(April 2018) Pennsylvania: Owner complains after her Pit Bull is shot while attacking another dog; sets up GoFundMe to sue the victim

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA -- Owners of the pit bull that was shot and killed after attacking another dog in Wilkes-Barre are grieving the loss of their pet.

The pit bull's owner says he tried to stop the attack and feels lucky that he wasn't shot.

"I had to bury him myself. I couldn't stop crying. I teared up."

Alejandro Loria still can't believe that he had to bury his pit bull named Batman in his backyard.

Sunday morning, Loria was taking Batman for a morning walk around his neighborhood in south Wilkes-Barre. Batman broke away from his leash and started attacking a couple's dog.

"I'm trying to pull my dog away from their dog and I hear the woman saying 'Shoot the dog!' I'm screaming 'No! No!' My girlfriend comes out the house because she hears me screaming. The guy shoots the gun. I'm maybe three feet away. I can't even hear what happens afterwards," Loria recalled.

Wilkes-Barre police report that a woman fired two shots, but Loria says it was her boyfriend who had the gun and shot Batman. Loria's girlfriend initially thought he got hit.

"I heard my boyfriend screaming, 'No, don't shoot, don't shoot!' and I heard a gunshot and I went outside. I thought they shot my boyfriend and I saw my dog and my dog was bleeding pretty bad," said Courtney Rivera.

BLAMING THE VICTIM

"They acted too quick. Right there, what I did as soon as I saw my dog's leash and collar broke, I ran after him and I got on top of him. I attacked my dog just so he could stop attacking their dog. He was just standing there in shock. He should've jumped on his dog as well," Loria added.

Batman was taken to a veterinarian but did not survive.

Loria says he will also have to pay a fine for letting Batman get loose.

Alejandro's girlfriend Courtney Rivera set up a GoFundMe saying:

my dog was shot and killed by a neighbor. And my boyfriend is the only one being charged please help us raise money to take the people to court for shooting my dog.

Courtney had a previous GoFundMe page listed, trying to raise money to "get my baby back". I'm assuming the state either took him or placed him with a relative until she got her s*** together... SMH

COMMENTS FROM THE NEWS ARTICLE:

  

 

(WNEP - April 24, 2018)

Earlier:

• Pennsylvania: Woman shoots pit bull to stop dog attack on her dog

(April 2018) Pennsylvania: Woman shoots pit bull to stop dog attack on her dog

WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA -- A woman shot a pit bull that attacked her dog as they walked in South Wilkes-Barre on Sunday morning, according to police.

Officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Regent and Brook streets at about 8 a.m. Sunday, police said in a news release.

A woman told police that as she and her boyfriend walked their dog, it was attacked by a pit bull that broke free of its owner, Alejandro Loria.

After unsuccessful attempts to stop the attack, the woman fired two shots from her firearm, striking the pit bull, police said.

The woman legally possessed the firearm, according to police. The injured pit bull was taken for treatment, police said.

Alejandro Loria, 27, the owner of the pit bull, was cited by an animal enforcement officer, police said.

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Meanwhile, here's the sob story article from WNEP:

Pit Bull Shot, Later Dies
A pet dog was shot and killed on a city street, and neighbors now question why it had to happen.

Neighbors in Wilkes-Barre are trying to wrap their heads around what happened early Sunday morning. A massive pit bull that was known in the neighborhood for giving sweet kisses was shot and later died.

Seriously, in the video, the newscaster says, "A massive pit bull that was known in the neighborhood for giving sweet kisses was shot and later died". What kind of ridiculous one-sided reporting is that? GIVING SWEET KISSES???! 

Morons.

That pit bull went by the name Batman, and he's now buried behind his owner's house a day after being shot for allegedly attacking a couple and their dog. The woman who shot Batman tells police she feared for her safety.

Blood stains remain at the intersection of Brook and Regent Streets in Wilkes-Barre. Nearby, a freshly dug grave sits in the backyard of an apartment building with a grave marker that reads: "Batman."

 

 

It should say, "Here lies a vicious dog that was shot

while trying to kill another dog and its owners"

Batman is the large, gray pit bull that police say was shot around 8 a.m. Sunday.

A woman told police that while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog, Batman got away from one of its owners and started attacking. The victim, who legally owned her gun, fired two shots, hitting Batman once.

People say Batman was well known in the neighborhood.

"Very friendly dog, but it was a big dog, so people were afraid of it. I had seen it in this area a couple of times and it was friendly, but because of the size, people were afraid of it," Greg Winslow said.

Batman is now buried behind the apartment. His leashes are on top of the marker. Originally, animal enforcement responded to the incident and brought Batman to a local animal hospital.

"When we got there, they said the dog lost so much blood that it's best that we just put it down," Winslow said. "Stuff like this should never happen in this area. We have enough problems with people just dumping animals and not wanting to take care of them, let alone killing them."

Animal enforcement tells Newswatch 16 the owner of the dog faces a citation for the dog not being under control. Police say there was no violation of the law when the woman fired shots.

 

 

 

(Citizens Voice - April 23, 2018)

Pennsylvania: Woman claims man stabbed her Pit Bull mix for no reason; doesn't mention the dog was loose and tried to attack man

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- When I read the GoFundMe page, I immediately suspected the owner, Jesse Mortimer, wasn't being 100% truthful. She says:

"A man was passing by our home while Clark was outside, on his leash, to go potty. The man suddenly stabbed Clark when Clark went up onto the sidewalk to greet him. He showed no aggression towards the man, as he is a very sweet boy. The man then immediately took off, leaving our poor boy bleeding out on the street. He was stabbed in the lower abdomen, close the lungs and stomach."

If this dog is leashed he wouldn't have had an opportunity to get to the sidewalk. If a person has a reasonable fear of being attacked, they are legally allowed to protect themselves.

When we get to the news story, which is one-sided on her part, we get the truth:

Wednesday night, Clark was outside on a leash when a man walked toward Fretts' home on Burrows Street. Clark started barking.

"He said, 'Girl, get your dogs in,' so I was like, all right, I'm going to make sure they're all contained," Fretts said.

In the process of getting Clark inside, the dog slipped out of his collar and ran toward the man.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Clark is a friendly dog, claims its owners.

"When we adopted him, he had no record of aggressive behavior," owner Greta Fretts said.

Wednesday night, Clark was outside on a leash when a man walked toward Fretts' home on Burrows Street. Clark started barking.

"He said, 'Girl, get your dogs in,' so I was like, all right, I'm going to make sure they're all contained," Fretts said.

In the process of getting Clark inside, the dog slipped out of his collar and ran toward the man.

Fretts is adamant that Clark wasn't attacking the man, but said that as the dog ran toward the passerby, Clark was stabbed by the man, who then ran away.

"Not real aggressive or anything," Fretts said. "He was just trying to run and greet him like he usually would anyone else, and the guy had a knife already and stabbed him in the said."

Immediately, Fretts applied pressure to the wound. She and her roommate got Clark to a veterinarian at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center in the North Hills.

"It penetrated his chest cavity and caused an injury to the lung, so it was a very deep wound," Dr. Kelsey Sutcliffe said. "He's a young, otherwise healthy dog. I think his prognosis is excellent, as long as he continues to do as well as he has."

Pittsburgh police are investigating the incident.

(WTAE - April 11, 2018)

(February 2018) Pennsylvania: "Little Morgan needs some prayers right now... He was attacked by a pit bull last night"

PENNSYLVANIA -- Mary Kamp shared a post on Facebook February 6, 2018 ·

Ok people little Morgan needs some prayers right now... He was attacked by a pit bull last night. He had surgery today but needs all of our love pray for him tonight and for a fast and painless recovery...

Debbie Phillips Steffy - Sending prayers and hugs to your mom and the dog!??

Melissa Cuestas - We just got word that he made it through the surgery. There was a lot of damage but they repaired it. They are cautiously hopeful. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming. He has a tough road ahead.

  

 

Pennsylvania: Dachshund named Riley attacked by two Pit Bulls at dog park

PENNSYLVANIA -- Nicky Blair posted on Facebook group page McClelland Dog Park on February 19, 2018 · Harborcreek, PA

Yesterday on Sunday the 18th around 3, my poor 8 year old Dachshund, Riley, was attacked by 2 Pit Bulls at the McClelland Dog park!

I immediately took him to the Emergency Vet, where they treated his wounds. He was VERY lucky. But he has a long way to recovery to go.

I thank those who helped pry these dogs off mine. No words can express how thankful I am that you helped my baby.

One pit bull was a medium size, mainly white with a green collar, which broke. I think he was a male. The other was a little smaller, dark gray with a little white on her chest and a purple collar.

PIT BULL OWNERS DID A "PIT AND RUN" - RAN OFF WITH THEIR DOGS

The owners were a black man and a white lady both in there late 40s possibly to mid 50s. He had a baby blue hoodie and a black baseball cap.

I’m not trying start anything but I can’t in good conscience let this go without warning others! My dog got lucky, but barely! I don’t want this to happen to any other dog or god forbid a person!!

Because when your dog his looking at you crying as these pit bulls are attacking him and you’re trying to save him, it breaks your heart!!!! Don’t let this be your dog!

Pennsylvania: Kyler Kroecker, 20, tortured and beat his roommate's cat with a heavy plastic baseball bat, say police

PENNSYLVANIA -- A man has been charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly torturing a cat.

Huntingdon Borough Police Department officers arrested Kyler L. Kroecker on Tuesday, more than a month after the incident.

Kroecker, 20, had been living at a residence off 19th Street in the borough and was told repeatedly to leave the family’s cat alone.

What started as a nuisance — Kroecker would do things like urinate with the cat — allegedly turned into physically harming the pet.

Kroecker was told three times on Dec. 18 to not bother the cat, according to an affidavit. The third time he was told to leave the cat alone he had been alone with it in a bedroom.

He left the room, the family checked on the cat and discovered it laying in a pool of blood, police said.

The family confronted Kroeker who denied doing anything to the cat, but said the cat “pissed me off” after it sprayed him, according to an affidavit.

The cat was taken to Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic and then to Metzger Animal Hospital for treatment, though its status is unknown.

Police responded to the scene after being notified of an animal cruelty incident by a veterinarian at Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic.

The veterinarian told police the cat’s injuries were so severe that he initially thought it must have been hit by a vehicle. The cat had two puncture wounds to the back of its throat and an eyeball protruding from its socket.

The family showed officers a heavy plastic bat in the room where the cat had been found. The head of the bat had cat fur lodged in it. 

The family also told police that each time Kroecker had been told to leave the cat alone that day he had the plastic bat with him.

Kroecker told police he did not know anything about the incident and declined to answer any questions.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. March 14.

(Centre Daily - February 1, 2018)

Pennsylvania: Horrific photos of five year-old boy's arm after Pit Bull attack

PENNSYLVANIA -- Last month, a five-year-old boy was outside his home playing when his neighbor's Pit Bull which was running loose, looking for a victim.

"Some man knocked on my door and said a dog was eating my son’s arm,” said Brandi Sanders, of McKeesport, about the moment she found out her son, King Martin, 5, had been attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull on Boyd Street.

“My heart dropped. The first thing I did was just grab my son. I didn't care if the dog bit me or nothing. I just grabbed my son and I just broke down, holding him,” said Sanders.

“I was afraid I was going to lose him. He, like, passed out, so I didn't know what was going on. His body was, like, hopeless. I was afraid to lose him.”

Little King Martin's arm was nearly ripped in half. Doctors managed to save it - for now - but his mom says an infection has set in so he might still lose it. Even if the doctors manage to save his arm, will he be able to use it? Will he have limited mobility?

What if King wanted to be a police officer, a fireman, a surgeon? Those jobs require two fully-functioning arms.

I didn't have these photos of his horrific injuries when I posted the original story (below), but a family friend posted them when asking for people to go to their GoFundMe page and help them. They're horrific, but unfortunately - if you're a regular reader about Pit Bull attacks, these injuries are common when these types of dogs attack.

And yes, all dogs can bite. But when grammy's Chihuahua bites you, you put a band-aid on it and go about your business. When a Pit Bull suddenly attacks, you're in a fight for your life.

Here's the GoFundMe information for the family: Help King recover

Earlier:

• Pennsylvania: Child hospitalized after being attacked by neighbor's pit bull. Doctors said he will keep his arm, but has a long road to recovery