2 pit bulls dragged by car, 1 injured

St. Petersburg Times ^ | 4-23-2003 | Megan Scott

[Cagey]

A Palm Harbor man is charged with one felony count of animal cruelty. He told officers he was disciplining his dogs.

[Times photos: Douglas Clifford]
Bruno rests in a holding room Tuesday before technicians changed dressings on his paws.

By MEGAN SCOTT
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 23, 2003

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PALM HARBOR -- He tried walking them with his bicycle, but they kept stopping and refused to keep up.

Jaworowsky

So George Jaworowsky, 46, returned home to get his car, Pinellas sheriff's officials say.

He rolled the window down, held the leashes out and proceeded to drag his two red-nosed American pit bullterriers for two blocks down the street, sheriff's spokesman Detective Tim Goodman said.

"There was blood on the roadway," Goodman said. "The dogs kept falling and were rolling on the gravel road."

One of the dogs, a male named Bruno, had the pads on its feet worn down to the bone. Jaworowsky was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty.

The incident occurred about 5 p.m. Monday in the Groves subdivision off Alderman Road in Palm Harbor. A witness saw Jaworowsky holding the leashes for the two dogs out the driver's window of his white Ford Taurus as he drove on Robinwood Lane and Regal Oaks Boulevard.

Medical technician Alison Lynch hugs Bruno as dressings on the dog's paws are changed.

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"The person saw George get out of the car," Goodman said. "George was yelling at the dogs and he used his right hand to strike one of the dogs. He was cursing at the dogs. The (witness) heard the dogs yelp."

The witness told Jaworowsky that "the dogs looked tired and beaten," Goodman said. But Jaworowsky got back in his car and drove off, still dragging the dogs from the window.

The deputy who responded to the scene followed the trail of bloody paw prints and pieces of brown fur into the garage at 2872 Spring Oak Court, Jaworowsky's home.

"He got to the garage and he noticed bloody paw prints on the garage floor, and a bloody white and black dog leash lying on the ground," Goodman said.

Bruno and Susie, both around 6 months old, were found inside the garage in a metal cage. Bruno's paws were wrapped in duct tape to the middle of his legs. The dog tried to stand but could not and was lying on its side because the pads on its feet were so badly injured.

Susie was not injured.

Both were taken to Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Service on Belcher Road. The dogs were then turned over to the Humane Society of North Pinellas.

"Bruno's in a lot of pain," said Rick Chaboudy, director of the Humane Society of North Pinellas. "Pain management is one of the biggest things right now, and, of course, concern with infection."

Jaworowsky, who was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $5,000 bail, did not return calls for comment or two messages left at his home. A car sat in the driveway Monday afternoon.

Goodman said Jaworowsky told deputies he was "attempting to train the dogs, but he says he was wrong for what he did."

"When (deputies) interviewed George, they asked him if he ever stopped and hit the dogs," Goodman said. "He said he did and that it was a form of discipline. He said he was doing it to get the dogs in shape."

Chaboudy said the shelter has since discovered Bruno was involved in a previous dragging incident with a family member on inline skates.

"That type of thing is very dangerous," he said. "Sometimes people run their dogs on bicycles and Rollerblades. In many ways it can be dangerous to the person. I cannot possibly even imagine how people think some of these types of things like running a dog along a car is actually okay."

Surgery technician Anna Ellis gets a friendly lick from Susie.

Chaboudy said it appears Jaworowsky obtained the dogs sometime in January. Bruno and Susie have been spayed and neutered and their vaccinations are up to date.

He said he talked to Jaworowsky Monday about giving the dogs up, but he refused. Chaboudy said the shelter would seek custody of the dogs.

In the meantime, Bruno and Susie are "happy, friendly dogs," he said. Susie weighs about 45 pounds and Bruno is about 50 pounds. The dogs are believed to be brother and sister.

"Right now, what we're telling people is they are not ours," he said. "We do not have custody of the dogs. At this point in time we don't know when we'll have custody of them. But we are seeking custody of them."

[Henrietta]

For the life of me, I just don't get people who abuse kids or animals, both of whom are totally dependent on adults for their well-being.""

Neither do I. This sort of behavior is totally reprehensible. For once, you and I agree on something! ;^)

[MinuteGal]

I live right up the road from Palm Harbor where this despicable event took place.

Let me say this....from long-time personal observation in Florida where these dogs abound, pit bulls are probably 90% acquired and owned by riff-raff, trashy, uneducated, low-income, marginal personalities. It's something in their generally anti-social, resentful, aggressive and beered-up make-up that correlates with their ownership of this breed of dogs.

Many Florida legislators have seen the ever-reoccuring horrors pit bulls cause and want to outlaw the traffic in them.

I wouldn't go that far because there are many responsible owners and many well-trained pit bulls. I love all animals and try to never visit their sins upon them rather than on the mentality of their owners.

This article concerning the vicious and unconscionable action of the owner did not surprise me in the least. It's not unusual in Florida. I hope he gets the book thrown at him.

Leni

[thoughtomator]

Loving people don't choose the most dangerous breed of dog in existence as their pets. Only people who want to use the dog to intimidate or harm others do.

[sinkspur]

Loving people don't choose the most dangerous breed of dog in existence as their pets. Only people who want to use the dog to intimidate or harm others do.

I used to think that way, but, having a neighbor with a wonderful pit, I don't anymore.

I wouldn't have them around children, but, then I wouldn't have certain daschunds around children either as they are a VERY aggressive dog by nature.

But pits can be very loving, or they can be vicious, DEPENDING ON THE OWNER.

My neighbor got his precisely because its very appearance serves as a deterrent.

People laugh at my Bichon Frises all the time; nobody laughs at his Pit.

[Rifleman]

There is always some breed that the morons see as "tough guys dogs". Used to be German Shepards, then Dobermans, more recently various bull terrier types. Until the morons loose interest there will be dogs, badly bred and badly trained that can cause problems. When they do lose interest the legitimate breeders will clean up the mess. ALL of the large breads are dangerous if ill bred or ill trained. They are big, powerful animals.

The idiots who think that any Rottenwiller, bull terrier or mastiff type dog is deadly ravening menace that should be put down pxss me off almost as much as the "tough guy" morons.

[freeeee]

Loving people don't choose the most dangerous breed of dog in existence as their pets. Only people who want to use the dog to intimidate or harm others do.

I disagree. While pits aren't my breed, it has been my privilege to know several fine and upstanding people who love them. They do so not out of any malice, but because they find attractive qualities within the breed. Ironically, they have told me that sweetness is what they like about pits the most. These people often save mistreated and doomed pits from euthanization.

Because I have seen, on numerous occasions, with my own eyes direct evidence contrary to your statement, I must judge it to be false. I believe you are making a generalization, that may be true for certain individuals, but cannot be considered to apply to all pit owners.

Also, I believe you are making a further generalization about all pits. They aren't all viscous. In fact most pits I have met are kind and loving pets. What of them? How do they fit your theory?

However I will admit this: Pit bulls and other popular breeds in general have been a victim of their own success. Once they gain popularity, the lower class of dog owners will gravitate towards them. They will breed undesirable traits into them, and offer a poor environment for upbringing, which of course produces sick and dangerous animals. Any breed can be subject to this, not just pit bulls.

[j_williamsii]

Amen.

I have a Shepard/Rot/Chow mix. Three dogs with bad reputations for many. He weighs over 100 lbs. He gets lots of love and attention and is the most gentle of our 3 dogs. All the kids in the neighborhood love him (once they get past his size). It's more nuture than nature. Kinda like people...

[Egregious Philbin]

It should be a felony to own a dog so vicious. I have seen many of those dogs and not a single one was owned by a half-decent person. Getting a dog like this is basically announcing intent to cause catastrophic injury to one's neighbors. These dogs are not pets, they are locked and loaded weapons that are not controllable by the owner.

Not true at all. Wildly untrue. I was a proud owner of a pit bull for 7 years - a sweetheart lapdog that wouldn't even think of biting someone. Terriers are often people-friendly but dog-aggressive, and pit bulls are no different from the rest of the terrier breeds.

[Cagey]

"People laugh at my Bichon Frises all the time; nobody laughs at his Pit. "

I'm not laughing, but I see what you mean.

[MightyMouseToSaveThe Day]

Are you crazy? Or is this your idea of a joke? The DOG is vicious??? Who dragged whom behind the car? It's the owners who make the dogs vicious; there's no such thing as a vicious dog. Your opinion is the most insane thing I think i've ever heard. Please--do yourself a favor and keep this ignorant opinion to yourself.

[FITZ]

The idiots who think that any Rottenwiller, bull terrier or mastiff type dog is deadly ravening menace that should be put down pxss me off almost as much as the "tough guy" morons.

Probably the dogs bred by trash-people should be put down because they carry genes for mental illness just like their owners. I've seen dobermans who were extremely intelligent and beautiful and sweet but I've seen some that were just plain mental.

[drjoe]

WHen I used to live in the country, there was, on the way home, a small bridge near a creek where you had to slow down. The local dog, living near the bridge used to LOVE to run out and bark his head off at you. Got tired of it. On the advise of a vet friend of mine, I tied a red towel onto one of the hubcaps. Next day: doctor drove home from work - slowed down at bridge - dog ran out and bark, bark, bark - dog grabbed towel - doctor started speeding up car - dog went Thumb, thumb, thumb, thumb - dog learned manners real fast.,

[thoughtomator]

I know nothing of these particular dogs. The breed I am familiar enough with to know that they are unstable by nature and enormously powerful. While in a handful of specific cases they may be well-trained, by and large the people who choose them choose them for their destructive power and the ability that gives them to inspire fear in their neighbors.

Call it profiling and niggle over the exceptions, if that pleases you - I for one have no problem calling a spade a spade. One would have to be in serious denial to say that the vast majority of these dogs are used for any other purpose than violence. Ignorance is to deny this truth, not to confront it.

[Egregious Philbin]

One would have to be in serious denial to say that the vast majority of these dogs are used for any other purpose than violence

I've met dozens of pit bulls and only one might have been vicious (might have - the owner told me I couldn't pet his pit, but the dog looked receptive). Where's this "vast majority?"

[thoughtomator]

This vast majority is in the cities. I see these dogs ALL the time, and they are inevitably accompanied by a person with a foul attitude. I constantly see them bullying other dogs in common areas, and more often than not the owners let them go at it. I've seen hundreds of these monsters, so I'm not generalizing from a handful of experiences.

[Bella_Bru]

One of the dogs, a male named Bruno, had the pads on its feet worn down to the bone.

I have a piece of junk car that barely passes smog. We could tie this creep behind it and see if his big bad ass could keep up while I cruise down the 405.

[Liberal Classic]

There is always some breed that the morons see as "tough guys dogs". Used to be German Shepards, then Dobermans, more recently various bull terrier types. Until the morons loose interest there will be dogs, badly bred and badly trained that can cause problems. When they do lose interest the legitimate breeders will clean up the mess. ALL of the large breads are dangerous if ill bred or ill trained. They are big, powerful animals.

BUMP

[Bella_Bru]

What you've seen is bad owners and bad breeders, not a bad breed. I have met some vicious little yappy dogs, should we get rid of those breeds too? I have met ill-trained Labs as well. Any large dog (well, any dog period) needs good training.

But that isn't the point of the article, unless you think it is OK to abuse the dogs because they are pit bulls. And if that is how you feel, then you are sick mf'er.

[frodolives]

I propose a proper sentence for this despicable clod- a sandpaper-covered treadmill and handcuffs.

[Luna]

Being cruel to animals is evil. I hope the dogs go to a loving home. I hope the man goes to prison.