Florida: Pit Bull had played with their small dog on numerous occasions without issue. Today it killed her.

FLORIDA -- Velora Clevenger posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 ·

Jimmy's dog after a Pit bull attacked it.

These two dogs had been playing together for some time, then today the pit bull turned on the little one and killed her.

The reason I was at my brothers is our youngest brother just passed away on Wednesday. Now Jimmy has lost his dog, too.

DJuana Jean Flowers - It has everything to with breed. Every innate behavior in animals has to do with how they are genetically designed. Pit Bull types are bred to kill other dogs. They kill the vast majority of pets and livestock. They are the #1 killer if infants, children and adults out of all other breeds. The facts are available for anyone who desires truth. It's not new.

Pits have always killed people. It's documented in news and obituaries. It's just that there are so many in our neighborhoods now that we see huge numbers of animals and people suffering death and profound maulings. Don't be fooled.

Olivia Riley - I’m sorry this happened... but please don’t blame the pit bull... blame the owners that raised him wrong... any breed of dog could have done this

Jennie Conway - Pit bulls always kill other animals. They kill more than all other breeds combined. Your pets and children are never safe around pit bulls. I'm so sorry for the loss of your dog. Make a report to the authorities. That killer could next turn on a human.

Jon Zolis - What a joke some dog on the ground no visible harm ZERO blood and you claim it was killed by a pit nothing but bullshit propaganda To all the pit hating commenters give your heads a shake the two neurons you have are filing to fire!

Chantal Clarke - I don't think this person is going to take a picture of a deceased dog just to blame another breed of dog. I absolutely believe this dog was attacked and killed by a pit bull, sadly it happens everyday. My condolences to these people who lost their beloved pet.

 

 

Florida: Sixty-five rat terriers found hoarded inside home by eighty-year-old breeder

FLORIDA -- The county seized 65 dogs on Monday from a Homosassa woman who had called paramedics to her home to aid her ailing husband.

Lora Peckham, who heads the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control, said the 80-year-old woman has a breeding license but had exceeded the maximum number allowed by more than twice.

Authorities chose to not arrest the woman for violating the license, although they did give her a written warning. Instead, she kept seven dogs and released the remaining dogs to the county’s care.

Most of the dogs, rat terriers, are in good shape and being reviewed by a veterinarian at the Citrus County Animal Shelter. The county expects to be able to adopt out the dogs after this week, once they are medically evaluated, Community Services Director Tobey Phillips said.

According to Peckham, this is what happened:

The woman called paramedics on Friday for her husband. Fire department personnel also arrived, and notified Peckham after seeing a number of dogs living in less than ideal conditions.

Peckham said firefighters told her they had seen worse conditions for animals, but many of the dogs were in crates that had not been cleaned.

Animal Control knew of the woman. She’s had a breeder’s license the last two years for 19 to 31 dogs. Officers conducted spot checks but the woman would not allow them in her house, Peckham said.

“We cannot demand entry without a warrant,” she said.

Peckham said she arrived at the house Friday after an ambulance had taken the woman’s husband to a hospital for treatment.

“She wasn’t honest with us about the number of animals,” Peckham said. “We thought it was 30. It was closer to 70.”

Peckham said most of the dogs were in good condition and she didn’t want to bring them to the shelter late on a Friday. So, she gave the woman some conditions to meet over the weekend, such as cleaning the crates, before returning to the home Monday.

“She told me she wants to give up the dogs,” Peckham said.

Peckham said three of the dogs, each more than 16 years old, were euthanized. Peckham attributed poor health to their age, combined with neglect and lack of medical care.

Peckham met Friday with Animal Services Director Morgan Woodward to prepare a plan for the county to accept the dogs, which pushed the number of dogs at the shelter to 177 — well beyond capacity.

On Monday, officials with Animal Control and Animal Services transported dogs from the house to the shelter in Inverness.

“It was phenomenal teamwork and effort,” she said. “It could not have gone any smoother.”

Peckham said rat terriers, Jack Russell-types, are popular with the public. And the seized dogs include four litters of puppies.

The dogs’ seizure came up during Tuesday’s county commission meeting during a discussion led by Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith, who asked that the board appoint a committee to review animal shelter policies.

Smith said Woodward has been on the job for a year and now is a good time to see if policies are working or not.

Smith found no support. Commissioners said if Woodward believes there are policy changes needed, he will bring them to the county’s attention.

(Chronicle Online - Oct 24, 2017)

Colorado: William Roush's Shepherd mix attacked a dog last summer. It was deemed vicious after it nearly killed a Yorkie in March. Now it's attacked a little Rat Terrier, ripping off his ear. What's the point of having a vicious dog law if the owners of dogs deemed vicious can just ignore them?

COLORADO -- An Aspen man whose dog attacked another dog earlier this spring was cited again Friday after the animal ripped a chunk of a dog's ear off at the base of Aspen Mountain, police said Monday.

William Roush's approximately 50-pound shepherd mix was supposed to be muzzled and leashed after it got free and attacked three dogs in March and nearly killed one of them, said Charlie Martin, an Aspen police community resource officer. Roush's dog also attacked another dog last summer.

"This dog has a significant history," Martin said. "We've got to figure out what to do with this thing. This is unacceptable."

Brian Beazley of Basalt said he was walking up the stairs at Gondola Plaza after 8 a.m. Friday with his dog on a leash and his skis on his shoulder when he saw Roush's dog by itself and off-leash coming down the stairs. He said the dog didn't look vicious and he thought nothing of it.

"As he went past my dog, he just turned on him and attacked him," Beazley said Monday. "He just went for his head — he bit his head — then took off down the stairs and was gone."

Beazley's dog — a 40-pound rat terrier mix named Colby — immediately started crying and bleeding profusely, he said.

Beazley later found a piece of his dog's ear about the size of a silver dollar on the ground and tried to keep it cold in the snow but a veterinarian later said it could not be sewn back on.

The dog was not seriously hurt, but could have been if Roush's dog bit him in a more vulnerable spot like his eye, Beazley said.

"If it was a fair dog fight, that's one thing," he said. "But this was a sucker punch."

Beazley said he saw no sign of the dog's owner before taking his dog to the vet. Friends of Beazley's hung out for another 20 minutes and also saw no sign of the owner. The dog, however, did return, and a woman who witnessed the attack took pictures of it and gave them to police, who were able to track down the owner, Beazley said.

"I think it's a case of an irresponsible pet owner," he said.

Roush said he'd been skiing on Aspen Mountain on Friday morning with his dog, Maddy, who was muzzled and on a leash. At one point the two became tangled around a tree and the dog broke loose, he said Monday.

"(The muzzle) came off when we got tangled and she took off," he said.

After the March incident — when a Yorkshire terrier was nearly killed — Roush pleaded guilty in that case to allowing his dog to run at-large and harboring a vicious dog, according to Aspen Municipal Court records.

On April 5, Aspen Municipal Judge Brooke Petersen ordered Roush to keep the dog muzzled and on a leash at all times, records state. The dog also was supposed to be kept inside an electrified chain-link fence.

Roush said he complied with all those terms. He also said the dog bit another dog within Pitkin County last summer.

"She's bit other dogs," he said. "She's not aggressive with a lot of dogs, but it's enough so that we need to make sure this doesn't happen again."

He said he's bought another muzzle for the dog but is looking at other options, "including possibly finding a different place for her to live."

He said he's offered to take care of Beazley's veterinary bills and apologized for Friday's incident.

"We're very sorry," said Roush, who was again cited for having a vicious dog. "(I want to) express that to the owners of the other dog."

Beazley said that while his dog will now have one ear longer than the other, he's healing up.

"He's doing fine," Beazley said. "He's on the mend."

(Aspen Times - May 2, 2017)

Florida: Pit bulls attack 52-year-old woman, her Cocker Spaniel and a neighbor's Chihuahua mix

FLORIDA -- A 52-year-old woman is recovering after being attacked by a dog along Beaconhill Road in Ocean Pines.

The incident happened Wednesday, April 5 at around 11:32 a.m. An Ocean Pines police officer was dispatched to Beaconhill Road for the reported dog bite.

Upon arrival, the officer located Mary Christine Ernst, 52, of Ocean Pines, sitting on her front steps with a towel around her left leg. The responding officer checked her injuries and noticed two long deep lacerations in her left calf with bleeding, a puncture to her right upper arm and scraped knees.

According to a witness, Ernst and her dog, an American Cocker Spaniel, were leaving the witness’s home when he heard her screaming outside. William Jerry Jones, 82, of Ocean Pines, said he quickly ran outside and saw his neighbor’s Pit Bull Terrier biting into the leg of Ernst.

It appears two Pit Bulls had gotten out of a fenced-in gate, according to police. Jones said he managed to get a Pit Bull dog known as “Manny” off of Ernst by kicking it.

But “Manny” then ran into Jones’ attached garage and attacked his 7-year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog.

Armed with a shovel, Jones chased the two Pit Bulls back onto their deck and secured the gate.

Ernst was transported by Ocean Pines EMS to Atlantic General Hospital. Police said “Manny” had attacked the 52 year-old woman, her American Cocker Spaniel and the neighbor’s seven year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog. The Worcester County Animal Control was requested to respond to the scene.

The pit bull was turned over to the Worcester County Animal Control to be euthanized.

Ocean Pines Police Department contacted the dog owners, Robert Leo Riden Jr, 47, and his wife, Geri Riden, 46, both of Ocean Pines. Mr. Riden told police he pulled the sunroom door shut, but may not have shut it all the way. Mr. Riden stated that he had renters insurance.

Mr. Riden was cited for a leash-law violation and was given two $100 Uniform Civil Citations.

(SBYNews - April 11, 2017)

California: Andrew Ramirez, 44, accused of stabbing tiny rat terrier to death while burglarizing garage

CALIFORNIA -- A Riverside man was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 17, after police say he ransacked his neighbor's garage and stabbed a dog there.

The dog, a tiny Rat Terrier, was taken to a veterinarian but ultimately died from the encounter, said Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback.

Officers were called to the 4300 block of Victoria Avenue about 7:45 a.m. Tuesday to find 44-year-old Andrew Ramirez with fresh blood on his shirt, according to a Riverside police statement.

Ramirez was detained while officers tried to find out what happened.

They learned that he had gone into his neighbor's garage, raided it and stabbed the little dog there with a sharp object, the statement said.

Officer Ryan Railsback said Thursday that it's not clear what motivated the attack.

Ramirez was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to an animal and first-degree residential burglary. Bail was set at $35,000 and as of Thursday morning he had not been released from the Robert Presley Detention Center.

(PE.com - Jan 19, 2017)

Texas: Woman's Rat Terrier named Roscoe mauled to death by a pit bull mix

TEXAS -- Our fourteen year old rat terrier was attacked in our yard yesterday by a pit bull mix and he is in very bad shape. We have had him so long that he is like a member of the family. Please keep us in your thoughts. Thank you

Thank everyone that held us in their thoughts and prayers. We lost our fourteen year old rat terrier Roscoe in the night. at least he is no longer suffering, but he will be sorely missed for a long time.

Thank you everyone who has blessed us by sharing in our loss. We buried roscoe this morning in the rain, covered his spot with rocks at the back of our pasture where the ground is not rocky in what will be a sunny place. He loved to lay in the sun,and we can see the rocks from our back porch. It was fitting to bury him in the rain, the world was crying with us. Thank so much for your thoughts.

Texas: On 2-year anniversary of his death, woman remembers her beloved Rat Terrier being mauled to death by two pit bulls

TEXAS -- I cant believe its been 2 years.

Memory from November 5, 2014:

So my last few days have been some of the hardest to deal with in my life. On Tuesday my beautiful baby boy (he is a 4 year old rat terrier for those of you who don't know but a son to me) was viciously attacked by 2 pit bulls. They really tore him up good.

Well he was known and loved by almost everyone he encountered and several of our family members visited him in his last hours.

I'll never forgive the pit bull breed for doing this to him. It does not matter how tame and sweet a pit bull is, they're dangerous and I believe you should need a licence to own one so you have to be taught what they're really capable of. 

I love Texas Daniel Heidelberg more than I love myself. He is gone to rest with my dad now and he will be happy and taken good care of.

For those of you who do not know this, in 2010 I was viciously attacked myself. I could have gotten over it if it would have just happened to me, but they murdered my son. He didn't deserve what he got and neither did I for that matter.

You will be so loved and missed but never forgotten Texas Daniel Heidelberg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michigan: No jail time for disgusting family who profited from puppy mill and abusing dogs

MICHIGAN -- A Northern Michigan family will spend time on probation for running what officials believed was a puppy mill out of their Mio home.

More than 50 dogs were seized from the home, where authorities said they lived in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, late last year.

 

 

 

Bradford Quick cannot own or possess an animal for the rest of his life, an Oscoda County judge said during sentencing Monday, May 16. Quick will spend five years on probation.

He and three others -- Pennie Quick, Noralea Quick and Danielle Quick -- pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty or abandonment of 10 or more animals, a four-year felony.

 

The female defendants received a delayed sentence of one year. They cannot own animals for a year, and they must complete 12 days of community service. Bradford Quick was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service.

Bradford and Pennie Quick were ordered to pay $25,095 in restitution.

The Quicks were arrested after a tip from a concerned citizen led deputies to obtain a search warrant for their home in December. Animal control and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officials seized the dogs.

Responders found a variety of breeds, ranging from puppies to adult dogs, housed in small cages in the basement. There were also dogs kept in overcrowded pens and small wire cages in a shed.

The breeds included English bull dogs, Pomeranians, schnauzers, rat terriers, Boston terriers and pugs.

Veterinarians treated the animals for respiratory issues, eye issues, overgrown nails and fur problems. Following months of medical and behavioral care, they were put up for adoption in Roscommon County in February.

Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response, said the adoption process marked a new beginning for the dogs after living in "unacceptable" conditions.

The ASPCA, a nonprofit based in New York, assisted in the case at the request of animal control officials.

The Quicks were originally charged with five counts of cruelty or abandonment of 10 or more animals and one count of cruelty or abandonment of four to 10 animals. Prosecutors agreed to drop the additional charges as part of the plea deal.

(MLive - May 16, 2016)

Earlier:

• Michigan: Four family members running a puppy mill are charged after more than 50 dogs seized in animal cruelty investigation
• Michigan: Bradford Quick, Pennie Quick, Noralea Quick and Danielle Quick plead guilty in animal cruelty case involving more than 50 dogs

Washington: David Gibson, 32, choked and beat his girlfriend's 9-pound rat terrier to death

WASHINGTON -- A Thurston County man has been accused of choking and beating his girlfriend’s dog to death.

David N. Gibson, 32, appeared Tuesday in Thurston County Superior Court on one count of first-degree animal cruelty. Bail was set at $1,500. Arraignment was set for Feb. 2.

According to court documents, a Thurston County sheriff’s deputy responded Monday to a report that Gibson was suicidal. Before arriving at the home, the deputy learned that an animal-control officer had tried to find and arrest Gibson on probable cause for animal cruelty.

At the scene, Gibson told the deputy he killed the dog because he “snapped.” Gibson said he had been in the kitchen making food when he dropped gravy on the 3-year-old rat terrier named Gurl.

When he tried to give the 9-pound dog a bath, the dog nipped at him. Gibson told the deputy he then choked the dog and slammed her against the tub.

Gibson said the dog was alive after that, but he later choked her again after she nipped at him, court documents say. He said he tried to give the dog CPR after noticing she wasn’t breathing, then took the dog to a veterinarian.

After Tuesday’s hearing, Thurston County animal-control officer Erika Johnson told The Olympian the dog was dead by the time Gibson reached the veterinarian. The veterinarian notified animal control.

“The dog had bruising everywhere,” Johnson said, noting the rat terrier’s small size. “The dog had no chance.”

(Seattle Times - Jan 20, 2016)

St. Clair Co. woman recounts pit bulls mauling her dog to death

ALABAMA -- Two pit bulls had St. Clair County residents scared to leave their homes. The animals reportedly attacked and killed a dog on Wednesday.

WIAT42 had cameras rolling as St. Clair County Animal Control picked up the two dogs from the Pine Road neighborhood on Friday. The owner of the rat terrier that was mauled to death described the scene as a horror show.

“She wasn’t there and I knew, I had a gut feeling something was wrong,” said Donna Moore.

Moore’s gut feeling was correct. She told us her 12-year-old rat terrier, Missy, was torn to shreds by two pit bulls. Her son in law watched in horror as everything unfolded.

“They went back over to her and he said one was on one end and the other was on the other end and was tugging and pulling on her, so he got her and brought her home and buried her for me,” Moore said.

An incident report was filed on Wednesday with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Animal Control picked up the two young pits on Friday.

One concerned resident sent out a message warning people on Pine Road which quickly sparked some action. There has been speculation that the dogs belonged to a family in the area that had moved away.

“I don’t know why the pit bulls were still there or are still there or off chains,” said Moore.

Moore’s biggest concern was her grandchildren.

“I didn’t want my family or my grand babies to come up here for the holidays because I was afraid for them. I’ve been here 20 years and I’ve never been scared to be in my own yard,” she said.

Now that the two dogs have been taken in, Moore says she can breathe a little easier this holiday season.

“My Missy, maybe she can rest in peace and have her justice, and maybe I can rest easy with my grand babies being here,” said Moore.

Animal Control says Moore will have to come in and positively identify the two pit bulls as being the ones that attacked her rat terrier. Other residents in the area we spoke with said although these dogs may have been caught, they do believe there are still other pit bulls on the loose in the area.

(WIAT 42 - Dec 18, 2015)

Texas: Gary Don Williams Arrested for Shooting Neighbor's Dog

TEXAS -- A Waco man is charged with animal cruelty after shooting his neighbors rat terrier with a pellet gun.

Gary Don Williams was arrested July 2 for the incident.

On May 12, Williams allegedly shot the dog three times.

Williams told officers at the time that he "thought he was shooting at a cat" that had been upsetting his pit bulls in the back yard.

It is illegal to injure a common non-livestock animal that would could have an owner in a residential neighborhood in the state of Texas.

(KXXV - July 3, 2015)

Dogs, puppies seized from alleged Soledad hoarder

CALIFORNIA -- The SPCA for Monterey County rescued 30 dogs and puppies from a Soledad house filled to the brim with furniture, trash, boxes and garbage.

On Saturday, SPCA workers received a call from Soledad Animal Control asking for assistance with a suspected hoarding case on Ticino Street, according to a release. Upon arrival, workers discovered numerous dogs and puppies in deplorable conditions.

During the initial visit, workers removed 11 dogs and 10 puppies. On Monday, workers returned with a warrant to seize a remaining nine dogs.

Conditions inside were unsanitary and unlivable.

“In order to move throughout the house, one must walk sideways through narrow, hazardous walkways,” Director Beth Brookhouser said. “Interior surfaces in the house are covered in feces, urine, animal hair and spider webs.”

An overwhelming smell of ammonia and feces permeates the home and throughout the property workers saw hundreds of live rats and mice.

Rescued animals included Shih tzus, Chihuahuas and rat terriers. Many are matted, covered in feces and urine, and display health issues consistent with hoarding and neglect. Common symptoms include very long and untrimmed nails and severe skin issues related to flea infestations.

Veterinary exams will be completed within 24 hours.

This was the fifth large-scale rescue operation performed by the SPCA for Monterey County. Other cases include a Seaside hoarding in July 2012, a Monterey hoarding in April, the St. Francis All Creature Rescue & Sanctuary in June and a Greenfield hoarding in August.

Both Seaside and Monterey hoarders have been convicted. Charges have been filed against the St. Francis owner and submitted to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in the Greenfield case.

Nearly 200 animals were rescued during these SPCA investigations.

Charges will likely be submitted to the DA’s office in the Soledad case.

(The Californian - Oct 22, 2013)

Pit-bull kills family dog, bites man in Lowell

MASSACHUSETTS -- A pit-bull in Lowell killed another dog and bit a man.

 

An entire family was chased out on to the street in front of their apartment in Lowell, including a mother and her ten-month-old baby. They had to wait for Animal Control to arrive to remove the dog.

This is according to the Lowell Sun. An acquaintance apparently brought the dog, described as a pit-bull, inside. The dog went on the attack, killing the family dog, a small rat terrier named Oreo.

Almost everyone ran outside but at least one man tried to stay in to control the dog using sticks and chairs. That man ran out as well after he was bit on the hand.

Animal Control officers brought the dog out after it was seen poking its head out the second floor window. The dog's owner apparently was not at the home when police arrived.

That dog will be quarantined while Lowell Police try to figure out what to do with it.

(WHDH - Sept 2 2013)

Dog's repeated attacks land its owner in jail

TEXAS -- The owner of a dog accused of biting two people in separate incidents Wednesday was arrested on a felony charge after, deputies say, she failed to keep her dog from attacking neighbors despite numerous warnings.

Megan Diann Hubble, 19, of Millsap, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a third-degree felony charge of attack by dog resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to the Parker County sheriff’s office, an animal control officer was dispatched Wednesday morning to Weatherford Regional Medical Center, where a 66-year-old woman reported she had been walking in the 100 block of East Colorado Street in Millsap around 9:30 a.m. when she was attacked by a medium-size, brown dog (a rat terrier mix named Toby).

The woman sustained minor puncture wounds to her right calf and was treated and released from the hospital, according to spokeswoman Deputy Danie Huffman.

When the animal control officer later arrived at the location in Millsap, he observed the dog attacking two females, according to the sheriff’s office. One of the females reportedly had a gash at least two-inches long and sought medical treatment.

The deputy recognized the house, the dog and the dog owner because animal control had responded numerous times to the residence and issued the dog owner citations for dog-at-large, according to the sheriff’s office.

In January, the dog bit another person and was quarantined following that incident, Huffman said.

Due to the severity of the bite, the number of citations previously written and the failure to obey instructions to keep the dog contained, the sheriff’s office arrested Hubble at the scene Wednesday, according to Huffman.

Hubble remained in the jail as bond had not been set Wednesday night.

(Weatherford Democrat - July 25, 2013)

6/04/13: Puppy Mill Owner Jailed

GEORGIA -- Investigators say a "puppy mill" was a horrible case of animal neglect, after the owner of more than 50 dogs turned them over to animal control officers.

Volunteers at Best Friends Humane Society have their hands full trying to nurse the animals back to health.

 

 

"24 adults and 29 puppies-- some of the puppies don't even have their eyes open yet," said Shelly McPhaul of the Humane Society.

Thursday morning, dozens of neglected dogs were brought in by the truckload after they were discovered on Dykes Road.

 

"They were in filthy living conditions, in storage containers mommas with puppies in these kennels, covered in feces, no water no food--- rats were running across the puppies in these kennels. It was a disgusting situation," said McPhaul.

Animal Control officers, a veterinarian, law enforcement officers and officials with the department of agriculture were on scene for hours...investigating the deplorable living conditions called the worst they'd ever seen. Dogs of all ages and breeds living in filth. 

 

 

 

"A lot of them are just skin and bones and hair. Their water bowls have not been cleaned for a very long time, and their kennels had feces everywhere.

And some, exposed to diseases.  "Probably the worst I saw was the rats running on top of puppies."

The veterinarian this morning said rats carry diseases and they would probably contract the disease because the rats had been on them for so long.

 

Now, all the kennels are full. The shelter took in golden retrievers, Papillion's, Yorkies, Pekinese, dachshund cocker spaniels.

 Volunteers have been busy washing, running tests, and feeding the dogs in hopes of saving as many possible.

"We will do the parasite treatment we are doing baths, flea treatments and I'm sure they are covered in parasites."

 

Two litters of puppies have tested positive for Parvo and had to be put down. Yesterday, an officer found two dead puppies at the location.

Some adults that will have to be euthanized because of their health conditions. And some are close to being blind because of the hair in their eyes.

 

Now, these dogs need your help through fostering or adoptions because the shelter is full. Charges against the owner of the dogs are pending.

Volunteers are needed right away.  But if you're interested in fostering or adopting one of these dogs, contact Best Friends Humane Society early next week.

They'll continue monitoring the health of the animals over the weekend.
(WALB - June 4, 2013) (Worthit2u - May 30, 2013)