Dogs Bite Blog

Unnamed Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victim - DogsBite.org Needs Your Help

2009-11-09T00:04:00.004-07:00

Photo text: "Five year old boy was attacked by a pit bulldog and lost almost all of his scalp and forehead."

Unnamed Victim
DogsBite.org - On October 31, a blogger named "thinkinfyou" wrote a post titled, "Fear, Loss and Much Needed Legislation." The post details a deadly attack inflicted by a pit bull on the writer's Chihuahua named Spotty. The four-month old pit bull apparently "feasted" on Spotty as its owner stood by and watched. This attack marks the third pit bull incident experienced by the writer, one of which includes being bitten. We've included a portion of the blog post below.

Also within the post is an undated photo of a pit bull attack victim. The five-year old boy suffered the loss of most of his scalp. If any of our readers know the name of this victim or any details pertaining to this attack, please leave this information in the Comments section. The photo was at one point published to Ogrish.com, a "shock" website that now points to LiveLeak.com. Depictions of pit bull injuries are frequently posted to "shock" websites, as these injuries are horrific.

We must also note that the pit bull attack victim website, pit-bulls.christianunfair.org, shows this same photo, but links to a story that does not quite match the photographed boy's injuries. This child, who could be a young man by now, may be American, Canadian, British, Australian or from a different country. Pit bull maulings that result in permanently disfiguring injury occur across the world everyday, which is why some countries ban the importation and ownership of pit bulls.

Fear, Loss and Much Needed Legislation
"The sight of walking out into my backyard and finding my fence ripped open and seeing my dogs right outside of the gate was enough to get me running, but as soon as I got to the opening, the horror that my eyes beheld stopped me in my tracks. This pit bull puppy had my chihuahua underneath him and when he heard me walk up, he lifted his head slightly to reveal that my dog’s neck was gone. I panicked and started screaming, while the dog’s owner came running to the scene. I felt a sense of relief feeling that she would be able to control her dog, but that was quickly replaced by terror, when the dog picked up my dog like it was just a stick and ran with him sagging out of his mouth. Not knowing what to do, I ran inside called the cops, and went back out the front door hoping to find her and her savage beast gone, but to my surprise, she had caught her dog and was allowing him to feast off my dog shaking and ripping flesh from him, right in my front yard. The sight of this was too much for my eyes and my stomach, for I started puking right there."

Collection of Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victims - DogsBite.org

2009-11-09T00:01:00.002-07:00

DogsBite.org - We've gathered a modest number of pit bull scalp attack victims and placed them into a single blog post. Stories not recorded in the DogsBite Blog link to a PDF file, as these articles will eventually disappear from news websites or fall into less reachable archive systems. We ask that DogsBite.org readers leave links to additional stories that involve pit bull scalping attacks (or more information regarding a listed attack) in the Comments section.

11/09/09: Unnamed Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victim - DogsBite.org Needs Your Help
10/28/09: 55-Year Old Gladys Roberts (Jones County, NC) (PDF)
10/05/09: 5-Year Old Hunter Aldridge (Cardiff, AL)
08/28/09: 5-Year Old Hunter Thorp (Cherokee County, TX) (PDF)
06/29/09: Shaylee Crosson, 3, Loses Scalp in Pit Bull Attack
06/02/09: Zupf: Justin Cutrer's Story and the Help-Justin Website
05/16/09: Pit Bull Attack Claims Two Victims, Requires Two LifeFlight Helicopters
04/22/09: Wappingers Boy Suffers Life Altering Injures in Pit Bull Attack
04/20/09: 4-Year Old Nathaniel Stafford (Rockdale County, Ga) (PDF)
04/20/09: Pit Bull Attack Victim Airlifted to Regional Burn Center in Tampa
02/27/09: Pit Bull Attack Victim Files Lawsuit; Appears on Discovery Channel
11/30/08: Jaydin Embry: One Year After Pit Bull-Mix Tears Off Scalp
11/15/08: Pit Bull Rips Off Scalp off 6-Year Old Johnson County Girl
10/29/08: Flashback: Emily Stinnett, 4-Years Old, Scalp Ripped Off by Pit Bull
10/12/08: Video: Charlotte's Crusade, Surviving a Pit Bull Attack
09/17/08: Pit Bulls Send Second Victim to Harborview Trauma Center in One Week
08/19/08: Toddler Attacked by a Pit Bull Outside Day Care Center
06/30/08: Flashback: Pit Bulls Scalp Man in Guyana
06/22/08: 4-Year Old Xander van Zyl (South Africa) (PDF)
06/16/08: Flashback: Amaya Hess 2 Years After Violent Pit Bull Attack
06/14/08: 2007 Fatality: Mary Diana Bernal Killed by In-Law's Pit Bull
12/01/07: Medical Study (Graphic): Pitbull Mauling Deaths in Detroit (PDF)
07/25/07: 5-Year Old Martin Collier (Highland City, FL) (PDF)
01/31/06: 3-Year Old Destiny Campbell (New Castle, PA) (PDF)
01/05/06: 2-Year Old Noah (Louisville, KY) (PDF)
12/21/05: 82-Year Old Dorothy Sullivan (Spotsylvania, VA) (PDF)
10/01/05: 88-Year Old Mabel Wong (Concord, CA)
11/20/04: 46-Year Old Sandra Sardinha (Maui, HI) (PDF)
10/12/03: 38-Year Old Charlotte Cooper (Hudson, OH) (PDF)
06/04/03: 56-Year Old Carol Dennison (Port St. John, FL) (PDF)
03/11/03: 4-Year Old Abigail Register (Jacksonville, FL) (PDF)
08/20/02: 2-Year Old John-Michael Macias-Drisner (La Habra, CA) (PDF)
10/08/01: 36-Year Old Patricia Hallet (Pittsburg, CA)
05/22/00: 4-Year Old Jeffrey Morris (Rocky Mount, NC) (PDF)
02/18/00: 40-Year Old Ascension Cervantez (Los Angeles, CA) (PDF)
12/01/79: 7-Year Old Frankie Scarbrough, 1979 Attack (Miami, FL) (PDF)

2009 Fatality: 16-Month Old Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull in Union County

2009-11-07T16:45:00.001-07:00

A "pit bull memorial" on the pit bull owner's vehicle.

"Very Healthy, Very Stout"
UPDATE 11/07/09: New information has been released regarding the fatal pit bull mauling of Destiny Marie Knox. The unnamed pit bull owner had a total of five pit bulls, one of which "slipped its collar" and chain and barged into the owner's home. The pit bull immediately attacked the toddler, who had not been left unattended as previously reported. Investigators found no signs that the offending pit bull had ever been mistreated. According to Chief Deputy Jimmy Whitten, "This dog was very healthy, very stout. It was well-kept, well-groomed."

Whitten added that Union County had not had a human fatality from a dog attack in his memory, but he and fellow officers said vicious dogs are a frequent problem for area residents. Sheriff's Investigator Anthony Anderson said he'd favor a ban on pit bulls and other vicious breeds. "Every dog bite case I've worked at the hospital has involved a pit bull," he said. Investigator Roger Garner agreed. "When I was at Tupelo and we had attacks by dogs, almost 100 percent of the time it was by a pit bull or some pit mix," he said. "It's just the nature of the dog."

Both Whitten and Anderson believe that state legislators need to look at the growing pit bull problem and take action to prevent future maulings.

11/06/09: Victim Named: Destiny Marie Knox
Union County Coroner Mark Golding has released the identity of the Union County toddler killed by her babysitter's pit bull Thursday evening in the Martintown community. Golding identified the 16-month old child as Destiny Marie Knox. According to Union County Sheriff Tommy Wilhite, sheriff’s deputies are continuing their investigation into the killing. No other names of people involved, including the babysitter, have been released.

The child was killed at the home of its babysitter when the babysitter’s chained pit bull "slipped out of its collar" and followed the people into the house as they unloaded groceries. A 19-year old man in the house tried to stop the attack, but by the time sheriff’s deputies arrived the child was dead. The pit bull was later killed by sheriff’s deputies, presumably by gun fire.

"It’s devastating anytime you have the loss of a child," said Sheriff’s Investigator Anthony Anderson. "Especially in these circumstances, where the child was mutilated, it’s devastating."

The vehicle identified as belonging to the owner of the pit bull bears a "pit bull memorial." The dog, named Bam Bam, is apparently a former pit bull owned by the person. Two of the lines in its poem state, "But some of you don't like me, I'm sure I don't know why. The only thing I'm guilty of is courage, love and try." (Read full poem.) This pit bull owner is a "classic pit bull advocate" who undoubtedly stated on many occasions: "My dog would only lick you to death."

11/06/09: Child Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull
New Albany, MS - In a developing story, a 16-month old child was attacked and killed by a pit bull in Union County on Thursday, November 5. Union County Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said a family was babysitting the child and left the child unattended in a room when the dog attacked. The incident happened on County Road 87 about 5:30 p.m. A 19-year old, who was at the home at the time, hit the pit bull and stabbed it several times trying to get it off the toddler.

This death marks the third death of a child by a pit bull mauling in less than two weeks. Each of these instances involved a "babysitter."

Related articles:
10/29/09: 2009 Fatality: Toddler Wanders from Babysitter's Home; Killed by Pit Bull
10/27/09: 2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home

Pit Bulls Attacking Owner's Brother Caught on Camera in Bakersfield

2009-11-04T12:50:00.005-07:00

iPhone Snapshot
Bakersfield, CA - In a rare photo captured by Damon Hill via iPhone on Tuesday, 35-year old Steven Herrera is shown being attacked by three pit bulls in the front yard of his brother Salvador Romero's East Bakersfield home. Neighbor Andy Castaneda could hear Herrera's screams from four houses down. He was screaming, "Oh God, please somebody help me," Castaneda said. When 69-year old Castaneda arrived at the scene, he had no weapon except a hardwood cane.

"The big pit was chewing the man's arm off. It was horrible," Castaneda said. "I've never seen anything like that."

As neighbors gathered outside the fenced front yard of Salvador Romero, one shot a few photos with his cell phone. Others were reluctant to enter without a weapon to defend themselves against the powerful pit bulls. According to Castaneda (pictured right), by this point, "the man's arm was shredded." So he entered the yard, used the bicycle to shield himself, and started beating the dogs with his cane until they retreated long enough to get Herrera out of the yard.

Damon Hill also heard the commotion. "His son was outside the yard crying and throwing up," Hill said of the victim. Hill said he believes Herrera would probably have been killed had someone not intervened. "The dogs were just going wild," he said. Romero, who runs a backyard breeding operation, initially said he would not seek the return of the three pit bulls that are currently being held in quarantine, but later suggested he may want the two pregnant females back.

Related video

Related articles:
09/17/09: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks
04/14/09: Camera Catches Pit Bull Attack on Bichon Near Fort Collins
12/05/08: Video: 4 Pit Bulls Kill Pit Bull in Owners Back Yard

Tennessee "Loose" Dog Attack Law: Pit Bull Owner Charged with Aggravated Assault

2009-11-03T09:00:00.006-07:00

From left: Helen Marshall, Skye, Andre Robinson and unnamed judge.

Judge Strips Bond
11/03/09 UPDATE: The anticipated Wednesday court hearing regarding Andre Robinson's half million-dollar bond was pushed forward to Tuesday so that the victim, 62-year old Helen Marshall, could be heard at the hearing. WREG TV video captures the terrified victim as she enters and leaves the courtroom, where she had to face pit bull owner Andre Robinson, who has a felony record of robbery and burglary, as well as multiple prior complaints against his vicious dogs.

The judge, who is unnamed in the article, essentially evacuated the half million-dollar bond by dropping it to $50,000. It seems the point of the high bond was to keep this potentially dangerous man behind bars, unable to harm someone else or to "suddenly move," as he did following the incidents with his dogs in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Now, along with dreams of vicious pit bulls "crushing" her bones, Marshall has the added fear of Robinson back in the neighborhood.

11/03/09: Held on Half Million Dollar Bond
Cordova, TN - On Saturday, Shelby County sheriff's deputies arrested the owner of three pit bulls that attacked and injured a Cordova woman and her dog two days earlier, charging him with Aggravated Assault. Andre Robinson, 33, is now being held at the Shelby County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Robinson's dogs attacked Helen Marshall, 62, on Thursday, October 22, as she walked her son's Husky, named Skye, past Robinson's house in the 8600 block of Oak Trail Lane.

This is the first instance of an Aggravated Assault charge -- that does not involve the dog's owner "siccing" his dog on a person -- DogsBite.org has recorded.

Doctors at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis told sheriff's detectives Marshall was bitten more than 50 times on her arms, legs and forearms. She is now recovering at home. Her dog Skye also suffered many wounds and lacerations. According to sheriff's office spokesman Steve Shular, the steep bond was set because of the extensive injuries to Marshall. It was likely also set this high due to past infractions by Robinson and his dogs and new Tennessee State dog law.1.

Zero Tolerance for Dog Attacks

On the same day the above article was published by the Commercial Appeal, an editorial was published by them as well, "Zero Tolerance for Dog Attacks." The editorial outlines the new Tennessee "loose" dog law that was passed in 2007 (See: 44-8-408 or view PDF). Unsurprisingly, the law provides numerous exceptions for owners of loose dogs, for instance "temporary harborers" are excluded2, but due to Robinson's history of not properly restraining his dogs, he is not excluded.

We presume that Robinson is being charged with a Class E felony, which according to the editorial is punishable by one to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. Under the same statue, if a loose dog kills a person (off the dog owner's property), a Class D felony applies, which is punishable by two to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. If the dog has been trained to fight or has previously inflicted serious injury or death upon a person3, the penalties worsen.

The editorial also mentions the horrific -- and preventable -- 1990 death of 57-year old Betty Lou Stidham and the lowly sentence her neighbor, Edwin Hill4, served after his two pit bulls first mauled Hill's own wheelchair-bound mother, in a subsequent attack, tore the leg off Stidham's pet pug, then 6-months later killed Stidham as she walked away from her mailbox. Hill was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and served five months of a two-year sentence.

Related ZUPF video

We've gathered news articles and court documents about the Betty Lou Stidham case, whose family successfully sued the City of Memphis after her death. Please visit our Scribd page to download.

1In addition to Robinson's pit bulls running loose and attacking pets in his current neighborhood, his former neighbors in Horn Lake, Mississippi filed similar complaints against him. He moved from that location prior to being taken to court.
2Serious and fatal dog attacks frequently occur when the dog is in the hands of a "temporary harborer."
3As in other U.S. states, after a dog kills a person, the State of Tennessee does not mandate the euthanization of the animal.
4Edwin G. Hill, a former Memphis police officer, apparently "sobbed on the witness stand" at his sentencing hearing.

Pregnant Woman Attacked by Pet Pit Bull, Airlifted to Trauma Center

2009-10-29T20:30:00.006-06:00

Fractures Arm
Oak Hills, CA - A woman nine months pregnant was attacked by her own pit bull, breaking her arm and prompting her to be airlifted to a trauma center, according to officials. Rescue personnel arrived at the home in the 7300 block of Braceo Street near Ranchero Road, found the victim bleeding profusely and said she appeared to be going into shock. The 20-year-old was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, said a spokeswoman for the Victor Valley station.

San Bernardino County Animal Control officers took custody of the woman's pit bull.

Related articles:
09/10/09: The Pit Bull Bite: Pet Pit Bull Bites Off Owner's Hand
08/12/09: 2009 Fatality: Leesburg Man, 20, Killed by His Two Pit Bulls...
05/11/09: Animal Agency, PSPCA, Distorts History of 25-Year Old Pit Bull Problem
03/17/09: 10 Shots Stop Pit Bull Attack on Pregnant Woman and Officer
03/15/09: Pregnant Woman Attacked by Pet Pit Bull at Own Baby Shower

2009 Fatality: Toddler Wanders from Babysitter's Home; Killed by Pit Bull

2009-10-29T01:25:00.002-06:00

From left: Offending pit bull and his doghouse, Chief Brian Russell and Richard Ray Smith.

Another Accident?
UPDATE 10/29/09: New information has been reported about the death of Matthew Hurt. According to a KTHV video, family and friends1 said the boy saw a puppy and chased it to a backyard where a pit bull was chained. Matthew's 3-year old brother followed him, then rushed home to alert the family. Neighbor Bridgette Monroe, who tried to help, described the horrible scene, "The babies' jugular, throat was bitten and from his mouth up to his eye was bitten."

Authorities seized two adult pit bulls from the dog owner's home2, one of which was male. Though not stated in the article, it's likely that the puppy Matthew had been chasing came from a litter of the two pit bulls. Richard Ray Smith, whose mother owns the dogs, said, "The dog has been raised with us and all the kids have played with the dog. It's not a violent dog, we don't know what happened." He added, "We don't want the family to be mad at us, it's just an 'accident.'"

But two adult chained pit bulls, likely part of a backyard breeding operation, that wind up severely injuring or killing a child is far from an accident. The situation is a ruinous attack only waiting to happen. Chief Brian Russell said police and emergency crews arrived within minutes and the boy was airlifted to St. Michael's where he was pronounced dead. "There very well could be charges either way," he said. "We'll just have to see where the investigation goes from here."

Related ZUPF video

1Matthew and his two siblings stayed with Kevin Taylor and Christy Godwin while their mom worked. The couple was afraid of the dogs and told the dogs' owner they were vicious in the past.
2The loose puppy of an unnamed breed has still not been caught.

10/28/09: 2-Year Old Killed By Chained Pit Bull
Prescott, AR - Five days following the fatal pit bull mauling of 17-month old Colton Smith at his babysitter's home, two-year old Matthew Clayton Hurt of Prescott, Arkansas is also dead by a pit bull. Matthew arrived at his babysitter's home just before 10 am this morning. At some point, the boy wandered a few blocks away and into a backyard where a pit bull was chained. The dog savagely attacked the toddler. A woman walking nearby tried to help, but it was too late.

"He wasn't moving at all he was bitten all on his throat across his face just limp," Bridgette Monroe said.

Arkansas State Police are still investigating. No charges have been filed at this time.

Related articles:
10/27/09: 2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home
09/17/09: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks
08/28/09: Young Dog Owner Shares Story of Pet Attacked by Two Pit Bulls
06/29/09: Shaylee Crosson, 3, Loses Scalp in Pit Bull Attack
05/14/09: 2009 Fatality: 18-Month Old Killed by Pit Bull in Luling, TX
04/08/09: Pit Bull Attacks Toddler While Being Baby-Sat in Bay County
02/06/09: Babysitter's Pit Bull Attacks Infant in Newport News; Critical Condition

In Massachusetts, Landlords May Be Liable When Tenant's Pit Bull Attacks

2009-10-28T00:15:00.004-06:00

Pit Bulls Singled Out
Waltham, MA - The second-highest court in Massachusetts recently ruled that a landlord may be held accountable if a tenant's pit bull goes on the attack. The Court specifically singles out the breed as one known to have a propensity for aggression. The appeals court ruling, which reversed a lower-court decision, arose from a 2005 lawsuit against landlords Emil and Clara Florio in which a 10-year old boy's leg was badly injured by their tenant's pit bull named Tiny.

The appeals court opinion, written by Justice Gary Katzmann, stated: "While the defendants may not be held strictly liable by virtue of Tiny's breed, knowledge of that breed and its propensities may properly be a factor to be considered in determining whether the defendants were negligent under common-law principles." Katzmann ruled that the lower court erred in dismissing the negligence charge. The case was returned to superior court for further proceedings.

In its argument, the appeals court made use of a 2008 state Supreme Judicial Court decision -- which had not been issued at the time of the lower-court's ruling -- that found pit bulls are "commonly known to be aggressive." In that decision, the Court determined police officers may not have to "knock and announce" their presence to execute a search warrant if a pit bull is on the premises. The ruling comes as state lawmakers push to update existing animal control laws.

Killian Nutt vs. Emil A. Florio
"Our assessment of the defendants' knowledge of Tiny's propensities, however, is informed by a decision of the Supreme Judicial Court issued after the summary judgment here and thus not available to the judge in the proceedings below. There, in the criminal context, the court observed that the pit bull is a breed "commonly known to be aggressive."[ 7 ] Commonwealth v. Santiago, 452 Mass. 573, 577-578 (2008). The court justified an exception to the "knock and announce" rule for the execution of a search warrant where, among other factors, on the premises to be searched was a pit bull -- an animal the court stated was "known to be dangerous and aggressive" -- that could be used to confront the officers."

On July 18, 2005, 10-year old Killian Nutt was playing in a sprinkler when Tiny the pit bull "bolted" from its porch, "leapt into the air and over the retaining wall" and violently attacked Killian. According to Harry Vlachos, the attorney representing Killian, the appeals court ruling says that it is "up to a jury to decide whether a pit bull has to bite somebody before it's considered dangerous." He added, "What it says is pit bulls may present certain issues that Lassie doesn't."

Related ZUPF video

Related articles:
11/17/08: Common Wealth vs. Luis Santiago

2009 Fatality: 17-Month Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull-Mix at Babysitter's Home

2009-10-27T16:15:00.003-06:00

Future In-Law's Dog
UPDATE 10/27/09: Sheriff's Deputies confirmed that the 65-pound pit bull named Max did not belong to the babysitter, rather she had been "watching it" for a week for her future in-law's. This is despite the fact that a KMPH video shows a "Warning Security Dog" sign hanging on the babysitter's fence with rusted screws. A preliminary autopsy released Tuesday confirmed that Smith's death was a result of loss of blood due to a puncture wound to the subclavian artery.

Sheriff's Deputies say there are "no plans" to arrest the babysitter at this time. The case though will be sent to the District Attorney's office.

Related ZUPF video

10/26/09: Young Victim Named: Colton Smith
Authorities have identified the latest pit bull fatality victim as 17-month old Colton Smith. On Friday, while under the care of a babysitter, the toddler was bitten in the throat and dragged around the yard by a pit bull-mix living at the babysitter's home. The boy was airlifted to Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, where he died shortly after arrival. The boy's body was returned to Merced for further investigation by the county coroner on Friday as well.

The identity of the babysitter will not be released until the Merced County District Attorney's office decides if criminal charges will be filed.

10/23/09: Babysitter's Pit Bull Fatally Attacks
Delhi, CA - In a developing story, authorities report that a 17-month old Merced County boy has died after being mauled by a pit bull-mix. Authorities say the little boy wandered into the backyard while his babysitter was in another room. By the time she noticed he was missing, the dog had already attacked. The news video shows a "Warning Security Dog" sign posted on the fence of the babysitter's home where the boy was attacked by the 65-pound pit bull.

Sheriff Pazin states in the video, "These are rugged vicious animals, that can just that quickly snap." According to Pazin, the babysitter tried to stop the attack by beating (or stabbing) the pit bull with a two prong barbecue fork. The dog eventually let go, and that's when the sheriff's office received a 9-1-1 call from the hysterical babysitter. She dropped the phone and tried driving the little boy to the hospital, but was pulled over by a deputy for driving erratically.

She literally handed the blood soaked toddler to Deputy Cardenas, who performed first aid until the ambulance arrived to take the toddler to a hospital. The boy was later flown to Children's Hospital Central California where he was pronounced dead. The pit bull, who reportedly belongs to the "babysitter's fiance's parents," is now under quarantine at the Merced County's Animal Shelter. Police are investigating whether any criminal charges will be filed.

In the 3-year period of 2006 to 2008, 14% (12) of the fatal attacks involved a "watcher," a person such as a grandparent or babysitter watching a child between the ages of 0-4.

2009 Pit Bull Awareness Day by YouTube Artist Zupf - DogsBite.org

2009-10-24T00:10:00.006-06:00

They're Not Letting Go
DogsBite.org - Back in July, YouTube artist Zupf created a video in anticipation of this year's Pit Bull Awareness Day1, when pit bull lovers unite around the country to "praise" the breed. As in our own video last year, Zupf hopes to bring true awareness to the American public about pit bulls on this day. Pit bulls were selectively bred to fight, to inflict maximum damage in these fights and thereby have an unmatched 30-year track record of killing and maiming our children and pets.

DogsBite.org praises Zupf. The artist's continued commitment to this cause has clearly prevented innocent persons and pets from suffering disfiguring injury and death by a pit bull.

Victims Shown in Zupf Video
In order of appearance and those which had blog posts on DogsBite.org: Nancy Thomas, 21 > years old (Cortez, CO), Shaylee Crosson, 3-years old (Odessa, TX), Frankie Flora, 5-years old (Wappingers Falls, NY), Nick Foley and Jourdan Lamarre, each 10-years old (Cary, IL), Justin Clinton, 10-years old (Leverett's Chapel, TX), Jayden Allen, 6-years old (Henry County, GA), Alan Hill, 55 > years old (Independence, MO), Bianca Zangari-Dacey, 1-year old (Haverhill, MA), Charlotte Blevins, 15-months old (Omaha, NE).

1Note the "pit bull kissing booth" and that Fulton County Animal Services is attending.

Pit Bull Attacks Owner's Mother; May Suffer Arm Amputation

2009-10-22T13:17:00.009-06:00

The Pit Bull Bite
Pierceton, IN - Janet Hartman, 63-years old, may lose her arm after her son's pit bull attacked her at his Pierceton home. On Tuesday, October 20, Mrs. Hartman underwent the misfortune of stopping by her son's home to "drop off money" for him. She had been to her son Kevin's home before and met his pit bull. On this occasion, Kevin was not home. The dog was tied to a tree at the front of the house, but the walkway to the front door was within the dog's reach.

According to police, when Mrs. Hartman approached the house, the dog attacked. She put her arm up to protect her neck and face, and the pit bull’s jaws "locked on." The dog chewed her arm down to the bone and doctors believe it might have to be amputated. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Detective Josh Spangle, who was the second officer on the scene, said is was a "gruesome, bloody scene." As far as a dog attack, "I’ve never seen anything like that," he said.

Mrs. Hartman was airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne in serious condition. She was upgraded to fair condition the following day. Spangle told reporters that because the dog's vaccinations are current and the attack occurred on the owners’ property, the animal was not taken into custody. Kevin Hartman and his girlfriend, Heather Hersha, are allowed to keep the potential "arm amputating mauler" as the attack did not violate any state or county laws.

Like the majority of U.S. states and counties, Kosciusko, Indiana has few preventative dangerous dog laws. Furthermore, once an attack of this nature occurs, there are no laws after the fact either. What will happen, for instance, when this pit bull chooses to snap the rope or cable that attaches it to the tree? Which unlucky child playing in a nearby yard will meet this animal's jaws? Which unlucky child will be ripped from his bicycle and suffer broken bones or worse?

Related ZUPF video

Recent Amputations by Pit Bulls in Indiana

The State of Indiana continues to amass more limb amputations than any other state. In at least three instances, the victims were attacked by "family" pit bulls.

Oct. 09: Janet Hartman, 63, Pierceton. Victim expected to lose one arm.
Feb. 09: Scott Sands, 47, Elkhart. Victim nearly suffered one arm amputation.
Jan. 09: Brenda Hill, 68, Indianapolis. Victim suffered a lower leg amputation.
Jun. 08: Annette Williams, 45, Greensburg. Victim had both arms amputated.

Announcement: DogsBite.org Turns Two-Years Old

2009-10-15T07:15:00.001-06:00

DogsBite.org officially turns two-years old today, October 15, 2009. In these two years, we have built a sizable website with nearly 1,750 pages, documented nearly 5-years of fatality data and produced three national reports1. Additionally, we continuously track new U.S. cities and foreign countries that adopt breed-specific (pit bull) laws. By the end of 2009, we will have recorded a full year of U.S. media reported pit bull attacks and police and citizen shootings of dangerous pit bulls.

The Pit Bull Problem Continues to Grow

Back in August, we published a post concerning the 2009 U.S. shelter data report by Animal People. Of the 1,663,167 shelter dogs projected to be euthanized in 2009, pit bulls account for 58%. This is an 8% increase from 2007, indicating that the "pit bull problem" is only growing. Unless more cities adopt laws to correct the breed-specific problem that pit bulls present, we can presume a substantial number of new mauling victims and pit bulls euthanized in the next two years.

Who Is DogsBite.org at Two-Years Old?

DogsBite.org is a public education website about dangerous dogs -- specifically pit bull type dogs. We are the only website dedicated to putting the safety of humans before dogs, as we are the only source of information on this topic that is not owned, controlled, or funded by pit bull breeders, pit bull owners, dog fancying organizations, dog registry and breeder organizations, veterinarian organizations, animal welfare groups or any of their associated influential lobbying groups.

We thank our readers for their continued participation in our comment sections and writing to us directly to share important information. We rely on both to continue our mission.

Tanner Joshua Monk, Breckenridge, TX

Over the past two years, we have focused many resources on the State of Texas due to the volume of serious and fatal pit bull attacks that occur in this state, as well as organized dogfighting. Texas citizens have begun to mobilize against the 1991 statewide anti-BSL measure that prohibits pit bull laws. In memory of the innocent Texans who have suffered death by the powerful jaws of a pit bull, we leave readers with the images of Tanner Monk, who now only flies in the arms of angels.

1Report: U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities January 2006 to December 2008; Report: U.S. Police and Citizen Shootings of Pit Bulls 2008; Report: Dog Attacks on Livestock and Horses January - May 2008

"Non Bite" Pit Bull Injury Leads to Death of Plainfield AC Officer

2009-10-11T22:00:00.007-06:00

Officer Theresa Foss
Plainfield, CT - An incident that raises many questions regarding what defines a "fatal dog attack" recently occurred in Connecticut. On September 29, Plainfield Animal Control Officer Theresa Foss was hospitalized with head injury after being knocked to the ground by a pit bull. Foss had responded to the call of an aggressive dog that had trapped a family inside their home. A resident of the home, Ron Roberts, shot the dog several times after it attacked Foss, causing the animal to flee.

News articles were quick to point out that the loose pit bull, named Buddy, had not bitten Officer Foss. The owner of the dog, David Coombs1, told reporters "he had no idea" the trouble Buddy had caused when the dog returned to Coombs’ 180 Moosup Pond Road home the following morning. Though news reports clearly stated that the dog had not bitten Foss, Coombs took the unusual step of shooting Buddy to death then burying the animal in Canterbury, about 4 miles away.

Authorities did not attempt to locate the buried dog2, because the incident did not involve a bite.

Up until Foss' death on October 8, she remained hospitalized at Yale-New Haven Hospital with serious head injury. While it could have been an error on his part, Charles Gagne, of Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, said that Foss' death was unrelated to the dog incident. This appears to be impossible, as Foss never left the hospital after the attack. State Animal Control Officer Linda Wenner later told reporters that Foss "died of organ failure," begging the question as to why?

Two Heart Attack Victims in 10-Day Period

Foss' death comes during the same 10-day period in which two people suffered a heart attack following a terrifying "pit bull incident," thus highlighting the issue of "non bite" pit bull injury even further.

On October 2, 70-year old Mary Garcia of Adams County, Colorado was attacked by two dogs, a pit bull-mastiff mix and boxer-pit bull mix, when she stepped outside to lock her car doors. Garcia suffered serious bite injury in the attack, but the immediate threat was a heart attack that struck after the incident.
On October 11, 56-year old Timothy Neimeyer of Indianapolis hopped a fence to stop a fight between his pit bull and a neighbor's dog. The pit bull broke its chain and jumped a fence to attack the dog. While trying to stop the fight, Neimeyer went into cardiac arrest. His condition is listed as "grave."

1Combs was ticketed for dog nuisance, allowing a dog to roam and failure to license. He was fined $242.
2For all we know, Buddy could have been shipped across state lines to live with a friend or relative of Coombs.

2005 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org

2009-10-08T13:33:00.011-06:00

Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 28 fatal dog attacks in 20051. Citations of each victim's story are located on the Fatality Citations page. The last year the CDC recorded or studied dog bite fatalities by breed was 1998. Likely due to pressures from animal advocacy groups, dog fancying groups and pro-pit bull groups, the CDC stopped recording these deaths by breed. The only other known entity that tracks this vital information is Animal People News. DogsBite.org has joined in this effort.

2005 Dog Bite Fatalities

282 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2005. Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 57%. Pit bulls make up approximately 5% of the U.S. dog population.
The combination of pit bulls (16) and rottweilers (5) accounted for 75% of all fatal attacks.
46% of the attacks occurred to children (11 years and under) and 46% occurred to adults (21 years and older)3. Of the adults, 85% occurred to ages 55 and older.
57% of fatal attacks in 2005 involved multiple dogs; 7% involved chained dogs.
64% of the attacks occurred on owner property and 36% off owner property. Of the off-property attacks, 90% (9) involved pit bulls.
61% of the victims were female; 39% of the victims were male. Of the female victims, over half (9) were 11 years and under.
The state of California had the most fatalities (4), followed by the states of Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Virginia each suffering 3 three.

1DogsBite.org launched in October 2007. By January 2010, DogsBite.org will have five years of fatal dog attack data available to the public and 250 megabytes of downloadable PDF documentation about these victims.
2Various websites report 29 fatal dog attacks in 2005. This is due to the December 30 death of Cody Adair and the initial media reports falling on January 3, 2006. Cody is included in the DogsBite.org 2006 dog bite fatalities.
3Two victims fell within the 12 to 20 age group, ages 12 and 14.

Pit Bull Owner Lies After Dog is Declared "Dangerous," Dog Attacks Again

2009-10-04T12:34:00.013-06:00

Two Children Severely Injured
Millcreek, PA - On September 16, 3-year old Alorah Havern was violently attacked by a pit bull-mix while being babysat at her grandmother's home. The grandmother, Debbie Havern1, often watched the child at Alorah's home. But on that Wednesday, she brought the child to her own home in Millcreek to do some laundry. Also living at the home was her 25-year old son Matthew Havern and his 7-year old dog. The results of this combination proved disastrous.

Alorah, who continues to be treated at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, will be permanently scarred by the attack and may be blind in one eye, doctors have told her family. The nerve damage, according to doctors, is also likely permanent. Alorah's mother, Julie Havern2, said her daughter suffered a fractured skull and required more than 300 stitches to close her wounds. She also lost many teeth and had numerous bones in her face shattered.

In November 2006, this same dog attacked the 4-year old daughter of Matthew's girlfriend. Her injuries included: partial loss of sight in one eye, a broken jaw and the loss of many teeth.

We wish we were writing to you from the Twilight Zone readers, but we are not. The girlfriend3 from the 2006 attack is apparently still in a relationship with Matthew. According to the article, she has talked to him "repeatedly" since the attack about the need to euthanize his dog, named Graham. She said he has not brought the dog within sight of her or her daughter since the attack. Yet Graham has attacked a different child in the family since causing devastating injury again.

Q: Why wasn't Graham euthanized after the first attack?
A: Pennsylvania State law.

Like many states, after a dog inflicts "severe injury," Pennsylvania declared the dog "dangerous" and required its owner to abide by new rules, such as keeping the dog in a secure enclosure; attaining liability insurance; and posting warning signs. Unwilling to adhere to the requirements, Matthew lied. In a written statement, he told the dog warden he "gave" the dog to a person in New York State. Not long after, Matthew and his dog moved into his mother's Millcreek home.

Q: How easy was it for Matthew to lie to Pennsylvania officials?
A: Provide a false written statement.

We frequently run across owners of dogs declared "dangerous" that say to judges, "I'm sending my dog out of state." The judge okays the arrangement dismissing the danger the dog will pose to its new location and that the dog's bite record may be erased upon crossing state lines, whereby eliminating future victims' claim against it. As the case of Matthew Havern demonstrates, one now must question how many of these dog owners simply lie, keep their dog and relocate nearby.

Matthew Havern is Being Charged

Millcreek authorities have charged Matthew J. Havern with at least seven offenses including: 1.) Owning an animal that caused severe injury or death 2.) An attack by a "dangerous" dog 3.) Reckless endangerment 4.) Failure to register and restrain 5.) Failure to vaccinate 6.) Failure to license and most notably 7.) Tampering with physical evidence because Matthew attempted to leave the scene of the Alorah attack in a vehicle with his two-time mauler, named Graham.

Q: Why should any state law trust a "Matthew" or known mauler over the rights of future victims?
A: No state law should.4

Faced with seven charges, Matthew "agreed" to have the dog put down September 17.

1Debbie Havern is Julie Havern's mother-in-law. It is unknown if Debbie faces charges.
2Julie Havern is married to Tom, which we presume is the brother of Matthew Havern.
3The girlfriend, whose daughter was attacked by Matthew's dog in 2006, did not want to be identified.
4Due to Dog Mauling Fancier groups that protect owners of dangerous dogs and humane groups who believe, "A dog shouldn't be euthanized just because it ripped the teeth out of two children and broke a few jaws," we have state laws that allow second and third chances for dogs that have inflicted severe injury.

2009 Fatality: 23-Month Old Toddler Killed by Family Pit Bull

2009-09-29T15:00:00.003-06:00

Jasmine Deane
UPDATE 09/29/09: The toddler killed by a family dog in Orange County has been named. Investigators say 23-month old Jasmine Deane died after being bitten several times by a pit bull on Sunday. No charges have been filed in the case, but the Orange County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate. Mike Hicks, the victim's cousin, told reporters, "Friendly dog, I mean, I don't understand it. Just don't understand it. Words can't describe how it happened," Hicks said.

09/28/09: Pit Bull with Family for 10-Years
Orange County, VA - A family pit bull attacked and killed a 23-month old girl. Authorities say the dog attacked the child Sunday night about 7:00 p.m. Apparently, the girl wandered out of her family's house while her mom was preoccupied. The family's pit bull, which was chained outside, attacked the girl. Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos says a family member found the girl in the backyard. She was pronounced dead at University of Virginia Medical Center at 9:10 p.m.

The offending pit bull has since been euthanized. Sheriff Amos said the pit bull hadn't caused problems previously and had lived with the family for about 10 years.

Related ZUPF video

Related articles:
08/18/09: 2009 Fatality: Infant Killed by Pet Pit Bull in Hardy County
04/25/09: 2009 Fatality: Family Pit Bull Kills 11-Month Old Child in Eastpointe
04/01/09: 2009 Fatality: 7-Month Old Boy Killed by Grandmother's Pit Bulls
03/31/09: 2009 Fatality: 18-Month Old Killed by Pit Bull in Luling, TX

Announcement: Fourth Quarter 2009 Priorities

2009-09-28T15:00:00.001-06:00

DogsBite.org - From now through the end of the year, we will post about one blog post1 per week. All other resources will be devoted to completing the 2005 dog bite fatality documentation, rewriting important static web pages and continuing to track 2009 pit bull attacks and police shootings of pit bulls. As this work is accomplished, we will post notices of it. DogsBite.org is a volunteer organization and we appreciate all donations to help us in our mission.

1All fatal dog attacks will be reported as they occur.

Young Dog Owner Shares Story of Pet Attacked by Two Pit Bulls

2009-09-28T11:53:00.009-06:00

"Bred to Kill"
DogsBite.org - In one of the most compelling YouTube videos we have seen to date regarding a personal experience of a pit bull attack upon a dog, young "Nightshroud99" describes how his pet pug Mickey was severely mauled by two loose pit bulls. It is important to note that Nightshroud99's description of a "freak accident" is hardly freakish, as pit bulls were selectively bred to attack dogs for purposes of dogfighting. The term "freak accident" is also commonly used by pit bull owners after their dog launches an "unpredictable" deadly attack upon a person.

Video length: 7:48; Nightshroud99 begins speaking at 1:25.

Related articles:
08/10/09: Pit Bulls Break Through Window to Attack 18-Year Old Woman Walking Dog
03/01/09: Woman's Dogs Suffer "Exploded Ribs" and "Shattered Leg" by Pit Bulls

I.I.I. Study Shows Dog Bite Claims Cost Nearly $390 Million Annually

2009-09-22T18:45:00.000-06:00

How to Interpret?
A recent study by the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) shows dog bite claims cost nearly $390 million annually. According to the study, dog bites account for one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims, costing $387.20 million in 2008, up 8.70 percent from 2007. Since 2003, the average cost of these claims ($24,461 in 2008) has risen nearly 28 percent. Additionally, the number of claims has increased 8.89 percent to 15,823 in 2008 from 14,531 in 2007.

The I.I.I. data certainly legitimizes a public policy discussion on the topic. Yet it is important to point out two aspects of the data as well:

How does the data reflect the average pit bull owner and pit bull bite claim given that most homeowners insurance providers exclude pit bulls, rottweilers and other "high risk" dog breeds from their coverage?
The data only shows the cost of the homeowner. It does not show the many costs paid by renters insurance, health insurance, workers compensation insurance and public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

Loretta Worters, vice president of the I.I.I., states in the news release, "Although some people purchase dogs for the purpose of guarding their homes, deadbolt locks and home security systems are safe burglary deterrents and that will often earn you a discount on your insurance premium." Yet the types of dogs used for the purpose of "guarding" a home are often pit bulls and rottweilers, the two dog breeds most commonly excluded from homeowners insurance coverage.

Q: Who wants to pay for the cost of a pit bull or rottweiler bite?
A: Not most insurers.

In Ohio, where $100,000 liability insurance is required by pit bull owners, the cost is about $50-$65 per month and up to $800 annually. This applies to a pit bull that does not have a bite record. The pit bull policy has a $5,000 deductible and is separate from a homeowners policy. According to the I.I.I., the average premium for homeowners insurance was $804 in 2006, which includes dog bite coverage, but excludes pit bull coverage, as such policies typically do not cover the breed.

It's interesting that the cost of insuring one pit bull with no previous bites is similar to the cost of ensuring a whole home with an average value of $265,000.

Related articles:
11/19/08: $495,000 Settlement for New Jersey Woman Mauled by a Pit Bull
10/16/08: Omaha Pit Bull Owners Surprised That Getting Insurance is Tough
06/19/08: Flashback: $500,000 Award for Pain in Pit Bull Attack
06/11/08: Pit Bull Victim Alan Hill Awarded $7.25 Million Dollars

Nebraska Humane Society Describes Pit Bull Injury as "Mutilation"

2009-09-20T11:52:00.016-06:00

Joyce Hayne in her hospital bed, pit bull owner Eraina Stubblefield and Sgt. Stubby1.

Doctor's Save Leg
UPDATE 09/21/09: Doctors were able to save Joyce Haynes' badly injured leg with a wound described as "large as a fist" in her left calf. Haynes said that she will need skin graft surgery to repair the damage. Despite this recent attack, Mark Langan of the Nebraska Humane Society says pit bull bites are down since new laws went into effect last year (including breed-specific pit bull restrictions). Langan says so far this year 54 bites have been reported compared to 83 last year.

09/20/09: The Destructive Pit Bull Bite
Omaha, NE - After a loose pit bull severely bit a woman on her calf, causing a large amount of blood loss, Nebraska Humane Society spokesperson Pam Weise described the wounds as "mutilation." Last year, Robert Howard of Detroit quickly bled to death after a pit bull tore into his calf. At the time, his friend Isaiah Brown said, "[The dog] just snatched and pulled all the arteries out. He was lying on the steps, and when I checked his vital signs he was already dead then."

The pit bull bite2 maims, mutilates, severs and kills.

"An Omaha woman was severely injured Saturday night when she was bitten by a pit bull.
The woman was bitten on both legs and hospitalized, said Pam Wiese, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Humane Society.
The dog was not restrained at the time of the attack, Wiese said.
The incident began when the dog “charged up'' to a little boy, she said.
As neighbors tried to corral the animal, the pit bull bit the woman on both legs, causing a deep gash in one calf.
“It's a serious injury,'' Wiese said, who described the wounds as mutilation.
The attack occurred near 14th Street and Sherwood Avenue.
The owner of the animal was ticketed on suspicion of violating city animal ordinances, including harboring a dangerous animal and failing to restrain and muzzle the dog.
The dog was impounded by the Humane Society. It will be held for 10 days and could be euthanized after that, Wiese said."

3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks

2009-09-17T11:33:00.008-06:00

From left: Natylee Murphy before the pit bull attack and after (click to enlarge).

From left: Kortnie Murphy and the two pit bulls left at the backyard breeder's home.

Mother Shares Photos
UPDATE 09/17/09: The mother of the victim, Kortnie Murphy, has shared photos of her daughter with the media. Little Natylee has had five surgeries and more than a thousand stitches to repair severe tissue damage after a pit bull named "Tank" latched onto her face. Kortnie told reporters, "The first thing I think of is a lion. I don't know of too many animals that can do that to you." The images were taken while being treated at Memorial Herman hospital in Houston.

Like the family of Justin Clinton, the family of Natylee Murphy has started a letter writing campaign to ban pit bulls across the State of Texas. Due to the 1991 preemptive anti-BSL measure (HB 2065) authored by former State Rep. and Harris County Judge Robert Eckles1, coauthored by former State Rep. Dianne Delisi2 (Bell County) and sponsored by State Senator Rodney Ellis3 (Houston), Texas municipalities have been prohibited from enacting pit bull laws for 18 years.

State Senator Rodney Ellis is the only remaining politician in office and represents Senate District 13, the very district where Natylee is undergoing medical treatment.

Houston Address
Senator Rodney Ellis
440 Louisiana, Suite 575
Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 236-0306
(713) 236-0604 Fax
Email contact form

Related ZUPF video

09/11/09: Upgraded to Stable Condition
The Houston Chronicle reports that the 3-year-old girl who was attacked by a pit bull at her aunt's New Caney home in Montgomery County remains hospitalized but her condition has been upgraded to stable. According to authorities, she was repeatedly bitten Thursday by a pit bull in the backyard of her aunt's home in the 23500 block of Sweetgum. Though she suffered severe damage to her face and head, officials say the injuries are no longer considered life-threatening.

09/11/09: Little Girl Suffers Critical Injury
New Caney, TX - A little girl was critically injured by one of three pit bulls while visiting her aunt's home. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, the toddler went into the backyard to help feed the dogs and was subsequently attacked. The little girl was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and remains in critical condition. The aunt, who intervened to stop the attack, suffered minor injuries and was treated locally.

A separate article reports that Animal Control officers were only able to remove one of the three pit bulls. The man who owns the dogs refused to turn over the other two.

Related ZUPF video

Natylee Murphy Fund
To help the family pay daunting medical bills, donations can be made at City Savings Bank, 1-337-463-8661. The account number is 1885499.

1In a 2006 radio interview, Eckles voices themes driven by the dangerous dog lobby.
2Please scroll down Delisi's web page to see her many "hospital" and "teacher" awards.
3While sponsoring HB 2065, Senator Ellis also crafted his own anti-BSL measure, SB 1255

U.S. Marine Corps Bans Pit Bulls and Other Breeds; Policy Affects All Privatized Housing

2009-09-13T07:22:00.019-06:00

Marine Corps Pet Policy
Virginia - Following the April action of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, which banned pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf hybrids and their mixes from base housing and prohibited visitors from bringing them onto base, the U.S. Marine Corps recently adopted the same policy for all U.S. and overseas Marine Corps installations. The new uniform pet policy cites similar language as spoken by base commanding officer Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr. following Camp Lejeune's policy shift:

"These specific breeds present an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of our residents and are therefore prohibited."

The new policy (MCO P11000.22 Ch 6) was signed by Maj. Gen. Edward Usher III, deputy commandant of installations and logistics, on August 11, 2009. The policy pertains to all government-owned family housing and Public Private Venture (PPV) privatized housing areas located or accessed by the Marine Corps installation. Current owners of these breeds have 60 days to receive approval of a waiver and to pass a nationally recognized temperament test.

The "grandfather" waiver of the new uniform pet policy is viable until 30 September 2012 only. Specifically, after this date, pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf hybrids and their mixes will be wholly restricted from Marine Corps privatized housing areas, as well as Marine Corps installations. After this date, owners of "grandfathered" dogs must either find off base arrangements for their pets, or move from government-owned family housing or PPV privatized housing facilities.

Chapter 5: Domestic Animal Control

5002. BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Pet ownership for those service members and their families residing in government-owned or PPV family housing provides a real and tangible benefit, and contributes to the Quality of Life for resident families. However, the rise in ownership of large dog breeds with a predisposition toward aggressive or dangerous behavior, coupled with the increased risk of tragic incidents involving these dogs, necessitates a uniform policy to provide for the health, safety and tranquility of all residents of family areas.

5003. PROHIBITED DOG BREEDS. Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, canid/wolf hybrids, or any canine breed with dominant traits of aggression present an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of personnel in family housing areas. Consequently, full or mixed breeds of Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and canid/wolf hybrids are prohibited aboard Marine Corps installations. In the absence of formal breed identification (e.g., certification by a civilian organization such as the American Kennel Club) a Corps Officer (VCO) or a civilian veterinarian.

5004. REQUESTS FOR WAIVER AND GRANDFATHER CLAUSE

1. Grandfather Waiver Requests. Residents of government-owned or PPV-owned family housing currently in possession of properly registered dogs meeting the prohibited breed or mixed breeds noted in paragraph 5003 above, may keep their pet dog in family housing through 30 September 2012 provided the following "grandfather" provisions are met:
a.) Pet owner residents must submit for waiver to this policy within 60 calendar days from the date of the signature of Change 6 to this Order, and receive approval of waiver from the local installation commander.
b.) Dogs to be waived under this policy must pass a nationally recognized temperament test, administered and interpreted by individual(s) who have been certified in the technique and evaluation of the test results, at the service member resident's expense. Such tests include Canine Good Citizen (AKC) and the Delta Test (Delta Society). Questionable animals may be referred to a boar certified veterinary behaviorist. At no time will waiver authority for purposes of "grandfathering" be delegated below the 0-6 level.

The bold, underlined emphasis was done by the Marine Corps.

The U.S. Marine Corps now joins the U.S. Army and the New York Housing Authority in adopting a uniform pet policy that bans dangerous dog breeds from resident housing.

The Pit Bull Bite: Pet Pit Bull Bites Off Owner's Hand

2009-09-10T10:11:00.006-06:00

Victim in ICU
Paradise Township, PA - In a developing story, a pet pit bull severed the hand of its owner. Police found 48-year old John M. Venezia lying in his hallway unconscious with his hand bitten off. State police shot and killed the pit bull when it lunged at an officer trying to give aid to Venezia. The victim was taken by ambulance to Pocono Medical Center where he remains in intensive care. There is no question that had police not arrived when they did, Venezia would have bled to death.

"A 48-year-old Monroe County man had his right hand severed by a pit bull dog in his house Tuesday morning, according to state police at Swiftwater.
Trooper went to check on John M. Venezia at his home at 1730 Red Rock Road in Paradise Township after he didn't show up for work Tuesday morning.
When they arrived around 8:45 a.m., a state police news release said troopers found Venezia lying unconscious and his "right hand had been bitten off by a pit bull dog in the house."
State police shot and killed the dog when it lunged at a trooper trying to provide medical assistance to Venezia. Venezia was taken by ambulance to Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, where he remains in the intensive care unit, according to state police."

Elderly Woman Suffers Broken Hip and Crushed Wrist After Pit Bull Attack

2009-09-09T11:23:00.003-06:00

"Non Bite" Injury
Rantoul, IL - Children and the elderly are the most frequent victims of serious dog bite injury. Unlike attacks on children, attacks on the elderly and senior citizens are often less publicized. Older citizens injured in dog attacks do not heal at the same rate as children and often suffer complications, such as infection, after the initial bite injury. Older citizens also suffer devastating "non bite" injuries, such as the aftermath of being "knocked to the ground" by a pit bull-mix:

"An elderly Rantoul woman is recovering from a broken hip and other injuries received when she was knocked down by a large dog.
Eleanor McDonald, 80, was outside her home at 519 N. Ohio Ave. with her dog Dakota, a 20-pound poodle mix, shortly after 9 p.m. Aug. 17 when a large dog charged her from behind. She was knocked to the ground, but grabbed the leg of the dog to prevent it from hurting Dakota. The dog dragged her across a gravel driveway, said her son, Richard McDonald.
According to the police report, two men pulled the dog away from her and returned it to a neighboring home where it was being kept for its owner, Antoine P. Lee, who lives in the 1100 block of Falcon Drive. The dog was reported to be an American bulldog-pitbull mix.
In addition to the broken hip, Eleanor McDonald's right wrist was crushed and she was bitten on the right hand and left arm. After surgery to replace her hip and wire her wrist together, she was transferred to a nursing rehabilitation center, her son said.
Her right hand remained bruised and swollen from the bite a week after the incident and she had no appetite, he said.
The dog was taken to Champaign County Animal Control in Urbana and placed in quarantine. A call to the county facility confirmed that the dog had not been vaccinated. It was euthanized Thursday because Lee failed to reclaim it after quarantine ended."

Typical "Deviant" Pit Bull Owner Captured on Video at Special Magistrate Hearing

2009-09-08T00:01:00.008-06:00

Another "Freak" Accident
Margate, FL - The Margate News recently reported that resident Luis Rivera failed in an attempt to appeal a ruling that determined his pit bull to be "dangerous" after an attack incident. Representing himself before the Margate Magistrate, Rivera starkly represents the "deviant" profile of a vicious dog owner first established by a 2006 study published by the Journal of Interpersonal Violence1 then expanded upon in a 2009 study published by the Journal of Forensic Sciences.2

Parents must understand that vicious dog owners like Rivera nearly always have more rights than the safety of your children.

Though the Margate News article points out that "deviants" like Rivera are more likely to shape aggression into their dog, it fails to point out why deviants primarily choose pit bulls. The answer is genetics: Pit bulls were selectively bred to attack and kill dogs for the purposes of dogfighting. Through this selection process, the pit bull developed unpredictable aggression, the killer bite, as well as "gameness," the ability to keep attacking long after significant injury is inflicted upon it.

DogsBite.org is grateful to the Margate Magistrate for upholding this pit bull's declaration of "dangerous." Given Rivera's many handicaps, including being on disability because he can no longer feel anything in his right hand due to a work incident and can only walk his pit bull (which Rivera mislabels as an American bulldog to the Magistrate) with his less capable left hand. Rivera also says he has "no money" to meet the requirements of owning a "dangerous" dog.

So how would Rivera pay the $100,000 plus medical cost if his pit bull "accidentally" attacked again?

1The Journal of Interpersonal Violence study, "Ownership of High-Risk ("Vicious") Dogs as a Marker for Deviant Behaviors" was based upon 355 dog owners in Hamilton County, Ohio that were either licensed or cited as owners of high-risk or low-risk dogs.
2The Journal of Forensic Science study, "Vicious Dogs: The Antisocial Behaviors and Psychological Characteristics of Owners," was based upon an Internet survey of 758 undergraduate participants from a large eastern university (median age 19.85).