Pit bull roundup 11/25/2016 Pit bulls break into homes to kill cats. Pit bull owners feel persecuted when they harbor dogs banned in the community. Pit bulls kill sweet little dogs owned by senior citizens. Pit bulls kill other pit bulls.

Here we are with another batch of  pit bull events and attacks.  We will look at these in no particular order, for as long as my patience lasts.  I'm sorry the first post here is so old, I can't keep up.   

2/22/2016

Lancaster Ohio

Fairfield County

A woman heard her children screaming IN HER HOME.  She investigated and found that a pit bull had entered the home, attacked the family cat.  The pit bull carried the cat outside and dropped it on the sidewalk, where it died.

Per the Eagle-Gazette " The dog owner said that the pit bull had inadvertently gotten free from her home when it was seen running around the neighborhood."

Inadvertently gotten free?  That's pretty much like "somehow" got  loose.  Classic pit bull owner excuse.  The pit bull owner apparently never noticed that the thing was loose until the Fairfield County Dog Warden arrived to investigate.  If a Pug "inadvertently got loose" the cat would still be sleeping on the couch.    

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10/11/2016

Kenton Ohio

Hardin County                                                                                                                                   

This turned up in another blog. I thought the story was so outrageous I'm going to let another blogger tell the it.  The story was taken direct from the pit bull owner's Facebook page.  The post is difficult to read because the pit bull owner is unable to spell or construct a sentence.  Punctuation does not exist.  The gentleman lives in an Ohio community with BSL and he is angry that he was cited for keeping a  pit bull.  This screen shot sums up the story but PLEASE visit Four Legged Friends and Enemies for the full story, apparently his family reported the pit bull.  You can't make this stuff up.  Click here for the link.  

 

Thanks to the blogger at Four legged Friends and Enemies!

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8/30/2016

Hamilton Ohio

Butler County

This story brings our old favorite, Kurt Merbs, Butler County Dog Warden back into the news.  One would think he would get tired of being interviewed about pit bull attacks.

Picture the scene as described by WCPO Cincinnati News.  

"Butler County authorities said Tuesday that a pair of pit bulls led them on a long, dangerous chase after attacking and killing another dog that morning.

Kurt Merbs, Butler County’s dog warden supervisor, got the call around 9 a.m. When he arrived at the scene, Hamilton police officers were already chasing the pit bulls through several neighborhoods. At one point, the two dogs charged at them.

"They were going through yards, jumping fences and we had to divert several people riding bikes, walking to get them off the streets because these dogs were not friendly to people or animals," Merbs said.

He said the attack happened while a man was walking a Shetland Sheepdog named Princess for his elderly neighbor, Doris Oleson." "These dogs came out of nowhere, and he didn’t have a chance," Merbs said."

 

 Princess died.  Police cornered the two pit bulls later in the chase but the owner pulled up in her car and the things jumped right in. The owner, Haley Suffridge, was cited for allowing the pit bulls to run at large, and for not licensing them.   As is frequently noted after a violent attack, shock was expressed by Suffridge's boyfriend that these fine and upstanding pit bulls had attacked another animal (and killed it).  He told reporters "I've had little kids come over and play all the time with them."

Suffridge and her boyfriend Rodric Pearson will be allowed to keep them if they are neutered and micro-chipped, kept in a fenced area with dangerous dogs signs and registered as dangerous dogs.  Whoop.  Will they be required to purchase insurance?  Ohio law requires the owners of dangerous dogs to have insurance and after a public attack like this, that insurance will be expensive.  Possibly expensive enough that Suffridge and Pearson will have second thoughts on keeping these  maulers.      One of the killer pit bulls.

Mr. Pearson asked to speak to  Mrs. Oleson in order to apologize but she stated that she needed time to grieve over the death of her beloved pet.  "We have no children, so she was our child."  "I just hurt so bad.  Even though she looked terrible (after the attack), I'm glad I could at least say goodbye."
Click here for the WCPO coverage of this attack.  Both the Sheltie owner and the pit bull owner were interviewed.  



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 9/27/2016

Middletown Ohio
BUTLER County

This is the story of a pit bull attack on a pit bull.  Spoiler Alert - both pit bulls die.

Pit bull owner Mollie Watkins called the police to report that her neighbor, Gregory Orona, kicked in her door and killed her dog.  When police arrived they found Watkins' home undamaged.  

They got a very different story from Mr. Orona.  

Per WCPO " Orona described the incident differently. He said he had been playing in his backyard with his own dog, Scout.  “The neighbor’s dog came flying through the side yard, it grabbed (Scout) by the throat and started shaking it," he said. "I hit the dog in the head and I killed it. I was very sorry for that, I did not want to do that, but that’s what happened."
"According to the police report, Orona told police he had tried to separate the dogs but was bitten in the process and had no choice but to kill the attacking animal.  The officer who responded to the call noted blood on both Scout and Orona in the report."

Watkins and Orona agreed that if she would pay the vet bills for the swelling in Scout's neck he would not press charges for her pit bull running at large.  It is not a surprise that when Scout's vet bill arrived Ms. Watkins did not pay it. Shortly after a follow-up visit to the vet Scout died.  Mr. Orona 
stated "Words can go a long ways.  For the lady to come over and say 'I'm sorry' would have made a tremendous difference."  Watkins did not respond to a request for comment by WCPO.  She has been charged with a first offense dangerous dog at large, a misdemeanor, and was to appear in Middletown Municipal Court on October 6th. 

 

The swelling on Scout's neck is clearly shown in this photograph.

Mr. Orona did not get his apology, nor did he get his vet bill paid.  Both dogs are dead.    The physical evidence supports Mr. Orona's account.  He has stated that he is sorry Watkins dog died but his actions were reasonable, he was protecting his own dog in his own yard.

Consider, if you will, this story told with a slightly different cast of characters.  Watkins owns, say, a Pomeranian. Mr. Orona owns a Beagle.  Watkins behavior is still irresponsible but nobody dies, the conflict between these neighbors becomes one of a tiny dog at large leaving tiny piles of dog poop in the neighbor's yard.  Watkins phone call to police becomes, at worst, "I answered a knock on my door and found a tiny flaming bag of tiny dog poop."  

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10/27/2016

Brunswick Ohio

Medina County

A Brunswick woman was attacked as she attempted to break up a fight between her own pit bull and her brother-in-law's pit bull.  Her injuries are describes as "substantial."  She was transported via ambulance to Southwest General Hospital in Middleburg Heights and was later transported via life flight to Cleveland Metro Hospital, a trauma center for the Cleveland area.  The woman told police she had been caring for her brother-in-law's pit bull for "several months."   There was no explanation for this but the dog was immediately returned to his owner in Strongsville Ohio. It was the brother-in-law's pit bull that attacked her. 

  We frequently warn that accepting responsibility for someone else's pit bull is folly.  We make the same warning here. 

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11/8/2016

Bainbridge Township Ohio

Geauga County 

"BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, OHIO - Animal Problem, Market Place Drive:Two men took a pit bull dog off-leash into Walmart 10:22 p.m. Nov. 8. When confronted by a manager, they claimed it was a service dog. The dog did not have a service vest and the men were asked to leave."

What makes anyone think that taking your pit bull to Walmart at 10:30 at night is a good idea?  Top it off with the classic "service dog" lie?   Thanks to the Walmart manager who put a stop to this!

                                                  

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11/15/2016

Olmsted Falls Ohio

Cuyahoga County

Animal Complaints, Lindberg Boulevard: Nov. 15, a caller told police that he and his dog had been attacked by a pit bull. While separating the dogs, the caller sustained a small cut on his hand. This was the second time that pit bull had acted aggressively against him, the caller said.

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This is just a sample of pit bull activity in Ohio.  As usual, we have LOTS more to talk about. Next post will deal with Bay Village and Bexley plus the usual attacks and insanity.  

Ohio Pit Bull Roundup, installment #1

This is a ragged collection of Ohio pit bull attacks.  It is very difficult to keep up with Ohio pit bulls.  There is no explanation for the failure of any logical order here other than the sheer numbers of incidents.  This post will have to be broken into several manageable installments.  Please enjoy installment #1.

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The verdict is guilty in the case of a Toledo couple charged after the pit bull attack on a mentally disabled woman living in their home.  The victim, Susan Demski, was the sister of Norman Demski who was found guilty on charges of patient endangerment, a first degree misdemeanor.  He faces up to six months in jail.

Norman's wife Susan faces up to a year in prison on charges of attempted assault.


Norman and Susan Demski


The Demski home.

For more information please click here.


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3/3/2015
Toledo Ohio

Here is an update on Jovie the underweight pit bull puppy in Toledo Ohio.  At 8 months old Jovie is now up to 19 pounds and is described by the Toledo Blade as "feisty".  This is the Toledo Blade so Jean Keating is heavily quoted for those who follow Ms. Keating's breed specific advocacy.

Late update.  Jovie has died following surgery to correct intestinal malformations.

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3/3/2015
Warren Ohio

Let me know when this story makes sense.  A 25 year old woman was bitten on the hip by a brown and white pit bull.  She was still bleeding when police arrived at the scene.  A police officer spotted the pit bull with a second dog nearby (breed of the second dog was not reported).  Both dogs were reportedly aggressive and were very close to a church where a funeral was in progress and 80 people were standing outside.  One dog was snared by police, the brown and white pit bull ran to a nearby house.  An officer spoke to the owner of the house, she is also apparently the owner of both dogs.  She told police that she can't control the dogs, they don't have their vaccinations, they are not licensed, there is no insurance AND she can't afford the $56 fee to surrender the dogs to the Trumbell County dog kennel so police LEFT THE DOGS WITH HER.  What?????  

This statement comes from Gwen Logan, executive dog warden for the Trumbell County dog kennel “Dog wardens in Ohio have the authority to take stray animals. By law we don’t have to take owner dogs,” Logan said. She added that animal-rescue organizations are the place to turn to if someone has a dog that they can’t afford and can’t handle.

How is the safety of the public served when vicious dogs are left with incompetent dog owners BECAUSE they are incompetent, irresponsible, and financially incapable of taking care of their dogs?

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3/3/2015
Middletown Ohio



Residents of Mark Kumpf's territory came up with this interesting attack story.   A two year old girl was reportedly bitten by a neighborhood dog while building a snowman with her father in the backyard of her grandparent's home in Middletown.  The father, Tyler Smith, of Dayton, told police that he grabbed the dog by the neck and choked it until it released his daughter. Quite the hero. Smith then drove his child to a local medical facility, the child was transported to Dayton Children's Hospital where she received 80 stitches to her face.

A local resident was cited for dog at large but she stated that her dog was confined at home at the time of the attack but had been at large earlier in the day.  Per Scott.net " Today, police told this news outlet that the family may have devised their story in order to spare the family pet. 

"We received further information last night," said Middletown Police Major Mark Hoffman. "At this point, we believe it was the family dog, the victim's own dog bit her." 

According to a police report, Kimberly Brumett-Smith told police that Tyler Smith, her son, sent her a text message telling her not to tell the truth to the police. Brumett-Smith told police it was actually her dog, which she described as a brown pit bull, that bit her granddaughter in the face at her residence. 

"We will be looking at withdrawing the charges on the other dog (owner), if we can determine it was not indeed running loose," Hoffman said. 

An anonymous caller told police that "several people who were present in the residence on Woodlawn had made up the story so that they would not get in trouble and that their dog will not be taken," according to the police report." 


The Smith Family.


Monroe Smith

The Journal News tells us that Monroe Smith's parents had plans for her to enter beauty pageants prior to the pit bull attack that scarred her face.  

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3/5/2015
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation

This will just make your day if you are an Ohio taxpayer.  A convicted murderer won a judgement against the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation because he was bitten by a dog that was part of a state prison adopt-a-dog program.   It is possible that the dog mentioned in this Toledo Blade article is the dog in question, if not they it was a program just like Toledo's.  Here is a quote from an article on dogs in the program "One that had gone for behavior-modification training with the Prisoners Helping Dogs program at Toledo Correctional Institution bit his inmate trainer over a toy and was killed."

Background on the Behavior Modification Program.  Toledo is possibly the most pit bull positive city in the world, absolutely the most pit bull positive in Ohio.  Toledo is also over run with pit bulls that find themselves in the Lucas County Canine Care and Control facility run by Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle.  A quote from the Blade "With less than a week remaining, a 60-day pilot program at Lucas County Canine Care & Control to cut down on the killing of food-guarding dogs has resulted in more dogs killed than saved.  “We have mixed results at this point,” shelter Director Julie Lyle said. “We’re going to finish it out and see what we’ve got,” she said. The program that began March 5 provides constant access to food, a technique called free-feeding, for dogs that freeze or growl over a food bowl but who do well in all other areas of their behavior evaluations."

Dogs in shelters are temperament tested prior to being offered for adoption.  Part of the protocol tests the dog's behavior around food.  For public safety reasons dogs behaving in an aggressive manner and failing the test are not offered to the public, may be offered to rescues (who then offer the dogs to the public)  or may be euthanized.  Julie Lyle's job is to protect the safety of the public and she has done her job responsibly by humanely euthanizing dogs failing the behavior assessment.

Please read the linked Toledo Blade article for more information and lunacy.  Please note the slant on long suffering Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle.  She is doing the job she was hired to do folks.

As usual, I have digressed.  Back to Vincent Doan, age 42, serving a life sentence for the kidnapping and aggravated murder of his girlfriend in 1996.  Doan filed a negligence lawsuit against prison officials after he was attacked by a dog at the Correctional Reception Center.  Per the Columbus Dispatch " Doan claimed he suffered permanent disfigurement and nerve damage when he was mauled by the dog, losing part of his nose and receiving a hole in his cheek. 
He claimed prison officials were aware the dog was vicious and were negligent in allowing inmates to care for the animal. Inmates are assigned to care for and train homeless dogs that then are made available for adoption by the public." 

Doan will receive a $7500 settlement.

Taxpayers are picking up all the bills here, Doan will be a taxpayer liability for as long as he lives. Taxpayers are paying the bills for municipal shelters and the programs they run.  Taxpayers usually pay the bills for attack victims, medical bills for pit bull attack victim Zainabou Drame total roughly a million dollars with no end in sight.  Taxpayers will pay the settlement to Doan.  Money well spent? I don't think so.  Some dogs can't be saved, they are, for whatever reason, not suited for life in our communities.  They are dangerous and "training" to pass behavior evaluations is wasting taxpayer dollars and puts the public at  risk.  


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12/13/2014
DAYTON Ohio

A twelve year old Dayton child reported that he was charged and chased by two dogs described as pit bulls as he was walking to school.  The boy was able to make it back home, his father had to take his son to school. Animal Control reported that the dogs were pit bulls and were not licensed. It is not clear if the Animal Control officers were employed by the city of Dayton or the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center run by Montgomery County dog warden Mark Kumpf.

The pit bull owner was cited and a hole in the owner's fence was found that allowed the pit bulls to escape and menace the public.   Shocking that this would happen in Dayton.
 

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2/1/2015
DAYTON again.

Here is the story.  A 14 year old boy took his pit bull, named "Menace", for a walk.  The boy's mother reported that a neighbor's pit bull, named "Jada" ran from a backyard and attempted to bite her son.  The boy told police that before Jada could lunge at him Menace jumped into action, positioning himself between Jada and the boy.  At this point Jada attacked Menace, biting Menace on the side of his head.  Jada's owner ran from his house and was able to take his mauler home.

Menace displayed a punctured ear with part of the ear missing.

Jada's owner told police that he was in his yard grilling dinner with Jada off leash and free to roam.  Jada ran out of  the yard and down the street to attack Menace.  Jada's owner was bitten while trying to regain control of the charming Jada.   Jada's owner was cited.  Shocking that this would happen in Dayton.


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1/29/2015
Cincinnati Ohio

While Cincinnati pit bull advocates lobby for laws soft on pit bulls, pit bull victim Brandon Williams of Newport Tennessee was driven to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati for surgery to improve his hearing since both of his ears were torn off in a pit bull attack.  Reports indicate that teh surgery was successful.  In August 2011 Brandon was carrying packages to a neighbor's home when he was attacked by the pit bulls.  This was Brandon's fifth surgery.

Shriners members transport patients to the hospital and back home, all costs for treatment and surgeries are paid by the Shriners. This is a very fine organization, fine hospital, very worthy of support by the public.  I am proud that my family members honor my birthday and Christmas with contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children made in my name.  This pleases me very much.


Brandon Williams, honor roll student and pit bull victim.

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12/23/2014
Youngstown Ohio

From the "wouldn't mandatory neuter and spay be more humane than this?" files.  A pit bull was found at large in the McGuffey Road area with an arrow in his face, just below his right eye.  Rick Tunison of the Mahoning County Dog Warden's office stated the pit bull is expected to make a full recovery after surgery. It is not known who shot the dog, a neighborhood resident claims to own it.  For video of the capture please click here.  This pit bull does not appear to be troubled by the arrow even a little bit. Capture of the dog took about an hour and involved police, humane agents, and a deputy dog warden.  The costs of efforts like this are not recognized by those who claim that breed specific legislation is expensive for taxpayers.
 

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I will try to make the Ohio pit bull roundup a weekly event.  It gets out of control very quickly.

Pit Bull Roundup 10/7/2014, Part one

Time flies and a Pit Bull Roundup is long overdue.  As always, get your coffee and get comfortable. This will be a long post and there is no particular order to this mess.

8/18/2014
Celina Ohio

A Celina pit bull owner faces charges in two separate incidents on the same day.  Some people just do not learn.

As police reports indicate, in the first incident the pit bull owner crossed the street to confront a person walking a leashed dog for no apparent reason other than the leashed dog occupied space on planet pit bull. The owner of the leashed dog was able to get inside their home to safety.  Per WANE.com The person then went to the house of the owner of the pit bull and when the pit bull came at them aggressively they backed their way back home and called police.

Wise choice was made by the owner of the leashed dog.  A paper trail on dangerous dogs is always useful.  Police followed up.  "A Celina police officer went to the door of the owner’s home and that’s when the pit bull came around the corner from the back of the residence and began barking.  The dog then jumped on the officer and scratched him repeatedly.  The officer backed away, but the pit bull continued to advance and jumped on him again.  The officer managed to push the animal away, but the dog continued to snap at him, so the officer pulled his gun and shot the dog once, injuring him.

The pit bull  ran off but was later located and treated by a veterinarian.  Charges against the pit bull owner are expected.


file photo

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9/8/2014
Mansfield Ohio

A recently adopted pit bull was hailed as a hero for waking Jacob Martin, his sleeping owner, alerting Martin to a fire in Martin's rented property next door.  Fast forward one week and Buddy the pit bull was turned over to a rescue.    This quote from the Inquisitir "In just two short months, Buddy’s status went from family dog to abandoned, rescued, hero, relinquished, nearly homeless, and now rescued again. Whether or not Buddy the hero pit bull will find the forever home he deserves is still up in the air."

Buddy is available.  Suspect that there is more to the story than has been reported.  

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8/30/2014
Akron Ohio

Pit bull rescue groups from three states held a fund raising and awareness event in Akron.  It should be noted that Akron has breed specific regulations for pit bulls.  A fluorescent green collar is to be on the dog at all times and the dog is to be muzzled and on a chain link leash per Akron Municipal code section 92.25 section E.     


Tutus were considered appropriate apparel. Municipal code requirements were ignored.

Ironically, the band providing music for this event is named "The Funeral Proposals."
 

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9/2/2014
Mt. Gilead Ohio

On the very day (9/2/2014) an article appeared in the Morrow County Sentinel covering a city council meeting held on August 18th where possible repeal of a pit bull ban was discussed that repeal was passed by city council.  At the August 18th meeting a local resident and former city council member spoke against the repeal showing photos of his daughter who had been attacked by a pit bull on two different occasions. The daughter's dog was also seriously injured by the same pit bull.  It appears that the repeal was pushed by a local resident, her lawyer husband, and two other individuals.

The city council vote was 3 to 2.  One council member was unavailable for the meeting.   A new ordinance is being written to require "owner responsibility" which has never proven effective anywhere.  Good Luck to the residents of Mt. Gilead Ohio.

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8/1/2014
Springfield Ohio

A Springfield man was arraigned on two counts of animal cruelty to a companion animal for allegedly allowing his dog, a pit bull to starve and freeze to death.  Calvin Stewart pleaded not guilty.

The two year old dog weighed roughly 35 pounds at the time of its death.  Northwood Animal Hospital veterinarian Jessica Brugler rated the dog's condition per the Springfield News Sun " A dog’s body condition is rated on a scale from 1 to 9 with 5 being the best. Brugler rated the dog at a 1, stating “there was no evidence of normal fatty tissue in the abdomen or surrounding organs such as the kidneys.”  "Brugler also found nothing besides a dark watery fluid in the dog’s stomach and mouth, suggesting the animal only ate mud and dirt before its death"

A pit bull's worst nightmare is sometimes its owner.  Why isn't mandatory neuter and spay for pit bulls to prevent this kind of suffering acceptable to breed specific advocates?

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8/6/2014
Middletown Ohio
A pit bull was shot by police who were serving a drug search warrant in response to neighborhood complaints of drug activity and prostitution.  Per WHIO News "The Middletown Division of Police’s drug unit, detectives and patrol officers made entry to a house at 1813 Manchester and were met by four dogs that appeared to be pit bulls, according Lt. Scott Reeve.“When officers were executing the search warrant, the entire pack of pit bulls came toward the officers. An officer shot one of the dogs in the snout. All the dogs were taken but will be returned to the owner,” Reeve said.The dog was seized by Butler County’s deputy dog warden and was taken to a Middletown veterinarian for treatment. Officers kept the other three dogs at bay with a fire extinguisher, Reeve said."

Kim King, age 42, was arrested for permitting drug abuse (crack) told officers that the pit bull that had been shot had become "more aggressive" recently.  She requested a veterinarian to euthanize the dog. She did so in a spirit of public safety. *eye roll*

During searches at King's residence and another residence nearby police found heroin and crack cocaine.  Arrests were made at both residences.  At the second  residence a 17 year old was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and also arrested was Sara Landers, age 24, for two counts of child endangerment and permitting drug abuse. Her children, an infant and a two year old are in the care of family members.  The home was described by police as "dog feces filled" and unsuitable for children. For a video report please click here, warning, graphic images.



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8/7/2014
Cleveland Ohio

A 63 year old Cleveland man, Willie Powell, was sentenced to 6 months in jail for abuse and neglect of four pit bulls found confined in feces filled crates in his home.  One of his pit bulls was euthanized for aggression, two were adopted, and the fourth was transferred to a rescue for "behavioral training."

Powell was also sentenced to 5 years probation and is not to own dogs during that time.   Powell has a prior conviction for dog fighting.  Sometimes a pit bull's worst nightmare is his owner.  Cleveland residents are urged to note any new pit bulls in the neighborhood that might have recently graduated from "behavioral training."

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8/7/2014
Hamilton Ohio
A 63 year old Hamilton woman was attacked by a pit bull while taking her daily walk.  The victim required treatment at a local hospital for two bites in her thigh.  The breed of dog was identified by dog warden Kurt Merbs. Per Whio News "Merbs said the dog in question was a pit bull.

“Oh yes, there’s no doubt,” Merbs said of the breed of the dog."

The attack was described by the victim who stated that she was walking down the street when she saw a young man come out of a house with a pit bull "no collar, no leash."  She noted the breed but did not panic, she did try to simply walk around the dog.  "She said the man scooped the dog into his arms as she stepped off the sidewalk to go into the street, but the dog got out from the man’s arms, ran up behind her, and bit her from behind.“I screamed and tried to protect myself, and (the man) had to actually grab him, because he had a hold,” she said.She described the dog as a tan, full-grown, male pit bull. After pulling the dog off of her, the man put the dog back in the house, and told her it was not his dog."

The old "not my dog" routine, it never gets old.

Dog warden Merbs was called to the scene and approached the home where the pit bull lived.  He knocked on the door and a child answered asking "are my parents going to jail?" Merbs found a female pit bull in a crate in the backyard.

Police interviewed the victim at the hospital.  Pit bull owner Aaron Sapp was charged with two counts of failure to license a dog and one count of failure to confine a dangerous dog. 

Sapp apparently stays at two different addresses on the same street.  The story gets confusing. Merbs said that it took a while to locate Sapp, as the attack occurred outside of 724 S. Second St., where Sapp was reportedly staying.“The owner had taken the dog and moved him to the North End, and was staying there (at 724 S. Second St.) when the dog attacked,” he said.

Sapp was charged with two counts for failure to license a dog, as both Ace and a female pit bull were unlicensed. Merbs said he was called to South Tenth Street Thursday night around 10 p.m. to pick up the female pit bull, who was reported loose on the street.

“They said she was aggressive, but I was able to put a leash on her and bring her to the shelter,” Merbs said. He retrieved four pit bull puppies found at the South Second Street residence that will be reunited with their mother, as they are too young to be separated. Two additional puppies had died at the residence, he said.

Sapp will be allowed to keep his pit bull if he complies with restrictions, he must have Ace neutered, microchipped, put up Dangerous Dog signs, keep Ace in a locked enclosure, and register the dog as a dangerous dog purchasing a $50 dangerous dog tag.  Given Sapp's history of failure to register and confine his dogs it is not looking good for compliance here.  This is not Ace's first attack.  Merbs stated that he had been called to Sapp's residence two years ago when Ace attacked another woman, this one walking a dog at the time.  It is reported that Sapp was charged for that attack as well.

And Sapp gets the damn dog back again?????

8/7/2014
Hamilton Ohio

In a separate incident in the very same article two assistant dog wardens and two police officers chased a loose pit bull in the Twinbrook Drive area.  Per Whio News "The pit bull they were pursuing had “ripped the ear off a black Labrador two weeks before and was running loose again,” Merbs said.

Police were able to catch that pit bull and take it to a local shelter.  

It is notable that dog warden Merbs had difficulty identifying the pit bull that killed Cindy Whisman just a few days earlier even though the pit bull belonged to the family and was clearly identified by the owner as a pit bull. Merbs had no trouble identifying these dogs, professional education or realization that denial of the breed puts the public at risk?  Who knows?

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8/10/2014

DAYTON Ohio  

This is our first mention of Dayton in this Pit Bull Roundup.  Martin Richardson, age 53, was treated for a dog bite to his left forearm.  Police were called to interview Richardson as he was being treated at Miami Valley Hospital.  Per WDTN News "  Richardson told police he was walking through the parking lot of Target Ministries located at Xenia Avenue and Keowee Street when two dogs attacked him. He said one of the dogs bit him in the left forearm. Richardson said the dog latched on to his arm and shook its head from side to side.

Richardson punched the dog in the nose several times and was able to break free and get away."  

Per the police report Richardson described the attacking dogs as pit bulls, the one that attacked him was "white with black on the tip of its tail and a big head."  Police were unable to locate the pit bulls. 

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8/19/2014  

DAYTON Ohio

Dayton police pulled over a driver on I 75 for a routine traffic stop.  Warrants for the driver's arrest were discovered.  While officers were taking the driver into custody a pit bull jumped through an open window of the car.  Per WHIO News " The dog went out onto the interstate and then charged at the officer, who fired once from his service revolver.The shooting occurred before a crew from the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center arrived. The dog died, apparently while with the ARC crew.

Mark Kumpf does not need any more aggressive pit bulls at the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.

Montgomery County ARC

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8/21/2014

Columbus Ohio

Two people were attacked by two pit bulls owned by Olivia Reaves.  

Per WBNS News "Police say two people were walking in the area when the dogs came out of nowhere and started to attack. One of the victims was bitten and tried to run. The other victim was also bitten and jumped up on a car to avoid the dogs.

A witness says he was able to get one of the victims off the car and onto a porch to safety." “We was coming out to leave to go to United Dairy Farmer and there’s a guy running and he jumped on a car screaming ‘Help Me!” said witness Sarah Morris. “He had like a gash wound on the back of his leg - like a hunk missing out of it.” The victim called 911. “I just got bit by some pit bulls. Right now, I’m (expletive) up. I’m bleeding bad.”

Animal Control and police were called and they were quickly able to locate the dogs.  Reaves freely admitted that her dogs has gotten of their chains and escaped the yard.  She excused the female pit bull with "she just had puppies" and she feel that the male was just "being protective."  

Female pit bull owned by Olivia Reaves.

Reaves unwisely stated "“If the boy dog, if he feels threatened, he will bite. He is a biter. I won’t tell anybody that he’s not a biter,” 

Neighbors have been concerned about the dogs for some time because of the numbers of children and elderly people in the neighborhood.  The dogs were seized, they were not vaccinated or registered as required by law.

Don't miss the video with this story.  Look at the fence...
More video, don't miss the pit bull owner showing off one of the 10 puppies of her two adult maulers.

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9/14/2014
DAYTON Ohio    

This is interesting.  Montgomery County Animal Control has become involved in a dangerous dog controversy not involving a pit bull but Jack Russell Terrier instead.

Here is the story.  A family was enjoying their vacation at a Brookville campground .  Their one year old daughter was bitten on the face by the Jack Russell.  The dog owner signed over the dog to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.  The dog owner apparently had second thoughts about this and picketed Montgomery County ARC stating she had been misled about the severity of the little girl's injury however she also stated that the dog has a history of biting.   The campground spokesperson said that the dog had bitten another person and also attacked another dog.  Clearly there is a problem with this dog.  Per WDTN News "  The family says in their statement through an attorney. "The dog is clearly dangerous and capable of attacking children without provocation. The family of the victim hopes the dog remains quarantined and trusts that the MCARC has the best interests of the public in mind when it determines an appropriate disposition for the dog.”

The dog remains at the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center pending a resolution.

The JRT in question. 

Heaven only knows what Montgomery County ARC will do with a vicious JRT.  Montgomery County Animal Resource Center has a dubious record on considering the best interests of the public.
                                                                           *
Here is an update on this story.  Per WHIO News, the Montgomery County ARC declared the dog vicious  10/2/2014.  According to a statement from Montgomery County ARC a judge ruled the previous day that the dog could be returned to the owner.  Per WHIO ""While we are disappointed with the judge's ruling, we are abiding by it, but in the interest of public safety, we felt it was our duty to declare this dog as vicious," said Animal Resource Center Director Mark Kumpf in a statement."

 The JRT is reportedly still being held at Montgomery County ARC .  The owner must pay back board on the dog and purchase a dangerous dog tag.  It should be noted that this is the first statement to come from County Dog Warden Kumpf in quite some time.  He may be feeling a bit more secure about his job since the County Commissioners and the prosecutor are standing behind him. 

The family of Jonathan Quarles Jr. probably wishes Mr. Kumpf  had been as interested in public safety when dealing with the pit bull that killed their seven month old baby in Dayton earlier this year.  That pit bull had menaced a mailman and attacked another dog on a public street to prior killing seven month old Jonathan.                         

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9/4/2014                                                                                                                                     Cleveland Ohio    

A Cleveland man was attacked by three dogs, two pit bulls and a mixed breed.  Friends saw the attack and came to his rescue, they were bitten as well.  Michael McGuire was treated at Fairview Hospital receiving 32 stitches.  One of his friends also required medical treatment at the hospital.

Cleveland Animal Control was unable to locate the dogs.  This is a family neighborhood. "News of the attack quickly spread throughout the neighborhood, leaving some people concerned.  "We have a lot of little kids on the street. Running up and down, riding bikes," said Jerry Noel, who has lived in the neighborhood for 38 years. "It concerns me."  Marvin Thorne has also lived in the neighborhood and says his grandchildren were out playing in the moments after the attack."

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9/7/2014                                                                                                                                             Middletown Ohio

In an attack that no one will ever hear about, two German Shepherds attacked a poodle. Police tasered one of the German Shepherds in an effort to immobilize it but were forced to fatally shoot the dog.  The other German Shepherd was taken by Butler County Dog Warden.  A police department spokesperson stated "the dogs were just being dogs, the officers had to make a choice and put the dog down."    There was no report on the condition of the poodle.  

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9/8/2014                                                                                                                                     DAYTON Ohio

A Dayton man reported to police that "someone replaced the water" in his one year old pit bull's water bowl with antifreeze.   Gene Mitchem is treating his dog with milk and crackers per veterinarian advice.  The dog is recovering.  Mitchem states that he has no idea who would try to poison his dog.  There is no mention that police saw the tampered water bowl.  Commenters quickly blamed pro BSL "fanatics"with absolutely no reason or evidence.   There have been no charges.

                                                                * * *

There is so much more to cover that this post will be divided into two parts.  Please look for part 2 in the next few days.  We all need a break here.