Pit bull roundup 1/31/2015 Pit bull attacks, murder charges, dog fighting, the usual.

Getting back to work on some of the backlog here.  These stories appear in no particular order.

11/2/2014
Copley Ohio

Police were called to the scene of a dog fight at a residence on Summit Road.  Upon arrival police found a dead pit bull, apparently stabbed to death with two butcher knives conveniently laying on the ground next to the dead pit bull.  Here is the story, a neighborhood couple took their leashed dogs out for a walk and the neighbor's pit bull charged them, attacking one of the leashed dogs taking that dog's head into its mouth.  The owner of the leashed dogs grabbed the pit bull by the neck and kicked it with no success. The owner of the pit bull arrived and also began kicking his pit bull to get it off the leashed dog, again no success.  The owner of the leashed dog went into his home and returned with the knives which he used to stab the attacking pit bull off his dog.  The leashed dog was rushed to a veterinarian.  A police report was made and forwarded to the local dog warden.  Click here for a report, scan down the column to Copley news.  

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11/28/2014
Columbus Ohio

A feel good story, I'm holding my breath and hoping the warm feelings last.  A Columbus police officer rescued a pit mix puppy trapped in a car after a motor vehicle accident in early November. The officer saw the puppy a few weeks later on the Franklin County shelter's website after the owner surrendered the dog. Why?  Not included in the story.  In any case, the warm hearted police officer and his wife decided to rescue the pup again. This pit mix joins a household already including a Great Dane and a Boxer.  Many pit bulls do not show aggression until about two years of age.  Good luck.

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12/4/2014
New York City

This is follow up on the Bones story. Type "Bones" into the site search block and you will get more than you ever wanted to know on Bones, the dog implicated in a murder in New York.  Bones was placed with a "rescue" dedicated to dangerous dogs located appropriately enough in a garage in a densely populated neighborhood in Toledo Ohio by the Lexus Project. Bones mysteriously went missing but months later it was revealed that Bones was never missing but rather buried in the yard. No explanation was ever offered.

Shaun Dyer was convicted murder for the death of David Shadha and sentenced to 25 years to life.
 

Here is the story per the New York Post.
" The fatal spat began when Dyer accused Shadha of stealing his keys, then ordered his pitbull, “Bones,” to attack him. While a moving truck waited for Shadha downstairs, Dyer whacked him with the pipe at least 18 times, prosecutors said.

Capital Trigger

Shaun Dyer’s pitbull.Photo: Brigitte Stelzer

He then panicked and tried to clean up the gory scene, but there was too much blood.

So Dyer left his ferociously barking dog in the apartment with Shadha’s mutilated corpse and decided to saunter over to a nearby grocery store to buy orange juice, yogurt and milk.

After he ate, Dyer led a marshall into the blood-soaked apartment and feigned surprise when they were confronted by the grisly crime scene.

At trial, Dyer argued that Shadha rushed at him with a bat and he’d only defended himself, but jurors didn’t buy it.

At Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyer Jim McQueeney asked the judge for leniency, given the strain Dyer was under over the eviction.

“This arose on a very difficult day in my client’s life,” McQueeney said. “The maximum sentence should be reserved for the most heinous cases, most brutal cases and this is just not one of them.”

* eye roll *  The strain of the eviction?

It was a difficult day in David Shadha's life too, and his last.  And yes, that is Shadha's blood on Bones in the photo.

Sources state that Dyer has a history of two dozen arrests.

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11/1/2014
Cincinnati Ohio

A woman was injured by a pit bull that per reports "hurt the woman's ankle."  The pit bull is owned by Anthony Easton who was accused of assault in the incident.  A grand jury did not indict Easton on domestic violence charges but Easton remained in jail on several protection orders violations.  Nice guy.

A rally was held in order to bring public awareness to the issue of domestic violence.

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12/14/2014
Akron Ohio

Indictments were returned by a federal grand jury against ringleaders of a national dog fighting ring raided by Akron police in November.  Ten people were indicted,a total of forty seven people were arrested, those remaining are expected to face charges in Summit County.
 
Yes, that is blood on the walls of the pit.  For more information on this story please click here.

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12/21/2014
Fremont Ohio

A sixteen week old pit bull puppy was reportedly taken by coyotes while a caretaker was filling food and water dishes. Puppy caretaker Dallas Critchet reported "“I was standing right there, but here’s these three coyotes coming up on him, and they grabbed him and shook him once, and took off with him into the corn field,” Critchet said. “They weren’t more than 30 yards away from me.” " We had a routine, but then these coyotes just came up out of nowhere and grabbed him, and he was gone, It hurt real bad to lose him like that.”

Coyotes are known to be in the area and this was not Critchet's first encounter with them.  Sandusky County Wildlife officer Matthew Leibengood stated "My best advice is is for people to always accompany their pets outside."  Good advice.

The style of this attack is remarkably similar to the attack behavior of pit bulls and for those who witness their pets grabbed by the neck by pit bulls, shaken and carried off  it"hurts real bad" as well.

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12/24/2014
Mayfield Village Ohio

A resident complained to police that two pit bulls were on her front porch.  Police were able to lure one of the dogs to its home on SOM Center Road.  The 22 year old pit bull owner was cited for animal at large.  This is the second time she has cited for the same offense since October.  Another "responsible pit bull owner."

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12/30/2014
Dayton Ohio

A Dayton police officer was treated for a dog bite injury after he was bitten by a pit bull.  Per WHIO
"The dog was loose in the house on West Third while the officer spoke to roommates about a dispute late last night.

It ran upstairs after biting the officer, the report states.

I think the moral of this story is confine your pit bull when police are called.  

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12/31/204

Akron Ohio

On Christmas Eve five dogs were seized from the home of an Akron man who is one of those arrested in the November dog fighting raid.  Humane officials spoke with Robbie Hollis at his home, noting that Hollis had four pit bulls and one German Shepherd mix living in unsanitary conditions, without water or shelter, and exhibiting body sores.  A treadmill, harness, and powdered supplement used for muscle building were also found on the property.  Hollis faces six counts of animal cruelty.  

Hollis is one of those expected to be charged in Summit County, he was arrested in November with being a spectator at a dog fight.  He has pleaded not guilty to that charge. 

Akron Ohio has restrictions on pit bulls.

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1/4/2015

Dayton Ohio

Dayton police were called to a South Hedges Street home in response to a pit bull attack.  The victim stated to police that he was walking home from a grocery store when he saw a pit bull loose in a back yard.  The pit bull charged the man who climbed a fence in an attempt to get away.  The victim was bitten on the arm and also injured his knee while climbing the fence.  The victim also stated that this was not his first experience with this particular pit bull.  Police records showed a previous call to the home after the off-leash pit bull charged someone.

The dog was identified as "red nose male pit bull, had all his shots and was registered."  The owner told police he let the dog out in the yard without a leash.  

Has the Montgomery County dog warden considered designating this pit bull as dangerous? 

 

  

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1/12/2015

Columbus Ohio

This is another installment of "a pit bull's worst nightmare may well be his owner."  Two Columbus pit bulls were in the news for exposure to bitter cold, one rescued and one dead.  The two pit bulls were found at homes on the same street. One pit bull was frozen to death after being left behind by evicted owners. MJ, the surviving pit bull was chained in a yard, underweight, under protected from the cold, and covered in body sores.

MJ was taken to the Capitol Area Humane Society where records indicate that humane officers responded to a neglect call for the same pit bull at the same address a year ago. 

MJ's owner faces animal neglect charges.  

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1/18/2015

Dayton Ohio

A pit bull named Precious bit a Dayton woman in the leg as she was picking up a friend from a house on North Harbine Avenue.  Precious is owned by the victim's great nephew.  The victim stated that Precious has bitten other people in the past and and that there are two other dogs in the household that appear aggressive.  Anybody seen Mark Kumpf lately?  

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1/20/2015

Cincinnati Ohio  

Cincinnati city council is considering three different proposals related to dangerous dogs.  There is debate on the inclusion of criminal penalties in addition to fines.  I find this incredible, this is the city where Zainabou Drame was mauled nearly to death causing two months hospitalization in addition to lifelong disability to this child with a million dollars and counting in medical bills.  The owner of the pit bulls has not been charged "because there was no appropriate charge to make."

Per WVSU "Council Member Kevin Flynn said criminals will likely ignore additional misdemeanor penalties.

"They're doing activities that go far beyond what we as a city can penalize criminally," Flynn said. "About the only thing we can do, and it's a lot easier to get recovery, is go after them civilly."

Helloooo, FELONY charges are appropriate.  Civil court does nothing for a victim.  Looking for an easy way out does not serve the purpose of public safety.  

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1/27/2015                                                                                                                                        Newark Ohio   

For the second time this month a pit bull has bitten a local resident.  On Jan 18th a pit bull bit a man in the face causing injury.  The owner of the pit bull also faces outstanding charges dating back to September for failing to have insurance on a vicious dog and a violation of quarantine, plus charges on an exotic animals violation.

On January 13 it was reported that a man had been bitten by a pit bull as he was walking his leashed dog.  The leashed dog was attacked by the pit bull and the owner was bitten as he fought to protect his dog. It is an interesting factoid that January 13 happened to be the date of a city council meeting where breed specific advocates planned to speak in favor of dropping the local pit bull ban. 

On January 30th the Newark Advocate reported a third pit bull bite causing injury to a resident.  Per the Newark Advocate " Sgt. Paul Davis said there does not appear to be any evidence the victim did anything to provoke the dog. He said police do take and receive reports of dog bites involving dogs that are not classified as pit bulls, but Newark has not received any so far this year.

“Pit bulls are the majority,” Davis said."                    

Pit bull owners continue to complain that local law is unfair to them.  *eye roll*

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1/27/2015 Port Clinton Ohio

A Port Clinton Ohio pit bull is being called a hero for doing what pit bulls do.  It bit someone but this time the person bitten was a burglar.  Tony Byrd Jr., owner of Mama the pit bull, heard screams coming from the front of the house.  By the time he got there he saw the burglar shut the front door and run toward a dark vehicle, leaving a trail of blood in the snow.   Well done Mama.  Medical professionals have been asked to report any suspicious dog bite injuries.

Mama the pit bull.

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."

Pit bull roundup

The sheer numbers of outrageous pit bull events in Ohio has caused a huge backlog in our inbox.  We will get back to this mess soon but here is a bit of late year housekeeping.


Toledo Ohio
12/2/2014

From the files labeled "a pit bull's worst nightmare may be her owner" we have Jovie.  Jovie the pit bull puppy was surrendered to a rescue when she was three months old and weighed three pounds.  A local veterinarian stated that Jovie's weight was about half what it should have been and that she was "living on borrowed time."  The puppy is now in the care of the Lucas County Pit Crew.  At five months Jovie is up to seven pounds and her condition is greatly improved.

Jessica Bell, Jovie's former owner is a foster for the Toledo PET Bull project.  Bell is unable to account for the condition of the pup and she continues to foster dogs.  Bell stated that Jovie was "skinny" when she got her and offered proof that the dog had been seen by a veterinarian who found nothing wrong.

Given the involvement of the Lucas County Pit Crew, Jean Keating is heavily quoted.  Donations toward medical care for Jovie are, of course, being accepted by the Lucas County Pit Crew.

Is is unexplained how it was determined that Jovie is a pit bull, nobody can identify pit bulls.   It is also difficult to understand how those who claim to love the breed can fail to impact the numbers of pit bulls bred in backyards across the United States.  Roughly a million pit bulls die in American shelters EVERY YEAR.  Wouldn't mandatory neuter and spay for pit bulls cut down on the suffering of dogs like Jovie?  Dogs not conceived can't starve, suffer, or die.

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10/31/2014
Toledo Ohio

This story may have been missed previously and no one should miss a pit bull attack that was actually covered by the Toledo Blade.

Toledo police shot and killed a pit bull observed to be attacking a woman.  Prior to being shot the dog was witnessed menacing two pedestrians and charged police as well.

When the dust settled and statements were taken it was revealed that the victim, the woman attacked was protecting her children from the dog. They had all been attacked by the same pit bull.  Substitute Beagle for pit bull in this story and see if it makes sense.  Nope, not for me either.  

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11/2014
Dayton

Dayton police were called for an animal complaint.  A leashed pit bull was charging the door of a house preventing the home owner from taking his children to school.  Police were able to catch the leash and lead the pit bull away from the home but as it was being walked toward the police cruiser the pit bull became aggressive and bit the officer.  The dog was transported to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center run by county dog warden Mark Kumpf, for quarantine.  The officer was treated for his injuries.

The Dayton Police department has purchased catch poles for use in situations like this one.  Guns work too, see the next few stories.


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11/17/2014
Fremont Ohio

Fremont police shot and killed a pit bull after it attacked an eight year old boy and charged police responding to the call.  The call was described by the News-Messenger "  Officers arrived and saw a brown pit bull on top of the juvenile, with the child screaming for help. The eight year-old boy was inside a fenced-in area with the dog, according to the report, with the animal actively dragging the boy around the yard." 

Police fired one shot killing the dog and ending the attack.  The Sandusky County Health Department and Sandusky County EMS also responded to the call.

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 11/24/2014
Cleveland Heights Ohio

An eight year old boy was hospitalized after he was attacked by a pit bull belonging to the family of his friend.  The boys were walking home from school when they arrived at the home of the boy who owned the pit bull.  The boys entered the fenced yard and approached the house when the two year old pit bull bit the boy on his hand and wrist.  The child was taken to Euclid Hospital and later transferred to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital for treatment.

The pit bull's owner was charged with having a vicious dog unconfined and lacking a permit and insurance for that vicious dog.  The taxpayer will receive the bill for this attack eventually.  The pit bull owner reported that his pit bull had no history of biting.  *eye roll *

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12/8/2014
Dayton Ohio

A report shows that Dayton police often shoot dogs that are aggressive, 50 since 2011.  Per Hometownnewsstations.com "Data shows police shoot at dogs more often than people, with shootings occurring during drug raids, welfare checks, investigations, traffic stops and chases through yards and alleys.

Police tell the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/1zhfrFZ ) that using deadly force often is a split-second decision and provides the only guarantee to stop an aggressive animal from potentially causing harm.

Lt. Matthew Dickey, commander of the department's West Patrol Operations Division, says that getting bit by a dog can cause serious and sometimes permanent injuries.

Animal advocates say they understand what police go through but encourage more training to deal with canine confrontations.

Easy for advocates to say but police officers deserve to go home uninjured at the end of their shift. Those who don't want their dogs shot should keep their dogs safely confined.  This protects the public, police, and the dog.  

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11/2014

Cincinnati Ohio

Fundraisers continue for six year old Zainabou Drame, mauled by the neighbor's pit bulls in June.  An event held at the Horseshoe Casino and hosted by the Sentinel Black Police Officer's Association also honored the four police officers who saved Zainabou's life.  Click here for a link to the story and links to previous articles on Zainabou's recovery.  The event was attended by hundreds of people, the money raised will go directly toward Zainabou's medical bills which near a million dollars so far.  

One of the honored police officers, Kyle Strunk, was interviewed and he described the scene as police arrived per WLWT "Strunk said he'll never forget the image of that as they pulled up, seeing grown men and women vomiting on the street, reacting to what they had just witnessed.

"That's not a sight you see very often, you know, adults can't even look. They had to look away based on the violence of it,”

Zainabou has returned to school and was visited at school by Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell and several police officers.   City police have never wavered in their support for this child.

Zainabou lost her tongue in the attack, she is unable to speak or swallow and is fed through a tube.

The owner of the dogs was not charged for the attack because there "was no law on the books that fit."

                                                                 

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12/1/2014

Medina Ohio    

Augusta and Burdett Crandall pleaded no contest to misdemeanor animal cruelty charges that they starved their two dogs, a pit bull and a Boxer.  The couple has not yet been sentenced.  The dogs were confiscated in August by the Medina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  That organization received $10,300 in donations for the care of these two dogs.

Charges look appropriate to me.  These are the dogs.

Sometimes things get better. The tan and white dog in the center of this photo is the recovered pit bull.

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12/8/2014

Bellefontaine Ohio  

In a classic leap of logic the pit bull Belle, rescued from a dogfighting operation in Cleveland has been declared a "bait dog" in order to make her story more acceptable and make her more adoptable. 

Bait dog?  Bell has scars on her face, possibly she just fought and/or lost.   WHIO has declared Bell "heroic" why?   Bell is available for adoption into your neighborhood.  Good luck.  Contact the Ohio Animal Cruelty Task Force, a volunteer organization with no apparent connections to any larger humane organization.

Who will be responsible if Belle attacks?  Who will pay the medical bills of the victim.  Pit bull advocates remind the public ad nauseum  "its all in how you raise 'em" and Belle is game bred and pit experienced.

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11/20/2014

Bolivar Missouri  

Mia and Tebow in better times.

A three year old girl mauled by her grandparents American Bulldog (pit bull derivative) will be treated for her injuries at Cincinnati's Shriners Hospital for Children, one of my very favorite organizations.  Mia Kraft was scheduled to her her first surgery at Shriners in early December.  

A bit of history here, Mia's grandparents have owned Tebow since the dog was 8 weeks old and Mia has spent a great deal of time with the dog.  There was no history of violence from this dog.  Mia's mother has no insurance to cover medical expenses and will be billed for the surgeries done prior to Mia's arrival in Ohio.   

 

  

Wauseon Ohio is under seige by pit bull advocacy

There is a theme to this post.

It is difficult for peaceful people to understand the investment in breed specific advocacy. Animals consistently implicated in the death or disfigurement of humans, why is there such hysteria to remove proactive local law to regulate them?

Efforts to change local law by appealing to residents and voters are grinding to a halt. We are not likely to see any  more attempts to remove breed bans appear on the ballot.  This has been tried only twice and failed in a spectacular manner both times. Those at the upper level of  pit bull advocacy want to avoid another loss at all costs so they are turning up the flame under the city councils of small communities all across America.  The landslide votes in Miami-Dade Florida and in Aurora Colorado clearly show that the public gets it.  The public is aware of the outrageous numbers of pit bull attacks, aware of the fatalities, aware of the suffering, aware of the costs.  The voters have said "no" so the small but wildly vocal and very well funded special interest group attempts to bully reluctant communities to drop breed bans and bamboozle state legislatures into passing state law to prohibit the use of home rule rights to pass BSL.  Yes, pit bull advocacy tried to this in six states this year.  They won in two states and lost in four states.  We will talk about this again sometime but back to current events in Ohio.                                                                      




11/23/2014
Toledo Ohio

The Toledo Blade reports that the Wauseon City Council passed the first reading of a measure that would remove the city's pit bull ban.  Councilman Martin Estrada, a non dog owner,  was approached by "a number of individuals and groups" asking to bring local law more "in line" with state law which was changed by the passage of HB 14 in 2012.

No mention was made of the nine people mauled to death by dogs in Ohio in the first two years since the passage of HB 14.  Historical note, in the ten years prior to the passage of HB 14 Ohio had five fatal dog attacks.  It was not mentioned that two bills aimed at fixing the mess created by HB 14 are expected to be introduced into the next General Assembly.

Jean Keating appears to be leading the effort to change Wauseon law.  Ms. Keating does not live in Wauseon Ohio but she is heavily quoted in the article.   Per the Blade "The Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, which played a strong role in changing the state code, provided Mr. Estrada with some information, research, and contacts."  Keating is president and co-founder of the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates.

11/25/2014
Toledo Ohio

In a series of articles on Wauseon Ohio the Toledo Blade adds an opinion piece slanted toward removal of a local breed ban "Pity the 'pit bull.'

In classic pit bull advocacy talking points the piece begins with excuses but prances right to claims that breed bans are falling all over the United States.  The Aurora Colorado vote to retain a breed ban in the November general election by better than a 2 to 1 margin was not mentioned.  The Aurora vote was historic in that it was only the second time that this issue has gone to voters. The first was Miami-Dade in 2012, that breed ban was also retained by local voters by a 2 to 1 margin.

The article goes on to list organizations opposed to BSL, We have the NCRC which is owned by the Animal Farm Foundation (extreme pit bull advocacy).  The HSUS and the AVMA appear on the list, both organizations are in the business of the rights and welfare of animals and have no concern with the welfare and safety of humans.  The CDC appears although in their last report listing fatalities by breed includes the statement " Despite these limitations and concerns, the data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities."  The ABA is simply infested with animal rights lawyers.

No mention of organizations created to further human health and safety that are also opposed to BSL. There aren't any.  General Practice doctors, pediatricians, plastic surgeons, orthopedic specialists, nurses, social service workers, leaders of neighborhood associations, the United States Postal Service, none of these have endorsed pit bulls.

Click here for the opinion of Dr. David Billmire, professor and director of the Division of Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.  The title of his opinion is "There is no need for pit bulls."  Here is a quote.
" Based on my extensive experience, I believe that the risk posed by pit bulls is equivalent to placing a loaded gun with the safety off on the coffee table. In my opinion, these dogs should be banned. I know this is an unpopular stand in some circles, but how many mauled children do we have to see before we realize the folly of allowing these dogs to exist?  

The arguments made by advocates of these dogs are the same arguments made by people who feel that assault weapons are an essential part of daily living. There are plenty of breeds available that peacefully coexist with human society. There is no need for pit bulls."

Here are more studies by doctors on the topic.
The effectiveness of Breed Specific Legislation in decreasing the incidence of dog bite hospitalizations in Canadian people living in the Province of Manitoba.   2012

Periorbital trauma from pit bull terrier attacks  2012

CONCLUSIONS:

In the ophthalmic setting, pit bull terrier attacks most frequently involve children and result in eyelid lacerations. Canalicular injuries are common after these attacks

Dog bites of the head and neck:an evaluation of a common pediatric trauma and associated treatment. 2014.  Conclusions

The patients most likely to suffer dog bite injuries of the head and neck are children. Although a number of dog breeds were identified, the largest group were pit bull terriers, whose resultant injuries were more severe and resulted from unprovoked, unknown dogs. More severe injuries required a greater number of interventions, a greater number of inpatient physicians, and more outpatient follow-up encounters. Healthcare utilization and costs associated with dog bites warrant further investigation.

Mortality, mauling and maiming by vicious dogs. 2011
Conclusions: Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantially reduce the US mortality rates related to dog bites.

Dog bites of the head and neck in children. 2011.  "Most injuries were soft tissue related, however more severe bites and injuries were observed in attacks from the pit-bull and Rottweiler breeds"

Decline in hospitalizations due to dog bites in Catalonia 1197-2008.  An effect of government regulation?  2011  Cliffs notes - a significant decline.  

Pediatric Dog Bite Injuries: A five year review of at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2009  The most common breeds included pit bull terriers (50.9 percent), Rottweilers (8.9 percent), and mixed breeds of the two aforementioned breeds (6 percent).

 A ten year, two institution review of pediatric dog attacks: Advocating for a nationwide prohibition of dangerous dogs.   2008   "Our cases present the ‘tip of the iceberg’ as our cases only
represented consultations directed to Plastic Surgery. The Province of Ontario, Canada has banned Pit Bulls since 2004, as have several American cities. We describe the scope of the problem, preventative guidelines, and outline why organizational advocacy in plastic surgery should be directed towards a national prohibition of dangerous dogs."

Pit Bull Mauling Deaths in Detroit.  2009  This study is autopsy material.  The photographs are sobering.

I realize that breed specific advocates may doubt the relevance of these studies, and many more just like them.  After all they are studies done by actual medical doctors, not a single vet tech is quoted.

.


12/14/2014
Toledo Ohio

The Blade reports a possible delay in the passage of a law to remove the Wauseon pit bull ban.  During a 12/11/2014 meeting of the city council County Dog Warden Brian Banister gave his thoughts on the proposal and he opposes removal of the ban. Per the Blade " Mr. Banister said while some “pit bulls” and “pit bull” mixes will never be a problem, he said when they do attack, the dogs routinely inflict more damage than any other breed.  “The differential in it is the fact that if that ‘pit’ attacks, that attack is going to be greatly, greatly more severe than a normal dog,” he said.

“It’s inherent in their DNA. ‘Pit bulls’ were hunting dogs, used as a catch dog for wild boar hunting and bear hunting. These dogs were bred to fight. Is every ‘pit bull’ out there a fighter? Absolutely not, but that is what is in their DNA. That is what they were bred to do.”

Councilman Estrada countered with the claim that BSL is unconstitutional which is false.  The Supreme Court of Ohio has upheld the constitutionality of BSL in the State of Ohio V. Anderson.  Click here for the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling in the Toledo V. Tellings case, a reversal of a lower court's ruling that the city of Toledo's BSL was unconstitutional.  Appellate courts in twelve states plus the District of Columbia have ruled BSL constitutional. The United States Supreme Court has refused to rule on BSL stating that regulation of dogs properly belongs on the state level.

Mr. Estrada goes on to state that there is no true way to identify a pit bull.  Please review again the ruling in the State of Ohio V. Anderson for the opinion of the Ohio Supreme Court that pit bulls can be identified by "a dog owner of average intelligence" and plenty of reasons why they should.  Here is a short quote " In Vanater v. South Point, supra, the court found that pit bulls have the following behavioral traits: "* * * a) grasping strength, b) climbing and hanging ability, c) weight pulling ability, d) a history of frenzy, which is the trait of unusual relentless ferocity or the extreme concentration on fighting and attacking, e) a history of catching, fighting, and killing instinct, f) the ability to be extremely destructive and aggressive, g) highly tolerant of pain, h) great biting strength, i) undying tenacity and courage and they are highly unpredictable." Id. at 1240. The court further found that pit bulls possess the quality of gameness, which it described as "the propensity to catch and maul an attacked victim unrelentingly until 

173*173 death occurs * * *." Similarly, in Singer, supra, the evidence presented at trial established that pit bulls "possess inherent characteristics of aggression, strength, viciousness and unpredictability not found in other dog breeds. * * * [U]nlike other breeds which retreat if they are injured in a fight or an attack, a pit bull will often bite, clamp down with its powerful jaw, and maintain its hold until separated from its victim." Finally, the Florida ordinance regulating pit bull ownership which was upheld in State v. Peters(Fla. App. 1988), 534 So.2d 760, states that pit bulls are distinguished by "* * * a high [in]sensitivity to pain, extreme aggressiveness towards other animals, and a natural tendency to refuse to terminate an attack once it has begun * * *." Id. at 764.

The city council president requested additional time to study the issue and get the opinion of residents of the community.   A prudent choice.   

12/15/2014

Toledo Ohio

Leaving no stone unturned in the effort to repeal the Wauseon pit bull ban, the Toledo Blade announces the showing of the breed specific advocacy classic "documentary" Beyond The Myth at the Wauseon Public Library on 12/15/2014.  This event was sponsored by Fulton County No Kill, closely associated with the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates led by .... Jean Keating.

I have asked many friends if they have ever seen a notice for a movie being shown at the local library debunking the vicious reputation of Beagles, or Pugs, or Irish Setters.  The Truth About Golden Retrievers?  Poodles - Bad Rap or Just Like any Other Dog?  Oddly, no one has. 

12/16/2014

Toledo Ohio

Continuing non stop coverage of the pit bull ban in Wauseon Ohio (population 7,332) the Blade reports breathlessly that a second reading of the ordinance to remove the pit bull ban passed. The vote was three in favor, two against, and one abstaining).

Three individuals spoke in favor of the ordinance.  Only one of the three was a local resident.  

Prior to the meeting the council voted 3 to 3 on a motion to table the second reading.  Mayor Huner broke the tie moving the issue forward.  

The final reading will be January 5, 2015.  Prior to the final reading the ordinance will be reviewed by the safety and code committee, the police chief, and the city's legal council.  

                                                                         * * *  

12/8/2014

St Mary's Ohio 

This story did NOT come from the Toledo Blade, you may notice a difference in the reporting.

The article begins with "ST. MARYS — Keeping stride with other communities around the state, St. Marys City Council unanimously approved an ordinance regulating “pit bulls” at its meeting Monday."
 .

The new law in St Marys is based on the newly rewritten  Lima Ohio law.  Auglaize County Dog Warden Russ Bailey supported the law.  

St Marys Mayor Pat "McGowan said the city did not receive the backlash that some municipalities receive when passing restrictive laws on the dogs. Some opponents of pit bull legislation say it causes unwarranted bias against them and that dangerous dogs all a result of care of the owner rather than the breed.

“I think we did not face any opposition because people are beginning to realize their is a problem,” McGowan said. “There are a lot of people that let them free and don’t even follow the leash law. Most do but it only takes a few to ruin it for other people. We have a lot of walkers and we have had a lot of complaints about walkers encountering dogs.”

                                                                         * * *

Why is the Toledo Blade so invested in pit bulls?  Many newspapers have individual reporters with a heavy breed specific bias but at the Blade the disease infects everyone right on up through the editors to the owners of the newspaper.  The Blade has gone from reporting news to driving it and even creating it.  The Blade's sister newspaper in Pittsburgh has a similar bias but a bit less hysteria.  Toledo elected officials appear to share the affliction.  See the previous post for more insanity from the Toledo City Council.

Is there something in the water in Toledo?  Was last summer's tap water ban a red flag revealing something sinister?  Is continuous low level exposure to toxins in the drinking water driving insanity in elected officials and newspaper executives?    

Don't drink the water in Toledo.

Lunacy in Toledo

One learns to expect outrageous dog advocacy stories from Toledo but this one is so far out there it requires its own blog post.  We will cover a lot of ground, from the Vatican to Toledo with a stop in Arizona.

Very recently it was reported that Pope Francis remarked to a child grieving the loss of his dog that heaven is open to all creatures and that the boy would see his dog again.  Toledo Councilman Jack Ford, former mayor of Toledo and a non Catholic, took that and ran with it. Ford wants "death row dogs" to get a "second chance" and wants dog warden Julie Lyle to hire an outside evaluator to assess the dogs.  Ford said per the Toledo Blade "“When the Pope made that comment, that just did it for me. ... There is nothing wrong with being progressive to help any living creature,”

   

Councilman Ford.

Reality check, dogs are on "death row" for a reason, aggression, illness, old age with disability.  In Toledo that decision to euthanize at Lucas County Care and Control is made by Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle.  Lyle was hired as county dog warden succeeding former dog warden Tom Skeldon with the blessing of the Toledo Blade. A little history here, The Toledo Blade, in association with Toledo area pit bull advocate Jean Keating,  participated in a lengthy campaign  to drive former Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon from office because of his protocols for dealing with pit bulls. This quote is from Jean Keating "the only way to end it, once and for all, in Ohio was to remove Tom Skeldon. That became my mission and consumed much of my time for about two years."

Lets look at what Julie Lyle is sending to "death row."  The Toledo Blade runs a daily feature, "Lucas County Dogs for Adoption" which also lists dogs euthanized at the shelter.  Today is  12/16/2014 and here is the list of euthanized dogs.  First is a pit bull, stray, brought in by animal control, bit someone in the community.  Second, a pit bull that failed the behavior evaluation, brought in by police, a stray.  Third, a Chihuahua mix with a severe injury, a fear biter and a stray.  Number four, a pit bull, owner surrender, failed behavior evaluation.  Number five, another pit bull failing the behavior evaluation, a stray.  Sixth, a Boxer, failed the behavior eval, owner surrender. Seventh, a Beagle in extremely poor physical condition, emaciated and unable to stand, an owner surrender. The final dog on the list is another pit bull, a stray, failed the behavior evaluation, brought in by a citizen.  No rescue group stepped forward to take these dogs.  Does anyone think that like these, failing behavior evaluations, and dogs too badly injured, or too old and sick to be humanely kept by their owners should be returned to the community?  

Councilmen Mike Craig and Rob Ludeman have taken leave of their senses and agree with Ford.   The three held a news conference stating "said the pound should consider “a stronger sense of basic fairness,” or due process, for dogs before the canines are killed."  “I would like the dog warden to implement a pilot program for dogs, similar in concept to the guardian ad litem program we currently have for children, that would take the dog warden and her team out of the role of total evaluator, prosecutor, and ultimately executioner, and bring in an individual from the outside to evaluate the dog prior to final disposition of its life,”


Councilman Ludeman

Councilman Craig

The zany trio suggest that the guardians ad litem be volunteers, amateurs, like say, Jean Keating the well known and high profile pit bull advocate.  Keating has not been suggested for this position, only my opinion on this part.  

Long suffering Lucas County dog Warden Julie Lyle has said that no such program exists  in any shelter and that the Lucas County shelter already has four evaluators on payroll.  Per the Blade “There’d be absolutely no reason to have outside folks do it when we have the most certified evaluators than any shelter I’ve ever seen,” “I think it’s important that we have trained, certified evaluators that know dogs, and that’s what we have.”

The Blade goes on to the mandatory quote from Jean Keating, her thoughts on the souls of pets.

At this point I would like to mention a pilot program already in place at the Lucas County shelter dealing with dogs failing the behavior evaluations.  Dogs failing the food guarding portion of the behavior evaluation are given additional time in the shelter and are free fed in an effort to reduce food guarding behaviors.  After a week the dogs are reassessed and if improvement is noted they get another week. Rescues are involved in this process and they will receive an incentive of $100 for each dog they take from the program and the $50 transfer fee is waived.  Of the first 27 dogs participating in the study eighteen failed to improve and were euthanized, six went to rescues ($600 paid in incentives and a total of $300 in waived transfer fees) and three more are still at the shelter.  

One dog that failed in the program was being rehabilitated at the Toledo Correctional Institute through the Prisoners Helping Dogs program.  The dog bit his inmate trainer in an aggressive response over a toy and was euthanized. When the prison population is being bitten by dogs being groomed for re entry into the community we have a problem.  Shout out to Mickey the mauler and Sheriff Joe Arpiao and a link to the Mickey cam.  For those who might be aware of the story here, Mickey mauled a small child and was expected to be euthanized.  Pit bull advocates went wild demanding that Mickey should live out his life in comfort. Mickey will live out the remainder of his life in luxury at a no kill shelter run by Sheriff Joe Arpiao.  



Here is a photo of Mickey's victim, Kevin Vincente as he is today.


Here is Kevin after his attack


But I have digressed yet again, back to the new program to save dogs that have already failed the food guarding portion of the behavior evaluation at Lucas County Care and Control.

Several dogs showed initial improvement in the shelter but no rescue was willing to take the dogs so they were euthanized.  It has been announced that in the future any dog showing improvement will kept at the shelter (at taxpayer expense) until a rescue turns up that will accept the dog. How much money is being invested here?  This program was suggested by the president of the Lucas County board of Commissioners Carol Contrada. Presumably the residents of Lucas County are paying the bills.

It is important to recognize that dogs from this program are not offered for adoption to the public directly from the shelter because of public safety concerns.  Rescues with limited financial resources to compensate a potential victim of a mauling by one of these dogs will, however, traffick them right back into the community.  

Here are Dog Warden Lyle's thoughts on that.  " Ms. Lyle said once the county shelter sees potential aggression in a dog, it cannot be adopted from there out of a concern for public safety.

With the restrictions that Ms. Lyle has placed on the pilot program, which was recommended by Mrs. Contrada, it would seem Ms. Lyle has accepted that many of the dogs in her care must be killed. At every turn she has a reason why she must kill dogs at the county shelter, but her usual fall-back position is “public safety.”

When asked why a dog whose food guarding behavior has been changed can’t be adopted to the public, she replied: “We still saw that initial behavior.”

But if the dog is no longer a food guarder?

“Just because they did well on a different day, doesn’t mean we didn’t see the aggression. Our primary purpose is public safety. We are not going to compromise that.” 

It seems that the Toledo officials who went shopping for a dog warden without scruples after the resignation of Tom Skeldon may have gotten a bit more than they expected with Julie Lyle and it seems that the Blade is not pleased.  It appears that the expensive program already in place to save dogs that have failed behavior testing is not enough. 

As usual, I have digressed.  Lets return to the Pope.  The Pope never made the comments that form the basis for former Toledo mayor and current city councilman Ford's desire to save "death row" dogs 
Per Religion News Service "  There’s only one problem: None of it ever happened.

Yes, a version of that quotation was uttered by a pope, but it was said decades ago by Paul VI, who died in 1978. There is no evidence that Francis repeated the words during his public audience on Nov. 26, as has been widely reported, nor was there a boy mourning his dead dog. “There is a fundamental rule in journalism. That is double-checking, and in this case it was not done,” the Vatican’s deputy spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, told Reuters on Saturday."

The Italian version of the Huffington Post picked up the false story and and it went viral, false but viral.  Who knew that Italy was also infested with Huffington Post animal advocates?  

Here is the teaching of the Catholic Church.  Catechism of the Catholic Church Part three, Life in Christ 2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.  

Here are the thoughts of Pope Francis regarding pets and children. He warns against placing animals above children in importance. Per Religion News Service  "But he went a step further and strongly criticized those couples who choose not to have children, saying they had been influenced by a culture of “well-being” that says life is better without kids.  “You can go explore the world, go on holiday, you can have a villa in the countryside, you can be carefree,” the pope said.  “It might be better — more comfortable — to have a dog, two cats, and the love goes to the two cats and the dog. Is this true or not? Have you seen it?

“Then, in the end this marriage comes to old age in solitude, with the bitterness of loneliness.“

The Catholic Church teaches that the priority in spending money should be to the relief of human misery and even uses the hard to accept word "unworthy" in spending money on animals when humans are in need.  The Pope has clearly said that children are to be valued above pets.  

In Toledo a non-Catholic former mayor has stated that a comment the Pope did not make inspired him to promote a program to give second chances to dogs already judged by professionals too dangerous or too sick to return to the community at tremendous financial cost and an early record of failure in Toledo Ohio.  Using the comment not made by the Pope the councilman has suggested that dogs already evaluated by professionals be again evaluated, this time by amateurs. These dogs are to be sent to rescues, many will be fostered in private homes.  Children, peaceful neighbors, gentle pets will be put at risk. The Pope has warned against elevating animals over children while a child devastated by disfiguring injuries and now blind in one eye  struggles to recover.  The dog causing the injuries lives in luxury with a mauler cam in his well appointed room so the mauler's fans can watch him anytime they choose.  

My head spins.

I need to rest in a dimly lit room with a cool cloth to my forehead.  I was hoping for sense and found none.