HAMPTON VA - 2 PIT BULLS ESCAPE A HOUSE AND ATTACK THE MAIL CARRIER - THEN 2 FAMILY MEMBERS - THEN ANIMAL CONTROL AND A POLICE OFFICER

UPDATE: The Hampton Police Division has charged the owner of two vicious dogs that are responsible for attacking five people Monday. 

The owner of the canines, Eyvette Fitzgerald, 58, has been issued summonses for two counts of Canines at Large while Attacking, one count of Failure to Obtain a Dog License and one felony count of Possession of a Vicious Canine.

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HAMPTON -- Multiple people, including an officer, were bitten by two pit bulls in Hampton on Monday, police tweeted around noon .Police told 13News Now the dogs initially attacked a mail carrier.  When two people tried to help they were also bitten.

The dogs are not strays and live in a home on Bell Street, police said.  They aren't sure how the dogs got out of their house.  It is unclear whether the dogs have vaccinations or licenses. 

Bassett Elementary School was briefly placed on lockdown during the incident.

According to police, an officer who was attacked and bitten, shot and killed one of the dogs. The other dog was secured by animal control and officers and is now in quarantine.

Police said five victims were transported to the hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.

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Hampton, Va. – A pool of blood in a Hampton front yard, left behind after a police officer shot and killed a one-year-old pit bull there Monday morning.

Investigators say that dog, along with another pit bull attacked 5 people on Bell Street, starting with a postal worker, then a police officer and animal control officer who were both called to help.

“Both the officer and animal control officer were bitten, non-life threatening,” says Cpl. Mary Shackelford, a Hampton Police spokesman. “At that point the officer discharged his firearm and killed one of the dogs.”

The dogs also lunged for two more, who family says were trying to hold the pit bulls down. The owner’s son, Shawn Fitzgerald, says they were both bitten on the arm.

“She was holding the dogs back,” Fitzgerald says. “The dog was biting back like that, it wasn’t like the dog was attacking.”

Fitzgerald says it was one year old sassy that was shot in the yard–property he says the dogs were only trying to protect.

Next door neighbor Claddie Jones says she never knew the dogs to be vicious.

“They’re good dogs,” Jones says. “They don’t act like that. I’m just upset a dog got shot and lost her life. There’s other ways to put a dog down. As far as a taser or a tranquilizer gun, but he just plain out shot the dog.”

The dogs’ owner, 58-year-old Eyvette Fitzgerald, was issued several summonses by police including one felony for possession of a vicious canine. She tells NewsChannel 3 that she was not home when the attacks happened.

Animal control has the other pit bull, whose family says is four-year-old General. He is currently in quarantine.

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LEAGUE CITY TX - A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS MAULED BY A PIT BULL HER MOTHER WAS PET SITTING

A 2-year-old girl was airlifted to the hospital Monday morning after being mauled by a PIT BULL in League City. Her mother was also injured while trying to protect her.

Police say Chelsi Camp, 23, was pet sitting the dog for her boyfriend when the animal suddenly attacked the toddler. The dog bit Camp as she tried to get it away from her child and she called 911. Police say the dog had the victims cornered in a bathroom when an officer arrived.

"When our officer arrived on scene the dog was still attacking both," said Reagan Pena with the League City Police Department. The officer shot the dog once to stop the attack.  

Police said Camp’s daughter had severe injuries to the face and head. Memorial Hermann Hospital is not releasing information about her condition.

Camp is in good condition at Memorial Hermann with injuries on her hands and arms.

"I’m just praying that her and her daughter are OK," said neighbor and friend Keri Reese through tears. "I have a 2 year old, as well, and I can only imagine what they’re going through. So I’m just praying that they’re OK."

"So sad. So young to have something like that happen to you and your family. It’s horrible," said neighbor Benjamin Hernandez. "It’s so sad what a dog can do, that caliber of a dog, could to do one’s body, tear it up like that." 

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THORNTON, HOLMES COUNTY MS - FAMILY'S PIT BULLS KILLED THEIR 3-YEAR-OLD BOY

     CHRISTOPHER MALONE - AGE 3

The Holmes County  Mississippi Sheriff’s Department is investigating a deadly Pit bull attack where a 3-year-old boy was killed.  The unidentified boy was attacked around 4:30 Monday afternoon, by 2 Pit bulls in the Thornton Community. He died on the scene. 



Sheriff Willie March says it appears the dogs were in a pen and got out. He continues on by saying that the dogs were owned by family members. 

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HOLMES COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now- A three-year-old Holmes County child is dead, after a pit bull attack. It happened in the community of Thornton which is south of Tchula. The boy has been identified as Christopher Malone.   The coroner is on the scene as well as the Holmes County Sheriffs Department. We have more on Fox News at 9 and the WLBT 10 p.m. Report

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2014 -  12  U.S. DOG BITE FATALITIES

PIT BULLS - 7
PIT BULL MIX - 1
BULLMASTIFF - 2
ROTTWEILER - 1
2 MIXED BREED DOGS-  1 

1.  1- 5  - CHRISTINA BURLESON BELL- 43 - HOUSTON TX - 3 LOOSE PIT BULLS

2.  1-17 - KARA ELIZABETH HARTRICH - 4 -  BLOOMINGTON IL -  FAMILY'S 3 PIT BULLS

3.  1-26 - ANNABELL MARTIN - 89 - CORONA CA - GRANDSON'S 3 ROTTWEILERS

4.  2- 7  - KLONDA S. RICHEY - 57- DAYTON OH -  NEIGHBOR'S 2 PIT BULL MIXES 

5.  2-17  - JE'VAEH MAYES - 2 - TEMPLE TX - PIT BULL HER PARENTS WERE WATCHING
               (OR MORE LIKE BREEDING !!!!!)

6.  2-24  -  BRAELYNN RAYNE COULTER - 3 - HIGHPOINT NC - FAMILY'S PIT BULL

7.  2-26  -  SUMMER SEARS - 4 - TALLASSEE AL -  2 LOOSE  "MIXED BREED" DOGS

8.  2 -28 -  KENNETH SANTILLAN - 13 - PATERSON NJ - LOOSE BULLMASTIFF

9.  3 - 1  -  RAYMANE CAMARI ROBINSON - 2 - KILLEEN TX - LOOSE BULLMASTIFF

10.  3-14  -  NANCY NEWBERRY, 77, PHOENIX AZ - FAMILY/DAUGHTER'S PIT BULL

11.  3-25  -  MIA DEROUEN - 4 - HOUMA LA - MOTHER'S XXL PIT BREEDER/BOYFRIEND'S MONSTER PIT

12.  3-31  -  CHRISTOPHER MALONE - 3 - THORNTON MS - RELATIVE'S PIT BULLS 

NON-BITE FATALITY

1-7  - CARLOS ELIGIO TREVINO, 54 -  IDAHO FALLS ID - After breaking up a fight among his 7 pits, he complained of being tired and died a few minutes later.

BOOMER, WILKES COUNTY NC - A GIRL WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE PLAYING IN HER YARD BY A FEMALE PIT BULL AND HER 4 - FIVE-MONTH-OLD PUPPIES

OWNER OF PIT BULLS CHARGED


A young girl who was seriously injured by dogs while playing in her yard in Boomer late Wednesday afternoon is now at home recovering, said Wilkes Animal Control Director Junior Simmons.

Simmons said the child’s grandmother looked out a window and saw  A FEMALE PIT BULL DOG AND ITS FOUR FIVE-MONTH-OLD PUPPIES attacking the child in the yard. He said the grandmother looked out the window because her dog, a Chihuahua, started barking from inside the house.

He said the woman rushed out to help her granddaughter and was bitten on an arm and a leg while trying to get the dogs away from the child. A man who is related to the child and the grandmother started hitting the dogs with a board to get them away, said Simmons.

The child was then taken to Wilkes Regional Medical Center, where Simmons said she was treated for bites and scratches over much of her body. He said the child has since been released from the hospital. Simmons said she is either 9 or 10 years old.

Simmons said the man who owns the five dogs that attacked the child lives across the street from where the incident occurred. He said the man voluntarily let animal control officers have the dogs. The dogs didn’t have current rabies vaccinations and were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies but the test results aren’t yet back.

Simmons said he didn’t know what prompted the attack and that the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident. Simmons said animal control officers didn’t interview the child and that he didn’t know if anyone from the sheriff’s department has interviewed her for details about what happened.

Simmons said the mother dog appeared to be a full blooded pitbull and the puppies, weighing about 35 pounds each, appeared to be part pitbull.

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EAST RIDGE TN - A WOMAN ATTEMPTED TO KEEP 2 NEIGHBORHOOD DOGS SAFE WHEN SHE FOUND THEM LOOSE BUT GOT NO HELP FROM "ANIMAL UNCONTROL"- A PIT BULL ATTACKED THEM BEFORE THEY COULD GET BACK HOME

"I care about animals, I love animals, I put them in my fence." Charmaine Goodwin took a picture of the two dogs she says she was trying to protect Friday from getting hit by the many cars that travel in front of her Bennett Road home.

She says she called East Ridge Animal Services for an officer to pick them up and was surprised by their answer. "She said let the dogs out and they'll find their way back home," recalls Goodwin.

Against her own judgement, Goodwin heeded the advice and moments later, East Ridge Police and Animal Services responded a few doors down to her home.

"That  PIT BULL got a hold of them and mauled them and left his one little leg a dangling," says the tearful neighbor.

Goodwin says it was an attack that could have been prevented.

We went to East Ridge Animal Control for answers, and got few. "I can have her call you," said the lone officer at the East Ridge Shelter.

We were told Animal Services Director Andrea Dillard would talk to us, but in the meantime we spoke with East Ridge Police's Public Information Officer Corporal Robert Wade on Charmaine's call for help.

"She hung up the phone before animal control had the information that they needed to come respond to address the issue," said Wade after conferring with Animal Services.

"That's bull crap," says Charmaine, who admits to hanging up the phone in disgust after being told multiple times the two dogs would not be picked up.

Goodwin says East Ridge Animal Services is at odds with it's own mission statement of engendering a culture of compassion for animals, and says the next time something similar happens, she won't be calling them. "I'm just gonna put them in my pen, keep 'em safe, and hope someone gets them. If they don't, I will find them a home because East Ridge pound won't do nothing," says Goodwin.

The owner of the two dogs attacked says his 10 year old basset hound named Bandit suffered multiple bite and puncture wounds and sustained serious injuries to the dog's lower body. The black puppy named Smokey escaped relatively unscathed. The dogs live next door to the alleged attacking pit bull, who, according to police, is with its owner tonight.

It's unknown whether any charges may be filed in connection to the attack.

We have yet to get a response from East Ridge Animal Services despite assurances to the contrary.

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HESPERIA CA - 2 LOOSE PIT BULLS CHASED A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY DOWN AS HE WAS WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND BIT HIS HEAD

The Animal Control Department has decided to temporarily quarantine two pit bulls after they attacked a 9-year-old boy and left him with a gash above his eyebrow as he was walking home from school last week.

According to city spokeswoman Rachel Molina, the dogs will be quarantined until their owners abide by the conditions set forth by Animal Control, which include building a concrete-floor pen the dogs are to be kept in and agreeing to muzzle and leash the dogs when they are out.

According to Rachel Bridge, the mother of 9-year-old Joshua Godinez, Joshua was walking home from Mission Crest Elementary School at about 3 p.m. when he saw two pit bulls sitting near the walkway. As he approached, the dogs stood up and began walking toward him. Joshua ran back to the school, where he had seen three teenage boys.

“All he can remember is that he was running and there was one dog on each side of him,” Bridge said. “He was screaming for help and the older boys said that the dogs were on him and they ran over to him ... and they were luckily able to just kind of shoo them off.”

Joshua was taken to the hospital, where he got five stitches above his right eye, through his eyebrow. The dogs were taken by Animal Control.

On Wednesday, Animal Control held a hearing to discuss what would be done with the two dogs. Molina said the investigation is open, so no reports of the incident have been made public.

However, Bridge said it was decided the dogs will eventually be given back to their owners and can be in the house “as long as there is a responsible adult there” — a ruling she is unhappy with.

“Well, there were responsible adults there when the dogs got out,” Bridge said. “To me, it doesn’t make any sense; it’s very frustrating and it’s very sad that my son has to be worried about going outside.”

According to Molina, the dogs have not been returned to their owners and are still in quarantine, which is standard procedure for a dog bite of this nature. She said it is uncertain whether the dogs will ever be returned to their owners because of the conditions set forth by Animal Control.

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WINCHESTER, RIVERSIDE COUNTY CA - A PIT BULL ATTACKED AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY LEAVING HIM WITH A SEVERE MOUTH WOUND

An 11-year-old boy was playing inside with friends at a house on Stuber Street on Saturday when he was attacked by a 2-year-old female unspayed  PIT BULL.  He suffered a severe mouth injury.

The dog first lunged at the boy and was blocked with a cue stick. Then it attacked again  biting the boy in the mouth.  He suffered a severe lower lip injury. Animal Services said they believe the attack was unprovoked.

The 2-year-old, female pit bull was not fixed. She was surrendered for humane euthanasia.

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CHICAGO IL - AS MANY AS 4 PIT BULLS ATTACKED A MAN LEAVING HIM HOSPITALIZED IN SERIOUS CONDITION - HERO - OFF-DUTY OFFICER SHOT ONE OF THEM

A 58-year-old South Side man is hospitalized after being attacked by at least one pit bull this morning in the Englewood neighborhood.   It happened near 60th and Wood in the Englewood neighborhood. The Fire Department says it responded to 6017 South Wood, which is an an empty lot, where a man was attacked. There were four pit bulls at the scene, but it is unclear if all four were involved in the attack.

A neighbor on the block said an officer shot and killed one of the dogs. The Police Department says the female officer was off-duty and came to the aid of the man who suffered leg injuries.

There was blood on the sidewalk leading to a house at 6023 South Wood and there was more blood on the front steps. It is not known if that was from the victim, who was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition or from the dog shot and killed by the officer.

The other three dogs were captured by Animal Care and Control officers.

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LAURINBURG NC - 2 PIT BULLS RUN LOOSE AND ATTACKED A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY - HE IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION WITH BITES TO BOTH LEGS, HANDS, AND THE SIDES OF HIS ABDOMEN

A 10-year-old boy was mauled and two adults bitten by two pit bulls on Friday, according to the Laurinburg Police Department.

Assistant Police Chief Cliff Sessoms said the boy, who remains in serious condition at Scotland Memorial Hospital, was “attacked” by the dogs while in the front yard of David Herrin, who lives on Old Lumberton Road, and bitten on both legs, hands, and both sides of his abdomen.

The child’s mother, Selena Pipkin, of Farmwood Drive, was bitten on her knee and Herrin had puncture wounds on his left forearm. Both were bitten while trying to get the dogs off the boy.

The pit bulls belong to Bashanda Tart, of Old Lumberton Road, a neighbor of Herrin’s.

Police Captain Terry Chavis said that the Scotland County Animal Control came out and picked up the canines from Tart’s home Saturday morning.

“The dogs have been secured,” Sessoms said. “There’s still an investigation.”

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REDDING CA - A WOMAN WAS CARING FOR HER DAUGHTER'S PIT BULL WHEN IT BEGAN ATTACKING HER

THIS IS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY LAVONNE PRESTON TELLING ABOUT THE DAY HER DAUGHTER'S PIT BULL BEGAN ATTACKING HER -- " I had been caring for my daughter's dog for a few months. She had never showed any kind of aggression toward me or anyone else. On March 2, 2014, she and I were coming back from a walk. We entered the house and she jumped on me. I thought she was wanting to play at first, until she started biting me."

"It became more out of control. I fought her for half an hour trying to keep her off me, protecting my neck and face. She was too fast and too strong. I knew at that moment I was going to die. I became so exhausted I could no longer fight her off."

"When I pushed her away, within seconds she was on me. Then her chain fell off her neck and she fell to her side, losing her balance. I crawled to get on top of her and put my bloody arms on her head to hold it down while I wrapped the chain around her mouth, then the leash around her neck and to a door knob."

"I then crawled to my bedroom and shut the door to call 911. The police and paramedics arrived would not enter the house because of the dog. I went outside and the paramedic cut my sleeves as they were drenched in blood. I saw the mauling and torn apart arm the the dog did to me as I saw the bone in my arm. I was in shock and thought I'd lose my arm."

"This was the most devastating frightening thing I'd ever gone through in my life. I fought for my life with a dog that I'd never guess would attack me. She just turned on me, for no reason. The Doctors told me how lucky I was to come out of the attack alive. I ended up with severe wounds to my arms, bites to my stomach, legs and chest. I'm so happy this dog didn't go off on a child, or even anyone else."-- Lavonne Preston

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DAVENPORT IA - A POLICE OFFICER WAS BITTEN BY A PIT BULL WHILE RESPONDING TO A CALL OF A LOOSE DOG

A Davenport police officer was injured Wednesday after he was bitten by a pit bull terrier while responding to a call of a loose dog.

Officer Roberto Luna, 39, an eight-year veteran of the department, was bitten on the left leg by the dog and required 11 stitches to close the wound.

The incident occurred at 9:22 p.m., Police Officer Brenton Shipman said.

Shipman said he and Luna responded to a loose dog call at 920 E. 6th St. According to the report, the dog had chased the occupant of the home.

While responding to the call, Shipman said the dog ran in front of the squad car and went through the gate at 909 E. 6th St. Luna got out of the squad to shut the gate quickly after asking an occupant of the home if she had the dog under control.

“Apparently, she didn’t because the dog got loose and jumped over the gate, a standard-size three-foot chain link fence,” Shipman said.

The dog, which is 16-months-old, then bit Luna and then jumped back over the gate to go to the house.

Luna was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, Davenport, for treatment and will be off duty for about the next 10 days.

Shipman said Animal Control took the dog into custody, adding that the family indicated it wants the animal put down.

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TEMPLE TX - A PIT BULL MAULED A POODLE "PEANUT" INJURING IT SO BADLY IT HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED

A pit bull reportedly mauled a pet poodle and tried to bite a 10-year-old boy Tuesday afternoon in Temple. The poodle, named Peanut, was so badly injured it had to be euthanized, said Gino Flores Sr., the boy’s father and Peanut’s owner.

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TRANENT SCOTLAND - A YOUNG MAN WAS ASSAULTED BY 2 OTHER MEN WHILE HE WAS OUT WALKING ALONG A FOOTPATH AND THEY ALSO ENCOURAGED THEIR LARGE BULLMASTIFF TO ATTACK THE MAN'S HEAD DESTROYING HIS FACE

POLICE are still hunting for two thugs whose bull mastiff dog left a man in need of plastic surgery after a vicious attack.

Jamie Stevenson, 26, was assaulted at around 11am on Saturday by 2 men on the footpath from Haddington Road to Northfield in Tranent. He was attacked by both men who also encouraged their brown dog to bite him on the head.

Jamie’s mother, Sharon, a shop worker, was too upset to talk about the assault. But a family friend was today quoted saying: “It is unbelievable that anyone would let a dog do that. They should be in jail. Jamie’s face has been destroyed. He was just a lovely guy that didn’t want trouble with anyone. His mum is devastated. She has been up at the hospital and can’t believe what happened.

“The police were out banging doors after Jamie was attacked. People think it is disgusting this could have happened and they want whoever did it caught.

“But you know how it can be – sometimes there are witnesses that don’t want to speak up because they are scared.”

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HOUSTON TX - 2 PIT BULLS RUN LOOSE ENTERING RESIDENT'S YARDS -THEY ATTEMPTED TO ATTACK AN OFF-DUTY DEPUTY'S DOG AND HE FINALLY HAD TO SHOOT ONE OF THEM

Shannon Farrier was in her garden Friday morning when 2 honey-colored dogs suddenly appeared -- 

"They weren't aggressive or anything. I just told them to go home and they left," Farrier said. No more than 30 minutes later, Farrier saw squad cars across the street. Her husband told her their neighbor, an off-duty deputy constable, had been attacked by dogs in his backyard. That's when she put two and two together.

"After I heard what happened I felt really lucky they didn't do anything to me. If I had known they were pit bulls, I think I probably would have freaked out," she said.

Harris County Animal Control says the deputy was bitten on the left hand while trying to stop his dog from being attacked by the pair. He was able to scare one of them away. Police say he grabbed the other dog by the collar because it lunged at him.

"He kept the animal at bay while he retrieved his service weapon and once he had his weapon he still tried to get the animal off of him," Lt. Wayne Schultz said.The deputy finally had no choice but to open fire, shooting and killing the dog.

At some point, the dog's owner showed up and according to animal control, he got involved in the struggle and was also bitten and went to the hospital to be treated. It's not yet clear if the dog's owner will be cited or face charges.

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ORLANDO FL - AN AMERICAN BULLDOG CHARGED OUT OF A GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS BEING RAISED AND BEGAN ATTACKING A WOMAN WALKING HER DOGS AND HER BABY IN A STROLLER

TUNAPUNA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - FAMILY'S 3 PIT BULLS MAULED THEIR 84-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER KILLING HER

The owner of the three pit bulls who mauled grandmother Sylvia Roberts says they were pets and he does not know why they attacked her.

Miss Roberts son, Glenroy, is today quoted as saying the dogs were good pets but they were never trained. Mr Roberts was uncertain as to why they attacked his mother at their Archibald Street Tunapuna home on Tuesday this week Miss Roberts, 84,  died at the scene of the attack.

The three dogs were subsequently shot and killed by police. And a canine advocate does not believe any legislation would have prevented the pitbull attack on Sylvia Roberts.

Secretary of the group canine advocate, Mardy Mohammed, says the incident was "regrettable". Miss Mohammed disagrees with the view that the dogs control bill, if proclaimed, could have saved Miss Roberts’ life. Yesterday head of the division of aging at the Ministry of the People and Social Development, Dr. Jennifer Rouse expressed her sadness at the incident.

On the take two programme on i95.5fm Dr. Rouse said Miss Roberts had become an "unfortunate victim". This tragedy has occurred one week after the passage of the Dog Control Amendment Bill in the Upper House. The bill was tabled by the Attorney General and was passed without the support of the opposition and with several abstensions from the independent bench.

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BRADFORD, GIBSON COUNTY TN - 2 PIT BULL DOGS RUN LOOSE AND ATTACKED THE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF

On Thursday Bradford Assistant Police Chief was attacked by two pit bull dogs that  were running loose across the city. Dave Chaffin was attacked after responding to a call about the dogs roaming on East Main Street. Chaffin followed the dogs along the adjacent Cantrell Street, where the dog’s owner lives. According to police, the dogs charged Chaffin in the driveway as he stepped out of his patrol car, knocked him down then bit him several times rolling him into the street. Investigators said he was able to get to his gun and fire off a shot to scare them away. 

He has a  puncture wound to the leg and then the rest of his injuries are on his arms, abrasions and scrapes from where he was on the ground rolling around with the dogs.

Police said this attack could have been avoided if the dogs had been secured properly, and they said this isn’t the first time an officer or city employee has been injured or put in danger by animals running at large.  There are calls of animals running loose in the city of Bradford on a daily basis, said police. 

        

                   ENTERS  PIT NUTTER SANDRA MONTGOMERY:

* MY PIT BULLS ARE ALWAYS SECURED AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT LOOSE.

* MY PIT BULLS ARE VERY SWEET AND HAVE NEVER BITTEN ANYONE BEFORE.

* MY PIT BULLS WOULD ONLY BITE WHEN PROVOKED.

* MY PIT BULL PRINCESS, SHE DON'T EVEN HURT A CAT

* FATHEAD, MY OTHER PIT BULL JUST WANTS TO LICK AND PLAY.

* HONESTLY, I THINK THE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE MY DOGS BITE HIM.

* I SAW HIM CHASE MY DOGS DOWN THE ROAD FROM THEIR PROPERTY AND THEN HE TOOK A SHOT AT THEM AND MISSED.

Neither dog is up to date on vaccinations. Police said they were both taken to the pound to be quarantined until a judge decides their fate. Police say they are going to enforce their zero tolerance policy and take it to the full extent of the law.” 

Montgomery was given a summons to appear in general sessions court for allowing the animals to run at large. Police said she could be civilly responsible for all medical bills in this case. 

Officials said this is the second time Assistant Chief Chaffin has been bitten by a dog while on duty. This incident is categorized as the worst animal attack on a Bradford Officer to date. Chaffin was treated in the emergency room for his wounds; he is now at home recovering. There is no word yet on how long he will be off the job.

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SHELBY COUNTY AL - WILLOW BROOK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ASKS THE COURT TO REMOVE A PIT BULL FROM THEIR COMMUNITY AFTER IT RUNS LOOSE AND ATTACKS 3 TIMES BITING AT LEAST 2 PEOPLE

A Shelby County homeowners association is asking a judge to order one couple to remove their PIT BULL DOG "Kelly" from their home after three attacks on residents, including one woman who said she was bitten as she pushed her infant child in a stroller.

Kelly's owner, however, said she isn't a vicious dog and hasn't been allowed outside the house since the October attack on the woman with the stroller.

The Willow Brook Homeowners Association on Wednesday filed a petition for injunctive release in Shelby County Circuit Court against residents Russell and Katherine Moultrie.

"Despite the applicable 'leash law' in Shelby County, Alabama, the Moultries have repeatedly allowed the dog to wander off their premises without their supervision or control contrary to said law," according to the complaint.

On at least three occasions the dog "has viciously attacked residents of the Willowbrook Subdivision. The most recent occurrence taking place on or about October 16, 2013, wherein 'Kelly' viciously attacked and bit Melissa Osborne as she was walking in the Willow Brook subdivision on a public street while pushing her infant child in a stroller."

The homeowners association has repeatedly asked the Moultries to remove the dog from their home voluntarily, but they have not done so. THE COMPLAINT ASKS THAT A JUDGE DECLARE THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF THE DOG BY THE MOULTRIES CONSTITUTES A DANGEROUS ANNOYANCE OR NUISANCE TO RESIDENTS IN THE SUBDIVISION.

The complaint also asks that the judge order the dog removed from the home and for the Moultires to comply with Alabama's leash law with respect to any other dogs they own.

"We have never not followed the leash law," said Katherine Moultrie. "She is not a vicious dog."

When the October incident happened, Kelly had accidentally gotten outside, she said. Mrs. Moultrie said she didn't see the incident and she isn't aware of any other reports that Kelly had bitten someone. After the October incident, Mrs. Moultrie said they paid to keep Kelly at the veterinarian to be checked out and had also offered to take the woman to the doctor, but the woman declined.

Since October they have kept Kelly inside their home and they say she hasn't been outside, even on a leash. Mrs. Moultrie said she doesn't know how neighbors know they still even have the dog in their possession. Mrs. Moultrie said she said she believes residents are just scared because of the reputation of pitbulls.

Jim Pino, attorney for the homeowners association, said that neighbors are "rightly" scared. He said that in at least two of the documented attacks, the dog bit someone. In the incident with Osborne, he said he understands another neighbor intervened to fend off the dog.

Cities and communities in Alabama and elsewhere have enacted ordinances to keep vicious dogs from roaming neighbors.

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JACKSONVILLE, MORGAN COUNTY IL - JAY HUDSON - ANIMAL CONTROL ADMINISTRATOR - ASKED THAT THE CITY IMPOSE NEW RULES ON DOGS EXHIBITING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AFTER 2 PIT BULLS NEARLY KILLED A PONY ON HIS PROPERTY

With the council chamber so full that many people were left listening in from the hallway, initial discussions that target pit bulls as potentially vicious dogs drew a crowd larger than any seen at a Jacksonville City Council meeting for several years.

During the council workshop session Monday, city officials heard a presentation from Morgan County Animal Control Administrator - JAY HUDSON - who asked that the city impose new rules to keep records on any dog exhibiting violent behavior.

Citing local statistics for dog bites, he also asked that pit bulls and pit bull mixed breeds be subject to the same regulations.

About 125 people filled the chamber, most of whom opposed the breed-specific portion of the proposal.

Monday’s presentation was purely informational and no action was taken or is scheduled to be taken at this time. The issue will go to the public protection committee for further consideration.

Hudson brought the issue to the council and said he was prompted to make a request for new regulations AFTER 2 PIT BULLS ATTACKED AND NEARLY KILLED A PONY HE HAD ON HIS PROPERTY IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF EAST MORTON AVENUE.

He said about 40 percent of all dog bites in the county in the past couple of years have been from pit bulls.

Currently, any dog that attacks other animals or a person has to go through a court proceeding to be declared a vicious dog, requiring a short-term quarantine and evaluation.

“I would like to ask the public safety committee to allow Jacksonville and Morgan County eventually to add more restrictions to that,” Hudson said. “I would ask that all these new dogs be photographed so we have that on file, they be microchipped … and a copy of liability insurance be added, that when they damage someone else’s property or someone that they be held liable for that.”

He added that the number of incidents attributed to pit bulls is what prompted him to request that owners of those breeds be required to register their dogs following the same requirements set for vicious dogs. A registration fee of about $50 also could be considered.

After hearing that the meeting would involve a potential discussion of a new breed-specific ordinance targeting pit bulls, opponents quickly gathered support — and a large crowd at the meeting. The council did not ask for any statement from anyone in the crowd and the discussion ended shortly after Alderman Don Cook directed that the public protection committee take up the issue at a future meeting.

                             
                              ENTERS A NUTTER SPOUTING NUTTER UTTERANCES !!!!!!!


Lisa Jackson, Protecting Animal Welfare Society general manager of operations, said she wasn’t completely opposed to regulations against vicious dogs, though she said microchipping and record-keeping for such animals already are in place.

“There’s laws on the books on what to do if a dog bites,” Jackson said. “To single out pit bulls specifically or larger bully breeds I don’t find fair. If it bites, OK. But, again, there’s laws in place to handle that.”

Though not asked to speak Monday night, Jackson said she plans to attend the upcoming committee meeting on the subject.

* I RUN A RESCUE.  

* I'VE GOT 8 BULLY BREEDS NOW. 

* I WOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO PUT A CHILD IN WITH ANY OF THEM. 

* I HAVE A COUPLE OF BULLY BREEDS MYSELF.

* THEY'RE AWESOME DOGS. 

* IT'S HOW THEY ARE RAISED.

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2014 -  11  U.S. DOG BITE FATALITIES

PIT BULLS - 6
PIT BULL MIX - 1
BULLMASTIFF - 2
ROTTWEILER - 1
2 MIXED BREED DOGS-  1 

1.  1- 5  - CHRISTINA BURLESON BELL- 43 - HOUSTON TX - 3 LOOSE PIT BULLS

2.  1-17 - KARA ELIZABETH HARTRICH - 4 -  BLOOMINGTON IL -  FAMILY'S 3 PIT BULLS

3.  1-26 - ANNABELL MARTIN - 89 - CORONA CA - GRANDSON'S 3 ROTTWEILERS

4.  2- 7  - KLONDA S. RICHEY - 57- DAYTON OH -  NEIGHBOR'S 2 PIT BULL MIXES 

5.  2-17  - JE'VAEH MAYES - 2 - TEMPLE TX - PIT BULL HER PARENTS WERE WATCHING
               (OR MORE LIKE BREEDING !!!!!)

6.  2-24  -  BRAELYNN RAYNE COULTER - 3 - HIGHPOINT NC - FAMILY'S PIT BULL

7.  2-26  -  SUMMER SEARS - 4 - TALLASSEE AL -  2 LOOSE  "MIXED BREED" DOGS

8.  2 -28 -   KENNETH SANTILLAN - 13 - PATERSON NJ - LOOSE BULLMASTIFF

9.  3 - 1  -   RAYMANE CAMARI ROBINSON - 2 - KILLEEN TX - LOOSE BULLMASTIFF

10.  3-14  -  NANCY NEWBERRY, 77, PHOENIX AZ - FAMILY/DAUGHTER'S PIT BULL

11.  3-25  -  MIA DEROUEN - 4 - HOUMA LA - MOTHER'S XXL PIT BREEDER/BOYFRIEND'S MONSTER PIT

NON-BITE FATALITY

1-7  - CARLOS ELIGIO TREVINO, 54 -  IDAHO FALLS ID - After breaking up a fight among his 7 pits, he complained of being tired and died a few minutes later.

BIRDSBORO PA - A PIT BULL ATTACKED AND KILLED A BELOVED PET BEING WALKED ON A LEASH BY ITS OWNER - NOW THE FAMILY IS AFRAID TO WALK THEIR NEW DOG

A Berks County family is fighting for justice after its dog was attacked by a pit bull. Leslie Bainbridge contacted 69 News after she saw a story over the weekend of a dog attacked by a pit bull lab mix. The story opened old wounds for Leslie, whose own dog, Vienna, died after it was attacked by a pit bull recently.

"It's very heartbreaking. Vienna meant everything to us," Bainbridge said. The attack happened two months ago at Walnut Street and E. Main Street in Birdsboro. Leslie's son, Nick, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, was walking the dog at the time. "And all of sudden I was turning right onto Walnut Street, and then this pit bull came running over and attacking me and Vienna," said Nick Fisher.

"Nick and I stayed with her," Bainbridge said. "I rubbed her little nose until she went up to heaven." The pit bull that attacked Vienna is still alive. Currently this case is making its way through the courts, but Leslie says the wheels of justice are moving too slowly for her. "And it just keeps dragging on and it's been two months, and we're no further today than we were then when it happened," Bainbridge said. The Berks County district attorney says if your dog attacks, it could be ruled a dangerous dog and other steps could be taken to isolate it from the public.

While Leslie and her family wait for justice, with Vienna's ashes nearby, they try to move on. They have a new dog, but the old fear is still alive. "I'm afraid to take my new dog out. And I'm afraid it will happen again," said Nick Fisher.

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ONONDAGA COUNTY NY - A WOMAN TOOK HER 3 SMALL DOGS ON THEIR USUAL ROMP IN A DOG PARK AND ONE OF THEM WOUND UP DEAD - ATTACKED BY A LARGE DOG THOUGHT TO BE A MASTIFF/LAB MIX

               " THERE'S NEVER A CASUAL TRIP TO A DOG PARK."

Tiffany Mack says she  doesn't want Wegmans Good Dog Park shut down.  She just wants people to remember Charlie and then use their heads. Charlie, 8, was one of her three dogs. He was part Yorkshire terrier, part Chihuahua. Eight days ago the little dog woke up early and made a point of getting the household moving. It was a quiet Saturday in March; Mack's 25th birthday was the next day.

She and her fiance, Andy Nolan, are educators in the Syracuse city schools. Nolan, who helps coach baseball at Corcoran High School, left for an early practice. Mack dropped into the routine she and Nolan typically follow together: With the dogs in the car, she drove from her Syracuse home to Good Dog Park at Onondaga Lake Park where  Licensed and supervised dogs are allowed to run free, in an enclosure.

Nolan and Mack have used it for years. Only once, before last week, did they encounter an aggressive dog. For the most part, it's been a chance for their dogs to run themselves into exhaustion, a chance to be with other people who love dogs. Two men were there with their dogs. She walked through a gate, where a big sign offers a clear choice: "Any size dogs" can go to the play area to the left, while "Small dogs only," 25 pounds or less, can go right.

Mack went right. She let her dogs off the leash: There was Charlie, and a King Charles Spaniel named Cody, and Molly, a mix of many things, including whippet and beagle. "Molly was running with the other dogs," Mack said. "Cody was asking the other (dog owners) to meet him, and Charlie was sniffing around."

While the animals played, a third man arrived. He had a dog that towered above the others; Mack guesses it was a  MASTIFF/LABRADOR MIX. At the place where visitors make the choice -- large dogs to the left, small ones to the right -- the man went right.

Within minutes, his dog moved in a threatening manner toward Cody. The little spaniel fled and cowered between Mack's legs. She bent down to reach for him. In that instant, the larger dog attacked Charlie, who had no chance. It grabbed him in its mouth, Mack said, and started shaking him and "tearing him apart."

Her voice trembled as she recalled the sound. The dog was in a kind of frenzy. "The guy immediately jumped on the back of the dog and wrestled him to the ground," she said.

Finally, the animal released Charlie. She grabbed her bleeding dog and ran through the snow, toward the car. Mack heard the other men screaming at the newcomer while Cody and Molly ran by her side. In the car, blood everywhere, she called Nolan. Then she drove to a veterinarian in Liverpool, who sent her to an emergency clinic in Baldwinsville.

The staff did what it could, but the animal was dying. His lung had been punctured. He couldn't breathe. Mack told Charlie goodbye. To end his suffering, she had him euthanized.

The man who owned the large dog contacted the couple. Nolan described him as "remorseful." The man, identified in police reports as Jeff Baird, of Pennsylvania, said he was visiting the area. He paid the vet's bill. He said his dog had never been aggressive.

Matt Millea, a deputy Onondaga County executive, said park rangers ticketed Baird for failing to obey signs in the park, and for failing to license his dog. 

AT ONE OF THE CLINICS, NOLAN SAID, A TECHNICIAN TOLD HIM THEY'VE TREATED OTHER ANIMALS INJURED IN THE DOG PARK. Once Nolan got home, he went to the Internet and was startled to see the number of similar attacks in dog parks across the nation. He learned of the controversy over  the wisdom of assembling large groups of unleashed dogs.

Danielle Basciano, a certified professional dog trainer in Onondaga County, said the issue -- as always -- is owner awareness and vigilance.

"Can dog parks be good? Absolutely," she said. "But the more dogs you have, the higher the level of arousal."

The key for owners, she said, is knowing when your dog is sending warning signs -- and responding quickly. She said it always worries her when she goes past a dog park and sees groups of people with their backs turned, chatting, while the animals play ...

Because the unexpected can happen, and fast.

Dr. Marcia Ziegler-Alexander, co-owner of Stack Hospital for Pets in Fayetteville, said she's treated a handful of animals bitten at dog parks. Like Basciano, she emphasized the volatile potential of any mixture of strange dogs. She's seen dogs that are traditionally placid set off by unseen triggers.  "There's never a casual trip to a dog park, in that sense."

Millea, the county administrator, said county Executive Joanie Mahoney "views the dog parks as tremendous assets." In the 13-year-history of Good Dog Park, he said there's only been one other recorded instance of a dog being seriously injured.

Still, Millea said, the county is reviewing its policies and the way it monitors the area, and it will re-emphasize the rules governing all users:  If you've got a large dog, go to the correct area. And if you've got any concern whatsoever about your dog's behavior, it's best to stay home.

As for Tiffany Mack, it will take a while to get past the horror of that morning. She misses Charlie, and she doubts she'll return to the dog park, a place she's always loved.

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