Florida: Utility worker beats Pug to death; claims it bit him

FLORIDA -- On Valentine’s Day, a young woman’s small dog was killed by a Gainesville Regional Utilities employee who hit with a pry bar.

In a Facebook post, with more than 500 shares, Kiley Walker said it took two more days before she learned how her pug, Bentley, died.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) officials claimed to The Sun that the event was unfortunate and that the dog, accompanied by a pit bull mix, became aggressive, leaving the employee with few options.

GRU is not releasing the employee’s name because of what they claim were  online threats.

Billy Gault, a meter operations supervisor, said it’s the first such incident he’s encountered during his 20-plus-year career.

“We’re not out to hurt or harm any dogs,” he said. “We’re out there just trying to do our job.”

On Feb. 14, Doug Mercer, GRU’s utility operations manager, said a truck dropped off meter readers on Northwest 35th Street. He said two dogs quickly came running down the block, headed for the GRU workers and appeared to suddenly become aggressive.

Mercer claims the Pug was biting a GRU employee’s leg, while the larger dog started to growl. The employee then [beat the small dog with an 18-inch metal pry bar] used to lift manholes, he said.

GRU officials say the employee followed protocol and training received from Bulli Ray, a company that specializes in training employees around the country on how to avoid dog attacks.

David Warm, a GRU spokesman, said the utility had at least three employees bitten in 2017, one that sent a man to UF Health Shands Hospital. GRU has logged about 30 dog bites over the last 10 years, he added.

Mercer said the GRU employee will not be disciplined.

“He was trying to defend himself from two loose dogs that weren’t at its residence,” he said. “They were running loose in the neighborhood.”

Walker, in her Facebook post, said she questioned the workers after finding her dog, but wasn’t given any answers. Gault said Walker left the scene, distraught, carrying her dog, assuming a car ran him over.

Two days later, GRU officials told Walker what happened.

“There is no excuse for this kind of animal cruelty,” Walker wrote. “A grown man thought he needed to defend himself against a pug who isn’t even 25 pounds. Bentley should have not been hit so hard that he was killed. This is animal cruelty being swept under the rug.”

Walker has received a wide amount of support and condolences on her post, with some suggesting she sue the city-owned utility.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Gault said. “We are very sorry for what happened.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Kiley Walker posted on Facebook February 20, 2018 ·

This year on Valentine’s Day my baby boy Bentley was killed by a worker for the Gainesville Regional Utilities, FL (GRU).

Without my roommates and I knowing, our lawn guys left the back gate open after mowing the yard Wednesday morning. Bentley and Luna (a roommates dog) were let outside to play. They escaped through the open gate and began to roam the neighborhood without any of us knowing.

As soon as we realized they were missing, we immediately started running around the neighborhood looking for them. Luna was found but Bentley was not.

My roommate noticed a few GRU trucks and workers down the street and decided to go ask if they’d seen anything, and when she approached them they seemed flustered. They asked if she was looking for a pug and when she said yes they said he was laying up here. She ran up to find Bentley’s limp body in the grass.

She asked them repeatedly if they knew what happened to him and each time they mentioned there were cars driving by and the dogs chasing a meter stick but never clearly addressed what had killed him. We assumed that whoever did it hit and run in a car.

On Friday, 2 supervisors of GRU came by my house to inform my roommates and I that Bentley had in fact not been hit by a car but that a worker that was on scene during the accident had really struck and hit him with a meter stick, and that was what killed him.

He claimed that Bentley (a pug) was charging them and this was an act of self defense. Anyone who knows Bentley knows that he was the sweetest boy. There is no excuse for this kind of animal cruelty.

A grown man thought he needed to defend himself against a pug who isn't even 25 pounds. Bentley should have not been hit so hard that he was killed. This is animal cruelty being swept under the rug.

The workers of this company let my roommates and I believe that someone had hit my sweet Bentley in a car, all the while they sat and watched us cry over his dead body knowing what they had done but said nothing.

And still they continue to do nothing about the situation. They will not release this awful mans name to me. Please help share bentleys story to protect future innocent animals and bring justice to my little man. #JusticeForBentleyBoy

Note: Unfortunately, unless a witness comes forward or someone nearby had surveillance cameras, this guy is going to get away with it. She needs to sue them in order to force them to provide her with documentation showing that this guy actually went to a doctor and was bitten. He needs to be deposed by her attorney, his coworker needs deposed. His criminal history needs to be looked in to. Yes, you have a right to defend yourself if attacked by a dog, but give me a break... a Pug?! 


North Carolina: Plumber is fired from PF Plumbing for viciously kicking client's dog in the face, but what about the coworker who saw it and never told his employer what this guy had done???


Texas: Entergy utilities employee caught on camera pepper spraying small dog


Texas: CenterPoint worker caught on tape for animal cruelty

Texas: Homeowner calling for changes after Entergy worker pepper sprays her dogs

(Gainesville Sun - February 21, 2018)

North Carolina: Plumber is fired from PF Plumbing for viciously kicking client's dog in the face, but what about the coworker who saw it and never told his employer what this guy had done???

NORTH CAROLINA -- An employee at a Winston-Salem plumbing company lost his job after a video showing him kicking a dog inside a house went viral on Facebook on Wednesday.

A woman with the Facebook profile name Kelly Nicole posted a 34-second video clip showing two men coming into a living room on the way to the kitchen with a dog barking at their heels.

The man in the front, wearing a white shirt, kicks the dog toward the couch, then continues into the kitchen. 

The dog pauses for a moment, then continues to follow the two men, barking.

The post had more than 1,800 shares and more than 550 comments Wednesday evening.

By 9 p.m., the video had been removed from Kelly Nicole’s Facebook page. She stated in an updated post she had spoken with the company, PF Plumbing.

“I would like to note the company did express a heartfelt sincere apology and made sure our dog was OK.” She added she would still recommend the company.

Kelly Nicole previously stated on her Facebook page, “see the video below of what this scumbag did to our completely harmless dog this morning,” as well as posting a screenshot of a truck of PF Plumbing.

Teresa Freer, corporate secretary and owner of PF Plumbing, confirmed the company was at the house Wednesday morning for new construction.

After the video was posted, Freer said the company’s phone had been ringing off the hook.

She said the employee, who has worked at PF Plumbing for years and has pets of his own, has been terminated. 

I'm sure he regularly kicks his own dogs in the face for no reason...

She declined to identify the employee.

“I didn’t expect this,” Freer said. “It’s unacceptable.”

After getting kicked in the face, the dog retreats, dazed

In a post on the company’s Facebook page, Freer said PF Plumbing apologizes for the actions of the employee, and hopes people don’t think they stand for the company as a whole.

The Winston-Salem Journal was unable to get in contact with the homeowners Wednesday.

According to Freer, the company employees were surprised by what was inside. PF Plumbing didn’t know anyone had moved into the house yet, and got the key to the house from a lockbox. The plumbing company’s customer was the builder of the new house, who told them no one would be home, Freer said.

PF Plumbing has no set policy about allowing employees into a house if pets are left out unsecured and no one’s home, Freer said.

“Most of the time the homeowner’s home,” she said.

Kelly Nicole, the woman who posted the video, stated on her Facebook page that one dog stays in a crate and one that does not. She said she was unaware anyone was coming to the house Wednesday.

“Had we known they were coming, we would have put the dog away before hand or came home and done so,” she stated in her post.

Freer said she’s just stunned by the actions that occurred Wednesday morning at the house.

“We’ve been here 32 years and never had anything like this,” she said. “One person has devastated 85 employees and their families.”

Sherri Williams, an assistant professor in race media and communications at American University in Washington, D.C. and a former member of the communications department at Wake Forest University, said people often seize on videos online because the images resonate with them.

“A lot of people love dogs and their pets,” she said. “To see a dog brutalized in a home by a hired guest is shocking to people and may have prompted people to share this. It may be a cautionary tale to others.”

Many people have hired help come to their house — babysitters, cleaning services, contractors, Williams said.

“We expect people to treat our home with respect, and if not, we feel violated,” she said, adding by posting the video, “the (homeowner) might have hoped for justice.”

The company posted these statements to their Facebook page. However, I saw someone post a comment saying what about their 2nd employee who saw the guy kick the dog in the face and who obviously said nothing to his bosses about what this guy did. What about him? Why have someone like that around? If a coworker was stealing or going through people's panty drawers, here's an employee who'll never open his mouth and tell his bosses about criminal and/or deviant behavior that can ruin their business.

PF Plumbing

In response to the video circulating; PF Plumbing did not want to respond until we had all of the details and spoke with the homeowner. PF Plumbing does not condone this behavior and will be taking appropriate action as this is unacceptable. As owners at PF Plumbing we are pet owners and love our pets as if they are our children. To all that have posted please keep an open mind that one employee out of hundreds does not represent our company as a whole. We try our best to provide you and our entire community with the most professional service available and have for 32 years. We do and will not take this lightly and do apologize for this inappropriate behavior.

PF Plumbing is not taking this lightly and is taking the appropriate steps, we have terminated the employee and have been in contact with the company attorney throughout the day for advice on further steps to take, PF Plumbing will release the details at which time it becomes available. Again PF Plumbing sincerely apologizes. Please I ask to keep an open mind and do not allow one employees actions to misconstrue what our company stands for!

(Winston Salem Journal - August 3, 2017)

Florida: Deputies shoot, kill pit bull which had already been declared dangerous, attacking Lakeland meter reader

FLORIDA -- Polk County deputies shot and killed a dog attacking a city of Lakeland meter reader on Monday morning.

At approximately 11:18 a.m., Lakeland Electric employee, Linda Dionne, 59, was at a home located at 941 Fish Hatchery Road when a dog attacked her. She hit the panic button on her radio to call for help, which alerted the Lakeland Police Department communication center.

Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and when they arrived, the dog was still mauling Dionne. The deputy was able to get the dog off her, but it started to attack the deputy. The deputy shot and killed the dog.  

At that time, another dog aggressively approached the deputies and a Lakeland Officer. Shots were fired at the dog and it retreated under the home.

OWNER DOESN'T ACCEPT BLAME
"There could have been another way than to kill my children's dog," said Alex Hill, one of the dog's owners.

Hill said the family's dog, Sofia, a three-year-old rose nose pit bull, did not deserve to die.

"She's an amazing dog, she's protective of her family and her domain and I feel like she was doing what she felt was right," said Hill.

The second dog was taken into custody by animal control

Dionne was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with serious lacerations to her arms and legs. Her family told ABC Action News Monday night that she was too shaken up to speak about what happened.

The owner of the dogs, Matthew Overton, 21, has been arrested and charged for not properly securing the dog and not properly posting his property.

The dog had already been declared "dangerous" by animal control.

In 2016, the dog aggressively attacked a person who had to run to a car for safety. He managed to get away with the dog only getting mouthfuls of his pants.

"I told Polk County in June this was going to happen again," said Pat Jeffries. 

Jeffries called 9-1-1 after Sofia attempted to attack her more than a mile from the dog's home.

"When they have been deemed dangerous already by the county and they're not taking the precautions, then they're not good parents for their dogs," said Jeffries.

Polk Sheriff's Office News Release

"Pit bull type dog viciously attacks Lakeland Electric employee"

Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating a dog attack on a Lakeland Electric employee that occurred this morning at approximately 11:18 a.m. at 941 Fish Hatchery Road, Lakeland. Deputies responded assisting the Lakeland Police Department - the address is in the unincorporated area.

The Lakeland Electric employee, 59-year-old Ms. Linda Dionne of Lakeland, activated the emergency button on her radio. Lakeland Electric and the Lakeland Police Department attempted to raise Ms. Dionne on the radio, but did not get a response. The Lakeland Police Department responded and asked the PCSO to also respond because it was in the unincorporated area.

When a deputy arrived, he discovered an active dog attack/mauling in progress occurring on the front porch of the home. The deputy was able to get the dog off of Ms. Dionne; the dog then turned on the deputy to attack him. The deputy shot and killed the attacking dog. Another aggressive pit bull type dog was in the yard - it later menacingly approached responding law enforcement officers. Two deputies and one Lakeland Police Department shot at the dog. The shots missed the dog and it ran under the house.

The second dog was later safely taken into custody and taken to the animal control facility. It was not injured.

21-year-old Matthew Overton, who resides at 941 Fish Hatchery Road, arrived at the location. He was later arrested and charged with FSS 767.13(2), a 3rd degree felony (when a declared dangerous dog attacks or bites a person, the dog owner is held accountable). Overton was not properly securing the dog and the property was not properly posted.

The pit bull type dog had been declared dangerous by animal control stemming from a June 27, 2016 incident where the dog in question was aggressively menacing a person, biting the pants of a person who was unable to get into the home and had to retreat to a car at the 941 Fish Hatchery Road home.

Ms. Dionne was treated at the scene and transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. She had serious lacerations to both arms and legs from dog bites. She has received treatment for her injuries and is expected to be released from the hospital later today.

MEANWHILE
Readers like Brittany Dougherty and Chelsea Chancey are blaming the victim:

(ABC Action News - ‎Feb 13, 2017‎)

Louisiana: Dogs Tased, Baton Rouge man arrested after he ordered them to attack, say police

LOUISIANA -- A Baton Rouge man who ordered his pit bulls to attack two energy company employees who'd entered his back yard was arrested Tuesday when he tried to make the dogs charge again, a sheriff's office report says.

Michael Barcia, 47, faces counts of aggravated assault, owner's responsibility and public intimidation following the incident in his back yard at 3451 Lanier Drive before 1 p.m., according to an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's office report.

At some point in the past, two Entergy employees had entered Barcia's back yard and tried to turn off the man's electricity due to non-payment, the report says.

Barcia "instructed his dogs to attack" the workers, causing the employees to flee without injury, the report says.

On Tuesday, two Entergy employees, this time accompanied by two Sheriff's deputies, again entered Barcia's back yard, according to the report. A gate was open to a back deck, where a deputy noted seeing two pit bulls.

Barcia, who was riding on a lawnmower, was alerted to the presence of law enforcement by his girlfriend, the report says.

He dismounted from the lawnmower and began walking "briskly...as if he was angry," before screaming an "unknown verbal command," the report says.

"His two dogs immediately exited the rear deck in a fast, aggressive manner" toward at least one of the deputies, who Tased one of the dogs, causing both canines to retreat, according to the report.

The deputy narrowly escaped without serious injuries, the report says.

Barcia, who was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, was not assigned a bail as of Wednesday.

(The Advocate - Aug 3, 2016)

Texas: Entergy utilities employee caught on camera pepper spraying small dog

TEXAS -- The energy company, Entergy says supervisors have talked to a contractor after he was caught on camera spraying a dog.

The contractor entered the backyard of a home in The Woodlands to check their meter. The dogs approached the contractor and he sprayed them with a dog repellent similar to pepper spray.

The owner was home at the time and says all the contractor had to do was ring the door bell and ask for them to take the dogs inside. She also said that her dog posed no threat to him at only 11 pounds.

Entergy is getting the family a digital meter so no one has to go in their backyard anymore, but the family says their contractors should be better trained.

This isn't the first time contractors have clashed with pets recently.

In May, a CenterPoint Energy worker killed a family's dog with a wrench. Last month, a mailman pepper sprayed dogs through a fence.

(ABC13 - July 29, 2016)

Michigan: Meter reader attacked by dog files lawsuit for injuries

MICHIGAN -- Our dog bite attorneys recently filed a lawsuit in the Macomb County Circuit Court on behalf of an 18 year old client attacked by a dog.

Our client was working as a meter reader for the utility company when the attack occurred on the defendant’s property.  The attack resulted in significant puncture wounds to his hand which required him to undergo surgery.

The incident occurred in a yard in Clinton Township, Michigan. The 18 year old was lawfully on the property because he was working for the utility company and was entitled to full access of the property.

Under Michigan law, he was not considered a trespasser and therefore the dog owner is liable for the injuries suffered in the attack.

The lawsuit seeks a settlement for his pain and suffering, scars, medical expenses, and lost wages.  No trial date has been set by the court.

(Buckfire & Buckfire - june 29, 2015)

CenterPoint worker caught on tape for animal cruelty

TEXAS -- An employee with CenterPoint Energy, the regional natural gas utility, is in hot water after a family's security cameras caught him taunting their dogs.

Grace White with our sister station KHOU in Houston says he did more than that moments later.

For the Castillo family, it's hard to believe their appointment with CenterPoint Energy ended like this.

The family's security cameras show a CenterPoint Energy worker apparently taunting the dogs, and then hitting the dogs with some sort of repellent.

The Castillos say they planned to bring their dog inside when CenterPoint showed up, but the worker was more than an hour early.

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

The worker chased the dogs around for almost 30 minutes, and then right before leaving from the other side of the fence, he throws something again.

In a statement, CenterPoint Energy says, "We do not condone or tolerate abuse of animals and sincerely apologize for the incident."

 

But to this family, their dogs didn't have to become victims.

CenterPoint says its employees do carry dog repellent spray, but only as a last resort. They say they will discipline the worker after their investigation is done.

(THV 11 - ‎Jan 17, 2015)‎

Utility workers trained to avoid dog attacks

OHIO -- A local utility worker is recovering after being mauled by dog while she worked.

The dog is now at the Animal Resource Center.

Utility companies are answering our questions about how they keep employees safe.

 

 

They say attacks occurrence or twice a year, but they train workers to look for signs of a dog. That could be a dog bowl in the yard or maybe a path worn in the grass.

The dog attacked while the USIC worker was in its yard on Sebring Drive in Huber Heights.

We asked other utility companies how they prepare their workers for incidents such as this.

“We go to a residence and there’s multiple dogs in the backyard, we actually will not enter that backyard, until it’s safe,” said Kathy Storm, Dayton Power and Light.

Employees will even knock on a customer’s door if there’s a dog outside who needs to be secured.
It is something Angela Green says she wasn’t given the chance to do.

“You know, typically they knock at our door and let me know that they want to get in the backyard and if they can’t they’ll leave a note on the door to call. So, I can’t understand. She didn’t even knock because my daughter was in there and so this is the outcome,” said Angela Green, dog’s owner.
Green says he isn’t normally an aggressive dog.

“I know that that’s the label because he is a pit, that yeah he’s vicious and no that’s not really the case.”

For the hundreds of Vectren workers who are in the field on a daily basis, the company spokesperson says they give customers a window of when they think they’ll be working at their home.

“And that way, they could react accordingly to make sure they had their dog put up or on a leash or if the dog was more prone to attacking people it could be remedied before the tech even arrives.”

They also tell employees to avoid sudden movements.

They also carry dog repellant and are told to get back against the nearest wall and work themselves out of the situation.

It will protect workers, but it will also prevent people from going through the pain of losing a pet.

“My dog is a good dog. I’m a single mom and it kind of makes me feel a little better knowing I have a dog, you know, at least they hear the bark and somebody wanted to do something, but I feel absolutely horrible at this point,” said Green.

We have a call into USIC, but have not heard back.

(WDTN - April 17, 2014)

Earlier:

• Pit bull attacks utility worker in Huber Heights

Pit bull attacks utility worker in Huber Heights

OHIO -- Police in Huber Heights fired rounds this afternoon at a pit bull attacking a utility worker who was working in the dog's backyard.

The incident happened at approximately 12:18 p.m. in the 7600 block of Sebring Drive.

The female utility worker was taken to the hospital for treatment of "serious bodily injuries" she sustained during the attack, according to a release from Huber Heights police.

The release came quickly after the incident. The responding officer saw the dog aggressively attacking and biting the woman and fired two shots, according to police.

The dog was not hit, but the gunfire scared it and it retreated back to the home, according to the release.

The dog's owner, who confirmed the breed of the dog is a pit bull, was unaware the utility worker was inside her fenced in backyard when the dog was let out, according to police.

The dog's owner tells News Center 7 she was shocked by what happened and hopes the woman is OK.

She signed over custody of the animal to the animal shelter. It will be in quarantine for 10 days.

The dog owner was also cited for not having a license for the dog.

(Dayton Daily News - April 16, 2014)

Homeowner calling for changes after Entergy worker pepper sprays her dogs

TEXAS -- A woman in The Woodlands is calling for some changes after her dogs were pepper sprayed by a meter reader.

 

Alicia Nicholas says while she was home for lunch Wednesday, an Entergy employee went into her backyard without first letting her know.

Her two dogs were in the backyard and when they started barking the meter reader sprayed them both.

He then left without explaining to Nicholas what happened.

 

“They should be knocking on people's doors before coming on someone's property,” Nicholas said.

Entergy told KHOU all of their meter readers carry pepper spray and are trained to use it if they feel threatened by dogs, and they said the employee in this case acted appropriately.

(KHOU - Dec 12, 2013)

Dog shot by sheriff's deputy

MICHIGAN -- A dog in Ypsilanti Township died this week after being shot in its yard by a Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office deputy responding to a call from a meter reader.

The sheriff's dispatch received a call at 11:32 a.m. on Monday from a caller who said a pit bull was trying to attack him.

The call was made by a 23-year-old meter reader working in the 1200 block of Hull Road.

The meter reader had entered the gated backyard where two pit bulls were locked in a separate area of the yard that was also gated, according to Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson. The Humane Society of Huron Valley, who provided medical assistance to the dog, could not confirm the breed of the dog.

While the man was attempting to read the meter, one of the dogs jumped the enclosure and attacked him, according to the sheriff's department.

The caller was able to use his reading wand to keep the dog from biting him, but he became trapped within the yard. He called 911 while the dog was attacking him and as he continued to try to fend off the dog, deputies arrived on the scene.

The dog charged and attacked the deputy, Jackson said. That deputy then shot the dog.

Deb Kern, director of marketing and media relations for the Humane Society of Huron Valley, said the 50-pound female dog was shot in the back and was immediately transported to HSHV by her owners.

"The dog came in and they (surgeons) did work on the dog for almost five hours and she did pass away," Kern said. "Unfortunately, she did not make it."

Jackson said Friday that the department interviewed neighbors, who said the dogs have a prior history of being vicious.

Details on the shooting were not listed on a media release from the sheriff's department earlier this week. DTE representative Len Singer said after checking all of the security logs, he saw no reports of any DTE workers being involved in the situation.

"I can't confirm that any of our employees were involved at all," he said.

DTE spokesperson Scott Simons said the company contracts its meter reader services out to a company called ACCU-READ Services, which is based in Ann Arbor. ACCU-READ representatives could not be reached for comment.

(AnnArbor.com - Nov 23, 2012)

Dog Bites Meter Reader

ARKANSAS -- Postal workers, meter readers and people in other occupations who visit homes are trained how to recognize and handle threatening dogs.

But despite knowing what to do, not all attacks can be avoided.

This report includes a photograph of an injury inflicted by a pit bull. It is not a pretty sight and not for the squeamish. But the woman wounded hopes that after seeing it, White County residents will agree with her that a vicious dog ordinance is needed.

The terror of Oak View Meadows moved out a couple weeks ago.

That is somewhat good news for Entergy meter reader Brenda Haney….although now she wonders where she might run into the pit bull that attacked her ten weeks ago again.

"The dog had broke his teeth off in my leg," says Haney.  "And I had heard that. I heard the teeth break off. I wasn't sure if he had broken his teeth off or if he had actually broke one of my bones."

The dog was chained to a pet carrier but strong enough to drag the carrier in order to get to Haney.

Mobile home park manager Sandra Fulmer says the owner of the dog, Aimee Wilcoxson or Aimee Panas…hadn't paid rent in ten months and refused to move out. 

Fulmer says both the woman and her dog were a menace to the other tenants.

"She cussed everyone in the trailer park," says Fulmer.  "She would not put her dog up. It bit several people."

"I'm really frustrated that there are no laws," says Haney.  "I'm frustrated that the dog could attack a child and then be allowed to attack someone else.  And it is still out there and it will attack again."

We're told Aimee Wilcoxson or Aimee Panas is now living with her dog and a large number of cats somewhere in the Beebe or Antioch area.

We tried unsuccessfully to find her and her phone does not accept incoming calls.

(KATV - Nov 16, 2012)