Arkansas: "I still have his cowboy boots that have pieces of my son's face on them that fell off when I picked him up" says father whose little boy, 4, was mauled by two Pit Bulls

ARKANSAS -- A toddler is in the hospital fighting to recover after a neighbor's two pit bulls mauled his face on Thursday morning.

Four-year-old Matthew Guess was outside his Arkansas home when the two adult dogs leapt on him and viciously started attacking him right in front of his father.

Now, Dustin Guess is sharing the horrific details of his son's dog attack in the hopes that this will never happen to any other parent or child again.

According to Dustin Guess, both dogs attacked the child simultaneously while he was walking between his house and the neighbor's home.

One dog started dragging Matthew away by his leg as the other attacked his face. Guess was also outside at the time and the horrified dad sprinted to the child's side as he tried to separate his boy from the brutal dogs.

"He said 'Daddy, they had my face,'" he recalled to NWA. "I couldn't win."

Matthew was rushed to Washington Regional Medical Center with severe injuries to his face and leg.

After having surgery, he was transferred to Children's Hospital for an additional operation before reconstruction can begin on his face, according to a Go Fund Me page that was set up to help with the child's medical expenses. "He is still fighting a fever and [in] a lot of pain," Elizabeth Champion, a family friend, wrote.

Matthew still needs multiple surgeries, and in the meantime, his dad is raising awareness.

"I still have his cowboy boots that have pieces of my son's face on them that fell off when I picked him up," Guess told NWA. " .... I don't know how to describe the darkness, the loneliness, the pair and the fear and the anger. I mean it's every emotion at the highest level."

However, he's finding strength from his child. "He still has that grin," Guess said. "It's not gone and it still works."

According to police, only one one of the pit bulls had the required rabies shot and both have been deemed "dangerous." The neighbor has received a citation for violating the state's Rabies Control Act and both dogs were quarantined until one was euthanized.

But that isn't enough for Guess.

"My reality and my understanding to this point now is that there has to be, there has to be, something put in place to protect our children when parents fail, because I was a failed parent myself," Guess said.

Currently in Arkansas, 40 cities have breed-specific legislation that prohibits pit bulls, only allowing them under strict and specific exceptions. However where Guess lives, there aren't any laws restricting ownership of the breed. Washington County Attorney Brian Lester told NWA that Matthew's situation could be what it takes to change that.

"I've already received talk from one of the Justices of the Peace, a member of the Quorum Court, here who questioned this specifically," Lester said. He added, "Any dog in any home, whether it's in a good home or abused could potentially attack somebody .... It's unfortunate because right now there is no fail-proof way to keep this from happening again."

Other parents are sharing similar experiences, and it's unsurprisingly sparking a heated online debate.

"My heart goes out to Matthew and his family. My son was also the victim of a dog attack," one mom wrote on GoFundMe. "It's the most helpless I've ever felt as I was not with him when it happened."

However, others on Facebook are blaming Matthew's parents. "Maybe if people actually did their jobs as parents and watch their kids these kind of things wouldn't happen," one user commented. "Or maybe if they didn't let their kids climb all over the dogs and terrorize them these kind of things wouldn't happen but people don't like taking care of their kids these days, they let video games or cell phones or anything else raise their kids except doing the job themselves."

But others agree with Guess and think action should be taken. "People are more important than pets -- PERIOD! Especially children!!!!! Makes me furious how people can feel no sympathy for a child's needs over an animals!" one person wrote. "We have several pets, and I promise if a child was harmed by one of ours, and I don't care what the situation is, that pet is GONE!!!"

It's safe to say that this issue isn't going to be settled anytime soon, but let's hope that everyone can agree on one thing: This child didn't deserve the violent attack, and nothing but compassion should be sent his way.

*   *   *   *   *   *

GOFUNDME: Fundraiser for Krista Guess
Created April 7, 2018
by Elizabeth Champion on behalf of Krista Guess
  Medical
  WEST FORK, AR

Matthew is a 4 year old boy from West Fork Ar. He was brutally attacked Thursday morning by their landlord's two pit bulls. He has already had one surgery at Washington Regional. Last night he was transferred to Children's Hospital in Little Rock Ar. He will be under going another surgery this morning and many more after that to reconstruct his face. He is still fighting a fever and a lot of pain. I am a close family friend of Krista and Dustin. Our boys are the same age and best friends. She is linked to this account and has full access to the funds and able to see and able to update.

UPDATE
A message from our little buddy's Dad Dustin Guess.
"Yall look out, there's a new deputy in town!!! Sworn in and official! Thank you to the Washington County sheriff's office for making the long trip here to see and check on our baby boy! He's a proud officer of the law and means business!!"

UPDATE
Matthew is doing very well! His spirits are so high and is one of the strongest little boys ever. He has surgery Friday morning on his face again. Prayers that everything goes smoothly! Thank yall so much for the donations. The family greatly appreciates it so very much and so does Matthew! #Matthewsfight

(Cafe Mom - April 11, 2018)

New York: Grandmother mauled in Bronx pit bull attack speaks out

EASTCHESTER, THE BRONX, NEW YORK -- The woman who was seriously injured in a vicious pit bull attack in the Bronx is speaking out about the harrowing ordeal exclusively to Eyewitness News.

Althea Woodson, who goes by Lisa, was watching her two young grandchildren at the Eastchester Gardens apartments when the large dog somehow got loose and pounced.

 

 

The 57-year-old suffered serious injuries to her hand and face, even losing part of her ear. She is now recovering at home.

"I have a gash, a gash here, a gash here," she said. "See where all the blood is?"

The physical pain is hard enough, but what truly overwhelms her is the the terror she felt as her grandkids played on a jungle gym and the dog lunged their way.

 

"I'm yelling at my grandkids, 'Don't come down, don't come, don't come down, don't come down,'" she said. "And then I see the dog again. It came back around me, and it lunged at my face. So I kicked it."

Eyewitness News obtained video of Woodson screaming on the bench after that dog grabbed her by the head and dragged her away

"And it just kept coming and coming," she said. "And it won't go. It won't go nowhere, and it hurt so bad."

 

 

It wasn't until a stranger started beating the unleashed dog with a stick that it let her go.

Authorities say it was living in the Eastchester Gardens Houses, a NYCHA project where pit bulls are prohibited. But residents say they are all over the place.

City Council member Andy King said if the housing authority can't follow its own rules, maybe it should ban pets altogether.

 

In the meantime, Woodson's son is just happy she -- and the children -- are OK.

"You could call her a hero right now, because there were other kids in the park also," Walter Woodson said. "If that big dog attacked other kids, you know, it's..."

As he ponders what could have happened, the Animal Care Center of NYC has taken custody of the dog. Its owner, 23-year-old Shannon Ingram, has been charged with two counts of reckless endangerment.

"I don't know," Lisa Woodson said. "He tried to hurt my grandchildren, and I had to stop him. I had to."

Eastchester Gardens is a NYCHA housing development, and residents are allowed to have pets. However, some, including pit bulls are not always on a leash. NYCHA policy specifically prohibits certain dog species, including Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. In addition. dogs must always be kept on a leash while in a public area, and pets are not allowed to enter pet-free zones, including playgrounds, which is where this dog attack occurred.

NYCHA released the following statement: "We are saddened to hear of this incident and will be looking into this immediately. While our policy welcomes residents to have pets as part of their family, there are restrictions in our policy and we expect pets to not endanger fellow residents."

Residents say they have complained about the Pit Bulls.

(ABC7NY - March 29, 2018)

United Kingdom: Judge ignores victim's impact statement and gives Emil Gorecki, 23, probation after his banned Pit Bull attacked ten-year-old girl

UNITED KINGDOM -- A Polish man returned to Wales to face justice after his illegal fighting dog attacked a 10-year-old girl on Deeside.

A warrant had been issued for the arrest of Emil Gorecki, 23, following the incident in September 2016 which left the girl with serious injuries to her arm.

Appearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court, Gorecki admitted owning the American pit bull dog which sank its teeth into the girl after she had stopped by the Polish man’s back yard to stroke a kitten he owns.

Gorecki, who walked up to the court building wearing a sweatshirt sporting the words “Pit Bull” in silver letters, spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address and followed proceedings with the aid of an interpreter.

This was done to mock that little girl who was mauled by his Pit Bull.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said at about 7.30pm on September 9 the girl had left home to visit a friend but, after finding she was not in, she returned home down an alleyway.

She saw a kitten at the rear of the defendant’s address on Chevrons Road, Shotton, and as she stopped to stroke it she noticed a very aggressive-looking dog looking at her from the patio window.

The dog had then run out from the house and sniffed the 10-year-old before jumping up and latching on to her arm with no warning.

In her statement the girl described it as a “hard bite” and “very painful” but Gorecki, then 22, had managed to hit the dog causing it to loosen its grip.

Gorecki’s sister then took the girl inside the house where she removed her coat and Gorecki tended to her wounds with a towel.

The little girl described feeling “frightened and upset” and although she could not understand what Gorecki and his sister were saying she realised they wanted to take her home.

On taking her home, the Polish pair tried to explain what happened before her mother called an ambulance.

At the hospital she was found to have a deep laceration to her arm requiring stitches and she was put on a course of antibiotics and painkillers.

The dog was seized and taken to an undisclosed location where it was examined by a police dog handler and confirmed as a prohibited American pit bull.

A victim statement by the girl’s mother was read to court which said the girl could no longer put weight on her arm and was scared to do handstands.

The mother added her daughter struggled to lift herself out of the swimming pool and how the incident had completely changed her outlook.

The scarring was permanent and she had become self conscious and covered her arm at all times.

David Matthews, defending, claimed Gorecki, who was accompanied by an interpreter, was “extremely sorry” and added he was “shocked” as the dog had never behaved aggressively before.

Gorecki claimed he had bought the dog two years previously in Stoke-on-Trent and believed it to be a Stafforshire bull terrier after having it inspected by a vet and the RSPCA.

Where's the proof that he had it "inspected by a vet and the RSPCA" and that they agreed that it was a Staffordshire pit bull?

SURPRISED OWNER
He claimed the dog had always been safe with children previously.

“[The Pit Bull] behaved in a way that was completely out of character,” said Mr Matthews who added that although Gorecki was fond of the dog, he had no objection to it being destroyed.

A probation report from Andrew Connah said the Polish man had returned to Wales to resolve the matter and although he was intending to return to his homeland where he had a four-month-old daughter, he would take full responsibility and would stay at his sister’s house for the duration of any punishment.

District judge Gwyn Jones said: “I’ve listened very carefully and taken into accout the impact this has had on the young girl. It has had a physical impact through the marks on her arms which young girls take very seriously and it has also impaired her confidence about doing things 10-year-old girls should do.

“You acted properly, you controlled the dog, provided care for the girl and ensured she was taken home – but the lack of safety measures could have been foreseen by you.”

Mr Jones sentenced Gorecki to 26 weeks in prison for the first offence of being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and 18 weeks for the offence of possessing a fighting dog.

Both sentences are to run concurrently and were suspended for a year.

Gorecki will also carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and not be allowed to own a dog for six years.

He must also pay £600 compensation alongside £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £115.

Mr Jones also ordered that the dog is destroyed.

(Leader Live UK - February 9, 2018)

Kansas: Dr. Randy Grill addresses council after being attacked by pit bulls during walks in Wellington

KANSAS -- Dr. Randy Grill has lived a lot of places including Northern sub-Saharan Ethiopia where there are dogs who “lived off the land and are free to roam.”

But upon retiring and returning to Wellington, Grill said he never feared more about dogs than he does here.

Grill was at the Wellington City Council meeting Tuesday evening asking that the city take a closer look at its dog law which he believes is outdated.

Grill was a popular dentist in Wellington in the 1980s and early 1990s and returned to live here just a few months ago. He is an avid walker, and likes to walk about 4 to 6 miles from his house across from Washington Elementary school.

But his walks have not been that tranquil. He states in a letter sent to the council:

“In the last month, I have been attacked three times by Pit Bull dogs on my daily walk with Millie, the young dog I rescued a while back. I never let her on property with a home on it… I love dogs and have a tender heart and remember years back having to stop my truck when I ran over a rabbit so I could cry. That said, I have not slept well after my last pit bull attack. I passed out from exhaustion trying to fight this dog off me and Millie.

Long story short, is to save my dog I tried to cut the retractable leash that was on Millie so she could out run our attackers. I could not cut this leash in a panic.”

Grill said the incident occurred on the 1600 block of North B.

He continues:

“The pit bull in question did release her (his dog) shoulder neck area when I kicked it in the rib cage with all the 68-year-old strength I had. Then when the pit bull jumped at me my pocket knife was handy to bury it in the attacking dog’s back with all my strength.”

He said 911 was called by one of the several adults that came to the rescue. He does not remember all but the first 90 seconds of this attack as he found himself on the ground waking up after he didn’t know how long.

“The Wellington Police are serious and good about filing the report, talking to witnesses and getting the information for the City Attorney to follow through. But the laws are outdated and lame and due to lack of definitions and needed actions, ties everyone’s hands but the offending dog and its owner. A young couple possibly saved me from further attack and serious harm by defending me while I was out.”

Grill said he didn’t believe in outlawing pit bulls was the solution. However, he does believe that a new law needs to be enacted with more teeth that prosecutes the offending dog owner.

Wellington City Councilman Jim Valentine is a proponent of more severe dog laws.

“If anyone who has ever been bit by a dog, and I have, it is like someone slapping you with barbwire,” Valentine said. “I got a real interest in this and we are going to pursue it. This council and the new council have a responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. And I’m going to make sure we are air tight on this.”

The council agreed to hold a work session on January 23. In the meantime a change of leadership will be taking place. On Jan. 8, the council will be initiating three new members: Jennifer Heersche, Joe Soria and Kevin Dodds. At least two were in attendance from the audience at the meeting Tuesday night.

Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath is also working on gathering dog bite information.

Whether or not pit bulls are the source of most dog attacks, it most certainly considered to be the two most deadly dog breeds in America according to dogbites.org.

In a 12-year period from 2005 to 2016, canines killed 392 Americans with pit bulls and rottweilers accounting for 76 percent of the deaths, according to the website:

It is important to point out that since 2005, pit bulls and their mixes have inflicted fatal dog attacks at nearly six times the rate as rottweilers. It is well documented by experts and humane groups that pit bulls pose a substantial danger due to their selective breeding for dog fighting. Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls frequently fail to communicate intention prior to an attack; possess a lethal bite style (hold and shake) and a ruinous, strategic manner of attack (gameness).

Valentine said he too would like a law that specifically targets dog owner and would like to initiate a law that could require a stiff fine. He, though, would rather keep the law more generalized and not target pit bulls specifically.

Currently, there are 88 Kansas municipalities that ban pit bulls. Argonia is currently the only Sumner County municipality that bans pit bulls in Sumner County.

(sumnernewscow - January 3, 2018)

PIT BULL ATTACKS IN KANSAS:


Kansas: Nine-year-old boy faces months of surgeries after pit bull attack, family says


Kansas: Seven-year-old Topeka boy attacked in the face by neighbor William Weber Jr's pit bull


Kansas: Little girl attacked by Pit Bull; "you could see the bone in her arm"


Kansas: Three people bitten by 2 dogs at Chesney Park; one dog shot, survives


Kansas: "My sweet cocker spaniel was killed by my mom's pit bull today"


Wichita family's plight over pit bull highlights limits of animal control staff


Pit bulls can be sweet, but they also figure prominently in Wichita attacks, officials say


Kansas: Labrador attacked by Pit Bull at dog park; Pit Bull's owner just stood there


Woman attacked by her beloved pit bull recovering in hospital



Kansas: Topeka dog owner, Angelo Aldridge, 29, makes pleas tied to 2015 dog attack in Chesney park


Kansas: Postal worker says dog attack was 'horrendous'


Kansas: Man, angered after reading about pit bull attack on little girl asks for prayers for her. He doesn't get them.


Kansas: Woman posts photo of her friend who'd been attacked by a pit bull last year; still enduring surgeries as a result


Kansas: Jessica Thimmesch, 35, hid her illegal pit bull for two years - until it attacked a child visiting her residence


Kansas: Piper Dunbar, 2, attacked and killed by two pit bulls that belonged to family friend.
http://fourleggedfriendsandenemies.blogspot.com/2016/09/kansas-piper-dunbar-2-attacked-and.html


Kansas: Man simply walking down the street is attacked by two pit bulls


Kansas: Prayers requested for woman mauled by two pit bulls


Kansas: What's worse than being attacked by a pit bull? Being attacked by a pit bull while trapped in an elevator with it


Kansas: Stray Scottish Terrier attacked by a pit bull


Kansas: Dani Bonanno's pit bull attacked a neighbor and an animal control officer, but she refuses to surrender the dog


Kansas: Pit bulls rip face and ears off of large bull and it may end up dying. Bull's owner says despite this, she still trusts Pit Bulls.

Kansas: Child in critical condition after being attacked by a stray pit bull mix. Police searching for the dog

Kansas: 6-year-old girl hospitalized after being attacked by relative's pit bull

KANSAS BREED SPECIFIC RELATED STORIES:

Kansas: David Foley ignores town's BSL and gets two Pit Bulls; now whines that it's not fair

Owner of banned Pit bull back in court in Salina, Kansas

Virginia: Despite WWBT's sympathetic interview with the "heartbroken" teen dog owner, what it boils down to is that her Pit Bull ran out of their apartment, attacked a leashed dog and had to be stabbed to stop its attack

VIRGINIA -- A 16-year-old Chesterfield girl is heartbroken after she says another pet owner stabbed her VICIOUS PIT BULL after her dog stormed out of her family’s home ran after another dog, which was leashed and being walked, and attacked it.

Four-year-old Oreo is recovering at home now after having to be rushed into surgery. Chesterfield Police are investigating whether the person who stabbed him went too far. No one has been charged in this case.

The only person who should be charged is this girl's mother for owning a vicious dog that was running at large and attacked another dog, that was leashed and being walked.

During the holidays, Oreo was as joyful as could be. Flash forward to the second day of the new year.

"He just sits in the house now. He doesn't move. He doesn’t' want to eat anymore. It's just crazy,” said 16-year-old Anaya Jones-Ball.

 

That's because he's been through a lot. Jones says Oreo managed to get out of her family's apartment at Chesterfield Village and ran towards a nearby dog.

The dogs began fighting. THE PIT BULL ATTACKED THE LEASHED DOG. Police say the person walking the other dog yelled for help. That's when someone from the other pet owner’s home came out with a knife and stabbed Oreo.

"I was holding him by his neck and his mouth trying to make sure he didn’t clamp on to the other dog. She was like, ‘I'm going to kill him and she just kept slashing,'" Jones-Ball said.

"You have the same right to defend your pet from another animal as you have to defend yourself or another person from another person,” said NBC12 legal analyst Steve Benjamin.

He says the force you use to defend your pet has to be reasonable and necessary.

"If it appears somebody is going to shoot your dog, you cannot shoot that person. If that person was going to shoot you or another person, then yes, you could use deadly force," Benjamin added.

In this case, the teen believes the knife-wielding woman could have responded differently.

"I think it was very extreme for her just to come out and start stabbing. If we had brought him in the house, he would have bled to death,” she said.

Initially, the vet wanted to amputate Oreo's leg but realized he didn't have to. The teen works and is helping pay for the dog's mounting medical bills.
Chesterfield Police say this case remains under investigation.

OH AND THERE'S MORE... THE PIT BULL WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING AT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE FIRST PLACE

Chesterfield Village Apartments has a very specific breed restriction policy for their residents:

Breed Restrictions
At Chesterfield Village we do not allow the following breeds (including any dogs that appear to have a mixture of the breed): Akita, American Staffordshire Terrier, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Husky, Dogo Argentino, Wolf Hybrid, Malamute, Mastiff, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier

So the big question is: why does this family have a banned dog living in their apartment? How long has it been there? 

IS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL GOING TO CITE THE OWNER OF THIS PIT BULL UNDER THE STATE'S VICIOUS DOG LAW?

Also, what is Animal Control planning on doing with this dog? Did they cite the owner for owning a vicious dog? Did they cite the owner for her dog running at large? Do they even have vicious dog designations in Chesterfield County?

It appears that Chesterfield County used to have a dangerous dog ordinance, but they got rid of it: 

Dangerous dog: A canine or canine crossbreed which has (i) bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal, other than a dog, or (ii) killed a companion animal.

However, the state of Virginia has a dangerous dog law:

§ 3.2-6540. Control of dangerous dogs; penalties.
A. As used in this section, "dangerous dog" means:

1. A canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a companion animal that is a dog or cat or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat. A canine or canine crossbreed is not a dangerous dog if, upon investigation, a law-enforcement officer or animal control officer finds that (i) no serious physical injury, as determined by a licensed veterinarian, has occurred to the dog or cat as a result of the attack or bite; (ii) both animals are owned by the same person; or (iii) such attack occurred on the property of the attacking or biting dog's owner or custodian; or

2. A canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person. A canine or canine crossbreed is not a dangerous dog if, upon investigation, a law-enforcement officer or animal control officer finds that the injury inflicted by the canine or canine crossbreed upon a person consists solely of a single nip or bite resulting only in a scratch, abrasion, or other minor injury.

So this Pit Bull was running loose, selected its victim and attacked it. Stabbing it only stopped THIS attack. The dog is still alive so what restrictions are Chesterfield County Animal Control going to put on this dog? Are they going to do anything?

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(WWBT - January 10, 2018)