North Carolina: Mother, young son mauled on Easter Sunday. Pit Bull won't stop when beaten with tree trimmers; only relents when repeatedly stabbed

LEE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA -- A local mother and her young son are recovering at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill after being attacked by a dog in Sanford on Easter Sunday.

The attack happened while they were visiting family in the 4000 block of Lee Avenue in Sanford this weekend.

The community is rallying around Tiffany Griffis and her 2-year-old son Cameron Moore to help care for her other three children while she recovers.

Griffis's cousin, Destiny Godfrey, was there when it happened.

She said the dog went for the 2-year-old first. Griffis was able to lift him above her head, but the dog then started going for her legs.

Godfrey said they were dropping off a plate of food to her when a nearby dog escaped from a neighbor's yard.

The bottom of the neighbor's chain-linked fence was unsecured.

The battle to stop the attack was a desperate one according to Godfrey, who tried to stop the dog by hitting him with garden shears.

When that didn't work she moved to more extreme measures.

"The next thing I thought was 'God, what do I do,'" she said, "And it's like I heard this voice in my head telling me 'stab him, stab him,' and I grabbed the biggest knife I could see, and I just started stabbing him."

Godfrey said while Cameron is expected to be released from the hospital today, after a bite to his left thigh, Griffis' injuries are much more extensive.

Her fingertips and both legs were mauled. Griffis and Cameron were airlifted to UNC Hospitals following the attack.

Godfrey said that while Griffis' surgery for her legs went well, it's unclear what the road ahead may bring.

Godfrey said she worries about what this could mean for her cousin, a single mother supporting four children.

At first, I thought with so many young children and being referred to as a "single mother", she is a widow. But it seems she has a fiance who (based on their Facebook posts) appears to be the father of her three youngest children. 

Maybe I'm getting old and grumpy, but whatever happened to people getting married before they start having children?? Yes, what happened to her and her little boy is horrific and she will definitely need donations for her long-term medical care that isn't covered by insurance, but the father of her three children - who she is not married to - is the one who should be buying diapers and clothing for his children. 

Note: I've been making at effort at blurring out the faces of children when I locate and post their parents' social media photos in relation to an article, but since the article didn't blur the faces of these children, I didn't either.

According to Lee County Animal Control, they are holding the dog for a 10 day observation period. The dog is set to be euthanized afterward.

Same photo on both of their FB pages

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NORTH CAROLINA -- Crystal Underwood Burris is with Tiffany Griffis. Posted on Facebook April 1, 2018 ·

Pray warriors need serious prayer. They were attacked by pit bull. She is having surgery to save her leg and the baby was bit in vital areas .....please pray!

(WTVD - April 2, 2018)

Links:

• Tiffany Griffis Facebook
• Cory Moore Facebook

Florida: Miami Gardens man seriously hurt after American Bulldog / Jack Russell mix attacked him; owner blames him for being attacked

FLORIDA -- A man was seriously hurt after he was bitten by a dog Wednesday in Miami Gardens.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Felipe Lay said the attack happened about 3:45 p.m. in the 3700 block of Northwest 161st Street.

The man's injuries were so severe he was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where he was listed in stable condition.

OWNER BLAMING THE VICTIM FOR BEING ATTACKED

Nadhir Ebanks, the owner of the 3-year-old Jack Russell Terrier and American bulldog mix, told Local 10 News that the victim is his next-door neighbor who was outside doing yard work at a different neighbor's house with a tree trimmer.

 

 

Ebanks said the dog, whose name is Alba, began barking at the neighbor, and "escaped his property", ran down the street to where the victim was and was barking and behaving aggressively.

Ebanks says he told the man not to move, but says the victim "panicked and swung the tree trimmer at Alba several times".

Ebanks claims that his dog didn't attack his neighbor until after it was struck with the tree trimmer. Neighbors said the man suffered bite wounds to both his legs and both sides of his neck.

OK so if Ebanks saw all of this, how did this man end up being mauled with "bite wounds to both his legs and both sides of his neck"? Where was he? Why didn't he grab his dog? The fact that he was bitten on both sides of the neck means the dog had time to pull him down and continue the attack. WHERE WAS NADHIR EBANKS ALL THIS TIME???

Oh and it gets even better... not only was he seriously mauled so the point where he had to be taken by helicopter to the hospital, Animal Control didn't even take the dog. They let him quarantine it at home (giving him plenty of time to move it out of the city and hide it from them).

Animal Services said the dog had no known history of attacks. Miami-Dade County Animal Services evaluated Alba and placed the dog under quarantine for 10 days AT THE OWNER'S HOUSE.

(Local10 - January 17, 2018)

Alabama: Marcel Spinks charged with aggravated animal cruelty after pizza delivery driver spots bloody dog

ALABAMA -- An Anniston man has been arrested for cutting the ears off his dog, and investigators say they believe he clipped them with garden shears or scissors and left them to bleed.

Calhoun County Deputy Jon Garlick said today that Marcel Raymond Spinks was arrested yesterday on charges of aggravated animal cruelty. He was later released on $10,000 bond. His court date is set for April 13 at 1:30 p.m.

 

Authorities said the case against Spinks began on Feb. 23, when a pizza delivery employee noticed a dog with excessive bleeding in the 400 block of Dearmanville Avenue South.

Capt. Marcus Wood said investigators believe Spinks cut the dog's ears to make the dog "look meaner" and to keep it from having something for other dogs to grab onto.

The dog, a four to five-month-old pit bull named Cry Baby, was operated on shortly after authorities seized him and is recovering.

"This is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty I've ever seen," said Jane Cunningham, board president of the Cheaha Regional Humane Society. "There was blood everywhere when the delivery person saw the animal. We were afraid the dog was going to bleed out."

In all, authorities seized seven dogs from Spinks. Eric Clanton, a veterinarian who treated the dog, said owners sometimes have pit bulls' ears trimmed - called fighting trim - but Spinks held the dog down and cut his ears. The left ear was completely cut off, Clanton said, while the right ear was cut from the center of the neck to the tip and were not sutured.

"These were open wounds," he said. There should be no effect on the dog's hearing.

Cunningham said she hopes people will report cases like this to prevent animal injuries.

Tara Davis Moudy shared WVTM 13's post on Facebook:

Before everyone goes believing this crock, this wasn't his dog he would never hurt an animal. I have know him for 9 years and he has lots of animals and would never do anything but I have 2 neighbors right behind me that do hurt and neglect their dogs and I have called and reported them and nothing gets done. This makes me upset that an innocent man is having to go through this when the guilty ones have nothing happen

Linda Hughes - somebody at his house injured this dog. the least he could have done is get this animal some care for his injuries and he did not do that. How can you say he is not responsible for this?

Linda Hughes - I know someone called and reported that someone was cutting off the dogs (more than one) ears with scissors and when they got there they found one dog with his ears cut off and several others were there as well.

Tara Davis Moudy - That is NOT true, the dog that was there was injured but not by this man and the dog that he had that had its ears cut was professional by a vet. And the dog that was at his house he was in the process of getting the dog to where it needed to be, this act was not done at his house.

Tara Davis Moudy - This isn't my battle to fight but it just irritates me to see someone who wouldn't hurt an animal get into serious trouble when I have called the law to people for serious serious neglect and nothing happens and people are quick to judge someone when they dnt know all the facts

Linda Hughes - I know quiet a few facts about this one and he has been arrested so his story of having a vet do that is not adding up. When people call in about abuse and neglect they do investigate it but unfortunately until the animal is in serious trouble they can't do anything about it which should tell you that they have some real proof here are he would not have been arrested. The dog with his ears cut was in serious need of a vets care and was not getting it at the very least. I have to disagree with you on this one and we will have to wait and see what happens in court. Just know this... it is really really hard to get someone arrested over a dog. I mean they really have to have some proof and they have it in this case.

Rhonda Nunn - Omg Tara Davis Moudy, I don't believe that either I have been around him with his dogs and they were like his children sometimes he had one accidentally die of a heat stroke bec knocked water over in mid summer and he was at work and made the grown man come to tears someone like that doesn't intentionally harm another one

(WVTM - March 9, 2017)

Utah: St George Police Department dragging its feet on beating death of little Yorkie, hoping this case will go away

UTAH -- A St. George family is grieving after their dog was killed.

The dog's owner, Nancy Limburg, told FOX 13 her neighbor used gardening shears (pruning shears, hedge shears) to hit and kill their two pound Yorkshire terrier.

Limburg said not only did her neighbor kill the dog, but he did it in front of her 12-year-old daughter, who was with their dog outside moments before.

"Chewy" had been a beloved family pet, until Friday afternoon when Limburg let Chewy out front with her 12-year-old daughter Hailey watching him.

“The next thing I know Hailey come running in, yelling ‘The neighbor just killed Chewy, the neighbor just killed Chewy,’” said Limburg.

Limburg, her 18-year-old daughter and her younger daughter ran outside.

“I was just asking him ‘Why did you kill my dog? What did he do that was such a huge threat that you needed to kill him?’

He turned and pointed to his vinyl fence behind him and said he was worried for the safety of his dogs and I said 'Your dogs are behind the fence',” said Limburg.

The neighbor, according to Limburg, started accusing her daughter Hailey of making Chewy run onto his property.

“He started blaming my younger daughter Hailey. He was so mad and, for him to say those things about my daughter with that weapon (the pruning shears) in his hand, that's the reason I started taking pictures.”

Limburg took pictures of her neighbor holding the sheers and of her dead dog bleeding on the ground.

St. George police officers arrived later that afternoon and interviewed Limburg’s family and the neighbor.

ST. GEORGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO JUSTIFY WHY THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING

Officers did not arrest the neighbor, but a news release from St. George PD (below) indicated they are continuing to investigate.

"The St. George Police Department does feel that this incident is significant and has had a significant impact on the children and family who own the dog. Our goal is to fully and effectively investigate ALL aspects of this incident to determine what legal options for criminal charges we have and then to proceed with the most appropriate and effective option. We understand, with the emotions involved, how it might seem that the 'police are doing nothing about it,' but that is not the case. We are trying to do the RIGHT thing to address this situation," the news release said.

Chewy's family described him as a lovable and great companion.

“He was very playful. He would let [Hailey] dress him up in doll clothes and kind of push him around in a little stroller when she was little," Limburg said, adding that Chewy was "harmless."

Chewy had even been "debarked," so he wasn’t making any loud noises, but Chewy did run onto their neighbor’s property. According to Limburg, the neighbor’s two dogs were barking and that is why Chewy ran across the street to the neighbor’s house.

Deann Shepherd, Director of Marketing and Communications for The Humane Society of Utah, said she feels for the family.

“This is a deplorable situation. There should have been another situation to handle a two pound dog coming at you,” said Shepherd.

She also said St. George police were right in not making any arrests and applauded their action. She explained Utah law states dogs are property, and because this was not torture, it was not a felony. However if convicted, the neighbor could face a class A misdemeanor, at worst, one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

“We do applaud the St. George Police Department for looking into this and doing their due diligence to investigate this case. In the past it unfortunately could have been just brushed aside.  We do hope that full charges are brought against this assailant when the investigation closes," Shepherd said.

In the meantime, Limburg said she is scared to be at home with her two daughters, with their alleged violent neighbor living in the same cul-de-sac.

They have posted pictures of a burial for Chewy and now hope justice is served.

“He was our family dog. As little as he was, he knew he was loved and we are going to miss him," Limburg said.

Press release from St. George police:

On  November 11th, at approximately 4:30 p.m., St. George Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a dog that had been killed in the area of 2040 East, in St. George. It was reported that the dog was killed by a neighbor. What is known and is not in dispute, is that a small dog entered the neighbor’s yard and approached the man, who was maintaining his landscaping. The man swung a long handled pruning sheer at the dog when it approached him. The sheers ended up striking the dog in the head, killing it instantly. As sad as it is that the dog was hit and killed, the circumstances were worsened by the fact that the incident was witnessed by the dog owner’s juvenile daughter.

Officers responded to the report and received statements from all of the parties involved. Additional information was provided that required officers to conduct some follow up interviews. An attempt was made to contact additional witnesses in the neighborhood, those efforts are ongoing, and the preliminary information was reviewed at that time to determine if there was a clear course of action that could be taken.

RIP little Chewy

In this case there are conflicting accounts of what the suspect was intending to do when he encountered the animal. This conflict makes it more difficult to determine what the suspect INTENDED to do when he encountered the dog. There are many factors which can give insight into his mindset and therein lies the challenge. This was not an offense that happened in the presence of an officer and as such an arrest can only be made under a narrow set of circumstances. We have been, and will continue to be in contact with the prosecutor’s office to determine the appropriate course of action.

The St. George Police Department does feel that this incident is significant and has had a significant impact on the children and family who own the dog. Our goal is to fully and effectively investigate ALL aspects of this incident to determine what legal options for criminal charges we have and then to proceed with the most appropriate and effective option.

We understand, with the emotions involved, how it might seem that the “police are doing nothing about it,” but that is not the case. We are trying to do the RIGHT thing to address this situation.

Where this is an ongoing investigation we can’t discuss the factors and details that play into the final decision, we are working to establish what they are. We feel badly for the family that lost their pet and understand the impact it has had on them.

(Fox13 - Nov 14, 2016)

Earlier:

• Utah: St. George Police try to explain why they haven't arrested the man who beat a tiny Yorkie to death with pruning shears

Utah: St. George Police try to explain why they haven't arrested the man who beat a tiny Yorkie to death with pruning shears

UTAH -- After posts on social media began attracting major attention, the St. George Police Department has issued a statement on the case of a dog that was hit and killed by a man with pruning shears after the dog ran onto the man’s property.

According to St. George PD, officers responded to a home in the area of 2040 East around 4:30 p.m. Friday on report that a man had killed his neighbor’s dog.

 

Police said the dog entered the neighbor’s yard as the man was maintaining his landscaping, and the man swung pruning shears at the dog when it approached him.

“The sheers (sic) ended up striking the dog in the head, killing it instantly,” police stated on Facebook Saturday. “As sad as it is that the dog was hit and killed, the circumstances were worsened by the fact that the incident was witnessed by the dog owner’s juvenile daughter.”

If it killed the tiny dog "instantly", why is the dog's body lying next to the sidewalk rather than still in his yard??? Duh. The dog did not die instantly.

The owner of the dog, named “Chewy”, stated on Facebook that all her tiny two-pound dog did was run into the man’s yard.

Police stated that at this time they are still in the process of gathering information. They say the relevant criminal code is aggravated cruelty to an animal, and they stated that charges would depend on a person’s mental intent at the time of the incident.

“We must be able to show an intent level to determine what penalties may be imposed if the suspect is convicted,” police stated. “It also impacts what options the officer has when determining whether to cite or arrest a suspect.”

Police said that there are conflicting reports about what the suspect was intending to do when he swung his shears at the dog, and they said no police were present so they cannot make an arrest based on what they know so far.

Police further stated they will continue to work with the prosecutor’s office to determine if charges will be filed.

They closed by addressing community concerns about the case:

“The St. George Police Department does feel that this incident is significant and has had a significant impact on the children and family who own the dog. Our goal is to fully and effectively investigate ALL aspects of this incident to determine what legal options for criminal charges we have and then to proceed with the most appropriate and effective option.

"We understand, with the emotions involved, how it might seem that the “police are doing nothing about it,” but that is not the case. We are trying to do the RIGHT thing to address this situation.

Where this is an ongoing investigation we can’t discuss the factors and details that play into the final decision, we are working to establish what they are. We feel badly for the family that lost their pet and understand the impact it has had on them.”

(Fox13 - Nov 12, 2016)

North Georgia mayor saves woman, dog from dog attack

GEORGIA -- A north Georgia man heard his neighbor screaming for help, after three dogs attacked her and her dog.

Carly Sharec told Channel 2 Action News the man — who happened to be the mayor of Dawsonville — saved her and her dog from the surprise attack.

Dawsonville is a city in Dawson County, which is located about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta.

The dogs knocked her down and started tearing at her dog, Bowser.

“So I was screaming,” Sharec said. “I was trying to get back to the house and [the dogs] yanked [Bowser] from my arms.”

Mayor James Grogan ran to the rescue with a pair of lopping shears, which are usually used for pruning and gardening.

“They’d already knocked her down and her dog that she was holding,” Grogan said. “I could see that it was chewed up really bad.”

Grogan grabbed the loppers and chased off the three dogs, which were ripping into Bowser’s leg.

“They got us both on the ground and were ripping into his leg, so the smaller dog was trying to rip into his neck,” Sharec said.

Bowser needed surgery after the attack, but was expected to be OK, according to Channel 2.

Grogan said he didn’t do much.

“I didn’t do a whole lot,” Grogan said. “I’ll be honest with you. It was just one of those things that being there, but I’m glad I was.”

Sharec called the mayor a hero.

“He is an incredible guy, obviously. He saved our lives,” Sharec said. “We were within seconds of a different outcome.”

Animal Control located the three dogs two days later. They were in quarantine Wednesday to see if they have rabies.

(AJC.com - April 27, 2016)