FLORIDA -- Wiley Garcia, 18, of Hollywood was placed on six months probation Thursday and fined $250 for violating a Broward County ordinance against unleashed dogs.
Garcia's mixed pit bull severely mangled the leg of an exotic speckled llama named Lulu on Jan. 25. The attack occurred in a pasture of an unincorporated area in the 3500 block of Northwest 94th Avenue near Hollywood.
Garcia's pet was killed in the attack when Lulu's llama lover, Beau, sat on the dog and suffocated him, prosecutor Leonard Stafford result, according to Stafford.
The pregnant llama, which was only one month away from giving birth, ended up having a miscarriage due to the stress and injuries.
(Sun Sentinel - June 28, 1985)
Earlier:
Friday, June 28, 1985
Saturday, March 23, 1985
Pennsylvania: Fifteen-year-old brat chunked a giant rock at a flamingo at zoo, severing its legs and killing it
PENNSYLVANIA -- A 15-year-old boy who allegedly threw a rock at one of the Pittsburgh Zoo's pink flamingos, severing its legs and prompting its death, was trying "to make that bird fly," police said yesterday.
The youth surrendered to police yesterday morning and was charged with criminal mischief, cruelty to animals and criminal trespassing, all misdemeanor offenses, said Officer Thomas Mahr.
The boy, who has not been identified because of his age, was detained at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center until a hearing is held within 10 to 14 days.
The youth told police he threw a rock at an African Great flamingo because he wanted "to make that bird fly," Mahr said.
The rock severed the bird's legs, forcing zoo officials to put the bird to sleep because of profuse bleeding.
Mahr said the boy was one of a rowdy gang of seven boys and one girl, all about 15 years old, who raced through the zoo Wednesday afternoon and scaled a fence at the outdoor African waterfowl exhibit.
The boy was considered a suspect after all eight youths had been interviewed Thursday evening. Police do not plan to arrest the other youths, Mahr said.
Police tracked the youths from information they received from anonymous phone callers, local radio stations and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"One of the kids bragged about it to someone,"said Victor Foster, vice president of the Association for Animal Relief.
(The Morning Call - March 23, 1985)
The youth surrendered to police yesterday morning and was charged with criminal mischief, cruelty to animals and criminal trespassing, all misdemeanor offenses, said Officer Thomas Mahr.
The boy, who has not been identified because of his age, was detained at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center until a hearing is held within 10 to 14 days.
The youth told police he threw a rock at an African Great flamingo because he wanted "to make that bird fly," Mahr said.
The rock severed the bird's legs, forcing zoo officials to put the bird to sleep because of profuse bleeding.
Mahr said the boy was one of a rowdy gang of seven boys and one girl, all about 15 years old, who raced through the zoo Wednesday afternoon and scaled a fence at the outdoor African waterfowl exhibit.
The boy was considered a suspect after all eight youths had been interviewed Thursday evening. Police do not plan to arrest the other youths, Mahr said.
Police tracked the youths from information they received from anonymous phone callers, local radio stations and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"One of the kids bragged about it to someone,"said Victor Foster, vice president of the Association for Animal Relief.
(The Morning Call - March 23, 1985)
Wednesday, February 20, 1985
Florida: Women starting a grass-roots campaign aimed at having pit bull dogs declared wild and dangerous animals that should be kept penned up at all times
FLORIDA -- Two women, each traumatized in one form or another by pit bull dogs, are fighting back.
Laurie Fatta and Sally Gould are starting a grass-roots campaign aimed at having pit bull dogs declared wild and dangerous animals that should be kept penned up at all times.
They also want to force pit bull dog owners to buy insurance to pay the medical costs of attack victims. They think owners should face criminal felony charges if their pet injures people or animals.
Fatta, 21, of Pembroke Pines, was attacked Feb. 5, 1983 by a pit bull at a friend's house. Two years and 13 operations later, Fatta still bears minor scars on her face and requires more reconstructive surgery to correct damage inflicted by the animal.
Gould, 33, of unincorporated Broward just north of Hollywood, fears her two children will be attacked by a pit bull that roams her neighborhood.
She is the girlfriend of a man whose 6-year-old daughter, Virginia "Jenny" Miller, was attacked by a pit bull Jan. 21, 1982.
James Miller, the girl's father, lost a civil suit in Broward Circuit Court seeking damages to compensate him for the attack.
"Jenny testified in court: 'The dog bit my face and shook me like a doll,'" Gould said. "Something has to be done. Too many people are getting hurt."
Fatta collected $100,000 in an out-of-court settlement, but she said the money has been spent on attorney fees and medical costs.
"How I got through that night, I'll never know," Fatta said of the attack. "What followed was many operations, years of mental anguish and lots of expenses."
The two women are writing to various public officials, including President Reagan, in hopes of getting support for their cause. They are trying to find victims of pit bull dog attacks and sympathizers who will aid their efforts. A petition drive is planned to persuade legislators to enact tough restrictions on pit bull dogs and their owners.
Hollywood previously had a law requiring pit bull dog owners to register their animals with City Hall and to purchase $50,000 in liability insurance.
In 1980, the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal struck down the law because, it ruled, one cannot determine the viciousness of an animal based on its breed.
The Hollywood law was challenged by the Everglades Pit Bull Club, which contended the dogs are faithful companions who rarely attack unless provoked. Bad breeding, rather than bad blood, is the main cause of attacks, owners have regularly said.
Fatta and Gould disagreed. They cite an ABC television documentary that contended the dogs will attack at random, regardless of breeding.
Broward residents have registered 972 pit bulls, according to county records. Since September 1981, the county has recorded 105 pit bull dog bites, about 7 percent of the total number of dog bites recorded in Broward.
In December, 7-week-old Daniel Smith was killed by a pit bull dog in Davie. In January, two llamas were attacked by a pit bull at a farm near Hollywood. The dog died in the llama attack.
Neither woman has been a social activist before, but both said they are determined to succeed.
"If I have to go door-to-door in Broward and Dade counties to get support, I`ll do it," Fatta said. "Those dogs are bred for fighting and to enjoy killing."
(Sun Sentinel - February 20, 1985)
Laurie Fatta and Sally Gould are starting a grass-roots campaign aimed at having pit bull dogs declared wild and dangerous animals that should be kept penned up at all times.
They also want to force pit bull dog owners to buy insurance to pay the medical costs of attack victims. They think owners should face criminal felony charges if their pet injures people or animals.
Fatta, 21, of Pembroke Pines, was attacked Feb. 5, 1983 by a pit bull at a friend's house. Two years and 13 operations later, Fatta still bears minor scars on her face and requires more reconstructive surgery to correct damage inflicted by the animal.
Gould, 33, of unincorporated Broward just north of Hollywood, fears her two children will be attacked by a pit bull that roams her neighborhood.
She is the girlfriend of a man whose 6-year-old daughter, Virginia "Jenny" Miller, was attacked by a pit bull Jan. 21, 1982.
James Miller, the girl's father, lost a civil suit in Broward Circuit Court seeking damages to compensate him for the attack.
"Jenny testified in court: 'The dog bit my face and shook me like a doll,'" Gould said. "Something has to be done. Too many people are getting hurt."
Fatta collected $100,000 in an out-of-court settlement, but she said the money has been spent on attorney fees and medical costs.
"How I got through that night, I'll never know," Fatta said of the attack. "What followed was many operations, years of mental anguish and lots of expenses."
The two women are writing to various public officials, including President Reagan, in hopes of getting support for their cause. They are trying to find victims of pit bull dog attacks and sympathizers who will aid their efforts. A petition drive is planned to persuade legislators to enact tough restrictions on pit bull dogs and their owners.
Hollywood previously had a law requiring pit bull dog owners to register their animals with City Hall and to purchase $50,000 in liability insurance.
In 1980, the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal struck down the law because, it ruled, one cannot determine the viciousness of an animal based on its breed.
The Hollywood law was challenged by the Everglades Pit Bull Club, which contended the dogs are faithful companions who rarely attack unless provoked. Bad breeding, rather than bad blood, is the main cause of attacks, owners have regularly said.
Fatta and Gould disagreed. They cite an ABC television documentary that contended the dogs will attack at random, regardless of breeding.
Broward residents have registered 972 pit bulls, according to county records. Since September 1981, the county has recorded 105 pit bull dog bites, about 7 percent of the total number of dog bites recorded in Broward.
In December, 7-week-old Daniel Smith was killed by a pit bull dog in Davie. In January, two llamas were attacked by a pit bull at a farm near Hollywood. The dog died in the llama attack.
Neither woman has been a social activist before, but both said they are determined to succeed.
"If I have to go door-to-door in Broward and Dade counties to get support, I`ll do it," Fatta said. "Those dogs are bred for fighting and to enjoy killing."
(Sun Sentinel - February 20, 1985)
Sunday, January 27, 1985
Florida: Pet Llama Kills Wiley Garcia's Pit Bull In 30-Minute Battle After Dog Attacks Its Pregnant Mate
FLORIDA -- Beau always was considered a "gentleman" -- at least as far as South American llamas go.
But, when he valiantly went to rescue one of his pregnant mates from a snarling pit bull dog, Beau put his life on the line.
The dog died under Beau's flailing, 450-pound form.
"I really didn't think Beau had it in him," said Arden Hojas, who owns the llamas with her husband, Marvin. "He has always been so gentle."
The pit bull attack has left the Hajos family shaken and worried about the fate of their exotic pets, which they keep in a pasture adjoining their home in the 3700 block of Northwest 94th Avenue, west of Hollywood.
On Saturday, Beau was resting outside his stable in southwest Broward, and Lulu, his mate, was still in shock. Their owners were not sure whether Beau would live or if the mother-to-be would be able to deliver normally.
"These are very shy and timid animals," Marvin Hajos said. "Something like this is very traumatic. They may, unfortunately, be going to the happy hunting ground for llamas."
Beau, estimated to be worth about $10,000, had been scheduled to go to Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach Saturday to begin breeding with other llamas, Hajos said.
Llamas are related to the camel family, but are smaller and don`t have humps.
Hajos said Beau is considered to be a particularly unusual llama because his genes produce a rare form of a light-colored, spotted llama. Most llamas are dark-colored, Hajos said.
As a result of the run-in with the dog, Beau suffered severe bite injuries to its chest, mouth and leg. "The dog bit right through his leg. You can stick your thumb right through the hole. His lip is hanging open, and he`s got numerous bites all over his body," said Hajos, a part-time breeder.
"He just got through with the vet. If he survives, he'll lose the use of one of his legs. And it may have to be amputated."
The pit bull and three other other neighborhood dogs burrowed under a chain- link fence Friday to enter the pasture where Hajos keeps four llamas, some emus, miniature donkeys, ducks, peacocks and other creatures. No one was home at the time.
Broward Sheriff`s Office spokesman Matt Weissing said the pit bull attacked the female llama, which is in its 11th month of a 12-month pregnancy.
Beau charged to his companion's aid, and the dog unleashed its fury on the would-be rescuer.
A neighbor called police. Just as the deputy arrived, the male llama broke free from the dog's clenching teeth and headed toward its barn.
But, before Beau could reach safety, he was attacked again by the dog, which bit into the llama's chest.
"The dog brought the llama down, and it weighs 450 pounds," Hajos said.
The pit bull died at the end of the 35-minute attack, when it apparently was suffocated by the flailing llama, Hajos said.
The dog's owner, Wiley Garcia, 18, also of the 3700 block of Northwest 94th Avenue, was charged by police with illegally letting the dog run loose, a misdemeanor.
"I'm a lover of all kinds of animals, but those pit bull dogs should be outlawed or allowed only in controlled and certified settings where they can't run loose," said Hajos.
"Those dogs are more of a threat than lions and tigers. Thank God it attacked an animal, which you can replace, instead of a child, which you can't. If it were a child, the results would have been tragic."
(Sun Sentinel - January 27, 1985)
But, when he valiantly went to rescue one of his pregnant mates from a snarling pit bull dog, Beau put his life on the line.
The dog died under Beau's flailing, 450-pound form.
"I really didn't think Beau had it in him," said Arden Hojas, who owns the llamas with her husband, Marvin. "He has always been so gentle."
The pit bull attack has left the Hajos family shaken and worried about the fate of their exotic pets, which they keep in a pasture adjoining their home in the 3700 block of Northwest 94th Avenue, west of Hollywood.
On Saturday, Beau was resting outside his stable in southwest Broward, and Lulu, his mate, was still in shock. Their owners were not sure whether Beau would live or if the mother-to-be would be able to deliver normally.
"These are very shy and timid animals," Marvin Hajos said. "Something like this is very traumatic. They may, unfortunately, be going to the happy hunting ground for llamas."
Beau, estimated to be worth about $10,000, had been scheduled to go to Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach Saturday to begin breeding with other llamas, Hajos said.
Llamas are related to the camel family, but are smaller and don`t have humps.
Hajos said Beau is considered to be a particularly unusual llama because his genes produce a rare form of a light-colored, spotted llama. Most llamas are dark-colored, Hajos said.
As a result of the run-in with the dog, Beau suffered severe bite injuries to its chest, mouth and leg. "The dog bit right through his leg. You can stick your thumb right through the hole. His lip is hanging open, and he`s got numerous bites all over his body," said Hajos, a part-time breeder.
"He just got through with the vet. If he survives, he'll lose the use of one of his legs. And it may have to be amputated."
The pit bull and three other other neighborhood dogs burrowed under a chain- link fence Friday to enter the pasture where Hajos keeps four llamas, some emus, miniature donkeys, ducks, peacocks and other creatures. No one was home at the time.
Broward Sheriff`s Office spokesman Matt Weissing said the pit bull attacked the female llama, which is in its 11th month of a 12-month pregnancy.
Beau charged to his companion's aid, and the dog unleashed its fury on the would-be rescuer.
A neighbor called police. Just as the deputy arrived, the male llama broke free from the dog's clenching teeth and headed toward its barn.
But, before Beau could reach safety, he was attacked again by the dog, which bit into the llama's chest.
"The dog brought the llama down, and it weighs 450 pounds," Hajos said.
The pit bull died at the end of the 35-minute attack, when it apparently was suffocated by the flailing llama, Hajos said.
The dog's owner, Wiley Garcia, 18, also of the 3700 block of Northwest 94th Avenue, was charged by police with illegally letting the dog run loose, a misdemeanor.
"I'm a lover of all kinds of animals, but those pit bull dogs should be outlawed or allowed only in controlled and certified settings where they can't run loose," said Hajos.
"Those dogs are more of a threat than lions and tigers. Thank God it attacked an animal, which you can replace, instead of a child, which you can't. If it were a child, the results would have been tragic."
(Sun Sentinel - January 27, 1985)
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