North Carolina: Four-year-old nearly loses eye after family's newly adopted Pit Bull attacks

LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA -- A 4-year-old Caldwell County girl was attacked inside her home by the family pet Wednesday.

Family members said they had just recently adopted the Pit Bull from the Humane Society in Catawba County.

Justina Turner, the child's mother, said she and her daughter were in the living room of her home south of Lenoir when the three-year-old 60-pound Pit Bull suddenly attacked the child, biting her face.

She said the dog bit down so hard on her daughter that she wasn't sure at first how she was going to get the animal off her.

Turner said the dog nearly ripped her daughter's right eye out, and the girl had to get several stitches around her eye.

"I was in such shock,” Turner said. “I didn't know what was going on. Once I got the dog away from my daughter and saw the blood, it was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life."

The dog is in quarantine for 10 days to be checked for rabies at the Caldwell County Animal Shelter.

Turner said she didn’t know the dog posed a threat because it seemed friendly when she adopted it.

"They really didn't tell us much about the dog,” Turner said. “They just told us to pick out a dog and to take it to the play yard to play with it. The dog seemed kid-friendly."

The humane society handles all adoptions in Catawba County from the intake to temperament screening prior to adoption.

SUPPOSED 'RANDOM VISITOR' WITH PIT BULL INTERVIEWED 

"They're around these animals every day,” said Paris Wright, a visitor at the Catawba County Humane Society (who just happened to be walking a Pit Bull). “They see their temperament. They see how they carry themselves. So, I figured that's what they would be able to give me insight and they did."

Humane society officials said an adopted dog can act differently once it's in a home and around children.

Turner said people need to be careful adopting older dogs.

"I just wanted him out of the house,” she said.

The Catawba County Humane Society adopts more than 1,000 dogs each year and has not had an issue like this.

The dog had been in the humane society for more than two months prior to being adopted.

Notice the Catawba County Humane Society didn't say they would euthanize the dog. That's because after its quarantine period, they'll send him home with some other unsuspecting family or put him into the "shelter shuffle" - where they ship vicious dogs to rescues or other shelters in other counties and states, hiding the dog's history so someone else can end up taking it home without knowing it likes to attack children.

(WSOC - May 4, 2018)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But that isn't enough for Guess.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*   *   *   *   *   *

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

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

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

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

(Cafe Mom - April 11, 2018)

Texas: Four months later, San Angelo boy mauled by pit bull hasn't received money from GoFundMe

TEXAS -- Four months after donors raised over $1,600 in support of a San Angelo boy who was mauled by a pit bull, neither he nor the family have received the money.

Forty-one donors in January gave a total of $1,666 with a goal of reaching $10,000 to benefit a Israel Costilla, according to a screenshot taken of the page before the account was deactivated.

The GoFundMe campaign for Israel was created by Shannon Jolene Carpenter on Jan. 6.

Carpenter, who did not know the Costilla family personally, launched the campaign after seeing the extent of Israel's injuries in a photo provided by Rayetta Trigg, whose pit bull attacked Israel.

"When (Trigg) let me see the picture I literally almost fell off of my stool. I showed the picture to my husband and friend Adam and they were shocked as well," Carpenter said.

Israel needed more than 300 stitches, surgery and physical therapy.

In a statement on the GoFundMe page, Carpenter noted donations would go "directly to (Israel's) well being and help the parents with any extra costs they may have due to this tragic event."

On Jan. 13, Andreana Costilla — Israel's mother — contacted GoFundMe and requested the campaign be deactivated after reaching out to Carperter via text message. Costilla wanted the page deleted for personal reasons.

"I shut the page down immediately once I got that text," Carpenter said.

Four months later, the funds remain held by GoFundMe.

"A lot of the donors have reached out to us," said Ana Costilla — Israel's grandmother, "and I explained the situation to them, and they were very understanding — upset, but understanding."

GoFundMe said Tuesday a payment processor would "continue working with both (Carpenter) and the family to ensure a safe transfer of funds."

Emails between the Costilla family from GoFundMe, however, suggest the funds may never reach the family.

No one in the Costilla family was established as a beneficiary on the campaign, emails between the Costilla family and GoFundMe note. The company urged Costilla to reach out to Carpenter to privately settle the matter.

Multiple attempts of reaching out to Carpenter went unanswered, the family says.

Carpenter thought the issue was settled.

"I assume(d) (GoFundMe) gave the family the money," Carpenter said Tuesday.

Carpenter stated she would contact GoFundMe soon to get the issue worked out.

"I will give (GoFundMe) a call for sure because this situation needs to be resolved immediately," she said.

(San Angelo Standard Times - April 19, 2018)

Earlier:

• Texas: Little boy's face ripped open by Pit Bull that owner claims is a service dog
• Texas: Pit bull that owner claims is a "service dog" will be euthanized after gruesome attack of San Angelo boy
• Texas: Mother of little boy mauled by Pit Bull tells fundraiser to shut down donation page
  

Florida: Dogs which attacked little girl on Easter Sunday have been euthanized

LAKELAND, FLORIDA — Two Polk County dogs that had not been vaccinated for rabies were euthanized after they attacked a three-year-old girl in Lakeland.

Paramedics and Animal Control responded to a 911 call about a dog bite at a home on Greenwood Street on Easter Sunday.

Neighbors tell WFLA 3-year old Londyn Williams was playing outside with her sister when two dogs jumped a fence next door and attacked her.

"One of them had her by the head, the other one had her by the thigh. I didn’t know what to do so I just started screaming as loud as I could for help," one neighbor told WFLA.

She said the owner is the one who was finally able to stop the attack.

"She finally heard me calling, screaming, and she came out while I was there next door, and she got the dogs off the child."

The girl's grandmother tells WFLA she ran outside when she heard screams.

"I heard screaming. I ran to the door and her sister, who is 7, was screaming 'The dogs attacked Londyn, the dogs attacked Londyn!' Londyn was standing in the middle of the street covered in blood," Sheila Williams said.

The girl was transported to Tampa General Hospital with several puncture wounds on her arms and legs. She also suffered a serious laceration on her head and remains hospitalized.

"She’s been talking on her own and eating more," the girl's mother Javon Williams told WFLA. "She’s scared to walk, her leg is all stitched up. Her butt is all stitched up. Her head is hurt worse, she has staples."

Deputies say Kaosha Smith owned the dogs - a brown female named "Loud" and a white/brown female named "OJ.”

Smith surrendered the dogs after the attack.

Polk County Health Department officials decided that since the girl suffered a head injury and the dogs were not vaccinated, the dogs needed to be tested for rabies.

The dogs were humanely euthanized and tissue samples have been shipped for rabies testing.

Smith was issued a citation for roaming dogs, lack of animal tags and vaccinations and injury to persons.

A neighbor tells WFLA News Channel 8 that animal control officers visited the home where the dogs lived a couple of years ago. The neighbor wonders why the dog’s owner was not required to get a more secure fence.

"This time they got a child," the neighbor told WFLA.

The family also wonders why the dogs didn't have a more secure fence. They fear what Londyon will have to endure in the coming months and years.

"She will have a long recovery that's for sure," her grandmother said.

GOFUNDME: Londyns Road To Recovery
Created April 4, 2018
Javon Williams
on behalf of Sheila Williams
  Medical
  LAKELAND, FL

Hi my name is Javon Williams I’m Londyn's mother. On April 1st Londyn 3 yrs old was viciously attacked by 2 pit bulls. She had to be rushed by ambulance to Tampa General hospital where we have been since the attack happened. She’s had to have over 10 staples in her head and she has stitches all over her body.

It’s going to be a long recovery but she’s such a strong girl. Anything that anyone can do is a big help. Thank you our family really appreciates all the prayers and donations. Also keep my 7 year old Tamiah in your prayers she witnessed the whole attack and was the one to get help for her sister.

(WFLA - April 4, 2018)

Earlier:

• Florida: Three-year-old recovering from dog attack on Easter Sunday

(March 2018) Rhode Island: "My 5 yr old daughter Annabelle was badly injured by a pit bull, resulting in multiple lacerations to her face"

RHODE ISLAND -- My 5 yr old daughter Annabelle was badly injured by a pit bull, resulting in multiple lacerations to her face. I am trying to raise money to pay for scar revision procedures to help minimize the scarring on her sweet little face.

 

 

GOFUNDME: Help for Annabelle
Created March 17, 2018
Sarah Bood Roberts
  Emergencies
  COVENTRY, RI

Florida: Three-year-old recovering from dog attack on Easter Sunday

LAKELAND, FLORIDA — Three-year-old Londyn Williams remained hospitalized at Tampa General Hospital on Tuesday evening recovering from numerous dog bites suffered during an attack outside her home Sunday afternoon.

Her grandmother, Sheila Williams, said "Londyn and her sister Tamiah were outside playing like they always do. I had just stepped in the house and I heard screaming. I got outside and my 7-year-old granddaughter was screaming, ‘the dogs got Londyn! The dogs got Londyn!’ "

Williams said one dog had grabbed the preschooler by her head and the other dog had grabbed her by her leg and "they were shaking her, like a rag doll."

The owner of the two large dogs also heard the screams and was able to get the dogs off the little girl, Williams said.

Scott Wilder, a Polk County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control spokesman, said the owner, Kaosha Smith, of 1806 Greenwood Street West in Lakeland, voluntarily surrendered the dogs and both have been humanely euthanized.

Emergency workers were unable to airlift the child because of an approaching storm so she was taken by ambulance to Tampa General, Williams said.

Londyn’s mother, Javon Williams, said the little girl has staples in her head and stitches in her legs, buttocks, side and elbow. Her face is badly bruised and scratched.

The Animal Control report describes a large laceration to her head, requiring 10 staples, and numerous puncture wounds.

Speaking from her daughter’s hospital bedside, Javon Williams said she hopes to be able to take Londyn back to the family home on Greenwood Street if not today then on Thursday.

"It was Easter Sunday. We had been to church that morning and had had a wonderful time that day," Sheila Williams said. "The girls had been playing with their Easter baskets and then they wanted to go outside to play. "

It was a terrible end to what had been a lovely day, she said.

"Thank God she is still alive," her grandmother said.

The dog attack was also traumatic for Tamiah, her grandmother said. "She kept saying , ‘I couldn’t help her, I couldn’t help her.’ I told her, ‘you helped by screaming. That brought help.’ "

The dogs live next door and when outside are typically behind a fence, Javon Williams said. "We don’t know how the dogs got out."

Wilder said the investigation is ongoing. Smith was cited for failure to have the dogs vaccinated and tagged, and for her dogs roaming at large and causing injury to a person, he said.

He said although the dogs' bodies are being tested for rabies as a precaution, the dogs were not showing symptoms of the deadly disease.

Because the dogs were surrendered and have been euthanized, there will be no civil hearing to determine whether the dogs were aggressive, Wilder said.

Sheila Williams said her granddaughter "is in a lot of pain, but she is a tough little girl."

Note: In her GoFundMe, the mother identified the dogs as pit bull mixes so that's what I'm going with.

(The Ledger - April 3, 2018)

Nebraska: Man trying to give landlord his rent is mauled in the face by his Pit Bull

NEBRASKA -- Lincoln Police say a 58 year old man suffered serious injuries to his face after a pit bull attacked him on Friday.

The man went to pick up a rent payment near 27th and Holdredge around 5:00 when the tenants dog bit him in the face and leg.

The dog burst through a screen door that wasn’t latched and jumped up and bit the man in the face. He was transported to the hospital with significant injuries to his face.

(KFAB - March 12, 2018)

Wyoming: After a Pit Bull attacked and bit off her nose, little girl gets miracle surgery to create a new one

WYOMING -- Based on the lack of discussion about the Pit Bull in all of the postings and comments, this makes me think it was the family's dog. 

Usually people are asking, "Whose dog was it?" "Did the police take it?" "Are charges being filed?" With this case, there's no mention of it at all. 

On their YouCaring fundraising page, the little girl's father actually went so far in his Facebook post as to tell readers - people they're asking money from - to "keep your comments to yourself about the dog. It was an accident and is being taken care of"

Yep. Pretty much confirmed - it was their Pit Bull. Or another family member's Pit Bull. Why else would they be so defensive about anyone daring to give their opinion about Pit Bulls??

That being said, prayers for this little girl who ended up being the victim of delusional, in-denial adults. I hope she recovers completely with a beautiful new nose. Modern medicine can do amazing things.

 

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook March 27, 2018 ·

And we are finally done! She did such a wonderful job.

As most of you know this step consisted of providing cartilage to her nose. Her nose shape did not change too much for this step.

They decided to take a piece if her rib from her left side and than a piece from her ear. They also kind of chiseled around her nostrils making actual holes in her nose now! They also took the plastic piece from the top of her head off as it was starting to have a funky smell.

We will be taking care of that wound without the plastic piece now. It looks fantastic. We are scheduled to come back in one week and than again in 3 to 4 weeks. Thanks for all the continued prayers.

It's an amazing procedure and they do a wonderful job and keep us updated in such stressful times. Couldn't ask for a better place to be.

Sha'ron Shay Montoya posted on Facebook ·
I am asking that your church please pray for my granddaughter addie montoya she had her face bitten off by a pit bull she underwent another surgery yesterday to try a rebuild her nose and will have to have more surgery every three weeks or so for a year she is only 4 pray for a healing also please share and pray for a financial blessing there is a you caring account to help with medical cost

 

 

EARLIER POSTS:

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook August 19, 2017 ·
UPDATE:
I can not thank everyone enough for the prayers and good vibes that we have had. This little girl has always had god by her side through life and everyone's prayers are working! Please continue them.

Addie is doing great. She can not do things on her own right now. They have her pretty sedated and she will be for at least the next 5 days. She has a machine helping her breathe and eat in the mean time. The doctors attached HER nose!!!!.... But.... We will not know for a few days if the process worked. Basically just waiting for this little leach to be our best friends and help her get correct blood supply pumping and leaving the nose. YES I said leach. It is still new to us all! Doctors included.

A split second and their daughter's life was changed forever

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook August 19, 2017 ·
UPDATE: Things have went slightly downhill. But we are still optimistic and hopeful!! Addie has received a blood transfusion as she is losing too much. The leaches are not latching to her nose anymore like they were before. We figured maybe its because the blood flow is not not good. And we were right. The Dr poked her nose a few times with a needle. And before blood would gush... Now absolutely no blood will come out... Which means the blood is not flowing correctly.

She is a fighter and we will remain upbeat as she once pulled out a miracle we know she's capable of another!

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook August 20, 2017 ·
UPDATE: 8-20-17 9:45AM
We can not express how much we appreciate the prayers that have been sent to our little girl and our family. UNFORTUNATELY they CANT save her little nose. She has had no blood flow in almost 24 hours. We will be meeting with a surgeon soon to discuss alternative surgery and actions. In the meantime they will bring her back! She will be heavily medicated to ease the pain and be sleepy but we will be able to see her open her gorgeous eyes! There's a silver lining!
So please please keep sending prayers and good vibes as this is ALL we need right now!


Mike Montoya posted on Facebook August 25, 2017 ·
UPDATE: 5:30 pm AUG. 25
Miss addie absolutely HATED the hyperbaric chamber! She wanted nothing to do with the cool submarine. And! Wanted nothing to do with the cool astronaut hat. 😂 but she took it like a champ anyway and was awesome! She got her tubes in last night and than at 9am this morning we went to another hospital. (First time outside in one week; she loved it!) And she spent about 1.5 hours in the chamber. Doc says if she came to the chamber sooner he thinks he could have saved most of her perfect nose.... But that wasn't the case.... So now we will do the chamber M-F at 1:00 and save as much as we can at this point. They are very optimistic about the bridge of her nose mostly surviving. As for her nostrils they are already dead :( as you can clearly see in the pic below what is dark black has not survived.

So she gets a break for the weekend. No one bothering her except for she has to wear an oxygen mask at all times now. Not because her oxygen is low but because the oxygen will once again help the infected area. So! Please keep her in your thoughts and send good vibes. We love you all very much and appreciate the love and support back.

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook August 26, 2017 ·
UPDATE: 9:40am AUG 26
Holy mother truck you guys!!
Can you see the difference between the second and third picture!! Her nose already is showing a huge difference in not even 24 hours of the hyperbaric chamber treatment! Woohoo
First and second picture is how fast it died in just a few days. :(
But lets hope this new treatment does the job!

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook September 5, 2017 ·
This beautiful gem just got out of surgery and it went great. They were actually able to save quite a bit of the tissue from her nose. So we decided to change plans a bit and wait it out. We will be able to go home FRIDAY and let it heal for 3 weeks before we have to come back for surgery. In the meantime she will continue the hyperbaric treatments. If the tissue does not collapse during this time they will just reconstruct some nostrils for her and go from there. If the tissue does end up collapsing than our alternative would be the prosthesis as its a less process than the other options.

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook February 12, 2018 ·
This precious gem gets a haircut tomorrow and has surgery on March 6th! She is super excited to pick the shape of her nose, it will be beyond perfect!

 

 

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook March 6, 2018 ·
PLEASE: Remember this is a process. After today's surgery her nose isn't going to look exactly like a nose. This is just the first step, with several more to come in a short period of time.

This Beauty has just one more hour to wait before she goes into surgery for her new Nose! Woo-hoo. Such an exciting but nerve wrecking day. Can't wait to see results.

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook March 15, 2018 ·
Here is an update on Miss Addie. 👑She is doing magnificent.
She hasn't been in any pain for the past few days. We have her next surgery on the 27th!

Mike Montoya posted on Facebook March 26, 2018 ·
 This Beauty has her next surgery Tuesday morning. We are headed for Denver tomorrow. Let's pray for the absolute best as always.  ♥ ☺
BTW she still loves her furry friends!