Another Ohio pit bull owner found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Justice is a poor substitute for the life of seven month old Jonathan Quarles Jr. but Kimiko Hardy was found guilty today for Jonathan's mauling death in her home, by her pit bull in 2014.
Per WDTNnews "Hardy was found guilty Friday of:

• Involuntary Manslaughter (Endangering children)
• Endangering Children
• Involuntary Manslaughter (Failure to Confine or Restrain Vicious Dog)
• Failure to Confine or Restrain Vicious Dog
• Involuntary Manslaughter (Failure to Control Dog)
• Involuntary Manslaughter (Violation of City of Dayton Ordinance for controlling dogs)

Hardy's pit bull previously attacked a letter carrier, and a leashed dog being walked down the street. Hardy was charged for these offences and was "educated" by the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center prior to the fatal attack.  This "education" was obviously less than effective. Jonathan's death was the second fatal dog mauling within a 6 month time span Dayton Ohio located in Montgomery County. A new world record for Montgomery County dog warden Mark Kumpf.


Hardy is seated in the center.

Hardy will be sentenced June 9th at 9:30 am.  She faces up to 11 years in prison.


Looks like things just real for Ms. Hardy.

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.  

Pit bulls and the United States Postal Service

Dayton Ohio
9/12/2013
A postal worker was mauled by a pit bull in Dayton Ohio. Dayton resident Joe Brewer may have saved the life of mail carrier Richard Oberlin, 45 years old, an employee of the United States Postal Service since 1998.  The pit bull burst through a screen door to attack Oberlin. Per WDTN.com   Joe Brewer told a reporter "I come running out here and the dog had him down on the ground and I started yelling at the dog and he backed off immediately."

Dayton Police Sgt. Moises Perez told reporters "It's a possibility we could be investigating a death because this dog was just relentless in his attack. He stood over this gentleman. He was basically helpless,"

The mail carrier's pepper spray can was found on the grass.  Per Police Sgt Perez, mail carrier Richard Oberlin tried to use it but it had no effect on the pit bull.

The mail carrier's blood spattered bag was found where he dropped it while using it as a shield as postal workers are trained to do.

Mail was scattered across the lawn.

Animal Control took the dog away but it took two AC officers plus a friend of the pit bull owner's family to subdue the pit bull.  The dog will be quarantined for 10 days at Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf's shelter, the Animal Resource Center.  Please note the physical condition of this pit bull, it appears that she is a breeding female, an income generator.  Roughly a million pit bulls are euthanized in American shelters every year.  Responsible dog owners do not breed pit bulls.

The mail carrier was transported to Miami Valley Hospital where he was listed in good condition on Friday.

The home owner is a woman in poor health, she was was caring for the pit bull for the actual owner, her son, while he was out of town.  There is no record of vaccination and the pit bull is not licensed. 

David VanAllen, a Postal Service spokesman stated that there have been twelve dog attacks upon mail carriers in Dayton Ohio, located in Montgomery County, since last October.  HB 14, the bill that removed requirements for insurance and containment of pit bulls in Ohio was fully and vocally supported by Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf.  This bill was promoted as "finally giving dog wardens the tools to deal with vicious dogs.  It appears that those tools have not been used in Dayton.  Will Mark Kumpf use those tools NOW?

For the fiscal year 2012 Dayton Ohio and Cleveland Ohio were tied for 10th place nationally for dog attacks on Postal Workers with 26 attacks each per this press release from the USPS.  Breeds for the Dayton attacks  are not listed but PostalMag.com, an online publication for postal workers lists the dogs most likely to bite. The list was taken from the CDC.  Pit bulls top the list, no surprise. It is notable that Dayton did not even make the top dog attack city ranking in 2011, the last year that pit bulls were regulated in the state of Ohio.  

Here are just a few recent attacks on mail carriers across the United States.

Flint Michigan had two pit bull attacks on mail carriers within just a few weeks this summer.  For more information click here.   Please note that the June attack happened as the mail carrier was delivering a package and the pit bull jumped out a window to attack him. Genesee County Commissioners have announced that they intend to work with postal officials to reduce the number of dog attacks.

A Saint Louis County MO mail carrier with 25 years service required 36 stitches after she was attacked by a pit bull in April.  For more information click here.  The story on this attack continues here.  Pit bull owner Barbrial Jones has two pit bulls, a breeding pair.  She stated "this is the first time the three year-old pit bull has ever attacked". Jones insists  that " both dogs are usually friendly and supervised." Gesturing to the female, Baby, she says "You can take off her leash, she still listens.”

Per news reports the pit bulls got out through a hole in the fence (a pit bull breeding operation with a hole in the fence.  Tell me when this is beginning to make sense because I must be missing something here).  Once Ms. Jones pit bulls were at large they were too strong for her to contain them. “They can be aggressive,” Jones admits, “they’re naturally born like that.”  Jones apologized to letter carrier Gwen Moore for her injuries and asked for Moore's forgiveness.  Jones then tried to get Fifty, her male pit bull back from animal control but was told that after quarantine Fifty will be neutered to reduce aggression. Jones and her fiance breed pit bulls as a side business and they "hope to get around" the requirement for neutering her mauler.  The apology looks more like manipulation in order to protect her side income. Pretty much "Hey, since the attack hit the news I better say I'm sorry, but this is business here.  Fifty needs to make lots of little Fifties (remember the statement "they can be aggressive, they're naturally born like that").  Just what Saint Louis County needs, more game bred pits.  

In Pittsburgh PA a fifteen year postal service veteran was attacked by two pit bulls. The USPS stopped delivery of mail on the street where the attack occurred for at least 10 days.  For more information click here. 

In San Diego CA a mail carrier was attacked by a pit bull.  The pit bull broke through a chain link fence and attacked both the throat and the leg of Buddy Siso.  Mr. Siso required plastic surgery on the injuries to his throat.  He hopes to return to the postal service after his recovery but may not be able to work as a mail carrier in the future.  For more information click here.

Mail carrier Buddy Siso.
Siso stated " “At night, when I’m going to sleep, I can see the eyes of the dog.” Per U-T San Diego "Besides the bites, the attack left Siso with a missing front tooth and several other teeth cracked or loose, an injured shoulder, a fat lip, and a long scratch across his face. He had plastic surgery and still has a long way to go before he has recovered physically and mentally."

Wasilla AK, a pit bull attack sent a mailman to the hospital.  For more information click here.

A Chula Vista CA pit bull owner is unhappy that her pit bull was sprayed with mace by a postal worker. Per RTV6 "Viviana Alcazar called the incident animal cruelty and believes the postal worker was never in danger. Alcazar's fence sits next to mailboxes and when her dog Sampson is out, he barks when someone is outside of the fence. Alcazar said Sampson, a 74-pound pit bull, is a well-trained sweetheart. However, she said Sampson apparently barked at the wrong person Thursday morning."

RTV 6 goes on to say "In July, a mail carrier's neck was ripped open by a pit bull that bounded out of an unlocked gate. In the last three years, two other postal workers died as a result of dog attacks.The attacks have made many mail carriers nervous around big dogs and forced some to carry pepper spray." Sampson the pit bull required some eye drops but has recovered completely. Alcazar states that she will keep Sampson in the house when mail is being delivered. Well, that is a simple solution to the problem, just keep your mauler in the house.

Per About.com U.S Government Info "The U.S. Postal Service reported nearly 5,700 dog attacks on letter carriers across 1,400 cities in 2010, costing the agency almost $1.2 million in medical expenses" in 2010. The $1.2 million does not include lost time and productivity.

Pit bull attacks are expensive and we are all paying the costs.

More pit bulls in the news, 8/13/2012

Time to clean up the back log of pit bull news.  From Newark Ohio, a city council Safety Committee will discuss the possibility of removing pit bulls from the city's dangerous dog list, but without much enthusiasm.  Service Director David Rhodes stated in June that the city plans to keep its existing ordinance which labels pit bulls as vicious.  Ohio is a home rule state and communities may have laws stricter than state law but not less than state law.  Ohio's recent capitulation to breed specific advocacy has emboldened local pit bull owners to request changes in local law.  "At least two residents" requested the city change local law to match the lenient new state law.  Safety Committee Chairman Marc Guthrie is not so sure about this proposal but does feel that council should provide a forum for discussion.  Mayor Jeff Hall is inclined to keep the city regulation, in addition to the state law, as Rhodes and Safety Director Bill Spurgeon suggest.  The Safety Committee Chairman stated with great common sense "It probably makes some sense to see how the Ohio law works (before making a change).  A grand plan, Cincinnati dropped their breed ban to soothe the hurt feelings of pit bull advocacy and had a mauling death within just a few weeks. 

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20120728/NEWS01/207280301/Behavior-first-Newark-might-take-pit-bulls-off-vicious-list?odyssey=nav%7Chead

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20120730/NEWS01/120730010/Pit-bull-owners-want-city-law-changed

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From Dayton Ohio, home base of vocal  HB 14 advocate and Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf, another outrageous pit bull attack.  Mark has been lucky of late, police have shot the pit bulls during attacks, saving Mark the trouble of wading through the legal maze that Best Friends animal rights lawyers created in HB 14. 

Dayton police shot a pit bull/boxer mix after it attacked a woman and a cat INSIDE a 1995 Buick parked inside a garage.  Police responded to a call and found a 51 year old woman trapped inside the Buick, with a seat belt wrapped around the dog's neck.  Her 911 call included her statement of the problem "I have a dog that has attacked me and my cat, I can't get him out of my car.  He is in my car, I was trying to get in the car to get away."   She told police she was afraid to get out of the car because, per newstalkradiowohio.com "she would have to let go of the seat belt strap she had wrapped around the dog's neck to keep it at bay and from attacking her and a cat that was also apparently inside the vehicle."  Officers attempted to use tasers (pit bull owners always want to know why their mauler was shot during an attack instead of tasered, here is why)but after it was let out of the Buick it charged after the woman.  At this point common sense kicked in and an officer fired two rounds from a .40 caliber handgun "striking the animal in the chest and lung."  After being tasered, and shot twice, the dog ran off and later charged another officer, "who used a shotgun to stop and kill the animal."

It is a damn shame that Dayton residents have to attempt to take refuge in their cars to protect themselves from attacking pit bulls.   I'm sure Dayton residents thank Kumpf for his efforts to deregulate these dogs.

http://www.newstalkradiowhio.com/news/news/police-kill-pit-bull-mix-after-attack-in-car/nP82G/
http://www.abc22now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wkef_pit-bull-traps-woman-car-dog-then-shot-killed-8008.shtml?wap=0

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More from Montgomery County!!!  Huge shout out to Montgomery County Dog Warden, and HB 14 advocate Mark Kumpf for the "improved safety" of his community. 

In Huber Heights, two women were bitten as they attempted to break up a fight between two pit bulls inside their house.  A responding police officer also attempted to break up the dog fight and (again) attempted to use a taser on one of the pit bulls.  The second pit bull charged at the officer and he fired one round, killing the dog.  Kumpf's staff at Montgomery County Animal Control also responded.  There were children in the home but they were not awake to witness the dog fight.  One can assume that gunfire inside the home did wake them.  An investigation is in progress.  Mr. Kumpf, you must begin the process of declaring the remaining pit bull dangerous, you might want to thank Ledy Vankavage for the hoops you will have to go through to do so to protect the residents of Montgomery County.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/pitbull-fight-injures-2-women-1-dog-killed/nP9T6/

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A Canton 9 year old is recovering after being attacked by two dogs, a pit bull and a boxer.  Billy Harvey suffered multiple bites, the worst to his upper thigh.  Neighbors heard the boy screaming and rushed to help him.  Tamikka Dotson stated "I'm getting closer I hear him screaming and crying and I didn't even see the dogs at first until I got right here and I said he is getting attacked by two dogs. I have got to do something."  Dotson said she pulled the dogs off Billy as he struggled in the grass, the two dogs biting him.  "They were still coming at him, even with me being right here and I'm trying to stand in front of them and kick the dogs back because I didn't have any shoes on or anything."  Dotson was able to get the dogs off the boy as a man, possibly the dog's owner grabbed the dogs and ran away.  Personally, I would bet money on that being the dog owner, classic irresponsible owner response to seeing his dogs maul someone, grab your mauler and run.

The following day Billy and his  mother went to Ms. Dotson's home to thank her, she responded "I just want you to know there are people around here who care."  Dotson also said "People if you are going to have your animals then keep control of them.  There's kids running around this neighborhood all day every day." 

This Canton neighborhood is fortunate to have Tamikka Dotson!

http://fox8.com/2012/08/06/boy-recovering-after-pitt-bull-boxer-attack/
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/akron_canton_news/police-9-year-old-boy-mauled-by-two-dogs-tan-pit-bull-and-brindle-boxer-in-canton

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I ran out of time before I ran out of pit bull attacks.  More to come soon... God help us.