$20,000 later, attacked sheltie dog Finley is on the mend

CANADA -- Despite the brutal attack that happened in late April, New Westminster resident Darren Pilling and his three-year-old Sheltie, Finley, are back to hanging out at work together.

On April 22 at Burnaby's Fraser Foreshore Park, Pilling and his dog went on a walk that took an unexpected turn for the worst when a large, unleashed dog [described earlier as a pit bull] attacked Finley, which later resulted in an altercation between the two dog owners.

"(Finley's) good," Pilling told the Burnaby NOW. "She's with me at work, out of the hospital. So that's all good."

Finley was hospitalized for two weeks because the attack resulted in her losing a tremendous amount of blood and put a hole in her stomach, according to Pilling.

He said the veterinarian bills now exceed $20,000, as well.

"She had four surgeries and she was resuscitated three times, which means she was close to dying three times," he said. "The money; I'll figure out how to pay it all back."

Finley has no fur on one of her legs and her scars underneath have healed, but she's no longer the friendly and energetic dog Pilling knew before the attack occurred.

"She's a little more skittish compared to normal," he said. "She's usually super, super outgoing. She's not quite there. I don't know if that'll come back. She didn't want to go to the house for awhile. She sleeps all day — it's not normal for her.

"I wouldn't wish this on anybody, not even the guy who did this to us."

After Pilling's dog was attacked, he and Alexandru Radacina, the owner of the large dog that attacked Finley, exchanged words that resulted in an altercation, during which Pilling was also bitten on the leg by the large dog.

Radacina had refused to give Pilling his name or information, but a witness took photos of Radacina from behind and posted the incident on Craigslist.

The police found Burnaby resident Radacina, arrested him and charged him with assault, according to Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Dave Reid.

Radacina appeared before a provincial court judge in Vancouver late last week and the charges were stayed, as it was not clear who started the fight, Reid said, and the dog was not commanded to attack Pilling.

The Burnaby branch of the B.C. SPCA is now looking into the incident, according to branch manager Ryan Voutilainen.

He said there are no other complaints lodged against the dog or its owner, and Radacina is willing to comply with the city's animal control bylaw.

When the investigation is closed, the SPCA will work with the city and discuss how to move forward, Voutilainen said.

According to Burnaby's animal control bylaw, a vicious dog must be muzzled, and if it exhibits aggressive behaviour in an off-leash area, it must be leashed immediately.

(Burnaby Now - May 29, 2013)

Man hospitalised after dog attack

AUSTRALIA -- A man suffered injuries to his arms and body after being attacked by three dogs at Carrara yesterday afternoon.

The 35-year-old was reportedly attacked after he tried to separate the dogs that were fighting on a football field about 4.15pm.

The animals turned on him in a savage attack, inflicting severe puncture wounds to his arms and body.

A council spokeswoman said the man was walking his friend's two dogs - a bull terrier and an American bulldog- when they started attacking a labrador which was being walked by its owners.

All three dogs were on leashes.

Witnesses intervened and restrained the aggressive animals, tying the two dogs up while the owners of the labrador rushed their pet to the vet.

The American bulldog died at the scene - believed to have happened after it was tethered to a fence.
Investigations into its death are continuing.

The council impounded the bull terrier and will continue investigating the incident to determine if it will be destroyed.

The injured man was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital by ambulance and was said to be in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, at Springfield Lakes, near Ipswich, a rottweiler that attacked an 18-month-old boy has been put down.

The toddler was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.

An emergency services spokesman said crews were called about 9.40am to treat the young boy.

He was taken to the Mater Children's Hospital's trauma unit in a serious condition, he said.

Ipswich City Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said the family pet had been surrendered to council and
put down.

"The owner is quite distraught at what has happened," the council's Health and Community Safety committee chairman said.

Cr Antoniolli said while the family was upset about losing the dog, they were focusing on the young boy's recovery.

"The young child is in our thoughts and prayers at the moment as well, and we hope he pulls through," he said.

Cr Antoniolli said the city had seen a spate of troubling dog attacks on small children in recent months, including an incident in which a boy of similar age had received severe facial injuries.

The councillor said the incident served as a timely reminder about responsible pet ownership.

"It just reinforces the need for people to be vigilant with children and pets," he said.

(goldcoast.com.au - May 30, 2013)

Grandfather's dog attack terror

UNITED KINGDOM -- A grandfather is warning parents about a dangerous dog after he was attacked as he was leaving a park.

Alan Platt was near the Chorley New Road entrance to Queens Park when a dog, which he believes was a bull mastiff, broke free from its owner’s control.

The animal jumped up and bit 69-year-old Mr Platt on his thigh, tearing through his skin and leaving him with a wound.

The emergency services were called and he was taken to hospital, but is now recovering at home in St Margaret’s Close, Heaton.

The owner of the dog apologised to Mr Platt, but left the scene and police are now trying to trace him. Mr Platt said the owner needs to be found before the dog attacks a child.

He said: “I had been bowling with a friend and I was just leaving the park, minding my own business, when this dog just ran over to me and jumped up and bit my leg.

“It was painful and was a big shock. I was not expecting anything like that to happen.”

Mr Platt managed to fight off the dog by hitting it with his knee, and it backed off.

He said: “It is very dangerous. If it had jumped up at a child it could have ripped their throat out.

“I am very concerned that it could attack again and if it is a child they might be more seriously injured. Fortunately I did not have to have stitches, but I have big bite marks and bruises.”

The incident happened between 2pm and 2.30pm on Monday.

The dog owner is described as a black man, about 5ft 9in and large build. The dog is black and white. He walked off in the direction of Heaton Golf Club.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101.

(The Bolton News - May 30, 2013)

Montrose Man Behind Bars Following Dog Attack Dispute

COLORADO -- It's a case we've been following for you since the incident happened and now, the owner of a Dutch is behind bars.

Dutch is the dog accused of attacking a woman in Montrose, his owner has finally surrendered on an arrest warrant, but the fate of his pet remains unknown.

According to the Montrose Country Sheriff's Office, 28-year-old Jeremiah Aguilar turned himself in Monday.

Anyone can buy these dog vests online

An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at an earlier hearing.

Aguilar, who appealed the conviction, was ordered to euthanize Dutch after the dog bit his brother's fiancee several times in November.

Aguilar was expected to turn Dutch over to animal control but has failed to do that.

Aguilar is scheduled to return to court June 6.

(KREX News Channel 5 - May 29, 2013)

Earlier:

• Ignoring victim's $24,000 in medical bills, owner quickly gets dog declared a 'service dog' in attempt to save its life
• City Provides Information About Vicious Animal Case
• Dog sentenced to death
• Judge says no reprieve for attack dog
• Supposed "service dog" now "missing" after court-ordered euthanasia

Several dogs attack 8-year-old autistic boy in NC town

NORTH CAROLINA -- The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office said four Hound dogs attacked an 8-year-old boy who has Autism around 8 p.m. Tuesday in an area just southwest of Asheville.

Neighbors on Wedgefield Place heard the commotion and called for help while a neighbor removed the dogs from the child. 

The yard where the dogs were being held is fenced in, and the dogs' owner appears to be in compliance with all local ordinances and state laws, according to deputies.

The dogs will be held at the Buncombe County Animal Shelter for a 10 day quarantine period. 

The child was transported to Mission Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries

(WBTW - Myrtle Beach and Florence SC - May 29, 2013)

Pit bull mauls small dog in Sterling Heights

MICHIGAN -- A large pit bull jumped over a 4-foot-high fence on 18 Mile Road east of Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights on May 22 and mauled an 8-pound Maltese dog that was lying on the ground next to his owner in her backyard, police said.

The dog suffered a punctured stomach and other injuries, according to its owner, Sandra Blake, a retired Clinton Township police records clerk.

"It was an incredible experience," said Gary Blake, Sandra's husband. "My wife was petrified, scared to death. That dog came right over the fence like it was nothing and went right after Zoey."

Sterling Heights police Lt. Luke Riley said the next-door neighbor, who was watching the dog for her boyfriend, and Mrs. Blake tried to separate the pit bull from the smaller dog. The neighbor, who police did not identify, suffered several serious bite wounds to her hands and arms.

Gary Blake threatened to shoot the dog when he called police.

"They made me get on my stomach and searched me for weapons," Blake said. "When I first called police I told them if they didn't get here fast I would shoot the pit bull.

"The police department is a mile from my house and it took them 20 minutes to get to my door."
Blake, 63, said he never pointed his shotgun at anyone.

"That dog jumped over the cyclone fence and viciously went after my dog," said Blake. "He grabbed my dog like it was a little rag doll and shook it all over the place."

Riley said it took his officers less than 5 minutes from the time they received the first 9-1-1 call to get two patrol cars to the Blake house. He added that four police cars arrived at the house in 6 minutes.

"We received a 9-1-1 call about the incident and then the caller hung up," Riley said. "When we called back the man's wife said he was outside with a shotgun."

Blake said he did tell police he would shoot the pit bull, and explained he has a right to protect himself and his wife. He also said he was never out of the house with a weapon of any sort.

Blake said his wife, who was planting flowers and was right next to her dog when the pit bull came after it, tried to intervene but was overwhelmed by the dog and was bitten several times.

Riley said the dog's owner was issued several citations for failing to restrain an animal and harboring a dangerous animal. He added that the city's animal control office may issue further violations.
Both of the injured women refused medical attention.

(Shelby Township Source Newspapers - May 28, 2013)

Kansas: Infant loses leg after father allegedly dangles her over pen full of Pit Bulls to "introduce" them

KANSAS -- Two-day-old Ariona Frostad was attacked by one of the family’s five Pit Bulls just minutes after she was brought home from the hospital for the first time on Thursday morning.

Sorena Frostad and Justin Frostad said they don’t want to talk about the details of what happened, but Justin told KAKE News, "We were outside. I was the one holding her. I was crying, never felt that way in my life."

The Pit Bull was one of five owned by the Frostads, and it reportedly reached through a fence and ripped part of the baby's leg off. Doctors tried to reattach it, but the infant is just too tiny.

A reader commented from another article saying the father, Justin Frostad, was dangling the infant over the pen which held the five Pit Bulls, apparently trying to "introduce" them to the baby. One of them jumped up and grabbed the baby, locked down with its jaws and ripped off the baby's leg while the father struggled to keep the baby from being yanked into the pen and mauled to death. 

"She's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," Justin said. "She's precious. I'm glad I can still hold her, she's still alive."

At that time, few facts have been made public about the attack on the tiny baby or the Pit Bull(s) involved in the attack, except that it was a little girl and she was initially transported to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

She was then transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and reportedly listed in stable condition. (Coffeyville is at the southeast corner of Kansas, one-half mile north of the Oklahoma state line.)

Coffeyville Police later euthanized the Pit Bull responsible for the attack. The Chief called all of the Forstad’s dogs “aggressive.” The Frostads have photos of their Pit Bulls posted on Facebook.

The couple said they are just grateful that the baby is alive. "She's doing great," mother Sorena said when interviewed at Wesley Medical Center by KAKE. "She's pulling through really well."

"I'm so glad that I have them both," Sorena said, “my baby and my husband.” "They are the biggest blessings in the world, and they mean the world to me."

Little Ariona cannot be fitted with a prosthetic leg until she is nine months old, Sorena told reporters, but she is expected to be able to go home in two weeks.

Coffeyville police say the couple could face charges in the case

Also, KAKE reports that the Coffeyville city commission plans to discuss a possible ban on pit bulls.

(Opposing Views, KAKE - May 29, 2013)

Earlier:

• Kansas: Infant loses leg after father allegedly dangles her over pen full of Pit Bulls to "introduce" them

Update:

March 2017 - Sheriff Releases County's Most Wanted

 The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office releases a top ten list. It is the top ten most wanted fugitives in Montgomery County. Sheriff Robert Dierks says all of the fugitives have felony arrest warrants. 

The list includes: Andrew Finnis Cook, Tony W. Bolin, Jr., Bailey Cargile, Shawn L. Durden, Leon Vondess Bailey, Joshua D Clarenson, Justin A. Frostad, Carla M. Rainwater, Robert Glen Rupert, and Joshua W. Withers.

Anyone with information about where the suspects may be is asked to call their local police department or the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 620-330-1000.