(April 2018) Virginia: Mail carrier reassigned after pepper spraying dogs: ‘Our kids are afraid of the mailman’

HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA -- Some Henrico residents say they have a new postal carrier thanks to a CBS 6 Problem Solvers investigation into their dogs being pepper sprayed.

The alleged incidents happened in the Westham neighborhood.

Melissa Banta says her dog Willow was sprayed in her yard April 2, when she was outside playing with her kids.

“The mailman sort of walked up behind us and when the dog saw the mailman over my shoulder she ran towards him barking and as soon as I saw what was happening and I got up and ran up with her and said, ‘it’s okay, it’s okay she’s nice’ and I saw him get out his pepper spray. I asked him don’t spray her, please don’t spray her, she won’t hurt you and then he sprayed her anyway,” Banta said.

“I asked him why he did that, and just sort of said I don’t think I got her too bad and walked away across the street to keep delivering mail.”

Banta immediately went inside to get her husband while she washed Willow’s eyes out, so her children did not come in contact with the repellant.

“He ran after him to find out what his name was, and the mailman covered his badge and would not let him know his name,” said Banta.

A week prior, Banta’s neighbor Bonnie Edwards says her dog Odis was sprayed by the same carrier after her nine-year-old son accidentally let the dog out while he was delivering their mail.

“I thought he was going to help me catch Odis,” said nine-year-old Reid Edwards. “He seemed really nice with the safari hat and everything I thought he was going to be nice. He just pulled out the pepper spray from his pocket,” he added. “In my mind, I’m like oh no and then he sprayed it. Odis took one step back, eyes closed shut and then sprayed it again. I feel really bad for Odis. I was crying.”

“My dog looked pathetic, my son was wandering hysterically through the house locking himself in the room thinking that it was his fault,” Reid’s mother Bonnie said. “When we were washing the dog, the fumes were getting up into our face and making me gag. It could have easily been him if he’d been a couple of feet closer.”

Statistics show that Richmond had the most dog attacks on carriers than any Virginia city, with 22 attacks last year. The USPS policy states that carriers can use repellents to defend themselves against attacks, but not when there is a danger of spraying people.

“It’s good to know the mailmen have a way to protect themselves, but at the same time we want to make sure the people are protected and that our dogs are treated fairly,” said Banta.

The neighbors reached out to their local post office.

“We tried to call and form a complaint,” said Banta. “We called the direct supervisor first and he wasn’t very receptive to us. He yelled at us and still wouldn’t give us the mailman’s name.”

Banta then called his supervisor.

“She felt like the mailman did what he was trained to do,” she said.

“We were very discouraged,” said Banta. “We felt like there was nothing we could really do to prevent this from happening again and were worried because the mailman comes every single day and we’re out here with our kids a lot. We’re concerned that it’s going to happen again, and our kids are really afraid of the mailman now.”

When she says they didn’t get answers, they wrote the USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. CBS 6 also made an inquiry.

“Once you all got involved we’ve gotten a very kind call from the postmaster saying what can we do? And has decided to give us a new mail carrier starting immediately. That’s what we were hoping for and we’re excited for the change,” said Edwards.

A USPS spokesperson said they were unable to reach anyone in the Richmond office on this case but released the following statement.

“The Postal Service takes the issue of dog bite prevention very seriously.

We ask that you share dog bite prevention tips with customers – it helps:

While the number of dog attacks in the city of Richmond remained about the same in 2017 as with the previous year, the number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide decreased in the same timeframe. The decline is linked to safety measures that the Postal Service introduced in recent years, including Package Pickup and Mobile Delivery Device features that alert letter carriers to dogs on their routes. We are encouraged by the progress and are grateful to pet owners for their support.

Dog bites can be reduced by following these tips:

• If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.
• Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
• The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If a dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.
• Additional tips are available on the Postal Service’s YouTube channel.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week runs through Saturday. The number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide reached 6,244 in 2017 — more than 500 fewer than 2016.

(WTVR - April 11, 2018)

Virginia: Beautiful little dog killed by neighbor's Pit Bull

VIRGINIA -- Julia Lambert is feeling heartbroken. Posted on Facebook
February 19, 2018 ·

With the heaviest heart, I have to post that our sweet Clutch has crossed the rainbow bridge.

He survived all night, just to be attacked & killed by a neighbor's pit bull.

He was the greatest baby, & will be missed more than words can describe. He was truly a blessing in every way & no other fur baby will ever take his place.

Thank you to everyone that searched for him, prayed for him, & loved him like we did.

Rest In Peace sweet boy, we will always love you forever & ever ❤️

Virginia: Woman attacked by relative's Pit Bull

VIRGINIA -- Tara Foreman posted on Facebook January 4, 2018 at 1:26pm ·

Being bit by a pit bull is the most scariest feeling in the world. I'm good just resting until work later.

George Hamilton - Hell you was at?

Tara Foreman - Visiting a relative

George Hamilton - Bet you they hit you with the “he don’t bite” lol glad your good tho

Virginia: Despite WWBT's sympathetic interview with the "heartbroken" teen dog owner, what it boils down to is that her Pit Bull ran out of their apartment, attacked a leashed dog and had to be stabbed to stop its attack

VIRGINIA -- A 16-year-old Chesterfield girl is heartbroken after she says another pet owner stabbed her VICIOUS PIT BULL after her dog stormed out of her family’s home ran after another dog, which was leashed and being walked, and attacked it.

Four-year-old Oreo is recovering at home now after having to be rushed into surgery. Chesterfield Police are investigating whether the person who stabbed him went too far. No one has been charged in this case.

The only person who should be charged is this girl's mother for owning a vicious dog that was running at large and attacked another dog, that was leashed and being walked.

During the holidays, Oreo was as joyful as could be. Flash forward to the second day of the new year.

"He just sits in the house now. He doesn't move. He doesn’t' want to eat anymore. It's just crazy,” said 16-year-old Anaya Jones-Ball.

 

That's because he's been through a lot. Jones says Oreo managed to get out of her family's apartment at Chesterfield Village and ran towards a nearby dog.

The dogs began fighting. THE PIT BULL ATTACKED THE LEASHED DOG. Police say the person walking the other dog yelled for help. That's when someone from the other pet owner’s home came out with a knife and stabbed Oreo.

"I was holding him by his neck and his mouth trying to make sure he didn’t clamp on to the other dog. She was like, ‘I'm going to kill him and she just kept slashing,'" Jones-Ball said.

"You have the same right to defend your pet from another animal as you have to defend yourself or another person from another person,” said NBC12 legal analyst Steve Benjamin.

He says the force you use to defend your pet has to be reasonable and necessary.

"If it appears somebody is going to shoot your dog, you cannot shoot that person. If that person was going to shoot you or another person, then yes, you could use deadly force," Benjamin added.

In this case, the teen believes the knife-wielding woman could have responded differently.

"I think it was very extreme for her just to come out and start stabbing. If we had brought him in the house, he would have bled to death,” she said.

Initially, the vet wanted to amputate Oreo's leg but realized he didn't have to. The teen works and is helping pay for the dog's mounting medical bills.
Chesterfield Police say this case remains under investigation.

OH AND THERE'S MORE... THE PIT BULL WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING AT THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE FIRST PLACE

Chesterfield Village Apartments has a very specific breed restriction policy for their residents:

Breed Restrictions
At Chesterfield Village we do not allow the following breeds (including any dogs that appear to have a mixture of the breed): Akita, American Staffordshire Terrier, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Husky, Dogo Argentino, Wolf Hybrid, Malamute, Mastiff, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier

So the big question is: why does this family have a banned dog living in their apartment? How long has it been there? 

IS CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL GOING TO CITE THE OWNER OF THIS PIT BULL UNDER THE STATE'S VICIOUS DOG LAW?

Also, what is Animal Control planning on doing with this dog? Did they cite the owner for owning a vicious dog? Did they cite the owner for her dog running at large? Do they even have vicious dog designations in Chesterfield County?

It appears that Chesterfield County used to have a dangerous dog ordinance, but they got rid of it: 

Dangerous dog: A canine or canine crossbreed which has (i) bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal, other than a dog, or (ii) killed a companion animal.

However, the state of Virginia has a dangerous dog law:

§ 3.2-6540. Control of dangerous dogs; penalties.
A. As used in this section, "dangerous dog" means:

1. A canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a companion animal that is a dog or cat or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat. A canine or canine crossbreed is not a dangerous dog if, upon investigation, a law-enforcement officer or animal control officer finds that (i) no serious physical injury, as determined by a licensed veterinarian, has occurred to the dog or cat as a result of the attack or bite; (ii) both animals are owned by the same person; or (iii) such attack occurred on the property of the attacking or biting dog's owner or custodian; or

2. A canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person. A canine or canine crossbreed is not a dangerous dog if, upon investigation, a law-enforcement officer or animal control officer finds that the injury inflicted by the canine or canine crossbreed upon a person consists solely of a single nip or bite resulting only in a scratch, abrasion, or other minor injury.

So this Pit Bull was running loose, selected its victim and attacked it. Stabbing it only stopped THIS attack. The dog is still alive so what restrictions are Chesterfield County Animal Control going to put on this dog? Are they going to do anything?

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(WWBT - January 10, 2018)

Virginia: Maltese named Ramsey mauled to death by neighbor's Pit Bull

VIRGINIA -- On 12/24/17, Ramsey Wolfe was viciously attacked by a neighbor's pit bull which escaped through a hole in its fence while we were on a routine walk in his neighborhood at noon.

Ramsey was quickly rushed to Cascades Pet Hospital where Dr. Jaswinder Saini and his assistant assessed Ramsey's situation, administered medicines and fluids and took x-rays of his condition.

Dr. Saini determined that he was unable to properly treat Ramsey due to the severity of his injuries so Ramsey was wrapped up in towels and bandages with his IV in a small box so he wouldn't be jostled too much and he was rushed to The LifeCentre.

At The LifeCentre, Dr. Nadine Farber and her team did everything in their power to revive Ramsey who had stopped breathing at some point during the trip to their facility. He was briefly brought back but ultimately his heart stopped beating and he couldn't be revived.

By 2pm on Christmas Eve, our baby was no longer with us.

We said a very painful and tearful goodbye to Ramsey at The LifeCentre and we decided to have our little baby puppy cremated which will take a few weeks. We are also in the process of creating a memory chest and scrapbook of his life.

 

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to cover his medical and cremation expenses and some of the legal fees that we will inevitably incur since we will be pressing charges and suing the owner of the pit bull who killed him.

We know this will not bring our baby back but so many of you have expressed a desire to help us and this will be the best way.

Thank you so much for all of your help and support of our family during this very difficult time. The outpouring of love that we have received from our friends and family has been an example of the good that lives in all of your hearts that we feel from you everyday of our lives.

Rest in peace sweet angel Ramsey T. Wolfe. 04/08/14-12/24/17

Update 1
Posted by Brie Wolfe
John and I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for all of your kind words and generosity in our time of need. We love you all and we hope you all know that we appreciate you guys so so much. ❤

GoFundMe: Ramsey's Vet and Cremation Expenses
Created December 27, 2017
Brie Wolfe
  Animals
  RESTON, VA

 

Virginia: Three Pit Bulls attack woman and her Shih Tzu; running inside her house to continue their attack

VIRGINIA -- Diamond the Shih Tzu is recovering after a pit bull attack that left her with puncture wounds all over her body.

The dogs that allegedly attacked her are now back out walking her Stafford, Va. neighborhood, and her owner is pleading with county officials to do something.

 

 

 

“She's scared of outside,” said Solange Johnjules. “She will stand here and look there and bark.”

The attack by three apparent pit bulls happened just outside Diamond’s front door, and it left her with stitches, staples, drainage tubes, and multiple bite wounds all over her torso.

 

Johnjules was also bitten during the horrific attack, which had the pit bulls run inside her house to continue their attack.

“I don't know where the pit bulls came from,” said Johnjules, a disabled school teacher. “Three were jumping on me, I picked her up and they were biting her legs…. I was very scared. I cried and screamed for help. Finally, I went in the house. 

"And one of them came in the house. Diamond ran and hid in her cage, we call it her house. I screamed, and the dog finally ran out.”

 

 

There was no answer (or no one would come to the door) at the pit bulls’ owner’s home.

County officials did order the dog’s owner to quarantine them for ten days for signs of rabies after the December 8th attack. But neighbors say the dogs have been out repeatedly during the quarantine period.

 

 

County animal control officials say they told Johnjules she could file a complaint and have a judge determine if the dogs are dangerous or vicious. But at the time of the attack, she says she was too shaken to do that. “I think I am going to press charges now,” said Johnjules.

She's convinced the pit bulls will attack again if someone doesn't stop them.

 

 

 

County officials say the owner CLAIMED that a family member had been taking care of the dogs and didn't realize how quickly they could get away. They say all three of the dogs had county tags and are current on vaccinations.

OK what do county officials say about the owner breaking quarantine rules and taking the dogs for walks in the neighborhood???

Until Johnjules files a legal complaint, they say there is little else they can do.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(W*USA 9-Dec 18, 2017)

Virginia: Necropsies have been completed on the two Pit Bulls that attacked and killed their owner Bethany Stephens

VIRGINIA -- Deputies said that necropsies on the two pit bulls that killed Virginia woman Bethany Lynn Stephens were completed this week, according to a report.

The two pit bulls were euthanized as a safety precaution to the community, local officials said.

The sheriff said that long, wavy hair that appears human was found in a fecal sample of one of the dogs, named Pac-Man, WTVR reported. The results of the necropsies will be sent to a lab for more testing.

Stephens had adopted the other pit bull, Tonka, as a puppy in 2015. A year later, she adopted Pac-Man after he was handed off by several owners.

Pac-Man was not neutered, according to the report, adding that the first owner said she gave him to a friend after he snapped at her while she was pregnant.

The dog ended up back with that woman. She noticed wounds on his neck that indicated signs of abuse.

Like what? Was she concerned enough about these "signs of abuse" to call the police and report the alleged abuser? No. Marks on its neck could have been from a choker collar rubbing on its neck or from a prong collar if the previous owner was trying to maintain control of this giant, aggressive dog. Stop with the "oh it was abused that's why it killed her!" excuses.

The woman then SOLD put Pac-Man up for adoption to Stephens took him in. The woman claims she warned Stephens that she believed the Pit Bull had been abused and had snapped before.

Her father says he warned Stephens that the dog was “dangerous,” the WTVR report stated.

That's probably after she dumped them at his house. He didn't want to have anything to do with them - and they were her dogs and I'm sure he was trying to make her be responsible for them, telling her she needed to come to care for them. He may have hoped she would simply get rid of them.

Certified master dog trainer Valerie Paul told WTVR that she did not know Stephens, Pac-Man, or Tonka, but she offered potential answers as to why the dogs attacked their owner.

“Most dogs aren’t going to just turn on an owner,” Paul told the station. “As more and more details come out, I think there probably was some sort of outside influence, but not necessarily another animal or anything like that—just something that could have enticed the dogs to get overexcited and react the way dogs will.”

 

 

“The fact that they are pit bulls doesn’t connect to what they did, it is a dog thing,” said Paul. She said at the end of the day, dogs are animals, and in extreme circumstances, they can potentially view even their owners as threats or food sources.”

“That’s actually very normal, dogs view people very differently than how we view people, when we see a body, we think of our loved ones and all of the memories that they bring to us, dogs don’t, in general.”

 

 

Sergeant Mike Blackwood also said that the dogs were a “bit neglected” before they attacked Stephens. They went from inside dogs to dogs living outside in a kennel.

A dog living outside is NOT neglected. As long as it has a clean living area, a proper shelter and clean water and food regularly being provided, it's fine. It may not be how you would keep your dog - but it's not illegal and it's not neglect.

What they're trying to do is come up with a reason WHY the Pit Bulls did this - oh it was abused before, oh it was neglected.... no, no, no. They did this because it is in their nature do to this. It has been bred into them for 100s of years to be aggressive and because the 'breed' is so diluted, inbred and sloppily bred, most of them are unstable animals, prone to 'trigger' and attack for no reason.

. Story of the Scorpion and the Frog: One day a scorpion asks a frog to carry him across the river. The frog, afraid of being stung during the trip declines helping the scorpion.  The scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, both would sink and he would also drown, so for his benefit he would never sting him.  The frog eventually agrees and carries the scorpion across the river until midway, the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both to drown. As they slowly sink into the water asks why he had stung him, crying out, "Now we shall both die!".  The scorpion simply points out that, “I had no choice; it's in my nature“.

More than a week ago, officials noted that the woman’s father had called 911 after 8 p.m. saying he found her in the woods. He told the sheriff that her dogs appeared to be “guarding” her body.

Because social media was getting full of people saying the dogs were protecting her from some unknown danger, that she must have been murdered and the dogs stayed with her and that they mauled her because they were trying to 'wake her up'.. the sheriff's office made another statement to clarify that none of this was true.

“Let me cut right to the chase, the most important detail that we did not release because we were worried about the well-being of the family is that in the course of trying to capture the dogs early Friday morning… we turned and looked… I observed, as well as four other deputy sheriffs, the dogs eating the rib cage on the body,” Goochland County Sheriff James Agnew said during a news conference.

It took officials more than an hour to catch the dogs. They were later put down.

“It appeared the attack was a violent attack initiated by the victims’ dogs while the victim was out for a walk with the dogs,” Sheriff Agnew said of the preliminary findings from the Medical Examiner’s Office, WTRV reported. “The victim had defensive wounds on her hands and arms trying to keep the dogs away from her, which would be consistent with being attacked while she was still alive.”

 

 

(The Epoch Times - Dec 31, 2017)

Earlier:

• Virginia: Goochland sheriff described 'grisly' scene after woman mauled to death by her Pit Bulls