North Carolina: “Don’t worry he don’t bite,” says owner right before Pit Bull latched onto her face

NORTH CAROLINA -- Local Mother Attacked and Mauled in face by Pit bull

A Gaston County mother is asking for your help after she was severely attacked and mauled by pit bull in the face while picking up her son Christmas Day. In a matter of 15 seconds life as I knew it was no more. My life changed drastically in those few seconds.

Christmas morning 2017 started as usual, as lunchtime approached my son and I got the food packed in the truck. We then headed on out to go get my oldest son to go eat at my mother’s house. When we got there my son wanted to show me the car he just bought a couple nights before.

So I got out of the truck took about 3 or 4 steps and seen a man standing there with a dog on a leash. I looked down at the dog then right back at him.

Before I could say anything the man standing there with the dog says “Don’t worry he don’t bite”, and by the time the man said the word bite, the dog was on me biting me in the face. The damage had been done the only thing to do at that point was control the bleeding remain as calm as possible and drive myself to the hospital.

After driving myself to possibly the worst hospital there is, and being informed there is nothing that can be done for me there. I was given 3 shots of morphine, antibiotics and prescription for pain. I was given an appointment card for a facial reconstruction. The dog had left nothing that could be stitched up. He had bitten half my bottom and top lip off.

I have never had to suffered nor want to suffer again the pain and agony I am going through now. My medicine had to be crushed up and mixed with liquid and poured into my mouth with a measuring cup.

Needless to say the emotional trauma my mind now suffers. I am terrified of all dogs. I have terrible nightmares now and seeing pit bull on television reminds me of the exact moment the attack happened. 

Does she still have this Pit Bull?

I have been to see different types of facial reconstruction doctors and have now found one in Huntersville, NC. The doctors have said that I will need multiple surgeries which will require months of recovery. They will have to make my mouth smaller, but are hopeful we can stretch the lip from one side make incision on other side stretch and hopefully meet. The bottom lip and top lip will have to be done separately in hopes it has enough blood supply to heal properly.

Before the attack I was actively looking for work. Then on January 3, 2018, I finally get that call I was waiting for saying we have a position for you starting on Monday. Unfortunately due to the severity of the attack which was healing from the inside out I had to decline taking the job. After talking with my surgeon and learning about the multiple surgeries and the recovery time that comes along with it. I became aware that it was going to be some time before I would be able to even return to working.

I have three sons in which only one still lives at home and going to school that is 15. All if my bills are paid and current except my car insurance at this time. However, with me not able to work that want be the case for long and that leaves me with nothing but worries, tears and not a lot of hope for the months to come on, how I will be able continue to pay them and put gas in my vehicle to get my son to school and myself to the doctor.

I am using what little bit of hope I have left that this go fund me will help me see that there is some light at the end of this tunnel and give me a future to look forward to. All donation no matter how big or small are greatly appreciated. Prayers would be greatly appreciated also. If you could just share my story with others that would be absolutely amazing. I would like to say thank you to all of you that took the time to stop to read and share my story.

Please if you have any questions please email me at; Hopelessmom2018@gmail.com I will be happy to answer any and all questions you may have. Thanks again.

GOFUNDME: Mom Hopeless After Mauled By Pit
$5,000 goal
Created January 14, 2018
Heather Bradley Jordan
  Medical
  BESSEMER CITY, NC

Maryland: Schnauzer is euthanized after 'single mother with 2 kids' claims she can't afford to pay the vet bills after her Pit Bulls tore him apart

MARYLAND -- Towson, Maryland- On Friday 01/19/2018 around 7:40p-8:00p my wife and daughter were going on a regular nightly walk with our mini schnauzers Mackie and Rosie while I was on my way back home from work.

Shortly after their walk, two unleashed pit bulls approached them and attacked them. Neither my wife and daughter were bit. Except, for my wife some scratches to her body and soreness on her arms and body due to the struggle.

Unfortunately, our dog, Mackie is in bad condition with deep wounds from the bites that damaged his muscles and nerves and dislocated his hip with a 50% chance of full recovery.

Our dog was rushed to the Pet-Er and has been hospitalized since Friday night and his bill is already at $4,100. The owner of the pit bulls who is a single parent working two jobs and going to school has been paying Mackie's medical bills, however, we are trying to find other solutions to alleviate the costly treatment.

Am I supposed to feel sorry for this "single parent working two jobs and going to school"? SHE CHOSE TO HAVE NOT JUST ONE - BUT TWO PIT BULLS AS PETS AND IS 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

It is an unexpected expense that we didn't cause. We are asking for any monetary donations, so that we can continue our dog's treatment. Per the Pet-Er doctor Mackie will be required to stay hospitalized for a few more days to determine how serious his health condition is, which can cost at least $1,000 daily and further treatment for his wounds and hip.

The money not used will be donated forward to an animal rescue and care center which name will be announce on my Facebook with visuals of me giving a check to the rescue center and thanking everyone of you for your support.

Our dogs have been with us since puppies for about 7 years. They are part of our family and everyday life, growing together side by side with our children, who are 12 and 8 years old. Our dogs are the ones that when we come home are so excited to see us and they have been the most loyal to us.

We are a working family just like every American who is trying to make it. And we are in an unfortunate situation that is requiring the help of others. Every little bit that you can contribute from $1 or more if you can help. We will be forever grateful.

Either you can or can't help financially please help by sharing this link with family and friends.

God Bless you all!

UPDATE 1
On Friday 01/19/2018 my wife and daughter were going on a regular nightly walk with our mini schnauzers Mackie and Rosie. Shortly, two unleashed pit bulls approached them and attacked them. Neither my wife and daughter were hurt. Except, for my wife suffering a minor bite and a few scratches and just soreness in the neck and arm area.

Unfortunately, our baby dog, Mackie was brutally hurt with deep wounds from the bites that damaged his muscles and dislocated his hip.

This incident has resulted with a hospitalization and treatment  that continues to get costly. Our dog has been hospitalized since Friday night and his bill is already at $4,100.

The owner of the pit bulls who is a single parent working two jobs and going to school has been paying Mackie's medical bills, however, we are trying to cooperate with each other and find solutions to alleviate the costly treatment. 

Did she euthanize her maulers? If not, she's not really sorry. #SorryNotSorry

Texas: 'Look at me!' Woman, 73, who lost an arm and 

was disfigured by a couple's Pit Bull screams at 'arrogant' 

dog owners after they are found guilty in horror mauling

We love animals and understand that accidents happen all the time. We are asking for any monetary donations, so that we can continue Mackie's treatment. He will require to stay hospitalized for a few more days, which can cost up $1,000 daily and further treatment for his hip.

Our dogs have been with us since puppies for about 7 years. They are part of our family and everyday life, growing together side by side with our children, who are 12 and 8 years old. Our dogs are the ones that when we come home are so excited to see us and they have been the most loyal to us.

We have never asked for any types of assistance for our dogs. We are a working family just like every American who is trying to make it. And we are in an unfortunate situation that is requiring the help of others.  Every little bit that you can contribute will help. We thank you and appreciate that you also care and love animals and we will be forever grateful.

If you can't help financially please help by sharing this link with family and friends.

God Bless you all!

UPDATE 2
Thank you everyone who has donated. Mackie is still in full recovery mode. We were able to transfer him over from the Pet-Er to an Animal Hospital. Still a long way to go and more treatment to get done. Please even a small donation of $1 help to the cause.
God Bless you all!

UPDATE 3
Unfortunately Mackie was put to sleep today 01/23/2018 at 2:40p. We are heartbroken right now. Mackie needed 24/7 attention and neither the owner of the pit bulls nor us could afford it. He was in so much pain and it was hard seeing him like that. We had him since he was a puppy. The money collected was used to put him to sleep. 

Thank you all for your support! God Bless you all!

GOFUNDME: Funds for Mackie Pit Bull Attacked
Created January 21, 2018
MrEli HighLevelpr
  Animals
  TOWSON, MD

West Virginia: Christa Hughes is convicted of starving her dog nearly to death

WEST VIRGINIA -- Back in 2016, an emaciated two-year old Lab mix that was later named Fred was seized from Christa Hughes. 

Hughes claimed the dog lost weight because of illness, but she had no proof that she had taken the dog to a vet for needed medical care. Also, a vet who examined Fred after he had been seized found no evidence of the dog suffering any sickness -- he was merely being slowly starved to death. 

Hughes certainly hasn't missed any meals. Maybe her punishment should be that she be chained to a tree and starved until she looks like Fred?

Full Name: Christa Lynn Hughes
Gender: Female
Race: White
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 200 lbs
Birthdate: 12/07/1986
Arrest Age: 31
Date: 01/29/2018
Arresting Agency: Hancock County
Charges
#1 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS-1
NOTES: CM Convicted Misdemeanor

Earlier:

• West Virginia: Christa Hughes starved her Labrador nearly to death, say police
• West Virginia: Christa Hughes pleads not guilty to starving her dog nearly to death; dog slowly recovering

Ohio: Former Sheriff's Deputy Robert Roberts charged with animal cruelty, domestic violence

OHIO -- On January 24th, detectives were given a video showing Robbie Roberts, 45, of Lansing assaulting a woman and a dog. Officials say the incident happened on January 20th.

Prosecutor Dan Fry says you can see the man beating someone with a belt. At times, he says, you can hear the man saying he doesn't care if she is videoing it. The dog then tried to protect the woman.

"He knew that she was [recording] him. And yes they were verbally arguing as he was striking her with the belt. 

"She was never on camera but you could see him swinging in her direction with the belt. Threatening, making life threatening comments to her, and at one point the dog intervened, and he was striking the dog with the belt also," said Fry.

According to a press release, detectives immediately contacted the Belmont County Prosecutor's Office, who then began the process of obtaining an arrest warrant.

An arrest warrant was issued early Friday for Roberts, charging him with Domestic Violence and Cruelty to Animals.

On Monday, Roberts reportedly contacted Sheriff Lucas and made arrangements to turn himself in.

Roberts was employed by the Belmont County Sheriff's Office from July 2003 to April 2009 under a previous administration.

"He was a deputy under a previous administration. Like all the other warrants we get, when we obtained the warrant it was give to our whole patrol division and the patrol division over the whole weekend looked at residents, went and talked to people, and tried to locate Mr. Roberts. And today Mr. Roberts contacted me and turned himself in," said Sheriff Dave Lucas.

Sheriff Lucas says he will not disclose anything about the woman's injuries, or the dog's.

Sheriff Lucas also says he will not release the video to the public, saying it's evidence to the case.

Roberts has been arrested and is now in the Belmont County Jail. He is currently being held without bond while awaiting arraignment.

ARREST INFORMATION:
Full Name: Robert A Roberts
Date:01/29/2018
Arresting Agency: BELMONT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Arrest Age:45
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthdate: 05/11/1972
County: Belmont County, Ohio
Charges
#1 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
STATUTE: 2919.25(A) ( M1)
NOTES: NO BAIL

#2 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
STATUTE: 959.13 ( M2)
NOTES: NO BAIL

(WTRF - January 29, 2018)

Ohio: Police say Miami University student Hancheng "Tony" Dai tortured and burned his roommate's cat

OXFORD, OHIO -- He was supposed to be caring for his roommate's cat, but when the roommate came home, he found his pet badly burned.

20-year-old Hancheng "Tony" Dai is charged with abusing his roommate's cat. The cat, named clover, has severe burns and a broken leg.

Based on his Facebook page, I believe he may be a Chinese national here on a student visa. China does not have any animal cruelty laws. You're allowed to do whatever you want to animals without repercussion. Not only is that an abhorrent thought, but it also causes problems when they come to America and bring this mindset with them; that they can do whatever they want to poor animals without impunity. 

Consider this: Among the top 10 most industrialized nations, China is the only one that does not have a law against animal cruelty. England brought in the first modern anti-cruelty legislation in 1822. China is nearly 200 years behind the British in their thinking regarding animal welfare.

Lt. Lara Fening with Oxford Police Department said, “There was a lot of damage to that cat. Although, they say it's in much better spirits than when it came into the vet when it seemed very sick, but it seemed in really good spirits today although it looked horrible."

The owner left their home in Oxford for six weeks and asked Dai to take care of Clover for him.

Investigators say when the Miami University student got back to his apartment, he found his cat, Clover, with multiple injuries – the back, sides and top of the cat’s head were severely burned, leaving raw, bloody skin and loose patches of hair. Clover also had a broken leg.

Dai claimed he washed Clover in hot water and used a hair dryer on the cat, but claimed he did not think the heat or water were enough to have caused the injuries.

Police say the veterinarian believes the cat’s burns are thermal or chemical.

A thermal burn is a type of burn resulting from making contact with heated objects, such as boiling water, steam, hot cooking oil, fire, and hot objects. Scalds are the most common type of thermal burn.

Chemical burns come from someone pouring a caustic substance onto the animal such as bleach, drain cleaner.

Dai claimed to an investigating officer that Clover "jumped off the refrigerator and that's how she broke her leg".

Although the cat is in good spirits, police say it was hard to see. Lt. Fening saw the cat Tuesday afternoon.

“It was wanting me to pet it, rubbing its face against my fingers, but I was afraid to pet it because there were not many places I could pet it,” Fening said.

Clover is at the Oxford Veterinary Hospital and police tell us the cat will have surgery for its injuries tomorrow.

Police charged Dai with "injuring animals". That's a misdemeanor. The prosecutor could charge him with a crime that carries a stiffer penalty.

They better upgrade it to a felony. Misdemeanor animal cruelty is more for neglect (hoarding, untreated mange). This was torture and shows intent to harm, maim and kill. 

ARREST INFORMATION:
Full Name: Hancheng Dai
Alias: Hancheng Tony Dai, Tony Dai
Arrest Age: 20
Gender: Male
Race: Asian
Birthdate: 05/19/1997
Height: 6'00"
Weight: 185 lbs
Hair Color: BLACK
Eye Color: BROWN
Date:01/27/2018
Time: 12:29 PM
Arrest Location:11 S. POPLER ST OXFORD, O, Butler, OH
County: Butler County, Ohio
Charges
#1 INJURING ANIMALS
BOND: $1150

 

(Fox45Now - January 31, 2018)

California: Off-Duty LAPD Officer Shoots Pit Bull Attacking Woman

VENTURA, CALIFORNIA -- An off-duty Los Angeles police officer shot and killed a dog that attacked a woman and her dog.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the city of Ventura.

Ventura police Cpl. Tank Sears tells the Ventura County Star the LAPD officer was driving by and stopped to help as the woman and her dog were being attacked by a pit bull terrier.

Sears says the woman had already been injured and when the pit bull tried to attack her again, the officer fired.

The Los Angeles Police Department is conducting a use-of-force investigation. Detective Meghan Aguilar says that is standard for any employee who discharges a firearm.

(Ventura County Star - Jan. 26, 2018)

North Carolina: "Molly, our female basset, just got attacked by a pit bull mix, over 100 pounds"

NORTH CAROLINA -- John Boyle posted on Facebook January 31, 2018 ·

So Molly, our female basset, just got attacked by a pit bull mix, over 100 pounds, who pulled its owner, a woman, to the ground, then charged our three dogs.

The pit bull grabbed her by the neck, violently shaking her. I kicked it and so did Grace, and then three of us pulled it off. Three. Yes, it Took three of us, when the woman owner’s husband finally helped us.

Luckily Molly is not hurt, as he bit down on her collar and the loose dewlap skin, and we broke it up quick.

So sick of hearing that it’s not the breed. These are aggressive, dangerous animals bred for killing. That’s what this one wanted to do. 

This woman should never walk this dog in public again.

Richard Boyum - What did animal control in the police do... In this ongoing saga where does it stand now?

John Boyle - They filed a report and talked to the owners. That’s about it.

Florida: Six-year-old girl savagely attacked by pit bull still healing a year later

FLORIDA -- On the living room floor of her home on a recent dreary day, 6-year-old Zoey Green works diligently to construct a snowman from a glob of white Play-Doh.

“It’s Olaf,” she explained, referring to a character from Disney’s “Frozen,” an animated movie she estimates she’s seen “probably 100” times.

She squints her eyes to get a closer look at her work of art. A long, thick, pink scar zigzags its way from her chin to her cheek to her right eye, making it harder for her to shut it completely.

As she works on the floor, her mother, Paige Woody, sits on the sofa behind her, watching her every move as she has for the past 10 months.

She can’t take her eyes off her. Ever since Paige and Zoey were attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull last March, the pair have become inseparable, bound even closer by a shared trauma. Paige acknowledges their relationship now as a “codependency.”

“It’s just been awful,” she says of the past 10 months. “We’re stuck in an endless tragedy.”

‘A nightmare’

The day was March 25, a Saturday, and Paige and Zoey had gone to a neighbor’s home on Villacrest Drive in Crestview to learn how to care for two pit bulls Paige had agreed to watch.

She and the neighbor were in the back yard of the home, and Zoey was inside.

Paige told the Daily News last March that Zoey was tapping on the door because she was impatient, so Paige opened the door just a little bit so she could hear her better.

“I kept telling her, ‘Hold on, baby, hold on, baby,’ ” Paige said.

The next several minutes were a blur.

The pit bull, Mandingo, lunged through the door and grabbed Zoey by the face before he dragged her into the yard.

While the neighbor held back the other dog, Paige wrestled with the Pit Bull to try to free her little girl.

When he released her, Paige threw her body on top of her daughter’s and continued fighting with the dog, shoving her arm into his mouth and pushing him back as far as he would go before picking Zoey up, running into the home and calling 911.

Paige was taken to the hospital and received 28 stitches and about 40 staples.
Zoey was flown by medical helicopter alone to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where she was underwent a grueling nine-hour-surgery — the first of many.

Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Executive Director Dee Thompson said that both dogs were pit bull mixes and both had blood on them when officers arrived.

She said that the male dog was "highly aggressive" and it took two officers to remove him from the property.

 

 

 

 

Both dogs were euthanized.

The dog had torn off Zoey’s right eyelid, broken her jaw and left her face essentially held together with staples and stitches. 

She’s since had to travel to Galveston, Texas, eight times with her mother to undergo treatments, including three major surgeries to try and salvage her eyes and facial tissue, and extensive therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

And she’s not done.

Paige and Zoey will return to Galveston later this month for yet another surgical procedure, where doctors will put a titanium plate under her eye and sew her eye shut for three weeks to repair her destroyed tear duct.

In March, she’ll have another surgery to have hard scar tissue removed from her face and her scar stitched back up.

Paige said the multiple trips have put a severe financial and emotional strain on her family.

“Financially, it’s a nightmare. The people who own the dogs haven’t given us a penny,” Paige said. “Then I’m uprooting from my two other daughters when we have to go on these trips to Galveston, so I’m taking that stability away from them ... we’ve missed birthdays, holidays, things like that, and it’s just been a nightmare.”

No playing outside

Due to her scarring, Zoey can’t be in contact with UV light — which includes sunlight — for at least a year after each surgery. If she wants to play outside, she has to wear a special mask that slips over her head and covers her entire face.

Paige decorated the mask with unicorn, butterfly and snail patches, but Zoey still resists it.

Zoey says she likes to play outside, but doesn’t often because “I don’t like to wear my mask, silicone or hats.”

Her silicone patches are applied to her scars to prevent them from getting worse, Paige says. The hats are an added protection.

“She has to wear a compression mask 16 hours a day because it helps push the scarring down and breaks up the scar tissue, and then she wears silicone because it helps to do the same thing,” Paige said. “She doesn’t like to wear those. She’s not supposed to be around any kind of UV light because it makes the scarring redder and more angry looking.

“She has to wear hats and can’t go outside during the day ... we will go to a store quickly and that’s about it.”

Paige also had to pull Zoey out of school after the attack to deal with her surgeries and medical issues. The Okaloosa County School District has sent a tutor to help Zoey with homeschooling twice a week, and Paige hopes to put her back in Riverside Elementary in August to try and regain some sense of normalcy.

“It’s sad because she doesn’t have the friends that my (other) daughters have. She doesn’t have the sleepovers cause she doesn’t know anybody,” Paige said. “She doesn’t have play dates, so she doesn’t get to blossom like the other little kids do.”

Zoey before the attack

‘I just want her to play in the sunshine’

In their home last Wednesday, Zoey was going about her day as she normally does. She made herself a slice of grape jelly toast, played video games on her smartphone — her “lifeline” to the outside world, as Paige describes it — and talked about how she had just learned the difference between “past, present and future” in her tutoring.

“What are we in now?” Paige asked her.

Zoey thought for a minute.

“Um ... future?”

“Not quite,” Paige said. “We’re in the present.”

That’s how Paige is having to live her life these days — day by day, minute by minute, always in the present. She still has flashbacks of the past and is now terrified of dogs. She won’t let her other two kids ride their bikes down the street because she is concerned about loose pets.

“Everywhere we go, you turn around and you see these pit bulls that are not service animals,” she said. “When I go outside I’m constantly looking for an escape route, or where can I put my kids if a dog jumps out. I was oblivious before to how bad it is.”

Paige said her $200,000 in medical debt weighs heavily on her mind most days. Zoey had insurance at the time of the attack, but Paige did not, and Medicaid wouldn’t pay for Zoey’s $100,000 medical helicopter bill when she had to be transported to Pensacola.

Over $22,000 in GoFundMe donations have already been used for the eight Galveston trips.

“How do you climb out of that kind of debt?” Paige asked. “I mean, people say, ‘sue.’ Well, we’re on our fourth attorney trying to, but there’s not a whole lot we can do. If they don’t have anything, you can’t take it.

“I’m so thankful for everyone in the community who has donated anything at all,” she added.

As she looks toward the future, Paige hopes to regain some sense of a normal childhood for her daughter. Paige knows Zoey will probably always have scars, but one day Zoey will be able to do things other kids can do.

“It basically stopped our lives,” she said. “But I’m hoping that eventually she’ll be able to go outside and play, like normal, in the daylight with other kids instead of having to wear masks or patches to cover up scarring.

“I just want her to play in the sunshine.”

(NWFDailyNews - January 17, 2018)

Earlier:

• Florida: Dog attack in Crestview sends 5-year-old girl, two others to hospital
• Florida: It "tore off her eyelid, broke her jaw and left her with more stitches and staples than her family can count". She is a just five years old.
• Florida: Mother recounts pit attack that put her daughter in ICU, hospitalized her and the dog owner
• Florida: Zoey Green, 5, slowly recovering from horrific pit bull attack
• Florida: Pit Bull attack survivors cope with anxiety, seek funds for treatments