicopter came with us in an ambulance to the Royal London Hospital. We had a police escort and made it in 12 minutes.
'They rushed her straight into surgery but I really thought she was going to die. When the surgeon came out she said that Mayzee needed so many stitches that she had stopped counting at 240.
'She lost four teeth and the doctors aren't sure what effect that will have on her. And she is going to need continuing care to look after her scar - they might even need to re-break her nose in one operation.
'Mayzee has always been an outgoing little girl - she never stopped singing and dancing. But the attack has dramatically affected her. She's terrified of dogs and if she sees another dog that looks anything like the dog that attacked her she freezes and won't go anywhere near it.
'Now we just want to raise as much money for the Air Ambulance as possible to say thank you for saving Mayzee's life.'
Sentencing Judge Deva Pillay said: 'You ought to have been aware of the dangers that these dogs can present, especially in the presence of very young children.'
Mayzee lives with her mother Maria, father Michael Gaspa, a 33-year-old plumber and her two older brothers John, 8, and Teddy, 10.
(Daily Mail - June 16, 2015)
Earlier:
Animal advocates ask for max sentence in animal cruelty case
INDIANA -- Keontah White, 28, made her first appearance in court Thursday on four animal abuse charges.
White faces four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after prosecutors say she abandoned two dogs, leaving one in a garbage bin to die.
A group of about a dozen demonstrators picketed outside the St. Joseph County courthouse during White's hearing with signs reading "Animal crimes need to do time" and "Animal lives matter too."
They asked that the judge eventually find White guilty and give her the maximum sentence of jail time.
"We want serious punishment for animal abuse, or it's not going to stop," says Becky Kaiser, a member of the South Bend Animal Control Commission.
Kaiser and the other picketers say they hope White's case will serve as an example to other animal abusers.
Earlier this month, neighbors caught White on their surveillance cameras, showing what looks like White taking two dogs to the alley behind her home on the 1100 block of College Street.
When those neighbors later found one of the dogs in a trash can, near death, they called police. After seeing the footage, officers arrested White.
White would not speak with WSBT 22 about her charges, four Class-A misdemeanors. That means for each charge, White faces a maximum of one year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
The animal advocates are hoping the judge will go all in.
"The maximum sentence, yes," Kaiser says. "Let's start making a difference by the sentences we give them."
The dog that was allegedly thrown away in the trash was in such poor condition, animal control officials eventually had to put it down days later.
The other dog was hiding in bushes nearby when officers rescued it. It's now recovering at the home of a South Bend Animal Care and Control employee
Both dogs, officials say, had clear signs of neglect.
"It's ridiculous, people that abuse dogs," says Alice Allen, who was picketing outside the courthouse Thursday. "You start with abusing dogs, then what? It's terrible."
White asked for a public defender in court Thursday, so her hearing was continued to July 16. She's expected to be arraigned then.
"We can't keep giving these people that abuse animals a slap on the wrist and community service," Kaiser says.
(WSBT-TV - June 25, 2015)
Earlier:
White faces four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after prosecutors say she abandoned two dogs, leaving one in a garbage bin to die.
A group of about a dozen demonstrators picketed outside the St. Joseph County courthouse during White's hearing with signs reading "Animal crimes need to do time" and "Animal lives matter too."
They asked that the judge eventually find White guilty and give her the maximum sentence of jail time.
"We want serious punishment for animal abuse, or it's not going to stop," says Becky Kaiser, a member of the South Bend Animal Control Commission.
Kaiser and the other picketers say they hope White's case will serve as an example to other animal abusers.
Earlier this month, neighbors caught White on their surveillance cameras, showing what looks like White taking two dogs to the alley behind her home on the 1100 block of College Street.
When those neighbors later found one of the dogs in a trash can, near death, they called police. After seeing the footage, officers arrested White.
White would not speak with WSBT 22 about her charges, four Class-A misdemeanors. That means for each charge, White faces a maximum of one year in jail and $5,000 in fines.
The animal advocates are hoping the judge will go all in.
"The maximum sentence, yes," Kaiser says. "Let's start making a difference by the sentences we give them."
The dog that was allegedly thrown away in the trash was in such poor condition, animal control officials eventually had to put it down days later.
The other dog was hiding in bushes nearby when officers rescued it. It's now recovering at the home of a South Bend Animal Care and Control employee
Both dogs, officials say, had clear signs of neglect.
"It's ridiculous, people that abuse dogs," says Alice Allen, who was picketing outside the courthouse Thursday. "You start with abusing dogs, then what? It's terrible."
White asked for a public defender in court Thursday, so her hearing was continued to July 16. She's expected to be arraigned then.
"We can't keep giving these people that abuse animals a slap on the wrist and community service," Kaiser says.
(WSBT-TV - June 25, 2015)
Earlier: