North Carolina: Four-year-old nearly loses eye after family's newly adopted Pit Bull attacks

LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA -- A 4-year-old Caldwell County girl was attacked inside her home by the family pet Wednesday.

Family members said they had just recently adopted the Pit Bull from the Humane Society in Catawba County.

Justina Turner, the child's mother, said she and her daughter were in the living room of her home south of Lenoir when the three-year-old 60-pound Pit Bull suddenly attacked the child, biting her face.

She said the dog bit down so hard on her daughter that she wasn't sure at first how she was going to get the animal off her.

Turner said the dog nearly ripped her daughter's right eye out, and the girl had to get several stitches around her eye.

"I was in such shock,” Turner said. “I didn't know what was going on. Once I got the dog away from my daughter and saw the blood, it was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life."

The dog is in quarantine for 10 days to be checked for rabies at the Caldwell County Animal Shelter.

Turner said she didn’t know the dog posed a threat because it seemed friendly when she adopted it.

"They really didn't tell us much about the dog,” Turner said. “They just told us to pick out a dog and to take it to the play yard to play with it. The dog seemed kid-friendly."

The humane society handles all adoptions in Catawba County from the intake to temperament screening prior to adoption.

SUPPOSED 'RANDOM VISITOR' WITH PIT BULL INTERVIEWED 

"They're around these animals every day,” said Paris Wright, a visitor at the Catawba County Humane Society (who just happened to be walking a Pit Bull). “They see their temperament. They see how they carry themselves. So, I figured that's what they would be able to give me insight and they did."

Humane society officials said an adopted dog can act differently once it's in a home and around children.

Turner said people need to be careful adopting older dogs.

"I just wanted him out of the house,” she said.

The Catawba County Humane Society adopts more than 1,000 dogs each year and has not had an issue like this.

The dog had been in the humane society for more than two months prior to being adopted.

Notice the Catawba County Humane Society didn't say they would euthanize the dog. That's because after its quarantine period, they'll send him home with some other unsuspecting family or put him into the "shelter shuffle" - where they ship vicious dogs to rescues or other shelters in other counties and states, hiding the dog's history so someone else can end up taking it home without knowing it likes to attack children.

(WSOC - May 4, 2018)

Mississippi: Puppy that was left at shelter after being attacked by Pit Bull has been adopted

MISSISSIPPI -- Animal Health Clinic posted on Facebook March 16, 2018 ·

UPDATE: She was adopted and picked up my her new mommy a little while ago! Thanks, everyone!!

This SWEET baby was dropped off to us after being attacked by a pit bull (story told to us). She is 5-6 months old and loves to be held and loved.

If you would like to give her a good home so she doesn’t have to go to the SPCA, please contact us on here or at 601.799.1300. She is on antibiotics and pain medication for her wounds right now but, Dr. English will spay her as soon as she is healed up and not as sore! ????

Wisconsin: Family starts fundraiser for their newly adopted dog that was being mauled by two Pit Bulls until her owner shot them

WISCONSIN -- We adopted our sweet Pepper a little over a month ago from the Humane Society.

My husband, Mike, was taking Pepper out for her evening walk on Saturday, March 3rd, when just a few steps from being in our yard, the neighbor's pit bulls viciously attacked Pepper.

Mike tried to fight the pit bulls off of Pepper, as they both latched on and wouldn't let go.  He fought and screamed for help for almost 5 minutes, but no one came.

As a last resort, my husband left Pepper to run get his gun.  The pit bulls still wouldn't let go. Mike fired 3 shots. The first pit bull released her once it was shot. The other (larger) pit bull wouldn't release her until Mike had fired 2 shots into his chest.  They were relentless!

Pepper had to have emergency surgery for the crushing injuries.  10 lacerations that had 2 to 12 stitches each (estimated about 75 stitches).  She has 2 drains, one internal, and one external.  She's in a lot of pain and on a regimen of pain medication and tranquilizers, plus a few others.

In the past few days, she's lost some stitches and we've found that she has an infection, even though she's on antibiotics.  Her extermal pump isn't functioning because of the popped stitches.  She has to see a specialist and have surgery again to remove the dying skin around the stitches.

 

 

We aren't able to afford to pay for another surgery, but we don't want to lose our sweet little puppy.  We didn't rescue her so she could die a violent death.

The news covered the story (see linked story), and we are asking for everyone for help with this. Despite all of the pain she was in, Pepper still wags her tail when we pet her. She loves us and we love her.

Update 1
The skin has died around the original stitches. She’s in surgery now to get restitched and have the drains put back in. In these crushing injuries, it’s a hard thing to deal with.

Update 2
Pepper is doing a lot better after her 2nd surgery. We are at the vet getting her bandages changed. Her stitches are holding now, great sign. She has extra fluid building up near the current drains, but the vet says it’s not cause for concern.

We come back on Monday to have the current drains removed. If needed, they will put another in then to help with the fluid building up.

Even just looking at Pepper, you can tell she’s better. She still has to remain calm and sedated, but she’s strong and she’s pulling through.

 

Thank you to everyone for the support, kind words, and prayers. It’s a very stressful situation for everyone in our family, but knowing we have support of family and friends, friends of friends, or strangers makes this a lot easier.

Update 3
We went to the vet tonight. Pepper had her bandages changed and the drains removed. She has some fluid building up in her neck still, but the stitches are still holding and she’s mending.

She may have to have one more surgery to relieve some of the fluid. We go back every other day to get her bandages changed and the vet is monitoring the fluid. If she continues to mend, she should get the staples and stitches removed next week Thursday.

Overall though, she’s doing so much better. I cannot begin to express the gratitude we have for everyone that has donated, sent cards, prayers, or just kind words through social media. We are so very grateful for all of the love during this tough situation.

Update 4
Good news! The fluid is going down. If Pepper continues like she is, she won’t need a 3rd surgery, and she will get her stitches out next Thursday. We don’t have to go back for a bandage change until Saturday now. So things are looking up.

She’s been trying to alligator roll to scratch her stitches, so that means she’s healing!! The doctor was happy with how everything looks.

I can’t thank everyone enough for all of the love and support!! When I started this go fund me campaign, I honestly thought we’d raise maybe $50 after a few weeks. But we were close to our goal within a few days!! We have been truly blessed in the midst of this unfortunate event. The donations were a huge stress relief for us, and we were able to focus on helping Pepper recover quickly.

Update 5
Pepper got her stitches out today! She’s still tender, and we have to wait another week to give her a bath (trust me, she needs it). But she’s healing well. She doesn’t have to wear bandages anymore, but we still need to keep her back covered with a T-shirt.

She doesn’t have to be sedated anymore, obviously no rough housing though. Her hair is growing back, and I don’t think you will be able to tell she went through all of this once it’s all back in. She has some fluid still around her neck, but the doctor said it should start to reabsorb into her body soon.

I want to thank everyone again for all of the love. We can’t begin to express just how much we appreciate everyone.

  

GOFUNDME: Save Pepper's Life
Created March 8, 2018
Shonda Denise Webb Fay
  Medical
  MILWAUKEE, WI

Earlier:

• Wisconsin: Man shoots and kills two Pit Bulls that were mauling his dog

Wisconsin: Woman's Maltese mix mauled to death by two Pit Bulls

WISCONSIN -- Cynthia Kubis and her Maltese mix, Marley, came together at the Wisconsin Humane Society eight years ago.

They were separated Monday after a violent mauling on the city's northwest side when two dogs that she and police described as pit bulls escaped from a yard and attacked Marley.

"Of course my dog starts to bark and one of them grabbed her head in their mouth and started shaking her like a rag doll," Kubis recalled of the attack near North 64th Street and West Moltke Avenue.

Despite blows from Kubis and witnesses, the attack didn't stop until the pit bull owner appeared, grabbed his animals by the scruff and dragged them back home.

The mauling left Kubis battered and bruised, but Marley fared far worse, with bite marks all over her small body. Ultimately, she had to be put down.

Milwaukee police said the owner was cited, but Kubis thinks there should be more accountability.

"I want the dogs put down," she said. "I've called the city."

Kubis said an investigator is looking into the attack, which came just two days after a similar attack in West Allis.

In that case, a dog owner shot dead two dogs that were attacking his 1-year-old pup.

I have posted several stories of men who shoot attacking dogs. I don't recall one story where it was a woman who did this -- correction, actually I was able to find ONE story where a woman used a firearm to shoot an attacking dog ("I got the gun out and went in the backyard and took two shots, I knew I didn't have much time with the way they had her down."). Unfortunately, it seems women don't or won't take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their pets. 

I'm talking about knives, too. There are multiple stories where men pull out a knife and stab an attacking dog. I don't recall any stories of women stabbing dogs that are attacking their pets. 

I'm not trying to single out this poor lady, but look at her. She's the kind of nice, good-hearted person who would bake banana bread for a sick neighbor. But look at her little dog's face. You - the owner - have a duty to protect these little guys. You can't be a lamb when there are lions running around, looking to kill. Remember the Disney cartoon Lambert the Sheepish Lion? How he became a 'real lion' at the end to chase away the wolf which had grabbed his mama, the sheep?

It's frustrating to see this happen over and over and over again. Vicious dogs will always be among us. Irresponsible owners won't change. Therefore, women need to be the ones to change - to protect themselves, their children and their pets. 

(WISN - March 7, 2018)

Related:


North Carolina: Marine has to shoot Pit Bull "four or five times" to get it to finally stop mauling seven-year-old boy



Tennessee: Pit Bull mauling Miniature Schnauzer isn't fazed when beaten with metal rods. Finally neighbor shoots Pit Bull five times. Schnauzer is released only to be grabbed again by the Pit Bull which, despite having five bullet holes in it, continues to try to maul the smaller dog


New Hampshire: Police determine man walking his Labrador was justified in shooting, killing Pit Bull that was attacking them


Michigan: Man shoots and kills pit bull that attacked his dog while on a walk in Roseville



California: Surveillance video captures two Pit Bulls attacking horses before being shot to death


New Hampshire: Dog shot and killed at rest stop by owner of smaller dog after attack



California: Even after being shot, Pit Bull continues attack on woman's German Shepherd, which is screaming in pain


Florida: Woman and her small Poodle mauled by next door neighbor's 70-pound pit bull in their own yard; husband gets gun and shoots pit bull


Wisconsin: Labrador being walked by its owner is attacked by a loose pit bull. Lab owner and a neighbor punched the pit bull, then beat it over the head with a stick. When that didn't work, they shot the pit bull.


Ohio: Little girl and babysitter in serious condition after pit bull attack; neighbor saved them by running over and shooting the dog


Washington: Spokane man shoots pit bull in the head in self-defense


Mississippi: Teenaged son shoots dog and rescues his father after he is attacked by the family's 140-lb Anatolian Shepherd


Vermont: Off-duty cop justified in shooting Pit Bull that was attacking his dog at park



Louisiana: Grandma, protecting her grandson, is horribly mauled by pit bull
"The doctor explained to me that basically her entire lower face, from the check bones down, has been peeled away. She has lost her bottom lip. A neighbor/friend luckily had a gun in her truck 30 ft away and shot the animal. A bullet was the only thing that stopped him"

Wisconsin: Man shoots and kills two Pit Bulls that were mauling his dog

WISCONSIN -- A West Allis man over the weekend shot and killed two other dogs who had his one-year-old pup in their deadly grip.

"I had to shoot the other dogs, unfortunately, to get them to stop the attack," Mike Fay told WISN 12 NEWS on Monday in describing the Saturday afternoon attack near South 59th and West Burnham streets.

Fay said he knew the dogs lived near him but said he never had any problems with them.

On Saturday, however, the larger animals that police described as pit bulls were running loose and set their sights on Pepper.

Fay, a concealed carry permit holder, said he tried to break up the attack, but ran back to his house to get his gun.

"It was a last resort, not something I'd typically just jump out and do," he said. "I wish things had happened differently. ... I was afraid that they were going to kill my dog eventually."

It was in this alley that the two Pit Bulls attacked

Responding officers later gave Fay a ride to a nearby veterinary hospital, where Pepper was already being examined and stitched up in nearly a dozen places.

She was back home Monday, resting on medication with her head in a cone to prevent her from giving attention to her wounds.

PIT BULL OWNER DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW HIS IDENTITY

Fay's neighbor, who asked to not be publicly identified, said "it was a very unfortunate incident" and that he had no hard feelings against Fay.

Fay said the two men have spoken and said there doesn't seem to be "bad blood" between them.

"He's been very helpful," Fay said. "Everything's working out."

Really? He's not going to be criminally charged at all... so he's free to go buy two more Pit bulls this afternoon. Greaaaaaaaat.

  

(WISN - March 5, 2018)