Australia: Deadly South African Boerboel that left a 10-year-old girl fighting for life in hospital with wounds to her head, neck and groin is put down after savage attack

AUSTRALIA -- A family's deadly dog which mauled a 10-year-old girl has been put down after a savage attack left the girl fighting for her life.

Two unregistered dogs were seized by council officers after the girl was left with shocking injuries from her own pet in the Melbourne suburb of Berwick on Sunday.

In a statement on Monday evening, the City of Casey Council confirmed a South African Boerboel had been 'destroyed' with the owner's permission.

The council said: 'The dog believed to be responsible for the attack has been identified as a South African Boerboel, while the second dog has been identified as a Bull Mastiff. Neither dogs were registered with the City of Casey.'

The council on Monday revealed they have previously issued four infringements to the dogs' owner.

Officers were called to the same home in December after the family's other dog, a Bull Mastiff, acted aggressively towards a passer-by.

But the incident wasn't considered severe enough to seize the dog from its owners, who were slapped with a fine.

The council said the previous infringements imposed on the family were for biting a person, the dog being 'at large' at night and failing to register two dogs.

Earlier, hero neighbors described the moment they saved the girl who was 'thrown around like a rag doll' as she was viciously mauled by her own dog.

 

 

 

Dr Liz Walker, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, described the attack as a 'tragic and devastating event', but urged the family to consider having the dog euthanized.

'This is a discussion for the family and the council. But It would have to be something they would seriously consider,' Dr Walker told the broadcaster.

The girl remains in hospital and is lucky to be alive, according to neighbors who helped saved her.

Jimmy Baird was at home watching television with his wife when they heard screaming from a nearby house.

'A young girl came out saying her sister was being attacked by the dog,' he said.

Mr Baird and another neighbor ran to the home where they found the terrified girl banging on a door trying to get away from the dog.

'We tried to get the door open. As I opened the door, this massive head was coming through the door frothing at the mouth. It was obviously going to go us,' Mr Baird told Nine Network on Monday.

The men went around to the side of the house and distracted the dog, allowing the girl to escape.

'I'm glad we were there because the young girl probably wouldn't have survived,' Mr Baird said.

Another neighbor told 3AW their mother and their mother's boyfriend were at the gym when the dog attacked.

The neighbors said the mother seemed more concerned about her pets than her daughters.

"Not once was there, 'Where's my daughter? How is she?' It was just... [about] the dogs", said one neighbor.

 

 

She was covered in dirt, leaves, blood, yeah, just in shock

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said dog owners need to take responsibility for their animals.

'If you own an animal then it is your primary responsibility to make sure that you have control of that animal and that it doesn't pose a risk to others,' Andrews said.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the matter would be handled by the local council but added the incident served as a reminder for people to keep control of their dogs.

'Whether they're in your backyard or out on the street, it doesn't absolve your responsibility of keeping your animals under control,' Mr Ashton said.

Note: Neither of these Boerboels attacked the little girl, but
I'm posting so you get an idea how big these dogs are.

(Daily Mail - March 5, 2018)

Australia: Bull Mastiff's leg fractured after he's attacked by a Pit Bull

AUSTRALIA -- Guillermo Ángel Gómez posted on Facebook group page I Love My Bullmastiff, March 2, 2018

Guys my poor boy Bruno got attacked by a pit bull, he is in a lot of pain now, please send prayers. Im so sad 😭

Myfanwy Buchanan - Oh poor baby😢 why don't people keep their animals on a lead 😣

Guillermo Ángel Gómez - The pit bull was always on a leash according to his owner but escaped this time 😞

Maria-Luisa Rittinghaus Have you seen a vet? If he is in pain prayers will not help but a vet will. Sorry to be so direct. A speed recovery to your furbaby ❤

Guillermo Ángel Gómez - Yes he is already takin meds for the paín. But he still crying because he cant get up 😭

Alicia S Sc - Guillermo Ángel Gómez, gee how bad was he chewed? is he a young dog?

Guillermo Ángel Gómez - it's actually not that bad, it seems he has a fractured leg, he can't get up so he cry all the time and thats what breaks my heart :'(

Not that bad? He has a fractured leg...

Guillermo Ángel Gómez - he is 6 years old

Montana: Toddler attacked by her grandma's Bull Mastiff is recovering

MONTANA -- The 3-year-old who was flown to Colorado for surgery after being attacked by her grandmother’s Bull Mastiff at her home, which she has been running a daycare business out of, has been discharged from the hospital and is in good spirits, her mother said.

Naomi Brown, the toddler, still has considerable swelling, her mother Itxaropen Card said. She will continue taking antibiotics and Tylenol for pain, and will need to schedule follow-up appointments in Billings with an orthopedic surgeon, an ophthalmologist and her pediatrician.

An arm bandage and splint will be taken off tomorrow, Card said.

But her daughter was in good spirits Friday, Card said, after a visit to the Downtown Aquarium on the way home from Denver.

(Billings Gazette - January 5, 2018)

Earlier:

• Montana: Toddler mauled by her grandma's Bull Mastiff

Montana: Toddler mauled by her grandma's Bull Mastiff

MONTANA -- It was every parent’s worst nightmare.

Itxaropen Card, a Billings mother, got a call at noon Tuesday that her 3-year-old daughter, Naomi, had been attacked by a dog and was in an ambulance on the way to Billings Clinic.

Naomi had been at the home of her grandmother, Michelle Repeta (aka Michelle Brown), who runs Precious Time Daycare from her home at 1512 St. Johns Ave.

Animal control officials aren’t certain what provoked the bull mastiff, named Titan, to attack.

“Well, nobody saw it happen, so nobody knows exactly what happened,” said Tom Stinchfield, Animal Control supervisor for Billings.

The attack left the youngster with deep wounds on her hand, neck and face. 

The dog ripped ligaments in the child’s wrist that have left her struggling to move her fingers on her right hand. 

And one ear was “split in half,” Card said.

“So they had to sew that up,” she said.

Naomi was flown to Children’s Hospital Colorado, in Aurora, for treatment. She arrived around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Card said, and underwent surgery around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Card anticipates she and her husband will be able to drive her daughter back to Billings on Thursday.

“It’s just really hard to see her like that,” Card said, of her daughter. “I just cry every time.”

Repeta reported the incident to the Department of Public Health and Human Services within two hours, said DPHHS spokesman Jon Ebelt. DPHHS is the licensing agency for day care centers in Montana. State law requires day care agencies report such incidents within 24 hours.

Reached by The Gazette Wednesday, Repeta stressed that the dog attack took place in a part of the home — the basement — where children in the day care are not allowed. The dog was kept separate from the kids during day care hours, she said.

The grandmother declined to comment further.

Stinchfield, the animal control supervisor, said Repeta and the others in the home were cooperative with animal control officers. Repeta asked officers to euthanize the dog and walked it to the animal control vehicle for officers to take away.

While dog bites are common — Billings Animal Control received 291 calls in 2016 — ones as serious as the attack that landed Card’s daughter in the hospital Tuesday are more rare, with just eight in 2016 designated as attacks by dangerous animals.

Under city code, a “dangerous animal” is one that, without intentional provocation, causes serious bodily injury or death, “is involved in a continuous sustained attack upon a person, not allowing the victim any means of escape,” or has a history of attacking people, as specified through various city code provisions.

In Bozeman in June, two dogs mauled a woman working in her garden, leaving her brain-dead. The dogs belonged to tenants who lived on her property, according to The Associated Press.

In Virginia in December, two dogs fatally mauled their owner while walking in the woods, The Washington Post reported.

(Billings Gazette - January 3, 2018)

(November 2017) Colorado: Three curious Bull Mastiffs rescued by firefighters after getting stuck in storm drain

COLORADO -- Three very large dogs who went exploring and got stuck in a storm drain were rescued without injury thanks to careful work by firefighters and animal control.

On Monday, animal control got a call about three mastiffs who had escaped from their yard and ran into a nearby culvert near Arlington Place and Zinnia Court.

West Metro Fire Rescue and Jefferson County Animal Control Officer C. Hubrecht arrived at the scene and worked to rescue Oso, Max and Daisy.

“There were people looking down at the storm drain and I said that doesn't happen to be a dog down there does it? And sure enough all three mastiffs were down there," said Lynn Drum, who looked in her backyard and realized her dogs were gone.

She says this isn't the first time this has happened. Daisy went in the culvert before, and her husband rescued her.

Maybe this time, she just wanted a few friends to join.

"They were adorable," said one of the kids, Meadow Wilson. "But at the same time, it's a little scary because they could have gotten lost in there, and who knows what could have happened to them."

Officer Hubrecht talked with Drum about the value of licensing pets, and the owner agreed to do so on the spot, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

“We’re happy this story had a happy ending for everyone. And whether you have four legs or two, we’ll be here if you need us," the post continued.

Great work, everyone!

*  *  *  *  *  *

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office added 8 new photos.
November 30 at 12:15pm ·

How in the World?

Even if you don’t have a dog or are even a dog person, most of you are probably aware that a mastiff is a pretty big pup. That’s why this story is so incredible.

JCSO Animal Control Officer C. Hubrecht received a call Monday about not one, not two, but THREE mastiffs stuck in a storm drain at W. Arlington Place and S. Zinnia Court.

Sure enough, there they were. But how? Well, dogs are funny and curious creatures who love exploring, especially when they’ve escaped their yard. At least this furry group brought their friends along when they ran into a culvert nearby.

Thankfully our friends at West Metro Fire Rescue were able to rescue them safely.

 

  

 

Animal Control Officer Hubrecht spoke with the owner about the dangers of dogs running at large and the owner purchased dog licenses on the spot.

We’re happy this story had a happy ending for everyone. And whether you have four legs or two, we’ll be here if you need us, JeffCo.

West Metro Fire Rescue added 6 new photos.
November 30 at 1:52pm ·

How do you get three bull mastiffs out of a storm drain? Carefully. Our Engine 11 crew this week, working with an animal control officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

The dogs escaped their yard and curiosity led them into the drain to explore near W. Arlington Place and S. Zinnia Court.

Thankfully, the story had a happy ending.

9NEWS VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(9News - Nov 30, 2017)

Canada: Ken Gallinger answers three different questions regarding reprehensible pet owners.

CANADA -- Q#1: The owner of a brown chow-chow in our neighbourhood recently stood by and watched while his dog mauled a cat. The cat suffered terribly, crawling away and dying before animal rescue officials could arrive. The dog owner walked away and denies involvement or responsibility, even though others witnessed the attack. What should I do?

Q#2: New neighbours moved into our townhouse complex. They have a small, yappy dog. They tie it out in their backyard from early morning to late at night and it never shuts up. When confronted, they said they’d moved from an apartment to a townhouse so the dog could “have a backyard to play in” — so they certainly weren’t keeping her inside. What can we do?

Q#3: A friend of mine has a big dog. Bull mastiff. Recently the dog bit me on the hand. I got antibiotics and the hospital wanted me to fill out a report. My boyfriend (the dog owner’s business partner) filled it out, as I couldn’t write; he said it was a random dog and we didn’t know who owned it. I received a call from public health wanting to discuss this.

This is the fifth biting incident with this dog. Everyone says to report it, but my boyfriend keeps telling me not to, as it will hurt his business. My conscience says to report, especially as it will happen to someone else (God forbid the little girls next door). What do I do?

Let’s be clear: These letters — and the many others I get like them — are not about bad dogs. They are about bad people. Awful people, actually.

Dogs are not ethical agents, and while these curs are certainly “bad” behaviourally, they are not morally or ethically evil. Their owners, on the other hand, are each, in their own special way, reprehensible.

What’s sad is that, at the end of the day, it’s the animals that will suffer for their owner’s lack of a moral compass. That sucks, but it’s nothing new; this column is too short to list the ways that fin and fur have paid, and continue to pay, for human behaviour.

So, keeping our eye on the ball (i.e. people, not dogs), what to do?

Q#1: Call the cops and report the incident. This is one messed-up dude. The police may know about him already — and if they don’t, they should. They’ll likely want to have a chat and open a file. People who enjoy cruelty in one form aren’t far from other, more serious, forms of violence.

Q#2: Get out your iPhone and make dated recordings from your backyard, several days in a row, of the yapping dog. Then involve the condo corporation. Provincial legislation, and most condo bylaws, require owners to respect their neighbours’ “quiet enjoyment,” within reasonable limits. This dog is way beyond reasonable and now you have recordings to prove it. So don’t deal with this “neighbour” directly anymore; it’s the responsibility of your condo board and management to put the canine symphonics to an end. Demand that they do so.

Q#3: Get a new boyfriend. The incumbent is a jerk who values his business more than you. And report the incident, before those little girls get hurt.

(The Star - September 2, 2017)

Alabama: Father breaks down as he tells how his daughter, 20, called him for help after she was attacked by their neighbor's Pit Bull and Bull Mastiff

ALABAMA -- Gulf Shores Police say a 20-year-old woman was attacked by large two dogs on County Road 8 near Mighty Oaks Drive Thursday night. That's about a mile off Highway 59.

We're told the attack happened while she was jogging near her home around 5:30.

In an exclusive interview with FOX10 News, the young woman's father didn't want to be identified. He says two dogs - a PIT BULL and a BULL MASTIFF, which usually roam the neighborhood, lunged at his daughter.

He says she was bit badly on her arms and hips as she tried to run away from the dogs. She went to a neighbors house for help, but they weren't home, so she called her parents.

"These dogs, they ate her up, they grabbed a hold of her in some way shape or form, and she was only jogging, and they grabbed her arms, and she's bleeding all over the place."

When he got there, the woman's father says he had to fight off one of the dogs.

"I went up to the front door. She's sitting on their front porch in their chair, she has her phone and her earphones, full of blood, blood everywhere. 

"She said the next thing I was going to do is [break into] these people's house because these dogs wouldn't stop attacking me."

After a call was made to 911, Gulf Shores Police officers responded, along with animal control.

According to her father, the dogs are a Pit Bull and a Bull Mastiff. He knows the owner lives nearby.

The 20-year-old was taken to South Baldwin Regional with non life threatening injuries, according to Sgt. Woodruff with Gulf Shores PD. Woodruff says the woman was "injured for sure."

The victim's father says his daughter was bandaged up but still in the hospital as of 10:30 p.m. She has twenty stitches on her arms. He tells FOX10 News he is frustrated with the way police and animal control handled the situation, and he plans on asking more questions.

"The whole thing that bothers me, is if it would have been my 9-year-old son, he rides that road all the time, on his bike, it's right there."

ANIMAL CONTROL HAS ALREADY HANDED THE VICIOUS DOGS BACK TO THEIR OWNER

He also says the dogs are back with their owner, who was cited for letting the dogs run around loose. It's unclear if there will be a further investigation, or any charges.

We're told Gulf Shores animal control will give an update when it's available.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(WSFA - September 1, 2017)

Australia: Sue Lopicich was running a rescue at her boarding facility. She was just mauled to death by her Bull Mastiff, which neighbors say was "known to be aggressive"

AUSTRALIA -- A woman who ran a boarding kennel and animal rescue has been attacked and mauled to death by a bull mastiff in the Perth suburb of Southern River.

Sue Lopicich, aged in her 50s, was attacked on Tuesday afternoon at the property on Terrier Place, which also serves as Barko's Boarding Kennel.

Police said she was declared dead by paramedics a short time later.

The City of Gosnells said rangers were called to the property about 1:45pm to collect a dog that was preventing police from accessing the woman's body.

A council spokesman told the ABC that two dogs — a bull mastiff and a Staffordshire bull terrier — had been seized and impounded by rangers.

It is believed the bull mastiff caused Ms Lopicich's death, and the council said it would be euthanized.

"The police have advised that they believe the bull mastiff, currently being held by the city at the request of police, caused the death of Mrs Lopicich," the council said in a statement.

"The police advised the Staffordshire pit bull terrier was not involved, and he will be returned to the family. The city extends its sincerest sympathies to Mrs Lopicich's family and friends."

Director of governance Grant Bradbrook said it had been distressing for council workers who attended the scene.

"We've provided counselling for the two rangers that attended," he said. "It wasn't a nice job to have to attend, so they've been supported."

He said the dogs were registered to the owner of the property and no previous complaints about them had been received.

'Body found by daughter'

Neighbor Greg Bal said he did not hear any signs of a struggle at the property.

He said Ms Lopicich's body was found by her daughter, who came to check on her mother after concerns were raised when she did not turn up for work at a local childcare centre.

Dog 'known to be aggressive'

A dog that mauled a woman to death at her home in Perth’s south-east was known by neighbors to be aggressive and was almost always locked away from visitors.

The bull mastiff dog responsible for the 58-year-old’s death was understood to be a pet she had had for the past four years.

Neighbor Greg Ball said the dog taken away was named Stirling and that he was saddened but not surprised by the fatal attack.

“If someone went in there, those dogs would have to be locked away,” he said. “Very few people could get near them.

“There have been a number of incidents there. If I’m honest, we had been waiting for something like that to happen.

“Some dogs just can’t be saved.”

Neighbor Kerrie Pearce said there had been a number of dog fights at the property and Ms Lopicich had been injured in the past trying to break them up.

"I never liked what she did down there, she used to just mingle them in together and you can't mingle them together, you've got to keep them separate," she said.

"She liked to have them as like a pack, but you can't have rescue dogs as a pack."

Another neighbor, who did not provide their name, said Ms Lopicich was passionate about dogs and dedicated her life to their care, especially rescue dogs.

Police have told the ABC her death was not being treated as suspicious and a report would be prepared for the coroner.

(ABC AU - August 2, 2017)

Oregon: Nearly $20,000 raised for girl, 10, mauled by Bull Mastiffs. Sheriff, who initially said there was no criminal investigation says now that there is a criminal investigation.

OREGON -- Local residents have donated nearly $20,000 to the family of a 10-year-old girl seriously injured during a dog attack earlier this month.

Ten-year-old Alyssa Stevens was hospitalized June 1 after being attacked by her neighbor’s dogs on the 3800 block of Shasta Way. She sustained injuries to her arm and torso and significant damage to her scalp.

Stevens was in the neighbor’s enclosed yard with the dogs — four mastiffs — when at least three of them attacked her. Authorities said the girl had been around the dogs multiple times before without incident.

Stevens was transported to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, in Portland, where she remained on a ventilator for the first two weeks and is currently undergoing physical therapy. A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $20,000 for her medical care out of a goal of $50,000.

Authorities said the girl was playing with four mastiffs in the owner’s yard on the 3800 block of Shasta Way when she was mauled by one or more of the dogs for an unknown reason.

She was transported in critical condition to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, in Portland, with injuries to her head and torso.

A release from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office said it does not appear the owner of the dogs was at fault for the attack and no charges have been filed.

In an update about Stevens’ condition Sunday, father Darryn Stevens said Alyssa is struggling with her blood pressure and has required 40 units of blood due to an open wound on her head.

A Facebook group has also been established soliciting hair donations from local women to make wigs for Stevens, as doctors were unable to save her scalp.

“Until the delicate balance of pressure and body temp are met, her daily goals are tough to achieve,” said Darryn Stevens. “... She continues to fight as (I) keep my post in her room. Thank you all for the love and support.”

To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, visit Alyssa’s page.

GoFundMe: Alyssa Stevens Medical Fundraiser
Created June 3, 2017
Erin McHampton on behalf of Darryn Stevens
  Medical
  KLAMATH FALLS, OR
An unspeakable thing has happened to Alyssa Stevens. Last Thursday night June 2 she was taking care of neighbor's dogs. Three bullmastiffs mauled her to within an inch of her life. Our family's heart is broken. Doernbecher Children's Hospital is pulling out all the stops. We need your prayers. She has a mighty mountain to climb over the next months. Know she is a fighter. Any consideration to her gofundme is appreciated beyond words.

"Day 13, 1st time in as many days that I have heard my baby's voice....... today I got to hear it again. Ventilator removed. Words can not describe my joy. She is awake with life, now we start the next step to recovery. Without all your love and support this would be very tough. God bless."

Facebook post - John Celeste Davis
June 25 at 7:04pm
After a brief trip to surgery we learned that none of Alyssa's scalp is viable she will never be able to grow her own hair. 

I made this sight to ask all ladies everywhere will you join with me and cut your hair to donate to make Alyssa Stevens all sort of different styles and colors, she deserves the same experiences growing up as a young lady trying different styles, lets give her a style for her first Jr. High dance, first date, prom, graduation day, and the most memorable her wedding day.

Come on ladies our hair will grow back with time this could have been anyone of our babies lets show um what us mommas can do. Darryn Stevens her daddy was told by the faculty about a foundation and is really interested in using the Angel Hair Foundation located right in Eugene Oregon the people at Doernbeckers told him they make and give wigs for free. So come on lets do this whos with me?

Meanwhile, although the Sheriff initially said there was NO criminal investigation - that it was just a tragic accident, it seems they've decided they need to do an investigation before declaring it not a criminal matter (I mentioned this in the first post). 

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has not ruled out the possibility of criminal charges as they continue to investigate a dog attack that scalped and seriously injured a 10-year-old girl earlier this month.

On Tuesday, Klamath County Sheriff Chris Kaber said, after investigating additional leads and conferring with prosecutors, he has decided to keep the investigation open due to the potential for charges of maintaining a dangerous dog.

Though Kaber initially said his office did not suspect criminal wrongdoing, he said Tuesday they have re-examined the incident and the possibility of charges remains on the table.

“We have determined that the case needs to remain open while we follow up on a couple of leads,” said Kaber. “… Nothing’s been completely decided.”

(Herald and News - June 27, 2017)

Earlier:

• Oregon: Girl, 10, mauled by neighbor's Bull Mastiffs; dogs she had played with many times without incident
• Oregon: Ten year old Klamath Falls girl recovering from Bull Mastiff attack

New York: She was screaming for dear life, 'Help me, help me,' - Girl, 11, mauled by two Bull Mastiffs.

NEW YORK -- An 11-year-old girl was mauled by two dogs while walking to her school bus stop in Yonkers, New York, Thursday morning.

Authorities say Jaelyn Rodriguez was attacked by two bull mastiffs near her home just after 7 a.m.

The dogs reportedly were running loose, selected Jaelyn out of everyone else on street, jumped on her, knocking her down and then attacking.

"She is bit everywhere from the neck to the feet," Rodriguez's mother said. "They were loose. No one was with them, and they attacked her. They totally just attacked her."

Rodriguez suffered bites, puncture wounds and scratches on her legs, arms and torso.

"They were trying to pull that (pointing at bench) off to throw at that dog," said witness Marilyn Garcia, who was driving by when she saw the attack happening.

"They started throwing bottles, throwing everything they can, and those dogs would not let her go. She was screaming for dear life, 'Help me, help me,' And I'm just standing here, like, I don't know what to do."

A good Samaritan was able to grab Rodriguez and drive her directly to a hospital, where she was treated and released.

Still, her mom says not only is she physically injured, but also traumatized emotionally.

"She was afraid they were going to come back and attack her, afraid that another dog will come," she said. "So she's just scared."

 

BOTH DOGS SHOT DEAD BY POLICE

Yonkers police arrived shortly after Rodriguez was taken to the hospital, and officers attempted to control the dogs, which they say were displaying aggressive behavior. But ultimately, authorities say they were forced to shoot the animals.

Detectives are currently talking to the owner, but so far, no charges have been filed.

 

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(ABC13 - June 23, 2017)