Virginia: John Maddox, 26, charged after two pit bulls bite children, kill their dog

VIRGINIA -- A Bedford County dog owner has been charged with having dangerous dogs after two children were attacked and a dog was killed Wednesday.

According to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, the children thought their dog was just playing with the two pit bulls. As the boys approached the two pit bulls, the dogs bit them.

Deputies later found the two pit bulls. The owner was identified as John Maddox. He is charged with two counts of owning dangerous dogs.

The children were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital and treated and released.

The injured dog died Thursday.

The two pit bulls are being quarantined at the Bedford County Animal Shelter.

Here is the news release from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office:

At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday February 17, 2016, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call reporting a black pit bull had attacked another dog on Boonsboro Place. While deputies were responding dispatchers received a second call advising two children had been bitten by a black pit bull and a white pit bull.

After arriving on the scene, deputies spoke with the two children. They advised the deputy they observed their dog with two other dogs. They said they thought the dogs were just playing. As they were walking up the other two dogs turned and bit them.

 

Deputies then found the boy’s dog lying on the ground covered in mud and breathing. A Bedford County animal control deputy spoke to the boys’father, who transported their dog to a near-by animal hospital for treatment.

A short time later, a second deputy located two dogs, a black pit bull and a white pit bull, matching the description the boys had given them on Macon Loop Road. Both dogs were contained by the deputies. The owner of the two dogs was identified and contacted by cell phone. The deputies advised him to come to his residence. After arriving home, John Maddox, acknowledged that the two dogs belonged to him.

 

The two children were transported to the Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency Room by Bedford County Fire and Rescue. They both were treated for their injuries and released.

On Thursday February 18, deputies learned that the boys’ dog had passed away from injuries sustained in the attack by the two pit bulls.

The two pit bulls are being quarantined at the Bedford County Animal Shelter.

In the video, the owner says his pit bulls sleep with his kids and
cannot believe what "they're accusing them of doing"

John T. Maddox, age 26, was charged with two counts of owning dangerous dogs. His court date is March 21, 2016 in Bedford County General District Court.

(WDBJ7 - ‎Feb 19, 2016‎)