Family's horror after schoolboy mauled by pit bull mix

UNITED KINGDOM -- A SCHOOLBOY was taken to hospital suffering from bite wounds after he was mauled by a dog on a playing field.

Ten-year-old Luke Chadwick was on his bicycle playing with a friend on King George V field, off Outwood Road, Radcliffe, on Tuesday afternoon, when a brown and white dog, described as a Staffordshire terrier and pit bull cross, pounced.

It grabbed and pulled off Luke’s Converse shoe. As Luke stood up to retrieve it, the dog leapt up and sunk its teeth into his right arm, leaving two deep puncture wounds.

 

A woman at the scene, thought to be the animal’s owner, tried to halt the attack. She poured a drink over the animal, said “sorry” to Luke, and then dragged the dog away towards a wooded area opposite Outwood Road.

Terrified, Luke ran to his home in nearby Ringwood Avenue and alerted his distraught mother Louise.

Miss Chadwick, aged 33, said: “I was in shock. Luke was so upset and his arm looked so bad. I called for an ambulance and we went to North Manchester General Hospital and they transferred him to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital at 8pm.

Luke, who goes to Chapelfield Primary School, has had two operations. His mother said: “We don’t know how long it will before his wound heals. I think he will be in hospital until Friday at least.”

The incident has horrified Ms Chadwick, who is a dog owner herself. She has had to arrange for Luke’s two sisters to stay with relatives in Bradford while she stays at his bedside.

She added: “The worst part of it is that the woman didn’t make any effort to check Luke’s arm and to see how bad it was. She just went off.  Whoever she is, she needs to come forward to own up to what has happened. The last thing we want is for it to happen again to another little boy or girl.”

Detective Inspector Caroline Ward, of Bury police, said: “We need to trace both the owner of the dog, and the dog itself, so we can ensure that no one else is attacked or hurt in this way.

“I would particularly urge the owner of the dog to make contact with us. A young boy has been injured and both he and his family are extremely upset so please, do the right thing and make yourself known to police.”

The woman with the dog is described as being white, aged in her 20s or 30s, with dark hair and of a large build. She was wearing either shorts or a skirt and a cap.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

(The Bolton News - Aug 8, 2015)

Thomas Knox stole and tortured 200 rare birds and stuffed carcasses into mailboxes

UNITED KINGDOM -- A teenager who tortured more than 200 rare birds before posting the carcasses through people's letterboxes with a grin has been jailed for six months.

Thomas Knox, 19, squeezed, kicked and battered the birds to death after stealing them from a life-long collector's aviary in Brownhills, West Midlands.

  

CCTV footage shows the teenager arrive with three others at a block of flats in Walsall, with bags and boxes containing the dead and alive animals, including doves and rare jays and quails.

The video shows him grinning as the gang then post the birds through resident's letterboxes and force them through 'barely open' living room windows.

One shocking image shows one of the vile yobs kick a bird across the hallway while others were jammed into drawers and even chased by a dog.

On Wednesday Knox, from Bloxwich, appeared via video-link at Walsall Magistrates Court and was jailed for six months.

He was also ordered to pay £350 compensation and £80 victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench, Bob Thomas, described the case as the 'most disturbing' he had ever seen.

He added: 'The animals must have suffered significant distress. Your trial was one of the most disturbing I have ever had the misfortune to sit in.'

Mr Thomas also cirticised Knox for spending most of the trial giggling with his co-accused in the dock.

The court heard Knox went along to the flats with pals Jake Higgs, 23, Chad Worgan, 19, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They had earlier bundled the birds into sacks and containers after stealing them from a collectors house in Brownhills, West Midlands.

Owner Lee Williams, 43, who spent his life collecting rare jays, finches, budgerigars, doves, quails and pigeons, was 'devastated' after the yobs only left one bird alive.

Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said it would cost £1,500 to replace the birds, and added: 'He cannot afford to replace the birds and he cannot claim on the insurance.'

Knox was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, receiving stolen goods, common assault and using threatening words or behavior.

The latter charges related to his behavior towards a dog warden and housing staff when he was told his dog was going to be taken away.

Vaughn Whistance, defending, said Knox was a vulnerable young man who suffered with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

He added: 'He has been greatly influenced by the behavior of others.'

Co-accused Higgs from Mossley, West Midlands, was also due to learn his fate on Wednesday but failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Worgan, from Goscote, Walsall, was jailed for six months last Friday for his role in the act of animal cruelty.

The other defendant, 16-year-old boy, was given an 18-month rehabilitation order.

(Daily Mail - May 14, 2015)

‘Dangerous’ Bolton pit bull shot dead by police after vicious attack on owner

UNITED KINGDOM -- A pit bull dog was shot dead by armed police officers in Bolton after it injured its owner in a frenzied out of control attack on Tuesday evening.

Greater Manchester Police were called to a block of flats on Little Holme Walk at about 7.30pm following reports that a dog was behaving aggressively and biting people.

The dog was behaving so violently that despite their best efforts, officers and armed police were unable to contain it, or give medical attention to its owner who had been badly hurt.

As a last resort authority for humane destruction was granted and the animal was killed.

Inspector Nicki Tompsett said: "Clearly the destruction of any animal is not something we as a police force take lightly, and in this instance considerable efforts were made to control the animal.

“The decision was made to destroy the dog before anyone else could be hurt or the victim himself sustained further, life-changing injuries.”

Paramedics treated the dog’s owner for numerous deep puncture wounds to his left arm, wrist and hands and a possible fracture.

He was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary where he waits for surgery.

Inspector Nicki Tompsett said this incident reinforced the dangers that dogs can pose to their owners and ‘innocent passers-by’, especially from those with aggressive natures.

However she also stressed that the ultimate responsibility lies with the owners: “Dangerous dogs are bred, not born, so it is incumbent on all dog owners to ensure their pets are well brought-up and friendly.

“Legislation is now in place to prosecute those who fail to control their dogs or breed them for criminal or violent purposes and we will enforce that legislation to protect innocent members of our community from being attacked."

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 you can be fined up to £20,000 or sent to prison for up to six months (or both) if your dog is considered dangerously out of control.

(Mancunian Matters - Mar 4, 2015)

Pet iguana bites 12-year-old boy at Palm Jumeirah home

United Arab Emirates -- A 12-year-old Hungarian boy has ended up with several stitches on his left hand after being bitten by his pet iguana at his Palm Jumeirah penthouse in Dubai on Sunday.

Kevin Kristof Gali, a Grade 7 student, was feeding Dragon, his three-year-old pet iguana, around 11am when the 1.5-metre-long reptile grabbed at his hand, digging deep into his flesh.

“I tried to yank my hand away and that possibly made things worse,” said Kevin, who brought Dragon home from a pet shop when he was just a week old and 60 cm long.

“Usually, when I feed Dragon, he closes his eyes and lets me do my thing. Sunday was no different but as I was trying to take his empty food plate from inside the cage, it accidentally touched him. He must have got frightened, so he bit my hand.”

As Kevin’s hand hurt and bled, his mother Bettina rushed him to Mediclinic City Hospital after administering first aid.

Dr Yasser Khattab, specialist plastic surgeon, who attended to Kevin, said: “The wound from the iguana’s bite was 12 cm long, 8 cm wide and 2 cm deep. It was spread over the front and back of the hand besides the thumb joint. But the boy was lucky as it missed the artery, nerves and bone.”

He said Kevin’s wound was thoroughly cleaned and he was administered antibiotics and a tetanus vaccine before he was put under the knife. “The wound was repaired with sutures under local anaesthesia. Any delay could have devitalised the tissues.”

He said iguanas are not meant to be kept as pets. “They can attack, accidentally or otherwise. Even with regular pets like cats and dogs, we have to be very careful when there are children around.”

He said he sees at least two cases of pet attacks in a week where children, including toddlers, are injured severely in the face or neck by cats and dogs. “Animal bites can be potentially infectious, so we give antibiotics and observe the patient for 48 hours. If it’s a toxic bite, we administer anti-venom too.”

Once bitten twice shy. Kevin said the experience had taught him a valuable lesson: “Research fully before you a get a pet. Take him on only if you know everything about him and you can take full responsibility for his care.”

While he has never shirked from his responsibilities of feeding Dragon or cleaning after him, Kevin said he didn’t expect that his little iguana would grow so big and so fast. His mother said she had repeatedly advised him against bringing the reptile home but he had been adamant.

Used to having his chihuahua dog Bacon and cat Tiger around, Kevin said he never thought the iguana would be any different. “Earlier, I would keep Dragon in my room. He would even swim in my bath tub and I would take him round the house on my shoulder. But as he grew older and bigger, that was not possible. We had to get him a big cage in the balcony outside with the right amount of light, heat and humidity he needed.”

He said Dragon is usually well-behaved and never messes around. “He is a very happy pet and I don’t know what put him off the other day. It was totally unexpected.”

Did you know?
Green Iguanas are herbivorous reptiles that eat leaves, veggies and fruit. They conserve energy and spend time basking and resting. In the west they are considered great companions but need care and planning as they can grow up to six feet.

(gulfnews.com-Aug 27, 2014)