Michigan: Little girl attacked in the face by pit bull at campground; Mom says she doesn't blame the breed

MICHIGAN -- "My poor baby was attacked by a a dog that was obviously not raised right. Its all about how you treat and raise your dog. It was a pit bull that did it. But i don't blame the breed one bit. We own own of the biggest pit bulls that is the biggest baby. I just hope owners are more responsible with their animals!"

Aleisha Luckadoo: "Omg Rachel, how terrible! That dog needs to be put down, I don't say that often, but when it attacks a child, it's time to say goodbye."

Rachel Shook Cutler: "The guy said if he doesn't find a home for it by today he will have it put down. But I said screw that He went after a child. He is lucky Zac wasn't there and have his gun on him! She didn't even do anything he just ran up on her at the campground."

  

Tennessee: Edward and Marcine Bubb charged with animal cruelty after leaving animals inside hot camper for days while they stayed in air-conditioned motel(!)

TENNESSEE -- A Dickson couple is charged with felony animal cruelty after they allegedly left several animals alone in a tiny camper with no food, water or air conditioning for days.

An anonymous tip led Dickson police to the Koa Campground early Thursday where they found a trailer owned by Edward and Marcine Bubb.

Investigators found several scared dogs inside the filthy Winnebago.

One dog was photographed pacing on the dashboard of the vehicle and another dog poked its head through a hole in the door.

Another animal was documented standing in a space filled with excrement.

Investigators told News 2 they found three dogs and two cats inside the trailer. They alleged that the animals were in this tiny camper for four days without air conditioning, food or water.

“They stay gone a lot. They love their animals but have too many to take care of and they should have stayed home more and walked animals more than party,” said a campground resident who knows the Bubbs and spoke to News 2 on the condition of anonymity.

Investigators say the Bubbs were located at a nearby motel where they reportedly were staying with two other dogs.

 

Edward Bubb disputes the claim that the dogs were in deplorable conditions.

“My wife came home every night made sure they had food and water, we were in walking distance to the house,” said Edward Bubb.

Police arrested the couple and charged them with felony animal cruelty.

In all, five dogs and one cat are now in protective custody at the local animal shelter.

“Animal control has been called numerous times and owner of the place has spoken to them numerous times but they ignore people giving them advice so the best action was taken,” said the couple’s campground neighbor.

“The dogs were abandoned. The dogs were there four days, they had no supervision, no food, no water, and that is when the investigations started. It was deplorable. No circulating air. The air conditioning was hooked up but no air was on. There was no fan. It was hot and stench was unbearable,” said Dickson police public information officer, David Cole.

The animals will be kept at the shelter until a judge rules on the case, at which time the dogs could be put up for adoption.

(WATE - July 30, 2016)

Colorado: Girl survives vicious dog attack, mom has message for pet owners

COLORADO -- A young girl is recovering after being mauled by a pit bull while on a camping trip with her family.

When 5-year-old Jenika stepped out of her family's camper at a Nebraska lake over Memorial Day weekend, her mom said the family's dog, Cyrus, wasn't around.

“The dog lunged at her,” Kristen Johnston said.

Instead, the girl encountered a different pit bull chained to the camper next door.

“I went around and then he snapped,” Jenika said.

“She could have died.  He could have killed her.  Had she fought, I don't think she would be here.  I think it would have been a funeral,” Johnston said.

I'm a bit confused by her statement... she's saying she shouldn't have fought back?

Mauled by the adult dog, Jenika was able to get away.

“Her face was ripped apart.  So basically you can see her jawline, her teeth, her tongue.  Her skin was flapped down,” Johnston said.

Suffering horrific injuries to her face, she was airlifted to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora.

“It’s horrifying to know that it was so close to her eye and I'm the one that held her face together,” Johnston said.

Her mom said the dog is owned by a couple in Commerce City, where pit bulls are banned.

“It’s important no matter the breed, chain them up, make sure they are secure for the safety of your dog and your animals and your children,” Johnston said.

She's sharing her daughter's story to remind parents and pet owners to be extra cautious

“Summer, you know kids are going to be out playing, dogs are going to be out,” Johnston said.

Despite hundreds of stitches and several surgeries, Jenika isn't letting her physical scars become emotional ones.

“Don`t bite me, that's not nice,” Jenika said she would tell the dog that attacked her.

She just wants kids and animal owners to be safe.

“People need to understand the severity of their dogs,” Johnston said.

The Keith County District Attorney's Office has the case and will determine if charges against the pit bull’s owner will be filed. The dog is in quarantine and could possibly be put down.

Friends of Jenkia have set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses.

(FOX31 Denver - june 24, 2016)

Florida: Susan Kay lived in tent with 18 cats she crammed into feces and trash filled cages

FLORIDA -- A tip from a citizen led deputies to discover a Brooksville woman who was living in a tent - along with 18 cats and a parakeet.

Deputies said they went to the Hidden Valley Campground on Cortez Boulevard Wednesday after receiving a tip to check on the woman who lived on the lot.

Deputies said the metal cages, which normally weighed 
about five pounds, were so full of newspapers and feces
that  the cages weighed approximately 70 pounds.
(Photo: Hernando County Sheriff's Office)

When they arrived, they found the lot completely overgrown with grass and plants. An Airstream camper and a tent that measured 10 feet by 10 feet were also on the lot.

The Airstream camper was uninhabitable, as it was overrun with rats and insects, and they quickly determined the woman, later identified as Susan Kay, was living inside the tent, the report said.

When deputies went inside the tent to check on Kay, they said they were overcome by the smell of urine and feces. They noticed several cages inside the tent, each of which contained cats.

An Animal Services officer arrived at the scene to evaluate the situation. The officer looked at the conditions in which the cats were living and deemed it a case of animal neglect. 

Deputies said Kay signed a release turning over custody of all of the animals.

Deputies said the metal cages, which normally weighed about five pounds, were so full of newspapers and feces that the cages weighed approximately 70 pounds.

In some cases, the layer of feces and newspaper was a foot thick, deputies said.

Some of the cats had to be removed from their cages before they could be moved.

One of the cats was living on top of a layer of feces that was so high, the cat only had six inches between the feces and the top of the cage to move around in, the report said.

Two of the cats escaped during the transfer process. Another cat was not caged, and the Animal Services officer was unable to capture it.  A cat trap was set in case the cats are still in the area.

Kay was cited for 18 counts of animal cruelty.

(baynews9 - July 25, 2013)