Florida: Woman shares memory of when her dog was attacked by a pit bull in 2013

FLORIDA -- Selesia Tory Rose shared a memory on Jan 31, 2017

Jayjay, you Still the man, This picture is when he got attacked by a pit bull,$$$ well worth spending, He survived, 10 yrs old now,surgery was a success.

4 Years Ago share your memory
Selesia Tory Rose
January 31, 2013 ·

Ok we wake up I open the room door an the dog waterbowl is right at the door ok I pass Zack kicks it,so I ask why u put it there,he say man I thought u did,now he moves it an leave for work ,why is this bowl in the room now i no i didn't move it,this dog to smart

Hawaii dolphin rescue caught on video

HAWAII -- Dolphins may not have opposable thumbs, but at least they're smart enough to find someone who does.

In a new video filmed off the west coast of Hawaii, a lone bottlenose dolphin approaches several divers and persistently swims around them, revealing that it's caught in fishing lines. It then waits as one of the divers removes the hook and uses scissors to cut the lines, allowing the animal to finally swim away in apparent relief.

 

The divers were on a tour Jan. 11 near Kona, on Hawaii's Big Island, where they had gathered for a nighttime swim with manta rays. It's not unusual to see dolphins in the area, although they don't typically travel alone, tour guide Keller Laros tells NBC News.

He worried something was wrong as the dolphin circled by repeatedly, and his suspicions were soon confirmed when he noticed a fishing line hooked into its fin. He gestured with his hand for the dolphin to come closer, and it quickly obliged.

"I said, 'come here,' and he swam right up to me," Laros says. "I put my hand out and I was able to get the fishing hook out of his left pectoral fin. The fishing line came from his mouth down through the hook in the left pectoral fin, and then was wrapped all the way around the pectoral fin and it trailed off down the side of the animal."

The dolphin had to surface for air once during the rescue, but it returned so Laros could finish the job.

Its presumed foresight, bravery and patience throughout the ordeal impressed the veteran diver, who says the video provides further evidence of dolphin intelligence.

 "It's a huge thrill to be able to help an animal that clearly knows what's going on," he tells NBC. "He made the effort to come to us. ... The dolphin is really intelligent. It's a relationship. He came to us because he had a problem."

The rescue was recorded by videographer Martina Wing, who tells the BBC it was a "mind-blowing" experience. Her eight-minute YouTube clip already has nearly 1 million views in its first 10 days online — no small feat for a video of that length.

[As of today, May 31, 2014, it has had 3,004,939 views.]


The whole thing is worth seeing, but if you're short on time, here's an abridged, three-minute version:

[As of today, May 31, 2014, the shortened version has had 5,343,453 views.]


(Mother Nature News - Jan 24, 2013)

More than a dozen dogs saved from dirty Palm Springs home where they were left to 'fight for food and space'

CALIFORNIA -- Fifteen dogs have been saved from a foul-smelling property where they lived in unclean conditions and repeatedly attacked each other in their desperate fight for space and food, according to rescuers.

The mostly Labrador and Shepherd mixes were found by Palm Springs Police and Animal Rescue Corps officers on Tuesday who raided a boarded up home on Tramview Road after months of neighbors complaints, according to KESQ.

 

What they found was gut-wrenching.

The dogs were covered in bite marks and fresh wounds and lived in unsanitary conditions in the single-family home.

They all lived alongside their owner Richard Rutgard, according to the report.

Animal Rescue Corps President Scotlund Haisley said: 'The house was very typical to hoarding. It was boarded up, windows were boarded up, doors were boarded up, meaning something is in there and they don't want the world to know what's going on inside.'

'Because you have a large number of dogs in a small area, pack mentality, lots of anxiety, they're fighting over food, they're fighting over space, territory. They're ripping each other apart'.

Rutgard says he never wanted the dogs to live in poor conditions.

Five months ago he complained to Palm Springs Animal Shelter saying they had given him a dog that wasn't neutered.

He took it home to care for it alongside his two female dogs and that's when the puppies started arriving.

'Why did they sell me a dog that wasn't neutered?' he said in an interview with KESQ in August.  ' I'd like to have them [the animal shelter] pay it's like child support for puppies'.

The dog-owner was served a notice back then warning he had to get rid of most of the dogs within two months.

When asked why he didn't take them back to the home, he added: 'They are so amazingly nice and kind and sweet. I feel safe and secure and happy - they're very therapeutic for a person.'

However, they are now in the back in the home and Rutgard faces animal cruelty charges.

The dogs will eventually be handed out to new homes across the area. Our vet teams are assessing every injury and illness and putting them on a treatment plan,' Haisley added.

'The property owner was very cooperative. He had good intentions but I think he clearly got in over his head and wanted the right thing for these animals.'

'What we see is very difficult, but imagine how rewarding it is to reach into those cages, and break those chains, and look into the eyes of these animals and make them the promise that their suffering has ended forever. It's incredibly rewarding," Haisley added.

At the time of Rutgard's complaint Palm Springs Animal Shelter said they would look into the allegations.

(Daily Mail - Jan 23, 2013)

1/29/13: Prosecutors charge owner of neglected dog

WASHINGTON -- Prosecutors charged the owner of a neglected and injured dog on Tuesday morning. Richard Lafountain has been charged with Second Degree Animal Cruelty and Confinement in an Unsafe Manner according to SCRAPS employees.

“We have interviewed the owner and been told how this injury occurred,” said Nancy Hill, the Executive Director of SCRAPS.

 

Lafountain admitted to SCRAPS that he is responsible for the animal’s injuries, but initially lied about the dog being his.

Lafountain said a relative gave him the 1-year-old husky mix when it was a puppy, but he could not afford to take care of it. He said he kept the animal outside attached to a chain.

SCRAPS released pictures of the badly neglected dog over the weekend. The agency was originally told the dog was found Friday near Bridges Road in Deer Park.

Vets believed a choke chain had been wrapped around the dog’s neck and that became embedded in his skin over time.

The dog went through surgery over the weekend, and SCRAPS said its wounds are improving.
The animal protection operations manager at SCRAPS said she has never seen this kind of neglect before.

“Typically a collar or chain is placed on a dog when they are a puppy and still growing,” Manager Nicole Montano said. “These collars aren’t very apparent, especially if the dog is an outside dog and has minimal contact with people."

Lafountain now admits a neighbor made up a story about finding the animal near Bridges Road.  He says he hadn’t had contact with the dog for several weeks, and when he finally went outside to care for it, he realized the chain was completely embedded in the animal’s neck.

He said he consulted a neighbor about the dog’s condition, and the neighbor suggested he get immediate care for the dog. Lafountain said he could not afford the vet bill, so they lied about finding the dog on the side of the road.

Lafountain faces jail time and at least a $1,000 fine if he is convicted of his charges. He said he was not aware he could face legal trouble.

The SCRAPS Hope Foundation and private donations paid for the dog’s treatment. SCRAPS employees said the dog already has a new home and an owner who can work with the dog’s special medical needs.

(KREM - Jan 29, 2013)

Earlier:

• Neglected dog found with deep neck wounds in Deer Park

1/23/13: Criminal trial for accused cat killer and Bastrop pastor Rick Bartlett nearing

TEXAS -- A trial date is expected to be set on Thursday in a controversial animal cruelty case involving Bastrop pastor Rick Bartlett.

Bartlett was charged with animal cruelty last year after a neighbor’s cat named Moody was found dead on the bank of the Colorado River directly underneath the Hwy 150 bridge in Bastrop.

 

 

Did Moody jump off the bridge or was he thrown off the bridge?

That’s not known, but what is known is that Bartlett was the last person seen in possession of Moody.

Bartlett trapped Moody on his property on January 15, 2012. He placed Moody in a cage in the back of his pickup truck. Bartlett later admitted that he left Moody trapped in the cage for two days without any food or water.

On January 17 Bartlett drove the caged cat to the Bastrop County Animal Control office and met with Officer Susan Keys.

Bartlett told Keys that he often trapped cats in his yard that he considered feral and brought them to Animal Control.

But Moody wasn’t a feral cat. Officer Keys noticed Moody’s collar and name tag and she told Bartlett to return the cat to the Bell family, Moody’s owner (and Bartlett’s neighbor).

According to Bastrop Police Detective Sarah Moore, Bartlett told the officer “he would just go home and release the cat in the neighborhood.”

Later that evening Keys was told about a dead cat that was found underneath the Hwy 150 bridge.
It was Moody. He had fallen some 50-feet to his death.

A veterinarian later told investigators, “Moody’s injuries were caused from a compressive force caused from falling from a high level.”

When investigators caught up with Bartlett, he stated that Moody had escaped from the cage and he didn’t know what had happened to him.

Bartlett later confessed that he was “extremely stressed and angry because of personal issues” and he “untied the bungee chord the cage was attached to and opened the door to the cage and drove off with the intentions of the cat jumping out of the vehicle while he was driving off.”

Bartlett believes he is innocent and will stand trial for animal cruelty. He didn’t respond to an email and phone call from me asking for his side of the story.

Bartlett is the former pastor for the Bastrop Christian Church. He was cut lose from the church after his arrest and has now reportedly set up a new church out of his home.

The pastor has more than just a criminal trial to worry about. Moody’s owners Sarah and Eddie Bell are suing Bartlett.

“We are moving forward with our claim that Bartlett is responsible, through malice or gross negligence, for Moody’s death,” said the Bell’s attorney Bill Aleshire.

“The courts (civil and criminal) will never provide healing for the Bell family. Only if Mr. Bartlett openly and honestly explained what happened, showed sincere remorse, and took appropriate responsibility for his actions could the healing process occur.”

Moody’s death made national headlines last year and it was one of the more heavily commented stories for The Digital Texan. People don’t tend to get as worked up about the murder of innocent human beings as they do for the deaths of house pets.

Sarah and Eddie Bell launched on online petition titled “Justice for Moody.” The petition has gathered 6,650 signatures at last count.

The Bell family and their supporters want Pastor Bartlett to serve hard time for the crime. But the reality is that if convicted, Bartlett won’t looking at a stint at Huntsville.

Many in the community have emailed The Digital Texan asking why justice hasn’t been served a year after the alleged crime. Bastrop County District Attorney Bryan Goertz says that “the wheels of justice turn slowly.”

“This is typical for a case like this and animal cruelty cases aren’t given a priority over other cases,” said Goertz.

(Digital Texan - January 23, 2013)

Earlier:

• Bastrop pastor Rick Bartlett suspected of killing neighbor’s cat

1/17/13: Woman fights off Boerboel

SOUTH AFRICA -- A 37-year-old Delft mother of five had to undergo surgery in Tygerberg Hospital after she was attacked by a Boerboel on Monday afternoon.

Aadilah Abrahams's left arm was broken in two places during the attack and she has several defence wounds on her right hand.

When the Cape Argus visited her on Wednesday at the hospital she was in “a lot of pain” after undergoing a two-and-a-half-hour operation.

Her left arm and hand were heavily bandaged and fitted with a metal external splint, a surgical treatment used to stabilise bone and soft tissue.

She said she was taking morphine injections to keep the pain at bay.

“I'm trying very hard not to think about it. That dog wanted to bite my head off. I fought with the dog for about 20 minutes… his teeth were locked into my flesh,” she said.

Abrahams said that she was walking down Canberra Street in The Hague, Delft on her way to a friend's house on Monday afternoon.

“Out of nowhere” she saw the Boerboel charging towards her. “I suddenly saw this big dog running towards me. I knew I was in danger. I started to run but I tripped on the stairs in front of a house and fell to the ground. I lifted my arm to protect my head and it bit into my arm and pulled, as if it wanted to rip it off. I started fighting with it.”

She said a neighbour then tried to run over the dog with his car to scare it off but it wouldn't let go. “I got up and tried to run away, he grabbed me again. I fell down and he kept coming for my head. He eventually let go after neighbours pulled him off… there was so much blood I thought my arm was going to come off,” said Abrahams.

City spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said the dog had been impounded by law enforcement and was being held at the Atlantis dog pound. “We are investigating the incident together with SAPS,” she said. Abrahams said the dog was chained but had broken free.

He then escaped through an open gate. She said the dog's owner Patrick Esau had promised to help with her hospital bills.

“My brother loves dogs and has a few pit bulls. I learnt from him how to fight with a dangerous dog, otherwise that dog would have killed me,” she said.

(IOL News - Jan 17, 2013)

1/31/13: Canon woman charged with animal cruelty

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A woman is charged with animal cruelty in the starvation of her boyfriend's dog.

Christy Rebecca Goodwin, 39, of Canon is charged with one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

Canon Police Chief John Thomas said Goodwin was arrested Thursday morning and was in the Hart County jail awaiting a bond hearing Thursday afternoon.

Christy Goodwin

Authorities said the dog, a white pit bull named Spud, was left in a pen without food or water.

Northeast Georgia Shelter manager Sheri Lockhart said the dog was discovered by Canon authorities early Tuesday morning.

"Canon has two animal control officers. ... They responded to a call about a dog not being fed and found this dog," Lockhart said.

Thomas said the dog belongs to Goodwin's boyfriend but was in a pen on her property.

Goodwin's mother had taken out a restraining order against the dog's owner, and he was not allowed on the property to get the dog, Thomas said.

Lockhart said when the animal control officers found the dog, he was near death.

Shelter staff members took Spud to Royston Animal Hospital, where a veterinarian determined the dog was suffering from a number of issues, including anemia, flea infestation and heartworms, all brought on, according to their report, by neglect and starvation. He also suffers from sores on his rear legs, according to the report.

"On a grade of one to 10, with one being the poorest condition, the vet determined the dog is a four,"Lockhart said. "He is skin and bones, and even his face is sunken in."

The vet's report was sent to Thomas as part of his investigation. Thomas said he consulted with Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Parks White, and they determined that enough evidence existed to charge Goodwin.

Under the Georgia Animal Protection Act, neglect of an animal is defined as, "the intentional withholding of food and water required by an animal to prevent starvation or dehydration."

The penalty for misdemeanor neglect or animal cruelty in Georgia is up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count.

Thomas said the owner, whose name has not been released by authorities, will be allowed to reclaim the dog at the shelter provided that the man pays the $55 adoption fee and agrees to have the dog neutered.

Goodwin will be responsible for repaying an expenses the city and the animal shelter incurred providing care for Spud.

Lockhart said for now, Spud will remain the custody of the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter and already is gaining weight.

Thomas said his investigation continues, and he will continue to follow Spud's progress if the owner reclaims the dog.

(Anderson Independent Mail - Jan 31, 2013)

1/30/13: Abandoned cats recovering

NEW YORK -- Nearly 50 cats are recovering after being rescued from a home in Vestal.

Investigators say Mary Herko-Daniels, 59, moved from her home on Lincoln Drive in October and left dozens of cats behind. Many of the cats were malnourished and in need of medical attention.

Officials at the Humane Society say they are feeding and socializing the cats. The animals are also being provided with veterinary care. However, the number of cats has put a strain on the Humane Society's resources.

"We now have a full house so for the other strays in the community we kinda have to wait to bring them in until we can filter these through the system, we have depleted some of our supply of canned cat food if anyone is willing to donate, we're looking for canned cat food for the cats, it just kinda puts a strain on it because we have so much at once," said Karen Matson, Broome County Humane Society Executive Director.

The cats will be available for adoption once they have recovered.

Mary Herko-Daniels is facing one charge of abandonment and one charge of failing to provide proper sustenance.

[Fifty cats starving and abandoned and she's only facing ONE CHARGE???!]

(Central NY - Jan 30, 2013)

1/29/13: Mother of two spared jail after letting dog die slow and painful death over six weeks by leaving it in locked toilet

UNITED KINGDOM -- An unemployed alcoholic mother who locked her dog in a toilet and left it to die has walked free from court.

Laura Shaw, 23, abandoned her pet Lulu for six weeks, and has now been banned from keeping animals for the next 10 years.

Horrific images shown in court revealed how the animal was found covered in swarms of flies, surrounded by the empty food bowls it tried to eat.

The mother of two was prosecuted by the RSPCA, but escaped jail after a hearing at Grimsby Magistrates' Court.

The court heard how the dog was found dead last August in a downstairs toilet at Shaw's former home in Grimsby, surrounded by faeces and urine.

Prosecutor Nigel Burn said there was an 'overpowering foul stench' and the house was swarming with large flies.

Empty plates and a bowl were found and it looked as though they had been bitten by the black cross-bred dog in a desperate attempt to satisfy its hunger.

Shaw, now of no fixed address, admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to provide veterinary care and leaving it unattended without adequate food and water.

She claimed that she was scared to seek help after the dog became ill, but when she was asked about the animal's death she admitted: 'It must have been traumatic and it must have been lonely and scared.'

Her defense attorney, Lauren Fisher, used the excuse that Shaw's former home had been burgled after her windows were smashed and that a large amount of her property had been stolen, causing her 'extreme unhappiness'. Shaw moved out, abandoning her poor dog, who was aged about 18 months to two years.

Probation officer Graham Marshall said Shaw had been a mental health support worker but lost her job and later 'drank to oblivion every day whenever she could'. The court heard that the defendant also had more than £10,000 of debts.

Judge Sam Goozee told Shaw: 'You have committed a cruel and despicable offence. The pictures I have seen show the horror and pain that Lulu must have gone through in what was a very slow death.

'The conditions in which she was found are disgusting and she clearly had been dead for a while.

'Looking after an animal brings responsibility and you simply ignored those responsibilities.

'Can you imagine what it would be like if a child went through what Lulu did? As an adult, you would never place a child in that position and you should not place an animal in that position.'

Shaw was handed 200 hours of unpaid work, banned from keeping animals for ten years and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Speaking after the verdict, an RSPCA spokesman said: 'This was a shocking incident. The poor animal would have suffered terribly, and it is terrible to leave a living creature to die like this.

'We hope this sends a clear to message to people that neglect or abuse of animals is not acceptable.'

(DailyMail - Jan 29, 2013)

Prize Mule Injured After Suspected Dog Attack

CALIFORNIA -- In one local county, citizens are dealing with a deadly case of dogs gone wild.

Some pit bulls were shot and killed while other dogs are still attacking animals.

If you think Breezy is a beautiful mule, you’re right. He’s a show mule at the Easley Ranch near Grass Valley.

“It breaks my heart because they are such innocent animals, and they can’t defend themselves from the dogs,” owner Bonnie Easley said.

Bonnie is talking about the vicious dog attack two weeks ago that left breezy limping with stitches.

“It was horrible, devastating, his whole leg was ripped open and he was laying down,” she said.

Bonnie and her husband Phil think a neighbor’s dog or dogs were left outside for the night and snuck under a fence and attacked.

This isn’t the first time free-roaming dogs have gone hunting in the area.

“They may be nice, happy, gentle house dogs, but when they get out roaming, the natural instinct comes in to pursue,” said Phil.

Nevada County Animal Control says a dog attack is reported about once a week in the area, and it is keeping an eye out for dogs that may be on the pasture prowl.

Phil walked up on dogs brawling with his livestock a few years ago.

“It was amazing how they could fight. I’ve been in law enforcement for 33 years, and had never actually seen a pit bull attack,” Phil said.

He shot and killed two dogs that day and says he’ll do it again when it comes to protecting prize mules like Breezy.

“You can only be neighborly so far and then you need to take action yourself,” Phil said.

The Easleys say it will take a year to see exactly how well Breezy’s wound will heal, and whether or not they will be able to show him competitively.

Nevada County Animal Control says dog owners who let their animals run free can be cited. However, people who shoot a dog in defense are protected under the law.

(CBS Sacramento - Jan 28, 2013)

Governor asks for briefing in case of couple charged for nursing injured deer

INDIANA -- Governor Mike Pence is getting involved after a couple nursed an injured deer to heath only to face criminal charges.

Jeff Counceller and his wife Jennifer are facing possible jail time after finding and caring for a severely injured baby deer they named Dani a few months ago.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources contacted the couple and told them they needed a permit to keep the doe.

Their permit request was turned down and Indiana DNR said they had to [kill] Dani.

Dani vanished on the day DNR planned to euthanize her.

Governor Pence said it appears conservation officers acted appropriately, but is asking DNR for a briefing on the case.

(WAVE - Jan 31, 2013)

Earlier:

• Police officer, wife face charges after nursing injured deer back to health

Cranston pet owner claims groomer hurt her dog

RHODE ISLAND -- A pet owner is outraged after she says her dog went to a groomer in Cranston and came home with a burn mark.

Four-year-old Lulu is a cairn terrier, and Lori Manni-DeRobbio's pride and joy. But DeRobbio noticed something was wrong with her dog after she took her to Aristic Dog and Cat Grooming.

"I wanted to scream," DeRobbio said.

She discovered the patch of raw skin a day after the appointment, claiming that it was hidden under a bandana.

"When I lifted it, I saw the blood and this spot," DeRobbio said. "It was repulsive."

She says she went back to Artistic for answers, but the owner denied causing the injury, saying that the wound looked like a bite mark.

DeRobbio immediately went to the vet where the paperwork shows her dog was treated for burns. She believes they are from the groomer's blow dryer.

"This dog was under a dryer for so long. It burned her skin off," DeRobbio said.

ABC6 went to Artistic Dog and Cat Grooming, but the woman at the front desk would only confirm that Lulu the dog has been to the salon. When asked if she was there when Lulu was supposedly burned, the woman said no.

The owner later released a statement saying only that it is unfortunate that the dog was hurt, but that it did not happen in their care.

The complaint comes after at least one dog allegedly died in Artistic's care, and just last year, another dog lost an eye during an appointment there. They paid for that dog's medical bills, but never accepted responsibility. 

DeRobbio says she just wants to make sure no other pet is treated the same way.

"For me this isn't just about Lulu," she said. "This is about stopping them and anyone else like them."

(abc6 - Jan 30, 2013)

Lake County tightens rules on dog attacks

ILLINOIS -- Dogs that attack other dogs can now be impounded in much of Lake County while an investigation is conducted.

The changes affect unincorporated Lake County and 40 of the 52 communities in the county that contract animal-control service to the county. Under the old ordinance, dogs that attacked other dogs were allowed to stay with their owners until an investigation was completed, often causing unease in the neighborhood, said Mark Pfister, director of population health services for the Lake County Health Department.

The new ordinance was prompted by an attack on County Board member Diane Hewitt's dog in February 2012.

According to Hewitt, her 12-year-old, 12-pound Bichon Maltese named Cindy was with her on a leash in her Waukegan front yard when a 2-year-old female pit bull mix belonging to a neighbor attacked for no apparent reason.

"She was grabbed by the neck and shaken so hard she had liver and kidney damage," Hewitt said. "We were told she was dead, but she pulled through."

Hewitt said her dog incurred medical bills of nearly $2,000.

"She's not the sweet, innocent thing she had always been, and she learned it the hard way," Hewitt said.

The pit bull's owner voluntarily gave up his dog to be euthanized. But had the attack occurred in unincorporated Lake County, he would have been able to keep the dog until an investigation was completed and a decision was made, Hewitt said.

The investigations are done by Pfister or one of his deputies, and they decide what should be done to the aggressive dogs. If owners do not agree, they have the right to appeal in court, Pfister said.

Sandy Kamen Wisniewski, founder and director of the Animal Education and Rescue NFP in Libertyville, said some questions remain.

"One of my concerns would be giving Lake County animal control too much control over deciding what to do to these animals," she said. "I don't know if they are the right people to make those decisions."

Wisniewski added that the impound can be a "very stressful environment for animals."

Pfister said dog-on-dog attacks accounted for about 30 percent of the 2,000 reported bites in Lake County last year. He said 15 dogs died from such attacks. Depending on the incident, less severe options exist to euthanization, Pfister said. Other options include fining the owner, neutering or spaying the dog, muzzling the dog and ordering a dog confined to the owner's property.

The owner of an attacking dog is also liable under the Lake County Animal Control Act for any veterinary bills to a victim, Pfister said.

As for the 12 municipalities that do not contract with the county for animal control, some, like Waukegan and North Chicago, have their own ordinances. Pfister said the county would share its language with the 12 municipalities in hopes they'll adopt the same rules.

Hewitt and Pfister said it was important to report dog attacks and said animal-on-animal attacks were underreported.

"Animal-to-animal incidents are sometimes not looked at as being quite as severe," Pfister said. "It can be tough to report on your neighbor's dog, especially if you get along with your neighbor."

Hewitt said she learned from talking to neighbors later that the attacking pit bull had had previous incidents with other dogs that were not reported.

"People need to do the right thing and be responsible to other dog owners by reporting attacks," she said.

(Chicago Tribune - Jan 31, 2013)

Dog Attacks Woman, Child In Erie Home

MICHIGAN -- A 60-pound pit bull-Labrador retriever mix was euthanized this week after it attacked its family members, including a little girl, in Erie Township.

Erie Township police Officer Thomas Mohrbach said a woman in her 50s suffered numerous bites on her face and body that reportedly needed 200 stitches to close the wounds.

A 9-year-old girl also was bitten on the arm when the dog went out of control inside the family home.

“There was a blood trail from the living room to the kitchen,” Officer Mohrbach said. “When I pulled up, (the woman) was sitting on the porch and she was covered in blood. She looked like she was in shock.”

The incident occurred Sunday afternoon inside the family mobile home on Fairfax Dr. in the Hidden Creek Mobile Home Park in Erie Township, which is off S. Dixie Hwy. and close to the state line.

The victim is the legal guardian of two children, the 9-year-old girl and her 7-year-old brother.

Officer Mohrbach said there were three dogs living in the home along with the dog’s owner, a woman in her 20s.

He said it was possible that two of the dogs started fighting after one tried to eat the girl’s hot dog. She was sitting on the couch when she was bitten.

The woman tried to protect the girl and one of the dogs turned its aggression toward her.

During the attack, the kids fled the home, with the boy escaping through a window. The woman eventually made her way outside. She later was treated in a Toledo hospital.

Monroe County Animal Control officers arrived and took away the attacking dog. Animal Control Director Sgt. Geoffrey Kovenich said the dog’s owner did not attempt to rescue the dog, estimated to be 5 or 6 years old.

“The family signed off on it and the animal was humanely euthanized,” Sgt. Kovenich said. “It was very aggressive.”

(Monroe News - Jan 31, 2013)

Cole Harbour dog owner says she’s not to blame for attack on child

CANADA -- The owner of a pitbull who attacked a 4 year-old girl in December said the incident was not her fault because she wasn’t aware there were visitors in her home.

Natasha Parker, 20, appeared in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge of having a dangerous animal.

“No one told me that there was going to be company and to make sure that my dog would be locked up. That’s why I’m pleading not guilty,” Parker said about the incident in her Arklow Drive home.

She said although the dog was supposed to be locked in Parker’s room, “someone came out … and thought they shut the door all the way but they didn’t, and the dog got out.”

Parker said the girl who was bitten and her father were family friends of her parents whom she didn’t know.

She didn’t see the attack happen, but Parker said her pit bull, four-year-old Sosha, “freaked and snapped,” when the little girl tried to pet her.

Parker said  Sosha has always been friendly towards her own one-year-old daughter and her friends’ children.

“My dog just licks them all the time,” she said.

When Parker’s daughter is not around Sosha, she said the dog gets “sooky” and worries about new people coming into the home.

The girl was taken for stitches in her face, and the city seized Sosha soon afterwards.

Parker will next appear in court on Nov. 14, and said she is in the process of getting a lawyer.

She said she plans to appeal to have Sosha returned in the meantime.

(Metro News CA - Jan 31, 2013)

Earlier:

• Cole Harbour child recovering after pit bull bite

Travis Elementary School Locked Down for Loose Pit Bulls

TEXAS -- A parent at Travis Elementary School was attacked by a pit bull as she tried to get back to her car after dropping off her child.

The mother took off running towards the school to get someone's help, but the dog kept trying to bite her. The dog soon went after another parent and a child.

The campus was placed on lockdown as police were called to deal with the dogs.

An officer who showed up around 15 minutes later tried using pepper spray to push back a dog that jumped at him. Soon enough, a second pit bull came at officers. One officer drew his pistol and fired at the dogs, neither was hit.

Animal Control officers were able to round the loose dogs up in a nearby backyard on Whittier. One of the dogs has a cut to the mouth from biting at the Animal Control officer's equipment.

The city will now try and find out who the dogs belong to.

(KRIS Corpus Christi News - Jan 31, 2013)

Dog bites woman's face

OHIO -- A local woman told police Wednesday she received nine stitches in her chin Sunday after a dog bit her.

The dog, a light brown boxer named Rayce, bit the woman at a residence in the 1000 block of Burgoon Street.

While at the owner’s house, the woman got up at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday to use the restroom. She then sat down on the couch, where the dog was sleeping, according to a report by the Sandusky County Health Department.

The dog’s owner said the woman sat on a paw that had a broken nail, according to the report. That startled the dog, and the dog bit the woman’s face.

The animal was immunized after the incident and will be quarantined for the mandatory 10-day period.

The bite appeared to be accidental and the dog will not be euthanized, according to a Sandusky County Dog Warden representative.

(The News Messenger - Jan. 31, 2013)

Boynton family gets little help from insurance after toddler is attacked by pit bull

FLORIDA -- A toddler injured in a pit bull attack needs at least three operations. But her parents say the insurance company has offered little help.

Shelby Churey, 2, of Boynton Beach was bitten by her uncle's pit bull dog November 4, 2012. The dog named "Ice" was put to sleep.

 

Shelby's parents said the insurance company, Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, won't pay for the surgery the toddler needs because it's considered cosmetic. Shelbys' mother told us she's frustrated.

"Very annoyed, I mean you pay money each month for insurance and then when it comes down to needing help, they just turn you away," said Michelle Churey, Shelby's mother.

We were unable to reach Florida Healthy Kids for comment.

However, Shelby's mom said thanks to generous donations from the community, they have managed to raise enough money to pay for the first of three operations the little girl needs.

According to her mother, that surgery will be performed in a couple of weeks.

(CBS12 - Jan 31, 2013)

Earlier:

• Boynton Beach toddler recovering after pit bull bite to face
• Fundraiser set for 2-year-old mauled by pit bull

Dog shot killed after biting child

GEORGIA -- A Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to 52 Wey Bridge Court, White, to assist Bartow County EMS with a vicious dog Monday.

According to the incident report, Bartow County dispatch advised the deputy that a 10-year-old-boy had a traumatic injury to his leg from a dog bite and that the juvenile’s leg was partially severed.

Upon arrival, the deputy met with a Bartow County Animal Control officer who was attempting to place a snare on a large, yellow dog that appeared to be a German shepard - Labrador retriever mix.
According to the report, the hair along the dog’s back was raised.

The BCAC officer followed the dog around the yard for several minutes, attempting to place the snare around the dog’s head, but he was unable to get close enough to the dog. When he eventually got close enough, the dog bared his teeth and started to growl. The dog then ran toward the deputy and a sergeant that was on scene.

The sergeant shot the dog in the mid-section with his shotgun, which was loaded with a bean bag round. The dog fell to it’s side and started to yelp. The deputy deployed his taser with one prong striking the dog in the rear leg.

The BCAC officer tried to place the snare around the dog’s head, but it became caught in the dog’s mouth and around his ears. The sergeant asked the BCAC officer if he had the dog and the officer said he did not.

According to the incident report, the dog’s escape was imminent and, because the dog had already displayed significant aggressive behavior, the sergeant shot the dog in the mid-section twice.

The dog was determined to be deceased and the BCAC officer placed the dog into his vehicle.

The sergeant spoke with a neighbor who said the dog’s owners had moved more than a week ago and just left the dog at the residence. The neighbor also said the dog had always been aggressive.

(Daily Tribune News - Jan 30, 2013)

UPS driver finds dog emaciated, freezing with no food, water

INDIANA -- A dog found emaciated and freezing, tied up outside without any food or water, is recovering thanks to the quick thinking of a delivery driver.

A UPS driver spotted the dog tied to a tree on a short leash with no shelter outside a home in Bowling Green in freezing conditions last week.

The Clay County Humane Society seized the dog from the home, but he was nearly skin and bones and wasn't initially expected to survive.

Since then, the dog, who was renamed Phoenix, has rallied, gaining weight and energy with the help of a foster family.

Shelter officials said Phoenix is deaf, has lost an eye and is recovering from frostbite on his ears.

He's amassed quite the Facebook following, with the shelter posting daily updates and pictures . So-called Phoenix Fans have sent letters and donations from across the country.

"When I look at the pic of him in the almost 'fetal position' nothing but skin over bone, with a chain around his neck tied to a tree (chain no longer than 4 ft) in the freezing cold, no food, no water, no shelter.. It breaks my heart," the dog's foster mom posted on the shelter's Facebook page. "Now, to see this boy playing with my kids, sleeping beside my bed, (waking up to his big ol face resting on my mattress) it is truly amazing how gentle of a soul he really is!"

The Clay County Sheriff's Department did not have any information about the incident.

(WRTV - Jan 31, 2013)