Canada: Nine-year-old girl mauled at animal shelter during "meet and greet". Dad finds out later shelter knew dog was aggressive

CANADA -- When a Beaumont family took a trip to the Edmonton Humane Society on Sunday, they didn't expect it would end with a visit to the hospital.

Brett Powlesland said his nine-year-old daughter was injured at the animal shelter on the city's north side when she was attacked by a large dog in a room on the adoption floor. The Humane Society is investigating the incident.

Powlesland said his family was at the shelter on a visit because his niece wanted to pet kittens for her birthday.

He said the dog was friendly when he gave it a scratch before bringing his daughter into the room, but when it saw the child, its temperament changed.

"He looked up at her, saw her face, and then it was like lightning fast. The very next thing that happened was he had her left arm right in his mouth," Powlesland told CBC News.

He said he tore the dog off his daughter — possibly the wrong move, as she was cut where the canine's teeth had dug into her skin.

As the pair tried to escape the room, the dog managed to take hold of the girl's other arm.

"I this time put my hands in his mouth, and pried its jaw open and freed my daughter's arm," Powlesland said. "And we finally got her out of the room."

But she shouldn't have been allowed in the room in the first place, he said.

Dog had known "behavioral issues"
The girl received stitches at hospital.

The humane society shared the dog's records with medical staff. The file contained information on the dog's immunization history and also had details on behavioural issues, Powlesland said.

"My daughter probably should not have been let in that room. The record for the dog explained that he has issues with aggression, that he has [attacked] other dogs," he said.

Edmonton Humane Society spokesperson Jaime Caza confirmed the dog's records were given to the hospital, but did not confirm their contents.

She said dogs with behavioral problems aren't permitted on the shelter's adoption floor.

"They go through a screening. They go through our system with our vets as well as with our behaviour team," Caza said. "And in a situation like this, there would be restrictions placed on age limits that can go in there."

Caza said the dog is no longer adoptable.

"He is in a bite quarantine, which is required by Alberta Health Services for 10 days," she said, noting that the shelter's investigation of the incident should be concluded by then.

Staff, volunteers and witnesses will be interviewed as part of the investigation, Caza said.

"I'm still looking into exactly what happened to see if it aligns with what should have happened in this situation, and making sure that the right pieces are in place so something like this is avoided at all costs again," she said.

Based on the results of the investigation, improved training, communications or staff supports could be implemented at the shelter.

Shelter claims it's 'an isolated incident'
Powlesland questioned whether the training staff receive is adequate. He said they weren't unwilling to help his daughter, but didn't appear to know how to respond with first aid.

"It's a good thing my wife and I are medical professionals and are trained in first aid because we were the only ones there that were doing anything," he said.

"It didn't seem like they had any type of contingency plan in place for this."

He posted about the experience on Facebook.

Caza said she couldn't comment on how staff responded to the incident, as she's still gathering information for the investigation. Staff receive different levels of training based on their positions, she said.

To her knowledge, this is the first time something like this has happened at the Edmonton Humane Society, she said.

"In no way does that minimize it. We're so sad and upset about this event, but it is a very isolated incident. But that being said, this is an opportunity for us to learn," she said.

"We're working very closely with the family to make sure that the child is supported and providing what we can."

Powlesland said he's pleased with how the humane society has since handled the incident. He said they offered support to help his daughter reintegrate with pets, though she was still happy to see the family's dog Paco when she got home from the hospital.

"She's already given him a big hug," he said.

"She's not going to be afraid of all dogs, maybe just dogs she doesn't know."

As far as visiting other dogs at the shelter in the future — "that's definitely not going to be happening," he said.

(CBC - February 8, 2018)

(November 2017) Louisiana: Pit Bull mix attacks boy within hours of being adopted from the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter

LOUISIANA -- Ashley Prater posted on Facebook November 28, 2017 ·

Last Sunday me, my mom, and son attended Pet Fest in Lafreniere Park with the intentions of adopting a dog for my mom. She lost her dog earlier this year and decided it was time for a new family member. My mom wanted a bigger dog as opposed to the smaller breed of dog she had previously.

We finally decided on Caesar, a supposed Mastiff mixed breed dog. Caesar was very friendly and we spent 3 hours with him before deciding to adopt him.

A lady who worked at the shelter told her that she had taken Caesar home with her to foster him and he was very sweet. She said that if he didn’t get adopted that day she would take him back to her home because she refused to let such a sweet dog go back to the shelter.

This is what Caesar did to my son less than 2 hours after we got him home. Me and my son were sitting on the floor petting him and he viciously attacked him.

My son did not do anything that i can see to provoke this attack. My son spent a day in the hospital due to Caesar’s attack.

 

 

Kenner Animal Control picked the dog up the same day and told us that Caesar was not a Mastiff mixed but in fact a Pit Bull, Boxer, and German Shepherd mix.

I am very disappointed in the East Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter for not disclosing this information. And now that i have had time to reflect on this traumatic event, a lot of the dogs up for adoption looked like pit bulls but NONE of their tags said that they were.

Unfortunate that now my son is traumatized and does not even want to look at another dog. And quite frankly i don’t blame him. Shame on u Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.

  

 

Five-year-old boy attacked by family's dog

Nola.com

By Littice Bacon-Blood | Updated December 5, 2017 8:27 AM

Ashley Prater said her 5-year-old-son Marcus was attacked by the family’s pet dog, Caesar, shortly after the dog was brought home after being adopted at the Jefferson SPCA's Pet Fest in Lafreniere Park on Nov. 26. The child spent the day in the hospital being treated for bites and scratches to his face, head, chest and arms, Prater said.

An attack by the family’s recently adopted dog sent 5-year-old Marcus to the hospital with multiple bites on his face, head and chest that required stitches, his mother Ashley Prater said.

Ashley Prater hugs Caesar, a dog the family adopted during Pet Fest at Lafreniere Park on Nov 26. Prater said Caesar attacked her 5-year-old son shortly after the family brought him home.

Ashley Prater said the Jefferson Parish animal shelter incorrectly labeled Caesar’s breed as a Mastiff mix. She said she posted pictures of her son’s injuries on social media to warn parents to “do their own research” before adopting a shelter pet.

 

Did the shelter purposely call it a Mastiff mix rather

than a Pit Bull mix in order to sucker someone into adopting it?

Indiana: Fred Strohm from the Humane Society wants you to believe that Pit Bulls only attack because mean people make them do it

INDIANA --  A dog attack at 1540 Spruce Street in Terre Haute on Friday is causing one couple to call for change.

This is their second dog attack in six months but this time there were no fatalities.

Still the couple is ready for someone to take responsibility.

For Phil Deckert and Jenifer Thomas Friday was a reoccurring nightmare.

"The cat was out on the front porch, we heard a scream, I looked out there and their were two pit bulls mauling it," says Phil Deckert, cat owner.

Though they are thankful their beloved pet didn't die - it somehow survived with broken ribs - and they are stuck with the vet bill, they are afraid that if something doesn't change soon animals won't be the only ones that need to be cautious.

"I have had two attacks on my animals by pit bulls in the last six months. Eventually it is going to be a small child or an elderly person," says Deckert.

For the couple they didn't just almost lose a pet, they almost lost a member of the family.

Deckert says, "because she can't have children or anything, this is the closest thing she can have to a child."

"My cats are my everything. I haven't stopped crying since. I am tired of losing animals. Like he said, next it could be one of our nieces or nephews," says Jenifer Thomas, cat owner.

FOUND THE APOLOGISTS!!!!

Despite their frustrations the couple doesn't blame the breed. They are upset with owners that aren't taking proper care of their pets.

Seriously, shut up. 

APOLOGIST FRED STROHM WORKS FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY

The Humane Society says you can't blame a breed for the actions of an individual, someone has to take responsibility.

"If you think about kind of the bad rap that these breeds have gotten it is the Pit Bulls, before then it was the German Shepherds, before then it was the Rottweilers, and then it was the Dobermans. Where is the common thread there? It is the people that have them. It all depends on the person that is taking responsibility of the animal that is supposed to be in their care," says Fred Strohm, operations manager of the Terre Haute Humane Society.

Fred Strohm is a complete moron. He wants you to think vicious Pit Bulls are ONLY owned by "bad people", by "mean people". The truth is, they're owned by all sorts of people just as mean/bad people own Collies. Mean/bad people own Goldendoodles. Mean/bad people own Irish Wolfhounds. Yet, when is the last time you heard of those 'abused' breeds of dogs attacking and killing people and other pets? It's not that the news doesn't report it - despite what the apologists say - it's BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING

The couple filed a police report with the Terre Haute Police Department.

If you recognize the dogs in the video or have any information about their owner please contact the Terre Haute Police Department immediately.

(MyWabashValley - Nov 25, 2017)

Earlier:

• Indiana: Reward offered after Pit Bulls run up onto porch, grab disabled cat and maul it to death

Arizona: City of Tucson sends vicious Pit Bull home with adopter; two days later it gets loose, runs inside neighbor's house and tries to kill their dog

ARIZONA -- "Fundraising to save dog's life exceeds goal"

UPDATE: The GoFundMe account to help raise money to save the life of Stewie 'Bug' has exceeded its $2,500 fundraising goal needed to pay emergency vet bills.

The online campaign has raised $2,900 as of Thursday morning.

ORIGINAL STORY: William Gilbert, and his wife, Robin Hensley, told News 4 Tucson if they couldn't pay the money upfront, their beloved dog would be euthanized. They thanked the community for their generous donations.

A local couple says they are in desperate need of help after their dog was viciously attacked by another dog.

William Gilbert and his wife, Robin Hensley, say a neighbor’s dog broke past their fence and into their Southside home this week.

“I tried to stop the dog and I couldn't and it got my dog under the kitchen table,” said Hensley. “And he was just shaking my dog really hard.”

Robin was eventually able to get her dog, Stewie 'Bug', away from the attacking dog.

She beat the Pit Bull with this iron pipe.

“My dog was lying unconscious in the floor and there was just blood spread everywhere in the kitchen,” she said.

County officials took the attacking dog away. Stewie is now in grave condition. The family is now stuck with a $2,000 emergency vet bill and, if they can’t pay it, they say they will have to euthanize their dog.

“We can't find a vet that would even help us without everything up front, they won’t even take five hundred dollars down and take payments,” she said. “It's not our fault that this happened; it's not our dog's fault that this happened. He’s suffering and we're suffering.”

 

PACC officials confirmed that the attacking dog was only recently adopted from its center. Officials say it had no bite history, but was classified as not being good with other dogs. It has been surrendered to the county, and will not be placed for adoption again.

You can donate through the couple's GoFundMe.

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FACEBOOK POST

Robin Diane Gilbert posted on Facebook November 18, 2017 · Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ ·

My neighbor adopted the pit bull just a few days before the pit bull charged in my house as I was leaving, he had jumped my fence to even get in my yard, he viciously attacked my dog bug under my kitchen table, I hit the pit bull with a metal pipe several times before he dropped bugs lifeless body! Now bug bug is fighting so hard to survive. Please pray for bug, he's my heart!

Amy Michelle Roberts - Praying so hard..

Robin Diane Gilbert - Thanks please keep praying, my other two dogs are traumatized, I'm a mess trying to deal with this and watching bug suffer and other two are just traumatized, they won't go out that door to potty now, bugs 6 month old hiding under tables now, they are having severe separation anxiety, our little fur family is struggling with what happened. This is so hard

Gabriel Makota - prayers

Deborah Langham Bourgoine - PRAYING FOR HIM. OH I KNOW THERE'S MEAN DOGS SOMETIMES. ONCE I LITERALLY HAD TO PULL THE JAWS OF A PIT BULL OF MY LITTLE DOG,MY PUPPY HAD TWO COLLARS ON. I STILL TO THIS DAY DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT . GOD MUST OF BEEN THERE. I'VE HAD YOUR LITTLE GUY ON MY MIND ALL DAY.

Robin Diane Gilbert - I tried pulling his jaws, he just bite down harder, that's when I grabbed the metal pipe and started hitting the dog, I just kept screaming and hitting until the pit bull ran out the door that was still open, I was so scared, I collapsed beside Bug and start telling my friend to call 911. 

When the sheriff walked in he looked at us on the floor and said, is he dead? I was scared to pack him outside afraid that pit bull would try to attack again,

Deborah Langham Bourgoine - GIRL,.... MY DOG WAS LITTLE TOO. I THINK I DID IT SO FAST THAT IT CAUGHT THAT DOG AND I DON'T KNOW . THE DOG WAS HALF PITT BULL, AND HALF ROTTWEILER. MY DOG WAS A SMALL TERRIER /CHIHUAHUA MIX..MY DOG WAS OLDER THAN YOUR POOR LITTLE PUPPY. MY DOG WAS EXPERIENCED OF BEING ATTACKED BY BIGGER DOGS . IT WAS JUST A SPLIT SECOND. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE, .. THAT ALLOWED MY DOGS RELEASE FROM THE JAWS OF THAT MEAN DOG .ISAID,... CHUEY RUN,.. MY DOG RAN PUSHED THAT SECURITY DOOR OPEN,.. AND WAS FREE OUTSIDE. I WAS STILL SHAKING LIKE A LEAF. I YELLED NOT LOOKING AT THAT DOG AND OPEN THE GLASS SLIDING DOOR, .. AND SAID COME ON, .. TO THAT MEAN DOG, ... HE FOLLOWED ME OUT TO THE BACK YARD, .. I TURNED QUICKLY AND SLAMMED THAT DOOR CLOSED. I WAS SAFE, .. I THINK PRAYING WHILE MY STENGTH AND ADRENALINE WAS SO HIGH, .. AND FEAR WAS AT ITS PEAK, .. LET MY DOG SURVIVE. MY DOG HAD A BIG GASH IN HIS NECK AFTERWARDS AND HAD TO BE STITCHED UP BY THE VET . AND IT WAS PRVACATED BECAUSE MY DOG CHUEY WAS BY A DOG AT MY AUNTS HOUSE A GIRL DOG,.. WAS IN HEAT. I DON'T HAVE CHUEY ANYMORE CAUSE HE PASSED AWAY IN 2005. I HOPE YOUR LITTLE BABY IS DOING OKAY. ARE YOU DOING OKAY? DID YOU SAY YOUR PUPPY DOG WAS SIX MONTHS? I'M STILL PRAYING AND BELIEVING.
TAKE CARE Robin Diane GILBERT . GOD BLESS YOU.

Mike Fisher - I'm so sorry that happened I understand you're in pain but PLEASE DON'T blame the breed Blame the OWNER I've seen pit bulls nursing kittens It's NOT the breed It's how it's raised It's idiotic owners too lazy or don't know how to train their dog

Robin Diane Gilbert - Mike I'm not blaming the breed, the owner had just adopted the dog from animal control a couple days earlier, but still to blame for not having control of him, I blame animal control more for this. The dog had been in shelter two years and was known not to get along with other dogs, he should have never been adoptive out.

No, Robin. You should blame the breed. It's akin to having a tiger living next door to you. When that tiger gets loose and attacks your dog, wouldn't it be reasonable to say that your neighbor never should have had a tiger to begin with? It was a ticking time bomb waiting for the opportunity to attack. This is what they have been bred for for hundreds of years. The dog cannot help itself, but that is why BSL is so important. Mandatory sterilization, mandatory liability insurance, mandatory muzzling, mandatory approved cage/fence inspection by animal control. Treat them the same as owners of tigers, lions and bears.

Robin Diane Gilbert posted on Facebook November 18, 2017 · Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ ·

Stew Bug is home for the weekend, goes back to vet Monday to remove drainage tubes. We want to thank each and everyone for everything you did to help, from prayers to donations, words can not express my total gratitude from my heart!

*  *  *  *  *  *

GoFundMe: Save Bug dog
Created November 15, 2017
William Gary Gilbert
  Animals
  TUCSON, AZ
$3,165 of $2,500 goal
Raised by 56 people in 2 days

Update 1
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
The dog is still in serious condition he had his surgery is having a lot of trouble breathing the vet send him home at night with us to monitor and he'll be hospitalized every day during the daytime for medication and evaluation Robin and we don't know how to thank everyone properly we are very private people and hated to ask for help and you all stepped up and helped I just can't thank you enough we will continue to update this daily

Update 2
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
thanks to all of you people we have reached our goal and more here's an update on the dog. He's going to spend one more night at the vet's office tonight. They say he is improving he was trying to bite them LOL they were trying to put an IV in his leg and he hates people messing with his feet so he was trying to bite them that says a lot right there to me cuz I know he hates that. If they like what they see in the morning he will be sent home for good. He still going to need rehab and follow-up visit

I don't know how often but things are definitely looking up and this is all thanks to you for helping us get the cash up front. Robin and I are overjoyed with the outpouring we have received support and best wishes we are both absolutely amazed at the response from our new community. I will update this page in the morning but once again thanks to all of you it looks like we're going to get a positive outcome

Update 3
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
Things are looking up for the dog

Update 4
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
When bug got hurt and we found out we were going to need some money I must have made 150 phone calls trying to get some money called credit card people asking for credit line increase got $500 and sent that right in.

when I found out that the dog that attacked our dog was adopted out 2 days prior by the City of Tucson I called them up and ask them for help. They tried to bully me into putting my dog down and refused to help.

Also the 24-hour vet that had him the first night also tried to bully us into putting him down. Robin and I said no way we're not giving up on this dog and we got him the hell out of there as soon as we could.

I know he's emotional, but blaming the vet clinic is wrong. Imagine how many people come in with their pets and don't have a way to pay their bills. The vet kindly treats their pet and then never gets paid. The vet can send the unpaid bill to collections, but they'll never collect - even if they win a judgment. The vet gets too many of these and s/he can't pay their own bills. Employees get laid off and the vet business goes under and closes, putting 20+ people out of work. It may seem heartless for the vet to insist on the payment upfront, but you have to take the emotion out of it. 

Also, the vet has an obligation to ensure that the animal is treated or euthanized. You cannot simply take a seriously, critically-injured animal home and "hope for the best". By law, you as an owner must provide needed medical care to your animal - or surrender it to someone who can provide it - or euthanize it. The vet wasn't being hateful; s/he was trying to make sure this little dog wasn't taken home and left to suffer for days before finally dying because the owners couldn't pay the bills and refused to euthanize the dog. 

Thanks to the people at Santa Cruz Veterinary we were able to get him in and treated before they were paid. Don't know how much the final bill is going to be don't care this dog is worth it. He's such a big part of our family Robin and I haven't slept for 3 days it's been really tough working falling asleep driving but I've managed to keep moving. Can't get the little guy out of my mind Robin is the same way. I want to thank everyone again for the support hopefully he comes home in the morning.

 

 

Update 5
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
The dog stayed at the vet all night last night by himself the vet was comfortable with this and they have just arrived waiting for Robin to call me and update his status fingers crossed tick tick tick hurry up and call me!

Update 6
Posted by William Gary Gilbert
Great news the dog is going home for good your donations made it possible to cover all three vet bills and there's some left over we will use that to pay for follow-up care. Robin and I are so truly grateful we've never had to ask for money before and we are so deeply touched I just can't find the words to thank you properly. He still needs care has to go back Monday and have drain tubes removed but all in all they are comfortable sending him home to finish healing. Once again from the bottom of my heart I want to thank you and we will update you as he heals up.

*  *  *  *  *  *

VIDEO NEWS CLIP FROM KVOA:

 

(KVOA - November 16, 2017)

Tennessee: This is how killer dogs get shuffled around from one rescue to another. Veterinarian euthanized a known vicious Pit Bull mix and is now being hounded by lunatics

TENNESSEE -- Sabra Steele shared Ardmore Companion Animal Hospital's post.
November 2 at 1:19pm

Vet under attack by AR freaks for putting down a dog that rescuers from 2 states were trying to save. Dog had an aggressive behavior and was supposed to be euthanized before this happened.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Ardmore Companion Animal Hospital posted on Facebook October 30 at 10:43am

To our clients and community,
As animal lovers ourselves, we understand the concerns about a story that’s gone viral involving our small clinic.

We are heartbroken about this case, a case where a string of people in two states tried to save the life of a beautiful, but ultimately dangerous dog. We respect everyone’s right to free speech, but in this case it has crossed the line from discussion to attack – including violent threats being made against our clinic and staff – and we feel it’s fair to share our side of the story.

The dog involved was originally from out of state, and was scheduled for euthanasia in that state because of its aggressive behavior. 

The person who adopted the dog has owned many large, potentially aggressive dogs and we have seen her lead them to become good companions and canine citizens in the community. Because of this experience, she was called to see if she might be able to give this dog one more chance.

Shortly after bringing the dog home, the new owner called us asking to bring her in for evaluation.

We had the owner bring her dog at our lunch time when there wouldn’t be patients in the lobby to trigger the dog’s previously documented aggression toward other dogs.

What alerted me to the dog’s arrival in our hospital was her high-pitched, frantic barking; it was the sound of a dog on the verge of attack.

I rushed to the front to find one of my receptionists struggling to hold the dog on her leash while the dog lunged and screamed in an uncontrollable, inconsolable mania. There were no other animals in sight, just the distraught owner and her sister and my employees, all summoned by the dog’s outrageous behavior, to see how they could help.

The terrified owner had clearly delayed much-needed emergency medical care for herself to bring her dog to us for evaluation.

Her shirt was torn at the back and both of her arms were covered from her fingers to her shoulders with deep lacerations and puncture wounds from the dog’s unprovoked attacks. She described being unable to get away from the dog, finally freeing one hand and clamping it tightly across the dog’s nostrils to get it to let go of her. Her sister’s arm was quickly developing a giant bruise where the dog had snapped at her. 

The owner was understandably afraid that she might not be able to fend off the dog’s next attack and didn’t want to put anyone else at risk for harm.

Even with my extensive resources, there was no one I could ask to take on such a potentially dangerous dog. There was no place I could safely house the dog myself. As a veterinarian I am charged not only with furthering animal health and well-being, but also with safe guarding human public health and safety. When the two responsibilities collide, as they did in this case, it makes for a painful decision.

Ultimately, the law stands on the side of protecting people’s safety. 

In this awful case, knowing the owner was unable to safely return this dog to her home, and would therefore have to seek euthanasia elsewhere if we sent her away, and knowing I could ensure a painless and humane euthanasia, I ultimately agreed with a heavy heart to fulfill my client’s repeated request for this.

It was not the outcome any of us wanted for this dog. My staff and I are dedicated to the preservation of the health and well-being of every animal brought to us. We care about our patients like they were our own, and can’t express how much we regret the circumstances that led to where we are now.

Euthanasia is never taken lightly. It’s never the first choice, but sometimes there is no other choice. 

We share the grief that comes with losing any life, and will not forget this difficult decision.

Thank you for your time,
Dr. Wendy Rosenbek

  

  

THIS IS WHAT THE VET IS DEALING WITH:

  

  

    

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

 

*  *  *  *  *  *

What has become popular is for people to go to sites that allow reviews -- Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, etc. -- and post 1-star reviews, trying to ruin their business. Many people don't live locally, have never been to this particular business, but try to ruin their reputation through bad reviews. 

Thankfully, Yelp has been notified and is in the process of removing all of these bad reviews made by nutbags who insist that no animal - no matter how vicious and 'unsave-able' it is, not be euthanized. As the veterinarian said herself, no one likes to euthanize animals but sometimes it has to be done.