Pug dies after attack by pit bulls

OREGON -- Maggie's owner, Annie Stark, said her dog died Saturday night.

Original story below.

TROUTDALE, Ore - Two pit bulls are in quarantine at the Multnomah County Animal Shelter after attacking a pug in a Troutdale neighborhood Friday morning, according to shelter officials.

The pug, a 7-year-old female named Maggie, was still awaiting surgery as of Friday afternoon according to her owner, Annie Stark.

Stark said the pit bulls were running loose in front of her house on southeast Beavercreek Lane at around 9 a.m. Friday.

 

 

Stark said the dogs were friendly toward her teenage son. But when her son went inside their home, the pit bulls started scratching at her front door.

When she cracked it open to shoo them way, they grabbed onto her pug.

The larger dogs dragged her pug across the front yard and into the street.

Stark said she kicked them and hit them with her broom and even tried to poke their eyes, but they wouldn't let go.

Next, she grabbed a splitting maul from her shed, and yelled for help.

"I ran and got it because the broom wasn't doing anything and I had nothing and my son was in there and the dogs would not let go of that little tiny dog," Stark said.

Her neighbor grabbed the maul and hit the pit bulls with the blunt end.

It took several strikes before they let go, Stark said.

"It was several minutes of all of us trying to get these dogs off, pulling them and kicking them," Stark said. "I've never seen anything like it in my life."

Maggie suffered bit marks and cuts to both sides of her body.

Multnomah County Animal Control took control of both pit bulls as it investigates the incident.
A scan for microchips showed that one of the dog belonged to an owner in Beaverton.

The other dog did not have a microchip.

It's unclear at this point what may happen to them, shelter officials said. But, if they are released back to their owners at some point, they'll be required to remain in a secure area and on leash.

"We will level these dogs at a level two, which simply means they have to be in a secure enclosure and outside of the secure enclosure, they'll have to be leashed," said animal control Chief Field Supervisor Randall Brown.

Brown said if the dogs are returned to their owners, officers will do a home inspection to make sure the owners are in compliance.

(kgw.com - October 12, 2014)

Man Pleads Not Guilty in Bludgeoning Death of Dog

MISSOURI -- During an arraignment on Thursday, Mark Alan Rickman, 52, of Aurora, pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the bludgeoning death of his dog.

According to Rickman, the dog was killed because it was starving.  Police say, however, the dog looked healthy at the time of death and there was no evidence of starvation.

A bond hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2014.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A 52-year-old Lawrence County man is in the Lawrence County Jail today in lieu of $100,000 bond, accused of bludgeoning a dog to death with a splitting maul.

Mark Alan Rickman, of Aurora, is accused of animal abuse, torture or mutilation of an animal while alive, according to online jail records. Charges of animal abuse and armed criminal action have been filed, according to the Lawrence County Circuit Clerk's Office. Both charges are felonies.

A probable cause statement says on June 28 a witness saw Rickman hit a dog with a splitting maul about 15 times.  When the dog was dead, the witness says he saw Rickman drag the animal on a chain.  A splitting maul is a long-handled ax used for splitting wood.

An officer with the City of Aurora and Marionville Police Departments says the witness showed him photos of Rickman committing the crime.

When the officer made contact with Rickman at his property in the 900 block of Griffith St. in Aurora, Rickman said someone killed his dog, according to the probable cause statement.

The officer advised Rickman of his Miranda Rights and Rickman said the dog was killed because it was starving.

Upon further investigation by the officer, food and water were found by the dog house.  The officer also stated in the probable cause statement that the dog appeared to be healthy and did not show any signs of starvation before death.

Rickman is currently in the Lawrence County Jail under a $100,000 bond.  A hearing has been scheduled for July 10, 2014.

(OzarksFirst.com - Jul 10, 2014)