(April 2018) Pennsylvania: Owner complains after her Pit Bull is shot while attacking another dog; sets up GoFundMe to sue the victim

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA -- Owners of the pit bull that was shot and killed after attacking another dog in Wilkes-Barre are grieving the loss of their pet.

The pit bull's owner says he tried to stop the attack and feels lucky that he wasn't shot.

"I had to bury him myself. I couldn't stop crying. I teared up."

Alejandro Loria still can't believe that he had to bury his pit bull named Batman in his backyard.

Sunday morning, Loria was taking Batman for a morning walk around his neighborhood in south Wilkes-Barre. Batman broke away from his leash and started attacking a couple's dog.

"I'm trying to pull my dog away from their dog and I hear the woman saying 'Shoot the dog!' I'm screaming 'No! No!' My girlfriend comes out the house because she hears me screaming. The guy shoots the gun. I'm maybe three feet away. I can't even hear what happens afterwards," Loria recalled.

Wilkes-Barre police report that a woman fired two shots, but Loria says it was her boyfriend who had the gun and shot Batman. Loria's girlfriend initially thought he got hit.

"I heard my boyfriend screaming, 'No, don't shoot, don't shoot!' and I heard a gunshot and I went outside. I thought they shot my boyfriend and I saw my dog and my dog was bleeding pretty bad," said Courtney Rivera.

BLAMING THE VICTIM

"They acted too quick. Right there, what I did as soon as I saw my dog's leash and collar broke, I ran after him and I got on top of him. I attacked my dog just so he could stop attacking their dog. He was just standing there in shock. He should've jumped on his dog as well," Loria added.

Batman was taken to a veterinarian but did not survive.

Loria says he will also have to pay a fine for letting Batman get loose.

Alejandro's girlfriend Courtney Rivera set up a GoFundMe saying:

my dog was shot and killed by a neighbor. And my boyfriend is the only one being charged please help us raise money to take the people to court for shooting my dog.

Courtney had a previous GoFundMe page listed, trying to raise money to "get my baby back". I'm assuming the state either took him or placed him with a relative until she got her s*** together... SMH

COMMENTS FROM THE NEWS ARTICLE:

  

 

(WNEP - April 24, 2018)

Earlier:

• Pennsylvania: Woman shoots pit bull to stop dog attack on her dog

Michigan: Woman's leg horribly mangled after she is attacked by a Pit Bull

MICHIGAN -- I was brutally attacked by a pit bull 3/1/18 it was horrific. It has not only affected me physically and mentally but also financially. Medical bills, medical supplies, medications, gas, and food at the hospitals.

I have to start wound care and go to a plastic surgeon, physical therapy and numerous doctors. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated and would definitely help me be able to continue to get medical and household needs met.  I would also appreciate prayers.  Much love to everyone and many many thanks for your help...  God bless...

Update 1
Just to let everyone know,, the person who done this to me with her pit bull Has been on my gofundme page harassing people and lying about this traumatizing ordeal. I apologize to anyone who has had to deal with her harassment. I can't speak on this matter due to legal action. Thank you for all your love and continued support.. XO

Update 2
Let me apologize for the people who have been harassing and contacting you Via my gofundme page. It's the friends of the girl who's dog done this to me and they are lying to keep the dog from being put down... Just block them.. Again I truly apologize for their actions and lies...

*Hellen Brown Peagler - The hand is severely bruised from beating the dog in the head. She finally got her off by hitting her in the snout.

 

GOFUNDME: Dog mauling
Created March 15, 2018
Donna Brown
  Medical
  BAY CITY, MI

Illinois: Waukegan's city council doesn't care that citizens' pets are being mauled by vicious Pit Bulls

ILLINOIS -- No changes to Waukegan's animal control ordinance are on the horizon despite a review following an attack by two pit bulls that left a smaller dog with severe injuries.

That decision was disappointing to Hailey Schueneman, who has pushed for the city to tighten up its ordinance following a January attack on her grandparents' dog.

THIS IS GUS BEFORE THE PIT BULL ATTACK

THIS IS GUS AFTER THE PIT BULL ATTACK

The situation "feels so unjust," said Ald. Lisa May, 9th, whose ward includes the Schueneman's home and who also chairs the City Council's judiciary committee.

But after speaking to the city's attorney, the police chief and the sergeant who runs the animal control division, she said they reached the conclusion that the the code is sufficient.

May said she plans on setting up a meeting with Schueneman and the police chief to discuss the incident further, but at this point, she doesn't see what changes could have led to a different outcome in this case.

"Everyone feels horrible about what happened to Gus, the poor dog that got pulled from his yard," May said, referring to the Schuenemans' dog.

The incident occurred on Jan. 2 when Gus, who is owned by Greg and Jamie Schueneman, ran to the edge of their fenced yard on the city's north side, as a man who lived nearby walked past with two pit bulls on leashes.

The small dog was apparently pulled underneath the picket fence onto the sidewalk, where one of the big dogs started to maul the smaller dog, Jamie Schueneman told the News-Sun.

"My husband tried beating (the larger dog) in the head to release Gus, and my granddaughter screamed," she said. Her husband's hands were cut from trying to get the big dog to release Gus.

The dog was treated by a veterinarian in Grayslake, where he underwent surgery and was racking up medical bills of $12,000, according to a Gofundme page set up by the family.

The family has filed a civil lawsuit against the pit bulls' owner, Hailey Schueneman said.

CITY BLAMES VICTIM FOR $12,000 IN INJURIES
An investigation by the city found that the smaller dog "provoked" the Pit Bull before the attack by barking at it and running to the fence, according to police Sgt. Dennis Rosch.

The question of whether the pit bulls would be deemed dangerous came down to whether they were provoked by the smaller dog.

 

The city's ordinance is "very vague" in parts, said Hailey Schueneman, pointing in particular to a lack of definition for what constitutes provocation.

She said she doesn't think a dog in its own yard and with its owner present rushing to the fence should be considered provocation.

First of all, the owner is required to control their dog while leashed. The little dog was inside its own fence. Obviously the Pit Bull owner cannot control their mauler; otherwise this little dog would not have been grabbed and pulled underneath the fence.  These people are morons.

PIT BULL OWNER BLAMING VICTIM
She also disputes that the dog poked his head through the fence's slates, which she said contributed to the finding that the pit bulls were provoked.

Hailey Schueneman said after the meeting she would like the ordinance to also include more guidance about how animal control conducts its investigations, because she felt the investigation into the January attack, "was not conducted thoroughly" and relied just on the accounts of the two owners.

"I know why the dogs were found to be not dangerous, but I also feel like there has to be something more," she said.

(Chicago Tribune - March 7, 2018)

Earlier:

• Illinois: This is Hailey’s (my daughter) Instagram with prayer requests for her best friend and companion who was mauled by a Pit Bull
• Illinois: Havanese named Gus is pulled underneath his fence and mauled by two Pit Bulls

Arizona: Woman and her small dog attacked by Pit Bull that had "just been adopted 2 days ago". Police refuse to do anything.

ARIZONA -- Helen Spallas is feeling traumatized. Posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 · Mesa, AZ ·

I am literally in shock. Henry and I got attacked by a pit bull tonight. He’s getting surgery in a couple hours. He’s in bad shape and guarded condition. He might not live.

I am sitting in ER waiting to get stitches as my hand is all bit up and one of my fingers is almost severed. I’m numb with disbelief that this happened. Worst night ever and my heart hurts so bad for Henry. Need prayers!!!

*  *  *  *  *  *

Update: Henry had abdominal surgery and is expected to live.

He is still in the hospital and in guarded condition.

I got my hand stitched up and have splints on. One finger is possibly broken but I need to go to a different facility to get X-rays. Got a shot in the ass for tetanus and a shot in the arm of antibiotics. The tetanus shot was horribly painful.

 

 

I will survive. Just still shook up.

PIT BULL OWNER BLAMING THE VICTIMS
The dogs owner is now spreading rumors that my little 10 pound dog provoked his 85 lb pit bull and told cops I didn’t have Henry on a leash. All total lies. I am furious and no longer feel safe here. 

The owner hasn’t even apologized to me or asked how we are doing. He is no way getting rid of his dog. The cops said no crime committed because he had him on a leash and he "just got away". 

Lazy cops. I guarantee if you were their mother they'd have done something.

This dog attacked unprovoked and is dangerous. And I feel that this will happen again because the owner obviously can’t control his dog. And he just adopted him 2 days ago. 

I will keep everyone posted but so far it looks like we will physically be ok. I think Henry was so traumatized that this will change him forever.

 

I'm sure Helen didn't appreciate Dee the apologist saying that

  

Australia: Jo says there's a reason this Pit Bull ripped its owner's arm off; claims they were 'nanny dogs'

AUSTRALIA -- Jo Bryant posted on Facebook February 6, 2018 ·

Ridiculous. If a dog attacks, it has a reason. For decades pit bulls were nanny dogs because they could be trusted.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Pit Bulls were NEVER called nanny dogs -- until recently when Pit Bull defenders began saying that in an effort to prevent people from focusing on how many people, pets and livestock Pit Bulls have attacked and killed.

Earlier:

• Florida: Last year, woman's "gentle" Pit Bull, that she'd owned for nine years, ate her arm