Pennsylvania: Update to story about owner mauled by his own pit bull

PENNSYLVANIA --What's interesting about this story is that, after it happened, the crazies invaded Facebook to INSIST that he MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING to provoke his sweet pibble into attacking him and to complain that if it were a poodle attacking its owner, it wouldn't have been on the news at all (see original story). 

 

 

 

 

However, if you read the owner's own words, you will see that it is yet another owner, who raised their dog with love and whose dogs suddenly decided to kill them.  

When these dogs go from 'zero to red', they turn into machines. Machines that are to kill and are not phased by pepper spray, being beaten with police batons, or tasered. They are a killing machine.

"In the middle of the night, August 13th, here in a Pittsburgh suburb, I was attacked by my pit bull, King. 

"We had King for about a year, since he was six months old, and we got him as a rescue pet and loved him as a member of the family. He was not a normally aggressive dog and was a gentle giant, so to speak.

 

 

"It was raining the night of the attack and I had taken him out to go to the bathroom. I believe the rain and the thunder must have spooked him because he bit me a few times. The bites hurt but I assumed it was just going to be left at that, he was scared and was reacting.

"However, after the few initial bites, I realized something was horribly wrong.

"He kept biting me and I eventually blacked out from the blood loss. I was able to run into a bathroom and barricade myself behind closed doors until the paramedics were able to come.

 

"As the door was still open, he eventually ran off.

"I am a hard-working guy and need some help while I'm going to be out of comission. I have a long road to recovery and can use any help I can get. I normally work with my hands as a laborer but I will be out of work for several months.

 

  

 

"If, even if you cannot afford to help me out, please say some prayers for both me and for King, who unfortunately had to be euthanized."

GoFundMe Update:
"Well, we are up to $260 in two days. I appreciate the help and support from everyone who donated. I am leaving Presby today and will be in a nursing home for a few weeks. I will update you all as I make progress."

Where are the pit bull fanatics? Why aren't they donating to help this pit bull owner?

 

Tammy, are you going to donate to help pay for
his medical bills???

Blame the victim, Destiny. What business is it
of yours that he was "up at 3 in the morning"?

 (GoFundMe - Aug 21, 2016)

Earlier:

• Pennsylvania: Pit bull that severely mauled its owner and then ran off has been captured

Pennsylvania: Pit bull that severely mauled its owner and then ran off has been captured

PENNSYLVANIA -- A pit bull that mauled its owner in Westmoreland County early Saturday was found hours after it escaped into the woods following the attack, police said.

The white and brown-colored dog that weighed about 60 pounds attacked its owner at a residence in the 2200 block of Route 286 in Bell Township around 3 a.m., according to state police.

Washington Township police officers responded to the scene and beat the pit bull with batons, sprayed it with mace and used a Taser on it in an effort to stop the attack on its owner. 

The pit bull finally stopped its attack on its owner and ran off into the woods.

Authorities finally located and secured dog around 7:15 p.m.

The owner, who was not identified, suffered severe lacerations and was flown to a hospital, police said.

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Aug 13, 2016)

This story elicited a lot of responses on local media Facebook pages. Most have the opinion that, despite no proof of this, the owner must have beaten the dog or done something into provoking his own dog to attack him. 

 

Another reader, Tammy Lynn Stellfox posts on KDKA's Facebook page:

 

 

 

 

Kansas: Topeka dog owner, Angelo Aldridge, 29, makes pleas tied to 2015 dog attack in Chesney park

KANSAS -- The owner of two pit bull-type dogs pleaded no contest on Thursday to three city infractions, all tied to the biting of an 11-year-old boy and two adults in August at a central Topeka park.

In Topeka Municipal Court, Angelo D. Aldridge, 29, apologized to bite victim Caleb Davis, 11, and said he felt heartbroken that anyone had been injured, was shocked by the attack and said he hadn’t raised the two dogs to behave this way.

Aldridge pleaded no contest to two counts each of having a dangerous dog, dog at large and not having a city tag. As part of the plea, four other counts of having a dangerous dog were dismissed.

Administrative Municipal Court Judge Jason Geier will sentence Aldridge on March 11.

Kevin Cook, Aldridge’s attorney, said that as part of the plea agreement, the recommended sentence is that Aldridge will pay fines, as well as restitution to the three victims for medical treatment of their injuries.

Witnesses describe seeing two pit bulls attacking children at

Chesney Park Thursday afternoon after being

attacked by the dogs themselves.

The recommended sentence also will include a suspended jail term, Cook said. Aldridge doesn’t have any criminal history of dangerous dog violations, Cook said.

Sarah Davis, Caleb Davis’ mother, watched the plea hearing on Thursday.

“I thought (Aldridge) should have some kind of consequence, but not much,” she said.

On the day of the dog attack, Caleb Davis, his two sisters and their four cousins were playing in the park. To escape the dogs, the boy climbed some monkey bars, where he remained for several minutes.

In this photo, a Topeka police officer 
fends off the two attacking dogs

Caleb Davis received two stitches for a dog bite in his lower left leg and one stitch for a bite behind his right ear. He also suffered puncture wounds and scrapes, his mother said. The Davis family lives near Chesney Park.

Two men from the neighborhood, Christopher Nelson and Elihote Trotter, ran to the park to get the dogs away from the children and suffered dog bites.

 

After the plea hearing, Caleb Davis viewed a video recording shot during the dog attack.

City of Topeka chief prosecutor Charles Kitt said that following the Aug. 6 attack, the dogs were quarantined.

Then, after about 30 days, the dogs were released to Helping Hands Humane Society, where the dogs were put to sleep, Kitt said. Helping Hands has the discretion to destroy the dogs in a situation like this, Kitt said.

 

 

On Aug. 6, police officers were called to Chesney Park at 2:09 p.m. The park is bordered by S.W. 18th on the north, S.W. 19th on the south, S.W. Clay on the east, and S.W. Buchanan on the west.

A witness said children sought refuge on playground equipment, a man was trapped on a picnic table as the two dogs circled the area and at least two other adults stood on various park objects.

A Topeka Fire Department truck sprayed the dogs with water to corral them into a grassy area of the park away from the children. A police officer tried to keep the dogs at bay with a nightstick, then shot and injured one dog. Both dogs were soon captured.

Kevin Cook is the owner of Cook and Associates, which has a contract with the city of Topeka to provide lawyers to represent indigent defendants.

(Topeka Capital Journal - Jan 28, 2016)

Earlier:

• Three people bitten by 2 dogs at Chesney Park; one dog shot, survives

United Kingdom: Surgeons fight to save woman's arm after vicious attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- Surgeons are today battling to save the arm of a young woman savaged by her partner's dog at her home.

Paola Sahovic was at home in Mitchelstown, Cork, with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier when neighbors reportedly heard screaming at around 9.15am on Monday.

Rushing to the house just doors away on Upper Cork Street, gardaí found the 22-year-old being mauled by the animal in the back yard and were forced to draw their batons.

Witnesses say it took five officers to free the victim from the jaws of the dog - which has since been put down - before she was rushed to Cork University Hospital for emergency surgery.

 

It is believed that surgeons were able to save one of the woman's arms, and are currently working to prevent the second from being amputated due to serious injuries.

Ms Sahovic, a dog lover who described the animal as her "best friend" on Instagram, is thought to have moved from Croatia to Ireland to be with her boyfriend at Christmas.

She was reunited with the black and white cross-breed owned by her partner - who has been living and working in north Cork since the summer - after it arrived in the country only last Friday.

Sometimes used as guard dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are one of 11 restricted breeds in Ireland, meaning they have to be kept on a short lead and muzzled in public.

But the 1998 regulations legislate for the control of the dog only in public places, and not in private homes.

Cork County Council veterinary officer Edmund O'Sullivan last night warned: "You cannot relax in the presence of all dogs, but in the case of restricted breeds, it's more important to be so careful."

(Irish Independent - Jan 27, 2016)

Earlier:

• United Kingdom: Woman almost loses hands during horrific dog attack

United Kingdom: Woman almost loses hands during horrific dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- Officers were called to a house on Upper Cork Street in Mitchelstown in East Cork shortly after 9 am yesterday morning where it is understood a Bull Mastiff breed attacked the woman in 20s.

The victim was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery to save her hands, which were badly injured in the attack. She remains there in a stable condition.

It is understood that the dog involved in the attack was the family pet, and that it belonged to the woman’s partner.

Currently the animal is being held at a secure location. It is expected to be put down, said a local source.

According to Gardaí the incident is under investigation, though no formal complaint has yet been made.

Reports say the alarm was first raised when neighbors heard the victim screaming for help.
Rushing into the backyard of a property on Upper Cork St, Gardaí from the Mitchelstown Station were initially unable to pry the dog off the woman.

Forced to draw their batons, the officers struck the animal repeatedly until it ended its attack.

The Bull Mastiff is one of 11 dogs on the controlled breeds list in Ireland.

(Irish Independent - Jan 26, 2016)

Pit bull busts through screen door to attack 15 year-old newspaper carrier

CANADA -- A teenage newspaper carrier was still waiting for corrective surgery Wednesday, almost a week after what was thought to be pit bull tore into her left hand.

 

Sarah Metzner, 15, was delivering papers along 117th Avenue, near Thomas Haney secondary last Friday, when she was attacked by the dog, which tore through a screen door to get at her.

 

Sarah was walking up the sidewalk to deliver the paper and heard the dog inside. She hesitated, but then heard the owner say from inside, that was it OK.

 

 

After placing the newspaper, Sarah walked back towards the street. That’s when the dog attacked.

 

“She had turned away and the dog came through the screen. It latched on to her left hand and it locked,” said her mom, Kelly Sullivan.

 

“She screamed and the neighbours came running.”

 

The person taking care of the dog tried to pull it off Sarah by grabbing its hind legs.

 

Neighbours then restrained the dog so it couldn’t do any more damage and someone brought a chair over for Sarah to sit on, positioning the dog behind her.

 

“At first, I was really, really scared,” Sarah said.

 

But help soon arrived. She wants to thank police and her neighbours for what they did.

 

The moments after the attack were frightening, Sarah added.

 

“It was worse afterwards because I could hear the dog behind me, but I couldn’t see him, so I thought he could get back at me and get me again, but I think I did OK.”

 

Her mom said Sarah’s recollection of the event is sketchy because of the trauma involved.

 

Sullivan was driving a TransLink bus at the time in Port Coquitlam and only heard on voice mail, with her daughter screaming.

 

She had to piece together the events based on what neighbours said.

 

Sullivan said when police arrived, one officer cut the dog’s throat, but that had no immediate effect. Police then tried to pry open the dog’s jaws with a baton. Eventually, it lost too much blood and died.

However, RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop said police did not stab the dog, a two-year-old pit bull.

 

“The first member on scene was able to pry the dog’s mouth open using a baton.  There was no knife used at all.”

 

The blood on the scene was from the victim’s injury, she added.

 

Dunlop said a muzzle was then put on the dog. At some point, afterwards, the dog died, but she didn’t know the cause, adding the SPCA would know that.

 

“What she went through was an extremely traumatic experience.”

 

Kelly, who didn’t see her daughter until she was in Ridge Meadows Hospital, says she lives in a close-knit neighbourhood.

 

“They all just came running and everybody was there for her, and I can’t thank them enough,” she said, her voice choking.

 

Throughout it all, her daughter was as strong as could be.

 

“From all accounts I heard from the police, neighbours and everybody else, she was amazing. She was very calm.”

 

Sullivan said that dog owners have to recognize the breeds they have, and act accordingly.

 

“Whether a dog bites or is aggressive depends on the owner’s willingness to train or teach the dog … so they don’t feel the need to resort to aggression.”

 

On Wednesday, Sarah was still waiting for surgery.

 

Doctors wanted to wait to see if infection set in.

 

The dog had to be exhumed to see if had been vaccinated for rabies.

 

Sullivan is not certain what will happen to her daughter’s hand, which has a crushed bone, puncture wounds and torn palm.

 

“We don’t know. Until the surgeon takes a good look, we don’t know.”

 

(Maple Ridge News - July 31, 2015)

Kansas: Three people bitten by 2 dogs at Chesney Park; one dog shot, survives

KANSAS -- A Topeka police officer who shot a pit bull type dog Thursday afternoon in central Topeka’s Chesney Park “probably saved several lives,” said Topeka Police Chief James Brown.

The dogs attacked and bit Caleb Davis, 11, who escaped to the top of some monkey bars, said his
aunt, Rochelle Davis. They also bit two men — ages 21 and 33, who tried to intervene — before one dog was shot and both were captured by Topeka police, said Deputy Police Chief Brian Desch said.

  

  

In this photo, a man stands on a picnic
table to avoid the two dogs attacking him.

Police weren’t releasing the name of the officer who shot the dog.

The captures ended a chaotic situation in which police and firefighters sought to subdue the dogs using a pole snare, a nightstick and water from firehoses, witnesses said.

Caleb was taken by private vehicle to a Topeka hospital while the men were taken by American Medical Response ambulances to Topeka hospitals. Their injuries — which included wounds to the arms, legs and torso — didn’t appear to be life-threatening, Desch said.

Both dogs remained alive and in custody, and one was being treated at a veterinarian’s office, he said.
Brown said at a news conference Thursday, “I think we did what the community pays us to do, and that is protect them.”

Desch said police had located a person thought to own the dogs, were continuing to investigate and hadn’t issued any citations.

Witnesses describe seeing two pit bulls attacking children at

Chesney Park Thursday afternoon after being

attacked by the dogs themselves.

He said police patrol officers and animal control officers were dispatched to the scene at 2:09 p.m. after receiving multiple calls regarding the attack on the southern edge of Chesney Park. The attack took place in the 1800 block between Clay and Buchanan streets.

Desch described Central Park as a “popular place for children to come and play.”

Rochelle Davis said she called police after the dogs attacked and bit Caleb as other youngsters took cover atop playground equipment.

“All the kids were screaming and panicking,” Davis said. “And they were all getting up high and telling me to get up high.”

Caleb — who subsequently climbed to safety atop some monkey bars — was taken to a Topeka hospital by his mother, Sarah Davis, Rochelle Davis said. Names of the other victims hadn’t been released.

In this photo, two girls take cover on a toy after two
 dogs attacked the area, injuring at least three

Topeka firefighters were the first authorities to arrive on the scene, where Davis said they used hoses to spray water to try to keep the dogs from getting to people.

At the time, the dogs were trying to get at a man who was atop a picnic table, police said.

No one was bitten after firefighters arrived, Desch said. He said the water firefighters sprayed kept the dogs down and directed them away from people.

After Topeka police patrol and animal control officers arrived, Desch said animal control officers used pole snares to try to subdue the dogs but they continued to be aggressive.

Desch said an officer next tried to deal with one of the dogs using a nightstick, which Brown said was “completely ineffective.”

That officer then fired a single shot, striking one of the dogs in the leg, Desch said. He indicated the dogs were taken into custody soon afterward.

People who came to the scene included a man who carried a butcher knife and a cell phone, which he used to videotape part of what happened, witnesses said. Police said they acquired and viewed the cellphone video.


In this photo, a Topeka police officer
fends off the two attacking dogs

Desch said two investigations were underway. One was to review the defensive action taken by the officer who shot the dog while other was to look into potential criminal charges related to the vicious dogs, he said.

Rochelle Davis said she thought the same dogs last week escaped their home and bit her sister, Sarah Davis, Caleb’s mother, who didn’t feel compelled to report it.

Anyone with knowledge of these incidents is asked to call the Topeka Police Department at (785) 368-9200 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. Reports may also be made online at http://www.topekacrimestoppers.org/.

(CJ Online - Aug 6, 2015)

Konawa Officers Accused Of Animal Cruelty By Fellow Officer

OKLAHOMA -- Serious allegations of animal cruelty are being made against the Konawa Police Department by a fellow officer.

At least two officers were put on administrative leave after the allegations were made.

A fellow officer, who has been on the force for less than two weeks, says he's heard officers bragging about killing stray dogs.

He's so upset that he's thinking about resigning from the force.

 

 

“I looked down inside their patrol car and noticed a small white dog,” officer Jermaine Down said about what he recently saw inside a fellow officer's patrol car.

“I said, ‘Who's this little guy?' and I was told, ‘He's about to disappear,'” Down said.

The reserve police officer thinks the dog was taken outside city limits and shot.

Downs tells News 9 the two officers bragged about killing other stray dogs and described how they'd hold a dog with the left hand while shooting it with the right.

About a week, Down says he witnessed the same officers corner a raccoon and then open fire on the animal several times.

“The animal wasn't deceased, so immediately, both of the officers got out their batons and repeatedly beat the animal until it was dead,” Down said.

The two officers have given their chief a different story.

“The raccoon turned on the officers,” Konawa Police Chief Richard Finch said.

Konawa Police Chief Richard Finch

Finch said both officers accused were immediately taken off the streets and put on administrative leave.

“I never saw the raccoon charge the officers,” Down claims.

Finch said none of his officers have shot stray animals picked up on the streets.

He said some strays dogs officers have picked up and been adopted by police officers and other city employees.

Down is now considering resigning from the Konawa Police Dept. after less than two weeks on the job.

News 9 was told Monday evening that Konawa City Manager Tony Lowery decided to let the officers work while an investigation is conducted.

Konawa Police says it plans to ask the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to investigate.

(news9.com KWTV - ‎June 29, 2015‎)