Thursday, November 21, 2013

Own the breed? Own the deed. The charge is involuntary manslaughter.

Pit bull advocates love to claim that the owner of the dog is always responsible for the deed.  Well congratulations, Brian Hrenko has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony animal charges in the pit bull mauling death of Claudia Gallardo in April of this year.  Hrenko was arrested and booked into the San Joaquin County jail on Thursday.  For more information please click here.


















Mug shot of Brian Hrenko.

The pit bull, Russia, allegedly attacked and killed a woman in Stockton. (Courtesy: Brian Hrenko/Owner)

Russia, Hrenko's killer pit bull.

Hrenko talked about his dog "He gets in fights with my neighbors dogs all the time. He’s attacked people in the yard, but never actually bit them. He, like, chases them, knocked them in our swimming pool, chased one up a tree — but, he’s never actually bit and really hurt anybody before,” 

For a previous blog post with more details on this case please click here.

For a bit of old news on Hrenko's legal history and his pit bulls please click here.

Brian Hrenko joins these other pit bull owners facing serious charges for deaths caused by their pit bulls.  Please click here.

11/22/2013  For the thoughts of Claudia Gallardo's family on the charges filed against Brian Hrenko please click here.

11/23/2013 For a report on the legal responsibilities of the owners of dogs that attack, from an area that has seen far too many attacks, please click here.  The lawyer being interviewed clearly states that owners of breeds of dogs known to be vicious may get a big surprise if they claim they had no way of predicting violent behavior from their pets.  Manslaughter charges may well be in their future.  Own the breed?  Own the deed!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Pit bull roundup, 11/17/2013


I am way behind on Ohio pit bull news so here goes, this will be a long post.  There will be no actual chronological order to this mess.

11/10/2013
Vandalia Ohio

A three year old child and her grandfather were both rushed to local hospitals after they were attacked by the family dog.  The dog was claimed to be a "boxer mix' by the owners, also the grandparents of the injured child.  Re-labeling pit bulls after attacks is a classic pit bull advocacy tactic.  Please take a look at this dog.

Vandalia, OH - Grandpa's "boxer-mix" attacks visiting grandchild then attacks him; both hospitalized with serious injuries http://www.wdtn.com/home/toddler-grandpa-attacked-by-dog
This is simply a pit bull.

The child suffered serious injuries,  bites to the shoulder and side.  She was transported to Dayton Children's hospital.  Her grandfather was bitten as he tried to intervene, he was transported to Miami Valley Hospital. Police, with guns drawn, supervised the removal of the dog from the house by animal control.  The pit bull was taken to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.  Yes, the dog is in Montgomery County Dog Warden  Mark Kumpf's custody.  Mr. Kumpf is well known on this blog and we will hear about him again in this post.

Incredibly, the very first comment posted on WDTN's coverage of this attack was apparently made by the child's grandmother and the owner of the dog.  Here is what she had to say,
"Joetta Warnick 







I love u dozer...not your fault...mommy will save you...K wll be great and so will your Dad..  

If this comment is genuine I suspect that Grandma might as well forget saving that spot on the dining room wall for her "Grandmother of the Year" plaque and just hang a Kinkade print.  As far as Grandmother of the Year is concerned, she is out of the running.

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9/16/2013
Springfield Ohio

Springfield Police officers shot and killed two pit bulls terrorizing a neighborhood.  Police were responding to a complaint, when the officers arrived the pit bulls lunged at them and were shot.  No disciplinary action is expected.

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10/11/2013


2012 Florida pit bull victim Shelby Churey was back in the news after a three year old Boynton Beach Florida girl was attacked by a pit bull in October of this year.  As part of their coverage of the October 2013 attack WPEC updated the public on Shelby's recovery.  Per WPEC "Shelby Churey was two years-old  when she was bitten on the face by her uncle's pitbull in November 2012.
She was sitting on her grandfather's lap and she was holding the dog's squeaky toy when the dog bit her. 
"He jumped up to get the toy and kinda just got her in the face," said Joseph Churey,  Shelby's father.
The dog was later put to sleep.
Shelby had at least 30 stitches in her face and has had skin grafts. Her parents say they've spent most of the summer indoors, to keep Shelby's face protected from the sun.  And they're applying a special cream to her face each day to minimize the the scars.
Shelby's parents say it's very sad another child has been bitten by a pitbull.
"It's devastating, it brings back memories of when Shelby got bit, and I feel for the parents, I feel for the child too. No child should ever have to go through something like this," said Michelle Churey, Shelby's mother.



Shelby will come to Ohio for further treatment early next year. She will be treated at Cincinnati's Shriner's Hospital for Children.  Shriner's hospitals treat children at no cost to the family.  The Cincinnati Shriner's Hospital is treating several pit bull victims,  this fine organization deserves recognition and financial support.

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9/30/2013
Carrollton Ohio

Three goats were killed and five goats were severely injured by attacking dogs.  The three dogs included a pit bull, a Saint Bernard, and a mixed breed.  The dogs were located and captured, according to police this is the third  time this dog owner has been cited for dogs at large.  So much for the new Ohio law that "gives dog wardens the tools they need to deal with dangerous dogs."  How may chances does this dude get?  

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9/18/2013
Springfield Ohio again.

Springfield Police shot and killed two pit bulls that were attacking another dog and its owner. Police received a report that a woman was "pinned down" by the pit bull attack.  Per WHIO "Springfield Police Chief Stephen Moody said two pit bulls were attacking a Chihuahua outside of a home on that street and when the Chihuahua's owner attempted to intervene she was pushed down. 

The Chihuahua owner was not injured, her dog was transported to a veterinarian for treatment.

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10/25/2013
Toledo Ohio
Its tough to be a Chihuahua in Ohio.  This is a story not reported by the Toledo Blade.

A South Toledo woman is asking for justice after her Chihuahua was mauled and killed on her own porch by a neighbor's pit bulls.  Per ABC13 "Heather Tabb says one of the dogs not only bit her severely in the arm putting her in the hospital, but also killed her Chihuahua.
"This is torture for me. Just torture," says Tabb through tears.
Heather Tabb misses her best friend, a seven and a half pound Chihuahua named Remy.
Tabb says on Sunday a pit bull loose on her block of Colburn Street killed Remy on her porch.
"It's hard to walk in the house, it's hard to walk on the porch to see the blood every day because we couldn't get it out and when you come through the door, seeing she's not there jumping up," says Tabb.
Tabb, who has a disability, says she and her Chihuahua were taking a walk when she saw her neighbor's two pit bulls attacking her other dog named Molly, who was on a leash in the front yard.
When Tabb picked up Remy to run into the house, she says one of the pit bulls bit her several times in the arm.
Little Remy jumped down and got attacked.
"It took one neighbor beating it off of us and another one having to shoot in the air to get it off," says Tabb."
Police were called and a report was completed but they were unable to locate the pit bulls.  Police were called to the neighborhood later that evening when the pit bulls were spotted at large again.  The pit bull owner, Ashley Campos, was cited for failure to license and failure to vaccinate but the dogs were not seized. The dog warden has been unable to contact Ms. Campos.   Heather Tabb stated "We were violated, And for her to keep hiding them or doing whatever she's doing and not turning them over … I've called the dog warden every day. This is wrong."  
Heather Tabb is correct.  A later report indicated that Campos surrendered the dogs for a 10 day quarantine.  Heather Tabb has received stitches and will undergo a series of rabies shots.

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10/8/2013
Barberton Ohio  

A Barberton woman was given a dangerous dog summons after one of her three pit bulls killed a neighbor's dog on the victim's property on 10/2/2013.  Per BarbertonOhio.com
"Police said the pit bull owner, 74, told them that two of the dogs got out of the house after she went outside, and her white pit bull attacked the neighbor’s dog and killed it.
When officers arrived, the neighbor was in her backyard holding her deceased pet.
An officer on the scene said the pit bulls were running in the woods and had to be corralled by family members to get them back inside the house."

What is a 74 year old woman doing with THREE pit bulls?

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10/2013
Columbus Ohio

A Columbus Ohio man was rushed to Riverside Methodist Hospital in stable condition with bites to his arms and upper body after being attacked by his own dog.  The attacking dog, a pit bull puppy that the man had only three days, escaped and was the target of a police search.  Police warned residents in two mile area to watch out for the dog and not  approach it.  

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10/2013
Columbus Ohio

David Hyde's pit bull was recently ordered euthanized for an attack on a Columbus woman last summer.  Mr. Hyde pled guilty to charges of failure to control a vicious animal.  Hyde was sentenced to six months probation and fined $320.  Per ABC6 Hyde appeared devastated during the hearing.  It must be tough to be forced to understand that the law DOES actually apply to you.  Per ABC6 "The court case followed an incident last August, during which one of Hyde's pit bulls attacked a woman who was trying to collect firewood off the side of the road on Livingston Avenue. The victim, Marjorie Huffman, described the attack in court. She started chewing at my feet, Huffman said. She tore the shoe off my foot. She started chewing my foot, grabbing chunks out of the inside of my ankle. She said she had to get nearly 100 stitches and still uses a walker as a result of the attack. It was the second time this summer that one of Hyde's dogs hurt someone. Huffman said she loves dogs, but fears another person could get hurt or killed if the dog was ever let loose. "


David Hyde after the August 2013 mauling of Marjorie Huffman.

The update did not include any information that might lead one to think that Hyde paid the victim's medical expenses.

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10/19/2013
Toledo Ohio

A gala celebration was hosted by Toledo's PET Bull Project and Humane Ohio.  The Pit bull Awareness Day party featured free dog training, free collars and leashes, free ID tags, and free rabies shots.  There was also a Bully King and Bully Queen contest.

How were the winning dogs chosen since nobody can identify a pit bull?  If somebody showed up with a Beagle, could they get the free stuff?

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10/13/2013
Middletown Ohio

From the "a pit bull's worst nightmare might just be his owner" files comes this story.  The owner of an abandoned, emaciated pit bull was located and charged with cruelty to animals and failure to license.  Bert Brashear moved, abandoned his home and left the pit bull named Dee behind.
dog_1381341060042_1065482_ver1.0_640_480_1381662839721.jpg
Dee at the time she was taken to Butler County Animal Friends Humane Society.

Brashear signed Dee over to the Humane Society where she is being rehabilitated.

Brashear pled guilty and was due to be sentenced November 18, 2013

For video on this case and an update on Dee's recovery click here.

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11/3/2013
Liberty Township Ohio



Letter carrier Kendra Morgan was attacked by a pit bull.  Per WFMJ.com "  Kendra Morgan, a mother with two young sons, tells 21 News she feared she was going to be ripped apart and die after a dog attacked her.
Chunks of flesh were ripped from her arm and shoulder, her hands and breast were bitten. Morgan says she was told the dog was an American Pitt Bull weighing about 200 pounds.
Morgan says as she was stepping off the porch she heard a bam, and the next thing she knew she was on the ground with the dog on top of her.
The mail carrier says she kept hoping the dog would not go for the back of her neck or head. As she was trying to knock him off, he went for her right shoulder."

Ms. Morgan may require surgery, she is now terrified of dogs, she can't drive her sons to their activities or cook for her family.







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11/4/2013
Dayton Ohio

Yes, we will conclude this post with two more stories out of Dayton Ohio, Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf's territory.

First, an 80 year old Dayton woman stated that she shot her neighbor's pit bull out of self defense.  Selma Chipman said she shot the two year old pit bull to protect herself and her property.  Chipman stated that the pit bull bit her in the past and the owner of the pit bull does not deny this but she does minimize it.   Chipman said the dog is at large frequently.
Per the Dayton Daily News "On Friday, after she said the dog ran through her yard, "I got a gun and I shot him. I didn't kill him," Chipman said. "And it's a shame....Everything would have been over if I had of killed him. But I'm no shot with no gun. Shoot. Lord have mercy no."
However, Heather Lakes, the dog's owner, differs about what led to the shooting, which wounded the dog in the side.
Lakes said on several occasions Chipman has threatened to shoot her dog, according to police records.
"I really don't understand her big hatred to my dogs," Lakes said. "Her excuse is that she's so terrified of my dogs and my dog's very vicious." Lakes, who moved to her home in May, said she plans to move in January.
 I strongly suspect that Ms. Lakes and her pit bull will not be missed when she moves out of the neighborhood.  Suggesion to Ms. Lakes new neighbors, start a paper trail immediately, every time the dog is at large, every episode of menacing, every bite.

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Saving the best for last, this story does not have any links to pit bulls but Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf stars in an outrageous tale.

9/27/2013
Dayton Ohio



Thirteen living Great Danes, Labradors, rabbits, and per the video a live chicken were removed from a Dayton home, multiple dead dogs were also found and removed by Dayton Police and Animal Resource Center staff.   

Neighbors and United States Postal Service workers have been complaining about this situation for a YEAR.  Per the neighbors the dogs had broken out all the windows, they CLIMBED OUT ON THE ROOF AND BARKED AT PASSERSBY, the smell of death has been hanging over this neighborhood in a cloud  and this has been going on for a YEAR!

Kumpf managed to look embarrassed on camera while being interviewed on this situation. "There is quite a number of live dogs here this afternoon," said Kumpf. "That is what we are here for. We may have been too late for some of these but we won't be too late for the others. Get them the help and they attention that they need."

Mark Kumpf with surviving puppies.

Per WDTN Neighbors said they are now thankful something has been done.

They just hoped it was sooner.

"It didn't have to come to that," said Smith. "Because we've been calling and the postal service has been calling, all of the neighbors. You can smell it. The whole street just smells."
Charges are still pending as investigators compile their report to present to the prosecutor.
City inspectors condemned the property.
What has Kumpf been doing for the last year?  Receiving complaints from neighbors and the USPS regarding dogs parading across the roof of an apparently abandoned home and barking at members of the community for a year?  The response to the multiple and  very valid complaints from this community is simply too little and too late.

Click here for more information. Click here for still more information



Saturday, November 9, 2013

How many deaths are enough?

This time it is a child. Four year old Levi Watson of White County Arkansas was mauled to death by multiple pit bulls owned by Justin Corbit.

pit bulls killed 4-year old boy in white county, arkansas

Levi is the fourth American mauling death this month, all four were killed by pit bulls.  On November 1st Terry Douglass was killed by her own pit bull.  On November 5th Katherine Atkins was killed by her boyfriend's pit bulls.  Nga Woodhead was attacked by pit bulls on October 30th and she died on November 5th.

How many deaths will it take until laws are passed to protect American citizens from this proven danger?

How do professional pit bull advocates wash the blood from their hands?  Vankavage, Delise, Donna Reynolds, Jim Crosby, the dupes heading the ASPCA, AKC, and AVMA who send lobbyists to any community considering BSL, the local rescues who pressure communities to drop restrictions.  How do they get the blood off their hands?  Why doesn't Jane Berkey use her fortune to fund a hospital for injured children instead of funding pit bull advocacy?

The next Death and Excuses post will be up soon, far too soon.



Justin Corbit, responsible pit bull owner.



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Yet another death, how many will it take?

And another woman dies of the injuries she suffered in a pit bull attack.  This makes 103 Americans mauled to death by pit bulls since President Obama took office.  If a manufactured product killed at this rate there would be a massive recall yet our president  thoughtlessly repeats the pit bull talking points.

Spanaway woman mauled by pit bulls dies suddenly

Nga Woodhead was the victim of an unprovoked attack by two pit bulls.

How many deaths are enough?  How many deaths will it take for legislators to turn away from lawyers and lobbyists employed by pit bull advocacy?  Why does Best Friends Animal Society and the Animal Farm Foundation have the right to frame the discussion of what might best serve the public safety interests of the public?  

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Another fatality

The most recent installment of the Death and Excuses series was posted just yesterday.  There has already been another fatality, a twenty five year old North Carolina woman was killed by her boyfriend's pit bulls. It was reported that she had been around the pits since they were puppies.  She was feeding them yesterday and they killed her.

I just can't do this again today.  I'm sorry.


animal

Monday, November 4, 2013

Death and Excuses part 4. God help us




There have been 101 pit bull mauling deaths in the United States since President Obama moved into the Oval Office. Incredibly Obama has made a  statement of support for pit bulls. Here is the text of the president's statement, the statement sounds strangely like it was written by fellow Illinois lawyer and shameless pit bull advocate Ledy Vankavage.  It should be noted that the Obama family has two dogs, neither of them is a pit bull.

"We don't support breed-specific legislation -- research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.
In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries to people and that it's virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds.
The CDC also noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren't deterred by breed regulations -- when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they're intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive.
For all those reasons, the CDC officially recommends against breed-specific legislation -- which they call inappropriate. You can read more from them here.
As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. And ultimately, we think that's a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and pet owners."
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Sadly, a Death and Excuses post is overdue.  There have been five pit bull mauling deaths since the last post, and two mauling deaths that "you never hear about because the dog was not a pit bull."  Actually, we heard plenty about them.

7/1/2013
Liberty County,
 TX

Linda Oliver, age 63, was killed by a stray dog that she had been feeding for about two weeks.  It was reported that the stray attacked one of Mrs. Oliver's own dogs and when Oliver attempted to rescue her own dog she was attacked.  Oliver was able to call her husband who was at work to tell him that she had been bitten.  The husband then called the sheriffs's office.  Deputies sent to the scene were able to shoot the dog but only wounded it.  The dog was located by law enforcement two days later.  The dog, thought to be a Rottweiler/Mastiff mix was shot.

Liberty County woman mauled to death by dog

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8/30/2013
Katy Texas


An elderly man was found in the back yard of his home, dead of apparent pit bull attack.  The body of 96 year old Juan Campos was found by his grandson.  Per KHOU "A grandson found the body of Juan Campos, 96, in his backyard in the 22300 block of Maplewood Drive.
"I called his name many, many times hoping that he would respond, that he would turn around and ask for help, but he didn’t," said Miguel Velasquez.
The grandson said there were three "pit bull type" dogs near his grandfather’s body. The lower part of one of the man’s legs was missing and there were bite marks on his body.
"And it just shocked me, it shocked me badly," the grandson said.
A pet dog that belongs to the Campos family had also been killed."
Juan Campos

 Miguel Velasquez, left, found the body of his grandfather, Juan Campos, in his backyard on Friday. The 96-year-old and his beloved Chihuahua, Choe, both appear to have been attacked by a one or more dogs.
Photo from the Houston Chronicle.

The pit bulls belonged to a neighbor.  Mr. Campos joins 74 year old Roy McSweeney,  92 year old James Hurst, 90 year old Henry Piotrowski, 76 year old Lillian Stiles, and other American senior citizens mauled to death by neighbors pit bulls on their own property while simply working in their own gardens.  

pit bulls maul to death Juan Campos of Katy, Texas
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9/15/2013
Kotzebue, AK

Five year old Jordan Lee Reed was killed by a stray dog.  Jordan was playing in front of his family's home when last seen.   Police were notified that he was missing about 10:45 p.m.  His body was found in an open field on the outskirts of town in the early morning hours of 9/15/2013.  Stray dogs are a known problem in Kotzebue.   The dog, said to be a Husky mix,  was located and euthanized.

Jordan Lee Reed killed by a husky mix
Jordan Lee Reed

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9/22/2013
Gilbert, AZ

A two and a half year old boy was killed by his babysitter's pit bulls.  The boy, identified only as "Daniel" reportedly "got in the way" of three of the the babysitter's four pit bulls as they were fighting.  Lara Czerniski, the babysitter was also attacked as she attempted break up the fight.   Daniel was a special needs child, recently adopted into a family with four other adopted special needs children.  Czerniski had been the family babysitter for about ten years.  Czerniski's pit bulls were not licensed and were euthanized by animal control.
Czerniski was allowed to keep one pit bull that was not involved in the fight and the death of the child.




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9/24/2013
Colton, CA

Two year old Samuel Zamudio was killed by a pack of family pit bulls as his uncle Marco Zamudio slept.  Marco was Samuel's babysitter at the time of his death.

pit-bull-boy
Samuel Zamudio

Samuel apparently climbed out a window into the back yard where the pit bulls were kept.  Both the uncle of Samuel and his grandmother, owner of the house and the pit bulls were arrested.  Murder charges were considered against the two but it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge the grandmother.  Marco Zamudio caught a huge break when charges were filed.  He was charged with child endangerment, a felony.   Marco Zamudio was also charged with a parole violation stemming from a 2009 Orange County robbery.  It was reported that ten dogs were kept on the Zamudio property.  A woman who rents a room at the Zamudio property stated "It was ugly. His face was all eaten up. He was eaten from the face. He had no clothes," 

Marco Zamudio, uncle of Samuel  
                                                                                         Eustulia Zamudio, grandmother
The Colton Board orders this family to be dog free for three years.
Riverside County passed mandatory neuter and spay regulations for pit bulls on October 8, 2013.


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9/27/2013
Baker, OR

Please note the dates on these three deaths, yes, three children killed by their babysitter's pit bulls in just five days.

Five year old Jordan Michael Ryan was killed by pit bulls that belonged to his babysitter.  Jordan, a kindergartner, reportedly loved fishing, swimming and saying his ABCs.




A vigil was held 9/29/2013.


All schools in the district had staff from the local crisis response team, counselors from the school district and local agencies, available to students.  Area residents wrote thoughtful letters to the editor of the Baker City Herald.  Regulation of pit bulls was favored. The Baker City Herald wrote their own editorial supporting regulation of pit bulls.

The dog that killed Jordan came from a rescue program and lived at the babysitter's home.  Mary Lane, owner of the pit bull named Bentley stated that the dog was under one year old.  The photo below was dated 9/11/2013 and shows an unleashed Bentley playing with Lane's children.  The dog was put down.

Killed by babysitters pit bull



A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Jordan's family with funeral expenses.  The Grand Jury declined to indict Mary Lane citing insufficient evidence.

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11/1/2013
Baltimore, MD

Wheelchair bound Terry Douglass, 56, was killed by Boosie, her own 4 year old pit bull.  Incredibly, this was not Boosie's first attack on Mrs. Douglass, it was the third.  Per the Baltimore Sun "City animal control officers had seized the pit bull earlier this year that was involved in a fatal attack on its owner early Friday, but returned the dog because they "did not feel the dog was a threat to the public," according to a statement from officials Sunday.
After the previous attack, the dog owner who died Friday, 56-year-old Terry Douglass, "was adamant in getting the dog back, so after vaccinating it for rabies, we returned the dog after the quarantine period was up," said the statement from the Baltimore City Health Department, which oversees animal control.
Animal control officials said the incident in April occurred after food was dropped on the floor. A nephew of Douglass' went to pick it up and was bit, and Douglass was bit when she tried to intervene.

Douglass's daughter, Tamathia Davis stated that the dog first attacked her mother about two years ago, biting her face so savagely that "whenever my mom would open her mouth, her cheek would open with it."  Davis stated that family members had pleaded with animal control to not to return the dog to her mother.


Terry Douglass

Boosie was tranquilized by police and died shortly thereafter.  



Photo posted by MyFoxdc.com, thought to be Boosie.

Keep in mind that Boosie, a two time attacker, was owned by a wheelchair bound woman with cerebral palsy who could not control the dog.  Boosie was removed from the home by animal control but returned to the owner despite strong family objections.  Douglass lived in Maryland, where pit bulls have been ruled inherently dangerous. Why did animal control return this dog to Mrs. Douglass?  Who will be held responsible for the poor judgement shown by animal control resulting in a third attack and a human death?

The family is unsure how they will pay for Douglass's funeral.  Douglass was unable to keep up the payments on her life insurance.   

For video on this attack please click here.  The video includes the traditional statement from Animal Control that many factors play into dog attacks and this attack should not be blamed on breed.  *eye roll*  Neighbors and even the victim's own daughter continue to express support for the breed.   Per the Baltimore Sun "Still Davis said she hoped that people would not judge all pit bulls as a result of this attack.  "I don't hate all pit bulls because not all pit bulls are bad," said Davis, who added she owns and loves her own pit bull that she also raised from a puppy. She said the dog has never been anything but gentle, even with her young son. She said she does look at him a bit differently now, and probably will take new precautions or consider finding him a new home."

Will members of the Maryland Legislature keep Terry Douglass in mind as they consider modification of the Maryland Court ruling that pit bulls are inherently dangerous?

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Below are comments made by pit bull advocates on the deaths of these individuals.  What would make someone think that any of these comments might be appropriate to post on an article written on the death of a child,or an elderly person, or on the death of a pit bull owner who was killed by her own pit bull?

Chris Cummings · 
You are an idiot and should not be allowed to breathe the same air as I do. Do us all a favor and destroy yourself

 Wanda Chapman ·  Top Commenter · Jericho, Vermont
Why adopt 5 special needs kids if you are just going to have someone else care for them for your work day? (Scoffs). 

Judy has endless concern for the dogs but has forgotten that a child has died.
Judy Shott ·  · Lansing Community College
Aimee Rowley I agree with you in every way...I was just told to calm down by XXXXXXXXXX and that I carry aggression and hate and will have a heart attack..The truth is I have sorrow and pain for these dogs who will be killed due to the peoples lack of responsibility. I rescue dogs and have 5 of them as we speak, I also volunteer at the shelter and foster and find homes for what we call THROW AWAY DOGS....I have seen so much abuse and torture to animals that I cry for them....I am not a nut job, just a person trying to save these poor animals...I say BAN THE HUMANS WHO DO THIS TO ANY ANIMAL... We fight the city for better laws and stricter punishment against people that abuse animals...I will keep fighting and never give up. These dogs all need a voice.....Don't care what people call me, just care about abuse......
Judy goes on...
Judy Shott ·  · Lansing Community College
Californians For Regulating Pit Bulls Maybe they need to regulate people like you...If you can decide that this breed of dog is evil, well then as a human to human we should be able to regulate people like you that cause any animal to be labeled evil and what, you get to play GOD and cast down your ridiculous idea that we need to follow your plan of what is good or bad. Next you will gather a bunch of fools to decide what we should buy or sell or think..NO THANKS your full of crap and need to keep your stupidity to yourself...The only thing misunderstood here is your mentality...Wow and of course your so right...NOT !!!! you should give Jenifer Johnson a call I bet she will follow your way of thinking....Thank Goodness for the rest of us we got to read your post full of garbage..Sounds like you have appointed yourself MR. KNOW IT ALL....what a joke....
And Judy goes on, Lansing Community College must be so proud. 
Judy Shott ·  · Lansing Community College
Jennifer Johnson you need to shut the f#$@ ugly B....You look like the moron that you are....You hide behind your stupid words...Your the one full of hate, cause you have to live with yourself and look in the mirror every day...I am sure that your all alone and feeling down, and posting here at least somebody like me will send you a post....Good luck you ugly person and go grow a pair of balls......

Ellyse gives us the falling coconuts stat and extra points for including drownings in 5 gallon buckets.
 Ellyse Poulin · 
 · J.P. Stevens High School
@ Albert Schepis, Vanessa Jachzel and Jennifer Johnson-
Did you know....
1.) About 40 people (children) per year die by drowning in 5-gallon water pails. A person, during their lifetime, is 16 times more likely to drown in a 5-gallon water pail than to be killed by a Pit Bull.
2.) Approximately 50 children in the US are killed every year by their cribs - 25 times the number of children and adults killed by Pit Bulls.
3.) Approximately 150 people are killed every year by falling coconuts. Therefore, you are more than 60 TIMES MORE LIKELY to be killed by a PALM TREE than a Pit Bull.
4.) Each year, 350 people drown in their bathtubs. You are 151 times more likely to be killed by your bathtub than you are by a Pit Bull.
5) Every year, more than 2,000 children in the U.S. are killed by their parents or guardians either through abuse or neglect. A child is more than 800 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a Pit Bull.
6) It can be estimated that for every Pit Bull who kills, there are 10.5 MILLION that DON'T!

Do research before you open your mouths.. How about a day in a high kill shelter then maybe your will learn compassion and find that dogs are as stupid, vicious or loving and loyal as the people that own them.

Karen McNeeley Laufenberg
XXXXXXXX You're so ignorant, my God I hope you don't have children to pass your "wisdom" onto..

Waiting to be punished because we exist
XXXXX How are you? So nice to see your alter ego pop in here. So how are things since you have been off of your meds? Pretty crazy here. You see, all of your AKA's keep on popping up and since there is only one of me and a dozen or so of you...well, I think you get the general idea. Ummm, how is pit bull advocacy to blame for an unfit parent/grandparent, unsanitary house, and irresponsible dog owners? I will wait right here so you can ask all of your other personalities.

Short history lesson for sanarchy,  Roosevelt's pit bull was ordered out of the White House for attacks on a workman, and on the French Ambassador.
sanarchy at 1:18 PM September 24, 2013
total misinformation, distortionn and flat out false statements. "these are dangerous animals who can't be trusted"? ask president teddy roosevelt that question about his pit bull. ask ceasar milan, the dog whisperer that question.

you have no actual knowledge, nor facts. you do not know pit bulls and i guarantee have never spent any actual time interacting with one that hasn't been abused because if you did, you would not spout such ignorance.
sanarchy is not done yet...
sanarchy at 12:38 PM September 24, 2013
hey XXXXXXXXXX-

you are ignorant, ill-informed and clearly know nothing about pit bulls, other than how the media has distorted the truth behind almost every single pit bull "mauling." in nearly every instance, the dogs have been abused, fought and mistreated so badly that the dogs, as any dogs would, are damaged and often dangerous.

the real criminals are the scumbag humans who do this to these otherwiise proud, smart, loving and wonderful animals. i know, i have owned four of them in my 56 years. raised two kids, lived in three different communities and NEVER had a moment of human aggression.

get educated on the topic before you open your mouth.

Robert Cronk at 8:25 AM September 26, 2013
This is a terrible accident.  However it has nothing to do with pit bull type dogs.  I have owned pit bulls for over 18 years now and vol at  shelter and work with pit bull type dogs.  Mostly just walking them.  They are a great dog as long as they are socialized.  Most pit bull type dogs live out their lives without incident.. and the news never reports about this.  The news will only print bad stuff the majority of the time and especially if they can get the word pit bull printed.

Carol Lummus at 5:32 PM September 26, 2013
Whoa, excuse me? It's not the dogs fault! And how dare these IRRESPONSIBLE family members even have a child near these dogs, Knowing they have not cared for them nor had they socialized them! ITS NOT THE DOGS FAULT! And besides this isnt a PIT YOU IDIOTS! Geezus!!!!!! What the heck is wrong with this town of California that I live in? I was Mauled by 3 Trained to attack German Shepards! AND THAT DIDNT MAKE THE NEWS! WTH? I hate the news here and the Newspaper! They only report Pit bull attacks! And half the time it isnt even a PIT! What about me? HUH? They couldnt sew me back together! I was all ripped up from these German Shepards that ate their way thru the screen door and ATTACKED ME! I support all Pit Bull rescues, and I dont like German Shepards, but I dont go around bad mouthing them! Hell my friends cat attacked me and left huge holes in my leg and i was bleeding for days! DID I CALL THE NEWS and report a CAT ATTACK? If I did then a million people would start doing this, and then cats would have a bad name! The news people LOVE TO PICK ON PIT BULLS AND I AM SO SICK OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Start reporting ALL DOG ATTACKS! end






TaosNM
I am the proud owner of a Pitbull and can proudly say that he is the sweetest dog you can have, and know that its people who create te hatred in these loving creatures







Kt21884899
Plenty of dogs attack and kill children. A little information for you: They only put the breed of the dog in a headline when it is a Pit Bull. Or if it's not a Pit Bull, it doesn't make headlines at all. Small dogs are the ones to be worried about. Black cocker spaniels are notorious for being bad with children. According to temperament tests, black cocker spaniels scored much worse than large dogs. Pit Bulls scored higher on the temperament test than the German Shepherd, Rottweiler and many other breeds of dogs.







Pibble Owner
Its not so much the dog, it's the owner.  Children shouldnt be left alone with an animal.  I'm sorry but most terrorists are Muslims, lets ban them too then.







Whitehawk
Why doesn't the news media ever report how and why a child dies from a dog attack. Most likely the child provoked the dog somehow. It would be the parents responsibility to watch their child when taking child to another home that has a dog.The news media always blames it on the dog,and never really explains the whole story.My money is on the child provoked the dog somehow and the dog reacted and did what most dogs do..bite!It all boils down to the parents.. I call it neglect on the part of the parent ,who chose to expose the child to a dangerous situation and did not monitor it.








Chef David Edelstein
this  story is not only stupid and lacking in information, but it doesnt identify who was the official to run the DNA test that positively ID the dog as a "Pit Bull" instead of just a dog that attacked and killed a child. Come on now... if youre going to sensationalize... at least attempt to camouflage the BS. 




LuvinItBaby
Stuff like this is so frustrating to read. Why don't they post pictures of the dog that attacked and killed this poor boy? Why is it that news people must ALWAYS put in their headlines when a bully type dog kills or injures someone, but if another breed of dog does this it NEVER makes headlines. This dogs have SUCH a horrible rep and the majority of them are absolutely amazing dogs! I have been attacked by more lab or lab mixes than any other breed of dogs (well unless we are counting small dogs, those things always attack people, but are small enough that they can't do much harm). Every bully type dog that I have met has been the sweetest dog that wants nothing more than to be loved, cuddled etc. Sure there are badly trained dogs or dogs that just had the tendencies to become aggressive or reactive, but there are so few of these dogs VS the amount of dogs there are out there. I just wish that people would learn to respect all types of dogs, big or small, and be cautious when your children are around them. Doesn't matter what breed of dog, constant supervision is a MUST!

Keep in mind, three dead children and all three mauled to death by pit bulls owned by their babysitters and consider this comment from Danny

Danny Gately  MrBrain 





Ok. Really? Haven't you heard that dogs are not a reflection of their breed but a reflection of the person/people that raise them? ENOUGH with this BAN PITBULLS "campaign." There was a time in life when pitbulls were the dog to have. I personally know a family with a pitbull that has NEVER and will NEVER show aggression towards people. That family babysits my 22-month old son and 4-month old daughter and I have no reservations whatsoever. Before you jump on the bandwagon maybe you should get your facts straight.






Tonya Ross 

Ok ..Well it seems to me everyone is picking on PITBULLS! Let me just say one thing....ANY animal can attack and hurt or kill you.From the smallest kitty cat to the largest elephant all animal's are dangerous it's in thier nature to be so.!

Mike Lowery · Works at H.h. gregg
NO SHE COULDVE BEEN ABUSING THE DOG.........56 YEARS OLD IS THE NEW 40.......PEOPLE ARE STILL SO CRUEL TO ANIMALS.........IVE HAD SEVERAL DOGS IN MY LIFETIME WHICH HAPPEN TO BE ALL PITBULLS AND IVE NEVER INDURED ANY INJURY.....EVEN AROUND MY KIDS

Karrie Breeden ·  Top Commenter · Works at Stay at home mommy
XXXXXXX absolutely there is crime everywhere not arguing that my argument is with you and how ignorant you are being towards these dogs who are kind hearted, friendly ,compassionate animals who can only take so much abuse before they let you know the only way they know how that enough is enough
Karrie Breeden ·  Top Commenter · Works at Stay at home mommy
poodles are pretty viscous dogs you wanna ban them too
Karrie Breeden ·  Top Commenter · Works at Stay at home mommy
What happened to love all GODS creatures snakes kill people people kill people if we banned everything that killed there wouldn't be much left in this world

Chevy Freese · University of Phoenix
I have to agree with what some others have said. Pit Bulls attack other dog they are usually friendly to people. It is very sad this dog will lose its life. To bad it wasn't an orca, then we would say trainer error LOLOLOL I had a pit bull that would cuddle up with my son (1 yr old) everyday at nap time and every night. He was sweet as pie to people. Other dogs was another story. He would jump the fence and go at them. He never attacked or hurt anyone or any other animal he would just chase them.. I believe it is all in how they are raised.

Billy E Rogers ·  Top Commenter · John Marshall High School
XXXXXXX you're a pussy. Come on down and lets see what you got. Kill me if you can, boy. John Wayne Gacy wanna be. People This is a prime example of the kind of person that hates...Mass murderer in the making.





TruthSpeaker
@old_dollor @TreeWizard  So because the injuries the child suffered killed him, the dog should be put to death?  Really?  I am pretty sure there was no premeditation on the dog's part.  So, if a little kid out on the street who is NOT being supervised by their parents runs right out in front of your car, and you are unable to stop, and the child dies, should you be put to death????  There would have been no more premeditation of your part in that situation than there was with the dog.  We don't know the whole story here with this dog.  Maybe the dog snapped and the boy started hitting the dog...shouldn't the dog have the right to defend itself?  Put blame where blame belongs, and that is with the parents who were not properly supervising the children. 





TruthSpeaker
@thebluemuskrat @TruthSpeaker @old_dollor @TreeWizard  You state "why take a chance with a dog that may do the same thing again?"  So, we should kill whatever we fear?   We "fear" this dog might attack again, even though there is no evidence stating such.  Rather than giving the dog a chance in the proper home environment, we sentence it to death so WE can feel safe.  As a society we give murderers (whose crimes are usually premeditated) a second chance, yet we cannot give an animal acting on pure instinct the same chance?  Fear is an irrational emotion that should not rule one's life. 
 LiberalVoice

More bigotry toward specific breeds of dogs. Pit bulls are the gentlest most friendly dog in the world, something else must've caused this tragedy to take place which had nothing to do with the type of dog
-14
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For those who might not have had enough of this, click here for Death and Excuses

And here for Death and Excuses part 2

And here for Death and Excuses part 3

And here for information on the mauling death of an Ohio woman who was killed by her own German Shepherd (yes, an attack that you will never hear about because the dog was not a pit bull)