Alabama: Stacey Jordan says she's a rescuer, brings a Pit Bull home; it attacks the neighbor's Poodle

NORTHPORT, ALABAMA -- A woman who has been running a dog rescue out of her home said she's shutting down her operation after allegedly receiving threats.

And she's telling her side after one of her Pit Bulls attacked and viciously mauled her neighbor's pet.

Stacey Jordan has been fostering dogs out of her home for nearly 5 years. But after recent events, Jordan said she's closing up shop.

“People talking about driving by and shooting the dogs in my yard. I can't continue to do this community service and have my life threatened,” said Jordan, who says she's the director of "Southern Paws Animal Rescue".

Jordan said this has been going on since one of her dogs attacked a neighbor's pet.

But she told us she's not completely to blame, sharing this surveillance video of a boy going to her yard and letting her pit bull out before the attack.

“I am not without concern for the safety of my neighbors and the safety of their pets. I'm not going to say I'm without fault or without mistakes but I've made every effort possible to correct,” said Jordan.

She said she got collars to prevent her dogs from barking so much and an electric fence to keep them in her yard. “We've also enrolled them in a training program,” said Jordan.

A former rescue worker of Jordan's said conditions were poor at her previous rescue site.

“Twenty and 30 dogs sometimes in a neighborhood residential. These people are afraid. If you're going to run something, run it right. Run it safely. You can't have vicious dogs on your property,” said Darlene Richardson.

Jordan said all she wanted to do is help animals. “I look at those little faces and I know that if I don't take them, they are going to end up having something bad happen to them,” said Jordan.

Her statement right there is your red flag. She thinks only she can save them, including the vicious Pit Bull that nearly killed her neighbor's Poodle.

Northport has an ordinance which states: you can have 3 dogs per enclosure  that's within 50 feet of another home but it doesn't specify the total number of dogs one can have.

Northport city leaders said they are taking a closer look at the rule.

(WBRC - March 28, 2018)

Missouri: Babysitter Erica Jordan, 33, knew dog in deadly mauling was aggressive with children, say court documents

MISSOURI -- A 33-year-old Cape Girardeau woman has been charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter after her brother’s Pit Bull / Labrador / Malamute mix fatally attacked a 13-month-old girl she was babysitting last month.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh announced the charge Friday against Erica N. Jordan of 46 N. Hanover St. The charge alleges “criminal negligence.”

Jordan was arrested and posted a $5,000 surety bond. As a condition of her release on bond, Judge Benjamin Lewis barred Jordan from caring for any children in her home other than her biological children, Limbaugh said in a news release.

“These charges come after a careful review of the evidence, an opportunity to speak with the victim’s family and follow-up investigations with witnesses,” the release stated.

The girl, Loxli Chavez, was taken to a hospital where she later died from “severe injuries,” according to a probable-cause statement.

The attack occurred March 9 at Jordan’s home.

In an interview with police, Jordan said the dog, named Smokey, weighed between 30 and 40 pounds. She said she was keeping the dog temporarily for her brother, according to the probable-cause statement from police Sgt. Darren Estes.

Jordan said she began babysitting Loxli and Loxli’s 5-year-old sister, Juniper, on March 5, Estes wrote. Jordan said Loxli’s parents knew about the dog, according to the statement.

Estes wrote “Jordan stated she frequently lets the dog loose, but sometimes placed the dog into her son’s room because the dog is ‘not good with kids.’”

She recalled the dog had “attacked” her son, biting him in the head about a year ago.

Jordan said the dog had since been neutered and “she thought the dog had ‘calmed down,’” Estes wrote.

Jordan said Smokey was drinking water from a dog bowl within a few feet of Loxli just before the attack. She said she suddenly “heard screaming and crying” and saw “blood everywhere, ”according to the probable-cause statement.

She said in the statement she tried to pull the dog away, but “he was so aggressive” and “just kept going for the baby.”

Jordan said she finally pulled Smokey off the girl and secured him in a closed bedroom. She then called 911.

Tia Bailey, the victim’s mother, told police it was never disclosed to her before the attack Smokey previously attacked Jordan’s child. Bailey said Jordan had reassured her the dog would not pose a risk to her children, according to the statement.

If convicted, Jordan faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, the prosecutor said.

Police said after the attack the dog was impounded and would be euthanized.

(Southeast Missourian - April 7, 2018)

New Mexico: After four dogs maul woman, two dogs including a Pit Bull, 'disappear' from owner's yard

LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO -- A Valencia County woman was taking a walk in her neighborhood when she was attacked by dogs.

The Sheriff's office confirmed the case Sunday night, and KOB spoke to family and friends about what happened.

KOB also obtained video of the attack. Neighbor Karla Brannan said it shows what happened to 33-year-old Carolyn Lucero early Easter morning. The attack outside Los Lunas left Lucero with injuries and multiple surgeries to try and save her arm.

"She was down on the ground face down and just screaming and asking for help, and there were four dogs on top of her just ... they were just mauling her," Brannan said. "They were growling and they were biting and they were just fighting."

Brannan said she woke up from the noise and ran out to help about 10 minutes after the dogs ran out.

"I found her phone and we called to get somebody to come be with her, and you're just wondering what can I do for this woman," Brannan said.

Brannan called Animal Control. KOB asked the home where the dogs appeared to be coming out from what happened.

OWNER CLAIMS ATTACK DOGS AREN'T HERS

"It's just crazy and ridiculous. These are my only two dogs that we have and the cops came asking too. Where's all the pit bulls at? Asking my husband," said Vanessa Quintana. 

She denied being involved and said her dogs weren’t responsible.

But moments later, Animal Control drove off with the two dogs she said weren't involved. Neighbors believe there are two more dogs out there.

"I saw a pit bull in the backyard yesterday on the chain that's white that was not taken today. And also there was a black-and-white dog that was bloodied that has now disappeared and that came out of her yard too," Brannan said.

Meanwhile, Lucero tries to recover in the hospital.

"Thank God we were able to save her. Thank God," Brannan said.

Animal Control said it's under investigation and they would be doing extra patrols.

(KOB - April 2, 2018)

Earlier:

• New Mexico: Woman whose arm was nearly torn off in horrific dog attack shares her story

New York: While asking for money for their badly mauled Poodle, owner tells us that it breaks his heart that Pit Bulls have a 'bad rap" as it is

NEW YORK -- Our dog Bella is a rescue who shows nothing but love to our family. Late last night she was attacked by a Pit bull who had a history of going after other dogs.  Bella has wounds around her eye and by her chest, which thankfully didn’t reach her lungs but the worst part is her badly fractured jaw.

We need your help raising money in hopes of life saving jaw surgery. Anything is appreciated, we just don’t want to lose our Bella like this!

Update 1
Our baby pup is out of surgery! Thankfully they were able to take care of her jaw and don’t think it’ll have any long term affects after its 6 weeks of healing. The gash on her side will just need to be flushed of fluids every few days. Unfortunately her left eye had ruptured and needed to be removed.

She’s in recovery but we have a long road ahead of us and our Bella is going to have some adjusting to do. Any small amount to continue to cover her care is greatly appreciated, you truly have no idea how much it means to us. We thank everyone (x1000000) who has donated to help us cover the veterinary bills

Update 2
Bella’s got a bag to drain any fluid for her gash, she has tape to keep her jaw closed for 6 weeks with just enough room to be able to eat, drink and give us her kisses which she loves to do. She’s eating well, taking her meds and already wants to run all over which we sadly have to keep her from doing.

Thankfully, the total was a little lower than vets initially said and came to around $4,700. We still have to take her back a few times which is gonna cost us a bit and she’s eating special food for post op. But anything more is just an extra wonderful bonus at this point to help us pay off the loan and make sure we can give her the best recovery options.

Also spreading the word and getting people to realize that you have to give proper love and attention to your animals especially pit bulls because they already have a bad rep as is and it breaks our heart.

Thank you thank you!

GOFUNDME: My Dog Was Attacked And We Need You
Created March 21, 2018
Cody Cilenti
  Animals
  STATEN ISLAND, NY

Florida: Boy recovering after pit bull attack in North Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA -- A boy is recovering at the hospital after, his father said, he was attacked by his neighbor’s pit bull in North Lauderdale, Wednesday afternoon.

Ten-year-old Noah Curiel suffered serious injuries to his head, face and ear, but a photo shows the boy smiling as he sat in his hospital bed at Broward Health Medical Center shortly after he underwent surgery.

His father, Dagmar Curiel, said the boy got the injuries after his ball accidentally bounced into the neighbor’s yard.

“He went to the house and knocked on the lady’s house, and the lady let him into the house,” said the elder Curiel.

What the boy didn’t know was that his neighbor’s pit bull had not been put away, even though she claims she did.

The boy lives here, next door to the Pit Bull

“Someway, somehow, the dog just came loose and attacked my son,” he said.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident in partnership with Animal Control. They claim they have not been able to contact the pit bull’s owner.

A 7News crew knocked on the owner’s front door on Friday, but the person inside refused to answer the door. When asked through a window whether she knew anything about the attack, she told the news crew to leave.

The Pit Bull owner has been hiding from authorities.

The boy’s father said he just wants the pit bull’s owner to take responsibility for what happened and to make sure it’s safe for his son when he returns home from the hospital.

“I go there at nighttime and stay with him,” said Curiel. “He looks OK, the swelling’s going down. He’s going to need some plastic surgery.”

Doctors said the boy may have to undergo a number of other surgeries in the days and weeks to come. He is expected to be released from the hospital within the next several days.

(WSVN - March 30, 2018)

Florida: Dogs which attacked little girl on Easter Sunday have been euthanized

LAKELAND, FLORIDA — Two Polk County dogs that had not been vaccinated for rabies were euthanized after they attacked a three-year-old girl in Lakeland.

Paramedics and Animal Control responded to a 911 call about a dog bite at a home on Greenwood Street on Easter Sunday.

Neighbors tell WFLA 3-year old Londyn Williams was playing outside with her sister when two dogs jumped a fence next door and attacked her.

"One of them had her by the head, the other one had her by the thigh. I didn’t know what to do so I just started screaming as loud as I could for help," one neighbor told WFLA.

She said the owner is the one who was finally able to stop the attack.

"She finally heard me calling, screaming, and she came out while I was there next door, and she got the dogs off the child."

The girl's grandmother tells WFLA she ran outside when she heard screams.

"I heard screaming. I ran to the door and her sister, who is 7, was screaming 'The dogs attacked Londyn, the dogs attacked Londyn!' Londyn was standing in the middle of the street covered in blood," Sheila Williams said.

The girl was transported to Tampa General Hospital with several puncture wounds on her arms and legs. She also suffered a serious laceration on her head and remains hospitalized.

"She’s been talking on her own and eating more," the girl's mother Javon Williams told WFLA. "She’s scared to walk, her leg is all stitched up. Her butt is all stitched up. Her head is hurt worse, she has staples."

Deputies say Kaosha Smith owned the dogs - a brown female named "Loud" and a white/brown female named "OJ.”

Smith surrendered the dogs after the attack.

Polk County Health Department officials decided that since the girl suffered a head injury and the dogs were not vaccinated, the dogs needed to be tested for rabies.

The dogs were humanely euthanized and tissue samples have been shipped for rabies testing.

Smith was issued a citation for roaming dogs, lack of animal tags and vaccinations and injury to persons.

A neighbor tells WFLA News Channel 8 that animal control officers visited the home where the dogs lived a couple of years ago. The neighbor wonders why the dog’s owner was not required to get a more secure fence.

"This time they got a child," the neighbor told WFLA.

The family also wonders why the dogs didn't have a more secure fence. They fear what Londyon will have to endure in the coming months and years.

"She will have a long recovery that's for sure," her grandmother said.

GOFUNDME: Londyns Road To Recovery
Created April 4, 2018
Javon Williams
on behalf of Sheila Williams
  Medical
  LAKELAND, FL

Hi my name is Javon Williams I’m Londyn's mother. On April 1st Londyn 3 yrs old was viciously attacked by 2 pit bulls. She had to be rushed by ambulance to Tampa General hospital where we have been since the attack happened. She’s had to have over 10 staples in her head and she has stitches all over her body.

It’s going to be a long recovery but she’s such a strong girl. Anything that anyone can do is a big help. Thank you our family really appreciates all the prayers and donations. Also keep my 7 year old Tamiah in your prayers she witnessed the whole attack and was the one to get help for her sister.

(WFLA - April 4, 2018)

Earlier:

• Florida: Three-year-old recovering from dog attack on Easter Sunday