Arkansas: Homeless woman's Pit Bull has attacked children on two separate occasions. Local government officials don't care, they say they have every intention of giving the vicious dog right back to its owner

ARKANSAS -- A woman's 2-year-old son was attacked by a dog, and now she is begging police to have the dog put down.

"It's not the dog's fault," Whittany Letourneau said. "It's the owner's fault."

 

Letourneau sent 5NEWS several photos of her son's injuries. She said he has 12 bite marks on his face, and that the attack happened last Tuesday (Nov. 28) at Aux Arc Park in Ozark.

People in town told 5NEWS that this is not the first time this dog has attacked a child. Ozark police said the dog belongs to a homeless woman. 

Hayden Vasquez said the same dog ripped into his face back in June when it attacked him.

 

 The 12-year-old was playing outside at an apartment complex, and said the attack left him with cuts on his left cheek and right jawline.

"If people ever see her, they may need to watch out because she might get that dog back again," Vasquez said.

What about this little boy's scar on his face? Plastic surgery is typically
considered an elective and not covered by basic insurance. 

His grandmother, Lori Greene said he had to get 19 stitches.

"Nothing has happened to this dog, and it has bit somebody else last week," Greene said. "I'm afraid it's going to end up biting a baby, killing a baby or somebody else, who knows."

Letourneau did not want to go on camera, but said over the phone her toddler is traumatized.

"He wakes up at 2 a.m., screaming at the top of his lungs, 'please mommy, don't let it bite me.' My son loved animals," she said.

You have to wonder if authorities refuse to do anything because the homeless

and the young victims are in a poorer part of town. If this Pit Bull were

mauling children in the Police Chief or Mayor's neighborhood - putting

their own children and grandchildren in danger, would action be taken?

ARE AUTHORITIES WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BY THIS DOG BEFORE THEY TAKE ACTION?

Police put the pit bull in quarantine after the attack last week. The veterinarian at the animal hospital where the dog is being held tells 5NEWS the dog has not displayed any vicious behavior and said the animal will likely given back to the owner Wednesday (Dec. 6).

"That dog needs to be taken away from her," Vasquez said.

 

 

 

His grandma added, "I think the dog needs to be put down because it's going to end up hurting someone else."

 

The 2-year-old's mother said she also wants the dog to be put down.

Ozark police said there is a vicious dog ordinance and leash law in place. If a dog is deemed vicious, it is not allowed to live in city limits.

Note: This is called NIMBY (not in my back yard). It's when local towns and cities ban a vicious dog from its jurisdiction, effectively dumping it into someone else's community. Rarely does the dog come with restrictions - meaning no one is required to notify anyone that this vicious dog is coming to live in their community, their neighborhood, next door to them.  And when this same dog attacks, no one knows that it has a history of attacking and they chalk it up to 'Oh any dog can bite. This dog has NO KNOWN HISTORY with us'.

The Ozark City Council will consider stricter pet ordinances in early 2018.

 

 

 

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(5newsonline.com-Dec 5, 2017)

California: Ace of Hearts Rescue Loses Right to Keep Dogs in LA After Pit Bull Attacks

CALIFORNIA -- Two Pit Bulls owned Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue, a West Hollywood group, recently attacked innocent victims in separate incidents while in the care of fosters in the city of Los Angeles. Both were declared Dangerous Dogs by LA Animal Services' GM Brenda Barnette.

This means the dogs must be removed from the city or euthanized and that the owner cannot license or keep another dog within the city limits for the next three years.

*  *  *  *  *  *

 
An appeal to the declaration on the first Pit Bull, named Aspen, was heard by the Animal Services' Commission on August 22, 2017, when the Dangerous Dog declaration was upheld.

At a November 14, 2017, hearing, Kari Whitman, founder of Ace of Hearts, appealed to overturn the decision regarding the second Pit Bull, Daytona, which had attacked two children. 

General Manager Brenda Barnette's Dangerous Dog declaration was not overturned and, therefore, her decision stands.

Dog bites and attacks in the city of LA go largely unreported to the public. However, the number of appeals to the Board of Commissioners by owners whose dogs have seriously harmed a child, adult, or maimed/killed a beloved pet are increasingly becoming a lengthy part of its meetings. In this case, Ace of Hearts is a high-profile rescue organization, which claims to “specialize in bully breeds.”

KARI WHITMAN / ACE OF HEARTS DOG RESCUE  

Kari Whiteman told the Huffington Post in 2011 that Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue began in 2001 as a non-profit devoted to rescuing dogs and providing them with loving homes. She said the inspiration was her Bulldog Ace, whom she had rescued from death row at a shelter. "When he died, I channeled my grief and frustration into trying to save other shelter dogs like Ace and find them loving homes."

During that interview, Whitman remarked, “since we specialize in ‘bully breeds,’ we’re often called upon to take in dogs from all over the country that others are reluctant to rescue because of their breed, size or need for rehabilitation.”

Kari Whitman is described on another website as, "a celebrity interior designer and television personality, and is the founder of Kari Whitman Interiors." 

Both her business, Kari Whitman Interiors, and Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue publicly share the address, 1201 Larabee St., #303, West Hollywood, CA 90069 -- a high-end luxury condo building, where a 3 bed/3 bath, 1,793 sq/ft unit was recently valued by Zillow at $1,325,801.

OK so where are all these Pit Bulls because they're definitely not all being housed at her condo.

Possible Dangerous Animal Case (Appeal): DA 172055 EV  (August 22, 2017) 

Respondent Kari Whitman was not present but was represented by legal counsel Anne McKenzie.

Attorney McKenzie argued that the foster guardians were responsible for the dog rather than Kari Whitman because they signed an agreement. She alleged that the fosters mishandled the dog, and stated that Ace of Hearts wants to rehabilitate and retrain the Pit Bull named Aspen.

Commissioner Roger Wolfson stated for the record that the General Manager confirmed the hearing officer's findings that the dog is a Dangerous Animal. Commissioner Garcia remarked that Ms. McKenzie’s arguments focused on placing responsibility for the dog on the fosters. However, the focus of the case is whether the dog is a Dangerous Animal.

Attorney McKenzie repeated an earlier argument that the "fosters" should be considered the "owners" of the dog while it is in their possession. She stated that her client is concerned that a determination of Dangerous Animal will cause Ace of Hearts to close its shelter because the Department prohibits the "owner" from owning any dogs for a period of three years.

Complaining witness Mirsita Avelarde stated that she lived in the building where a girl was caring for the dog and it suddenly attacked her on January 6 when she walked in the door, biting her leg and hip. According to Avelarde, the girl needed 80 stitches for her injuries; she believes the dog is dangerous because her own children also live in the building. 

Commissioner Wolfson inquired whether it is possible to take the dog out of circulation and hold Ace of Hearts harmless so it can continue its work with animals in the city of Los Angeles. Assistant City Attorney (ACA) Dov Lesel explained that the Board may make a strong recommendation to the General Manager to favorably look at reinstating the license opportunities for the respondent or Ace of Hearts, but that decision is at the discretion of the General Manager.

Commissioner Dicker commented that Ace of Hearts handled the matter poorly and set the dog up to fail. However, he feels that it is in everyone’s best interest to mitigate the impact on Ace of Hearts. Ms. McKenzie replied that there seemed to be unfortunate circumstances in this case that led to the group reevaluating and changing its policies regarding the selection and training of fosters.

ACA Lesel said Ace of Hearts has been around for a long time and should have been better prepared. He advised that, if the dog is deemed dangerous and its license is revoked, the group can request a discussion with the General Manager.

Commissioner Wolfson made a motion to uphold the decision of the General Manager with the strong recommendation that Ace of Hearts be restored to good standing as quickly as possible.

Attorney McKenzie asked the Board to consider license revocation without euthanizing the dog and added that Ace of Hearts is willing to sign an affidavit stating that they’ll have their most experienced foster transport the dog to a training facility for rehabilitation.

Commissioner Wolfson commended Ace of Hearts for its willingness to save the dog at their own expense.

Commissioners Gross, Garcia, Finsten and Wolfson voted to uphold the General Manager's decision. Commissioner Dicker voted "no" but then changed to an abstention.

Possible Dangerous Animal Case: DA 171306 NC (November 14, 2017).

Kari Whitman and Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue were represented by attorney Anne Brendel. (Kari Whitman arrived later.)

Commission President Gross asked Assistant City Attorney (ACA) Dov Lesel to explain the Board’s jurisdiction when the respondent’s address is in West Hollywood. ACA Lesel stated that this can be treated as any regular case in the city of Los Angeles; the fact that the owner is domiciled or incorporated in a different city should not make a difference.

FAKE SERVICE DOG

Attorney Brendel added that the police were advised Daytona was AN ALLEGED "service dog", after the attacks on two children had occurred.  

Commissioner Gross said, "There is a difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal; from what I can see, this was not a service dog." 

Attorney Brendel responded that her clients thought therapy dogs have the same protections as service dogs; she has since explained the difference.

The Pit Bull Daytona was described by Brendel as having been with a prior foster for six months with no problems, but this foster was called away suddenly for an emergency. Thus, Daytona had to be placed with a new foster -- blatantly violating the foster agreement and acting with gross negligence by throwing a party for neighbors in the apartment complex and allowing the Pit Bull to be around children and off-leash in a public area.

She contended that Ace of Hearts should not be held responsible and Daytona should not be put down because of the recklessness of the foster. She further asserted that the incident could have been avoided had the parents and the foster been more responsible.

Kari Whitman, founder of Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue, arrived and testified that she had informed the foster the dog was not good with children and had posted that information, which was also provided by San Diego Animal Control, where they adopted the Pit Bull.

However, the complaining witness, Sabrina Panal, a neighbor of the woman fostering the dog, testified it was her understanding that Daytona was okay with children and she had even checked the Ace of Hearts website, where it said, "Daytona is good with children."

Panal stated an alarming thing: the dog was not growling or showing aggression when he suddenly lunged at her 8-year-old son, grabbing him by the face and dragging him some feet before someone pulled the dog off her child. She cried as she said, looking at her child and the stitches and scars on his face, that she had had a really bad year.  

She also described an earlier incident that day involving a younger child, during which Daytona allegedly grabbed a two-year-old girl's arm in his teeth. When they heard the child screaming, the father came and took the child.

Panal said that none of the adults present saw this happen and disregarded the issue, believing the child could just have overreacted out of a fear of dogs. She stated that was the reason she agreed to the foster's request to bring the dog back to the party, where he attacked her son.

Ms. Whitman and Attorney Berne argued that the foster set the dog up to fail. Commissioner Gross expressed concern that Ms. Whitman appeared to not be taking any responsibility and would put all blame on the foster. He noted that the foster's testimony at the original hearing indicated that she made Ace of Hearts aware she was intimidated by the dog and had no experience with them.

Commissioner Gross further admonished Ms. Whitman that she has a responsibility and obligation for and to the foster, yet she is "throwing her under the bus." Whitman disagreed.

Gross added that there were texts in evidence [provided to the Board] that were also of concern, adding that the foster's testimony and the texts from an unidentified source, "show that she was being told to hide the Pit Bull and deceive the police and animal control." Kari Whitman denied knowledge of the texts.

Commissioner Dicker commented that he finds this to be "unconscionable." He opined that the dog has sensitivity around children, but he believes that "triggers can be managed." He agreed with license revocation and moving the dog outside the city of Los Angeles, rather than destroying the dog.

This is called NIMBY = not in my backyard. It's when officials, such as Commissioner Dicker, bans the vicious dog from its jurisdiction -- dumping it into your community. The vicious dog has no restrictions and they're not required to tell anyone (police, animal control) that this vicious dog is moving to their community. It could live next door to you and you would never know.

He stated that the rescue group was irresponsible and should be barred from pulling dogs from LAAS shelters or having dogs in the City of Los Angeles for three years.

Commissioner Olivia Garcia agreed that the rescue group "was irresponsible and failed the dog."

Commissioner Gross asserted that the dog has demonstrated aggression and attacked two children, and the Board has a responsibility to ensure that other children are not attacked. He stated that there is no guarantee that the dog will be trained. He therefore made a motion to uphold the decision of the General Manager to declare Daytona to be a Dangerous Animal.

Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion, but it failed by a vote of 2-1, with Commissioner Dicker voting against it.  (On a five-member Commission, three "aye" votes are required for any action regardless of number present.) The result was that, without a majority vote, the General Manager’s decision stands.

Thus, the Pit Bull Daytona must either be moved out of the City or euthanized. This also means that Kari Whitman or Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue may not own or license a dog in the city of Los Angeles for three years.

(It was not clear at the meeting or from the minutes whether Ace of Hearts will be allowed to "pull" dogs from LA City shelters.)

ACE OF HEARTS RESCUE "QUARRELS" WITH ANIMAL SHELTER 

Another serious issue involving Ace of Hearts was revealed in a February 7, 2016 article in the Victorville Daily Press.  It describes a “quarrel” between Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue in Beverly Hills [Ace of Hearts lists a P.O. Box in Beverly Hills] and the Apple Valley Municipal Animal Shelter, resulting from the General Manager of Animal Services having posts of 11 of its shelter dogs removed from the Ace of Hearts’ website. (The photos had been uploaded by the rescue from Adoptapet.com and Petfinders.com, according to the article.)

Kari Whitman of Ace of Hearts, responded that her rescue “routinely posts animals from anywhere between 60 and 90 shelters across California, providing adoption information to the website’s more than 100,000 monthly visitors,” the Daily Press reports.

However, Animal Services Manager Gina Whiteside countered that Ace of Hearts’ posts, “did more harm than good because the posts contained misinformation.” She pointed to wording that the dogs are “in danger in Apple Valley,” and, “I’m being cared for by Ace of Hearts Rescue" appearing under the photos.

"The dogs were never in the rescue’s care,” Whiteside said, adding that Ace of Hearts was “changing the description and removing the shelter’s contact information.”  

“A comparison of posts provided by Whiteside showed that Ace of Hearts also removed the shelter’s adoption process in lieu of its own, which included filling out an application on the rescue’s website, submitting to a house check and donating $400,” the report confirms. 

Whitman said that donation is only a requirement for dogs at Ace of Hearts’ facility in Beverly Hills. "We only charge a fee on our dogs, not Apple Valley’s.”

Dog adoptions at the shelter start at $85. Whiteside responded, “They’re not helping us. They’re confusing the adopters and delaying the placement of animals.”

One “confused adopter” who was fearful an animal was “in danger of euthanasia” told the Daily Press she started the Ace of Hearts adoption process but became "leery" and called the shelter, where she learned “the dog had not been in danger and had already been adopted from the shelter.”

Whiteside told reporter Matt Cabe that the shelter does not plan to disassociate itself from Ace of Hearts but said, “the rescue’s criticism doesn’t help anyone. It pulls us away from our focus, which is saving animals lives.”

DOES "RESCUING" ANIMALS JUSTIFY ALL CONSEQUENCES? 

Ace of Hearts was made publicly accountable by Apple Valley Animal Services for disregarding the need for total transparency, honesty and mutual support between rescues and municipal shelters.

The L.A. Animal Services' Commission rightfully determined that Ace of Hearts must be held to the same -- or higher -- standard than the average owner whose pet suddenly (or repeatedly) exhibits aggressive behavior.

But there was no discussion about the origin of the animals which are being given to Ace of Hearts and other “rescues” by various shelters, including Los Angeles Animal Services.

There are several decisions made by governmental agencies to permit "animal rescues," i.e., the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service officially approve a non-profit corporation to which the public can donate for that purpose, with no consideration of the agencies capability of performing this serious and risky task.

And there is the complicity by those shelters which allow unmonitored "rescues" to take dogs that have been deemed too aggressive/dangerous/vicious to be adopted directly to the public -- in other words, too unpredictable and/or uncontrollable for the city/county to take the risk. 

There is no question that Ace of Hearts (or any rescue) must be held responsible for its actions, its fosters, and for harm done by any animal it its care in LA. Failure to do so must result in restrictions by the City.

But, at some point we must also look at the accountability of the "no kill" movement -- promoted vigorously by the very Commissioners making this decision -- and the guilt it irresponsibly imposes on both shelters and rescues, regardless of the consequences. 

ARTICLE COMMENTS:

Miranda • a day ago
This article is not even based on facts, the dog that nipped the child was not even a pit bull you ignorant idiots, get your facts straight. The dog was a american Bulldog that was put with a foster that was aware that the dog was nippy and not good with children. She decided it was a good idea to let the dog loose in a courtyard unsupervised during a party with a bunch of children, the child did not suffer life threatening injuries, i had more stitches then the child falling off my bike.

This is clearly written by someone that has no interest in any facts and is prejudice against a certain breed of dog that was not even involved in the incident. And its pathetic that you have nothing better to write about rather then an Innocent that isn't even factually correct. You should really reevaluate your career choice. Ace of hearts has saved over 2500 innocent dogs lives, all different breeds, and just because of one bad foster does not make this a bad organization. No one is 100% perfect, no one was killed or will be affected the rest of their lives from the incident that happened. If anything its sad that the dog will be killed because of some ignorant idiot put kids at risk by taking in an abused dog that was hurt and damaged and allowing him to be around kids knowing his problems, its a dog that does not know better the person that allowed it to happen on the other hand did..

The dog in the photo isn't even a pit bull....... ha that is how put together your article is.

   

  

  

According to the website amandamillsla.com:
Ace of Hearts is dog rescue foundation dedicated to rescuing big dogs that are to be euthanized, from various Los Angeles shelters and placing them in loving homes.

The Ace of Hearts Foundation is in memory of “Ace”, a wonderful American Bull dog who was rescued from death, and touched the lives of many! (Especially founder the beautiful Kari Whitman!) They  rescue all breeds…and don’t discriminate against any but they are experts in the big babies!

Could they be any more slobbering in their description of "the beautiful Kari Whitman!"? Also, what makes Ace of Hearts "experts" in dealing with large dogs? We all know they mean Pit Bulls. 

Rarely do rescues have issues with extra-large breeds such as Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish Wolfhounds, St. Bernards, etc. attacking and killing other pets, attacking children, attacking adults, attacking fosters.

Just because you've owned a large bully breed dog doesn't mean you're an 'expert'. 

This woman's petition alleges that Kari Whitman and Ace of Hearts had her foster a sick puppy that they ended up adopting - only for the puppy to be taken back and refusing to reimburse them.

YELP REVIEWS:

(City Watch LA - Nov 27, 2017)

Massachusetts: Neighbors making excuses and being wishy-washy about vicious Pit Bull. Doesn't anyone have any strength of character anymore? Euthanize this dog now and be done with it

MASSACHUSETTS -- A woman who was mauled by a dog last month in Forestdale is one of several people who are calling for the dog—a pit bull named Bubba—to be removed from the neighborhood.

Elizabeth Hiatt, her daughters, and her neighbors made their case Wednesday, October 25, during a special dangerousness hearing presided over by Sandwich Police Chief Peter N. Wack.

The often-emotional hearing, which was held at the Human Services Building, was attended by about 30 people.

The attack took place on September 5 on Deep Wood Drive and started when Bubba attacked another dog, a Samoyed named Klondike. When Klondike’s owner, Wayne Cobb, pried Bubba off his dog, Bubba attacked the woman who had been walking him, Ms. Hiatt.

Ms. Hiatt had been walking the dog for her neighbors, Clifford Gardner and Edith Gardner, an elderly couple whose frail health prevents them from walking Bubba themselves. The Gardners adopted Bubba about 18 months before the incident and have owned other dogs before him.

Ms. Hiatt said she had previously walked Bubba for one month without incident, including no issues when Klondike and Bubba crossed paths.

On the day of the attack, Ms. Hiatt said, she was walking Bubba with her daughter, Brittany Korsh, and her granddaughter, who was in a stroller. Around 5:30 PM, as Mr. Cobb walked past, Bubba bolted toward Klondike, breaking his collar in the process.

She said rumors that Bubba was provoked were unfounded.

“I read on social media that Klondike made a movement toward Bubba, but this is untrue,” she said.

After Mr. Cobb was able to pry Klondike from Bubba’s grip, Bubba turned and attacked Ms. Hiatt. He bit both of her arms and her face.

“I could feel tissue being torn,” she said. “I could feel my bones breaking.”

At this point, she said, she went into shock while her daughter tried to get Bubba off her. A woman driving past the scene, Sandra Murphy of Forestdale, stopped to help and put Ms. Korsh’s baby in her car to get her away from the dog.

The same passerby called 911, urging emergency responders to hurry, out of fear that Bubba was going to kill his victim.

The attack continued for about 10 minutes until Mr. Gardner showed up and threw his body on top of his dog.

Ms. Hiatt was first taken to Cape Cod Hospital’s emergency room, where she was given priority care. However, the staff determined that her injuries were beyond their capabilities and she was transferred by ambulance to Boston Medical Center.

A surgical team in Boston spent more than three hours fixing the damage that was done to her hand. A second surgical team repaired her face.

There were two bones that had been broken in Ms. Hiatt’s left arm, but the damage to the tissue from the attack was so severe that the medical team was unable to put her in a cast.

She spent three days in hospital care.

In total, she required 100 stitches. As of the hearing, her arm still required a splint. She said that doctors told her that she will spend the next two years in physical therapy as a result of the damage done to her hands.

“I could feel tissue being torn,” she said. 

“I could feel my bones breaking."  

APOLOGIST
Despite the attack, Ms. Hiatt said that the Gardners are good friends and that she does not blame them for the dog’s aggression. She said that the fault there possibly lies with the dog’s previous owner.

“The only evil in this is the person who trained Bubba to do what he did,” she said.

Oh God. Seriously? Stop making excuses for this vicious dog. These old people have owned it for two years -- if it were 'trained' or 'abused' and 'made mean', it would have killed them. Anyone with a brain can see this dog is extremely animal-aggressive and wants to kill any and all animals. Every single person who had an incident with this Pit Bull has had a common denominator -- their pets were with them. 

EUTHANIZE THIS DOG NOW AND BE DONE WITH IT.

Still, she feels that if Bubba could attack her, what would stop him from attacking one of the 21 children who live on the street?

“We don’t know what was different about that day and because of that, we don’t know that it won’t happen again,” she said.

After Ms. Hiatt concluded her statement, Mr. Gardner was given the chance to defend Bubba, who he said was adopted in May 2016. He said Bubba was tested for aggression before the Hiatts were allowed to bring him home, and that he 'passed the test with flying colors'.

“We took the dog home and starting that day he was the best dog we ever had,” he said. “He’s the kindest, gentlest, most obedient dog we’ve ever had.”

Lies, lies, lies... how do you know when the Gardners are lying? When their lips are moving.

Mr. Gardner claimed that since owning Bubba, he has faced hostility within the neighborhood, including from Mr. Cobb, who he claimed would frequently harass Bubba.

His claim that Mr. Cobb provoked Bubba on the day of the attack was denied by both Ms. Hiatt and Mr. Cobb.

Since the attack, Mr. Gardner said that he has been subject to further animosity from others in the neighborhood.

“I had one woman who lives on Deep Wood Drive let me know that she hated me and that I spoiled Halloween for all of the children and that she wished I was dead,” he said. “No one’s ever done that to me before.”

Chief Wack asked the Gardners if Bubba had ever bitten another person prior to this incident, to which they answered that he had not.

“He’s not a vicious dog,” Ms. Gardner said.

Chief Wack then asked Deputy Animal Control Officer Walter T. Fagnant Jr. to speak to the September incident.

Mr. Fagnant said that when he arrived, Ms. Hiatt had already been taken to the hospital and that Bubba had been secured by Mr. Gardner.

“The dog was calm and let me pet him,” he said, saying that Bubba was not aggressive in any way at that time.

Mr. Fagnant ordered Bubba to be quarantined in the Gardners’ home. Per this order, Bubba was only allowed outside the home if he was leashed and in their back yard. Three days later an order that requires Bubba to wear a muzzle any time that he is not in the home was issued.

He said that in the year and a half that the Gardners owned Bubba, he had not received a single complaint from anyone in the neighborhood who had concerns about the dog until now.

Ms. Hiatt was given the opportunity to give another statement before the hearing was closed. She expressed concern that the Gardners are not healthy enough to adequately care for a dog like Bubba.

“A dog like that needs exercise,” she said, pointing to the fact that neither Mr. or Ms. Gardner are physically capable of walking Bubba.

Additionally, she questioned if there was a legally recognized difference between a single dog bite and a mauling.

After a brief recess, Chief Wack announced that he had reconsidered allowing public comment. Anyone wishing to speak would be given a few minutes to plead their case.

Several residents of Deep Wood Drive said they feared for the safety of their children.

“It’s not fair that we have to tell our kids to ride their bikes in the other direction or that we’re driving our kids to school because we’re afraid to let them stand at the bus stop,” Dyan Craddock said. “We should not have to live waiting for the next time the dog is triggered.”

Other residents said they had previously had issues with Bubba, but that they had not reported those incidents.

Mark Govoni said that he had been walking his dog along the street a few days before the attack when Bubba charged at his dog from behind the bushes. No attack took place at this time.

“I don’t know what triggers an animal to do something like that,” he said referring to the attack on Ms. Hiatt, “but can we take the chance that it will happen again?”

Three weeks before the attack, William Gilbert said, Bubba hurtled toward himself and his young granddaughter. He said he feels lucky that they were uninjured and that someone noticed the dog was loose and hauled him away.

“I didn’t know it was Cliff’s dog,” he said.

The woman who helped out at the scene, Ms. Murphy, gave a tearful testimony and said that witnessing the situation has changed her life forever.

“Every time she would try to move, the dog would shake her,” she said. “As he was doing that he was dragging her farther into the grass.”

Ms. Hiatt’s other daughter, Regan Sherman, said it took the family three days to track down animal control to get Bubba muzzled. She also said that while her mother spoke about the physical damage that she has suffered, there has been significant emotional damage resulting from the attack, as well.

Ms. Sherman said her sister is traumatized by the incident. She added that while her parents empathize with the Gardners, it does not mean that they should be able to keep Bubba.

“All it takes is one time—if someone you care about is drinking too much, you don’t let them get into a car,” she said. “I don’t see why that doesn’t apply to this situation.”

Saying that he needed some time to digest the information he had heard, Chief Wack said he would have a decision within the next 10 business days. In the meantime, the muzzle order remains in effect and Bubba will continue to live with the Gardners.

Ms. Craddock said she is not looking for Bubba to be put down; rather, she hopes that the decision is made to place him with owners who can effectively care for him.

“As a resident of Deep Wood Drive I hope that the Town of Sandwich and the owners would do the responsible thing and remove the dog or hand him over to animal control,” she said.

NIMBY (NOT IN MY BACKYARD)
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF MORONS. I DON'T WANT YOUR VICIOUS PIT BULL DUMPED INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S EASY TO SAY, 'OH I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE DECISION TO EUTHANIZE HIM. SEND HIM AWAY - SOMEWHERE NOT NEAR ME OR MY CHILDREN. RETRAIN HIM, FIND HIM A NEW HOME, BLAH, BLAH'. THIS WOMAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN OR YOU. SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO BE A GROWNUP AND TELL THE TRUTH - THIS DOG NEEDS TO BE PUT DOWN FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.

With Halloween just around the corner, she said, many of the families with children are looking for other neighborhoods to take their children to.

“We’ve all been rearranging our lives for fear of this dog,” she said.

(The Sandwich Enterprise - Oct 26, 2017)

Earlier:

• Massachusetts: Sandwich Animal Control Officers John Pimental and Walter Fagnant Jr. are incompetent.

New Jersey: Judge Howard Freed lets Anita Puglise ship her killer Akita to Ohio without any dangerous dog designation so it could soon be killing pets in Ohio and no one but the Akita's owner will know its history.

NEW JERSEY -- The large Akita that mauled Ross and Lisa Karrer's teacup Yorkshire terrier last month on the steps of their West Meyran Avenue home will not return to Atlantic County, according to an agreement reached in municipal court Tuesday.

The decision to keep Anita Puglise's Akita elsewhere is a stipulation in a deal that will keep her from being charged with having a vicious dog.

Puglise and her attorney, Dean Marcolongo of Millville, worked with Somers Point Prosecutor Christopher Lipari to come up with a plan that would be amenable to the Karrers in return for the charge being dropped.

Neighbors like Chris Mathis, who lives on West Dawes Avenue near Puglise's home, stayed in the courtroom Tuesday for nearly three hours to support the Karrer family.

According to the Karrers, 3-year-old Hemi was sitting just outside the sliding doors to the kitchen when a dog running loose in the neighborhood wandered into their yard and started attacking the tiny Yorkie.

Hemi died of his injuries at Red Bank Animal Emergency Hospital in Linwood.

The Akita has been sent to Ocean City for lodging, and it will be going to a new home in Ohio. 

NIMBY is an abbreviation for Not In My Back Yard. It's when cities and towns ship their vicious dogs off to other communities so they don't have to deal with the problem (fighting it out in court to euthanize the dog). 

Typically, these dogs have NO restrictions placed on them before leaving town meaning when they attack and kill in their new community, no one knows its history - not the police, not animal control, not the neighbors who live around this dog.

It's akin to your neighboring town shipping a sex offender to your neighborhood and not being told that this violent sex offender is now living next door to you.

The Karrers are to be paid $2,616 in restitution for expenses by Puglise, who said through her attorney she will first attempt to get the payment made through her homeowners insurance. If they do not make the payment within 90 days, Puglise must make the payment herself.

 

 

Judge Howard Freed warned Puglise as well as her boyfriend, Michael Conroy, and the Karrers that there is to be no contact between them — no phone calls, no emails, no text messages, no conversation and no social media. Freed said any violation of the stipulation would result in charges being filed.

Puglise has a second Akita, and that dog must be contained on her property and may only be walked on a leash, according to the judge. Freed further said that anything agreed to in municipal court does not ensure civil release, meaning if the Karrers so chose, they could pursue action in a civil suit.

Both sides agreed that if Puglise abides by all of the agreed-upon points within the 90-day window, the charge of owning a vicious dog will be dropped. Failure to comply will earn the owner of the Akita a trip back to court.

The Karrers have two young boys, 9-year-old Braydon and 6-year-old Bryce. The boys saw their dog killed June 11, and while there is nothing the parents can do about that, they did decide getting another dog would refocus the boys' attention. So last week, the newest member of the Karrer family came home — Bentley, an 8-week-old teacup Yorkie.

"Given the situation, we thought that was what was best for our boys," said Lisa Karrer. “The boys are really protective of Bentley, and they don’t even want him to go outside; they are terrified that something might happen to their puppy, but they are working their way through it,” Lisa Karrer said as she fought back tears. “We really miss Hemi; our pets are like family members, and we really hope that no one has to go through this. We hope this will remind people to be responsible for their dogs and keep them contained on their property.”

Ross Karrer said after things quiet down he may possibly speak to members of City Council about the city’s current ordinance on the books regarding what is procedure when a dog bites a person. The ordinance is unclear when it is a case of a dog biting another dog, he said, and he suggested they could add something to make responsibilities and consequences more clear.

(ShoreNewsToday - July 19, 2017)

Earlier:

• New Jersey: Family's Yorkie mauled to death on the front steps of their home by Anita Puglise's Akita, say police

Virginia: After adopting out killer pit bull, Forever Home operators Toni Enright and Jamie Cochran could be in some serious trouble - and not just with the Pit Bull

VIRGINIA -- Linda says she can still smell blood in her home.

At the end of May, she adopted a 1-year-old pit bull named Blue from Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia Beach. The dog attacked and killed her 90-year-old mother that night.

Linda has asked that her last name not be used for fear of harassment on social media.

The fatal attack is the latest in a series of problems that have plagued Forever Home in recent years, sometimes making headlines.

The rescue adopted out a dog that killed a cat, a dog died in their care, and they’ve been cited with code violations, among other issues.

Toni Enright, one of the center’s owners, declined to comment for this story when reached in person. Phone calls to another owner, Jamie Cochran, were not returned and efforts to reach her in person were unsuccessful.

Forever Home’s mission centers on troubled dogs. Its website touts one- to three-month training for dogs with “uncontrollable behavioral problems.”

What training and certifications do these people have - these people who claim to be able to pull aggressive, biting dogs that have bitten children, adults, pets, possibly killed other animals -- and they magically change their behavior and adopt them out? Why are shelters handing them dogs that they know are vicious, aggressive??

In December 2013, the state approved Forever Home as a shelter that could take in and adopt out animals. It has locations in Norfolk on 25th Street and in Virginia Beach a couple blocks from Town Center.

“Every dog in our program becomes a part of our balanced pack of 30 dogs who help teach proper social skills and social behavior. (Forever Home) is the last stop for dogs who have made mistakes, have human or dog aggression, or are having trouble finding/staying in a home,” their website reads.

Troubled histories

On May 11, 2016, the rescue adopted out a 1-year-old pit bull named McLovin. Within hours, McLovin had mauled a cat to death.

The owner surrendered him to Norfolk Animal Control, which quickly euthanized the dog, prompting outrage from animal lovers and pit bull rescue advocates online.

In a statement last year, Norfolk spokeswoman Lori Crouch said staff had “researched the dog’s history and discovered repeated failed adoption attempts with other out-of-state agencies and a rabies certificate that was altered to change the dog’s breed and age.”

VICIOUS ST. BERNARD GIVEN TO FOREVER HOME BY THE LEXUS PROJECT

Four years prior, Forever Home was involved in the case of Alchemy, a Saint Bernard which bit people five times while in foster care and was set to be euthanized.

According to a 2012 Pilot article, a judge ruled the dog could live if he was kept in a sanctuary outside Virginia. Alchemy wound up at Forever Home, which at the time was operating as a sanctuary on Knotts Island in North Carolina.

A June 2012 court order from Chesapeake said Alchemy was supposed to be placed in a “sanctuary or rescue” outside of Virginia, not in a private residential dwelling.

In March 2017, a Pilot reporter followed up on Alchemy and was told by Enright only that he was adopted to a family outside Virginia. Alchemy’s original owner said he tried to find out what happened to the dog, but the Forever Home owners never told him.

This is a huge, unaddressed problem - not just with this rescue. Remember Onion, the Rhodesian Ridgeback mix that killed the little boy in Nevada? The Lexus Project attorneys wore them down in court and finally they handed the killer dog over to them. Where is it now? Anyone in Nevada who let them have the dog bother to keep track? 

Onion, with the little boy he mauled to death. 

Onion was supposed to be euthanized, but Nevada

handed him over to a rescue. Clarke County's only demand? 

That Onion be taken out of Nevada. Where is Onion today?

Another dog that Sheriff Joe Arpaio saved - that had severely mauled a little boy. The Pit Bull's name was Mickey and nutters blamed the little boy saying he took the dog's bone. Sheriff Joe promised to house the Pit Bull forever - well, guess what? Sheriff Joe isn't there any more and the new Sheriff is not open to the animal crimes unit or the animal facilities that Sheriff Joe had running. So where's the Pit Bull today??? 

 

 

WHAT QUALIFIES ENRIGHT AND COCHRAN TO BE GIVEN VICIOUS DOGS?

What training does Enright and Cochran have that deems them experts in changing the behavior and desires of vicious dogs??? They took a course at PetSmart? They worked for a dog trainer for a year? They watched online videos? They've been around and trained their own animals all their lives? Seriously, what makes them the experts they claim to be?

“With our expert understanding of dog behavior,” Forever Home advertised,  “we developed techniques to raise a pack of calm, submissive dogs.  Previously labeled as too aggressive, most dogs slated for euthanasia that end up at Forever Home are eventually rehabilitated and later adopted without another sign of aggression.”

According to animals 24-7, "Enright and Cochran evolved from kennel attendant and bather/groomer into self-described behaviorists, recounted Liz King of the Virginian-Pilot, by “studying ‘pack’ theory, watching documentaries and reading about ‘Dog Whisperer’ Cesar Millan.”

Seriously. That's just what I said. They watched some videos... that's how they've convinced shelters - and the courts - around the country to hand over vicious dogs!

This article shows just how delusional everyone is - not just Enright and Cochran, but the judge who released this dog to them in the first place and all those involved. Apparently, the damn dog attacked the owner's own attorney when they released him from the shelter:

The women say they've found their calling. Others would see it as obsession. Whichever the case, there seemed always to be room for more. More strays with fearful eyes and litters looking for homes. More castoffs rescued from the pound. More misbehaving pups dropped off by friends – and eventually, a few paying clients.

And now, a giant, 2-year-old outlaw from Chesapeake. Alchemy did come with cash - $1,000 to cover his care until his future gets sorted out. The money came from people who donated to his cause through the Lexus Project, the New York-based organization that saved his hide in court.

The 150-lb dog was decreed a danger to the community, locked in a cage at animal control and marked to be put down. Stubbs contacted the Lexus Project, a network of dog-loving attorneys who offer no-charge legal assistance to canines on death row BURY COURTS IN LEGAL PAPERWORK AND DRAG OUT CASES INVOLVING VICIOUS DOGS UNTIL THEY FINALLY GIVE IN AND HAND THE VICIOUS DOG OVER TO THEM INSTEAD OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AND HAVING IT PUT DOWN. THEN THE LEXUS PROJECT SQUEALS THAT THEY'VE 'SAVED ANOTHER ONE' AND SECRETLY PLACE THE DOG SOMEWHERE NO ONE IS TOLD. MAYBE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU?

The group got Alchemy a stay of execution and persuaded Chesapeake General District Judge Timothy Wright to release him on a $2,500 bond. Granting a dog bail, said Wright, was "breaking new ground."

Alchemy, however, didn't seem to grasp his good fortune. Animal control officers say that when a Lexus Project attorney came to fetch the dog, Alchemy turned his teeth on his benefactor. But the lawyer was reluctant to squeal on his client, so officers shut the gate and called police.

"It got a little confrontational," said Kelly O'Sullivan, spokeswoman for the city's Police Department. "The attorney finally showed them his arm - you couldn't see much - but he refused to show his leg."

In the pen at Forever Home, Alchemy – all wagging tail and lolling tongue – doesn't look like a menace. Enright steps to his side and slips a hand inside panting, fang-filled jaws.

"Believe me," she says, "if a dog this size wants to kill you, he's going to kill you."

Aggression is a symptom of an underlying issue, Enright says. In Alchemy's case, losing his home: "Dogs don't rationalize. They react. It's our responsibility to understand."

As for Alchemy, on June 21 he was offered a deal, a court order that grants a reprieve if he stays in a sanctuary setting outside Virginia and isn't placed in a residential home.

The Lexus Project – now Alchemy's official owner – signed the agreement, but the dispute continues. The group says it considers the restrictions temporary, and that with enough good-time served, Alchemy can be paroled into society - maybe even make his way back to Ken Stubbs.

At the Chesapeake city attorney's office, Grady Palmer disagrees. He wrote the agreement and insists it's permanent: "This dog is not safe to be around. If he were to wind up in a private home, I would consider that to be a problem."

VICIOUS ST. BERNARD THAT JUDGE ORDERED WAS TO 'NEVER TO LEAVE SANCTUARY' ADOPTED OUT TO FAMILY. WHAT IS THE CHESAPEAKE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS???

*   *   *   *   *   *

One month later, in April 2017, Forever Home convinced Tia Walke to adopt the the one-year-old Pit Bull named Blue. However, almost immediately the dog began behaving aggressively towards her and her family. She returned the dog to the Forever Home Rescue Rehab Center after just two days.

It was just a few short weeks later, in May 2017, that Forever Home found another person to adopt the Pit Bull. They took the dog home and it killed Linda's mother. Linda beat the dog on the head with a hammer, but could not stop the dog - it had selected its victim and it was not going to stop until she was dead.

He had been in a New York City municipal shelter, sent there after biting a child in December. The bite broke skin on the child’s thigh and buttocks, according to shelter documents obtained by The Pilot.

Animal rescue organizations often save dogs from euthanasia at these shelters in New York and adopt them out to private homes. Pennsylvania-based Animals Can’t Talk Rescue & Adoption took Blue and placed him in a foster home.

Edie Hardy of Maryland, a volunteer with Animals Can’t Talk, helped care for Blue and took him to Forever Home in Virginia Beach in February. She said Blue “had little manners and little self-control” and grabbed things with his mouth a lot, but that shouldn’t be considered a bite.

Blue “never did anything to hurt anybody” during his time in her home, Hardy said. Animals Can’t Talk officials determined that Blue needed additional training because of his erratic behavior with a foster family in New York, she said.

Hardy said she’s surrendered about six dogs to Forever Home over the years and the services provided at the center were “pretty good.”

“What they do isn’t easy, they’re not taking the easiest dogs,” she said.

Hardy said she gave Forever Home all of Blue’s documents from the New York City Animal Care Centers, including those detailing his bite history. But Linda said the documents she received from Forever Home didn’t include the bite history.

Linda showed The Pilot three pages that she says was everything the shelter gave her and it did not include any behavioral history. She said Forever Home representatives told her that Blue had been adopted out of Forever Home twice and returned both times, at least once out of fear of the dog’s behavior.

Forever Home has not been cited for what happened with Blue. Animal advocates and rescue professionals said there are no laws or regulations compelling rescue groups to disclose dogs’ histories, although experts said shelters should do so, especially for aggressive dogs.

Linda has a lawyer and is evaluating her legal options.

“Inadequate” veterinary care
Since May, the center has been searched by police and cited for code violations.

Police executed search warrants at the locations in Virginia Beach and Norfolk on June 8, just over a week after the fatal attack. No charges have been filed and the information contained within the search warrants has been sealed.

On June 9, the Norfolk location was cited for violating the city’s fire, property maintenance, zoning and stormwater codes. Forever Home was told to reduce the number of animals on the property; Crouch, the Norfolk spokeswoman, said it was not licensed to serve as a kennel and could house only four dogs at a time.

Like other shelters, Forever Home gets inspected by the state veterinarian’s office to ensure animal welfare. It received clean reviews in late 2015 and 2016. A February 2015 report, however, cited several issues at the Virginia Beach shelter.

The report says Enright took a dog named Delbert to a vet after staff told her Delbert was bit on the ear by another dog at the shelter. Enright told the inspector the shelter had started using Tom Wood as their primary source of veterinary care that same month. The reports also say Wood took Delbert to his home where he had a surgical table and gas anesthesia.

Wood concluded Delbert likely was kicked in the abdomen, the report says, but the only treatment Wood gave the dog was cleaning the bite wounds and telling Enright to keep him quiet and separate from other dogs.

Delbert died the next day. In the report, the inspector described the veterinary care as “inadequate.” The reports do not indicate Delbert’s exact cause of death.

Since 1997, Wood has been brought before the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine five times for potential violations of codes of conduct and the law. There is no indication the board took any enforcement action against him outside of a few hundred dollars in fines and a 2006 order to go into an intervention program for mental, physical or substance abuse, from which he was later ejected.

Efforts to reach Wood at his home in Virginia Beach were unsuccessful. Wood has been licensed to practice in Virginia since 1992.

That same shelter inspection report from 2015 says Forever Home’s Virginia Beach shelter was cited for keeping 77 dogs in unventilated conditions, holding five dogs in unsafe enclosures and giving an unsterilized dog to Imperial Kennels in Suffolk for breeding purposes.

Financial matters
Forever Home’s owners have had their own legal troubles.

Both Enright and Cochran were charged with felony embezzlement in early 2012 for offenses between December 2010 and May 2011.

Court records say they were stealing veterinary supplies from Owl Creek Veterinary Hospital on Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach to use in their own efforts to rescue dogs.

A bail determination sheet in Cochran’s file said she had faced charges of animal cruelty and larceny in North Carolina, but both had been dismissed.

Dismissal of a charge means nothing - it could be that they were given diversion or they dropped one charge in an effort to get a guilty plea on another charge.

The pair pleaded guilty to misdemeanor embezzlement under an agreement. They received a suspended one-year jail sentence and were ordered to pay $452 each in restitution to Owl Creek and fines of $253 each.

Enright and Cochran were also banned from Owl Creek and ordered to remain on good behavior for two years.

Forever Home has been registered as a 501c3 nonprofit organization since 2011. Most nonprofits file a Form 990 with the IRS every year, but since 2011, Forever Home has filed the abbreviated 990N, which is reserved for groups that bring in less than $50,000 annually. It discloses little about the organization.

According to the center’s website, Forever Home’s behavior training courses range from $1,000 to $2,000 per dog depending on the length of time and types of behavior. Surrendering troubled dogs for Forever Home to later adopt out costs $4,000 per dog, the group’s site said.

Forever Home is still in operation. As of July 5, its website said the facility had 19 dogs up for adoption.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP #1:

VIDEO NEWS CLIP #2:

(Pilot Online - July 5, 2017)

Earlier:

• Virginia: Forever Home Rehabilitation Center convinced family to adopt their pit bull; within hours it mauled a woman to death
• Virginia: Woman claims she warned adoption center of Pit Bull’s aggression before deadly attack on elderly woman

Read more: 

Excellent assessment from Animals 24-7.com

• How multi-state effort to save the pit bull Blue led to Code Blue for Margaret Colvin. Reportedly surrendered for biting a child,  Blue was routed through five rescue programs in six months before killing 90-year-old