Washington: A’Kinyelle Thomas-Lewis, 21, and Forrest Smith, 22, shot their 5-month-old Labradoodle puppy named Aubrey in the stomach then abandoned her because they didn't want her any longer, say police

Note: They're saying on the Kitsap Humane Society's Facebook page that both of these men are in the United States Navy. 

PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON -- Two men were charged Tuesday with animal cruelty for shooting a high-maintenance puppy and leaving it in the bushes in a Port Orchard park.

The 5-month-old Labradoodle named Aubrey was found Monday near 1800 Sidney Avenue, which is part of Vanzee Memorial Park, after a neighbor heard the gunshot before 2 p.m. and then heard a dog whimpering and yelping.

Officers found the dog and a detective drove it to Kitsap Veterinary Hospital on Bethel Avenue, where it was stabilized and x-rayed. It was ultimately taken to the Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale for emergency surgery.

A Facebook post Monday night from the Humane Society said the dog had been shot in the abdomen.

“We are optimistic about the dog's prognosis but would love if our followers could keep him in their thoughts tonight,” the post said.

Port Orchard Police Deputy Chief Dale Schuster said officers were lining up to adopt the puppy.

“It’s disturbing,” he said, adding that if the owner had taken the dog to the Humane Society it would have likely been re-adopted in short period of time.

As officers were canvassing the neighborhood, one found a folded-up traffic ticket for a 22-year-old man, Forrest Christian Smith, who lived nearby. His vehicle matched the description of a vehicle witnesses saw at the scene, according to court documents.

Officers went to the address and interviewed a roommate, who said Smith bought the dog about two months earlier and that since then the puppy had been “troublesome.”

Smith had not bothered to potty train (housebreak) Aubrey so she was having accidents inside the residence. Smith also wasn't bothering to take into consideration that she is a puppy and was allowing her to chew on furniture and other items.

Another roommate, A’Kinyelle Donald Thomas-Lewis, 21, said Smith was “unwilling to put up with the dog any longer” and admitted he and Smith had gone to the wooded area together and Smith shot the dog.

Officers noted Thomas-Lewis appeared confused by the investigation and behaved as though police were overreacting about the horrific animal cruelty, saying, “All this for a dog.”

Officers seized a 9 mm Glock handgun from the residence.

Smith was charged in Kitsap County Superior Court with first-degree animal cruelty; Thomas-Lewis was charged with accomplice to first-degree animal cruelty.

Kitsap Humane Society
April 30 at 10:38pm ·
Tonight our amazing veterinary team is staying late finishing up a long emergency surgery to save a dog that was shot this afternoon. The bullet had entered his abdomen and Animal Control Officers rushed him to KHS so he could get the lifesaving care he needed. This is what being on the front lines of animal welfare looks like- late nights, a dedication to lifesaving, and sometimes, a whole lot of blood. We are optimistic about the dog's prognosis but would love if our followers could keep him in their thoughts tonight.

(Kitsap Sun - May 1, 2018)

United Kingdom: Girl attacked by Pit Bull while playing at the park

UNITED KINGDOM -- Rachel Power posted on Facebook March 18, 2018 ·

I ain't got nothing again people having what ever dogs the want but if they wanna keep a vicious dog it should be kept in and not left roam the streets and into childerns parks Brooke was attacked by a pit bull on Friday in the park.... the owner is just as bad as the dog but u will be found !!!! fucking joke is what it is.. .

Lorraine Ní Hallacháin - Fuck sake that’s not on! They have cameras there the cops should post pics of the dog and someone will recognise it. Luckily it wasn’t the childs head, hope she’s ok 😞

Rachel Power - was down there yesterday there going looking at cameras ... it would of been a lot worse only a man at the park with his own kids lifted Brooke up shook the dog off her.

Oklahoma: While at the park, woman's German Shepherd attacked by loose Pit Bull

OKLAHOMA -- Sherri Duncan posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 · Oklahoma City, OK ·

My baby Sage, my son and I had a horrible experience at the local park this afternoon.

We were walking on the sidewalk, when I heard this loud bark, I turned around and this huge white pit bull was running full on towards us.

Before I could holler to my son ... run... the dog was on us and my baby trying to bite her around the neck.. she went into protection mode... and all I could think of is get to the water...

there is a pond in the park we were close to... dragging the dogs, as my son was fending off the pit, I managed to get my baby and I in the water cuz I knew that pit could not swim and fight at the same time...

my baby was trying to protect me not leaving me in the water and the pit had got out of the water not letting us out...

I'm trying to hold her, call the police , and the owner finally came up and argued saying her dog was playing, I'm crying scared, and she wouldn't get her dog..

we kept hollering for her to take her dog and she said... the police know us... our dogs are  out all the time!!! 

Turns out the police did not know her, animal control took the pit custody till out court hearing next Wednesday. I'm so glad we're all ok.. but such a frightening experience.

Canada: Family says American Bulldogs that mauled little boy had previously mauled their dog to death - and that nothing was done it

CANADA -- A Wallaceburg family is feeling a number of different feelings after hearing that a little boy in their neighbourhood was attacked by two American Bulldogs, because they say the two dogs have attacked before.

AMERICAN BULLDOGS HAD KILLED BEFORE
Nick and Lisa Persyn say their dog Jordan, a Jack Russell / Labrador Retriever was also attacked by the same two American Bulldogs in October of last year, and later died from his injuries three weeks later. 

They say they want changes in the way dog attacks are reported and addressed so that incidents don't happen over and over again.

The condition of a three-year-old Wallaceburg boy Tucker Marcolin, who was attacked by two dogs on Monday, is improving as he remains in a Michigan hospital.

Marcolin, 3, was attacked by a dog while sledding at Wallaceburg's Jaycee Park down the street from his house with his babysitter and six-year-old brother.

Police said two dogs escaped from their home and attacked the three-year-old child around 5 p.m.

PRIOR ATTACK RESULTING IN DEATH
The incident with the Persyns happened at Jaycee Park as well. They took their dog and their two-year-old daughter to the park on Oct. 20.

While at the park, two dogs, who they say were unattended, charged at Jordan.

“They got Jordan on one side of the neck and the other dog came around the other side of me and got him on the other side of his neck,” said Lisa Persyn. She tried to kick the dogs off of her dog, but they wouldn't stop them.

JORDAN WAS MAULED TO DEATH BY THE AMERICAN BULLDOGS

“They just had this growl and this determination that this is what they were going to do and they were going to tear him apart,” Lisa Persyn said.

Nick Persyn, a mountain of a man at almost six-foot-eight, covered up his dog to prevent it from being attacked.

“The dogs were jumping on me and over me and trying to get in wherever they can to bite him,” Nick Persyn said.

The Persyns said the attack went on for almost 15 minutes.

“They were just relentless. It was the most vicious thing,” Persyn said.

JORDAN SUFFERED THREE WEEKS BEFORE FINALLY DYING
They say up to the incident their dog was doing well for an older dog, but that  Jordan wasn't same after the attack. He had been hurt pretty badly and wasn't eating after the incident. He kept on getting sick. Jordan developed bleeding stomach ulcers and died three weeks after the attack.

The incident haunts the Persyns.

The Persyns said they wanted something done about the dogs. They warned neighbours and contacted Pet and Wildlife Rescue (PAWR). Lisa Persyn credited PAWR for following up on the incident, and said they were working on the file, but said more should've been done.

“Those dogs should've been euthanized,” Lisa Persyn said. “These dogs were out for blood, this was different, this wasn't just a little nip.... If he (Nick) wasn't there (Jordan) would've been done right there.”

The incident also left the Persyns with a $1,000 veterinary bill.

After hearing about the incident with Tucker Marcolin on Monday, they said their hearts broke after hearing from neighbours that the dogs attacked again, this time a little boy.

The Persyns said there was feelings of guilt that they didn't get the job done in pushing for action against the dogs. They said they felt flustered.

“Something needs to be done or changed, so that an attack at that level things have to happen more than a slap on the wrist,” Lisa Persyn said.

Three year-old Tucker Marcolin

They said the dogs have terrorized the neighbourhood in the past, the Persyns said, prior to the two attacks.

The Courier Press attempted to get a comment via social media from the woman who neighbours say owns the dogs, but she hasn't yet responded.

During Monday's incident a man and woman visiting family on Larkwood Street immediately ran to the park to help the young boy and babysitter, police said.

Tucker's six-year-old brother ran to safety and the injured boy was carried from the scene to a home as 911 was called, police said. The babysitter, who sustained non-life threatening injuries, was treated and released from hospital.

The injured boy was taken to the Sydenham Campus of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and was later transferred to a Michigan hospital for further medical treatment.

The dogs were identified and seized by Pet and Animal Wildlife Rescue and are currently in quarantine.

The community has rallied around the boy, as a GoFundMe set up on Tuesday, has raised over $18,000 in just under 24 hours. The goal for the campaign was $2,500 and that figure was surpassed in the first hour of the campaign.

In an update on the page, it said Tucker has had a few surgeries, and things are looking up.

“Tucker "The Tank" is a strong little boy who will get through this, he is currently in Detroit and will be there for over a week while he is monitored 24/7 healing,” they wrote in an update.

In an update on the GoFundMe page, it said it's expected that Tucker will make a full recovery. The GoFundMe page said Tucker had lots of stitches on his face and leg.

The money raised is aimed at helping the family with travel costs and the lost time from work for the parents.

Police continue to seek information from the public as the investigation into the incident continues.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Const. Ed Vannoord at edmondv@chatham-kent.ca or at 519-436-6600 ext. 8668. Anonymous calls can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

(Chatham Daily News CA - February 8, 2018)

Missouri: Pit Bull owner complains after her dog is shot while attacking police K9

MISSOURI -- June Tucker's vicious 5-year-old pit bull, named "Repo," is in an animal hospital with two bullet wounds. He was shot by an Overland Police Department officer near Mary Ridge Park Monday night.

"He just doesn't deserve to be shot and just to leave him on the porch to bleed to death," complains Tucker.

 

Tucker said she took her dog out for a walk around 10:30 p.m. using a belt as a leash. But she said the dog got 'spooked' and pulled the leash out of her hand and ran off.

BTW, in the video we find that her 'leash' is actually a belt. A belt. Serioiusly. I'm starting to doubt that she was ever 'walking' him in the first place. Likely she just let her mauler roam around the neighborhood all the time because she was too lazy to properly walk him with a collar and leash.

Tucker didn't bother to go after her Pit Bull, a breed of dog known for roaming and seeking victims to attack... Instead, Tucker said she went back in the house and assumed whenever her dog was through breaking the law and roaming loose, it would return soon.

At the same time, Overland police officers were searching the neighborhood for a prowler.

"It was like, maybe fifteen seconds and that's when you hear boom, boom, boom, boom, boom," said Tucker.

According to Overland Police Chief Michael Laws, the pit bull came running from a dark area and attacked the department K-9, named "Tzar."

"And according to the witnesses we interviewed and the officers who were there, had him by the throat and had him pinned to the ground," said Laws.

Chief Laws said the K-9 was able to break free and the pit bull backed up, but then the pit bull started coming at the K-9. Laws said that's when the officer shot the dog.

"I was a K-9 officer years ago and we're all dog lovers. So we hate to see anything like this happen but we also have to defend our property and our animals. The dog is a part of our department, a valuable member of our police department," said Laws.

Because Tucker won't stop running her mouth about how the police 'unfairly' shot her nasty dog, they say they're seeking charges against her.

(KMOV - February 20, 2018)

United Kingdom: Man and his dog attacked by loose Pit Bull while simply taking a walk

UNITED KINGDOM -- Alex Wood posted on Facebook January 23, 2018 at 7:01am ·

I just don’t understand how some people own dogs!

 

 

Be careful if your walking your dog, my Dad and Alfie were attacked over Central Park yesterday evening around half 6.

The dog is a Brown Brindle Staffordshire Pit Bull terrier and owner is a young black male around 20 years old. The dog had deliberately left his owner to attack Alfie who was over 100 meters away.

"PIT AND RUN"

The dog is dangerous so avoid coming into contact!

What a nice way for my Dad to spend his birthday. Obviously the wine helped.

Washington: Woman attacked by Pit Bull wants to believe the dog was somehow "traumatized" or "outright trained to be aggressive"

WASHINGTON -- Kristi Hein posted on the Facebook group page Paying Till It Hurts January 12, 2018 at 2:14am

Yesterday I was attacked by a dog. I'm OK -- I was just damn lucky that it sank its teeth into my loose sweatpants and tore a fist-size hole, its teeth only barely scraping my leg (no punctures; drawing just a little blood).

A woman had the dog on a leash -- big dog, looked rather scary -- I was walking by, 10 feet away, and trying to expand the distance, when without warning he began barking furiously and lunged, dragging her after him, to bite my leg. She was yelling "Bad" and No!" and swatting his nose and dragged him away. If she had lost hold of the leash, I would have been maimed or dead. (This realization is as frightening as the attack, which was over fast.)

This dog meant business. It meant me grievous harm. Why? Completely unprovoked. Staffordshire pit bull terrier (the cop who returned from speaking with the owner told me). Anyway, the cop who responded to my 911 call took photos and said I should get a medical checkup just for the record.

So here's the PTIH part! My PCP wasn't available, so I went to the walk-in clinic. The PA cleaned the scrape, put on antibiotic ointment, and asked if I wanted a bandage (a large band-aid); I said "Sure." Only later did I think, hmm, I wonder what that bandage will cost? $8? $15? $25? And the entire appt.? (My tetanus shot was up to date, so didn't need that.) Well, it will be the Medicare allowed amount, and I will send the bill to the woman (who lives four houses from us). (It turns out it's her son's dog, it has attacked other animals before, and they will likely euthanize it. Sad.)

United Kingdom: After her Beagle was attacked by a Pit Bull, woman didn't think he was hurt. But later found two giant wounds on him.

UNITED KINGDOM -- Egle Navickiene posted on Facebook January 4, 2018 at 6:25am ·

This is something everyone needs to know. Me and my friend decided to have a walk with the dogs (beagle and poodle) at white waters Park in Waltham Abbey 4pm yesterday when man with a white Staffordshire Pit Bull with black markings came up and his dog after couple of sniffs, [attacks] my dog.

Scene itself was ugly as you can imagine, he [attacked] my dog's tummy, was trying to bite on a sides, and when I hit the attacking dog few times with heavy handle of my dogs' leash it was over.

The idiot was saying dog is alright which obviously wasn't. I've check my dog, looked fine at the moment and we continued our walk, got home.

And then my husband took my beagle to the shower where he started to bleed and he found two big wounds. Ended up in vets, paid bill over £100 and now my boy is on 10 days antibiotic course and inflammatory /painkillers medicine.

 

 

Need to go tomorrow and after tomorrow for checks and sleep with him tonight to make sure he is not bleeding more,his temperature is not going up.

WTF (sorry for my French) is wrong with people???!!! Next time it can be someone's child, be careful and PLEASE PLEASE report it to police. Make pictures if you can, spread the word around as it's really increasing. It's not a first time for us this year but this time it was the worst.

Pennsylvania: Pit Bull attacks runner on trail, police looking for owner

PENNSYLVANIA -- South Londonderry Township Police are looking for the owner of an aggressive burnt-orange pit bull.

The pit bull named Ginger attacked a runner on the Rail-Trail near Colebrook on Jan. 11 around 4 p.m, according to police.

The dog's owner is described as a white man in his 50's, police say.

The victim was not seriously injured.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 717-838-1376.

(Local21 News - January 15, 2018)

Texas: Judge orders Pit Bull mix that mauled little boy at adoption event to be euthanized; Dallas Pets Alive rescue group says they're appealing the order

TEXAS -- The dog that mauled a toddler at Klyde Warren Park last month will be put down. That ruling came down Friday afternoon after a hearing over the dog’s fate.

In court, Luca Romero’s mother, Allis Cho, recalled how the little boy was walking around the dogs that were on display at the Dallas Pets Alive adoption event when he was viciously mauled by the pit bull mix.

In an interview, the family said that the child suffered two puncture wounds and needed five stitches.

Rusty was seized for causing “serious bodily injury” to the boy. The court ruled the dog will be put down on January 16 at 4:30 p.m.

“Because of the nature of the bite. It wasn’t a just simple bite and release thing or we wouldn’t be here. And I believe that because of the lack of inhibition and warning signs is extremely dangerous. I feel that dog needs to be put down,” said Luca’s mother, Allis Cho, on the stand.

Witnesses to the dog attack and workers with Dallas Animal Services testified during the hearing.

Rescue organization Dallas Pets Alive say they are planning to appeal the decision. The local rescue organization Keep Dallas Dogs Alive had asked that Rusty be placed into a sanctuary home located in another state, where he would not have been put up for adoption.

Dallas Pets Alive released the following statement Friday evening:

Today, Dallas Pets Alive offered the City of Dallas a positive solution that met the needs of all parties and are very disappointed that Judge Robinson has ordered Rusty to be killed on Jan. 16, 2018.

 

 

A sanctuary in New York with extensive expertise in managing and caring for dogs like Rusty has agreed to take Rusty at no expense to the City of Dallas or its residents. Once at the sanctuary, Rusty will NOT be adopted out, but will live out the remainder of his life in a safe and positive environment. This solution meets the needs of all parties involved and we will be appealing Judge Robinson’s decision to kill Rusty on Monday.

And when that sanctuary goes out of business where would this dog end up? Or when this dog escapes and no one is told that it's running at large? What then? There have been cases of vicious dogs handed off to so-called sanctuaries and then 3, 4, 5 years later, the dog is gone and no one knows what they've done with it. What's to stop them from changing the dog's name and shipping it off to another rescue to be adopted out? Do the neighbors in New York that live near this "sanctuary" know that vicious dogs are being housed there? Has anyone bothered telling them? Who would legally be on the hook for returning to this 'sanctuary' year after year -for possibly the next 10 years- to ensure Rusty the Pit Bull Lab mix was still there???

 

 

"This was a full-on mauling. The dog grabbed him, 

drug him to the ground and wouldn't let go," Cho said.

Dallas Animal Services is a trusted partner of Dallas Pets Alive and we are grateful for the hard work they do to keep both our community safe and manage the constant influx of companion animals that they receive every day. We are continuing to work hand-in-hand with Dallas Animal Services to save animals, while we also fight for Rusty.

We strongly believe that this was an isolated incident as Rusty had been in the care of our foster team for a year and had shown no signs of aggression/biting and interacted positively with children. We have already started implementing additional policies regarding children and our rescue animals in an effort to even further minimize the likelihood of this happening again.

The outpouring of support for Rusty from the Dallas community and beyond has been overwhelming. There are two petitions set up in support of Rusty (one from Dallas Pets Alive and one from an outside group) and combined they have received nearly 70,000 signatures over the course of a week. We want to thank the community for their continued support in our mission to end the killing of companion animals in Dallas and helping us rescue Rusty.

Dallas Pets Alive has zero credibility at this point. 

 

 

READER COMMENTS:
Mary Ann Redfern (@Carlaumol) January 5, 2018 at 4:42 pm
Kill the damn pit bull already. He should have been euthanized the same day he mauled the little boy.

Anita Christy January 5, 2018 at 5:31 pm
I agree with the Court’s decision and with the mother: “The injured boy’s mom told the court that Rusty should be euthanized — and not simply sent away — because he would continue to be a danger to others, regardless of where he lived.” Dallas Pets Alive used very poor judgment when they made a conscious decision to allow Rusty to be around children. There is no compelling reason to keep a dangerous animal “alive.” I love dogs and feel compassion for Rusty, but it is in his nature to attack. Euthanasia is compassionate.

(CBS DFW - January 5, 2018)

Earlier:

• Texas: Dallas Pets Alive brings Pit Bull to adoption event; it immediately selects a small victim and attacks
• Texas: Animal rescue group Dallas Pets Alive does damage control after Pit Bull mix attacks toddler at adoption event
• Texas: Dog rescue group DALLAS PETS ALIVE continue to make excuses as to why their Pit Bull mix named Rusty attacked a toddler at their adoption event
• Texas: Dog Nuts Got One Child-Biter Spared; Now They Want the Next One Saved, Too