Pit bull roundup 9/2/2016 Pit bulls attack at schools, at cookouts, attack visitors in the home, attack at yard sales, attack police, attack children on bikes and children on porches, and pit bull advocates complain of discrimination.

Here is a sample of the backlog of Ohio pit bull attack news stories.  If my demise depends upon being caught up on pit bull attacks in Ohio I will live forever.

7/7/2016

Elyria Ohio

Lorain County

An Elyria High School coach and assistant principal rescued four of his players from an attack by a pit bull mix  just outside the school.  The dog chased, and bit the four players.  Coach Brett Heighberger reacted quickly.  Per Newsnet5 "Police said soccer coach and Elyria High School assistant principal Brett Heighberger held down a large brown pit bull mix by the neck while sitting on the dog’s body, all in an attempt to keep the dog from charging his players.

“I’m just doing what I would normally do," Heighberger said. "I’m the assistant principal there. I’m the head coach. My job, my number one job, is to make sure the kids are taken care of and in a safe place."

The players were treated and released. The pit mix was taken to the County shelter.  If the dog's owner is not located the dog may be euthanized. 

Thanks Coach Heighberger!

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6/10/2016
Lorain Ohio
Lorain County 

A six year old boy was bitten in the face by a friend's pit bull while visiting the home of that friend. The Morning Journal reported " An officer responded to a Euclid Avenue home where the boy’s father said the boy was playing with another 6-year-old boy at another Euclid Avenue home. A short time later, the boy returned home crying with the dog bite.

The dog’s owner said when the bite occurred, he was upstairs at the home where the boys were playing, and the dog usually was friendly with the boy, the report said.

The boy was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center for treatment."

 It was reported that the pit mix was in heat, this is not an acceptable excuse.  The "nanny dog" strikes again. 

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7/2/2016

Cincinnati Ohio

Hamilton County

An eight year old boy was bitten by a family pit mix while at a cookout with his father's relatives.  The child was not treated for over an hour while family members attempted to treat the bites by running water over them.  After failure of this inappropriate treatment the mother received a phone call from a guest at the party informing her of her son's injuries.  The mother was at the hospital waiting when her son arrived.  There have been no offers of help from those responsible for the pit bull mix. 

When police went to the home to investigate, SURPRISE! The dog was not there.  

Click here to step into the Emergency Room with  video of the treatment of this child.  He cries but bravely endures. Impressive child!  Why are we putting our children at risk?  Why do pit bull owners feel free to turn their backs on their responsibilities and go on to hide the mauler?  

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5/11/2016
Oberlin Ohio 
Lorain County

A fourteen year old boy was attacked by his neighbor's pit bull as the boy was sitting on his own front porch.  Per the Morning Journal "Officers responded to Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin around 10:40 a.m. where they learned from the victim and his father that a white dog with brown spots that is believed to be a pit bull attacked the boy while he was sitting on the stoop by the front door of his apartment. According to the report, several blood spots and a significant puddle of blood were located in the front door to the victim’s residence.

The victim’s father and residents in the area believed this was not the first time the dog had bitten someone.

Police attempted to contact the dog owner but were unable to do so.  It is expected that the pit bull will be euthanized. 

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6/3/2016

Fremont Ohio
Sandusky county 

The Sandusky County Sheriffs Office reported a Chihuahua was killed by a pit bull.  The little dog crawled under a fence into the yard where the pit bull was harbored.  Chances that the Chihuahua would have died if the neighbor harbored a Beagle are remote.   


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7/6/2016
Avon Lake Ohio
Lorain County

In an attack you will never hear about, a West Highland White Terrier was mauled as it was being walked by a neighbor and two children.  The Terrier was later euthanized due to the severity of his injuries.  The attacking dog was a shepherd mix.  The owner of the shepherd mix was cited and the dog was designated a dangerous dog through the Avon Lake Civil Court. 

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5/2016
Kenton Ohio
Hardin County

Per Kenton Today "Information from the Kenton Police Department report states that an aggressive dog was in the area of the 1100 block of South Detroit St. The Pit Bull allegedly attempted to bite a women who was holding a yard sale.

It was determined that the dog belonged to a residence on Letson Ave. Nobody was at home at the time and the dog was found running in the middle of the street on Letson Ave. The Hardin County Dog Warden was contacted and the dog was apprehended.

The owner of the Pit Bull dog was issued a summons for failing to properly confine a vicious dog."

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3/15/2016
Lakewood Ohio
Cuyahoga County

Lakewood officials have decided to allow Scrappy the pit bull to remain in the community.  Lakewood has a pit bull ban but it was claimed that Scrappy was an assistance dog for a child with cystic fibrosis.

A privacy fence must be erected on the property where Scrappy is harbored and Scrappy must be muzzled in public. 

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3/21/2016
Dover Ohio
Tuscarawas County

A pit bull was euthanized after it attacked an Urichsville K9 officer as he was responding to a call about the near attack of a child.  Sounds like the person who called this in had great instincts.  Officer Hickman required stitches to his right hand after the dog bit him as he attempted to defend himself.

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2/28/2016
Dover Ohio
Tuscarawas County

On Feb. 28, a Dover police officer fatally shot a dog that he said charged him while he was responding to a call that the 100-pound dog entered a neighbor's backyard and attacked the neighbor's dog.    

According to two police reports on the incident, John Tucker, a Race Street resident, told officers his leashed 3-year-old pit boxer was attacked by the pit bull while in his backyard. He said a nearby resident was walking his three dogs, each without a leash, and one of the dogs — the pit bull — ran into his yard and attacked his pit boxer. Officers noted Tucker’s dog had visible blood on its ear and face. Tucker's neighbor called police after the attack.

Tucker said the owner of the three dogs has often walked his dogs without a leash, a claim the neighbor who called police backed up. "It's very irresponsible," Tucker said. "It's dangerous."

 A Dover police officer responding to Tucker's call went to the home of the pit bull owner. 
SURPRISE!  The pit bull owner was nowhere to be found but the dogs were in the yard.  Per the Times-Reporter   "One of the responding Dover police officers walked to E. Sixth Street to speak with the owner of the pit bull that attacked Tucker's dog. The officer was unable to immediately find the owner, but saw the three dogs in the owner's backyard walking in a fenced area. The officer wrote in his report that one of the dogs, similar in stature to a bull mastiff, began charging him and was not on a leash or in an enclosure.

"Its ears were pulled back, snarled, and showing all teeth and gums as it barked," the officer wrote in his report. "I identified this as an aggressive posture. I anticipated the dog taking me down."

The officer ran away from the dog to increase the distance between him and the aggressive animal. According to police reports: A mother was playing with her children in a nearby yard; the officer said he wanted to protect the family and "squared up with the dog with knife in hand."

The woman yelled at her children to get on the trampoline to avoid the dog. At that point, the officer said he noticed the two other dogs approaching him.

"I pulled my firearm and feared one or all of the dogs would attack, taking me to the ground, and then mauling me," the officer wrote in his report. "I held off on firing in case the dogs would suddenly stop, but the black dog continued. As it neared me, within 1.5 to 2 feet, I fired on the dog two shots as center mass as possible, as the dog was running perpendicular toward me."

The dogs ran back into the owner's yard, the dog that was shot died.  More from the Times -Reporter " I think the Dover Police Department handled the situation very well and in the best way they could," Tucker said. "If people don't like the way things are handled with the police, don't put yourself in the situation. I feel bad for the dog (that died). The dog didn't have to lose its life if the owner took proper precautions." The dog's owner could not be reached for comment."

Common sense from Mr. Tucker. 

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4/19/2016

Greenville Ohio

Darke County 

The family of a 13 year old boy knocked off his bike and  bitten by a pit bull want changes in local regulations dealing with biting dogs.  Per the Daily Advocate "Shawn Crumrine, the father of the victim, spoke to the Darke County Board of Commissioners during its Monday session. Crumrine said he was also planning to address the Greenville City Council on the same topic during its Tuesday night meeting.

“I’d like for the city and county to amend their ordinances on how it handles dogs that bite,” he said, suggesting that a dog which bites a person should be placed under immediate and indeterminate quarantine in custody of the Darke County Animal Shelter until a court can make a determination on its danger to the public.

 Greenville police reports indicate the boy was chased and  bitten by two dogs, one of them a pit bull.  The dogs were unlicensed and have bitten before, several times.  One of these was a postal worker.  It  was reported that the owner of the dogs, Jamie Hensil, was told to have his dogs put down but did not comply.

 The boy received 30 stitches and endured a series of rabies injections.  He, and other children in the household remain traumatized. The family has filed a civil lawsuit against the owner of the two dogs, they seek restitution and punitive damages.  It is appropriate to demand accountability.  

In this case the dogs were home quarantined.  Crumrine says in addition to having biting dogs quarantined by the county, he would like to see a “biting dog” registry established, tracking dogs which bite people, particularly within a school zone or public park."  

Makes sense to me.

Photos of the boy's injuries.  This was not a simple dog bite, t his child was mauled as he rode his bike home.  

This story  is a segue to more, per Bluebag Media "Just a couple weeks before the Greenville biting incident, local residents became aware of an online petition asking Darke County Animal Shelter to revise its policy on euthanizing pit bull-type dogs. The petition appears on the website change.org. People from across the United States have signed the petition and called the animal shelter.

Darke County Animal Shelter Director Duane Sanning has been fielding these calls, but is not comfortable with changing the county’s policy.

“How can I adopt out a pit bull to a family with kids, with another dog of a family cat without being able to evaluate them?” he told The Early Bird last week.

Sanning said most temperament testing procedures “have been proven to the degree of yes you do or no you don’t.” 

Hold this thought. 

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4/17/2016

Greenville Ohio

Darke County   

A petition was posted on the mostly ignored website Change.org by Columbus pit bull advocate Luke Westerman. The petition asks Darke County commissioners to change their "discriminatory" policies at the Darke County Shelter so pit bulls can be adopted out  to the public.  Why is Mr. Westerman, a resident of Franklin County making demands in Darke County?  Good question, I have no answer. 

The Dark County commissioners support the work done by County Dog Warden Duane Sanning.  Per Bluebag Media " “I just wish people would find the facts out before commenting,” said Commissioner Diane Delaplane. Especially those who believe the county shelter is rushing to kill dogs instead of attempting to either find their owners or place them for adoption. “They’re making statements that just aren’t true.”

Commission chairman Mike Stegall agrees.

“His (Sanning) policy is very, very satisfactory. Duane is very sensitive about the pit bull issue. He’s gone over the limit (required number of days to keep a dog at the shelter) trying to work with them. Animals are treated well by our shelter. He’s following the guidelines and goes above and beyond.”

Ohio policy states that unlicensed dogs brought to the shelter are to be kept for three days; while licensed dogs may be kept up to 14 days in hopes of finding their owners.

The Darke County Shelter spends a lot of resources, Sanning said, promoting dogs they have for adoption – with a radio spot, newspaper advertising and on the shelter’s website.

“Our adoption rate is 85 percent, the best in the state. Other shelters run about 45 percent,” Sanning explained.

Sanning said he has concerns about adopting out pit bulls or other aggressive dogs.

“The problem I have with pit bulls is the damage they do when they bite,” he said, noting that the breed originally was bred to fight. “How do I know they will not end up in a fighting ring in California?”

“The story, I think is simple. A golden retriever is a retrieving dog – it’s their instinct. A border collie is a herding dog. Pit bulls are a fighting breed. It’s in their DNA. They were bred to fight bears and other large animals. There’s just no way to know.”

Conducting temperament testing for dogs also is questionable, Sanning believes.

“None of them (tests) have been proven to the degree of yes you do or no you don’t,” he said. 

There are no plans to change policy in Darke County. Pickaway County got a very similar petition from Change.org.  Pickaway County does not  adopt pit bulls out  directly to the public either. The writer acknowledges that while no pit bulls have been euthanized in the County shelter due to space concerns in the last TWO YEARS this "discriminatory" policy MUST be changed.  Lets review, no pit bulls have been put down in two years, when pit bulls are available for the public nobody wants them anyway, they languish for months to years because the peaceful public reads actual news from actual news sources, the county commissioners are satisfied with the status quo but the discrimination must end.  I don't get it.          

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8/27/2016

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma  

This is as good a place to put this as any other, it is not local but it illustrates the perils of pit bulls. If you want to harbor these dogs you will be held accountable for them.  The owner of five pit bull mixes that killed a sixty year old man has been charged with second degree manslaughter. Edgar Brown, the victim was killed in his own yard by the pit mixes owned by Juan Marcos Diaz.

The victim's brother has filed a lawsuit against Diaz.  "The lawsuit says Diaz “failed in his duty to keep his vicious, fierce and/or dangerous dogs from assaulting Edgar Brown.”

Dexter Brown's attorney, Noble McIntyre, said the lawsuit isn't about money but about sending a message.

“Sometimes cases are about collectibility and sometimes cases are about accountability, and this is one that's about accountability,” McIntyre said Friday.

“There's no money in this for me. ... There won't ever be any money. There's no insurance policy.

“At some point, you have to hold these people accountable and send a message to the community as a whole that you're not going to be able to hide behind the fact that you don't have an insurance policy. You still are responsible,” McIntyre said.

“I'm going to go forward with the lawsuit for one purpose: to get a great big verdict, even though it's not collectible, to send a message ... to other dog owners.”

Accountability, yes!


Booking photo for Juan Marcos Diaz.  The maximum sentence for second degree manslaughter in Oklahoma is four years in prison, the minimum sentence is two years in prison.  Not enough in my opinion but it's a start.  If you want to harbor pit bulls you will be held accountable.

                                                           

Pit bull roundup 4/29/2016 The Toledo Blade reports pit bull attacks, pit bulls attack their owners, pit bull owners stay in jail, pit bulls attack goats, breeding accidents, a child recovers, a pit bull attacks a police K9 and it does not end well for the pit bull.

We have taken a few weeks off for a short sanity break but are back to work. Lots of material to work with.  Pit bulls make sure of that.

3/10/2016
Toledo Ohio
Lucas County

Two pit bulls attacked a smaller dog.  The pit bulls were shot by a neighbor of the pit bull owner.  The Toledo Blade does not make it clear if the shooter was the owner of the small dog.  Police were called to the scene and noted two pit bulls,  let me correct that because the news story comes from the Toldeo Blade, "pit bulls"covered with blood on the porch of a house on Wyman Street.  A police spokesman stated at least one of the pit bulls appeared to have been shot.

The Lucas County Care and Control sent staff to pick up the two pit bulls.  The injured small dog had already been rushed to a local animal hospital.  Per Lucas County Dog warden Julie Lyle, the owner of the pit bulls picked up her female pit bull but surrendered the male.  The male pit bull has "a serious injury to the left shoulder" (AKA gunshot wound) and has been medicated for pain but shelter staff is unable to render further treatment to the pit bull because it growls and bares his teeth to staff.  

Dog Warden Lyle plans to euthanize the aggressive male pit bull stating "we are not going to put a lot of resources into medical care for a dog who is aggressive."  How refreshingly sensible!

Ms Lyle states she believes that the pit bull owner was cited but could not verify this.  

3/11/2016
Toledo Ohio

More details on this attack.  The injured dog was a Parson Russel Terrier, the little dog lost a leg in the attack that occurred in his own, securely fenced  backyard  The pit bull was shot by a neighbor.  Both pit bulls were reclaimed by their owners on Thursday.

This is not likely to end well for the neighborhood, the male pit bull was declared a nuisance for menacing  a neighbor of the owners at a previous residence.  A change of address does not actually change the dog despite the assurances of pit bull advocacy.  Lucas County Canine Control officers have called on the pit bull owners home twice in 2015 and once in 2013.  How many chances will these two maulers get?

The pit bull owners were cited for unconfined dogs and one citation for failure to vaccinate for the male pit bull.  Wow...  Why is state law not being enforced?

Here is a surprise, the pit bull owners were unavailable for comment, and the Toledo Blade continues to call these dogs "pit bulls." Some things never change. .

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March 14, 2016
Piqua Ohio
Miami County

A woman reported being bitten, while on her own property, by two pit bulls. The pit bull owner, Michael Sowers, age 44, was cited for minor misdemeanor dogs running at large and minor misdemeanor permitting dogs to bite.  The woman was bitten in her own yard and two minor misdemeanor charges?  Has anyone in Miami County actually read the Ohio Revised Code?

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4/18/2016
Bellefontaine Ohio
Logan County

A pit bull owner had to be rescued, by police, from his own pit bulls. Terry L. Tevis, age 58, tried to break up a fight between his own dogs when his own pit bull turned on him. Per the Bellefontaine Examiner "A neighbor told police the most aggressive dog scaled a fence separating the animals and attacked one of the two dogs in that kennel.

Mr. Tevis tried to break up the fight and was attacked by the pit bull.

It is not clear whether all the dogs were pit bulls but the attacking dog was noted to be a pit bull.  

Tevis was transported via squad to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment. He had extensive cuts and wounds to his torso, arms, hands, and neck.

The attacking dog was transported to Top of Ohio Shelter.  As I recall, Steffen Baldwin is associated with this shelter but that is another topic.  Police spoke with Tevis at the hospital, asking if the pit bull could be moved to the Logan County Dog Warden so that it could be euthanized.  Tevis agreed three times, and also said the other two could go as well.

A quote from the FAQ page for the City of Bellefontaine's website "If you own a pit bull please contact city hall for additional requirements."   Click here for the dangerous animals ordinance in Bellefontaine.




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3/17/2016
DAYTON Ohio
Montgomery County

Now for some good news, a three year old boy named Trent is recovering from a pit bull attack in January.  Family members expect many more surgeries until Trent is in is twenties.  

Trent is the third generation of his family to be attacked by pit bulls.  Per ABC22now.com ""I got my grandson attacked in the face, my son attacked in the face, my son over here attacked in the leg, me attacked in the arm -- all pit bull dogs. None of them was our dog, all somebody else's dog," said Michael Carrico Jr, Trent's grandfather." 
                                                                    
The dog that attacked Trent was euthanized.



Trent just after the attack.


Trent as he recovers.

Click here for video.  THREE GENERATIONS of the same family attacked by pit bulls in Dayton. What will it take for Montgomery County to hire a real dog warden?

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4/26/2016
Elyria Ohio
Lorain County

A 50 pound pit bull mix dog attacked a 59 year old woman, Barbara Kane, on her hands as she peacefully walked down Middle Avenue in Elyria.  The 60 year old owner of the pit bull mix, Sharon Cain, was arrested.  The victim was transported to University Hospital's Elyria Medical Center for treatment.  Pit bull owner Cain stated her dog escaped from a fenced area that she considered secure.  Another "somehow" attack.  Cain was charged with dog at large, that should be easy to prove.

 


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4/28/2016
Columbus Ohio
Franklin County

A pit bull was shot by police as it attacked a police K9 in front of the Franklin County Courthouse.  The attack happened during a community event designed to allow the public to see what law enforcement officers do during their working days.  This crowd got the full effect.

The K9, named Vando, was being petted by Joe Micham when an unleashed pit bull attacked.  Vando's handler fired upon the pit bull and it is reported that a SWAT team member also opened fire.  The attacking pit bull was owned by 31 year old Aaron Slate.  Slate was charged with assaulting a police dog, and on an unrelated criminal trespassing charge.  

  
Vando, the police K9 was not seriously hurt.  The pit bull is dead.
 

Video is available here.  Raw video of the actual shooting is available here.  Three shots are heard on the video, the officers appear to be shooting straight down. A female voice is heard asking "where is the owner"?  A man appears about 45 seconds into the video, he appears to be the owner but exhibits no particular distress over the shooting of his pit bull.

A witness appears in two different TV station videos of this event.  He is shocked and upset that police shot the pit bull, in his opinion the dog should have been Tazed.  Tazers are not effective on red zone pit bulls and redirection of aggression is common.

Always remember, police K9s are police officers, they are handled by police officers who are armed. Pittie picked the wrong target.

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4/29/2016
Toledo Ohio
Lucas County

Write this date on your calendar, the Toledo Blade covered a pit bull attack and named the breed, this is the second time the Blade has done this since early March.

Two pit bulls, owned by 43 year old Anthony Allen, attacked and killed a third dog and pit a person.  An "unidentified person," one would expect this was a concealed carry permit holder, shot and killed the female pit bull and wounded the male pit bull before police arrived on the scene.  By the way, this attack happened very near a public school just to make it more outrageous.  Two security units were called by the school as children arrived this morning.  A school spokesperson stated they will continue to monitor the situation and may have the security units on site this evening as well.

The Blade article stated "Mr. Allen refused to take responsibility for his animals."  Exactly what that means is not known but the refusal to be responsible for pit bulls is common to pit  bull owners.

Why the Toledo Blade decided to cover this story is also unknown. As is the Bade's normal practice pit bulls became "pit bulls" because there is no such thing as a pit bull.  Must be a very slow news day in Toledo.

Click here for news video on  this story.  As the story is reported, one of the pit bulls ran to a property after being shot, apparently the home of its owner.Take a look at the property, classic.

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4/26/2016
Dayton Ohio/Columbus Ohio
Montgomery County/Franklin County

A hearing was held in the Ohio Senate Agriculture Committee on the Klonda Richey Act, named after Dayton dog mauling victim Klonda Richey who was killed by her neighbor's dogs in February of 2014.  Testimony was heard from proponents, and those not so thrilled with the bill. Having read the testimony of those with reservations on SB 151, it appears that they have not actually read the bill. The universal complaint from these speakers was on the euthanization of vicious dogs. They want vicious dogs returned to the community?   Those who have actually read the bill are aware that due process for dog owners is preserved.

Click here to read the testimony.  The link will take you to the main page for the Agriculture committee. Click on Committee Documents, you go to a list of hearing dates, click on April 26, 2016. SB 151 was the third bill heard.  I'm sorry for  the extra work but this is a government website. Nothing is easy.  

                          
Senator Bill Beagle, sponsor of SB 151.



Klonda Richey, killed by her neighbor's dogs in 2014.  Ms. Richey made dozens of calls to police and Montgomery County Animal Control about these dogs. No action was taken other than sternly worded post it notes attached to the dog owner's front door.

For more information please click here.

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3/24/2016
Cincinnati Ohio
Hamilton County

Per Cincinnati.com "Prince Charming, a goat brought to Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum as part of a program to see if grazing animals can control invasive plant species, died Wednesday afternoon after he and five other goats were attacked by a dog

Images of the dog, a pit bull, were captured on video surveillance.

Six goats – Pixie, Dixie, Prince Charming, Curley, Shirley and Della – were injured in the Monday night attack. The five surviving goats were initially in critical condition but are now in stable condition.

Seven goats were brought to preserve area near the center of the cemetery in February to see if grazing could eradicate Winter Creeper, English Ivy and other invasive species that choke out native plants. Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum suspended the program after the attack. The goats are being kept at an undisclosed, safe location.

Prince Charming had severe punctures and lacerations on both hind legs and could not nurse on Pixie due to her injuries, according to a post  Tuesday morning on Permaculture's  Facebook page. Woeste said it seems the goat died of an embolism resulting from injuries incurred in the attack.

"Curley has a broken back, and cannot stand, but she is eating and drinking," Permaculture posted. "... Shirley has a broken scapula, but is eating and drinking. Pixie, Dixie and Della have puncture wounds, lacerations and bruising."

Curley is not able to stand and is in a sling but she wags her tail when she is petted, Woeste said. Permaculture is irrigating the goats' wounds and giving them antibiotic shots. It will take months for the goats to heal completely.

The video at this link was done prior to the attack.

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4/18/2016
California's 2nd District Court of Appeals

This is not an Ohio story but it may serve as a warning to pit bull owners.  The appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling in the case of the fatal mauling of Pamela Devitt.  Per myLAnews.com "The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the defense’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence in the case of Alex Donald Jackson.

“Appellant knew his dogs were jumping his fence and attacking passersby,” the appellate court panel found in a 14-page ruling. “As an owner of animals with dangerous propensities, appellant had a duty to exercise reasonable care in keeping his dogs from jumping the fence, and his failure to do so caused the death of another person.”

Jackson was sentenced in October 2014 to 15 years to life in state prison after being convicted for the May 9, 2013, dog attack on Pamela Devitt, a 63-year-old Palmdale grandmother who was walking in the area as part of an exercise routine."                                           

Fifteen years to life in prison.  Is it worth it? 



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2/18/2016
Mt Orab
Brown County Ohio

A man and a woman were both hospitalized after being attacked by their own pit bulls. They were reportedly attempting to break up a fight between their own pit bulls, inside their own home, when one pit bull redirected upon them.  An alternative account of the attack appeared in the Ledger Independent " An attempt to introduce two pit-bull dogs who did not like each-other for a breeding session went horribly wrong on Thursday, after the dogs began to fight."

Responsible, thoughtful dog owners do not breed pit bulls.  Shelters across the United States report the dogs they harbor are 60% to 80% or more pit bulls. The percentage of pits in shelters will not change until pit bull owners accept the wisdom, and humanity of neuter and spay.  Why produce more dogs destined to suffer and die?  

Both pit bull owners were airlifted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.  The woman was the most seriously injured with wounds to her face. The man was injured on his arm. The attacking dog was removed to the Brown County Animal Shelter BUT the couple has the right to reclaim their mauler.

What?  Who would want the thing back?  There is no record of the decision made by the victims.

Neighbors stated the dogs did not appear vicious while they were outside.

 

                             
One does not read about airlifts of victims of redirected Beagle attacks.   Or Poodles.   Or Pugs.

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4/19/2016
Springfield Ohio
Clark County  

Here is a shocker, a pit bull owner states "my dogs are not vicious" after they jumped a fence and attacked a woman staying at the owner's house.  Pit bull owner Krystal Williams was not at home at the time of the attack.  Even though the victim was a guest in the home, Williams stated "There should have been no reason why she was in my yard" and claimed that she had told the victim, Keisha Baker to stay out of the yard.  Williams theorized her pit bull attacked her guest because the pit bulls were "protecting their puppies."  Golden retrievers do not send household guests to the hospital for treatment because puppies are on the property.  Per WHIO " Officers said the woman suffered injuries to her legs and hands and was transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center for treatment. Her condition was not available.

Witnesses described the scene as full of blood and screaming from the victim. “She was just laying on the ground crying and screaming,” Annie Patrick said, who witnessed the attack from inside a nearby home. “When I came out she was yelling for me to help.”

Patrick said the dogs were known to neighbors to escape the yard and would often tear up trash set out by homeowners.

Police said seven dogs, including three puppies, were located in the yard of the home and were removed by animal control officers. The breeds of the dogs is unknown, but two were believed to be pit bulls, according to police.

For video of the pit bull owner's statement click here.  For news video click here.

This story continues to evolve.  The pit bull owner stated to WDTNnews that the victim was a stranger attempting to enter the home through the back door but told WHIO that the victim was staying at her home but was told to stay our of the yard.  Pick a story and stick with it.

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4/18/2016
Mansfield Ohio
Richland County

While Ohio pit bull advocates lobby the city of Mansfield to drop their pit bull regulations the Richland County Health Department is looking for a white pit bull involved in a biting incident.

Per the Richland Source "The dog is described as an all-white pit bull. It was last seen in the Wood Street area in Mansfield on Sunday.

Anyone with information about this dog should immediately call Richland Public Health. Authorities advise individuals not to attempt to restrain the dog.

However, anyone with information about a canine fitting this description should call 419-774-4500."

One seldom sees warnings like this for Irish Setters or Chihuahuas, but take from this what you will.  

We have LOTS more pittery to catch up on but enough is enough for the evening.

                      

Cleaning up the backlog of pit bull attacks, mega pit bull roundup, September 14, 2012

These will be in no particular order, I'm just cleaning house this morning.

This one is for you Crashedlife...In a story dated August 27, 2012, Columbus Ohio police shot two pit bulls after three citizens were bitten while attempting to help another dog that was attacked by the two pit bulls.  Lets hear it from pit bull advocacy "human aggression is DIFFERENT from dog aggression."

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/aug/27/2-dogs-shot-killed-officers-after-attack-ar-1151282/

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From Ashtabula Ohio, in a story dated August 30, 2012, Police responded to a call regarding a cat owned by senior citizens being torn apart by two pit bulls.  Police and the Dog Warden spoke to neighbors who demanded the dogs be picked up.  The Dog Warden followed one of the  pit bulls back to a residence with a tall stockade fence and watched the pit bull calmly climb over the fence and back into its yard.  Both of the pit bulls belonged to Wanda Kelley who stated that she was aware that her dogs regularly climbed over the fence.  The same two pit bulls had killed another cat the previous day.  The dogs were transported to the APL in Kingsville.  No further information was available on the ultimate disposition of these dogs.   No information was available on the thought pattern of Ms. Kelley, how can you KNOW that your dogs are able to escape from your yard and terrorize the neighborhood and kill other people's pets and think nothing of it until the Police appear on your doorstep.  Another "responsible pit bull owner"....

http://starbeacon.com/local/x277244061/Two-pit-bulls-attack-and-kill-neighbors-cat-in-Ashtabula

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From Canton Ohio, a nine year old boy was transported to Mercy Medical Center after being bitten by two dogs, a pit bull and a boxer mix.

http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x521652861/Canton-boy-9-bitten-by-two-dogs

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In Lucas County Ohio (Toledo) Humane Ohio offers reduced cost spay or neuter for pit bulls only through programs called Fix-a-bull, and Primp-Your-Pit.  The cost to the pit bull owner is $5.  For pit bull owners who do not reside in Lucas County, the same services are offered for $20.  Ohio or Michigan pit bull owners are not required to have current licenses on their dogs.   I find it offensive that all low income dog owners are not  given the same services, but at the same time I recognize that even with the ridiculously low priced surgeries, pit bulls have the absolutely lowest rate of spay and neuter of any dog breed in the United States, as reported in the JAVMA April 1, 2011 issue.  One would think that "responsible pit bull owners" should not require such special treatment  given that a million pit bulls are euthanized in American shelters every year.

http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=786330

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In a story dated September 12, 2012, Elyria Police shot a pit bull seven times with an assault rifle after the dog burst through a garage door to charge the officers.  Police were responding to a call regarding a man threatening his neighbor with a hand gun. Sylvester Oliver, 63, was charged with 2 counts of aggravated menacing, disorderly conduct persisting, and dog at large.  Oliver, reportedly smelling of alcohol, was arrested and taken to Lorain County jail.  There was no report on the condition of the pit bull.

http://morningjournal.com/articles/2012/09/13/news/doc5051575bdc96b227680335.txt

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In a story dated September 10, 2012, a College Hill (Cincinnati) woman was transported to a local hospital after being mauled by her own pit bull inside her own home.  Susan Mazzei was listed in serious condition.  Mazzei, age 71, found the abandoned pit bull in the woods near her home several months ago.
Reports indicate that this pit bull has bitten Mazzei previously and also killed a cat.  Hard to imagine why this dog was abandoned isn't it?

Cincinnati dropped its pit bull ban last spring and has already had a mauling death by a pit bull/designer dog mix.  Attack stories out of this city are increasing but current local and state law was written by an animal rights PAC.  As in other areas, when animal rights organizations write law regarding vicious dogs, only vicious dogs are protected.  After Mrs. Mazzei is discharged from the hospital she may pick up her dog after paying a $50 fee because the dog is now considered vicious.  And this protects the public how?

http://www.local12.com/guides/petcare/story/College-Hill-Woman-Attacked-by-Stray-Dog-She/qsfpPNZiHUqS-dbe4uw3Ag.cspx?rss=30


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From Youngstown Ohio and dated September 14, 2012.

 A new pit bull owner remains hospitalized and his dog is dead after the dog attacked him on Wednesday.   It is reported that the attack left this unidentified pit bull owner with a severed artery in his leg.  He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center where he was rushed into surgery to repair the damaged artery.

I will simply quote the well written article written by John Goodwin of the Vindy.

"Dave Nelson, deputy dog warden with the Mahoning County Dog Pound and Adoption Center, said the man had acquired the adult male dog about two weeks ago and was trying to put the dog into a pen when the animal turned on him.
Police and Nelson arrived in the area to capture the dog, but the animal reportedly attacked the van Nelson was driving and continued to act aggressively after being hit with a tranquilizer.
“We tried giving him water. I tried everything to calm him down. I don’t know what went wrong. ... He started attacking the wheels of my truck. The last thing you want to do is put a dog down like this, but we had no choice,” Nelson said.

Police chased the animal through various East Side streets before catching up to the dog on Edgar Avenue. Officers were forced to put the dog down with three shots from a shotgun.
The dog is being checked for rabies.
There was no word late Thursday on the man’s condition, but Nelson said he will be cited for failure to confine the dog and failure to obtain licenses for four other dogs on his property." 

Another "responsible pit bull owner" it appears.

Less than a day later Police and Nelson responded to a call on another pit bull attack.  This time it was an attack on a postal worker.  For all the pit bull owners who feel that their size and skill will allow them to control their pit bull at all times, this might be an eye opener.  At the time of this attack the pit bull owner was outside hosing the animal off when the mailman appeared.  The dog bit the mailman on the arm.  The mailman was transported to St. Elizabeth Medical Center for treatment.  This hospital may have an Emergency Room bay set aside for pit bull mauling victims.  The pit bull's owners confined the dog to the house but they will be cited for failure to license the dog and possibly other violations.  Youngstown law requires pit bull owners to carry $100,000 in insurance and to keep the dogs in an enclosed pet or on a leash no longer than four feet.   

http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/sep/14/pit-bull-owners-to-be-cited-in--separate/?mobile