Officials Discuss Concern After Latest Dog Attacks

Official Discusses Concern After Latest Dog Attack

Pit bulls have a nasty reputation and have been responsible for some horrific attacks, but the chief dog catcher in Pittsburgh believes that the recent attacks may not be a case of nature, but nurture.

A man was taken to the hospital Sunday evening after a dog attack in Pittsburgh's Arlington Heights section.

"The neighbor's dog went after my boyfriend and ripped his hand apart and tore his shirt, his back; he had scratches and was bleeding everywhere," said Jessica Rieber, the victim's girlfriend. "They just left him out there, just shut the door."

A few days ago, a 6-year-old Allentown boy was mauled in the face.

Pit bulls were blamed in both incidents and the perception may be that Pittsburgh is being overrun by them, but that is not the case.

According to Animal Control, only 5.2 percent of dog licenses are sold to pit bull owners in Pittsburgh.

"If you look at the bites and the context in which it happened, a majority of the time it wasn't really the dog's fault," Pittsburgh Animal Control Supervisor Gerald Akrie said.

Of the 133 animal bites reported so far in 2010, about 40 percent have been from pit bulls.

Those numbers may lead some to say the breed should be banned, but the next breed on the list are Labrador retrievers.

Pit bulls can be aggressive, but Akrie said the person holding the leash is usually responsible for the dog's behavior.

"Most of the time, animals reflect their owners. I guarantee it. As many times – I've been on this department for almost 18 years, you see an aggressive dog, you talk to an owner, you got a knucklehead owner," Akrie said.

The man attacked in Arlington Heights Sunday night was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

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 I thought this was an interesting article because so many people are quick to say “Ban pit bulls” after a dog attack. I particularly like how it states that Labrador retrievers are the second most responsible for dog bites in this city, which is ironic to me considering they are such “family dogs” by most people. BSL does not prevent dog attacks and dog bites. Responsible ownership is the only answer to dog bite prevention.

Pit Bull Found Savagely Killed and a Female Pit Bull Saves a Male Pit Bull From a Life of Fighting

Pit bull found savagely killed in Northeast Philly

By MICHELLE SKOWRONEK
Philadelphia Daily News

The popping sound of firecrackers is common around Ditman and Levick streets in Tacony, neighbors say.

But last night that sound came from a gun used to shoot a pit bull in the head.

It was the second pit bull that was found killed in a public area in two weeks.

About 10 p.m. last night, residents on Ditman heard a "pop, pop" but thought nothing of it until cops arrived in the back alley way about an hour later.

Police found a brown pit-bull mix laying in a puddle of its own blood, tied to a fence post with a gunshot wound on the side of its head.

One neighbor, who was watching TV, peered out the window into his back yard and saw the gruesome scene lit up by the flashing blue and red lights of a nearby police car.

"I couldn't see anything" at first, Carlos Rodriguez, 35, said. "It was so dark. But when police came, I saw the dog tied to my fence post."

Carlos and wife Ana were confused as to why the dog was tied to their fence in the first place, Ana said.

"There are plenty of other fences," Ana said. "They see we have a pool here, and they know our kids play in it every day, so why would they do it here?"

Police were still looking yesterday afternoon for the owner of the dog and who might have shot it, a police spokeswoman said.

"It's just weird," said David Cheatley, 30, who lives four houses down from Rodriguez's rowhouse. "We all have dogs here. Why did they have to do that right there where our kids could see?"

Dave Browning, 59, who lives between Rodriguez and Cheatley, said that in the last year his 9-year-old granddaughter has witnessed four deaths - three people hit by cars and now the dog.

"She and my wife were coming home from her dance-recital rehearsal," Browning said. "And when they pulled up, my granddaughter saw the dog laying in the street."

Browning's wife, Donna, then called police at 10:45 p.m., saying she saw a gunshot wound in the dog's head, police said.

"It's such a shame," Browning said. "When my granddaughter came in, she bent down and hugged our dog and said, 'Don't worry, I'll protect you.' "

The dog's body was picked up by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

On June 15, a pit bull was found dead hanging from playground equipment at an Olney rec center. The dog had been hanged by its leash at Barrett Recreation Center, at 8th Street and Duncannon Avenue.

SPCA offers reward in dog's fatal shooting

The Pennsylvania SPCA offers a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for the fatal shooting of a dog Thursday in Northeast Philadelphia.

Authorities found a brown-and-white male pit bull mix about 11 p.m. in the 6400 block of Ditman Street. The 2-year-old dog had been tied to a fence and shot in the head.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania SPCA at 866-601-7722.

- Kristen Holmes

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What is wrong with people? Why? I want to know why someone would do this to a dog. It sounds like it might be the same person who hanged that pit bull in the playground. Both dogs were found hanging from leashes. People are sick. RIP sweet pit bull.

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Female Pit Bull Saves Male Pit Bull From a Life of Fighting

According to PEOPLEPets.com, for a dog named Brawn, his best friend, Brains, is his hero.

Brains, a female pit bill, earned her name after she led Brawn, an emaciated male pit bill with a 20 lb. chain around his neck, through a busy intersection in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla.

Brawn, weighing only 40 pounds, stumbled as he tried to maneuver his way through a busy street. When Brawn stumbled, Brains waited for him and, at times, nudged him through traffic.

David Walesky of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control says Brawn was worn out and Brains was in front of him saying, "Let's get across this together. I'm waiting for you, buddy — let's go."

Two construction workers brought Brawn and Brains to a nearby animal shelter

. The dogs were later transferred to a no-kill shelter called Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, which is the only shelter in South Florida to take pit bulls.

According to Kay-Lynette Roca, founder of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, "The pair are now resting comfortably together at the sanctuary's state-of-the-art, charitable veterinary hospital, where Brawn is being treated for heartworms. Next stop: the sanctuary's newly-opened, 28-acre ranch in Palm City, where they'll 'acclimate and chill out.'"

Roca goes on to say that "the West Palm Beach neighborhood in which [the] dogs were found is known as a breeding ground for fight dogs. A lot of these guys will put weights and chains around their neck to build up muscles."

Roca believes Brains and Brawn broke loose from the same abusive situation. "They seem to know one another. She is protective of him, and she seems to be the leader. Thankfully, the pair don't show any aggression to other dogs or to humans. They're very sweet. We see no problems with them. These best friends will now remain so forever, as they'll only be adopted out to a family willing to take both. I will absolutely make sure they stay together."

The article states that if you would like information on how to adopt Brains and Brawn, or make a donation for their medical care, call (561) 747-5311 or visit the sanctuary's website at www.safeharborrescue.com.

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This is an awesome story with an almost happy ending for these pit bulls. It won’t be a complete happy ending until they find forever homes—The WD and I wish them both the best! xoxo

Woman gets probation for abusing pit bull puppy/Child attacked

Woman gets probation for abusing pit bull puppy

Associated Press

11:18 AM CDT, June 9, 2010

BELLEVILLE, Ill.

A southwestern Illinois woman avoided jail time and got a year of probation after admitting she mistreated a pit bull puppy found emaciated in a trash can, an electrical cord embedded in his neck.

Tracia Johnson of Cahokia was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of animal cruelty. Other misdemeanor counts were dropped.

Prosecutors had pushed for Johnson to spend 60 days in jail.

Authorities say the abuse surfaced in October 2009 when a trash collector found the then-9-month-old pit bull in a trash can. Besides the electrical cord in his neck, the dog's body was bruised and burned, and he was 20 pounds underweight.

The dog, named Tommy, survived and made an appearance with animal-welfare advocates outside the courthouse Wednesday.

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“A southwestern Illinois woman avoided jail time and got a year of probation after admitting she mistreated a pit bull puppy found emaciated in a trash can, an electrical cord embedded in his neck.”

This woman is sick and it sickens me she only received a year of probation. The penalties for such abuse must be tougher! If we made sickos like this serve some jail time it might make a difference. Probation isn’t even a slap on the wrist. She will probably do something like this again… Why wouldn’t she?

I wish this little guy, Tommy, the best and I am glad he has recovered. I hope he has found a good home permanently!

Child, 5, Recovering After Pit-Bull Attack

Posted: 10:21 pm EDT June 8, 2010Updated: 2:32 pm EDT June 9, 2010

PITTSBURGH -- A 5-year-old girl has undergone facial surgery after being bitten by a pit bull in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Police and animal control officers are investigating the attack that happened Tuesday night.

Kallie Schaffer's grandfather, Steve Schaffer, said the girl needed 600 micro-stitches to reconstruct her lip.

"She is getting plastic surgery. They are going to repair her bottom lip," Schaffer said.

Schaffer said they were visiting the roommate of the dog's owner when the attack happened. He said he let the dog back into the house as they were getting ready to leave and it lunged at the girl.

He said he doesn't know when the girl will be released from the hospital.

"I am dumbfounded. It is my granddaughter. I feel terrible. I feel terrible, like it’s all my fault," Schaffer said.

The dog owner was not home when the attack happened.

Animal Control officials said they plan on issuing citations to the dog's owner.

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This was a preventable attack as well. I never trust anyone else with my dog… I know how to handle Kangol and not to put him in situations that would make him feel uncomfortable. The roommate should have waited until the family left before he let the dog back in. I don’t know that dog’s history, but from reading this story, I feel that the roommate should be cited.