From My Google Alerts- August 23, 2010

A man walking his pit bull in the park at Fort Funston in CA stabbed another dog multiple times. At about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, a dog walker reported to the U.S. Park Police that her dog had been stabbed multiple times with a knife by a man walking another dog near the Sunset Trail, a police spokesperson said. As the two dogs drew closer, they assumed an aggressive stance. Apparently, when the woman asked the man if his dog was neutered, he responded inexplicably by stabbing the woman's dog four times. The man is still at large and the police are hoping to someone who knows the man and his dog will come forward and give them any information they have about the man.

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The U.S. Park Police have positively identified the man who allegedly stabbed a dog multiple times in a popular San Francisco dog park on Thursday.

A call to the public for help in finding the alleged canine assailant resulted in two people coming forward to identify the man, according to a statement from U.S. Park Police spokesperson George Durgerian.

The police are withholding the man's name pending further investigation, but he described the suspect as a 33-year-old white male. The suspect is not currently under arrest, the statement said.

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A man was attacked by at least one dog in a London park. The man, in his 40s, suffered injuries to his arms in the attack in Plaistow Park, Plaistow on Sunday morning. He may need plastic surgery, police said. The owners have yet o be found. I find it interesting the dog’s breed was not mentioned anywhere in the article.

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In Melbourne, a baby was attacked by the family’s pet terrier dog. Paramedics say the 11-month-old boy was crawling on the floor when the family's pet terrier set on him. He was left with deep cuts and puncture wounds to his mouth, nose, lip, and forehead. The baby is in stable condition.
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Federal authorities anticipate an arrest this week in connection with a stabbing attack on a dog Thursday at a San Francisco park, a U.S. Park Police spokesperson said Monday. A 33-year-old San Francisco man believed responsible for the stabbing has been identified, but not yet arrested, Durgerian said.” He's been positively identified and charges and an arrest are pending," Durgerian said this morning. "We foresee that happening this week." The man's name has not yet been released.

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A Middletown Municipal Court judge has set a pretrial court hearing for the owner of a dog that mauled his 1-year-old son. Steve Durbin’s pretrial is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Sept. 15. Durbin and his girlfriend, Melissa Fields, of the 800 block of Barrington Court in Trenton, are charged with failure to confine a vicious dog, failure to license the dog and failure to obtain liability insurance. The one year old suffered facial and head injuries. The toddler is expected to be okay and the dog that attacked was euthanized. The breed is not mentioned anywhere.
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From My Google Alerts- August 9, 2010

A 16-year-old boy was bitten by a sheriff’s dog in Manatee County Florida. While executing a warrant for his arrest, the boy ran from police and K-9 Nitro chased him and bit him on the shoulder and side areas. He was found with a bag of marijuana in his pocket. He was taken into custody.
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So here in GA, actually in my neck of the woods, a Bartow County man was arrested on dog fighting and animal cruelty charges. Ricky Lee Hurley of Acworth turned himself in Monday and he is charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty and 1 count of felony dog fighting. He had 12-chained pit bulls in his yard; the dogs were people friendly and wanted human attention. I hope these dogs will be adopted out seeing as there are not any human aggression issues that at this point. I know further evaluation will be needed to determine if they are suitable for adoption. I wish them all the best.

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Two pit bull type dogs attacked a five yr old boy in Hurst, IL on August 6, 2010. He was playing at the playground with his brother at the time of the attack. The mother was able to knock the dogs off her son and grab him, while a Bush city employee who saw the attack drove the city truck toward the dogs to scare them away. A Hurst police officer soon arrived and shot both dogs, Thomas said. One dog was killed while the other ran off. That dog has since been found and euthanized. The Hurst City Council will meet Monday at seven. Chief Harvel will present an ordinance to make pit bulls & similar breeds of dangerous dogs illegal to own in Hurst. Now, I think this is unfortunate to punish thousands of pit bull owners that could live in Hurst all because of one owner’s irresponsibility. The boy is recovering quickly.

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A pit bull died after it was tasered for attacking other dogs on its property and its owner could not get it under control. Derrick Peatross, 27, was charged with four counts of having an unlicensed dog and three counts of having an unvaccinated dog. Peatross is not new to having his dogs seized either. “I have seized dogs from him in the past,” she said. “He has always opted to turn the dogs over to us, rather than go to court about it.” Now, obviously this idiot is not responsible enough to own a dog of any breed. Punish him a little more seriously, I mean come on….

Charlotte Officer Shoots Pit Bull During Arrest

CMPD officer shoots, kills pit bull during arrest

Owner says there was no reason to shoot the dog, which was biting the officer's leg.

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
cwootson@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Saturday, Jul. 10, 2010

From My Google Alerts- July 6, 2010

Aurora police dog bites wrong man

The Denver Post

AURORA — Aurora police have removed a K9 dog from duty after the animal bit the wrong person during a foot pursuit, a police spokesman told 9News. The incident happened Saturday about 4:30 p.m. near Boston Street and East Colfax Avenue, police Detective Bob Friel said.
Police had surrounded a room at the Carriage Motor Inn to arrest Reginald Hawthorne, 21, on a warrant for sexual assault, Friel told the television station.
When Hawthorne ran from the motel, police sent a K9 dog after him, 9News said, but the dog bit Juan Ramirez as he worked outside his taco stand a block from the motel.
Ramirez is recovering from bite and scratch injuries, 9News said. Police are conducting a review.
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Well, that sucks for the man who was bitten; however, how is the dog supposed to differentiate between the sexual assaulter and the taco stand dude?

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Alleged Animal Abuse
In Memphis, TN, a man is behind bars for picking up his dog, said to be a pit bull, and throwing it seven feet away from him after he was ticketed for allowing the animal to run loose. He then did it again, all in front of the police who ticketed him. Hence, this idiot abused his dog because he is an careless and negligent owner. I hope they do not return the dog to him because he will probably do a lot worse next time. Let’s hope AC doesn’t drop the ball either and euthanize it for being a pit bull. Find the dog a good forever home.
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Elgin mayor taught these pits, but not owner, some manners

July 5, 2010

By Jeff Ward For Sun-Times Media

Californians, you can keep your Terminator because we have the Schockinator.
That's right. You may have Ah-nuld the governor, but we have Ed the mayor. Elgin's motto really ought to be "Our mayor kicks ass!" However, I have to say my previous motto suggestion, "You might want to watch out for the pit bulls," is looking better and better.
You see, the mayor was walking Rako, his 2-year-old German shepherd, by a house in the 200 block of Plum Street at 9:30 p.m. June 24 when two pit bulls took exception. Little did they know they messed with the wrong man.
One of the pits began circling the pair, and when it lunged, Schock kicked it, sending the bewildered beast scurrying for cover. Before the second pit bull realized the error of his ways, Ed whacked it with a spare leash, dispatching it, too. Neither the mayor nor Rako sustained any injuries.
In a previous column, I described routing a Doberman, a Rottweiler and a German shepherd, but in my three pit bull confrontations, the best I could do was stand my ground. Schock credits Rako's even temperament for keeping the situation within the bounds of reason. But if it's all the same to you, I'll never write anything negative about Elgin again because I'm terrified of getting on the mayor's bad side.
And speaking of even dispositions, with the pit bulls on the run, Schock was willing to let the whole thing go, but that all changed when a teenage girl descended from the porch to retrieve the fleeing dogs. Schock explained, "I realized she was just a kid and these things happen, but when I tried to give her a bit of lecture on responsible pet ownership, she dropped the F-bomb on me for kicking her dog."
So Schock told her, "If you're going to be a smart-ass about it, I'm going to call the cops." Having learned nothing from the fate of her dogs, the insolent brat retorted, "Call the police. I don't care," so Schock dialed 911. This exchange is yet further proof of my long-held theorem that teenagers should be rarely seen and never heard.
As it turns out, our impertinent pet owner made an exceptionally bad choice, because she ended up with five citations -- two for no dog collars or rabies tags, one for loose dogs, one for the attack and yet another for having dangerous dogs. Those fines could hit $4,000 under the stricter Elgin dog ordinance passed last March. I don't think she's going to be getting her allowance any time soon.
Of course, the teenager disputes the mayor's version of events, claiming her perfect pit bulls were the modicum of politeness and personality. That still doesn't explain the lack of collars, leashes or rabies tags.
Despite my newfound fear of getting whacked with a leash, I dared to ask the mayor if this wasn't a message from God. After all, having now faced down two of these heinous creatures, shouldn't Elgin reconsider its failed pit bull ban?
"I think the current ordinance is a better answer," Schock responded. "We have to let that ordinance work. If you're an irresponsible dog owner, it's going to cost you a lot of money. Those dog owners might want to reconsider dog ownership. Word is going to get around on this one." (Schock's always been a master of understatement.)
Considering Elgin police had to shoot two charging pit bulls over the Memorial Day weekend, and on June 29 a pit bull mix plowed through a locked screen door to bite an Elgin postal worker, it's a good thing Schock's the mayor and I'm not. I wouldn't be nearly so magnanimous.
Because we agree the real problem is almost always the pet owner, this re-emphasizes a query I've posed before. "What kind of person would want to own a pit bull?" I'll tell you. In general, it's someone with low self-esteem who sees a powerful, domination-determined animal as an extension of themselves. It's someone who, after their pit bull attacks you, has the nerve to hit you with the F-bomb for kicking their dog. Although I love Schock's ordinance optimism, even the threat of a multi-thousand-dollar fine will not deter that kind of thinking.
But, to quote a famous movie, "Dangerous dog ordinance? We don't need no stinking dangerous dog ordinance!" If you're nervous about walking little Fifi down Elgin's streets, simply call upon the Schockinator. Legend has it he can send a pack of pit bulls into full flight with a mere glance. I'm thinkin' Harrison Ford plays the mayor.
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I hope this teenage owner of these dogs is fined a lot of money. Stiffer penalties for irresponsible dog owners! There is no good excuse for her dogs not to have been a leash or off her property. Then to top it off she cusses the mayor for kicking her dog, which had just attacked him. Give me a break little girl. You get what you get you little dumbass. Excuse my language but that pisses me off that the mayor/victim was going to let bygones be bygones but she had to run off at the mouth. Idiot…

As for the comments regarding the author’s question about who would want to own a pit bull, he needs to rethink that statement as it does nothing for him except to show everyone how ignorant he really is.

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PLUMSTEAD: Bravery award for dog hurt saving owner in machete attack

10:39am Wednesday 7th July 2010

By Kelly Smale

A BRAVE dog has been awarded the animal equivalent of the George Cross after protecting its owner from a gang wielding machetes.
Staffordshire bull terrier Oi was posthumously honoured with the highest award for civilian animal bravery, the PDSA Gold Medal.
The 15-year-old pet leapt into action when a gang armed with machetes forced their way into her family’s home in July 2008.
Owner Patricia Adshead, of Maxey Road, Plumstead, was making a cup of tea when three men wearing balaclavas broke into her home.
Her ex-husband came running downstairs to help.
Ms Adshead said: “He kicked one of them down the stairs but another severed his hand. It was hanging by a thread.”
The 62-year-old added: “I was trapped in the kitchen with Oi and one of the men. He raised the machete over my head.
“Oi jumped up and bit his hand. He brought the machete down on her head but she still chased him out of the house.
“If she hadn’t gone for him I would have been dead. She saved my life.”
Oi was rushed to the Thamesmead PDSA PetAid hospital, The Freda Powell Centre, in Eynsham Drive.
The mother of four said: “The PDSA saved her life. They did a fantastic job and gave her another two years.
“I only wish Oi could have lived long enough to accept her medal.”
Oi died from cancer in March.
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals charity gives free health care to animals owned by people on low incomes.

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© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group

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This Staffie was a true hero and model canine rep for pit bull dogs. She lived up to her name as a loyal companion and put her own life at risk to help her beloved owner. What is truly amazing is that she survived the attack and lived another two years before succumbing to cancer. What an awesome baby dogs!! Congrats, Oi!!

Time to leash pit bulls - and their owners

Time to leash pit bulls - and their owners

By Peter Gelzinis  |   Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Why do people want pit bulls? For the same reason they want machine guns.

Pit bulls have teeth that can shred beer cans, not to mention the cartilage and bone of enemy drug dealers.

But a city ordinance on the books for six years, designed to muzzle these lethal four-legged weapons - and fine their owners for noncompliance - has so far proved toothless.

The guy who wrote those pit bull sanctions, Hyde Park’s district councilor Rob Consalvo, plans to toughen them up.

But much like the beasts themselves, their owners are a particularly obstinate bunch. Failing to bind the jaws of their muscle-bound pooches, or display a “Beware of Dog” sign, doesn’t bother them much.

So far, these pit bullies have walked away from $140,000 in fines levied upon them and the thuggish dogs that invest them with such an ominous swagger.

To put some teeth into pit bull collections, Consalvo wants to attach liens to their owners’ property tax (assuming they own anything more valuable than the dog) or on their auto excise tax.

“Because,” as Consalvo put it yesterday, “just about everybody drives a car, right?”

Yesterday’s hearing to send a home-rule petition up to the State House consisted of five people: Consalvo; his Dorchester colleague, Councilor Maureen Feeney; Mark Giannangelo, assistant director of Boston Animal Control; his boss, Steve Crosby, deputy manager for property and construction . . . and me, the owner of a fierce Lhasa apso recently to laid to rest.

Among the more interesting factoids to emerge from yesterday’s brief seance was that a quarter of 2,100 registered pit bull owners in this city have been fined.

Maureen Feeney, who recently bid adieu to her golden retriever, asked Crosby and Giannangelo, about how they thought pit bulls were “utilized” by their owners.

“You just seem to see so many individuals strutting the street, pit bulls in tow, with an air of intimidation,” she said.

Later, Crosby and Giannangelo would tell Feeney the “intimidation” she described came from owners who used their pit bulls as weapons on a leash.

For Consalvo, pit bulls have become a lightning rod issue. “The hearings we held six years ago on the law went on for eight hours, longer than the firefighters contract,” he said. “Every Christmas, I get a pit bull calendar in the mail by an anonymous owner who signs it, ‘Happy Holidays, you jerk.’ ”

Just like their dogs, these creatures mean no harm . . . honest.

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Evidently, we are all part of a secret society that totes around machine guns and pit bulls in an attempt to daunt the public. Shucks we have been found out; time to change the secret password everyone! Gather your pits, machine guns, and beer cans everyone we have turf to protect... Geez… I bet the writer did a lot of research on this article.
This person is a complete moron and he should be sent to an island to live amongst other morons.

Rinalia over at “For the Pit Bulls” unveils the truth about us pit bull owners. I’d say it sums it up nicely. Thanks Rinalia!

Suit Filed Over Dog Bite

Suit filed over dog bite

"Dog bites man" isn't supposed to be news — unless it's a dog biting a door-to door home security system salesman.

Salesman Joel Ellsworth was rushed to a hospital for stitches after the dog took at least a 2-inch chunk of his thigh. Ellsworth then spent four days in the hospital when his leg became infected, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Yuba County Superior Court.

But Olivehurst resident Sharon Bookey, named as a defendant with daughter Denise, said Friday that her Akita bit Ellsworth when he came to her 15th Street home that's marked with a "Beware of Dog" sign.

"I didn't invite him on my property," said Bookey. "If I want something, I'll go get it."

"I don't like that door-to-door salesman stuff," she said.

Moreover, Bookey said she and her daughter warned Ellsworth not to get too close before their dog Kayla bit him.

Bookey has had Kayla, who's about 7 years old, since the dog was 1. The animal is well liked in the neighborhood, Bookey said, and residents were mad when Kayla after the bite had to spend 10 days quarantined in the county animal shelter — a stay that cost her owner about $200.

Ellsworth's lawyer, Jeremy Price, declined to comment.

According to the suit, when Ellsworth made his April 30 sales visit to the Bookey home, Denise asked how much the home security system cost.

"I don't care," Sharon Bookey then said. "I don't want it."

The two women took no steps to stop the dog and didn't warn Ellsworth about the animal, according to the complaint. Ellsworth was lightheaded and went into shock after the bite.

Days after being released from the emergency room he asked doctors to look at his wound, which was discolored. He was immediately admitted to the hospital for a four-day stay, according to the filing.

Ellsworth is recuperating and unable to work. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

"Akitas are known for having a vicious nature," the suit said.

Sharon Bookey called the April 30 incident upsetting.

"He's a stranger and shouldn't be on the property," she said of Ellsworth. "Now he wants to get money."

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In my opinion, the “Beware of Dog” sign should suffice. When you venture onto other’s property selling stuff you get what you get. Now, the owners should have done more to restrain their dog when the unwanted visitor came knocking. I ALWAYS make sure Kangol is locked in a bedroom before I answer the door if I have to; however, I usually don’t answer the door period because I know it is usually somebody selling something even though there is a massive “No Soliciting” sign at the front of my neighborhood.