Alabama Sheltie breeder Rud Tietjen gets jail for animal cruelty

ALABAMA -- A Cherokee County State Court judge has sentenced a Ball Ground man to jail time and to pay restitution in the amount of $21,245 to the animal shelter.

Rud Tietjen was convicted of 24 counts of animal cruelty and 34 counts of improperly disposing of a dead animal on March 10. He was sentenced April 23.

Rud Tietjen

Tietjen was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty in October 2013 following an investigation into an animal cruelty case at 585 Creighton Road in Ball Ground.

Cherokee County marshals responded to the residence after a complaint of animal neglect. The marshal’s office executed a search warrant and confiscated 14 purebred Shelties, five Great Pyrenees and a cat from the property.

Authorities said that the dogs were emaciated and showed signs of serious neglect. The officers found dog carcasses, bones, rancid meat and feces on the property.

Tietjen, according to court records, has filed a motion for a new trial.

(Cherokee Ledger News - May 6, 2015)

Earlier:

• Former breeder charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty

Indiana: Fort Wayne man, Larry Knox, 55, kicks cat, gets 1-year sentence

INDIANA -- A stray cat lost a tooth last year after Larry Darnell Knox kicked it in the head. Knox, however, wound up losing a get-out-of-jail-free card delivered to him through a justice-system blunder five or six years ago.

Allen Superior Judge Wendy Davis on Thursday sentenced Knox, 55, of Fort Wayne to a year in prison for cruelty to an animal; torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal. He was found guilty of that offense after a trial in October. But Knox actually faces a five-year term in prison because of a sentence he never served that was brought to light by investigation over the last month.

After his October conviction, the judge ordered the Allen County Probation Department to complete a pre-sentence investigation on Knox. That's a standard step taken before convicts are sentenced. The reports include detailed information about criminal history and other background to which the judge can refer in determining a prison sentence.

In this case, the report on Knox revealed that he had not served a four-year sentence for possession of cocaine handed down in 2007. At the time, Knox still had to finish an earlier felony sentence. When that sentence was completed in 2008, his attorney Stanley Campbell explained, the court did not catch the fact that Knox had additional time to serve.

Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards called it an “oversight'' of the Circuit Court. That court found him ineligible for work release, but neglected to set a time to send Knox to the state Department of Correction.

“Your criminal history has caught up with you,” Judge Davis told Knox. Davis noted that his record includes, by her count, four prior felony convictions and 17 prior misdemeanor convictions.

Knox must serve the four-year and one-year sentence one after the other. He told the judge he intends to appeal his conviction.

Knox brought this case of animal cruelty to the attention of the legal system himself by calling Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control to come and get the stray cat that had crept into his home and wouldn't leave.

According to court documents, animal control officers were dispatched to his home Dec. 4 because Knox called and complained that a cat was trapped in his house, and he couldn't get it out.

An animal-control officer found the cat in the home, but its head was wobbling and its eyes were rolling back and forth. The officer asked Knox about the cat's peculiar behavior, and Knox told the officer that the cat should be stunned, because he had kicked it hard, according to court documents.

Although the officer reported that Knox was laughing intermittently as he explained what happened, Knox said he had opened the door of his house and tried to get the cat to leave.

After the cat was removed from the home and examined by a veterinarian, what she found supported Knox's account. The cat appeared to have one of its long front fangs knocked out by a kick, and the vet also found scrapes and other injuries on the cat that made it appear the animal had been kicked more than once.

(News Sentinel - Nov 21, 2013)

Earlier:

• Alleged cat kicking nets Fort Wayne man a felony charge
• Man pleads guilty to cruelty for kicking a cat several times

Dog Mickey 'starved in total squalor' by Cottingham couple

UNITED KINGDOM -- A COUPLE have been banned from keeping dogs for life after leaving their pet in "total squalor". Inspectors from the RSPCA have said cross-breed Mickey was left in some of the worst conditions they have ever seen.

Jane Jackson and John Aldus's house in Cottingham was covered in dirt and littered with rubbish.

Mickey was found by the RSPCA locked in a kitchen without bedding, food or water. He was severely underweight.

Inspector Hannah Bryer, who raided the property in Millhouse Woods Lane, said: "Aldus and Jackson deprived their dog Mickey of the very basic provisions, leaving him starving, dehydrated and living in total squalor.

"On arrival, I observed a large amount of rubbish and discarded house hold belongings inn the garden. The property itself looked dilapidated, with broken window panes and rotting wooden frames.

"Inside I could hear a dog whimpering. When I went inside, the smell was awful. The floor was damp and felt as if the floor boards were rotting underneath the carpet. The living environment for this dog was appalling and did not meet his needs.

"I am pleased the court have recognised that this couple should be banned from keeping dogs for the rest of their lives."

Emaciated Mickey was about 4kg underweight when he was found.

During his 11-days at Swanbridge Veterinary Hospital, he put on 2.8kg.

Miss Bryer said: "When we arrived, the dog appeared to be extremely thirsty. He became frantic when the water tap was turned on and drank readily when water was offered.

"He was also observed to be very hungry when food was offered."

Aldus, 44, and Jackson, 47, both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Mickey when they appeared at Beverley Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that a veterinary surgeon said: "His ribs, hips and spine were easily palpable with very little fat or muscle coverage. His coat smelt strongly of faeces and urine.

"Blood samples were taken, the results of which revealed changes consistent with dehydration and malnutrition. He was treated with intravenous fluids, a course of antibiotics, vitamin injections and the provision of a suitable diet including fresh drinking water.

"He was incredibly thirsty and hungry."

Aldus was given a six-month community order, including a requirement to take part in the Chance2Change programme. He must also pay £200 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Jackson must complete 120 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order. She must also pay £200 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

(Hull Daily Mail -October 21, 2013)

Starving horses rescued from Derry garage

NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Five malnourished horses, including a newborn colt that later died, were removed from the garage of a local home because the owners could no longer care for them.

The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is trying to nurse the emaciated equines back to health after they were rescued last week, according to Steve Sprowl.

Sprowl, the SPCA’s animal cruelty investigator, said a 5-year-old pony and her colt were taken from the home Oct. 23 after the organization was contacted by Derry Animal Control Officer Marlene Bishop.

The three other animals were surrendered voluntarily Friday after the newborn died Thursday morning, he said.

The owners, a couple whose names and address are not being released, kept the horses in a stall in their garage and did not provide a pasture. The animals were forced to graze on the front and back lawns, Sprowl said.

“These are just some poor people who got into a bad situation,” he said. “They are in the process of losing their home. They tried to take care of them. ... Both lost their jobs.”

Bishop said she couldn’t comment on the case and referred all questions to Derry police.

“It was pretty bad,” she said. “The animals are no longer at the residence, and that was the biggest concern.”

Bishop said she had been monitoring the horses for about a year after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor.

“It was just a case I’ve been keeping an eye on,” she said.

Derry Police Capt. Vern Thomas could not be reached yesterday for comment, but Sprowl said no charges will be filed against the owners because they cooperated with authorities.

Sprowl said the owners did not realize the pony was pregnant until after it gave birth and was too malnourished to nurse the colt.

“She went out to the garage and saw the baby,” Sprowl said. “It was running around and trying to eat. She didn’t know what to do and called the animal control officer.”

The mother and colt were surrendered to the SPCA and rushed to the New England Equine Medical Center in Dover, where the colt died. They required at least $1,500 in medical care, he said.

The mother and three other horses — an 11-year-old gelding, a 2-year-old mini-stallion and a 15-year-old roan gelding — are recovering at the SPCA barn in Stratham. A veterinarian was to evaluate them yesterday, Sprowl said.

The horses were expected to receive $200 to $300 worth of shots each, he said. The SPCA is seeking donations to help pay for their care. They will be put up for adoption once they recover, Sprowl said.

He said the nonprofit organization has handled 525 cases so far this year, including 69 involving horses. The others mostly involved dogs and cats, Sprowl said.

“We really can’t afford to do this,” he said. “In this case, we had to do this. The people weren’t going to have a place to live soon.”

While Sprowl said he has investigated more serious cases, some resulting in the discovery of dead horses, the Derry case was sad, nonetheless.

In recent years, Sprowl said, the number of incidents involving people who can longer afford to care for their animals has increased.

“It’s getting worse, the way the economy is,” he said. “That’s put a strain on people.”

He advised anyone is who is becoming overwhelmed by the pressures of caring for animals to seek help.

“Call someone. Don’t wait until it becomes a cruelty issue,” Sprowl said.

To donate to the SPCA, go to nhspca.org, call 603-772-2921, ext. 106, or send contributions to New Hampshire SPCA, PO Box 196, Stratham, NH 03885.

(Eagle Tribune - October 31, 2013)

Portsmouth Virginia K9 Officer starves police horse to death; gets away with it.

VIRGINIA -- A Portsmouth police officer and his wife have been found not guilty of animal cruelty.

Brian Davis and Jennifer Davis of Suffolk faced two misdemeanor charges stemming from the death of a retired Portsmouth police horse.

General District Court records show the Davises were acquitted Tuesday. They were arrested in late July.

At the hearing, they admitted they had not provided any veterinary care for Amy. They owned the police horse Amy for almost four years.

Aren't the police supposed to take care of their own???

Owners called Suffolk authorities in May saying they had recently adopted the horse, but it came to them in poor condition and had to be euthanized.



Look what Brian Davis and Jennifer Davis did to Amy

Portsmouth police said Brian Davis had been assigned to the department's K-9 unit. He is now in an administrative assignment.

(Hampton Roads - Oct 31, 2013)

Earlier:

• Couple says officer starved horse
• K-9 officer charged with animal cruelty

Charges filed in horse neglect case

OHIO -- Pictured, are two images which depict the condition of one horse named "Hope." The first image shows the condition of the horse on Sept. 20 when it was seized. The second image shows the animal in May, before it came under the care of the Marysville woman.

Animal cruelty charges were officially filed this week against a Marysville woman, after six horses were found in a state of starvation that one veterinarian called the “worst she had seen in 25 years.”
Lisa Gilliam, of 12701 U.S. 36, now faces six second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, filed Tuesday by Marysville Law Director Tim Aslaner in the Marysville Municipal Court.
The court refused to list her age.
The animal cruelty case was initially pursued based on a complaint received on Sept. 18 by Union County Humane Agent Steffen Baldwin, who also runs the Union County Humane Society and the
Animal Cruelty Taskforce of Ohio.
Baldwin said he investigated Gilliam’s farm that same day on U.S. 36 and discovered several horses in a “severely emaciated condition.”

(Marysville JT - Oct 31, 2013)

Spanaway woman killed by pit bulls remembered as "most wonderful"

WASHINGTON --  Nga Woodhead was waiting to sign papers discharging her from the hospital Tuesday when she suffered a heart attack and died, about a week after being attacked by two pit bulls in her Spanaway neighborhood.

An autopsy showed the dog attack caused Woodhead’s death. Pierce County prosecutors have not yet determined what, if any, charges to file against the dogs’ owner. Both pit bulls were fatally shot after the incident.

The 65-year-old woman’s family is distraught and angry, but they are focusing on happy memories of the woman who walked six miles every morning and refused to let anyone else step inside her kitchen.

“She’s one of the most wonderful persons that ever walked this earth,” said her mother-in-law, Betty Woodhead, 90. “She cared about everybody more than herself. You’d have to go a long way to find anybody as sweet and nice as she was.”

Woodhead met her husband, Charles, in 1970 when he served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in South Vietnam during the war. Wednesday would have been the couple’s 42nd wedding anniversary.

He was sitting next to his wife in her room at St. Joseph Hospital Tuesday, watching “Dr. Phil” on television, when Woodhead suddenly slumped over. He ran for help from the nurses but they weren’t able to save her.

“The attack and the trauma triggered the heart attack,” Charles Woodhead told The Seattle Times.

“I’m sad and mad. I’m mad at an owner who has two pit bulls who should have known better. Now my wife is gone because of that.”

Woodhead was walking Oct. 30 in the 16200 block of Pacific Avenue South when the dogs ran up from behind and attacked without provocation, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

She used an umbrella to try and fend off the attack. A passerby stopped to help her and a neighbor offered another passerby a handgun to shoot the dogs. He shot one of the pit bulls, which ran off.

Deputies shot and killed the second dog when they arrived and it displayed aggressive behavior, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. The wounded dog was later tracked down and fatally shot.

(thenewstribune.com - Nov 7, 2013)

Earlier:

• Pit bulls shot after attacking woman, rescuer in Spanaway
• Spanaway woman rescued from vicious pit bull attack

Pit bull shot by cops in Washington Heights

NEW YORK -- vicious pit bull roaming off-leash was shot by two cops after the dog lunged at one officer in Washington Heights on Wednesday, cops said.

The two cops were on patrol inside the Washington Houses on W. 176 St. when they spotted the [dog] around 5:50 p.m., cops said.

When the unchained canine lunged at the pair, the cops fired three shots at it, sources said.

The officers were unhurt, police said. The dog’s condition was not known Wednesday night.

(New York Daily News - ‎Oct 31, 2013‎)

Woman receives extensive facial injuries from dog bite

MICHIGAN -- A woman is recovering from a severe dog bite she received while holding a garage sale in Saugatuck.

The case was forwarded to the Allegan County Animal Control officer for further investigation, according to police.

The 36-year-old woman who is a resident of both Saugatuck and Chicago was having a sale on Grand Street on Sunday when a customer walked up with a German shepherd on a leash about 12:20 p.m.

The woman went up to pet the dog which then bit her in the face, causing extensive injuries, according to Sgt. Steven Kent of the Saugatuck Douglas Police Department.

The woman was being driven to Holland Hospital in a private vehicle but the driver stopped at Dunes View Kwik Shop, 6397 Blue Star Highway in Saugatuck Township, to call for help.

Members of the Saugatuck Township Fire District responded to assist the victim.

She was then taken to the hospital for treatment.

(hollandsentinel.com - Oct 31, 2013)

Pit bull fatally shot after attacking child, 11, in Corcoran

CALIFORNIA -- A pit bull attacked an 11-year-old in Corcoran Tuesday afternoon, leaving puncture wounds on the child's chest and stomach, Corcoran police said.

The dog, who belonged to the child's uncle, ran away as people came to the aid of the child on the 900 block of Chase Avenue, police said.

When the dog came charging back to continue the attack, an off-duty correctional officer shot and killed the dog, police said.

The child was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

(Merced Sun-Star - Oct 31, 2013)

Janesville police seek dog that bit child

WISCONSIN -- Police are asking for the public's help in finding a dog that bit a child this week, but not too much help.

The Janesville Police Department warned residents not to try to capture the dog, as it might not be friendly.

Police say the dog bit the child at 2225 Pioneer Road shortly after the dog escaped its owner Wednesday. The address is just east of UW-Rock County on the city's south side.

The dog, named Marley, is described as an American pit bull wearing a Green Bay Packers collar.

The dog also is mostly white with some smaller brown spots, and it weighs about 100 pounds, police said.

Anyone seeing a dog of that description is asked to call Janesville police at 608-757-2244 or 608-755-3100.

(Gazette Extra - Oct 25, 2013)

Air Canada who let dog get away is killed by car

CANADA -- An American woman who was attempting to relocate an Italian greyhound to a family in British Columbia, only to learn the dog was missing after it bolted from Air Canada employees at San Francisco’s airport, says she’s confirmed the animal died after apparently being hit by a car.

The case of Larry the greyhound caused a PR nightmare for Air Canada, first because of the nature of the missing cargo and then after a company official inadvertently sent a dismissive email about the subject to an American television station.

The dog ran away from [baggage] handlers at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 7. Air Canada has said workers took the dog out of its crate during a flight delay, but the animal fled after either slipping out of its collar or breaking it.

Jutta Kulic, a retired dog breeder from Medina, Ohio, was shipping the dog to a couple in the Vancouver Island community of Campbell River, B.C. The dog originally belonged to Kulic’s friend, who recently died of cancer.

Kulic said she received a call earlier this week from a veterinary hospital in San Francisco, which treated the dog after a Good Samaritan found the dog on a highway the same day it disappeared and brought it in. The dog was badly injured and was put down, said Kulic.

Larry was euthanized almost three weeks ago, but Kulic said the veterinary hospital didn’t realize it was the same dog until this past Thursday.

“Finally, one of their staff members was going through the records, saw this Good Samaritan record and said, ‘Oh my goodness, this is the dog everybody is looking for,’” Kulic said Saturday in an interview from Delaware, Ohio, where she was participating in a dog show.

“We were all very, very hopeful that he was still alive, so I know that they (the couple in Campbell River) were extraordinarily saddened, and so am I.”

There were reports early on that Larry was spotted along San Francisco’s Highway 101, and Kulic said at least one person thought they saw a vehicle hit a dog, but that was the last sighting connected to the animal.

As if the news that a major airline had lost a dog wasn’t bad enough, an Air Canada spokesman added fuel to the story when he inadvertently sent an email to a local CBS-TV reporter that said: “I think I would just ignore, it is local news doing a story on a lost dog. Their entire government is shut down and about to default and this is how the U.S. media spends its time.”

The email was intended for another spokesman within the company, and Air Canada quickly apologized.

The airline issued a written statement after learning the animal had been confirmed dead.

“Air Canada’s employees are extremely sad with the news about Larry,” the statement said.

“Many of our employees are pet owners and animal lovers, and our San Francisco team in particular continued to hold out hope that Larry would be found safe.”

(TheChronicleHerald.ca - Oct 27, 2013)

Hollis Boy Unable to Walk After Dog Attack

OKLAHOMA -- A 4-year-old Hollis boy is still in an Oklahoma City hospital almost two weeks after he was mauled by a neighbor's dog.

Police responded to a call at a home at 204 North Dixie on Oct. 19 for a dog attack. When they arrived, they found the child covered with bite marks and scratches. 

4-year-old Gage Thornhill set out on a typical bike ride in his neighborhood. It ended tragically when he was violently attacked. Police arrived to find a small bicycle and two tennis shoes in a pile of dirt.

Nearby, two men held the child in a jacket. Dirt covered Gage's wounds, and he is still fighting to recover from them.

Twelve days later, the cuts and gashes still have a long way to go to be completely healed. 4-year-old Gage is not himself. The young boy was attacked by an American Bulldog; it is a neighbor's dog who broke through a fence. Police arrived to find the dog tied up with blood on its face, chest, and front paws. Gage was immediately taken to a local hospital and then flown by helicopter to OU Medical Center where he remains Thursday.

Five surgeries later, Gage is still unable to walk. So, he lies in the bed as his family hopes that he will recover fully from cuts to his head, legs, and neck. He also sustained internal injuries he sustained during the attack. Hollis police say the child's parents were located inside the family's home. The child was outside without any adult supervision at the time of the attack.

Police also said that the dog did not appear vicious once they were on the scene. The owners of the dog were cited with two tickets: allowing animals to run at large and failure to vaccinate their dog for rabies.

The family's biggest concern Thursday is what will happen to the dog. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the dog must be quarantined for ten days by a veterinarian following the dog bite to make sure it does not have rabies. 

After that time, it is a City of Hollis requirement for the owner to register the dog as a vicious animal. That means it would have to always be on a leash with a muzzle when outside, it must be confined to the indoors or a secure pin or kennel, a sign must be placed on the outside of the home, and the owner must have public liability insurance. So, the dog could live despite the severity of the incident.

(KSWO - Oct 31, 2013)

City charges dog owner after fatal attack

CANADA -- The owner of two dogs who viciously attacked and killed a much smaller dog in Lisgar last Saturday afternoon is facing several charges under the Dog Owner's Liability Act.

John Murray, 23, who along with his wife, Mercedes Jones, owns the two cane corsos, says he is facing "a bunch" of charges relating to the City of Mississauga's Animal Care and Control Bylaw and the Dog Owner's Liability Act.

 

He expressed frustration with having only a short amount of time to pay various fines, but refused further comment.

The City hasn't immediately said what charges Murray is facing.

Monica Guisao and her mother, Julia, were left devastated after their small dog was viciously attacked and killed by the two larger dogs.

While Guisao hadn't been told officially of the charges, she said "if it's true, I'm glad. We all need to learn to take responsibility for our actions. I hope he pays."

Guisao, 21, doesn't blame the two cane corso dogs for the horrific incident in which her chihuahua/pomeranian mix, Rusty, was killed.

But she wants their owner to pay for it.

The Guisaos were walking Rusty near their Lisgar home, on Greenbelt Cres., when the two much larger, and unattended, dogs approached. Julia, who stands 4-foot-9, was so frightened by the dogs' stature — the Italian breed of guard dog averages 100 pounds — that she dropped the leash and ran for help as soon as one of the loose canines nipped at Rusty, initially only catching his little hooded sweater.

Rusty scooted out onto the residential street near Waxwing Dr., where Guisao and the two dogs quickly followed. Kneeling over him to protect her pet, the York University student sustained minor injuries to her hands and arms while trying to fight off the dogs.

One of the attacking dogs grabbed Rusty by his neck and pulled him loose, violently thrashing him like a toy. As the commotion escalated, a crowd gathered and one man dropped a flower pot on the head of the large dog, freeing Rusty from its mouth.

The two dogs ran off while the smaller dog later died after surgery at a nearby animal hospital.

Peel Regional Police, who were called to the scene, said the back gate to the yard where the larger dogs' owners live was left open.

When Mississauga Animal Services arrived, they did not seize the dogs, as their shots were up to date.

The City's Enforcement Division is investigating the matter under the City's Animal Care and Control Bylaw.

The Dog Owner's Liability Act states that owners can be liable for damages resulting from a bite or attack by a dog on a person or a domestic animal. Charges could result in a $10,000 fine and/or six months in jail for the owner, and court-ordered restrictions for the dog such as warning signs, sterilization, the use of a muzzle or even euthanizing the dog.

The cane corsos — one male, one female — were not fixed. But Murray says he has the proper paperwork to breed the dogs.

The owners weren't home when the dogs escaped. Murray has said he's remorseful about the actions of Athena and Titan, both just over a year old.

"I take full responsibility for my dogs not being caged in — that is my fault," said Murray. "The lock was on the (backyard) gate, so I don't understand how the lock was pushed back and how the dogs squeezed out; (it) didn't make sense.

"Right now," added Murray, "the animals are grounded; they can't leave the property for 10 days."
Murray has offered to cover all vet expenses as well as buy the Guisaos a new dog.

He said he's being harassed by neighbours in the wake of the incident.

"Everybody wants to see the animals go down," he said, adding people have threatened to poison his dogs.

"I'm very sorry for what happened…I just don't want to see this happen again," he continued. "It's now just trying to prevent this from happening again."

(MISSISSAUGA.com - Oct 31, 2013)

Boy, 3, dies after dog attack

AUSTRALIA -- A young Queensland boy has died in hospital after being attacked by his grandfather’s dog at the weekend.

Three-year-old Korbin Sprott was in a critical condition in Townsville Hospital after being attacked by a German Shepherd.

He had been playing in the front yard of a Grant Street home in Mackay when he was attacked by the dog about 6.45pm on Saturday.

His grandfather suffered bite wounds to his forearm after he intervened.

Family and neighbours rushed to the toddler's aid, trying frantically to stem the bleeding from a punctured artery in his neck.

The three-year-old was rushed to Mackay Base Hospital and then on to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition.

Mackay Regional Council impounded the dog at the request of the police on Saturday night.

The Mackay Daily Mercury has reported the family has since signed an indemnity form requesting the dog be put down.

Initial reports said the boy had been flown to Brisbane Mater Children's Hospital. A spokeswoman for the Mater Children's Hospital on Sunday confirmed that information was incorrect.

Since the attack dozens of people in Townsville have donated food and money to the family.

Police are investigating the incident.

(brisbanetimes.com.au - October 29, 2013)

Italy: Pit bull mauls owner's testicles and genital off

ITALY -- A man in Milan, Italy, was hospitalized after one of his pit bulls mauled his testicles, according to video from geobeats.

The 30-year-old dog owner was found unconscious by firefighters after his girlfriend reported that she was unable to contact him. It was unclear if the man passed out because of the mauling or because of his diabetes, geobeats says.

The reason for the dog's attack was not immediately known.

Update: The man has since died of his injuries. The Pit Bull ripped off his testicles and mauled his genitals.

(azcentral - Oct 31, 2013)

Pit bulls shot after attacking woman, rescuer in Spanaway

WASHINGTON -- Pierce County sheriff's deputies shot and killed two pit bulls after they attacked a woman in Spanaway Wednesday morning, then went after another man who tried to help.
The 65-year-old woman suffered extensive injuries to her arm and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, The Tacoma News Tribune reports. The man also sought treatment for dog bites.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office says the woman was walking along the 16200 block of Pacific Avenue South in Spanaway about 9 a.m. when the dogs attacked without provocation.

The dogs were "tearing into the flesh of the woman as she was screaming," one witness told investigators.

The woman tried fighting the dogs off with an umbrella.

The dogs also attacked a 52-year-old man who saw them going after the woman. He suffered bites to his right arm and also needed medical treatment.

Another man who saw the attack got a gun from a nearby resident and shot one of the dogs, but it ran off, Detective Ed Troyer said.

Deputies found the second dog nearby and shot and killed it because they feared it was a danger, Troyer said.

The deputies ultimately found the other dog wounded and shot and killed it as well.

The Pierce County Prosecutor's Office is looking into whether any charges should be filed against the owner.

(MyNorthwest.com - Oct 31, 2013)

Antioch Police Kill Dog; 4 Injured in Vicious Attack

CALIFORNIA -- A family of three and a man walking his dog were all injured after suffering a vicious dog bite attack in Antioch that ended up with one of the animals dead and the other in quarantine.

Chy Fisher told NBC Bay Area on Thursday that she was attacked on her arm, her leg and her thigh. Her dad was bit in the eye. And her brother bit in the arm.

 

Out of nowhere about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, two loose dogs started attacking a man by biting his neck, witnesses said.

He had been walking his dog on a trail near the 2700 block of Larkspur Drive, she said. She and her family rushed to help, and got attacked themselves.

Lucky for Fisher, she was able to escape without too much damage.

"I kicked it and I ran," she said.

After the attack, Police Lt. John Vanderklugt said an officer ended up fatally shooting one of the dogs, and another was put in quarantine.

The breed of the animals has yet to be disclosed, but Fisher and neighbor Lynne Azevedo told NBC Bay Area that they looked like pit bull or pit bull mixes.

Other neighbors were frightened. They hadn't seen these dogs before.

“Cars were honking, and there was screaming and a bunch of cop cars,” said neighbor Marie Gutierrez. “I heard gunshots. I was really scared.”

In August, two pit bulls mauled 10-year-old Hunter Kilbourn, who was visiting friends in Antioch, and is still recovering from severe bite wounds to his face and ears. Those dogs, Duke and Jewels, were later euthanized.

(San Jose Mercury News - Oct 31, 2013)

Horse owner 'taken for ride' after dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- An angry horse owner was taken for the ride of her life after her mare bolted during an attack by an aggressive dog.
 
Sarah Bedford was enjoying a leisurely trek along the Trans Pennine Trail near Silkstone Common when an unleashed German Shepherd ran towards her and began biting her horse.

The 26-year-old then clung on as her 14-year-old warmblood, Deedee, charged off with the dog following.

"The dog came from absolutely nowhere and went straight for her back legs and she just bolted and did not stop until we were at Worsbrough," said Sarah.

"I was shouting at everyone to get out of the way because she was at a proper gallop. She'll be scared of dogs for the rest of her life now."

Sarah feared her horse was going to crash into a gate on the trail, on Sunday morning, but a group of bike riders managed to swing it open in time.

Members of the public tried to grab the dog before the owner eventually caught up and restrained his animal but, despite being apologetic, he was unwilling to give his contact details in case the horse needed vet treatment.

Sarah, from Worsbrough, who later contacted the police, cleaned the horse's wounds and said she would monitor the animal before deciding if a vet is required.

(Barnsley Chronicle - Oct 31, 2013)

Witness says up to a dozen dogs involved in early morning attack

INDIANA -- A man attacked by a pack of dogs early Wednesday morning in Evansville is now listed in fair condition.

Police say 40-year-old William Earl Cathey was attacked while riding his bike in the area of Jefferson Avenue, near Governor and Garvin, around 5:20 a.m.

A neighbor tells 14 News as many as 12 dogs, of multiple different breeds, were involved in the attack.

A neighbor says she heard a man screaming for help, so she called 911.

Police say the victim was still being attacked when officers arrived. That's when an officer fired one shot at one of the dogs. The dog retreated and police say they fired a second shot to put it out of its pain.

The neighbor who called 911 says she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"He had three Pit bulls, bigger looked like adult dogs, one on his leg, one on his other leg and one on his shirt. Then there were smaller little bitty ones with a Husky dog fighting each other. Dogs are on him, dogs are fighting other dogs," the witness said.

"After he stopped screaming, he laid there flat and I knew he was like either passed out or even dead because he just laid there. The rain just poured down and the dogs was all covered in blood. If the dogs were covered in blood he must have lost a lot of blood."

Early Wednesday morning, police had accounted for four dogs that may have been involved, and they said others had not been found.

Animal Control was called to assist the officers. The dogs will be quarantined for the next ten days to see what happens with the investigation.

Cathey was taken to the hospital to be treated for multiple puncture wounds. He's in fair condition.

Police say the owners could be facing misdemeanor charges.

(WFIE - Oct 31, 2013)