California: Two months after being attacked by pit bull, Gus the Siamese is still recovering

CALIFORNIA -- Gus, a flame point Siamese, was attacked by a pit bull right after Valentine's Day. His owners have set up a GoFundMe after the pit bull's owners refused to pay the bill for the destruction their vicious dog caused.

It's been three months of non-stop care for Gus as well as numerous trips to the vet. Their most recent post says that it may take poor Gus ANOTHER SEVEN MONTHS to fully heal. 

This means seven more months of monitoring Gus to make sure he's doing ok, giving him his medication (ever tried pilling a cat?), more trips back and forth to the vet to get Gus checked out and lots and lots of money for vet bills. 

Their GoFundMe hasn't picked up much traction since I posted their original story last month, so I'm re-posting along with the updates showing how much Gus' owners love him. Please share their GoFundMe link to help Gus.

GoFundMe link: Gus's vet $$ from pit bull attack
Created February 18, 2017 by Donna L. Hollander
WHITTIER, CA

Gus, our flame point Siamese, was attacked by a pit bull Thursday afternoon February 16.

Gus followed John down to the garage.  Gus likes to follow John, my husband, everywhere. So it wasn’t unusual that Gus followed John down to the street to our garage.  Gus is almost exclusively an indoor cat, but he likes to sit in the sun and pee on plants. Gus had meandered across the street and was standing behind a car.

A man was being walked by his pit bull, on a ten foot long leash.  The dog saw Gus and lunged for him.  John grabbed the dog by the ears and shook him screaming (and kicking) to let go, the man held on to the leash...  I heard the commotion and saw Gus in the mouth of the dog and I started screaming, running downstairs to help.

John was able to get Gus out of the dog's mouth. Gus immediately retreated under the car.  John was able to pull him out by the tail.  I grabbed the pet carrier and drove Gus immediately to the vet who said his injuries were too extensive for them to handle.

They were able to tell us that Gus' right arm was crushed below his elbow a bone was dislocated and the tendon severed. Additionally half of his right rear foot was mangled.  

John met me at the vet’s and we drove Gus 30 miles to the emergency animal hospital in Tustin.  The amazing vets there performed a two hour surgery Friday night.  The Doctor is happy with the outcome, but said time will tell.

The dog’s owner initially said he would pay for the vet bills, and gave us contact info, but after learning that the bills would be between $4500 and $5800, has stopped answering our calls.

We are currently pursuing all the avenues a responsible pet owner would do to convince the irresponsible dog owner to step/grow/own up. We have reached out to him through phone calls, texts and a letter, to no avail.

In the mean time we need any and all help with the bills now. The hospital asked for half down. . We were able to use the $2000 on my care credit but we had to come up with the $3400 balance to bail Gus out and now we need a bit of bailing out ourselves!  Any amount of help is appreciated.   We can trade cat hair in great quantities...

They've posted a lot of updates about poor Gus. You can start reading here to see the earlier updates: Pit bull owners says he'll pay the vet bills after his dog mauls cat, but changes his mind when he finds out how high the bills are - leaving the poor cat's owners stuck with the $6,000 bill

Update 1
We came back from the Vet today and Gus got re-bandaged in beautiful blue. The Dr. said he’s doing well; he got his stitches out, and got more pain meds. Dr. said the healing is just going to take awhile.

John and I have been having long discussions about taking this guy to small claims court and at first we were all in. The thing is, this guy is a bad dude. The animal control officer backed away from his house when there was a threatening note on the door and it smelled of pot. She told us that the police are aware of him and his neighbor. He lives just down the road from us and it just doesn’t feel safe to pursue this.

So on that note I am asking all of you, our friends and those who have come to know our Gus a little bit to please share this far and wide. We appreciate any and all help.

Update 2
So yesterday was a bit difficult for our Gus. John had gone outside and I was working downstairs. I thought the door to the downstairs was closed but it was open. Gus not wanting to be alone came looking for me down the stairs. Shocked the hell out of me when I hear him meowing at the bottom of the stairs.

The rest of the day he was just in pain. Poor boy.
So today he's hanging with John, his favorite place.

Update 3
Today has just been hard. Gus' bandages came off but his right front leg is raw. He was licking it too much and making it worse. I re bandaged it on the way home from the vets. I made it a bit too tight, but I knew that we were going to redo it when we got home. So we waited a little while because he was exhausted and then around 4:00 we put Cortizone on it and re-bandaged it. Gus was in pain, he was mad, and all-around in a miserable place. The bandage was put on a little loosely. So he tried to lick it off. I ended up having to put the cone of shame on him. He really hated that. So today Gus is really confronting the damage, the wound, and his leg not working the way he's used to it working. Having had broken bones myself I recognize his actions and they trigger very old memories and me. This is been a hard day all around.

Update 4
Gus and I went to the Vet today, he was a bit more whiny then usual. We are cutting back on the pain killers (maybe not a good idea on a long car ride). He's doing well. The Vet said it takes 3 to 4 months for the bone to heal. So although he is walking, the metal plate is taking the weight and it is important to not let him jump down.

Update 5
Gus saw the Dr. last week and now we get a break from the doctor for 3 weeks. The doctor said it's just going to take time to heal. For an older cat 3 to 4 months. No jumping down because the bone isn't healed even though he's walking on it. It really is the metal bar in his leg that is taking the weight. Gus is still in pain, though we are trying to cut back on the pain meds. He still has nightmares and wakes up 3 to 4 times a night. So we are still sleep deprived. And he sleeps a lot during the day, but then he always did.

Update 6
We went to the Vet today. It's been almost a month and a half. Gus is doing lots better but the vet says it might take 7 more months for his bone to completely heal.

We baby him. He's still in pain but only gets pain drugs once a day.
I just want to thank everyone for all the support that you've given. It's been a challenge.

Earlier:

• California: Pit bull owners says he'll pay the vet bills after his dog mauls cat, but changes his mind when he finds out how high the bills are - leaving the poor cat's owners stuck with the $6,000 bill

California: Pit bull owners says he'll pay the vet bills after his dog mauls cat, but changes his mind when he finds out how high the bills are - leaving the poor cat's owners stuck with the $6,000 bill

CALIFORNIA -- Ester Roi posted on Facebook March 6, 2017

Gus, a friend's cat, was attacked by a pit bull dog 2 and a half weeks ago and the bills are at almost $6,000.00 Please help if you can. <3

GoFundMe link: Gus's vet $$ from pit bull attack

Created February 18, 2017 by Donna L. Hollander
WHITTIER, CA

Gus, our flame point Siamese, was attacked by a pit bull Thursday afternoon February 16.  Gus followed John down to the garage.  Gus likes to follow John, my husband, everywhere. So it wasn’t unusual that Gus followed John down to the street to our garage.  Gus is almost exclusively an indoor cat, but he likes to sit in the sun and pee on plants. Gus had meandered across the street and was standing behind a car.

A man was being walked by his pit bull, on a ten foot long leash.  The dog saw Gus and lunged for him.  John grabbed the dog by the ears and shook him screaming (and kicking) to let go, the man held on to the leash...  I heard the commotion and saw Gus in the mouth of the dog and I started screaming, running downstairs to help.

John was able to get Gus out of the dog's mouth. Gus immediately retreated under the car.  John was able to pull him out by the tail.  I grabbed the pet carrier and drove Gus immediately to the vet who said his injuries were too extensive for them to handle.

They were able to tell us that Gus' right arm was crushed below his elbow a bone was dislocated and the tendon severed.  Additionally half of his right rear foot was mangled.  

John met me at the vet’s and we drove Gus 30 miles to the emergency animal hospital in Tustin.  The amazing vets there performed a two hour surgery Friday night.  The Doctor is happy with the outcome, but said time will tell.

The dog’s owner initially said he would pay for the vet bills, and gave us contact info, but after learning that the bills would be between $4500 and $5800, has stopped answering our calls.

We are currently pursuing all the avenues a responsible pet owner would do to convince the irresponsible dog owner to step/grow/own up. We have reached out to him through phone calls, texts and a letter, to no avail.


In the mean time we need any and all help with the bills now. The hospital asked for half down. . We were able to use the $2000 on my care credit but we had to come up with the $3400 balance to bail Gus out and now we need a bit of bailing out ourselves!  Any amount of help is appreciated.   We can trade cat hair in great quantities...

Thank you all.

Updates:
We got Gus home yesterday at about at about 3. He really didn't want to be left alone. So John John read and Gus slept on him....I ended up making a bed next to Gus on the bathroom floor and sleeping with him snuggled next to me all night. We'll see how long that lasts.

We went to the Vet today Gus got his bandages changed. They took the big one off and the Dr. was gonna leave it that way but I was concerned about Gus putting weight on his wrist and not using his toes. So he just wrapped his wrist and toes. Long ride home. Sleeping in the sun is good. We put the tea shirt on him instead of the cone.

Gus likes to sun himself in the mornings. He is wearing an old tee from when our youngest was a toddler(19 years ago, amazing the things you keep). He doesn't like the "Cone of Shame" and this is a better way of keeping him from licking his healing stitches and shaved skin.
Again thank you to everyone who has been there for us emotionally, monetarily, and physically.

It has been suggested we take the owner of the pit bull to small claims court. We are. However even if we win that doesn't me we'll get paid. From everything we have seen the guy lives his life as responsibly as he walks his dog.

Gus' new shirt.

 

California: Siamese cat attacked by pit bull, took 8 people to pry the dog off of him

CALIFORNIA -- The beautiful Siamese is at East Valley Animal Shelter. IDA1666634. He was viciously attacked by a pit bull. It took eight people to pry the dog off of him. He is expected to be fine. His skin needs to heal over.

His due out date is 11/19 (*My Birthday ) Please as my present adopt, or rescue this angel. He has seen enough . He is on a microchip hold that was never
registered :(

The neighborhood believes he may have been dumped. He's at the East Valley animal shelter, Van Nuys Calif 1 818 756-9323.

Camille Winter charged with animal cruelty after her Siamese was found covered in maggots

CANADA -- An Ottawa woman has been charged with failing to meet the standards of care after a 12-year-old cat was found earlier this month face down in a flowerbed and covered with maggots.

The Ottawa Humane Society says its agent first thought the Siamese named Kia was dead, until he touched her and she took a shallow breath.

The cat was in such poor condition, she had to be euthanized.

Camille Winter is also charged with permitting an animal to be in distress and is scheduled to appear in court October 15th.

(580 CFRA Radio - Sept 2, 2015)

John Justin Leary tried to drown stepson's kitten in anger

AUSTRALIA -- A QUIZMASTER convicted of trying to drown his stepson’s kitten on the shores of Kirribilli House has been told his ­actions were “an atrocious display of ­humanity at its worst”.

John Justin Leary, who lived close to the Prime Minister’s official residence, “went nuts” before throwing Cleo the cat into Sydney Harbour on January 21, 2014.

Cleo was lucky to survive after being thrown into Sydney Harbour;
she clawed her way out of a paper bag before being rescued by bystanders.

The 46-year-old threw the Siamese cat off Lady Gowrie Lookout at midday after storming out of the million-dollar Kirribilli Ave apartment he used to share with his partner and her son.

Workmen eating their lunch nearby heard meowing from the water ­before seeing the kitten tear out of the heavy-duty paper bag in which she had been ­encased. They encouraged her to swim 5m to shore before plucking her to safety.

John Justin Leary tried to kill his stepson’s cat
by throwing it into Sydney Harbour

Leary tried unsuccessfully to ­retrieve the kitten a short time later.

“My stepson is a homosexual and very attached to the cat, and won’t give it up,” Leary told witnesses, according to RSPCA facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court.

Leary also told witnesses the cat scratched his newborn baby’s face and claimed his partner told him to hit the animal over the head with a hammer, something he said he had refused to do.

The RSPCA facts tendered to court say there was no baby.

Leary was convicted on June 17 of one count of aggravated animal cruelty, prohibited from owning animals for 10 years, fined $2,000 and ordered to pay veterinary costs of $398.

RSPCA NSW chief inspector David O’Shannessy said the incident was ­unusual because it was a “premeditated attack on a defenseless animal”.
(Perth Now - June 20, 2015)

Maine: Cat neutered with rubber band, abandoned

MAINE -- Officials say a local animal shelter is caring for a cat that someone tried to neuter with a rubber band and then abandoned in a vacant apartment.

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society received the cat from a Lewiston landlord Tuesday evening, just before closing. Shelter Manager Zach Black said the landlord found the cat in a vacant Blake Street apartment after the renters had moved out. The cream-colored, lynx-point cat appeared to be injured.

The shelter's veterinarian discovered that someone had tried to neuter the cat with a rubber band and the area was badly infected and rotting.

The cat underwent surgery and treatment at a vet hospital. He was returned to the shelter Thursday, where he is recovering and receiving antibiotics.

Despite the injuries, Black said, "He is super friendly — a purr machine."

The shelter named the cat Blake after the street where he was found. They believe he is about 3 years old and part Siamese.

Lewiston Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout said he had spoken to two witnesses and the District Attorney's Office, and he expects to charge someone soon with cruelty to animals.

"I've seen this before," Strout said. "Somebody did it, I think, on a dog once. They tried to claim, 'Well, they do it on sheep.' They don't even use rubber bands on sheep. It's a banding process. And there's a correct way to do it. Under no circumstances do you use that on a dog or a cat."

Black called what was done to the cat "cruel," and unnecessary, because the shelter offers free spaying and neutering for cats.

"Maybe these people just may have been uneducated on the proper way that you take care of it. We don't really know," Black said. "But we just really want to encourage people to take advantage of our spay-neuter program. If this cat was being a nuisance or something because he was spraying or marking or being aggressive because he wasn't neutered, we just want people to reach out to us as a resource to help them with those types of things, rather than taking it into their own hands."

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society provides free vouchers to anyone in Androscoggin County or the towns it serves outside the county, including Canton, Hebron and New Gloucester. The vouchers allow owners to get their cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies at no cost.
Ten area vets accept the vouchers.

The program is not income-based.

The shelter runs a similar program for owners of pit bulls. 

Blake is expected to be put up for adoption when he recovers, which is likely to take another five to seven days.

(Lewiston Sun Journal  - ‎Aug 1, 2014‎)

Roaming Dogs Attack & Kill West Richland Family Cat

WASHINGTON --  A West Richland woman is distraught after she says a group of roaming dogs attacked and killed her cat.

The Orman's actually think the dogs could be from around their neighborhood. They say they saw collars on most of them.

Three year-old Angel the cat was in the yard Thursday morning like she is every day, but she could not survive the group of dogs roaming onto her yard out for blood.

The attack happened just off of West Van Giesen Street on South 40th Avenue. When the Orman's came out after noticing something was wrong through the window, they were too late.

Loretta Orman had been researching the breeds of dogs she thinks they watched run off from their yard.

"We were looking out the window and my husband saw her lying there and she didn't look right. He said something's wrong. All of a sudden I jumped up too and we saw a dog going back to her on the ground. We ran out there and the dogs ran away. She was gone," she explained.

As sad as they are, the Orman's think this could all have been avoided if others were more accountable for their animals. When we spoke with officers Friday they explained that in the city of West Richland if your dog is off your property it needs to be on a leash.

(KULR - Mar 29, 2014)

Owners catch neighbor hanging their beloved Siamese named Coralie

UNITED KINGDOM -- A cat owner fought to save his pet's life after a neighbour tried to hang it in his shed to 'teach it a lesson' for soiling in his garden.

Karl Dyke, 52, wrapped a slip knot noose around the throat of three-year-old female Siamese Coralie before attempting to hang her in July.

Owners Michael and Tracey Lawrence heard their cat meowing in distress and rushed out to find her.

When Mr Lawrence went round to Dyke's shed in Redhill, Hereford, he was shocked when he saw his neighbour holding the rope with Coralie dangling from it.

Hereford Magistrates' Court heard Mr Lawrence and Dyke grappled and the cat managed to escape.

The petrified puss ran away with the noose still attached to her neck and was found shaking in fear underneath a car.

Mr and Mrs Lawrence, aged 43 and 31 respectively, rushed the moggy to Belmont Vets in Hereford where she was found to have multiple neck injuries.

She also suffered soft tissue damage to her neck and had a small cut on her lower lip.

Mr Lawrence told the court that when he opened the door to the shed he found Dyke hanging the cat from a rope.

He said: 'The cat's face was contorted and it looked moments from death. I was shocked, I just couldn't believe it. He had a smile on his face while doing it.'

Dyke told the court he hanged the cat to 'teach her a lesson' because she kept going to the toilet in his garden.

He said he had intended to suspend the cat from a table in his shed 'for a few hours' before releasing it when he went to bed.

Dyke admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal when he appeared before JPs saying it was a 'very foolish thing to do' but denied trying to kill the cat.

 

Magistrates rejected this and Dyke was warned he would be sentenced accordingly.

Chairman of the bench Roger Phillips told him: 'We are sure he was trying to kill the cat and will sentence on that basis.'

Dyke was released on conditional bail and was ordered to return to court next week for sentencing

(Daily Mail - Nov 5, 2013)

California: Animal Cruelty Investigation: "Saint Francis All Creature Rescue and Sanctuary" and its owner, Crystal Kisicki accused of cruelty

CALIFORNIA -- More than 60 animals were rescued from deplorable conditions at a non-profit rescue group's makeshift shelter in the foothills above Squaw Valley.

Central California SPCA officers made the discovery Wednesday after members of the SPCA for Monterey County called sheriff's deputies to the area in eastern Fresno County.

  

The reporter on scene commented about the horrific stench surrounding
him, making it difficult to breathe.

 Officers say the animals were discovered in various stages of emaciation.

"Several of [the animals] were chained up. Most had no food or water provided for them. And all of them were so emaciated that they could have passed away very soon," said Beth Caffrey with the Central California SPCA

Workers are attempting to nurse them back to health at the Fresno facility.

Some of the animals seized include a 1-year-old female Cocker spaniel/poodle mix, a 3-year-old female Yorkie, a 5-month-old male Yorkie puppy, a 2-year-old female Pomeranian, a 4-year-old male Chihuahua mix, a 5-year-old female Chihuahua mix, a 3-month-old female Chihuahua puppy, a 5-month-old male terrier mix puppy, and two young cockatiels.

The Director of the Monterey facility says her officers are investigating and building a case against the group known as "Saint Francis All Creature Rescue and Sanctuary" and its owner, Crystal Kisicki.

 

 

This week, Monterey County animal officers say they stopped Kisicki from selling 17 animals outside a San City Petsmart.

Officers say the fourteen dogs, two birds and a cat all with various problems, including worms and scabies.

The SPCA for Monterey County hopes to submit the proposed animal cruelty charges on Friday.

 

Beth Brookhouser with the SPCA for Monterey County says, "The SPCA wants people to know even if a group is calling themselves a rescue group, always trusts your instincts. If it doesn't look right it probably isn't."

(KMPH - Jun 21, 2013)

'Dangerous dog' concerns in Center Point after deputy shoots pit bull; pets killed by dogs

ALABAMA -- Although a city ordinance bans pit bulls and other "dangerous dogs" inside city limits, recent incidents have raised concerns about the animals.

Mary Margaret Hampton on Thursday told city council members three pit bulls belonging to a neighbor entered her yard twice since January, killing her Siamese cat and a Chihuahua puppy.

"They tried to attack me," Hampton said. "They tore the gate off the porch and tried to get into my house."

On Wednesday, a Jefferson County deputy sheriff shot a pit bull that lunged at him in Center Point. The dog was one of three that chased a woman into her house, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian. Another of the dogs was captured.

After Hampton's cat was killed, the neighbor's dogs were quarantined and the owners were told they had a week to get rid of the animals or a citation would be issued, a deputy told city officials Thursday night. Despite the warning, the animals were later brought back.

Mayor Tom Henderson said that happens all too often.

"Write them a citation right then. They're illegal period," Henderson said.

Other city officials agreed.

"You have to issue the citation to get the court process started," said Council President Roger Barlow.

Council member Linda Kennemur, chairwoman of the public safety committee, said the issue would be a good topic of discussion for the next community watch meeting, being held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The city Council in 2008 passed what it calls a "dangerous dog ordinance" that outlaws the keeping of pit bulls and any dogs "with a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked" or any dog that is aggressive by nature.

(blog.al.com - Mar 29, 2013)

Dog violence, aggressive behavior ignites outrage in Brevard

After kitten killed, residents, cities seek solutions to aggressive dogs

FLORIDA -- Glancing out the window from her kitchen sink, Bobra Cobb was shocked to see a tan pit bull standing in her back yard, eyeing her 7-month-old kitten, Sunshine.

Seconds later, the pit bull lunged onto the patio and seized the cat in its jaws.

Bobra and her husband, Roy, rushed outside and tried to save Sunshine. Roy suffered a broken pinky and puncture wounds on his hands trying to pry the dog’s mouth open, and Bobra repeatedly struck the dog’s head with a decorative concrete patio stone.

“When the cat stopped moving, he let it go. We hoped it was alive — but he died within seconds,” Bobra Cobb recalled, standing on her patio at the attack site.

Five weeks after Sunshine’s New Year’s Day death, residents in the Flamingo Lane neighborhood remain “highly concerned and incensed,” Melbourne Beach Town Manager Bill Hoskovec said.

They’re not alone: In recent months, similar unleashed-dog violence and aggressive behavior has attracted attention across the Space Coast.

• In another Melbourne Beach attack, an unleashed Chinese shar pei-Labrador mix charged off a front porch last month and attacked a schnauzer on Sixth Avenue. The smaller dog’s internal organs were left exposed from an abdominal wound, a police report shows, though the dog survived.

A Palm Bay police officer required surgery after a roaming pit bull-Mastiff mix bit his hand in early November in a Eatonia Street Northwest front yard.

• And two weeks ago, a Brevard County animal enforcement officer captured two loose Palm Bay dogs that had trapped a woman inside her car in her Americana Boulevard driveway.

Last week, the Melbourne Beach Town Commission discussed dog attacks during a two-hour special meeting. Town Attorney Paul Gougelman will now research methods to crack down on owners whose dogs bite, chase or menace adults, children and pets.

Gougelman said he understands residents’ fears and frustrations. However, he said Florida law and county ordinances govern management of troublemaking animals, not the town.

“I can’t change the state law. If I could, I’d change it tomorrow morning,” Gougelman said.

The Florida Legislature has prohibited breed-specific local ordinances since 1990. Also, if a dog attacks someone’s pet, state law requires a second documented attack on a domestic animal before that dog can be formally declared “dangerous.”

Melbourne Beach resident John Hall wasn’t satisfied with this explanation of Florida’s “one free bite” rule.

“If I had gone to the neighbor’s house and shot that cat, you would have come over and perp-walked me,” Hall said, pointing at a town police officer .

Town resident Jan Meeks agreed.

“Bottom line is, we don’t feel safe. Our animals don’t feel safe. It’s time to do something,” Meeks said at the public comment podium.

Gougelman recommended that residents lobby the Florida House and Senate and the Brevard County Commission for tougher dog legislation.

Among the ideas now under consideration by Melbourne Beach leaders:
• Document neighborhood complaints of threatening dog behavior. If the dog owner fails to resolve the issue, he or she must buy $300,000 in liability insurance.
Commissioner Jay Gurecki proposed the idea.
• Create a dog registration system that imposes increasing fees on owners of poorly behaved animals.
• Craft a town ordinance that levels civil fines on owners of dogs that attack others.
• Make dog owners muzzle their animals outdoors and increase fines for owners of unleashed dogs.

The Cobbs have publicly called for changes to Florida law, contending that pit bulls are hazardous animals.

“You know what it’s going to take? It’s not going to be a cat. It’s going to be a child that gets bitten in the face, or a child that gets their scalp torn off,” Bobra Cobb said.

Miami-Dade is Florida’s sole county that outlaws pit bulls because its 1989 ban was grandfathered by the Legislature. Dahlia Canes is president of the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation.
Contacted for comment by FLORIDA TODAY, Canes offered to drive to Melbourne Beach and give a presentation to commissioners.

“Look at the end of the leash. The problem is the two-legged, not the four-legged,” Canes said.

“The problem with breed-specific legislation is there are 75 targeted breeds of dogs in our nation. It’s not only about pit bulls,” she said. “It is costly to enforce, and it does not protect the general public. It gives them a false sense of security.”

Peachy, the roaming pit bull that killed Sunshine, is owned by Richard Green, who lives a few doors down from the Cobbs. Green was cited for animal attack causing injury ($220 fine), animal causing property damage ($100 fine), and animal at large ($55 fine), said Kathy Beatson, interim county animal services director.

Green received a dangerous dog warning letter. If a similar attack occurs, the county may seize Peachy, said Bob Brown, animal enforcement captain.

Palm Bay police officer Phil Erwin suffered a cut on his left hand in November when he was bitten by a brindle-and-white pit bull-Mastiff mix named Damion, Brown said.

Erwin was dispatched to the 1700 block of Eatonia Street NW because Damion was loose. Damion bit Erwin in a front yard. Erwin fired once at the dog, but he missed.

Erwin’s wounds required surgery, said Yvonne Martinez, police spokeswoman. He declined comment for this story.

Damion’s owner, Donna Gordon, was cited for animal attack causing injury ($220 fine) and owner responsibility ($55 fine). She surrendered Damion , and he was euthanized, Brown said.

In the Jan. 25 Melbourne Beach schnauzer attack, Bella, the aggressor dog, was placed on 10-day home quarantine. Bella’s owner, Karen Frauenhofer, was fined $55 for failure to properly secure an animal, Beatson said.

The schnauzer survived the attack. Frauenhofer said she apologized to the schnauzer’s owner, and she offered to pay for the veterenarian bills.

“Now, she’s going to be an indoor dog. And when she goes outside, she’s going to have a muzzle on,” Frauenhofer said. “We’re also reinforcing our fence.

Bobra and Ray Cobb have a new kitten these days
after 7-month-old Sunshine was attacked and killed
in their back yard. Ray was hurt in the incident

“I don’t want anybody’s dog to get hurt. I’m just really sorry about what happened,” she said.

The Cobbs say they are shocked that Peachy is allowed to remain in their neighborhood. So is their neighbor, Nancy Lavoro, who said Peachy barged into her house during Thanksgiving weekend .

“To our horror, a pit bull came trotting up the street — and ran into my front door. Next thing I know, the pit bull is running after my dogs through the living room, into the kitchen, and into my laundry room,” Lavoro recalled.

“I was thankful my kids were out of sight,” she said.

(Florida Today - Feb 6, 2013)

Animal Control Officer's pit bulls go on attack, killing spree

Ormond animal control officer's dogs euthanized for killing cat

FLORIDA -- Two dogs belonging to an Ormond Beach community services officer — which includes animal control duties — were euthanized this week after the canines killed a cat and attacked a man in his driveway, a police report shows.

The attacks occurred on Nov. 16 after two pit bull mixes belonging to Shannon Champion were running loose in the Hidden Hills community off Granada Boulevard, the report states.

The dogs — a 7-year-old named Lady and a 4-year-old named Ryder — were put to sleep Tuesday afternoon because Champion thought their behavior was unpredictable, the report shows.

Animal Control Officer Shannon Champion

The afternoon of Nov. 16, just after 3:30, Ray Bainter said he was in his driveway in the 100 block of Heritage Circle. Bainter said he was walking back to his house, when two dogs "came out of nowhere" and attacked him, the report shows.

"They were running toward me. I looked at them and they looked at me," Bainter said Wednesday. "One of them was in the air coming toward my face.

"I was scared," Bainter said.

At that point, Bainter said he grabbed a stick that was on his porch. He said he struck the dogs and they ran off. Bainter called police and as he spoke to Community Service Officer Justin Soard, a woman drove up in front of his residence. The woman told Soard that two dogs fitting the same description as the animals who jumped at Bainter had attacked her Siamese cat, the report states.

As the woman explained what was happening, Bainter said Champion arrived at his house.

Both officers then went to the residence where the cat was mauled.

Mark Andrews told police that he witnessed the feline — named Sebastian — getting tossed around "like a rag doll," by the two dogs, the report shows.

Andrews said the cat was outside when Champion's dogs approached. Andrews said his own two dogs were inside and they began barking wildly.

"I went to see what was happening and I saw them (Champion's dogs) shredding my cat," Andrews said. "The two pit bulls came in my yard and ate my cat."

According to the report, Soard and Champion went looking for the dogs after the cat was hurt. Soard said he and Champion spotted the animals running near Heritage Circle and Hidden Hills Boulevard.

Champion said the dogs were hers and she took them back to her nearby residence on Nightingale Lane, the report says.

Reached at her office at Ormond Beach police headquarters Wednesday, Champion declined comment, deferring questions to police spokesman Lt. Kenny Hayes.

Hayes said Champion will not be cited for the dog attack because she chose to euthanize the two canines. The reason for a citation is to compel animal owners to comply with the city's running at large or dangerous dog ordinances.

"In the case where the dogs are euthanized, there is no further threat of a violation and therefore no need for enforcement," Hayes wrote in an email.

[No, no, no. Even if they surrender the dogs to be put down, you cite them on principle. You want something on record with the court system that this person owned this dog that did this horrible thing. They can be held more accountable when they go out and get another dog and this new dog does the same thing. They shouldn't be allowed to simply hand over the dog and wash their hands of the 'unpleasant' matter.]

The day after the attack, Andrews said Champion came to his home and told him the dogs belonged to her husband. Champion's husband, Vince Champion, is a former Ormond Beach policeman. He is now president of the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association, a union that represents police officers in Volusia and Flagler counties.

Andrews says he hopes Champion will pay the veterinarian bills for his cat.

(Daytona Beach News-Journal - Nov 21, 2012)