Connecticut: Pit Bull Shot After Attacking Man In Fairfield County

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT -- A Bridgeport police officer was forced to shoot a dog Tuesday evening after it severely mauled a man in the middle of a domestic dispute, said Bridgeport officials.

The incident, which took place at 127 Polk Street,  occurred when a pit bull began attacking the man who was having a domestic dispute and officers were called, said Av Harris, spokesman for the Bridgeport Police Department.

"One of our police officers had to shoot the dog to stop the attack," Harris said.

According to Harris, the dog was still alive Tuesday evening, but he was not sure of its condition.

The man was taken to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment.

(Fairfield Daily Voice - March 28, 2018)

Connecticut: Woman and her German Shepherd attacked by a Pit Bull; Kacie King tells her to "blame the breed and not the deed"

CONNECTICUT -- Nicole Alycia Welgoss‎ posted on Facebook group page German Shepherd Owners February 27, 2018 ·

My one year old GSD and me were attacked my pit-bull the other day and let me tell you she protected me to no end and made sure I wasn’t touched once and took the pit bull on! As scary as it was GSDs are so loyal and protective!

Connecticut: Woman's Pit Bull attacked by her neighbor's Pit Bull

CONNECTICUT -- Nikki Johnson is with Ivette Vega at Waterbury Veterinary Hospital. February 15, 2018 · Waterbury, CT ·

Omfg our dog Gizmo was fucking attacked by my neighbor's pit bull. Like seriously?? My poor papa. At the vet now. I hope he is ok. 😭😭😭😭😭 he got some wounds and he is in shock. I feel so bad for him. My baby he is so old and he was minding his business. N the dog ran up on him and just attacked him..

Connecticut: Jessica DePaolis had 19 dogs in her home; she's been arrested after an English Bulldog went on the attack

CONNECTICUT -- Police and firefighters had to pull off a dramatic rescue of two children and their aunt in October after their English Bulldog began attacking them, an arrest warrant said.

Now the owner of the bulldog, who had 20 dogs in her Fairview Street home, is facing charges including animal cruelty, risk of injury and reckless endangerment, as well as charges related to a Monday incident.

Police officers were called to 62 Fairview St., the home of Jessica DePaolis, on Oct. 23 after receiving a 911 call reporting that an English bulldog was attacking people and other dogs.

Officers found four people injured, including DePaolis’ 7- and 13-year-old children, her aunt and a neighbor who was trying to help.

The children and the aunt were hiding from the bulldog, which had just killed a Chihuahua, in a first-floor bedroom.

A fire department ladder had to be used to get the three out of the house.

DePaolis’s 7-year-old son’s injuries were so severe that he needed surgery, police said.

The Chihuahua killed by the bulldog had recently given birth to three puppies which were two weeks old, an arrest warrant said.

Officers found 20 dogs, including the male bulldog, which had gone on a rampage after DePaolis left for her job in New York that morning.

A judge agreed in November to give custody of the remaining 19 dogs to the city.

While responding to a domestic violence incident Monday, police served DePaolis with an arrest warrant charging her with 19 counts of animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child in connection with the October incident.

In connection with Monday’s incident, details of which are not being released, she has been charged with third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and risk of injury to a child, Lt. Jeanette Portalatin said.

This building has two addresses: 62 Fairview and 

64 Fairview. She had 20 dogs stuffed into this duplex.

DePaolis was released on $35,000 bond after her arraignment in New Britain Superior Court Tuesday.

In October, the dogs were living in what were described as squalid conditions, with feces and urine on the floor and in their cages. All had fleas, and some had other medical issues. At least one dog was emaciated, police said.

She had previously been cited for illegal breeding in March, police said.

DePaolis had nine Chihuahua puppies of varying ages, five adult bulldogs and six adult Chihuahuas living in the house.

The puppies that had lost their mother were given immediately to Monkey Pack Rescue, where they had to be bottle-fed every few hours, said Police Sgt. Paula Keller, who heads the city’s Animal Control Division.

The other six puppies and two of the adult Chihuahuas were also placed with the rescue organization, which is working on getting them vaccinated and spayed or neutered before they are placed in good homes. The bulldogs were also slated for adoption, Keller said in November.

She's been churning out puppies for years.

(NBC Connecticut -January 24, 2018)

Earlier:

• Connecticut: City given custody of dogs seized from breeder Jessica DePaolis

(December 2017) Connecticut: Owner of aggressive American Bulldog ordered to wear muzzle when in public claims it's too stressful for his autistic son

CONNECTICUT -- Tensions are running high after a resident on Friday took to Facebook to question the muzzling of a dog that its owner CLAIMS "comforts his autistic son".

Steven Frischling’s post on the Niantic Beach Bums page details a May incident in which an American Bulldog named Sally got loose from 5 Wildwood Drive, where Frischling’s ex-girlfriend Susannah Seefeldt lives. The post has garnered more than 200 comments.

The post fails to describe an earlier April event in which Sally allegedly left a dog walker and another dog with moderate to serious injuries.

Because the May incident was the second time Sally had been cited as a nuisance dog, the animal control officer issued a muzzle order for Sally. The officer additionally charged Frischling’s ex-partner, Susannah Seefeldt, with misdemeanor owning a nuisance dog.

Frischling, the subject of an ongoing civil suit regarding the April case, is calling on the town to overturn its order to muzzle Sally. He said the dog used to comfort his son on walks along the beach or even from the house to the bus. Now his son has horrific fits at the sight of Sally in a muzzle.

“I’m not asking for anything hard here,” Frischling said Wednesday. “Just basic common sense.”

Police Chief Mike Finkelstein, who was not the chief when either incident occurred, said the town is working with the State’s Attorney’s Office and the court on the case.

While the court nolled, or opted not to prosecute, Seefeldt’s charge, the judge also warned removal of the muzzle could lead to arrest.

The key, Finkelstein said, is to determine whether the judge issued a new order or simply reminded the defendants of the animal control officer’s order. Town officials would be reticent to overstep a judge’s order, he explained.

The town has asked for a transcript of the appearance.

April 6, 2017

According to a police document, a UPS driver on April 6 reported one dog had attacked a woman and another dog near 26 Old Black Point Road. On arrival, police said they spoke with three witnesses, two of whom said they fought off a black-and-white pit bull and watched it run to 5 Wildwood Drive.

Police said the black-and-white dog had dragged the woman, injuring her shoulder and leaving cuts on her elbow and hand. The aggressor also tore a large chunk of skin from the neck area of the victim dog, they said. Photos of the small dog show extensive amounts of blood.

Frischling said he was using the restroom that day when his son opened the door, allowing the dog to slip out. He was issued infractions for allowing a dog to roam and owning a nuisance dog. The dog additionally was quarantined for 14 days.

Frischling said Wednesday he believes Sally wasn’t involved in the attack — he took photos of her shortly after it occurred and saw no blood on her white face.

He also said he doesn’t know why he was issued the infractions when it’s his ex-wife’s dog.

Records list Sally as a black-and-white American Bulldog that was licensed to Frischling at the time of the incident. The breed is sometimes considered to be of the pit bull type, though that’s the subject of much debate [mostly from people who claim "there is no such thing as a pit bull!" All bully breeds are Pit Bulls and they all have been bred to have a propensity for sudden, unprovoked violence].

According to the town clerk’s office, Sally is no longer licensed; the dog was put in Seefeldt’s name in October, but the check bounced and another never was provided.

Civil suit

Two women in June launched a civil suit against Frischling in response to the April incident: Anne Rudge-Pinkham, the 91-year-old owner of the attacked dog, and Tammie Schenking, who was walking the dog that day.

The suit alleges Schenking sustained injuries to her neck, shoulders, ribs, left leg, right elbow and vocal cords, all of which required medical care. It further states Rudge-Pinkham’s dog had to undergo surgery because of its injuries.

The suit seeks $15,000 in damages.

Can you imagine this dog running towards you, barking, 

growling and trying to attack you and your pets?

Records show Frischling in September asked the court to dismiss the case because he doesn’t own Sally or live at 5 Wildwood Drive. The judge denied Frischling’s motion.

In November, the plaintiffs moved to have Seefeldt added as a defendant. The judge granted that motion.

The case is ongoing.

Click here to read the document filed regarding the lawsuit.

May 3, 2017

Police on May 3 returned to 5 Wildwood Drive, this time because Sally had pulled the spiral stake she was tethered to out of the ground.

Why is a known-to-be-aggressive large American Bulldog being 'staked' in the ground in the yard and left unatttended? The very fact that they thought this was a good idea -- right after the first attack -- tells you a lot about them.

According to a police report, Sally ran toward a woman walking her dog in front of the home, causing the woman to fall. Seefeldt, outside at the time, ran over and regained control of Sally.

According to the report, the woman initially said she didn’t believe her dog was hurt in the incident, but later reported having found a small laceration under its collar.

The police file shows Seefeldt in the past had spoken to the woman "about Sally and her issues with small dogs."

Frischling on Wednesday took issue with the photos police had on file for the incident, which were not taken by officers. There’s no timestamp, no frame of reference and, Frischling said, no way to know for sure the mark came from Sally.

Finkelstein said his department has since changed policies to ensure officers take quality photos at each incident.

All they had to do was document who claims to have taken the photo and when they received it. That person would be required to come to court to be sworn in as a witness to testify that they are the one who took the photo on X date. This person is opening themselves up to perjury charges if they are lying. Frischling is grasping at straws, thinking this is some conspiracy with doctored photos.

Frischling also said he’s wondering why his dog got a muzzle for its second nuisance incident when no bite occurred.

According to state statutes, a dog can be a nuisance “by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbance.” In other words, a biting incident isn’t a prerequisite.

The response

Hundreds of people reacted to Frischling’s Facebook post. Many called on the town to revoke the muzzle order so Frischling's child could find some peace. Some of those commenters didn’t appear to be aware of the April incident that preceded May’s.

Others questioned Frischling’s use of a community forum for a personal issue, especially when his civil suit is ongoing.

Frischling said he tried to seek mediation with the town through a third party, but was denied the option. The town attorney, without the paperwork at his disposal, declined to comment on the reason mediation was denied.

First Selectman Mark Nickerson also declined to comment on the case.

"We go through these processes to make sure we're doing everything we can to keep everybody safe," Finkelstein said.

Frischling stressed he has no ill will toward the town and doesn’t intend to sue it.

“I just want what’s best for my kid,” he said.

In this case, Steven Frischling has been ordered to keep his vicious American Bulldog muzzled whenever it's out in public. Steven Frischling claims his autistic son has tantrums, outbursts and pokes his own ears until they bleed --- simply at the sight of their dog wearing this muzzle.

People with autism do have challenges. However, change is a part of life. 

Steven Frischling's son will have to deal with change when they move homes, when one of his parents change jobs and time schedules, if his parents have a new baby, when they purchase a new car and swap out the old one, when he has to change schools, when they go to a new restaurant, when they go to a new city/state on vacation, when someone passes away. He'll certainly have to adjust to change when this American Bulldog eventually dies. 

So Steven Frischling's argument about this dog being muzzled is not winning me over. The dog is not required to have a muzzle on when its inside its own home with the family. 

The muzzle protects everyone else from Steven Frischling's dog, which has shown itself to be unpredictable, aggressive and willing to attack - not just other animals but human beings as well.

 

(The Day - December 28, 2017)

Connecticut: Woman upset with police response during Pit Bull attack at bus stop

CONNECTICUT -- Sandra Regis reviewed New Haven Police Department's Facebook page — 1 star, December 13 at 8:15pm ·

All these police sitting in their cars in New Haven corners,along with all the substations on Whalley Ave.

You would think they would respond to emergencies they are literally 4 minutes away and took an 30 mins after calling 4 times about my mom and her dog being attacked by a pit bull and where kids were getting off the bus. 

The officer said I didn't have a right to be upset as I'm screaming for help cause the dog is in my apartment. 

They were so nonchalant as they casually stroll and giggled in the driveway.

Connecticut: City given custody of 19 dogs seized from breeder Jessica DePaolis

CONNECTICUT -- A judge agreed Monday to give the city custody of 19 dogs taken from the home of a Fairview Street woman after one of them, a bulldog, attacked four people, including her two children.

Officers were called to 62 Fairview St., home of Jessica DePaolis, on Oct. 23 after receiving calls reporting that a bulldog was attacking people and other dogs.

Officers found four people injured including DePaolis’ two children, ages 7 and 13, her aunt and a neighbor who was trying to help.

Her 7-year-old son’s injuries were so severe that he needed surgery, police said.

A Chihuahua that had recently given birth to three puppies was killed by the bulldog, police said.

Officers found 19 dogs, including the male bulldog, which had gone on his rampage while DePaolis wasn’t home.

The dogs were living in what were described as squalid conditions, with feces and urine on the floor and in their cages. All had fleas, and some had other medical issues. One dog was emaciated, police said.

The Chihuahua that was killed was the mother of three puppies, which were two weeks old.

DePaolis had nine Chihuahua puppies of varying ages, five adult bulldogs and six adult Chihuahuas.

The puppies that had lost their mother were given immediately to Monkey Pack Rescue, where they had to be bottle-fed every few hours, said Police Sgt. Paula Keller, who heads the city’s Animal Control Division.

The other six puppies and two of the adult Chihuahuas were also placed with the rescue organization, which is working on getting them vaccinated and spayed or neutered before they are placed in good homes.

The dogs were seized that day and Keller sought to have to have the city permanently take custody of them by filing for ownership in New Britain Superior Court.

DePaolis told Judge Robert Young Monday that she had been "overwhelmed" by having so many dogs, but had tried to take care of them properly.

“I don’t believe I was neglectful at all,” she claimed.

Young called the situation “abhorrent” and said he was stunned by her “lack of self-awareness.”

“They were neglected, treated cruelly and they are not to be returned” to DePaolis’ custody, Young said.

The judge also ordered DePaolis to pay the city $15 per dog per day, for their care from Oct. 23 until Monday. She was also ordered to pay the dogs’s medical bills.

DePaolis will be facing criminal charges, police said.

She was led from the courthouse in handcuffs after being charged with not paying a fine connected to a ticket she received in March, when she was cited for self-vaccinating her dogs, which is illegal in Connecticut.

Two of the bulldogs have adoptions pending and two with health issues will be going to bulldog rescue organizations, Keller said.

(New Britain Herald - November 6, 2017)

Connecticut: Tyshawn Virtue, 33, charged with animal cruelty after shooting dog in the face during domestic dispute

CONNECTICUT -- A 33-year-old man was arrested after police said he shot a dog because he was angry about a domestic dispute in Hartford on Friday night.

Officers were called to a report of a dog in the area of 820 Wethersfield Ave. around 8:20 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located a dog suffering from a gunshot wound to the jaw. 

Police said they quickly put the dog into a cruiser and then, rushed to the animal to the New England Veterinary Center for "emergency medical attention." The dog was in "stable condition" and will require surgery, police said.

Detectives from the Focused Violence Reduction Team FVRT were called to the scene and determined that the suspect in the case was Hartford resident Tyshawn Virtue.

Virtue was located in the apartment on Wethersfield Avenue and officers seized 34 live 9mm rounds and a Safeguard bulletproof vest. Detectives recovered video surveillance footage of the shooting and seized a Hi Point Model C9 semi-automatic firearm containing five live 9mm rounds in a nearby wooded area. 

Police said the Hi Point Model C9 semi-automatic firearm "was determined to have been discarded by Virtue after the shooting" and "believed the suspect shot the dog due to anger over the domestic dispute."

Virtue has previous firearm-related felony convictions.

He is charged with Criminal Possession Firearm, Criminal Possession Ammunition, Criminal Possession Body Armor, Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Reckless Endangerment, Cruelty to Animals, Risk of Injury,  and Violation of a Protective Order. He is was held on a $500,000 bond.

Virtue is expected to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Monday.

(WFSB - Oct 29, 2017)

Connecticut: Faith Taylor accused of child abuse, animal cruelty; cat so neglected it had to be euthanized

CONNECTICUT -- A Shelton woman faced charges of child abuse and animal cruelty at her arraignment Thursday for allegedly beating her son and neglecting a cat.

Police say they arrested Faith Taylor (aka Faith Bisson), 37, after a child services worker noticed multiple injuries on her 9-year-old son, who has autism.

The boy had bruises and cuts all over his body -- and investigators blame Taylor for putting them there.

Court documents say it was the boy's father who contacted the Department of Children and Families after the victim returned from Taylor's home on Howe Avenue with bruises and cuts all over his body.

The DCF worker took pictures of injuries on the boy's face, neck, chest and arm, police say. When they interviewed Taylor regarding the injuries, they say she admitted to causing them.

But her boyfriend denies that she abused the boy.

Taylor's boyfriend John Miko claims the boy was "violently aggressive" toward his younger sister, so Taylor intervened.

"She spanked her son, but she did not abuse him," he claims. "It was not overboard. It was not aggressive."

 

 

Police say they also found a dying cat in the home. 

"Upon inspecting it, we heard the cat meow faintly because it was still alive," says Detective Richard Bango, of the Shelton Police Department. "So we rushed it to the animal hospital here in town. 

"Once we got there, the vet said the cat was severely neglected and had to euthanize him."

According to the arrest warrant, the veterinarian called it one of the worst cases of animal neglect he'd seen in many years. He said it didn't happen overnight.

The judge ordered Taylor to have zero contact with her child. She's due back in court next month.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(News12 - Oct 26, 2017)

Connecticut: Little boy, 4, wanders into woman's yard and has his nose ripped off by her Irish Wolfhound. She asks for advice on hiding the dog from police and suing the parents

CONNECTICUT -- This lovely woman posted on two different sections of Reddit asking readers if they agreed with her decision to hide her dog from the police after it "ripped off" a 4-year-old boy's nose -- oh and maybe his eye too.

She first posted in a section (called subreddits) titled "Childfree". This subreddit is described as:

Discussion and links of interest to childfree individuals. "Childfree" refers to those who do not have and do not ever want children (whether biological, adopted, or otherwise).

In "Childfree", she calls the victim -- a four-year-old little boy who, according to her has had his nose ripped off -- a "snot monster" and "critch goblin". She then blames the little boy's parents because he was able to crawl under her ramshackle fence to reach her dog, what is commonly referred to as an attractive nuisance, like a swimming pool.

The attractive nuisance doctrine applies to the law of torts, in the United States. It states that a landowner may be held liable for injuries to children trespassing on the land if the injury is caused by an object on the land that is likely to attract children.

She asks readers if they agree with her plan of hiding the dog from authorities.

>>Reddit section: RANT

"Mombie didn't watch her kid, now my dog is on death row"
(self.childfree)
submitted an hour ago by FurbabyPeril

Last week my rescue Irish Wolfhound was hanging out innocently in my fenced backyard when my neighbor's 4 year old snot monster decided he wanted to "pet the doggie". He crawled under the fence and grabbed my dog by his tail.

My dog is skittish and he lunged at the kid, causing severe damage to his face (his nose was almost completely torn off). I sent my dog off to my uncle's farm for the time being. Now the critch goblin's mombie and daddict have the police involved, and I've been ordered to turn my dog in to be euthanized!

Why does he have to die he's not the one that was trespassing and harassing innocent animals! They're also talking about suing me for tens of thousands of dollars in plastic surgery all because they couldn't be bothered to watch their damn kid.

The plan is to play dumb and leave my dog out of state where they can't get him. What would you do in my situation?

You can click here to read all the comments that were posted.

After being instructed several times by readers to post on the on the Reddit section "legal advice", she does:

>>Reddit section: LEGALADVICE

"Danbury, CT A neighbor's 4 year old broke into my yard and harassed my dog, got bit"
(self.legaladvice)
submitted 3 days ago by FurbabyPeril

Last week my irish wolfhound was in my fenced in yard when the neighbor's unattended 4 year old crawled under it and pulled his tail. My dog bit the kid pretty bad, his nose was hanging on my a thread and he'll probably lose sight in one of his eyes. I immediately brought my dog to my uncle's farm in another town across the state. The cops showed up and said I had to hand my dog over for quarantine and eventual euthanasia because of the severity of the attack.

Also the parents are threatening to sue me for the cost of emergency plastic surgery.

1. Can the cops hold me if I refuse to say where the dog is and hand him over to be killed?

2. Would I have a leg to stand on if I said he ran away and I cant find him or would that make it worse?

3. is a large dog behind a chainlink fence considered an attractive nuscience like they told me?

4. Will my homeowners insurance provide me with a lawyer?

5. Can I countersue, or have them charged with negligence/trespassing either through the police or CPS? A 4 year old should not be walking around unsupervised. thanks

Neither of these dogs is the bite dog. This is a photo from

WikiCommons just to give you an idea how large this breed

of dog is - and also how fluffy and attractive to a small child

Here are some of the comments:

TotalStorage
You are deep into the territory where you should not be saying another word about this to ANYONE before you retain an attorney.
Some of the things you are saying here are concerning. For example, how did you know that the kid pulled the dog's tail if you did not witness it. If you witnessed it, could you have intervened sooner?
Tampering with evidence (moving the dog across the state), contemplating lying to the police (obstruction of justice).
Calling the police/CPS about the victim.
I am not saying that any of the things listed above are necessarily of real concern. But, it's definitely stuff that needs to be directed under the advice of an attorney.

Leggoeggolas
Has your dog ever bit anyone before?
I don't understand how it's the dogs fault as he was just protecting his property, he didn't know it was a kid breaking into his fenced off yard and not a burglar
I feel really bad for the kid but how can they put the dog down for this? It's not like he broke out and did it.
That all said they do need prof the dog doesn't have rabies, otherwise it's gonna be more hell for the kid

FurbabyPeril
He hasn't bitten anyone since I've had him. He came from a rescue I don't know his history. He has his shots and I have all the paperwork.

Method007
IN GENERAL, CT law regarding dog bites involve a few prongs - the first being if the attack happened off property.
THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE - is that in CT, they have a law where minors are presumed to not be trespassing or teasing animals when they are attacked.
Connecticut General Statutes 22-357 – Damage by dogs to person or property If any dog does any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper, or, if the owner or keeper is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor, shall be liable for the amount of such damage, except when such damage has been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog.
If a minor, on whose behalf an action under this section is brought, was under seven years of age at the time such damage was done, it shall be presumed that such minor was not committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog, and the burden of proof thereof shall be upon the defendant in such action.
As you can see, this shifts the burden to you. My issue that you have a hole in your fence that allows a 4 year old to get through – and that 4 year old is automatically assumed to not be trespassing. CT also has laws that specifically say you must hand over your dog for quarantine if it attacks someone – but it says “was not upon the premises of the owner” – so I think you have some wiggle room there. I can’t give you an answer regarding what you should do in that situation – I would hire an attorney.
Ultimately – the best legal advice I can provide you is that you need to hire an attorney and stop posting on reddit.

parle
Your bolded part doesn't matter particularly if it's incontrovertible that the dog was on OP's property. However the claim that the kid pulled the dog's tail will probably mean nothing unless the kids admits it or someone else saw

Method007
The bolded part literally particularly matters to this event. It immediately puts the burden on the dog owner to prove trespassing or teasing. Just because he may be able to address this issue does not mean it does not matter.

miezekoetzchen
I've read your answers above - don't trust what the cops said. They think they're really clever and hold the moral high ground, but they're really not. They're not lawyers or judges, so they get to stfu. It does matter that they were trespassing, because your dog was defending himself in his own house. The situation would not have happened if the child hadn't broken into your home.

Luminae
I would remove the breed from the description in this post. Having the breed listed makes it far easier to track this post back to you, as this breed's community is rather small. I can't image the frustration and upset this situation is causing you. I wish for a resolution in your favor.

FurbabyPeril
I was planning to say he ran away and I cant find him but that might hurt my case later on if I look like an irresponsible dog owner

The kid almost lost his nose and might lose site in one eye so its going to be expensive but I dont see why I should have to pay for it!

According to the cops I cannot disobey their order to hand the dog over and put him in quarrentine. I can fight the death sentence once they have him but I dont have much of a shot.

FurbabyPeril
>file a police report for their trespassing.
That's a damn good idea, give them a taste of their own medicine!

AnonMSme
No, that’s really shitty advice, as are the comments stating you should call CPS. A 4 year old can not commit trespassing and parents letting a 4 year old play unsupervised in a backyard are not negligent to the point of CPS getting involved. All this will do is make you look like a cold hearted monster who’s harassing the parents of an injured child.
Ffs, just get a lawyer and follow their instructions. Until then, keep your mouth shut.

If you want to read all the comments on this thread, click here.

Connecticut: Neighbor comes home to see little boy, 5, covered in blood and being attacked by his family's Pit Bull

CONNECTICUT -- A Pit Bull mauled a young boy Thursday evening, dragging the child across the lawn of his home until a neighbor smacked the animal with a board, police said.

The five-year-old boy was rushed to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, police spokesman Capt. Christopher Davis said. Davis described the injuries as “very significant.”

On Friday morning, police released a 911 call from the incident, which captures the frantic request for help.

A person could be heard screaming in the background. The caller asked the dispatcher if he could hear her screaming.

“Please, please, send something. Send some help,” the unidentified caller said.

For a period, the caller does not respond to the dispatcher. When the caller speaks again, she is heard saying: “A dog attacked a little child. Please, please send somebody. Please.”

A neighbor told the Courant she had just pulled into her driveway and got out of her car when a woman at 27 Patriot Lane, which is directly across the street, came to the front door screaming frantically for the neighbor to call 911.

The pit bull had the child in its jaws and was dragging it across the front stoop and over the front lawn, said the neighbor, who would not give her name.

The dog had blood all over its face and paws and the child’s head was a bloody mess, the woman said.

The neighbor said she called 911 and ran over, first with a broomstick, but she realized that would not be heavy enough to stop the dog. So she grabbed a two-by-four, about four or five feet long, from her garage and whacked the dog on the head, she said.

The dog stopped attacking the boy after she hit it, but continued snarling and circling the child, she said. The neighbor said she was terrified that the dog would attack her. Police pulled up at about that time and someone in the house managed to collar the dog and bring it inside, the neighbor said.

The woman said she just happened to be arriving home when the attack started.

“I’m glad that God had me home,” she said.

Police said the Pit Bull belonged to the boy’s family at 27 Patriot Lane. It was taken to a local dog pound.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(Hartford Courant - Sept 22, 2017)

Connecticut: Police K9 gets final salute before being euthanized

CONNECTICUT -- Members of a Connecticut police department stood in line to salute a terminally ill four-legged partner on its last trip to a veterinary hospital.

K9 Hunter, a German shepherd, served with the Middletown Police Department at the side of its handler, Officer Michael D’Aresta. The dog was diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver cancer just recently.

Officers bid farewell to Hunter Friday as D'Aresta cradled the canine in his arms on the final trip to the vet, where the dog was euthanized.

“Officer Michael D'Aresta unfortunately has to make the toughest decision any K9 handler dreads making this evening at Pieper Olson in Middletown at 1830 hours,” Sgt. Doug Clark, Middletown K9 supervisor, wrote in a post on Facebook on Friday.

“K9 Hunter has been ill for that past several days and when tests were conducted they revealed that K9 Hunter has a very aggressive form of Liver cancer. They unfortunately recommended that he be euthanized.”

“Officer D'Aresta and Hunter have been an exceptional team serving the City of Middletown in a high caliber since 2007,” Clark said. “So as you can imagine, this is extremely difficult for Mike and his family.”

Hunter’s value to the department was well-documented.

In July, the canine helped officers in a drug bust, the Middletown Patch reported.

Two years ago Hunter helped locate an elderly woman with dementia who wandered away from her home at night, the Hartford Courant reported.

“Hunter and Officer D'Aresta have been such a huge part of our department the past 10 years,” Clark wrote. “Such a dedicated K-9 team. It will never be the same. Rest in Peace Hunter you've done well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Michael D'Aresta and his family.”

(FoxNews - September 3, 2017)

Connecticut: Six-year-old girl attacked by pit bull; police say they can't force the owner to hand over the dog... so I guess they're going to do NOTHING??

CONNECTICUT -- Six-year-old Alexus’ arm is swollen, bruised and stitched up.

Friday night, she was with her mother and sister when a pit bull attacked them in their Waterbury apartment.

“It was horrible. It was like this dog is gonna kill my daughter so I was just screaming for help. Help, somebody please help me this dog is gonna kill my daughter,” said Lisandra DeLeon, Alexus’ mother.

Lisandra said they were in the elevator heading down from their fourth floor apartment on Bishop Street when the elevator stopped on the third floor.

When the doors opened, chaos broke out.

“The dog was loose in the hallways,” said Alexus. “I was running away from it and then it was chasing me and then it bit my arm.”

Lisandra said during the attack the dog also went after her seven month old, but the baby’s stroller flipped so the dog went after Alexus. 

Neighbors heard their screams and came outside to help. Eventually, the dog’s owner showed up, too, but Lisandra said she wasn’t cooperating.

“[The owner] came out and was ‘like don’t hit my dog, don’t hit my dog,’ and I was like ‘your dog is ripping off my daughter’s skin’ and she just started pulling the dog inside,” said Lisandra.

Lisandra said neighbors called 911 and when police arrived they knocked on the owner’s door to investigate and remove the animal. When nobody answered, they left.

Alexus was taken to the hospital and the family spent the night with a relative. Lisandra called police again today to see about having the dog removed.

“I’m terrified. I came over here this morning and when I heard the dog was loose again. I’m just scared to go upstairs,” said Lisandra.

We spoke to police this afternoon and they said two additional attempts were made to get the dog. Both were unsuccessful. None of the residents questioned by officers know the name of the owner so police called the property manager. There was no answer and they had to leave a message.

News 8 called the property manager as well and got the same result. Now, it’s a waiting game for Lisandra and her daughters.

“I want the dog out of here and I believe these people should get arrested because that’s not right. That was really inhumane what they did. 

 

 

"They should have came outside and helped and they should have at least try to tame the dog you know, to get the dog off of my daughter. They didn’t do anything,” said Lisandra.

Lisandra said after News 8 contacted police to question what was being done to reprimand the dog and owner, an additional attempt was made to get into the apartment.

This time, Lisandra said multiple police cars and the fire department were on hand but there was still no answer.

Police say when they do make contact with the owner, the dog will be quarantined.

Hey dudes. It's called a search warrant. Get one. Otherwise, this child has to get rabies shots. You only have 10 days to quarantine the dog. You need to arrest the owner for obstruction.

I guarantee you that if this Pit Bull had mauled one of these officers' children, they would've been battering the door down to that apartment to snatch that dog up.

(WTNH - August 6, 2017)