News coverage from the Marysville Journal-Tribune on Steffen Baldwin's arrest and charges. Baldwin faces a possible 81 years in prison.

The article is behind a paywall but it is worth the 49 cent price, WAY worth it!  Spend the 49 cents, you won't be sorry but you will be angry. 

https://www.marysvillejt.com/news/animal-advocate-indicted-for-cruelty/?fbclid=IwAR2l9XvcEYscRTfdGg9BDSgU4Xrv9fjfTCOuW2c1MhjGis7dmF7rrvCtJLQ



A quote from the article.  "“I am not sure we are ever going to know the total number of animals he killed,” said Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips. “I certainly think the total exceeds the number of indictments. ”

Here is another " Phillips said Baldwin would allegedly tell people he was taking dogs into rescue or adopt them.

“Then he would raise money for these dogs – for their care, for their adoption, for their training – but had allegedly euthanized them,” Phillips said.

He said Baldwin had, “a pattern of lying to people to raise money.”

The indictments indicate Baldwin took funds from a variety of animal shelters, organizations and individuals throughout the state and nation.

“The allegations indicate the money he raised for the animals, even after they were euthanized were used for his personal expenses,” Phillips said, listing gifts for his girlfriend as well as strip clubs.

The indictments also allege Baldwin lied on his resume to get his position in Union County and that he lied on court documents, saying he was bit by an aggressive dog.

Also included in the indictment is the allegation that he stole a handgun from an animal rescue task force."

What the hell, here is another "(Phillips) said that when it was time to serve the indictment and arrest Baldwin, police in California invited Baldwin to conduct an animal training for the department. When Baldwin arrived, U.S. Marshals arrested him."  Picture it.  

8/1/2020 Update

We had forgotten about this and it deserves to be seen again.  My thanks to the advocate who saved
and posted it today. 

Another "Meltdown that Anyone Could See Coming" episode. Steffen Baldwin arrested in California, a total of 42 charges. This is huge!

No shocker here, after a years-long investigation in Ohio, Steffen Baldwin was arrested last week and is currently being held in jail awaiting extradition to Ohio.  Screenshots of the charges are posted below.

Baldwin is no stranger to this blog.  We have watched his activity since he arrived in Ohio, an ambitious small-timer virtue signaling and self-promoting.  We have seen him set up rescues and semi-official humane law enforcement schemes.  We have seen these efforts dissolve without explanation.  We have seen Baldwin start businesses that failed.  We saw Baldwin's star rise, he began traveling Ohio highways to distant communities considering or defending their own public safety breed-regulation laws. Baldwin made foolish and fact-free speeches to city councils about the moral failure of the very BSL that was protecting local residents. Baldwin never wasted a single moment considering the suffering of pit bull victims, both human and animal.

What we never saw was how Baldwin financed all this, who was paying the bills?  We saw Baldwin and his currently-awaiting-trial close friend and associate Luke Westerman set up a Pit Bull PAC titled Ohioans Against Breed Discrimination with the goal of raising 5 million dollars to finance a ballot initiative to promote an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio to prohibit any Ohio community from passing or enforcing any breed-specific legislation.  There is not much of a money trail on this one.  An effort to raise the 5 million came up short, very short.  The hoped-for millions did not roll in, the fundraising page raised less than seven hundred dollars over many months and was quietly shut down. 

Baldwin and Westerman announced yet another jointly organized rescue, Pets Alive to be located in the Columbus area.  This one never got off the ground at all. 

Baldwin worked hard to create a personal link with Best Friends Animal Society and The Animal Farm Foundation, joyfully announcing his selection as an intern at the AFF. In actuality, this appears more like a four-day seminar but who is criticizing? I mention these links for a purpose.  Baldwin worked hard to create relationships with the powerful and those powerful partners share in Baldwin's downfall. 






























Just days ago Baldwin was enjoying the fellowship at the Best Friends Animal Society Sanctuary. We suspect he might not be welcomed back.  Remember, Baldwin has partnered with Best Friends, the Animal Farm Foundation, the Huffington Post, and a tremendous number of shelters.  He has "educated" police officers and school children as well. Critical thinkers among them may do more fact-checking in the future. 





Tremendous respect to Remi's owners and their contacts for seeing that justice is done!

Thank you!

Click here for more information on the charges.

Pit bull roundup 5/24/2020 Repeat offenders, pit attacks upon shelter workers and volunteers, police shoot attacking pits, children and political candidates attacked by pit bulls, police bitten by pit bulls they were trying to help

12/9/2019
Lorain Ohio
Lorain County
A girl was bitten in the face by a pit bull mix reportedly "let out accidentally" by the pit bull owner's son.  The pit owner, responsibly, put the dog in the house and called 911 while providing first aid until first responders arrived. 

The dog owner reported that her dog has bitten other dogs in the past but never a human.  The child was transported to Mercy Health for treatment.

How does this happen?  Why are known biters allowed to remain in communities?  Nobody could see this coming?

Per the Morning Journal "Police issued a summons to the owner and that the dog would need to be on a 10-day quarantine in her home.

She said she contacted a veterinarian to discuss euthanasia at the end of the quarantine period, the report said.

This is the third incident in the last two years involving the dog. Though in the two prior incidents, no significant injuries occurred and no apparent aggression was demonstrated by the dog.

It is unknown what provoked the attack in this incident, as the dog has not been reported to have displayed any previous aggression, the report said."

But... but... but... this is the THIRD incident involving the dog in the last two years, "the dog has not been reported to have displayed any previous aggression"?  What?  

                                                               * * *

12/11/2019
Cleveland Ohio
Cuyahoga County

A dog was euthanized after attacking a shelter worker AND a volunteer.  No breed was mentioned but as of 12/12/2019 the Cleveland Kennel offered 86 dogs for adoption and 83 of them are pit bulls so we can make a guess that the offending dog was a pit bull.

The volunteer suffered minor injuries, the shelter worker lost a finger which was recovered.  Cleveland.com did not indicate that the finger was reattached. Both the shelter worker and the volunteer were transported to Metrohealth for treatment.  The kennel was closed for the remainder of the day on Thursday while authorities investigated the attack.

The Cleveland Kennel

                                                           * * *

12/16/2019
Heath Ohio
Licking County

A 9-year-old child and two adults were critically injured after being attacked by 2 pit bulls inside a Heath Ohio residence.  Police received a call on a "dog bite" and found one of the two pit bulls still attached to a victim.  Lethal force was used. 

All three critically injured victims were hospitalized.  Six puppies and the two dead pit bulls were taken by local animal control.  Two uninjured children found in the home were taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

"In a 911 call recording, a woman who identified herself as Cathy Singledecker, told a dispatcher her two pitbulls had attacked "everybody in the house." The woman asked the dispatcher to send someone to come put the dogs down."  
"Heath Police Chief Dave Haren said officials found 'unlivable' conditions inside the home.

"The animals were not let outside, maybe at all. But definitely not regularly," Haren said. "The conditions in all areas of the house were unacceptable related to health and sanitary issues."

Heath police reports three children, including a 9-year-old with critical injuries, were barricaded inside the home to prevent further attacks. Police said lethal force was used against both dogs."

How does this even happen?  This is not normal.

                                                            * * *

12/9/2019
Lorain Ohio
Lorain County

If you have some extra money here is a great place to send it.  A Lorain Ohio child was with both her sisters and her mother.  They were walking to their car when the 8-year-old was mauled by the neighbor's pit bull.  I will not include a photo out of respect for the child's privacy but send some cash, please.  Click here for the gofundme page.

                                                                  * * *

2/27/2020
New Marshfield
Athens County

This is not a first in our state.  A judicial candidate hs been attacked by pit bulls while canvassing door-to-door.  Several years ago Virginia Conlan Whitman was similarly attacked while posting signs for her husband's re-election.  Mrs. Whitman was seriously injured, required hospitalization, surgery and rehabilitation. 

Candidate Rusty Rittenhouse was attacked by two pit bulls that escaped from a secluded home through a doggie door.  Mr. Rittenhouse required stitches in his leg and in his hand. 

  

                                                                * * *

2/27/2020
Willoughby Ohio
Lake County

Two Willoughby police officers were bitten by a male pit bull mix they were trying to help.  The pit bull was running at large in very cold weather.  Officers were attempting to get the animal into the back seat of the police cruiser.  Both officers were treated for minor hand injuries at Lake West Medical Center.
Never approach a pit bull even if you think he might be cold.  No good will come of it. 


                                                       * * *

3/28/2020
Rocky River Ohio
Cuyahoga County

A resident of the peaceful community of Rocky River reported that she was out walking her dog and it was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull.  Her dog required surgery and Rocky River Animal Control is following up. In other news, no resident or pet was injured by an attacking Irish Setter or Pug.

                                                           * * *

4/23/2020
Galion Ohio
Crawford County 

Per Crawford County Now.com.  Moral of the story, take them off the streets when they bite someone the first time.

1:52 p.m.-A report of two pit bulls running loose in the 100 block of First Avenue. The dogs were picked up by the Crawford County Dog Warden as they bit someone last week.

                                                              * * *

5/2/2020
Mayfield Heights Ohio
Cuyahoga County

Per Cleveland.com, Animals: West Miner Road

A pit-bull attacked a leashed dog on a sidewalk May 2. The owner of the pit-bull came from the home and was able to stop the attack. He returned to his home without exchanging any information with the other dog’s owner. The victimized dog was injured, and officers subsequently spoke to the owner of the pit-bull, a 40-year-old man, about the incident, which was forwarded to the animal warden for review.

                                                  * * *

5/22/2020
Ohio Pit Bull Rescue Network
Location shown as simply "Ohio"

The Ohio Pit Bull Rescue Network has posted a request from a Florence Kentucky pit bull owner.
"I'm looking for any help/suggestions please! This is my male Pitt Rambo. I rescued him about 6 months ago. He turned a year in March. He was my snuggie buddy, he was very protective of me and loved me.. until last Friday evening. We were playing fetch in my backyard. After about the 3rd throw. He just stopped I seen something come over him.

The next thing I know. I'm in the fight of my life. He attacked me and seriously could have killed me. But I know how he was before this happened. He's at the shelter for 10 days. 5 days in already to see if rabies develop. Then they will put him down.

I'm so torn with emotions all I do is cry. And I know he can't come home. But as crazy as it sounds. I don't want him to die. I'm not sure if a professional trainer can help him. I'm a mess! Sorry for the long post and typos."

While we may be sympathetic to the plight of this pit bull owner, it is not difficult to see where this went wrong.  The woman did what she thought would be a good deed and "rescued" a 6-month old-pit bull.  Why did a 6-month-old pit bull require rescue?  The most obvious guess would be aggression. This dog has turned on at just over a year of age, not unusual.  The owner was attacked without provocation and acknowledges the danger here.  The dog can't come home.

A professional trainer cannot train away DNA.  Shamefully, shelters and rescues promote dogs with known aggression or an unknown history as pets to those who will suffer when DNA kicks in. 

Stop promoting dangerous dogs.  Do the right thing for public safety as painful as that might be.


                                                                        * * *
5/6/2020
Mayfield Heights Ohio
Cuyahoga County

Two loose pit bulls chased after several people in the area near Oakville Road.  The pit bulls bit a woman who required transport to a medical facility for treatment. A man was bitten but uninjured.  The pit bulls also chased police officers, one officer was forced to fire his gun at them, striking the pit bull twice.  The pit bull ran to its home (should make writing the citations easier).  The other pit bull ran off.  Those who live in the area should be VERY careful.



                                                          * * *
11/19/2019
Westlake Ohio
Cuyahoga County

How long do we think Lester will remain in the "sanctuary" before he is placed with someone who has no knowledge of the dog's history?  Reported in the West Life News.

Owners fined; agree to move dog from Westlake neighborhood

• By JEFF GALLATIN
• Nov 19, 2019

Lester the dog, who had bitten other dogs in his Westlake neighborhood, is headed to a pet sanctuary in Lorain County as part of an agreement reached in Rocky River Municipal Court.

The pitbull mix’s owners, Edward and Amy Salim of Westlake, were fined $250 and placed on one year of probation as part of the agreement with Magistrate Marisa A. Marniella on Nov. 12.
The Salims entered into a plea agreement for having a dog at large and not keeping Lester under reasonable control. They are required to notify the local animal warden of Lester’s location and comply with the state’s dangerous-dog laws.
The Salims were in court because Lester had bitten Chelsea, a golden retriever, while she was walking with one of her owners near her home in the Riviera Lane neighborhood Sept. 11 and because of other biting incidents dating to the spring, police said.
Todd Rambasek, one of Chelsea’s owners, said he is satisfied with the decision.
“I’m happy that he is out of the neighborhood,” Rambasek said. “I’m happy that the dog wasn’t put down and I’m happy that the dog’s owners can go visit their dog if they choose.”
Rambasek said he knows most people care about their pets and that people in the neighborhood are happy with the outcome.
“Now people will have the chance to heal from all of this,” Rambasek said.
Chelsea is recovering from her wounds as well, he said.
Edward Salim said Thursday he understands the rationale behind the decision.
“People want their homes and families safe, including their pets,” he said.
Salim said he doesn’t think he’ll visit Lester in Lorain County.
“He’ll have a new home and family around him there,” Salim said. “It should be good for all the people involved.”
Salim said he was going to find a new home for Lester even before the court decision because of the tension the biting problems had caused.
Westlake Law Director Michael Maloney said the decision allows people to move on.
“I am glad we were able to reach some closure,” Maloney said in a statement. “It was a dangerous situation. The case created tension in the neighborhood, which no one wants or needs, but the matter had to be addressed. The city was not going to wait for something even worse to happen. There are young children on the defendant’s street. I do not have to explain what can happen with an aggressive dog this size running on the loose.”

This was not Lester's first offense and he was not alone.  Lester's owners had two pit bulls and they were both involved in the attack upon Chelsea.   Here is the photo featured with this article.


This was not "discrimination" it was stone cold experience.  Here is a link to a response by the owner of the Golden.  She is much more tolerant than I would be but she makes a strong point for enforcement of dangerous dog laws.  

Settlement reached in Dayton dog mauling death of Klonda Richey.

Six years after the mauling death of Klonda Richey, a settlement has been reached between the family of Ms. Richey and Montgomery County Commissioners.  Montgomery County will pay Richey's sister and brother 3.5 million dollars.  Montgomery County commissioners are expected to approve the settlement on March 31st.  The settlement will allow Montgomery to avoid a messy trial in the wrongful death case.  Per the Dayton Daily News " “This lovely lady passed away. You never get over that,” said Montgomery County Commission President Judy Dodge. “But it has been dragging on for a while … Nobody wants to go through a trial.”  

No, Ms. Dodge, this lovely lady did not peacefully "pass away" she was brutally mauled to death by her neighbor's dogs and her death was predictable, she predicted it herself.   Per the attorney representing the Richey estate  “The evidence is clear that Ms. Richey experienced prolonged conscious pain and suffering prior to her death.”

  Photo by WKEF News of the snow in front of Klonda Richey's home saturated with her blood.


Ms. Richey's thirteen complaints to the then County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf, made from 2012 until the time of her death in 2014, received no response other than sternly worded post-it notes left on the door of neighbors and dog owners Andrew Nason and Julie Custer. There was absolutely no follow-up to these post-it notes because Kumpf was "unaware" that follow-up was required.  Here is a quote from Kumpf, the link is no longer live.  " Per WDTN  Numerous warnings were left for the dog owners at 35 East Bruce Avenue, but no action was taken. Kumpf says a warning is simply a notice that an officer responded to a complaint. There’s really no follow-up after that unless the owner calls the Animal Resource Center to find out more." This is the problem, zero follow- up. No Dangerous Dog designation was ever produced, no fines, no containment orders, no orders to obtain insurance.  This was the typical response to complaints made to dog warden Kumpf, a dog warden with multiple human fatalities in his county during his watch due to his refusal to enforce the law.  Please read the 2016 ruling from the Court of Appeals of Ohio Second Appellate District Montgomery County for an eye-opening explanation of Kumpf's business model.  That model included, in addition to the refusal to enforce the law, refusal to answer phone calls, destruction of records, instructions to his staff to write fewer citations and zero follow-up to post-it note citations.

Unlike most high-dollar settlements, this one will result in actual payment.  This payment may set a precedent for other victim-led lawsuits against other city Animal Control departments where priority currently favors inaction (sloth) protecting the owners of violent dogs over the safety of the public.   Will it change how laws are enforced?  Less sloth and more actual protection for peaceful people in their own communities?  What a refreshing change this would be.

Montgomery County went into damage control overdrive after the Dayton deaths of Richey and 7-month-old Jonathan Quarles Jr, killed by a relative's pit bull that was known to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center as a dangerous dog but was allowed to remain in the community. In an effort to salvage their reputation Montgomery County Commissioners sponsored a two-day seminar for law enforcement and animal control officers from all over Ohio, links are no longer live.  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."  The seminar was held prior to the Dayton pit bull mauling death of Maurice Brown.  Dog Warden Kumpf failed to attend?  Was asleep in the back row? 

Bills strengthening Ohio dog laws still languish in committees in the Ohio State House to the shame of all Ohio lawmakers. 

But, I digress.  Allowing Kumpf to remain in his position for years after his failures became public knowledge and holding a seminar for Animal Control professionals did little to protect the interests of the Montgomery County Commissioners or soften the blow to local taxpayers. This is a big lawsuit and it should have a big impact.  


Mark Kumpf at the time of his firing by Montgomery County commissioners.  Kumpf is now serving as head of Animal Control in Detroit, another city where death by dog mauling is a sad reality. Of all the possibilities, Detroit decided that Kumpf was the best choice to head their mess of an animal control department? 

Dayton infant killed inside the family home after being attacked by the family pit bull. Has breed neutral law made Ohio safer?

1/9/2020
Dayton Ohio
Montgomery County

Four-month-old McKenzie Terwill died after being attacked by the family pit bull inside the family home.  The pit bull has been quarantined and the attack is under investigation.  McKenzie is the eighteenth Ohio resident killed by dogs since the Ohio Legislature allowed Best Friends Animal Society to re-write state law.  Best Friends promised that their new breed-neutral law would make Ohio communities safer.  Is anyone shocked that the promise has proven false? 

Nope.  In the decade prior to the change in state law Ohio had 5 dog bite-related fatalities.  In the less-than-eight-years since the passage of HB 14 Ohio has seen eighteen fatal dog attacks. Stunning.

Our thanks to former Representative Barbara Sears and Ledy Vankavage's legal department at Best  Friends Animal Society for bringing this disaster to Ohio.



Update - A neighbor reported that dogs at the home where the infant died were "mean, vicious, barkers, chasers" and caused people to avoid the location.  The investigation is being handled by the Special Victims Unit.

Update - Per the Dayton Daily News, "The Dayton Daily News today obtained an affidavit written by Dayton Police Detective Karina Sulek seeking permission to search and collect evidence in the case.  Sulek wrote when officers arrived at the home on the 100 block of Vermont Avenue on Jan. 9, the baby’s father, Parker Terwell, was on the front porch with the baby’s remains.

“Mr. Terwell said he just arrived home, and his girlfriend and mother of the child, Mary Shoup, was asleep on the living room sofa,” the affidavit in the search warrant requests says. “Mr. Terwell informed officers that Ms. Shoup is on prescription medication.”

In another update, this from WDTN News "The search warrant states that the prescriptions that were found have side effects such as drowsiness, cognitive dysfunction, and insomnia. The father also told officers that he threw out a bong before they arrived."  

Pit bull roundup 9/23/2019. Detroit makes the worst possible choice, pit bulls attack veterinarians, law enforcement officers, and peaceful neighborhood residents. Pit bulls are neglected by their owners.

This post marks a milestone.  The Scorched Earth blog has well over a quarter of a million page views.  Thanks for reading!  There is no shortage of pit bull news in Ohio and elsewhere so we will begin, again, with an astonishing story out of Detroit that appears to mark the outer limits of insanity.

                                                               * * *

9/23/2019
Detroit Michigan

In an unbelievably illogical and irresponsible move, the city of Detroit has hired failed Montgomery County Dog Warden Mark Kumpf to take over Detroit Animal Control in response to the uproar caused by fatal and very serious pit bull maulings in the city. This choice of Kumpf to head Detroit Animal Control indicates that those responsible for this hiring failed to examine Mr. Kumpf's background and job performance in Montgomery County. One would expect this story to come from The Onion but it is for real.  Wow...

For more information on Kumpf's job performance in Montgomery County just enter his name in the search box at the top left of this page.  You will be here all day.

Here is the Cliff's Notes version of the most recent and most serious charges.
Mr. Kumpf served as Montgomery County Dog Warden from 2006 to 2018 when he was fired.  Montgomery County suffered four fatal dog attacks on Kumpf's watch.  That has to be a record.  During Kumpf's tenure as head of Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, the organization did not focus on enforcing the law and publically so.  Kumpf favored an educational model for his department over enforcing the law.  This was an excuse for absolute sloth.  When tasked with enforcement of law related to vicious dogs the ARC staff put sternly worded post-it notes on the front doors of irresponsible dog owners rather than citations.  Mr. Kumpf claimed that he was under the impression that his staff must actually see the violation prior to enforcing the law.  Anyone who had ever actually read the Ohio Revised Code section on dogs knew this to be false. 

PLEASE read the Court of Appeals ruling In Schneider v. Kumpf allowing the family of dog mauling victim Klonda Richey to sue Kumpf directly.  This document is amazing for its clarity. 

This photo of the family of the most recent pit bull victim in Detroit, nine-year-old Emma Hernandez tears at the heart.  These good people deserve more than what Detroit residents were given.  We are SO sorry!
    

There is already a petition to have Kumpf removed from his new position in Detroit.  
A public protest is also scheduled.
The Dayton Daily News has picked up the story as well.


You can't make this stuff up.

10/1/2019 Update.
It does not look like things are going well for Mark Kumpf in Detroit.  Protesters are marching.


                                                                    * * *


7/12/2019
University Heights Ohio
Cuyahoga County

From Cleveland.com
A veterinarian was bitten on the forearm by a pit bull during an exam at the Green Road Animal Hospital.  The bite was described as causing severe trauma and the veterinarian was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  A 10-day confinement was ordered for the pit bull.  One may assume that confinement will not be at the Green Road Animal Hospital.  Will the injury limit ability of the veterinarian to routine exams and surgeries? 

Only one veterinarian is listed at the Green Road Animal Hospital, Kelly Rehmer, she is the owner of the business.  How will the clinic operate during her recovery?  Will Dr. Rehmer be able to find another vet to fill in for her?   The financial impact on staff?

This may be a disaster for the Green Road Animal Hospital.

                                                                               * * *

7/18/2019
Washington Twp
Clermont County

A Clermont County Deputy Sherrif was delivering a court summons when he was attacked by a pit bull   Per WLWT5 "When the deputy walked onto the porch, a large dog charged him, bit him and held onto his leg, the Sheriff's Office said. The deputy steadied himself on the porch railing to maintain his balance as the dog continued to try to drag him by his leg.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the deputy shot the canine in order to stop the attack. The dog then freed the deputy's leg.

The dog died of a gunshot wound. Clermont County Animal Control personnel arrived at the home and took the dog to a local animal hospital. The dog was later identified as an American pit bull.

The deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Please note - the dog released the deputy's leg only when it was dead.

                                                          * * *

9/7/2019
Willoughby Ohio
Lake County

A Willoughby couple abandoned their sick and injured pit bull mix, Lucy in near-freezing temperatures.  Lucy was found on December 4th running at large in a wooded area.  Alvaro Torres pleaded guilty to cruelty to companion animals and was sentenced to jail time served plus one-year probation.  Pica Torres pleaded guilty to attempted cruelty to companion animals and was sentenced to one-year probation. In addition, they were ordered to pay a $150 fine, plus $1,390 in restitution to the Lake County Dog Shelter for the care of the dog.  It was also ordered that they are prohibited from owning a companion animal. 

Pit bull advocates claim that pit bulls suffer abuse and they are correct.  However, that abuse comes at the hands of their owners, not the peaceful public.  Advocates burning to educate should focus their educational efforts on pit bull owners.  Teach humane treatment of animals.  Teach the benefits of neuter and spay.  Teach responsible confinement in order to protect the safety of the peaceful public.  Teach the responsible practice of carrying insurance to cover the medical bills of victims.  If these concerns were addressed then there would be no need for, and no interest in BSL.   

Clean up your own mess.


The condition of this animal is a disgrace and the peaceful public is not responsible for it.

                                               * * *

8/31/2019
Brookpark Ohio
Cuyahoga County

A pit bull ran out of a house to attack a dog being walked by a woman.  She was just walking her dog minding her own business.  The owner of the pit bull ran out of the house and stopped the attack.  The woman took her dog to a local vet for treatment and in a nearly unheard-of development, the pit bull owner paid the vet bill.  Wow.

                                                             * * *

We have hundreds more pit attacks to cover but no more time today.

h

Pit bull roundup, short form 4/26/2019 Pit bulls on the roof, repeat offender pit bulls back with owners who can't contain them, pit attacks with multiple victims by pits with a multiple bite history, dog fighters harboring pitbulls (surprise) and interesting out of state rulings.

It has been far too long since the last Pit Bull Roundup, this is not due to lack of material but rather to the futility of reporting what does not change.  We are so far behind in reporting Ohio pit bull attacks that we will never catch up. Today we share a few recent attacks with many more to follow.

We will begin.

                                                      * * *

12/24/2018
Lorain Ohio
Lorain County

4/2/2019
Cleveland Ohio
Cuyahoga County

The Lorain County Dog Warden was called to remove a pit bull from a roof.  This is not unusual with pit bulls but unheard of with Irish Setters or Beagles.




Cleveland Police were called for a similar scenario.  A dog had been tied up on a second story porch, jumped the railing and was found dangling off the front of the house.  Police were able to rescue the dog, a pit bull.  Video is available by clicking here.  The pit bull was uninjured and ran off after his rescue.  Bet the neighbors were thrilled.



Have police ever been called for a Pug on the roof?






                                                              * * *

3/13/2019
Greenville Ohio
Darke County

A couple was joyfully reunited with a pit bull that they had lost two different times.  The couple, Jason Hunt and Hillary Frech, live outside New Madison. Their 6-year-old red-nose pitbull terrier, Kiara, had run off once before, prompting a man who worked nearby to threaten to kill the animal if it strayed back onto his property. When Kiara vanished again in September of last year, they feared that was just what had happened.


The threat was not enough to convince the pit bull owners to improve containment and supervision of their pit bull.  Kiara vanished again, gone for months until they saw a posting from the Darke County Shelter.  There she was, held in a shelter that does not adopt pit bulls directly to the public.  In order to reclaim the pit bull that the owners clearly can't contain or control, Hunt and Frech had to rely on a rescue as an intermediary 501c3 rescue to avoid liability for the County shelter.

Now that they have their repeat runaway pit bull back will containment improve?  Not likely.  It's a revolving door for pit bulls.




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3/5/2019
Akron Ohio
Summit County

This story is hard to follow.  Please hang in there.  Three people were hospitalized and a mail carrier was injured in multiple dog attacks by the same dogs on the same day.

A woman, peacefully walking in her own community was attacked by three "dogs".  Three men driving by noted the attack in progress and stopped to help the woman.  These courageous men were unable to pull the dogs off their victim so they changed tactics and beat them off.  The victim was transported to a local hospital with extensive injuries.

Prior to the attack upon the woman reported above, three other people reported attacks by three "dogs."  A second woman reported being attacked as she attempted to get out of her own van.  Hearing the victim's screams, a man came to help her.  The man was attacked as well.  Both of these two victims were transported to a local hospital with extensive injuries.

The "dogs" ran away and attacked a mail carrier.  The mail carrier sprayed the "dogs" with mace but was bitten on the thigh. The "dogs" were picked up by animal control.

Photos of the three dogs are found on this link.  They are all pit bulls but we already knew that.

Update 4/9/2019

The pit bull owner, Diane Yanke, had a pre-trial hearing in Akron, she has been charged with 21 misdemeanors, including five counts of having vicious dogs, t hr ee counts of physical harm, not having insurance and not having her pit bulls confined.  Per ABC News 5, Cleveland "  Criminal charges, related to controlling pit bulls, have been filed against Yanke three others times since September. In one case, a 62-year-old man was bitten, suffering a puncture wound on his right arm.

One case was dismissed. In the second case, Yanke was found guilty of having a vicious dog and for not securing a pit bull. She was given 180 days in jail, but the time was suspended. She was also fined $500.

In the third case, Yanke was convicted of not securing a pit bull. Her 60-day jail sentence was suspended and she was fined $50.

Diane Yanke in court.                                                            

Update 4/26/2019
Pretrial is scheduled for 4/26/2019.  Pit bull owner Diane Yanke still harbors pit bulls and the first victim in the March 4th Akron attack, Social Worker Sarah Friddle refuses to back down.  This will play out in court.

Yanke's dogs were put down but she still has another dog.  Bet her neighbors are thrilled.

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These are not Ohio stories but one out of Iowa has a lot to do with the Reynoldsburg ruling so we are throwing it out there for your consideration.  The other is a change in law in Citrus County Florida that indicates a long overdue change in direction with the treatment of vicious dogs.  We begin with Citrus County.  Citrus County has had far too many violent dog attacks and has changed shelter procedures in an effort to better protect public safety. Per the Citrus County Chronicle " commissioners gave unanimous approval Tuesday to a set of procedures designed to provide closer care of dogs and cats, preparing them for adoption.

In doing so, the board removed the rule giving rescue organizations five days to retrieve dogs considered dangerous or too aggressive for adoption.

The five-day hold was eliminated, but also the county will no longer provide dogs to rescue groups that it would not allow for adoption."   

If a dog is too vicious to adopt out directly to the public it is inappropriate for handing over to a rescue that will adopt it out into a peaceful community.  Logic is a beautiful thing.  

On to Iowa.  The Iowa Supreme Court backed the rights of a community to declare a dog dangerous.  Pinky (a pit bull) attacked a cat and was declared a dangerous dog.

After the attack, Des Moines animal control declared Pinky a vicious dog/high risk based on her breed, and a dangerous dog based upon her conduct.  Local law required insurance and proof of vaccination from her original owner, Charles Brickell.  Brickell did not challenge the high-risk designation of his dog at the time he obtained Pinky but let insurance and vaccination lapse for six years until Pinky's attack upon Rebel the neighbor's cat.  When Pinky was seized by animal control, Brickell sold Pinky to Diana Helmers, the owner of an animal rescue located outside the city of Des Moines. This began a three-year slog through the courts.  The end result was an evenly divided Supreme Court ruling.  The evenly divided ruling deferred to the lower court ruling that declared the Des Moines high-risk dog law constitutional.  Here is a link to the final brief from the City of Des Moines.  Bottom line, the constitutionality of Des Moines proactive law was upheld.

Can it be hoped that these rulings might indicate a change for the better in protecting the peaceful public from violent dogs?



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4/4/2019
Columbus Ohio
Franklin County

Twenty dogs were "rescued" from the property of German Sanchez, in addition, a dead dog was found.  Sanchez was charged with one count of dog fighting and one count of possession of crack cocaine.  Sanchez was found during an investigation into drug trafficking and his connection to dog fighting became clear.
Thirteen of the dogs were mature pit bulls, one was a Yorkie, six puppies of an unspecified breed were "rescued" per Mark Gofstein, a spokesman for the Franklin County sheriff's office.  The dogs are in the custody of the Columbus Humane Society.   “To be able to get all of these dogs away from a horrible situation is a good days work,” Gofstein said."
At least 13 of these dogs are game bred, pit tested fighting dogs. Their situation was horrible but the peaceful public is not responsible for this and should not be put at risk by any foolish, reckless attempt to turn at least 13 pit tested fighting dogs into pets.   The Yorkie should be a safe placement.    German Sanchez, booking photo.