New Mexico: After four dogs maul woman, two dogs including a Pit Bull, 'disappear' from owner's yard

LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO -- A Valencia County woman was taking a walk in her neighborhood when she was attacked by dogs.

The Sheriff's office confirmed the case Sunday night, and KOB spoke to family and friends about what happened.

KOB also obtained video of the attack. Neighbor Karla Brannan said it shows what happened to 33-year-old Carolyn Lucero early Easter morning. The attack outside Los Lunas left Lucero with injuries and multiple surgeries to try and save her arm.

"She was down on the ground face down and just screaming and asking for help, and there were four dogs on top of her just ... they were just mauling her," Brannan said. "They were growling and they were biting and they were just fighting."

Brannan said she woke up from the noise and ran out to help about 10 minutes after the dogs ran out.

"I found her phone and we called to get somebody to come be with her, and you're just wondering what can I do for this woman," Brannan said.

Brannan called Animal Control. KOB asked the home where the dogs appeared to be coming out from what happened.

OWNER CLAIMS ATTACK DOGS AREN'T HERS

"It's just crazy and ridiculous. These are my only two dogs that we have and the cops came asking too. Where's all the pit bulls at? Asking my husband," said Vanessa Quintana. 

She denied being involved and said her dogs weren’t responsible.

But moments later, Animal Control drove off with the two dogs she said weren't involved. Neighbors believe there are two more dogs out there.

"I saw a pit bull in the backyard yesterday on the chain that's white that was not taken today. And also there was a black-and-white dog that was bloodied that has now disappeared and that came out of her yard too," Brannan said.

Meanwhile, Lucero tries to recover in the hospital.

"Thank God we were able to save her. Thank God," Brannan said.

Animal Control said it's under investigation and they would be doing extra patrols.

(KOB - April 2, 2018)

Earlier:

• New Mexico: Woman whose arm was nearly torn off in horrific dog attack shares her story

New Mexico: Woman whose arm was nearly torn off in horrific dog attack shares her story

LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO -- A woman mauled by four dogs on Sunday in Valencia County is sharing those horrific moments.

Carolyn Lucero said she nearly lost her arm after four dogs attacked her in a neighborhood outside Los Lunas.

"I got by the stop sign and all of a sudden, there were all these dogs," she said.

Video captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera is dark and fuzzy, but it captures the moment Lucero walks along the road and multiple dogs pounce.

"The dog that had me by my arm, I gave up on that one," she said. "I started just fighting the other ones off of me."

She said it was an excruciating 10 minutes that felt like an eternity.

"Screaming for help and nobody would come out," she said. "A car passed by me and didn't stop."

A neighbor nearby heard her screams and ran outside to help.

"I appreciate everything," Lucero said. "I told her she's my guardian angel."

As of Monday, Lucero had a third surgery on her arm. She's been told even after everything, she may lose mobility in that limb.

The Valencia County Sheriff's office is assisting animal control with the investigation. Two dogs have been picked up. Sheriff's officials said animal control is going to file charges against the owner.

Note: A neighbor described one dog clearly as a white Pit Bull, the second dog as a black and white dog covered in blood. Video shows Animal Control removing what appears to be a white Shepherd mix and another smaller dark mixed breed dog. The owner denies owning the Pit Bull and black and white dog despite neighbors saying they were typically chained in the owner's backyard. What likely happened is that her husband drove them off somewhere and is hiding them.

 

 

 

(KOB - April 3, 2018)

Indiana: Boy, 9, mauled by Pit Bull when he was at friend's house for a sleepover. Owners Geraldine Gibson-Roe and Levi Roe lied to the police and said a random stray dog had mauled him, ripping off his ear

INDIANA -- A couple is accused of attempting a cover-up after their pit bull mauled a 9-year-old boy's head while the boy was sleeping in their home Tuesday.

The boy, who suffered injuries to his skull and face and whose ear was severed from his head, is recovering at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, his mother said Thursday.

“They did a CT scan … and said the bite was so bad that it was a hair away from crushing his skull and killing him,” said Rachel Habhab, the boy’s mother.

Geraldine Gibson-Roe failed to report the attack to Hobart police, Lt. James Gonzales said.

Her husband, Levi Roe, took the dog to the Hobart Humane Society to be euthanized, but LIED and told an employee he had found the dog wandering the streets, police said.

Habhab said her son is not sleeping well and has been waking up in the middle of the night with tears in his eyes since Tuesday's attack due to the trauma and pain. He is speaking with counselors at the hospital, she said.

“We’re not sure how long he’ll be at the hospital. They can’t give us an exact release time," the mother said. "They're managing his pain. They want to wait and see and make sure he’s eating and taking his medicine orally."

Habhab said the boy had been to the Roes' Hobart home before, but she believes the Pit Bull was usually put away.

The couple is new to the neighborhood, but Habhab thought her boy would be safe at the home and never imagined something like this happening to him, she said.

Hobart police were called Tuesday to St. Mary Medical Center, where officers spoke with Habhab. She told police her son was mauled by the dog while staying the night at a friend's home in the 6100 block of California Street, Gonzales said.

The mother reported the Pit Bull, named Joe, entered the room while her son was sleeping and began licking his face. When the boy awoke, the dog attacked him, police said.

The boy was transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment.

An officer went to Gibson-Roe's home and learned that instead of calling police about the attack, Geraldine Roe called her mother-in-law, Gonzales said.

Roe's mother is accused of instructing Gibson-Roe not to call police. Before police arrived at the home, Roe picked up the dog and took it to the Humane Society to be euthanized, police said.

Police contacted the Humane Society, and staff reported Roe brought the dog in but LIED and said it was a stray he found near 61st Avenue and Liverpool Road, Gonzales said.

"At no time did he disclose to the Humane Society employee that the pit bull had been involved with the mauling of a 9-year-boy or that the pit bull was aggressive," Gonzales said.

During a phone conversation, Roe told the officer, "Well I took the dog there to get rid of him," police said.

Roe told police he didn't know if the dog had received rabies shots, Gonzales said.

Gibson-Roe was cited for failure to register the dog with the city, dog attack on a human and failure to vaccinate the dog.

However, police plan to drop charges filed in Hobart City Court if the Lake County prosecutor's office accepts charges, including obstruction of justice, false informing and harboring a nonimmunized dog that caused bodily injury against Gibson-Roe and obstruction of justice against Roe, Gonzales said.

The dog will be quarantined for 10 days and then euthanized, police said.

The family said they are exploring surgery options to replace the boy’s ear.

“That’s months down the road,” Habhab said

Family sets up GoFundMe page:

Moving Mountains for Mondo
Created June 16, 2017 by Tabatha Romo
HOBART, IN

My nephew Armondo was viciously attacked at his friends house while he was sleeping. The pit bull severely injured his head, the damage nearly a hair away from crushing his skull and completely bit his entire ear off. He also has wounds above and below his mouth. 

He was transported to John O'Reilly Childrens Hospital. He had to get almost 300 stitches during his first surgery. We are all very happy he made it through the first out of many surgeries he will have to go through. He was in the hospital for over 3 days, and the doctors have not gave my sister and brother in law an exact release date for him..

Armondo is going to have to continue going to O'Reilly hospital for multiple different check ups. We ask for your support, prayers and appreciate any help we can get on this long road ahead.. Thank you.

(NWI Times - June 15, 2017)

Washington: After Stephanie Birchette's 3 pit bulls mauled 7 year-old boy she was watching, the dogs "somehow" disappeared and she told police she didn't know where they were. Imagine her surprise when all 3 pit bulls showed up in the nearby town of Sedro-Woolley. Judge orders all 3 to be euthanized.

WASHINGTON -- Three pit bull terriers that mauled a 7-year-old Mount Vernon boy Jan. 12 will be euthanized Friday.

The mauling happened while the boy was at a babysitter’s home in the 1300 block of Harrison Street, according to Mount Vernon police Lt. Greg Booth.

The boy was taken first to Skagit Valley Hospital, then transported to Children’s Hospital in Seattle for treatment of “extensive wounds” to his head and face, Booth said.

The dogs’ owner, Stephanie Birchette, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Mount Vernon Municipal Court to one count of failure to report a dog attack, Skagit County public defender Corbin Volluz said.

Birchette will be able to see the dogs, which were seized after the attack, before they are euthanized.

Police were initially informed of the incident when a Child Protective Services agent requested police assistance the day following the incident, Booth said.

Police contacted Birchette, who claimed she did not know where the animals were [even though they were there, in her house, when they attacked the little boy right in front of her], Booth said. 

police went to impound the three dogs on Friday but the dogs were not found and the owners told officers the dogs involved have "disappeared and they don’t know where they are at". - from earlier article

The three pit bulls were later located in Sedro-Woolley, [where they had been hidden away] which is about a 20-minute drive away from her house.

BIRCHETTE IN COURT BEFORE ON A VICIOUS DOG COMPLAINT

In 2011, Birchette was allegedly involved in another dangerous dog case, according to Booth. No details as to what happened with the case or that particular dog.

(Go Skagit.com - March 29, 2017)

Earlier:

• Washington: 7-Year old mauled by babysitter's three pit bulls. Police believe babysitter has hidden all three dogs.
• Washington: Babysitter's three pit bulls, which attacked 7-year-old boy, have been located

Oregon: Owners of vicious pit bull have hidden the dog, but lose their $1 million lawsuit against Animal Control

OREGON -- A judge has sided with Klamath County Animal Control in a $1 million lawsuit filed last year by the owners of a pit bull seized during a dangerous animal investigation.

Judge Mark Clarke, of U.S. District Court, in Medford, issued an opinion Monday recommending a ruling in the county’s favor on the grounds officials acted within the law during the seizure.

Clarke’s opinion will be forwarded to a separate judge who will issue a ruling at a later date. Plaintiffs have been given two weeks to respond to Clarke’s opinion, though no such filings were published by the court as of Thursday.

Plaintiffs Mike Rawson (aka Michael Lee Rawson, Michael Rawson) and Roxanna Fragassi (aka Roxana Maria Fragassi, Roxanna Maria Fragassi) filed separate suits in August of last year seeking $500,000 each for what they claimed was the unlawful seizure of their pit bull, Buster, on Jan. 6, 2015.

A neighbor had complained the day before that Buster entered his property and growled and charged at him. The victim identified Buster as the animal in question through a picture of the dog on file with animal control.

Rawson and Fragassi claimed Buster could not have been the offending dog and said the animal had been with them at the time of the incident.

They also said Buster could not be seized due to his status as a service animal, though the plaintiffs admitted to registering Buster as a service dog through a commercial website after he was seized.

Service dog status disputed In their lawsuits, the plaintiffs claim Fragassi has suffered due to lack of access to her service animal, with court documents indicating Buster helped Fragassi with stability and balance issues, as well as with opening doors. “The injury that this has caused me and my family is far-reaching and costly, not just monetarily but the stress causes my condition to worsen,” said Fragassi in her complaint. “My dog had me up and moving and doing again.” During a previous interview July 29 regarding his department’s policies on service animals, Nielsen said a dog’s ability to assist a disabled person is irrelevant to a dangerous dog investigation, saying his officers focus on the allegations against the dog and not its potential ADA status. “The fact that it is a service animal would not matter,” said Nielsen of enforcing local and state ordinances, adding it is his experience a trained service animal would not typically be the subject of a dangerous dog complaint. Fragassi and Rawson contend authorities do not see Buster as a legitimate service animal, and have cited in their complaints personal conversations with animal control officers allegedly referring to Buster as a “so-called assistance dog.” When interviewed Tuesday, Rawson said Buster is a service dog because he “decided to be a service dog” by helping Fragassi with her mobility, adding they officially certified the pit bull through the for-profit National Service Animal Registry after his seizure, hoping to bolster their defense against the county.

Matter at issue
Clarke said the only matter at issue was whether or not Assistant Animal Control Officer Gale McMahon had lawful grounds to seize Buster and said, based on evidence submitted by both parties, McMahon did not violate the plaintiffs’ rights.

“Defendants are entitled to summary judgment because defendant McMahon had probable cause to believe that Buster was a dangerous dog,” said Clarke. “Therefore the seizure was lawful.”

“Whether or not Buster was actually guilty of those allegations does not change the fact that defendant McMahon could have reasonably believed there was probable cause,” Clarke continued.

Clarke went on to describe how Buster had “a long history of complaints” including “two previous convictions as a potentially dangerous dog.” After the second conviction, Rawson, as the registered owner of Buster, was warned Buster would be impounded and potentially euthanized upon a third conviction, said Clarke.

Third decision
This is the third time a judge has sided with Klamath County in the plaintiff’s challenges regarding Buster’s seizure.

Shortly after the dog was impounded, Rawson and Fragassi fought the decision in Klamath County Circuit Court, but Judge Dan Bunch ruled June 30, 2015, McMahon had probable cause to impound Buster and did so lawfully.

Fragassi also filed a petition Sept. 8, 2015, against the Klamath County Board of Commissioners and asked the court to force commissioners to investigate McMahon for wrongdoing. Judge Roxanne Osborne ruled April 8 Fragassi did not have grounds to file the request and said such an investigation is under the county’s discretion.

No other civil matters are pending regarding the seizure of Buster.

The dog was released from impound last September after the dismissal of charges against Rawson of maintaining a dangerous dog and reckless endangering. Prosecutors said the victim was unavailable for trial and they intended to re-file charges.

However Rawson and Fragassi SAY they gave the pit bull away "to a friend", according to court records, but animal control has been unable to locate the dog.

Imagine that! They hid the dog. Why doesn't the judge hold them in a jail cell for contempt until they admit where they're hiding it?

Service Dog Certification -- Spotting Fake Certification/Registration/ID
BE WARNED: when you see a fake certification, it is a STRONG indication that the dog is not a legitimate service dog. People with legitimate service dogs tend to be familiar with laws and know that certification is not required so long as the dog meets the legal definition. Those who purchase fake certification do so because they, or those they encounter, doubt their dog's real status and it is easier to purchase a fake document than to actually get their dog properly trained and evaluated by an expert.

Examples of certification/registration/ID for a fee schemes:

SARA (Service Animal Registry of America)
USARplus (United Service Animal Registry)
Goldstar German Shepherds
SDA (Service Dogs America)
Registered Service Dog
SDCA (Service Dog Certification of America, aka Certify My Dog)
NSAR (National Service Animal Registry)
American Service Dogs
Service Dog ID
Certified Service Dog
National Association of Service Dogs
Service Dog Tags, aka emotionalsupportanimals.org
Free My Paws
CRTASA (Canadian Registry of Therapy Animals and Service Animals)
USSDR (United States Service Dog Registry) - registration is free, but they also sell official looking certificates and ID
emosdogtags
registermyserviceanimal
Official Service Dog Registry (don't let the name fool you-- there's nothing "official" about them, plus they are copyright thieves and stole copyrighted material from this very site)
Service Dog Kits aka servicedogkits (this site appears to be owned by the same people who own the so-called "official" registry above because I guess one scam site just isn't enough. They stole the same material from us as their "official" cohorts.)

Note: Not a single service listed above tests the dogs they certify, register, or ID. They do nothing to verify the dog's training or the owner's disability. All that is required is that the purchaser fill out a form with the information for the certificate and where to mail it, and include payment ranging from $35 to over $200 depending on the package being purchased.

(Herald and News - Aug 26, 2016)

Earlier:

• Oregon: Disgruntled owners of vicious pit bull get alleged cat hoarder to back them in trying to get an Animal Control officer fired

Florida: Court denies Benjamin Brown's request to move back in with child and mother after he lied about pit bull attack to child

FLORIDA -- A man arrested in connection with a pit bull attack on a 4-year-old has been denied his request to move back in with the child and his mother.

Benjamin Matthew Brown, 31, appeared in court Friday for a hearing on charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm and providing false information to law enforcement during an investigation.

He had asked the judge to rescind an order to not have contact with the 4-year-old or his mother, but Circuit Judge Brantley Clark Jr. denied the request Friday, court records stated.

Brown posted a $15,000 bond the day after his arrest. He declined to comment on the pending case.

After his arrest May 30, Brown was ordered to not have contact with the child, which inadvertently meant he could not move back into his home with his family, according to defense attorney Rusty Shepard.

Photo of Avery, before he was attacked by the dog

“The alleged victim in this matter is (Brown’s) girlfriend’s child, who was bitten by a dog while in his care,” Shepard wrote in his request to rescind the court’s order. Brown “and his girlfriend and her children live together as a family. His girlfriend and children wish to have (him) living back home with them.”

Brantley denied that request without prejudice, which means Brown could again approach the court with his request at a later date.

 

 

 

 

What led to the order was an incident days before his arrest, when 4-year-old Avery Farmer was attacked by a pit bull. After the bite, Brown allegedly told police a “stray black pit bull” had randomly attacked the child from behind on Allison Avenue in Panama City Beach.

Avery spent the weekend in the hospital to treat cuts on his face and arms. Based on Brown’s information, officials looked around Allison Avenue for the dog.

However, after the child’s release from the hospital, police said he told his father it wasn’t a stray dog that bit him. Avery said he had been “playing with puppies” when attacked, according to a BCSO press release.

That led police to question Brown a second time, when he allegedly admitted to providing the officers with false information.

He told them he lied because he was trying to protect the owner of the dog, but the damage had been done by that time. Because it took days to locate the dog, Avery started a series of rabies shots, which the officers called “unnecessary and painful.”

Note: It turns out the "friend" he was trying to protect is Katrina Bracher, who has a long history of having vicious pit bulls. Oh, and she also was charged with dealing meth out of her house. 

ARREST INFO:
Full name: Katrina Marie Bracher
Address: 3003 Allison Ave, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Date of birth: March 2, 1995
Age at arrest: 21
Arrest Date: 05/31/2016
Arresting agency: Bay County, Florida
Charges:

• #1 DRUGS-POSSESSION – POSSESSION OF METH WITH INTENT TO SELL, MANUFACTURE, DELIVER
• #2 MARIJUANA - POSSESSION – NOT MORE THAN 20 GRAMS
• #3 IN POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS EQUIPMENT  – AND OR USE
• #4 DRUGS-POSSESS – POSSESSION OF METH WITH INTENT TO SELL, MANUFACTURE, DELIVER
• #5 DRUGS-POSSESS – CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION
• #6 SMUGGLE CONTRABAND – INTRODUCE INTO DETENTION FACILITY
• #7 NARCOTIC EQUIP-POSSESS – AND OR USE

Is this why Benjamin Brown was at her house in the first place? Most people don't go to meth dealers' house to just watch TV and eat a snack. They go there to buy meth and to smoke meth. 

He took a four-year-old little boy to a meth dealer's house - who was known to have vicious pit bulls - and left him to "play with the puppies".... Why would he leave a child alone with a mother dog (regardless of the breed) with puppies? Maybe so he could go in the other room to smoke meth with Katrina Bracher??? Maybe.

  

 

“The defendant’s willful failure to provide the owner and location for the dog resulted in medical personnel being unable to determine the dog’s shot history or health record,” officers wrote, “and thus forcing the victim to receive unnecessary and painful treatments as a precautionary measure.”

Brown’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 17.

(NWF Daily News - July 2, 2016)

Earlier:

• Florida: Four-year-old recovering from pit bull attack, authorities are looking for dog
• Florida: Police arrest little boy's mother's boyfriend Benjamin Brown after he lied about pit bull attack
• Florida: Katrina Bracher's vicious pit bull finally euthanized. Guess what, turns out she's a meth dealer, according to police. Is that why Benjamin Brown was at her house when the pit bull attacked four-year-old Avery Farmer?

Florida: Katrina Bracher's vicious pit bull finally euthanized. Guess what, turns out she's a meth dealer, according to police. Is that why Benjamin Brown was at her house when the pit bull attacked four-year-old Avery Farmer?

FLORIDA --The pit bull, Bella, that attacked a four-year-old boy in Panama City Beach late last month has been euthanized.

Bay County Animal Control confirmed Friday she was put down June 1st.

Sheriff's officials believed the boy, whose name is Avery Farmer, was attacked while his mother's boyfriend, Benjamin Brown, stopped by a garage sale -- according to Brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Avery was released from the hospital, he told his biological father he was playing with puppies when attacked.

Deputies learned Brown had actually taken the boy to a friend's house (Katrina Bracher) who owned several large pit bull dogs, including Bella, who had just had puppies.

Deputies arrested Brown for Perjury and Child Neglect and Bella was quarantined for 10 days.

Why was he at a meth dealer's house to begin with? Hmm... he's not looking too healthy in that mugshot.

We've also learned Bella's owner Has also been arrested.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office says, 21-year-old Katrina Bracher was arrested after investigators developed information that led them to believe illegal drug activity was going on in her home.

She faces multiple charges, including the Possession of Meth with the Intent to Distribute and Smuggling Contraband into a Detention Facility.

ARREST INFO:
Full name: Katrina Marie Bracher
Address: 3003 Allison Ave, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Date of birth: March 2, 1995
Age at arrest: 21
Arrest Date: 05/31/2016
Arresting agency: Bay County, Florida
Charges:

• #1 DRUGS-POSSESSION – POSSESSION OF METH WITH INTENT TO SELL, MANUFACTURE, DELIVER
• #2 MARIJUANA - POSSESSION – NOT MORE THAN 20 GRAMS
• #3 IN POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS EQUIPMENT  – AND OR USE
• #4 DRUGS-POSSESS – POSSESSION OF METH WITH INTENT TO SELL, MANUFACTURE, DELIVER
• #5 DRUGS-POSSESS – CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION
• #6 SMUGGLE CONTRABAND – INTRODUCE INTO DETENTION FACILITY
• #7 NARCOTIC EQUIP-POSSESS – AND OR USE

(WJHG - June 10, 2016)

Earlier:

• Florida: Four-year-old recovering from pit bull attack, authorities are looking for dog
• Florida: Police arrest little boy's mother's boyfriend Benjamin Brown after he lied about pit bull attack