Seven-month-old Akron child killed by family pit bull. Update 12/14/2020, no charges and the pit bull is still alive.

8/7/2020
Akron Ohio
Summit County.



A seven-month-old boy being watched by his grandmother was attacked by the family pit bull Friday afternoon.  The boy was transported to Akron Children's Hospital but has died.

The child's grandmother was also bitten by the dog but she refused treatment.

Summit County Animal Control is holding the pit bull. No charges will be filed.  

There are no further details at this time.  An autopsy was performed but results are not available at this time. 

This is the nineteenth fatal dog attack in Ohio since the Ohio Legislature passed HB 14, the bill that was written by Utah based Best Friends Animal Society deregulating pit bulls and rewriting Ohio dangerous dog laws.  Ohio residents were assured that HB 14 would make Ohio communities safer.  In the eight years since HB 14 was passed Ohio has seen 12 fatal pit bull attacks and 7 fatal dog attacks by all other breeds combined.  In the full decade prior to the passage of HB 14, there were 5 fatal dog attacks in Ohio.  Sound safer to anyone?

Akron does regulate pit bulls, here is the text of Akron law dealing with pit bulls. 

E.

Any person owning, keeping, possessing, harboring, maintaining, or having the care, custody, or control of a Pit Bull, Canary Dog or American Bulldog or vicious dog shall:

1.

Identify the dog by having the dog wear, at all times, a fluorescent green collar available upon payment of a fee, from Customer Service;

2.

Post on the premises, in a conspicuous place where the dog is kept, at least one city-issued warning sign available, upon payment of a fee, from Customer Service. The sign shall be visible and capable of being read from the public highway or street;

3.

Identify the dog by having the dog tattooed with a code number provided by the Customer Service Division;

4.

Notify the Customer Service Division within twenty-four hours if the Pit Bull, Canary Dog or American Bulldog or vicious dog has died or has been sold or donated, and provide the Customer Service Division with the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner;

5.

Keep the dog secured at all times by one of the following means:

a.

Keep the dog inside the owner's home;

b.

Keep the dog in a locked enclosure which has a top, and has a concrete base with the fencing securely attached or anchored to the concrete perimeter to a depth of six inches;

c.

Keep the dog muzzled and on a chain-link leash that is not more than six feet in length which is held in the hand of a person who is of suitable age and discretion and is outside with the dog.

6.

Pay a fee and annually, between January 2 and January 20, and whenever a dog is newly obtained, register the dog with the Customer Service Division; at the time of registration provide proof of liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than fifty thousand dollars because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the dog and shall provide a certificate of insurance to Customer Service at the time the collar required by § 92.25(E)(1) is obtained;

7.

Ensure that the dog does not go unconfined on the premises of another or be at large within the city;

8.

Annually license the dog, if the dog is more than three months of age, with the County Auditor. Failure of any dog at any time to wear a valid license tag shall be prima facie evidence of lack of licensing;

9.

Vaccinate the dog against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at least once every three years; a tag indicating that said dog has been vaccinated against rabies must be worn by the dog at all times. Failure of any dog at any time to wear the rabies vaccination tag issued by the licensed veterinarian who administered the vaccine shall be prima facie evidence of the dog's lack of vaccination against rabies;

10.

Provide two color photos of the dog to Customer Service at the time the collar required by § 92.25(E)(1) is obtained. Provide one color photo of dog showing the tattoo number after the dog has been tattooed.


12/14/2020 Update - Police state that there will be no charges.  The Pit bull is apparently still alive and being held by Summit County Animal Control. 

Why?   

Yet another dog mauling death in Ohio

There has been another dog mauling death in Ohio. After four dog mauling deaths in 2017, more than any other state, a Cincinnati area mother, forty-two-year-old Della Riley was killed by her own pit bull in her own home yesterday. Police were called to the scene after neighbors noted the victim's young son who ran from the house asking for help.

The coroner's report stated that the woman was killed by her pit bull.  She also owned a Rottweiler but that dog was not implicated in the mauling death.  Reports by neighbors that the woman suffered a seizure prior to her death are unconfirmed.  Per Cincinnati.com "The mother had a seizure. I don't know if the dog got scared or whatever but he attacked her and ripped her throat out," said Jon Seymoure, who lives next door."

The woman also suffered a gunshot wound, postmortem.  She was hit by a ricochet shot from police who were forced to shoot the dog.  So far there have been no reports of previous incidents involving the pit bull but follow up stories may clarify that point.

For anyone keeping count, there have been sixteen dog mauling deaths since Ohio Lawmakers passed the bill sponsored by Representative Barbara Sears, HB 14 in 2012, just six years ago.  HB 14 was written in Utah by lawyers employed by Best Friends Animal Society.  This bill was sold to state lawmakers as "finally giving dog wardens the tools to deal with dangerous dogs."  In the decade prior to passage of the Best Friends bill, Ohio had five dog bite related fatalities.  The numbers speak for themselves.

Current Ohio law, written by a well funded out-of-state special interest organization employing lots of lobbyists and lawyers, has proven to be a complete disaster.  In response to the failure of current Ohio law, SB 195 and HB 352 were written to hold owners of violent dogs accountable and better protect peaceful Ohio residents but the bills languish in committee.

What is wrong with the Ohio Legislature?  How many people have to die?  The death of Della Riley was not the first bite from her pit bull.  Below is a screenshot from her Facebook page.









For video click here.

Pit bull roundup, Fulton County drama continues, take this pit bull PLEASE and we will throw in a gift card, real police dogs and pit bull "police dogs"

12/30/2015
Cleveland Ohio
Cuyahoga County



Just when we thought we were done with 2015 this turned up.  another "take this pit bull PLEASE" offering.  This one comes with a $50 gift card!  Simon is waiting for you at the Cleveland City Pound.  An opportunity like this is rare, better hurry.



The Cleveland Pitties Facebook page features lots of available pit bulls.  Simon must be special because he is the only one that comes with a gift card.

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1/1/2016
Columbus Ohio
Franklin County

King the pit bull was promoted by a local TV station in November.  The cheerful video stated clearly that King is dog aggressive (And presumably other animals as well.  Got a cat?  Probably King is a poor choice for you)  and was available to an adopter without other dogs in the household.  Does the widow next door have a Poodle?  The Franklin County shelter has given no consideration to the widow's Poodle in their eagerness to get King out the door.

On January 1st the NBC4 News trots King out again.  Now King is now in the custody of the I Have a Dream Rescue.  The rescue's trainer assures the public that King  "may slowly be introduced to other dogs" and after he has had some time to decompress he will be available for adoption to someone willing to "work with him."




The rescue still promotes King as only suitable for a household with no other dogs. It is not likely that King has changed much in just a few weeks.  The desperation to place this aggressive animal increases.

On January 1st 2016 a search on the Petfinder website for pit bulls in Ohio gives us 18,497 available pit bulls, this is JUST on the Petfinder site.  Why would anyone choose a known dog aggressive pit bull picked up as a stray (failed in at least one household, that's why he was on the streets) taken to a County Shelter where he was deemed too risky to adopt out directly to the public, and transferred to a rescue to limit liability for the county?

Mandatory neuter and spay would solve a lot of problems here.

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1/2/2016
Sandusky Ohio
Erie County

It is only January 2nd and the Sandusky police scanner sounds a warning "a caller advises that an attacking pit bull is running loose on E. Forrest Dr."  So much for a peaceful start to the new year in Sandusky!

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1/3/2016
Akron Ohio
Summit County

I'm stuck on "take this pit bull PLEASE" listings and I need to get over it, but just one more.  I promise.  This is Clyde.





I swear, Clyde is listed as a Basset Hound!!!! You can visit this "Basset Hound" at the Summit County Animal Control facility.  Lets change the available pit bull count to 18,498.

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1/3/2016
Cleveland Ohio
Cuyahoga County

Cleveland police shot at two Bull Mastiffs that were attacking another dog. A neighborhood resident was also attacked. Lets not even pretend that we don't know that Bull Mastiffs are 60% Mastiff and 40% pit bull.  The condition of the dogs, and the human victim were not reported.



Update - New reports indicate that the attacking dog was a "bull Mastiff mix" and it was shot while attacking a pedestrian and the pedestrian's dog.  The attacking dog was killed.  Appropriate.

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1/3/2016
Medina County Ohio

The Medina County Sheriffs Department has made a $12,400 deposit on two new police dogs, both German Shepherds.  The price for each dog is $12,400, total of $24,800.  These dogs were bred in Slovakia and trained in the Czech language for tracking and narcotics detection.  The dogs were imported by Excel K-9 Services.

Please note, these dogs were bred for police work.  They are already trained for tracking and narcotics detection but will not be ready to begin working for another 14 weeks.  They will have an additional six or eight weeks of individual training plus another six weeks of training with two deputies.  Please note this is 14 more weeks of training for these two, already trained police dogs. This will be important later.

This training is normal for police dogs, they are working dogs. Congratulations to Medina County!


The new Medina County police dogs were purchased with money raised by the community.  Wonderful story!


Here is where we are going to take a look at other police dogs.  The Cities of Poughkeespie New York, and the Normangee Texas have new police dogs too.  They both have new pit bull K9 officers. This is a non traditional choice and there is an explanation for this.  That answer is the relentless promotion of pit bulls by the Animal Farm Foundation.

A bit of background here.  New York state is the home of Jane Berkey, wildly wealthy heiress and pit bull fanatic.  She owns both the Animal Farm Foundation and the National Canine Research Foundation, both are run out offices on her farm in rural New York state, in Dutchess County New York to be exact.  The money train that funds pit bull advocacy leaves the station from Berkey's farm. Poughkeepsie in the county seat for Dutchess County New York.

Some economic facts on Poughkeepsie from Wikipedia. " The median household income in the city was $29,389, and the median income for a family was $35,779. Males had a median income of $31,956 versus $25,711 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,759. About 18.4% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over."

Poughkeepsie is not a big money community and one would expect that a K9 officer (remember the purchase price of the German Shepherds in Medina County) given free of charge to the city police department would be accepted.  Especially when that gift comes from a prominent member of the community.

Enter Kiah, pit bull police dog provided to the cash strapped Poughkeepsie police department free of charge, a gift from the Animal Farm Foundation.  Kiah is expected to serve as a narcotics detection dog and as a tracking dog, AND, as a "breed ambassador."  Who could see that coming?  Kiah was a stray found in a Texas shelter, as was Wilson, a pit bull police dog given to the Normangee Texas Police department by the Animal Farm Foundation.

Background information on Normangee Texas from Wikipedia "As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 719 people, 277 households, and 185 families residing in the town. "
"The median income for a household in the town was $28,594, and the median income for a family was $34,444. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $16,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,336. About 16.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over."
A very small town with economic challenges.

The feel good piece written about Wilson gives a bit more information on the pit bull police dogs provided by the Animal Farm Foundation.  These dogs have received all of FOUR WEEKS of training.   Video on the Normangee link tells us that the Animal Farm Foundation has provided seven of these strays-to-K9-officers-in-just-four-weeks to police departments across the United States.  Presumably these dogs were accepted by police departments with economic challenges.

Kiah and Wilson will have specialized duties, drug sniffer and tracker, not your typical police K9. These limited duties will keep Kiah and Wilson out of high stress situations where their prey drive might lead to injury to the public.  Oh, they will be "breed ambassadors" alright, lots of photo ops with the pit bulls posed in front of police cars, this is pure publicity stunt.

Click here for the thoughts of another blogger on the free pit bull police dogs, and the man behind the fraud.  Thank you to the blogger at the Sudden, Random, Unprovoked and Violent  Blog!

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1/5/2016
Wauseon Ohio
Fulton County

The drama over Bosco the pit bull continues.  Quick review.  Bosco was a stray, picked up October 18th in Toledo Ohio  Bosco was placed with a Fulton County family by the Lucas County Pit Crew, headed by Jean Keating.  Bosco bit a member of his new family just three days after placement, December 26th.  Click here for the back story, it will be found in about the middle of the post.

Bosco has been designated a dangerous dog by the Fulton County Dog Warden and is in quarantine at the Fulton County Pound.  Jean Keating plans to fight this, and goes on to state that "There is a really good chance that Bosco wasn't even involved."  By making this statement Keating, who was not present at the time of Bosco's attack, has called the victim of the attack a liar, as well as all those present at the time.  Keating speculates that since there was another dog inside the house at the time of the bite, that dog was responsible for the bite.  Keating points to a year old bite report for that dog as her proof.

After Bosco's bite, the victim's wife called the Lucas County Pit Crew requesting immediate pick up of the pit bull, The family was uncomfortable keeping Bosco because they have children.  Logical. The victim went to a local hospital for stitches.  Bosco was taken by a representative of the Pit Crew to a Pike Township foster home for quarantine. The Lucas County Pit Crew resisted efforts by local authorities to quarantine Bosco at the Fulton County Pound. Keating refused to reveal the location of Bosco and gave the Fulton County Health Department contact information for her attorney.  Dale Emich, the attorney, gave up the address a day later.  Bosco's fosters refused to turn the dog over to authorities so the county obtained a warrant and seized the pit bull.  Bosco is now quarantined at the Fulton County Pound.

Keating continues to threaten the Fulton County Dog Warden with a lawsuit and ethics complaint. Laughably, she stated "It's misuse of your public office to target an individual or a specific organization because you're angry" while she is targeting the dog warden and the county commissioners because she is angry. Keating has targeted this dog warden for an extended period of time, this is not a new behavior.  The dog warden did not bite Bosco's new owner, the dog placed by the Lucas County Pit Crew bit the new owner. That is the responsibility of the Lucas County Pit Crew.

The dog warden did exactly as he was supposed to do, per the law pushed on the residents of Ohio by Jean Keating and Barbara Sears. For a bit of background here we are going to stroll over to national blog Sudden, Random, Unprovoked, and Violent for a blast from the past video interview by Keating.  She makes this statement regarding the law written by lawyers for Best Friends Animal Society (headquartered in Utah) for Ohio. "[The new law] is much more proactive. It identifies dangerous dogs before they hurt people. That's where our focus needs to be: identifying these dogs long before these incidents occur. Dog attacks occur with every breed, in every city, and most of them are equally horrific.¹ Keating wants dangerous dogs identified before they hurt someone but she did not focus on Bosco, she passed him on with the statement that he was just "jumpy."

The Pit Crew, responsible for placement of Bosco,  did not identify Bosco as a dangerous dog prior to the December 26th bite of the new owner. They continue to deny this despite the bite report and quarantine of Bosco. Dog Warden Banister did as his job requires. After "the incident" he declared Bosco dangerous and quarantined him.  Hating and persecuting the man for doing his job is unproductive.  PLEASE click on the link to watch Keating's interview.  My favorite part of the video is Tom Skeldon getting the opportunity to say "I told you so" about the  failure of the Keating/Sears bill.  Read the thoughts of the SRUV blogger on the failure of the "proactive" Keating/Sears bill.

I digress.  A quote from the Blade "Ms. Keating said Bosco is being treated as a pawn as part of a disagreement between the rescue and Fulton County.  The group is participating in grass-roots efforts to investigate the pound's overall operations, they have been critical of the dog warden, county commissioners, and county policies."  A second quote "We have pending litigation with (dog warden Brian) Banister in another situation. We've shown the public that he doesn't do his job.  He saw an opportunity to take it out on this poor dog."

Wow, I can't imagine why Fulton County officials do not favor Ms. Keating or her Lucas County organization.

It is important to note that a county dog license is considered proof of ownership of a dog.  The Lucas County Pit Crew did not bother to obtain a license for Bosco in Lucas County or in Fulton County.  The Pit Crew did not license Bosco until the day after they picked him up, December 27th. I can't explain this but a quote from the Toledo Blade states "The tag number listed in the sheriff's report returns two different registrants in 2014 and 2015, and neither dog listed to those owners matches Bosco's description."  What tag did the Pit Crew put on Bosco?

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1/6/2016
Wauseon Ohio
Fulton County

Fulton County officials have filed criminal charges against Jean Keating, head of the Lucas County Pit Crew, and against volunteers Kevin Bauer and Andrea Walters.  All three face misdemeanor charges in Fulton County Western District Court.   Keating and Walters face second degree misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business and a minor misdemeanor charge for violating a rabies quarantine.  Bauer is facing a charge of violating a rabies quarantine.  Hearings are scheduled on February 9th.

In a first ever event, Keating refused to comment to Blade reporters.  Keating is now represented by a new attorney, Kirsten Knight, Knight did also not respond to Blade requests for comments either.

A quote from the Blade "The Pit Crew's board of directors released a short statement on the charges Tuesday afternoon.  'The Lucas County Pit Crew is an all volunteer, non profit organization that is comprised of dedicated individuals who will always stand up and speak our when they feel a dog is being mistreated.  Nobody within the organization engaged in any criminal conduct and the evidence will speak for itself.  Our focus remains on the return of Bosco to our care unharmed."

The Pit Crew will file for a court hearing to contest the dangerous dog designation given by Fulton County Dog Warden Brian Banister.

The Fulton County Commissioners have issued a statement "Upon expiration of the quarantine, the dog's owners will be responsible for the dog."  Fulton County considers the Fulton County couple who adopted Bosco from the Lucas County Pit Crew to be the legal owners.  Keating considers the Pit Crew to be the lawful owners of Bosco.  Keating claims that the couple transferred ownership of Bosco to the Pit Crew when the dog was picked up but the dog was not signed over.

Crowd funding to pay the Pit Crew's legal expenses for this fiasco totaled $3000 on the first day.  Pit bull activists have never donated a cent to a pit bull victim to pay medical bills but they donate $3000 to defend a biter, Remember, Pet Finder tells us that there are 18,497 available pit bulls in Ohio and this one, a biter, gets $3000 donated for legal expenses.
   
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After all that drama, lets remember why we are here.



This is Xavier Strickland.  He was walking with his mother in their Detroit neighborhood on the day of his attack, December 2nd.  Xavier's mother is a volunteer at the local grade school, that was their destination.  Xavier and his mother were attacked by three pit bulls, Xavier was dragged across the street and under a gate, mauled and disemboweled by four pit bulls.  His mother, and horrified neighbors were unable to reach him, the gate was locked.

This is Judge Lydia Nance-Adams listening to witness testimony at a preliminary hearing for the owner of the pit bulls.  The only possible appropriate response.



Judge Nance-Adams was asked by the defense attorney to reduce the one million dollar bond for the pit bull owner.  The judge refused.

1/7/2016 Update
The owner of the pit bulls that killed Xavier Strickland will stand trial on second degree murder charges. Per WTKG "A judge said Thursday there's enough evidence to send Geneke Lyons to trial on the murder charge and other crimes."


For more information please click here.

Wrongful death lawsuit naming Montgomery County officials including Dog Warden Mark Kumpf, not shocking.

No one was surprised at the news from Dayton Ohio on Friday.  A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the estate of Klonda Richey against Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Commissioners, Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf, and the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.

On the anniversary of Klonda Richey's death neighbors and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil, this vigil was unlike those held by pit bull advocates to publicize the fate of pit bulls humanely euthanized in Ohio shelters.  The February 6th vigil memorialized a woman well thought of in her community and loved by her friends and neighbors.  The vigil memorialized a woman brutally mauled to death by her neighbor's dogs, dogs that she complained of dozens of times to both the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and to the Police.  Dogs that left Klonda Richey's body naked and bleeding in the snow in front of her own home.  The vigil memorialized a frightened woman who took her fears to the Montgomery County courts asking for a protection order but was refused that protection, a woman failed by the system in Dayton.

The death of Klonda Richey brought international attention to Dayton Ohio, and to the sad state of animal control in Montgomery County Ohio.   The story unfolded to reveal dozens of calls by the victim to Dayton police and to Montgomery County Animal Control, led by Mark Kumpf who is also the current president of the Ohio County Dog Wardens Association.  Kumpf's protocol called for nothing more than sternly worded post it notes affixed to the front door on Richey's next door neighbors and owners of the dogs that killed her.


For more information on the fatal attack on Klonda Richey please click here and here.

For information on what the Ohio Revised Code would have allowed Mr. Kumpf to do to protect Klonda Richey please click here.    Please note the discussion of affidavits as allowed by current Ohio Revised Code but never offered to Klonda Richey.

This material was covered in a Pit bull Roundup in November but it fits here as well.  Note the new attitude toward affidavits.  Wow, who would have thought?
10/9/2014
Dayton Ohio 

Montgomery County is in damage control overdrive.  A two day seminar was held in Dayton for law enforcement and animal control officers from all over Ohio.  Per WDTN News " Officers, along with animal shelter employees, and municipal and county prosecutors met inside Sinclair Community College for a seminar to discuss ways to improve the response and investigation of dog mauling cases. The group also took time to discuss changing and adding legislation and asking legislators to strengthen dog laws."

I find it strange that there was no mention in the news story on the seminar of the mauling death of seven month old Jonathon Quarles Jr. mauled to death by his step grandmother's pit bull, inside her home in Dayton on July 20, 2014. The dog had a history of menacing a postal service employee and attacking a leashed dog being walked down the street. Montgomery county did not have ONE fatal attack in 2014, it had TWO fatal attacks.  The dogs in the first attack had dozens of complaints against them with no real action taken by animal control.  The dog in the second fatality had been cited by Montgomery County animal control twice. Damage control is needed here. 

A hot tipper tells me that part of the presentation by one Montgomery County official discussed the use of affidavits from the public regarding dangerous dogs in the community.  An affidavit form has been provided to dog wardens.  The Ohio Revised Code has always allowed the use of affidavits, as we discussed back in February.  Please click here for a refresher. Why did it take two deaths to get to this point?  Will Ohio lawmakers act on the requests for change in the ORC in order to better protect the safety of the public.  Quick review, Ohio has had nine fatal dog attacks since the passage of HB 14, the bill that would "finally give dog wardens the tools to deal with dangerous dogs." 

Jonathan Quarles Jr, age 7 months.


For information on the owner of the dogs that killed Klonda Richey please click here.


For the thoughts of another blogger on the state of animal control laws please click here.

For Klonda Richey's actual complaints on the dogs that killed her please click here.

For information on the lawsuit against the dog owners please click here.

For a bit of information on the grand jury please click here.  Spoiler alert there were no charges.

For a discussion of Dayton politics and investigations as they impacted the mauling death of Klonda Richey and Jonathan Quarles Jr please click here.  

For a bit of background information on Mark Kumpf's participation in the Best Friends Animal Society funded effort to pass a Best Friends Animal Society written bill to deregulate pit bulls in the state of Ohio please click here.

For those of you who might have just finished reading the review of Mark Kumpf's involvement in the passage of HB 14, I have a final bit of trivia. Below is a comment posted by the Lucas County Pit Crew, note the date.  The Senate Hearing on HB 14 was December 6, 2011. Jean Keating is president of the Lucas County Pit Crew and she turns up in the blog frequently, she is Ohio's breed specific advocate.  She breathlessly reports that she, Ledy Vankavage, legal representative of the out of state PAC that wrote HB 14 and a registered lobbyist for that organization, Matt Granito who was president of the Ohio County Dog Wardens Association, Mark Kumpf who was treasurer of the Ohio County Dog Wardens Association and is now president of that organization went out for an apparent high five celebratory dinner accompanied by the faux "service pit bull in training" Wendy.  How wildly inappropriate given the status of the bill at that time.  Links to background material on Wendy are below.

Lucas County Pit Crew

December 7, 2011 · 

Wendy rocked the Statehouse and made tons of new friends. She especially enjoyed dinner with Ledy VanKavage and dog wardens Matt Granito and Mark Kumpf. You've come a long way Wendy:)

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=245688675498714&id=132006960144997

Wendy makes an appearance at the Statehouse in June of 2011, identified by Jean Keating as a "service dog in training" 

Wendy returns to the Statehouse in December of 2011.  She turns up late in this post.  You are free to read the whole post but this is the part that deals with Wendy the "service pit bull in training."

"I will close this post with the story of Wendy the "Service Pit Bull in Training." Wendy made a personal appearance at the December 6, 2011 Senate hearing on HB 14.  She was brought into the hearing room by Jean Keating. There was nothing subtle about Wendy's entrance, it was "enthusiastic" for lack of a better word. The white pit bull made a bee line for the row of seated pit bull advocates. She was welcomed by each one of them, it appeared that each one of them had food for the dog. Keating began to speak, Wendy paid no attention to her whatsoever.

"I have brought Wendy with me today. Wendy is being trained as a service animal for a young child with post-traumatic stress disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, low muscle tone, and panic attacks. Wendy was chosen because she has the temperament and physical characteristics to perform the work needed to assist this child in leading a more normal life. Those same physical characteristics currently identify Wendy as a vicious dog under Ohio law. The American Staffordshire Terrier, which is a breed commonly referred to as a pit bull type is a popular choice for a service animal because of some unique qualities. They are hardy, athletic, and very socially connected dogs. They are also very easy to train as they are eager to please."


During Keating's testimony Wendy stood at the end of her leash and looked about the room, wandering a bit and returning to her line of friends, and their handsful of food. Wendy proved to be such a distraction that Keating was unable to remain in the hearing room after her testimony. She took Wendy out into the hall, where Wendy killed time by barking.

Interestingly, this was not Wendy's first appearance at a Statehouse hearing. Wendy accompanied Keating to a hearing in the Ohio House in June of 2011.  Actual service dogs in training are taught to remain quiet, lay down upon command, not seek attention or food from strangers, and focus attention on their handler. Wendy had none of these skills in December, what kind of "training" did she receive in the previous six months? This dog was chosen because she was "easy to train and eager to please?" 

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For Wendy's actual identity please click here.  Read the identifying information under the photo of Jean Keating and her three pit bulls.  Wendy appears in the is photograph and is clearly identified as just one of Keating's personal pets.  

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Well, this post has covered a lot of ground.  Many Ohio residents are looking forward to new bills promised by Senator Bill Beagle to fix the HB 14 mess.  Representative Winburn's HB 541 had a great deal to recommend it and it is hoped that it will reappear under the sponsorship of Minority Leader Fred Strahorn.  

Klonda Richey deserves to be remembered, honoring her memory by passing laws that will protect the public seems appropriate.  

Newark insanity.

Is the quick fix for pit bull attacks in a community with a pit bull ban opening the floodgates to countless more, and completely unregulated pit bulls?  Does that seem logical?

This appears to be the "thinking" of the Newark Advocate.  Please read the analysis by blogger Sudden, Random, Unprovoked, and Violent.  Click here for a thorough and thoughtful look at the Newark political situation.  Here is a short quote "  That bloody year is apparently of little consequence to the editors of the Newark Advocate, who in 2015 reversed course and published a series of articles unlike anything previously seen in pit bull advocacy. At least six articles appeared over a ten-day period, including a new editorial opinion in support of pit bulls.

In the middle of the publishing blitz, on Sunday, January 11, the Advocate published what appears to be a special insert. The heavily illustrated article, Pit bull owners share the softer side of 'bully breeds'was reprinted by newspapers across the country.^2"

This seems to be a good time to remind readers of the stats in Ohio since the Ohio Legislature passed HB 14 in 2012.   In the first two years since the passage of HB 14 Ohio has had nine fatal dog attacks, four by pit bulls, one by dogs called "pit/mastiff" mixes and four by all other breeds combined.  In the ten years prior to passage of HB 14 Ohio saw six fatal dog attacks.  

Historic note - HB 14 was written by out-of-state animal rights and breed specific advocacy PAC Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends paid registered lobbyists to push the bill and sold it as "finally gives dog wardens the tools to deal with dangerous dogs."

Dayton corruption, incompetence, and lies.

Here are some additional thoughts on the failure of the Montgomery County Prosecutor to bring meaningful charges against Andrew Nason and Julie Custer, owners of the dogs that mauled Klonda Richey to death last February.  Some thoughts on the Dayton pit bull mauling death of seven month old Jonathan Quarles Jr in July as well.  For additional information on the function of the prosecutor in grand jury proceedings please click here.

This is a quote from ABC22 on the reason for failing to indict  "On Thursday, a grand jury declined to indict Nason or Custer on involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide charges. Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said there wasn't enough evidence or any witness testimony to support indictments."

This statement is a stunner.  Not enough evidence or witness testimony....  I'm going out  on a limb here because I don't have actual statistics but I strongly suspect that in most cases there are no witnesses to testify in homicide cases.  It just seems to make sense to avoid having witnesses. Having said that, there has been absolutely zero confusion on how Ms. Ritchey died.  Every news source, and the Prosecutor's report (link below) clearly state that she was killed by Nason and Custer's dogs.

I think most homicides are solved by police work, work that was fairly easy in this case.  Police were called by neighbors who stated that there was a naked body on the ground and the dogs were near the body.  When police arrived the dogs were so aggressive toward them that the dogs had to be shot . Police have a technical term for this, it is called a ** clue **.  There was never any question about who owned the dogs shot by police.  Another ** clue **.  News reports quickly found a great number of complaints by the victim about these very dogs, in fact Richey made 13 complaints to Montgomery County Animal Control, headed by dog warden Mark Kumpf and she made 46 calls to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center between December 2011 and the time of her death.  More  ** clues **.  To view Montgomery County Animal Resource Center's records of Richey's actual complaints click here. Another ** clue **.  Ms. Richey also took her concerns to the Montgomery county courts asking for a civil protection order against her neighbor Andrew Nason.  You can watch 43 minutes of videotaped testimony by clicking here.   A ** clue **.  Ms. Richey was so concerned about the threats from her neighbors that she had video surveillance cameras installed and showed the court video of Nason menacing her with his dogs.  You can view some of the surveillance video by clicking here.  Another ** clue **.  Ms. Richey's request for a protection order was denied, Magistrate Kristy Wuebben was "unavailable" for comment. Figures.

Quick review, Ms. Richey took her concerns to Animal Control, the Montgomery County courts, and to the Dayton police.  She provided actual video to back up her complaints and was ignored.  In addition to the surveillance cameras Richey had a fence put up for protection from Nason, Custer, and their dogs.  Here is a photo of the fence, one does not put up this kind of double walled enclosure for no reason.  Hint, this may be another ** clue **.  The dogs that she was afraid would kill her did, in fact, kill her.
  

Montgomery County Prosecutor Heck could not make a case with all of this?  What?????
The actual report generated by Prosecutor Heck can be seen on his Facebook page. Click here.

Prosecutor Heck stated that the death of Klonda Richey was a "tragic accident."  These are the same words used by Dog Warden Mark Kumpf to describe Richey's death.  Per WHIO News, Heck makes reference to changes in the law which will be discussed below "It  is my hope that further review for possible charges under the city of Dayton ordinances along with possibly amending some laws, and enhanced training will make a difference and help to avoid another such tragic accident."    Here is Kumpf's statement.
Per WDTN News "Montgomery County Animal Control Director Mark Kumpf said the mauling death of Klonda Richey could not have been prevented.

“This is a tragic accident and there is nothing foreseeable or doable to prevent a situation like this from happening,” said Kumpf.  Numerous warnings were left for the dog owners at 35 East Bruce Avenue, but no action was taken. Kumpf says a warning is simply a notice that an officer responded to a complaint. There’s really no follow-up after that unless the owner calls the Animal Resource Center to find out more.  “Whether we respond to one complaint or 13 complaints or any other number of complaints, unless we find a violation when we arrive that has enforceable component to it, it’s simply a call.”

For a link to suggestions for actions that might have been used by Mark Kumpf to protect Klonda Rickey Please click here.  

Montgomery County officials have a strong interest in protecting the county from any lawsuit that might propose county legal and financial responsibility for Mrs. Richey's death.  If her death is prosecuted as a crime then the likelihood of Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf being called to testify becomes very real.  The failure of Kumpf to protect Richey after thirteen complaints to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and 46 calls to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center about the dogs is damning to Kumpf and to the county as well.  It is notable that there were also complaints against the Dayton pit bull that killed seven month old Jonathan Quarles Jr.in July.  Prior to killing Jonathan the pit bull also charged a mailman in April and attacked a Beagle in June. This quote from WLWT News " WLWT tried getting answers from the Animal Resource Center in Montgomery County as to why this dog was never taken away, but calls were not returned."  

This statement from the owner of the Beagle “I think they should’ve taken the dog a lot sooner,” Crickmore says. “I think it’s a real tragedy that it took the death of an innocent baby to take the dog away.”

Just days before the attack, Crickmore  said the case of the first attack was to be settled. It was a settlement she said would include forcing the owner to get rid of the dog. But instead a motion was filed to push the case’s second pretrial back to August."

It is in Montgomery County's best interests to call these predictable deaths "accidents" and the Prosecutor is on board with this.  I can find no specific information on how the Montgomery County Prosecutor is chosen.  Elected or appointed by County Commissioners?  Here is a link to information on Prosecutor Heck.  Here is his mission statement.  "Our mission is to protect the rights, property, and well being of citizens of Montgomery County Ohio through effective and efficient prosecution of criminal offenders and accurate and timely legal advice and counsel to county and township officials. Whether you are a victim, a witness, a taxpayer, a voter, or an interested citizen, I would like to assure you that my staff and I are at your service."  Below that statement is a link to an ironically titled program called "Help Victims Become Survivors."  Klonda Richey and Jonathan Quarles Jr. did not get the chance to participate.

The Montgomery County County Commissioners stand behind Kumpf.  To do otherwise would open the door to lawsuits from the Richey and Quarles families.  In the case of the Quarles family the financial liability to the county would be tremendous.  Kumpf failed in his responsibilities in the death of Klonda Richey but did not improve the processes in his department allowing a known dangerous dog to remain in the home of a known irresponsible owner, sadly, also a family member of the seven month old victim.   Kumpf continues to be employed as County Dog Warden although his public appearances and statements have become few and far between.  Sources inside the community tell me that is a strong sentiment that Kumpf should be fired but Montgomery County Commissioners bumble along blindly, unaware that the death of Klonda Richey has the attention of the world.

Prosecutor Heck makes reference to efforts already underway to modify the mess created by the passage of HB 14 without acknowledging that the changes he and Commissioner Foley "propose" are from a bill introduced into the Ohio House by Representatives Winburn and Blair, HB 541 in the legislative session already ended.  The bill is expected to be reintroduced in the new session with a new bill number.

In a quote apparently from the joint statement from Prosecutor Heck and County Commissioner Dan Foley ""There was no evidence that the dogs had ever bitten or attacked another animal or human. The dogs were never designated as nuisance, dangerous or vicious dogs prior to the incident. After consideration of all the testimony and evidence, the grand jury did not issue a homicide or felony indictment in this case,"

It should be noted that Dog Warden Kumpf would have the responsibility to declare the dogs dangerous but did not do so.

As a final insult to Klonda Richey, the lawyer for Andrew Nason has stated that he intends to fight the trivial failure to control charges against his client.  Given the excuse made by the Prosecutor that there were no witnesses to Richey's death lawyer Jay Adams is claiming that, and this is victim blaming to the highest level, that Klonda Richey trespassed onto her neighbor's property and let the dogs out herself.  PLEASE watch the video of this lawyer.

Klonda Richey was failed by the courts, by the Montgomery County Animal Control department, by the Dayton police, by the Montgomery County Prosecutor.  She died exactly as she feared that she would.  Her testimony from the grave via videotape is eerie.  Failure to revise processes after her death allowed another fatality, a seven month old baby.  The stench of cover up in Dayton reeks.





Klonda Richey

A short post script to this opinion laden piece.
David Glass Sr. of Benton County Ms. was mauled by pit bulls on Saturday.  On Monday the owner of those dogs was charged with culpable negligent manslaughter.

The Riverside Fl. owner of the dog that killed five year old John Harvard  has been charged with criminally negligent homicide.

The Metamora Township Michigan owners of the dogs that killed Craig Sytsma have been charged with second degree murder.

The owners of the dog that killed Javon Dade in Miami-Dade Florida have been charged with manslaughter. Notable here is that the owner of the dog is the father of Javon Dade and the death of little Javon was unwitnessed.

The owner of the dogs that killed Pamela Devitt in Antelope Valley California last year was convicted of second degree murder.

Klonda Richey was forgotten by the system in Dayton as soon as the melting snow erased the blood.