Delaware: Wilmington PD chief admits they should have responded to 911 report of deadly Pit Bull attack

DELAWARE -- After four days of avoiding questions about Wilmington police's response to a dog attack in which a senior citizen was injured and a dog was killed, the city issued a press release saying it should've handled the situation differently.

Wilmington police Chief Robert Tracy said he reviewed the incident that occurred Monday night in the Cool Spring neighborhood and "concluded that a police officer should have been dispatched to the scene."

"The chief said should future events of a similar nature occur involving a dog attack in progress, a police officer will be sent to the scene of the incident," the news release said.

Diane Olin White, 66, said she and her two dogs were attacked by a stray pit bull after 9:30 p.m. on Monday.

A neighbor called 911 at 9:46 p.m. while the attack was ongoing, but the dispatcher did not send a police car to assist. Instead, she referred the case to a state animal control official, who didn't make it to the scene until around 10:35 p.m., a neighbor said.

Dispatchers are instructed to send reports about animal-on-animal incidents to the state's Office of Animal Welfare, according to City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh. But the dispatcher should have used "common sense" and considered that a person was at risk, too, Walsh said.

White and her boxer mix Stella survived with injuries from the attack, but 12-year-old Darcy, a small white poodle and Jack Russell mix, was crushed and mauled to death.

The chief said the Police Department interviewed White and other witnesses and also reviewed the 911 call. (Scroll down to listen to the audio.)

“From all that we have learned about this tragic incident, it appears that the dog had been severely injured very quickly and died soon after being attacked by the other dog,” Tracy said.

“While we can’t be certain that an immediate response from a police officer or state animal control officer would have saved this animal, I still feel that city police should have been in a position to assist if possible."

He added: "I am a dog owner, and I know what this loss must mean to the citizen who lost her animal. I express my regrets to the owner and to the other community members who came to the assistance of the owner and her animal.”

After regular business hours, the state's animal control response system is staffed by on-call officers who may not be close enough to an incident’s location to provide an immediate response, Tracy said.

 

 

The Office of Animal Welfare confirmed it got a call Monday night after normal business hours.

"The answering service quickly relayed the report to the on-call officer, who was already in the field due to being dispatched to another call in southern New Castle County, and he immediately headed to Wilmington, arriving on scene in approximately 30 minutes," said Andrea Wojcik of the Office of Health and Risk Communication.

The chief said in the news release that regardless of the way the state response system is configured, he has still concluded that a city police officer should have been sent to the scene.

The News Journal filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Tuesday with New Castle County and the city for the 911 call related to the incident. The county provided their piece of audio by Thursday morning.

 

 

The city did not provide its section of the 911 call before The News Journal published its story.

On Friday afternoon, after dozens of city residents expressed their disappointment in the police response, the chief released the tape as part of "an effort to shed more light on this incident" because "it’s important for the public to hear what the 911 call taker heard," the news release said.

The call is three minutes and six seconds long.

"911, what is your emergency?" the city dispatcher said.

"Hi, please come to the corner of Van Buren and Cool Spring park," said the caller, White's neighbor Heather Hook. "We have a loose pit bull, and it just attacked a dog really badly. We're trying to hold it, and we don't know what to do."

The dispatcher asked where Hook is located, and Hook told her again. Hook then passed the phone to a nearby teenager, who again gave the location.

"Whose dog is it?" the dispatcher asked.

It's not until the two minute and 20-second mark, when White is on the line, that the dispatcher asks, "Are you injured? Do you need an ambulance?"

Animal welfare officials told the Mayor's Office on Friday that no one has stepped forward to claim ownership of pit bull, which has been quarantined to detect whether the animal exhibits symptoms of rabies.

If an owner is found, the animal welfare office will pursue "dangerous dog charges" under the state statute, the city said. If no owner is identified, the animal will be euthanized after the quarantine period ends.

Helen with her surviving dog Stella

The city still has not returned calls from The News Journal about the incident, nor answered questions submitted by email.

White said she is pleased the next animal emergency will get a police response.

"I’m sorry it took a tragedy for it to get changed," she said. "But I’m glad something good came out of it."

AUDIO CALL TO 911:

VIDEO CLIP:

(Delaware Online - March 2, 2018)

Earlier:

• Delaware: 911 call for pit bull attack in Wilmington produces no police response

Delaware: Tiara is outraged that no one is talking about all the Cocker Spaniel attacks

DELAWARE -- Tiara Laureano posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 ·

What a load of shit!

All dogs can be aggressive, but making it out to be a breed cause it's bullshit!

My dogs have never bit anyone but those fucking cocker spaniels are quick to bite a face, where's the video for that?

Yes, there have been soooo many mauling deaths from Cocker Spaniels... not.

Delaware: 911 call for horrific pit bull attack in Wilmington produces no police response

DELAWARE -- In the 911 call, Wilmington resident Heather Hook was clear: She needed help.

"There's a pit bull loose, and it's attacking a dog, and we're trying to hold it, and it's hurt a dog," she says frantically on the recording from Monday night.

A New Castle County dispatcher said he would transfer her to Wilmington police.

"No, please! Come right away," she said as the call was sent to the city.

"911, what is your emergency?" the city dispatcher said.

"Hi, please come to the corner of Van Buren and Cool Spring park. We have a loose pit bull, and it just attacked a dog really badly."

Wilmington police didn't show up, according to residents.

The incident exposes a "glitch" in the Police Department's procedure for handling animal incidents, City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh said. "More common sense should’ve been used."

For Cool Spring resident Diane Olin White, 66, the night started like any other. Around 9:30 p.m., she was walking her two dogs – Stella, a brown 50-pound boxer mix, and Darcy, a white 17-pound poodle and Jack Russell mix.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a stray pit bull ran up to her dogs and started viciously attacking them, she said.

It went for Stella first, digging its teeth into her, but when White started hitting the pit bull to protect Stella, the pit went for 12-year-old Darcy. 

The "monster" went back and forth between White's two pets for what seemed like forever to White.

Recalling advice from a veterinarian, the former school teacher tried to force her fist into the pit's mouth to prevent it from ripping her animals apart. She said she was bitten in the process.

 

 

"I felt like it was in Revelations and Evil had attacked my dogs," she said.

White "screamed and screamed and screamed," alerting neighbors.

Hook heard the commotion and ran into the street to help, she said, but the pit bull had already badly hurt Darcy.

"Diane was lying on the pit bull screaming when I got there, and Darcy was twisted in its jaws," she said. "The Pit Bull was eviscerating her dog, just chomping on it."

Hook called 911 at 9:46 p.m. Soon after Hook was transferred to the city police dispatcher, White was able to release Darcy from the pit's grip. Hook handed the phone to a nearby teenager so she could help Darcy.

"(Darcy's) blood had soaked through my shirt, down my arms," she said. "It was bad."

As for the police, "nobody came," White said.

Hook believes the city referred the case to the state's office of animal welfare because 10 minutes after the 911 call, Hook got a call from a state animal control officer.

 

 

According to Hook, he said he was out of the area and wouldn't be able to immediately respond to the scene.

"He said he was backed up and couldn’t make it up there in time," she said.

Hook didn't have much time to protest.

Other neighbors took control of the pit bull, which eventually calmed down, and White and Hook rushed to a vet. Stella suffered puncture wounds and survived, but it was too late for Darcy.

"There was nothing they could do," White said. "He didn’t have a heartbeat. He was gone."

Around 10:35 p.m., state animal control officers picked up the pit bull, neighbor Greg Luna said. That's about an hour after the attack, according to White.

An animal welfare officer met White at the hospital to take a report after 11 p.m., she said. At that point, she felt it was too little, too late.

"If you say you [won't] come, what's Plan B? Obviously, he didn’t have a Plan B."

White said she is devastated by the loss of her beloved dog and disappointed with Wilmington police. 

"If there is somebody or something that is being attacked, get there," she said. "I’m angry. And I’m so sad there’s not even a word to describe the grief." 

The longtime animal rescuer and 24-year resident of the city said even if police had responded, it may not have saved Darcy's life. But things also could have been worse.

"I could’ve been killed," said White, who has scrapes and bruises, is taking a "powerful antibiotic" and required a tetanus shot.

Hook, too, was surprised the neighborhood was left to fend for itself.

"I assume when you call 911 and tell the police to come, they come," she said.

But apparently, it's not always that simple.

Dispatchers are instructed to send reports about animal-on-animal incidents to the state's Office of Animal Welfare, according to Walsh. That's what they did, Walsh said, but perhaps didn't consider that a person was at risk, too.

"I think the call-taker followed protocol," said Walsh, the City Council's public safety chair. "But they should know they can go off protocol in a very dire situation, and this was a dire situation."

White said she was contacted by a Wilmington police inspector who said the department is reviewing the incident. According to White, the inspector admitted that "there should have been a response" and said the dispatcher will be disciplined.

Officially, Wilmington police would not acknowledge whether a mistake was made.

Despite repeated interview requests over three days, Sgt. Stephanie Castellani, public information officer for the Wilmington Police Department, refused to take questions about this incident.

The News Journal obtained the first part of Hook's 911 call from New Castle County. A request was submitted to the city for the rest of it, but officials have not yet provided it.

Update: The entire 3 minutes has now been released.

AUDIO CALL TO 911:

The Office of Animal Welfare confirmed it got a call Monday night after normal business hours.

"The answering service quickly relayed the report to the on-call officer, who was already in the field due to being dispatched to another call in southern New Castle County, and he immediately headed to Wilmington, arriving on scene in approximately 30 minutes," said Andrea Wojcik of the Office of Health and Risk Communication.

Wojcik declined to answer several specific questions citing an internal policy.

The pit bull was taken to the Brandywine Valley SPCA where it is on rabies quarantine, Wojcik said. At the conclusion of the quarantine, the dog will be euthanized if no owner comes forward.

White wants it to be put down.

"I've never been scared in the city," White said. "This is enough now that I’d like to leave."

VIDEO CLIP:

(Delaware Online - March 1, 2018)

Delaware: After unvaccinated Pit Bull attacks its owners, it's found to have rabies - was allowed to roam loose so health officials worried it gave rabies to others

DELAWARE -- A family dog in Houston, Delaware tested positive for rabies after biting his two adult owners. The victims were bitten while attempting to put the dog in a kennel and the animal became aggressive towards them.

The dog was not leashed when outside and the home has no fenced backyard, so it is not possible to determine how or when the animal got infected.

So are they saying they let this Pit Bull roam loose, free to attack anyone or anything it wished???

Additionally, the dog was not up to date on its rabies vaccination. The animal was euthanized and tested for rabies, which returned a positive result. The two individuals bitten by the dog have begun treatment.

The dog was an adult, medium-sized male pit bull, red and tan with white markings.

Anyone in the Houston area (Kent County) who thinks they might have been bitten, scratched, or come in contact with the rabid Pit Bull should immediately contact their health care provider or call the DPH Rabies Program at 302-744-4995. An epidemiologist is available 24/7. 

Anyone who thinks their pet may have been bitten by this Pit Bull should call their private veterinarian or the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) at 302-698-4630.

Since Jan. 1, 2018, the Division of Public Health (DPH) has performed rabies tests on 20 animals; this is the second positive case for 2018. A raccoon tested positive in January. In 2017, DPH performed rabies tests on 143 animals, 16 of which were confirmed to be rabid, including five raccoons, six cats, two dogs, two bats, and one fox. Six of the positive rabies cases in 2017 involved a bite to humans. DPH only announces those rabies cases for which it is possible the animal had unknown contacts with humans and there is a risk of exposure to the community.

Rabies in humans and animals cannot be cured once symptoms appear. If the animal is of unknown origin, or unavailable to be quarantined or tested, DPH recommends that people receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment, a series of four vaccinations, as a precautionary measure.

Rabies is an infectious disease affecting the nervous system of humans and other mammals. Infection can occur through the bite or scratch of an infected animal or if saliva from such an animal gets into the eyes, nose, mouth, or an opening in the skin.

(Delaware.gov - February 20, 2018)

Delaware: New Castle County Police Officer attacked by two Pit Bulls; both dogs shot and killed

DELAWARE -- Today, (October 10) at approximately 12:00 p.m., New Castle County Police Patrol Officers were dispatched to the unit block of Bunche Boulevard in reference to a home burglary alarm activation.

Upon arrival, the officer learned that the alarm was triggered from a back door. When the officer walked around to the rear yard, the officer was attacked by two dogs resembling pit-bull terriers.

The officer discharged a conducted energy weapon (Taser) at one of the dogs but was unsuccessful. The officer was then able to shoot and euthanize one dog.

After searching the area for the second dog it was located on the unit block of Morehouse. The dog remained aggressive and was euthanized by assisting officers.

The officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

The homeowners were cited by Delaware Animal Services for two counts of Dog at Large and two counts of Failure to Inoculate.

MEANWHILE...

Dea Crawford seems to think that any dog, even her Boston Terriers, could have attacked this officer and sent him to the hospital. Um, yeah, not too many vicious Bostons running around out there attacking people.

Nedean Moore Crawford - this could have been any kind of dog. my boston terriers are meaner then my 4 pit bulls yes i have 7 i did have 8 but i had to put down my ozzy who was a terrier. why is it only pit bulls make the news

Harry Cummings - Well I hope the officer is ok !

Nedean Moore Crawford - same here Harry Cummings I hope he is ok but it is a shame that only pit bull's that bite someone make the news

(New Castle Police News - October 10, 2017)

Delaware: After her friend's Chihuahua is killed by a Pit Bull, woman searches for another dog to mend her broken heart

DELAWARE -- Brenda Thompson McCoy was looking for recommendations.
on Facebook July 8, 2017 at 2:12pm ·

My friends little tiny chihuahua dog was killed by a pit bull dog a few days ago . 😩😪We are looking for a new little chihuahua to replace her little Buddy 🐶 If anyone knows where she can fine one please let me know....THANKS

Delaware: The New Castle County Police Department's mounted patrol unit is made up of Clydesdales

DELAWARE -- Although there are numerous mounted patrol units around the country, I have never seen one consisting of nearly all Clydesdales and draft horses. Horses, of course, are always a draw to children and adults alike.. and when you see an officer on a 'Budweiser horse' it makes it even more special.

The New Castle County Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU) was established in 1981 and is the only full-duty working mounted patrol in Delaware.

It deploys teams of officers and horses on a daily basis throughout New Castle County to enforce traffic laws, patrol high-crime neighborhoods, perform terrain searches, and aid in crowd control.

In addition, the public’s intrigue with the horses provides a unique opportunity for vital public relations within communities, local schools, businesses, and other organizations.

Happy July 4th!

Related links: 

• New Castle County Police Department (Facebook)
• Friends of the Mounted Patrol
• Friends of the Mounted Patrol, New Castle County, DE (Facebook)

Delaware: Man attacked by dog first said to have had his legs torn off. Now they're saying it's not that bad, but they haven't provided any more details.

DELAWARE -- [UPDATE] New Castle County Paramedics (NCCP) have just informed First State Update, at 8:24 p.m. Sunday evening, that the injuries suffered by the trauma victim are not as severe as the initial radio traffic indicated.

NCCP Spokesman, Senior Corporal David McKinney said that his department would not be releasing any information regarding the incident other than the updated injury report. McKinney directed us to New Castle County Police for further details.

County Police advised First State Update that the Office of Animal Welfare Delaware Animal Services was working the case.

A spokeswoman for Animal Welfare, Andrea Wojcik, released a short statement “We can confirm that Office of Animal Welfare Delaware Animal Services officers responded to a report of a dog bite incident in Newark on Saturday evening.  There was no severing of any limbs involved.”

Without an official release regarding the patients injuries it’s not known how severe the patients injuries are. The initial reports indicate that first reponders were told that a dog had severed the patients legs and they were severally injured. Subsequent reporting indicated that the patient was transported to the trauma center.

Original Story

Newark – (Woods Development) Yesterday just after 7:20 p.m. New Castle County Paramedics, along with ambulance crews from Christiana Fire Company responded to the 200 Block of Seminole Drive for a report of a dog attack.

Reports from the scene indicated that a caller told dispatchers that the dog had severed both of his legs. 

The caller also informed dispatch that two other people at the home were injured as well, according to the reports.

Crews arriving on scene directed ambulance personal to bring the stretchers to the back of the residence. One patient was reportedly transported to the hospital with unspecified injuries the other two decline to be transported.  A man who appeared to be the home owner was seen talking to New Castle County Paramedics and ambulance crews but no police officers were on scene at the time.

A male in his 20’s, who appeared to be injured was being helped by a woman to a nearby car. It’s unclear if he was one of the patients injured by the dog.

 

 

Christiana Fire Company Fire Company posted a statement on their Facebook page a few minutes ago regarding the call:

On June 24th Ambulance A12,B12,B6,A23,Medic 2A, Paramedic supervisor, Ladder 12 and Deputy Chief 12 responded to the “Woods” development for multiple injuries from a dog bite. Units arrived to find three injuries. One person was transported to Christiana trauma center. Two others refused transport by EMS.

Reports of severed limbs was the information that was passed along to rescue crews as they responded to the scene. We are working to confirm that the patient’s legs were severed during the incident. We are also awaiting comment from NCC Paramedics, Police Officials and Delaware Animal Control.

(First State Update - June 26, 2017)

Delaware: After fighting with his girlfriend, police say Denzel Brown, 27, stabbed her two Pit Bulls - which were locked inside their pet crates - to death

DELAWARE -- A Milford man who had been arguing with his girlfriend for days was charged with stabbing her two dogs to death Wednesday, according to court documents obtained by The News Journal.

When police arrived to a residence 7301 North Union Church Road on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 around 10:30am, the 34-year-old girlfriend told troopers that Denzel L. Brown, 27, was intoxicated and had been yelling at her since Saturday, according to court documents.

Note: He is also listed in court documents as Denzell Brown.

She had grown scared of him as he didn't sleep regularly and may be using drugs, she told police.

According to court documents, she planned to file for a Protection from Abuse order that same day.

Brown, however, said the argument stemmed from the people living in the home, according to court documents. Because he pays all the bills, he didn't want specific people living there anymore, court papers say.

Police were able to settle the argument between Brown and his girlfriend, Fournier said, and troopers did not notice any signs of physical violence.

The girlfriend then put her two adult pit bulls into separate crates inside the house before leaving, police said.

Brown was waiting for a ride outside the home but went back in for some of his belongings, Fournier said.

"He suddenly emerged stating he had stabbed two pit bull dogs with a knife that belonged to his girlfriend after claiming the dogs were fighting," Fournier said in a statement.

He yelled this information voluntarily, according to court documents, and police found the nearly foot-long knife Brown used to stab them inside. 

One of the crates also was kicked in, court papers say.

Delaware Animal Control Officers were called to the home and took the two dead dogs, police said.

Brown was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, two counts of cruelty to animals and criminal mischief.

He was then taken to Sussex Correctional Institution on $16,100 cash bail.

(SBY News - June 22, 2017)

Delaware: After poodle was mauled to death by her pit bull, owner Valerie Taylor fought dangerous dog designation until she let it kill a 2nd dog

DELAWARE -- A Georgetown dog has [finally] been euthanized after [being allowed to attack and kill] two small dogs in five months and also faced allegations of aggressive behavior toward people and pets.

Moka, a pit bull owned by Edward Street residents Valerie Taylor and her son, Kevaughn Taylor, attacked and killed a neighbor's toy poodle mix on Jan. 12, prompting Valerie Taylor to give up her fight to keep the dog.

After the case fell apart and Valerie Taylor's
pit bull returned to her, it was seen running
loose again - before killing a 2nd dog

In fall 2016, Moka was at the center of a state Office of Animal Welfare investigation, after she attacked and killed a toy poodle owned by the same neighbors.

Because Taylor voluntarily euthanized Moka following the recent attack, no dangerous dog hearing was necessary, said OAW spokeswoman Andrea Wojcik.

After Valerie Taylor's pit bull attacked and killed their
poodle, the family got this puppy mend their broken hearts

State animal-control officers initially pursued two dangerous dog hearings against Moka in 2016 to determine whether the dog was too dangerous to remain in the community.

The first hearing, prompted after the first killing, was dismissed by a judge because officers failed to file necessary paperwork within the legally required 72 hours.

The pit bull on the right was allowed
to maul and kill two dogs in 5 months

The second hearing, filed after Moka allegedly charged at and cornered a neighbor on a nearby property, was withdrawn “to preserve evidence for future filings,” a department spokesperson said at the time.

VALERIE TAYLOR'S OTHER PIT BULL ALSO A PROBLEM

Valerie Taylor could not be reached for comment. The Taylors own a second pit bull named D.C., which neighbors said has been seen running at large on several occasions.

“This has gone on since August 2015, and I think everyone should be aware how this ended – with another little dog getting killed,” said neighbor April Cleveland.

Valerie Taylor with her 2nd pit bull, which
neighbors say is also a problem.

Read more:

• Nancy Street newsletters about the dog attacks
• Sept. 18 incident report

(Cape Gazette - February 8, 2017)

Earlier:

• Delaware: Dangerous dog case against pit bull thrown out, due to technicality, despite fatal attack
• Delaware: Georgetown killer pit bull seized again; Animal control officers file for dangerous dog hearing

Delaware: Although it doesn't appear as though Janice Rossell is abusing her cats, the neighbors are tired of her 40+ cats roaming everywhere

DELAWARE -- A costly dispute over feral felines has continued for roughly 3-1/2 years now.

Some Village of Wild Quail Golf and Country Club neighbors object to the approximately 40 cats trotting around Janice Rossell’s residence, and filed a lawsuit to make them go away.

Ms. Rossell, 78, won’t hear of it, insisting that she feeds and waters the roaming pussycats three times a day before having them spayed, neutered and/or vaccinated, lowering their population.

A Quail Village Homeowners Association, Inc. request for summary judgment against Ms. Rossell was denied in Chancery Court on Dec. 15, 2016. The matter was recommended for trial.

Janice Rossell holds one of the many cats that she
takes care of at her home near Camden.
(Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Attempts to reach the QVHA for comment were unsuccessful.

At the end of 2016, Ms. Rossell estimated she’s paid $15,000 in associated fees connected to the lawsuit and “maybe” $14,000 annually in cat food.

There’s no quantifying her stress level, the homeowner said.

The approximately acre-sized property and 2,400 square foot home at 742 Raven Circle was up for sale for approximately six months, but taken off the market in fall 2015. Ms. Rossell said she’s invested too much time and money to leave a cause she believes in so much.

The homeowner suspects that one person arrived at an earlier showing only to investigate the mouser haven and gather information on her furry visitors.

“Something just didn’t seem right about her,” said Ms. Rossell, a 12-year western Kent County resident since moving from Delran Township, New Jersey with her now late husband.

Also, Ms. Rossell said she has seen vehicles stopped in front of her home for taking photos and kids sent to count the cats.

Ms. Rossell said she doesn’t know all but a few neighbors, and hasn’t experienced any overt hostility.

“At a 70th birthday party I did get an inkling that some neighbors were not happy with my hosting the cats,” she said.

Even after a dozen years, Ms. Rossell says, “You don’t see your neighbors here, people aren’t caring here. There was one time when a woman died in her home, her daughter couldn’t get in touch with her, and she was found a day later.”

Leaving the kittycats now would pull at Ms. Rossell’s heartstrings.

“I feel bad for them,” she said of her four-legged house guests.

“A lot of people think cats are some animal like a rat, but cats are smart. There’s this vision of feral ones being ugly and fat, but that’s not so.”

Some neighbors opposed

In its lawsuit, QVHA said 12 residents “are prepared to testify during a trial about how Rossell’s activities have created a nuisance and dangerous or offensive condition in violation” of deed restrictions.

The QVHA alleges that an outside structure was improperly built without an architectural review committee, and it houses undomesticated cats drawn to the area through feed and water.

A few cats lounge on Janice Rossell’s front porch near
Camden. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

However, according to Ms. Rossell several properties around her have violated deed restrictions such as having a pool house with a full kitchen, and three-car garage, among others. Ms. Rossell said she has the pictures to prove it.

“It’s really all about who you know,” she said. “While some say they’re attorneys and why question them, I say ‘Hey, we all put our pants on the same way.’ “

The HOA argues that the use of any lot within Quail Village to create a nuisance, offensive or dangerous situation is prohibited by deed restrictions.

Ms. Rossell maintains the outdoor building built by her live-in son in 2012 was designed as a playhouse for her granddaughter.

Now, she says, the heated and air-conditioned structure is used for storage, “and if cats need a warm place.” There’s a door to let them in and a couple boxes with blankets to provide comfort.

The majority of cats stay in Ms. Rossell’s garage, with four using either the outside building or on the porch. The property is equipped with hand-warmers for chilly paws this time of year.

One ailing cat lives alone inside the master bathroom, stricken with Leukemia.

Comforting kitties

Ms. Rossell has physical issues of her own, taking cancer pills to regulate blood cells and living with Chronic Lyme Disease.

The felines provide their own brand of soothing attention, according to the widow of five years.

“If I’m upset, like when my husband passed, they’re right there with me,” she said. “They know when I’m sick and needing some comfort.”
Ms. Rossell will always be indebted to the late kitty she said saved her daughter’s life after a Navy fighter jet crashed into her 36-unit apartment complex in Smyrna, Georgia on Nov. 10, 1989.

The heroic feline nipped at the lucky woman to wake her and escape the sudden danger, but was herself lost to fire after taking refuge behind a refrigerator, Ms. Rossell said.

The situation apparently meets Delaware Code standards, and Ms. Rossell said the Office of Animal Welfare checked in earlier and found no issues.

“They wanted to make sure I wasn’t a cat hoarder or harming them,” she said. “They saw that I wasn’t.”

Last week, the Division of Public Health declined comment on the lawsuit, citing policy not to discuss specifics of any case.

In general terms, spokeswoman Emily Knearl said, “Cats are allowed to roam free and it is not illegal to feed them. While handled differently than dogs in many respects under the law, cats are still covered by cruelty laws.”

Janice Rossell converted her granddaughter’s outside doll
house into a place for the cats to stay when it gets
below freezing. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

The OAW “does work with caregivers to connect them to low cost resources to get cats neutered and vaccinated if they qualify.”

For more information on neutering and vaccinations, call 255-4620.

Eliminating a cat’s reproductive ability is a population control benefit to Quail Village, Ms. Rossell maintains. She claims to have financed the sterilizations herself.

“If I don’t get them fixed that means there will be more with every litter,” she said. “If everyone in the development takes an interest in getting them fixed when they show up, there won’t be this trouble.”

Many of the felines may be arriving through woods bordering the back of Ms. Rossell’s property, possibly from nearby Amish farms, she believes.

Also, the defendant has surveillance video evidence showing vehicles pulling up and dropping off cats, and claims neighbors with cats producing large litters are also responsible for the growing population.

All the roaming pussycats she hosts have names “according to how they look,” said Ms. Rossell, before rattling off identities such as Smudgy, Funny Face, Cherie A’mour, Road Map, Kit and Kat, Bella, Maxie, She and She II, Golden Eyes, Copycat, Stray, Blackie, Prrboy, Buttons, Beautiful, Gizmo, Princess and others.

With three feedings a day, Ms. Rossell opens 32 cans and a bag of dry food daily, in addition to water. She rises at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast, serves lunch between 2-3 p.m. and puts out a night-time snack to cure any hunger pangs.

Janice Rossell converted her granddaughter’s outside
doll house into a place for the cats to stay when it
gets below freezing. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

The first letter

The saga commenced on June 12, 2013 when Ms. Rossell received a letter from the QVHA counsel including a subject line “Failure to Comply with the restrictive covenants for the Quail Village Subdivision.”

Attorney Gary R. Dodge began by referencing “numerous attempts” of the QVHA to “secure voluntary compliance” with some community covenants, “violation” had continued.

At the time, Mr. Dodge had been notified by Quail Village of “at least one if not two violations that require immediate attention.” An accessory building without architectural approval was at issue, along with the structure being “used to provide outside housing for a number of animals.”

The correspondence indicated the animals and building must be permanently removed within 30 days, or the QVHA would seek an order from the Court of Chancery to abide by deed covenants and restrictions.

The possibility of legal action was raised, and Mr. Dodge cited Delaware Code requiring the losing party at trial obligated to pay all court costs and attorneys fees “unless such an award would be unfair, unreasonable, or a harsh outcome.”

Attorney’s fees and court cost awards would be sought in any application seeking enforcement, Mr. Dodge cautioned.

Mr. Dodge advised Ms. Rossell to deal directly with the QVHA in resolving the matter.

In a letter to Ms. Rossell’s attorney Peter Schaeffer on Sept. 4, 2014, Mr. Dodge discussed the possibility of a voluntary dismissal, but indicated an unwillingness to pay for any expenses that Ms. Rossell “has incurred, given that action was brought in good faith, and the only reason that they are willing at this time to consider dismissal is that it has become apparent that your client is prepared to engage in protracted and unnecessary expensive litigation …”

At the time, Mr. Dodge expressed concern “whether we’re about to turn what was a relatively simple deed restriction case into an unnecessarily costly endeavor that could result in either of the parties incurring litigation expenses far in excess of their means …”

Also, the attorney wondered “whether there is something on a professional level that would explain how we have gotten to this point, which I might be able to be of assistance on.”

A cat sits in a box on Janice Rossell’s front porch
near Camden. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

On April 28, 2015, Mr. Dodge referenced a letter asking Chancery Court to suspend a pre-trial scheduling order “until several issues are addressed …”

Mr. Dodge said he had “some significant concerns” about “inadequate discovery responses.” A witness list and documents to be provided seven days before trial were at issue, along with affirmative defenses that could be introduced.

“I view this as little short of trial by ambush, and will oppose that, thereby creating a record if the Court is inclined to permit this kind of activity to occur,” Mr. Dodge maintained.

According to the Court of Chancery order, a trial was originally scheduled for Oct. 2015, was re-scheduled for Sept. 7, 2016, “and now has been continued to a later date at the request of counsel.”

(Delaware State News - Jan 8, 2017)

Delaware: Boy hospitalized after pit bull attack in Wilmington

DELAWARE -- A boy is hospitalized after being attacked by a pit bull in Wilmington, Delaware.

It happened just before 7 p.m. Wednesday along the 2700 block of North Washington Street.

The boy, believed to be between the ages of 12 and 14, reportedly suffered wounds to both legs.

He was rushed to A.I. DuPont Hospital for care. No word on his condition.

A responding officer shot and killed the dog.

An animal welfare officer also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.

(6ABC - Dec 7, 2016)

Delaware: Georgetown killer pit bull seized again; Animal control officers file for dangerous dog hearing

DELAWARE -- Less than two weeks after a victory in court, a Georgetown family's killer pit bull has again been seized after it got loose and has been accused of terrorizing a neighbor.

Valerie Taylor and Kevaughn Taylor's pit bull Moka was the subject of a dangerous dog hearing Oct. 17 after the dog killed a neighbor's toy poodle in September.

Judge Michael Sherlock dismissed the case because he said documents showed Office of Animal Welfare officers failed to request the hearing within 72 hours of identifying the dog's owner, as mandated by law.

But when Moka got loose again Oct. 27 and attempted to attack a neighboring resident, officials were given a second chance to file for a hearing. This time, officers filed the necessary documents the following day.

“We are disappointed that the case involving a potentially dangerous dog from Georgetown was dismissed,” said Emily Knearl, a spokeswoman with the Department of Health and Social Services. “We firmly believe the dog in question is a danger to the community.”

Seized by animal-control officers Oct. 27, Moka’s fate now depends on the upcoming court hearing.

When she ran from her yard on Edward Street in Georgetown Oct. 27, she charged at Georgetown resident Mary Cahill, who said she and her pet poodle had been attacked by Moka and the Taylor's second pit bull, DC, last fall. Cahill and her poodle, who were on their Nancy Street property at the time, were uninjured.

Valerie Taylor's pit bulls. The one on the right
has already killed a dog.

“I just can't believe it happened again,” Cahill said. “I'm just glad I didn't have my dog in the yard with me or my grandchildren. If they were there with me, I might not have been able to grab them and run. It could have been a whole lot worse.”

When Moka charged at Cahill, who was in the yard raking leaves Oct. 27, Cahill locked herself in her fenced-in dog pen and was uninjured. Neighbors immediately contacted police and animal control, who seized Moka that day. Moka left Cahill's yard and returned home when officers arrived, Cahill said.

Georgetown Police Department Chief Randall Hughes, who was on scene Oct. 27, said there have been several complaints from area residents about the Taylors' dogs.

“We've had enough calls that it is a concern for us,” he said. “We're aware of the issue. We're working with the residents there and using all the resources we can to make it safe there.”

After Valerie Taylor's pit bull attacked and killed their
poodle, the family got this puppy mend their broken hearts

Valerie Taylor declined to comment about the incident, but she said she was issued a citation for dog-at-large because her son was not home at the time.

The Office of Animal Welfare refused to share the incident report with the Cape Gazette, stating it will not be released until the case is closed.

Court dockets show the Office of Animal Welfare filed for a dangerous dog hearing Oct. 28, identifying Kevaughn Taylor as the defendant. Subpoenas for the hearing have been issued to the Taylors, Cahill and three other neighbors, the docket shows.

During the pending dangerous dog hearing, a judge will decide whether Moka is not dangerous, potentially dangerous or dangerous. The owners could be required to keep her restrained at all times, spay her, get at least $100,000 in liability insurance or have her euthanized.

Valerie Taylor's son, Kevaughn Taylor, also faces trial in February after pleading not guilty to a criminal charge of maintaining a dangerous animal related to Moka’s attack on a toy poodle in September. State law shows, if convicted, the charge would likely be considered a Class A misdemeanor; the charge would be considered a felony if Moka had injured or killed a person instead of a dog.

State police said Kevaughn Taylor also is being charged with disorderly conduct after he went to All Aboard Kennels in Frankford Oct. 27 and began cursing at and threatening an officer while trying to get his dog back. He was arrested and released on $250 unsecured bond.

Valerie Taylor with her 2nd pit bull, which
neighbors say is also a problem.

A handful of neighbors, including Cahill, said they expected someone – or some dog – was going to get hurt if the dogs continued to get loose in the neighborhood.

“Some people's pets have been seriously injured already,” Cahill said. “I don't want it to be a human life.”

The Office of Animal Welfare has only confirmed one attack on a neighboring dog in July, the fatal attack in September and the most recent incident in October, noting that it would not verify the identity of the dogs or the dogs' owners. Nearby residents argue they have made several complaints about the dogs since 2015, while the Taylors previously refuted most of those claims.

State officials said in a previous interview that a draft policy for releasing information about dog-control related incidents is under legal review.

The dangerous dog hearing for Moka and Kevaughn Taylor is scheduled for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Justice of the Peace Court 16 in Dover.

(Cape Gazette - November 8, 2016)

Earlier:

• Delaware: Dangerous dog case against pit bull thrown out, due to technicality, despite fatal attack

Delaware: Older Chihuahua attacked by pit bull that owner was pet sitting

DELAWARE -- Chico was attacked by a pit bull that she is babysitting for my sister. He has a fractured neck bone, muscle is torn away and he's bleeding on the inside, they haven't even looked at his foot yet which looks twisted. They have him on morphine.

My mom is on a fixed income and any money would be greatly appreciated... It doesn't matter how small

Chico has been sent home with morphine. His wounds are infected. Mom is doing the best she can for his pain. Chico has a long road of healing and rehab. Thank you for your donations, but most of all THANK YOU for your prayers ❤️

Chico is a the vet now. He has necrosis of one site and he is septic!!

GoFundMe "Help Chico"