Arizona: Elderly Tucson woman and her small dog mauled by pit bull; owner grabbed dog and fled

ARIZONA -- Eighty-two-year-old Rose Ellis and her little pooch Daizie are recovering and searching for answers after being attacked by a pit bull earlier this week on the east side.

Ellis was walking Daizie along Olympic Club Drive near Pebble Beach Avenue on Tuesday morning.

 

 

It turned deadly when a pit bull jumped over a brick wall and darted toward Rose and Daizie from behind.

“This dog comes and grabs her from behind us and shook her like a rag doll,” Rose said.

The pit bull proceeded to bite and knock over Rose but not without a fight.

“I got up and I was screaming and yelling and kept kicking some more and then a bunch of the neighbors come out and help me,” Rose said.

She couldn’t bear to lose another loved one.

 

 

"I lost my husband in December before Christmas and I didn't want to lose somebody else,” Rose said.

Rose’s son Steve is bewildered and frustrated by the whole ordeal, especially with the pit bull’s owner.

"PIT AND RUN" - OWNER FLED WITH PIT BULL

“She didn't [bother to check and] see how my mom was doing or just stick around to kind of give information she just basically left and disappeared with the dog,” Steve said.

The pit bull owner is nowhere to be found.

She happens to live in a camper trailer in the backyard of a man named David Snodgrass who allows her to live there as long as she pays utilities. This is the same backyard where the pit bull jumped over the brick wall.

"Animal control did show up. They gave me this notice to give to her. I can't give it to her because she's not here. I don't know where she is,” Snodgrass claims.

"Because we don't have the vaccination information for that dog, that puts my mom at risk because she's going to have to go through those rabies shots,” Steve said.

While Pima County animal control officers are investigating, Rose and Daizie are recovering.

"I don't want to go through that rabies treatment because at my age, that's not good,” Steve said.

To help Rose and Daizie:

GOFUNDME: Help for Rosie and Daizie
Created May 4, 2018
Steven Ellis
  Emergencies
  TUCSON, AZ

On the morning of May 1st my mom, Rosie, was walking her dog, Daizie, when both were attacked and mauled by a pit bull. The dog savagely attacked Daizie then turned on my mom when she tried to save her dog. My mom was knocked to the ground, bitten and scratched up before the pit bull turned and attacked Daizie again.

Neighbors and people nearby heard my mom screaming. People screened my mom and Daizie from the pit bull which continued to try to attack them.

The owner of the pit bull ran out, grabbed the pit bull and drove off. The owner of the pit bull did NOT stop to assist my mom in any way or even leave information regarding her pit bull's vaccinations and shots. The woman and her dog drove off and disappeared.

Tucson Police and Pima County Animal Control were immediately notified of the attack. Attempts to contact the pit bull owner have gone unanswered or ignored.

Daizie was rushed to the nearest Veterinarian ER where she was stabilized. I took my mom to the nearest ER where her bite and scratch wounds were treated. After having a CAT scan and x-rays, doctors found that my mom's tail bone was broken during the attack.

Since the pit bull and its owner fled the scene of the attack and have refused to contact us with information on the pit bull's vaccinations, my mom will have to undergo rabies shots since we cannot verify if the pit bull is up to date on its vaccinations.

The owner and her Pit Bull were living in this camper in 

David Snodgrass's backyard. He claims not to know

where she ran off to or where she's hiding her vicious dog

Mom is 82 years old and going through those shots will add additional suffering and trauma- not mentioning the potential side effects of the treatment which could be severe given her age and health.

My mom is on fixed income and cannot afford the increasing cost of treatment for herself and Daizie. We are asking for assistance in covering these expenses.

Update 1
This shows the amount of damage done to Daizie that needed emergency vet attention from the attack. Mom has bites and scratches on her arms and legs.

As of today, the owner still refuses to contact us with the vaccination information for the pit bull and ignoring repeated phone and text request to simply give us the name of her pit bull's vet.

Pima County Animal Care have been working with us to locate the owner and the dog. The owner is apparently sleeping in her car somewhere in town and avoiding to return to her camper.

Update 2
Zack Briggs from KVOA Channel 4 News came out this morning to interview mom regarding the attack. The owner and the dog is still missing. You can watch the interview tonight during the 6pm news.

(KVOA - May 4, 2018)

Arizona: Woman and her small dog attacked by Pit Bull that had "just been adopted 2 days ago". Police refuse to do anything.

ARIZONA -- Helen Spallas is feeling traumatized. Posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 · Mesa, AZ ·

I am literally in shock. Henry and I got attacked by a pit bull tonight. He’s getting surgery in a couple hours. He’s in bad shape and guarded condition. He might not live.

I am sitting in ER waiting to get stitches as my hand is all bit up and one of my fingers is almost severed. I’m numb with disbelief that this happened. Worst night ever and my heart hurts so bad for Henry. Need prayers!!!

*  *  *  *  *  *

Update: Henry had abdominal surgery and is expected to live.

He is still in the hospital and in guarded condition.

I got my hand stitched up and have splints on. One finger is possibly broken but I need to go to a different facility to get X-rays. Got a shot in the ass for tetanus and a shot in the arm of antibiotics. The tetanus shot was horribly painful.

 

 

I will survive. Just still shook up.

PIT BULL OWNER BLAMING THE VICTIMS
The dogs owner is now spreading rumors that my little 10 pound dog provoked his 85 lb pit bull and told cops I didn’t have Henry on a leash. All total lies. I am furious and no longer feel safe here. 

The owner hasn’t even apologized to me or asked how we are doing. He is no way getting rid of his dog. The cops said no crime committed because he had him on a leash and he "just got away". 

Lazy cops. I guarantee if you were their mother they'd have done something.

This dog attacked unprovoked and is dangerous. And I feel that this will happen again because the owner obviously can’t control his dog. And he just adopted him 2 days ago. 

I will keep everyone posted but so far it looks like we will physically be ok. I think Henry was so traumatized that this will change him forever.

 

I'm sure Helen didn't appreciate Dee the apologist saying that

  

Arizona: Mesa dog groomer, boyfriend arrested in case of missing dog, dog still not found

ARIZONA -- An employee at a dog grooming store and her boyfriend were arrested for stealing a dog from a customer, police said, but the tiny dog is still missing.

Izabella Santa Bujanda, 20, who worked at Animal Clipper, admitted to concealing BeBe by wrapping her with a towel and walking out the back door with her last Saturday, according to police.

She then handed the small dog to Anthony Marc Barrera, who was waiting in a car behind the business.

When the pair heard the crime was getting news coverage, Barrera drove BeBe to a neighborhood in Las Sendas, possibly near Power and Thomas roads in Mesa, and dumped the tiny three-pound dog near a front yard of a house, police said.

The dog still hasn't been found.

Police said Barrera admitted to what he did.

Both Bujanda and Barrera have been charged with one count of felony theft, police said.

The dog's owner, Chrissy Willingham, told The Arizona Republic she is holding out hope BeBe will be found.

"I would just like the community to know that although I have some relief, I’m still wanting and needing my BeBe," Willingham said.

"Please keep an eye out for BeBe as she is still missing."

If anyone has seen or found BeBe, please call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or call Silent Witness at either 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 1-800-343-TIPS (8477).

(AZ Family - March 1, 2018)

Earlier:

• Arizona: Mesa pet owner distraught after dog vanished from groomers

Arizona: Mesa pet owner distraught after dog vanished from groomers

ARIZONA -- A Mesa pet owner says she’s devastated after her dog vanished while at the groomers.

"It's really hard not having her here,” Chrissy Willingham said.

Looking at the empty puppy playpen, Willingham says her and her family’s hearts feel empty as well.

“I want my baby, of course, but I also want answers. No one can give me answers," said Willingham.

Willingham says her 2-year-old Biewer terrier “Bebe” is only 3 pounds but is a huge part of her family.

"She is family, she's like my third baby," Willingham said.

Her “baby" is now missing. Saturday morning, Willingham says she brought Bebe to Animal Clipper Grooming in Mesa for a day of pampering. After a couple of hours, she got a phone call from the grooming facility.

"I have some bad news. We lost your dog. She is missing we lost her," is what Willingham said she was told.

The worst part Willingham says is that there is no clear explanation as to how it happened.

"They just don't know, it's like she just vanished!" she said.

"Never in the 26 years have we never been able to account for a family member that's been entrusted to us,” said Dan Castillo, the owner of the grooming facility.

Castillo said his place has been a long-standing mom and pop shop. He says he and his family are also distraught and sincerely sorry.

"We are devastated. Our hearts go out to the Willingham family. It's tough to come to mom and dad and say, ‘Hey listen, you entrusted us with your family member to do what we do and that is to provide a great service and to be able to say we don't know what happened.’ We're bewildered just as much as they're bewildered," he said.

 

 

He says he's doing all he can to get answers.

"We are still conducting our own internal investigation to see the protocols we have in place, what protocols were not put in place,” said Castillo.

Willingham says she wants answers, but she just really wants Bebe back.

"My question is, who has my dog? Where is she at? Who has her? I want my dog!” she said.

The owner of the facility says they don’t have security cameras. In 26 years, he's never needed them but says he will most likely put them up now. The facility also made up “missing” posters and put them up around the area. A police report was filed and Mesa police are investigating.

 

 

Update: Two people, including an employee of the grooming business, have been charged with felony theft. According to police, they admitted to stealing BeBe, but then claimed they'd dumped her on the other side of town. The tiny three-pound dog hasn't been found.

Izabella Santa Bujanda and Anthony Marc Barrera

(AZ Family - Feb 27, 2018)

Newer:

• Arizona: Mesa dog groomer, boyfriend arrested in case of missing dog, dog still not found

Arizona: Child attacked by 'emotional therapy' dog that was allowed on Southwest Airlines flight

ARIZONA -- A child was injured by an emotional support dog on a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Portland, Oregon Wednesday night, fueling the debate over regulations regarding animals on airplanes.

The dog’s teeth scraped the child’s forehead after the passenger approached the animal during the boarding process, according to a spokesperson for Southwest.

The child received minor injuries and was examined by an EMT before continuing on the flight, which departed 20 minutes behind schedule. The dog and its owner did not stay on the plane and instead remained in Phoenix, the spokesperson said.

Another passenger on the same flight, Todd R., took a photo of the support animal and shared it on Twitter in a post that’s since been deleted, arguing that dogs should not be on planes and he would no longer be flying Southwest.

In another tweet, the passenger wrote: “When dogs are biting 6 year old kids on planes, it may be time to reconsider rewriting your 'safety' policy and procedure manual,'' AZ Central reported.

Reactions to the incident were mixed on social media. While some agreed with Todd, arguing that Southwest should create stricter regulations for emotional support animals, as other airlines have done recently.

Others felt the dog was not at fault and that the child should never have been allowed to approach the animal.

This dog is NOT a service dog. It is an 'emotional therapy' pet. Anyone who wants to need only go online pay a fee, answer a questionnaire and have a 'doctor' mail them a letter saying they need this animal for whatever reason. It's no different than the prescription pill mill doctors who write prescriptions all day long to drug addicts. They do it for the money.

That being said, ESA (emotional support animal) animals do NOT perform any task. They merely exist so that the owner can drag them everywhere so there is NO reason that said animal shouldn't be muzzled when taken out in public. They're not picking up items for this disabled owner. They're just sitting there. Or in this case, biting children on airplanes. 

Southwest notes on its website that service and emotional support animals are allowed on both domestic and international flights, but the animal must be trained to behave in a public setting and can be denied boarding if it fails to do so.

“Southwest Airlines welcomes fully trained service animals and emotional support animals accompanying a Customer with a disability on our flights. As our requirements for transporting each type of animal are different, our Employees are trained to ask some fact-finding questions to determine which classification applies to a Customer’s animal,” the website reads.

The airline does note, however, that it will not allow “unusual or exotic” animals to act as support pets, including but not limited to the following: rodents, ferrets, insects, spiders, reptiles, hedgehogs, rabbits or sugar gliders.

In regards to the incident of the dog injuring the child, Southwest said: “As always, the safety of our Customers is our highest priority.”

Two other major airlines have introduced stricter regulations for service and support animals this year. Last month, Delta Air Lines announced new strict guidelines for bringing service and support animals on board, citing customer abuse of the policy and a rise in animal-related incidents.

After an emotional support peacock was denied entry on a United Airlines flight, the company followed in Delta’s footsteps, issuing similar new regulations for those who wish to bring animals on board.

United cited an 84 percent increase in poor animal behavior by so-called 'emotional therapy animals' (ESA) such as urinating, defecating, biting and attacking people on flights as impetus for the change.

Anita Roman Fox 10 @ANITAROMANFOX10 posted on Twitter

This photo was taken by @SouthwestAir passenger who says this service dog bit a child as it boarded.  Airline says paramedics checked the child out and everything was ok that safety is priority.  The dog and owner got off the plane.  Man who took pic says no dogs on planes.

(Fox News - February 22, 2018)

Arizona: Morons pledging money to save vicious Pit Bull "at risk of euthanasia" at local shelter.

ARIZONA -- Friends of Arizona's Shelter Animals posted on Facebook January 5, 2018 ·

FATE UNKNOWN
A4030552 6Y DOG M BRINDLE/WHITE STAFFORDSHIRE West Shelter - WF187

At risk for euthanasia at 5am on Sunday, January 7th

WHY IT'S "AT RISK FOR EUTHANASIA"

1/3/2018 EVALUATION 
Dog was highly barrier reactive at yard gate and would not settle when aversive tools were used. 

Muzzle was placed on dog; dog entered yard quick and began body slamming and muzzle punching any dog he could get close to; handler corrected with shake can and held dog by leash until he settled. 

Dog sat with handler for a few minutes panting and trying to remove muzzle then rushed off and attacked another dog; dog would not stop with aversive tools and then attempted to redirect on handler (aka attacked the person holding his leash).

MCACC West Valley Animal Care Center (602-506-2765)
2500 S 27th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85009 (27th Ave/Lower Buckeye)
Hours open: 11AM-6PM Monday-Friday
11AM - 5PM Saturday & Sunday

Nancy Feilbach - He doesn't feel good? who would in jail?! Pledge $20

Shannon Estes - $10 pledge ;(

Nancy Butcher - Poor guy not feeling 100%. Ddee Patton