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."

[j_williamsii]

"Yeah you'll find a well-behaved and loving pit bull on occasion, just as you'll find a non-Muslim terrorist every so often."

That makes the point. Muslim isn't a breed, it's the way the individuals are raised. It's not nature, it's nuture.

[Dysart]

fool

[PleaseNoMore]

You are gonna have those here that believe that Pits are the worst breed of any dog that exists. FTR, I own a red nosed Pit and she is a big baby. We also have 4 kids and I completely trust her around them and them around her. Ruby is as gentle as a dog comes. Sadly there are too many "macho" types out there that want a "bad ass" dog and thus the irresponsible rearing of the breed.

[PleaseNoMore]

"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."

That is total BS.

[PleaseNoMore]

And no other breed of dog would have killed this cat?? Hmmmm...

[PleaseNoMore]

Thank you so much for that post. Logic is alive and well. I was thinking something along the same lines. It is people that use these dogs for violence. It is people who train them to fight, who abuse them, and do do not discipline them properly.

The breed is NOT a bad breed. Whoever says that they are is misinformed. Having been around Pit Bulls for 28 years I have never once had an experience with a "people aggressive" Pit. Animal aggressive is entirely different as it is their nature to be such as it is with many other "cuter" breeds.

[thoughtomator]

On the other hand, I'm not allowed to own a tiger. Why can't I have a tiger for a pet if I choose?

[MightyMouseToSaveThe Day]

Thanks for the support, Please! You know what else hit me afterwards? She's using the same line of 'reasoning' (and I'm giving her?/him? credit for thinking that they've used any reasoning) as the anti-gun folks. Think about it. The gun control lobby says guns kills, therefore, outlaw guns. Thoughtomater said, this breed kills, therefore, outlaw this breed.

That's specious and ignorant. It's not the tool at fault (whether gun or specific breed of dog)--it's the intention of the person USING that tool that dictates whether the tool is used for good or evil.

Outlaw that breed, and the ones bent on violence will simply pick another breed--like Rottweiler, Great Dane, Shepherd, etc. Outlaw them, and they'll start using miniature Eskimos or those nasty Dachsunds (lol)!

France found out the hard way that people bent on violence will simply choose another tool readily at their disposal. They have one of the strictest gun laws in the world, and yet their violent crime rate is also one of the highest in the world. Why? People started stabbing each other and finding other tools to carry out their mission.

Same thing with dogs. It's not the dogs. It's the creeps who would use dogs to perpetrate their evil intentions.

Attention needs to be on the violent, evil humans--not the tools they use. I would have thought by now that that should have been obvious.

Oh, and this is more than an issue of animal welfare, I might add. There's a known connection between violence on animals and violence on humans. This guy is a case in point: he'd also been arrested for dragging someone one else behind his car (a person).

I wonder, as an aside, if Thoughtomater also believes in gun control, too, because guns are dangerous? hmmmm

[NoIgnorancePlease]

You must not know how to read. It is not possible for anyone to have read that article and to have reached the conclusion that those dogs were/are "vicious." Thoughtomator, those unfortunate dogs were tortured by a ruthless, cruel, inhumane, coward. Nowhere in the article was there any mention of "vicious" propensities of either dog. In fact, the article referenced their sweet dispositions, something you would not have, if you had been dragged behind a car. Since you probably can't read, you should have at least noticed the picture of the Pit Bull giving the veterinary technician a kiss.

These Pit Bulls showcase the worst and the best associated with the breed: the worst being the unbelievably cruel treatment so many have suffered at the hands of individuals like this scumbag, and so many other low-life, gangbanging, drugdealing thugs, who are destroying this fine breed's reputation. The best: their stoic and forgiving nature, even in the face of the worst human ugliness imaginable.

I not only own an American Pit Bull Terrier, and a "Pit Bull" mix, I have personally been involved in rescuing and rehoming many abandoned and abused Pit Bulls. Every one of them has been a joy to know.

Thoughtomator, did you know that the American Pit Bull Terrier has been and still is used for Search and Rescue, Therapy work, and has been a beloved family pet for well over a hundred years? Did you know that Petey from the series "Our Gang" was an American Pit Bull Terrier? Did you know that Hellen Keller owned an American Pit Bull Terrier? Did you know that the American Pit Bull Terrier ranked among the highest of breeds tested by the American Temperament Test Society, higher even than the Beagle? Of course you don't know any of that, or you never, ever would have made the inexcusably ignorant comments you made on this chat page.

Thoughtomator, I have several suggestions for you: 1) change your name to "Lack of thoughtomator;" 2) Learn how to read; 3) Do not ever post anything on any subject until you learn how to read, and have educated yourself on the subject; and 4) educate yourself about the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Unless and until you have completed the four steps I outlined for you, you should never post anything on any subject.

Best of luck to you. You have an enormous challenge ahead of you!!!

[thoughtomator]

A tractor-trailer may be a beautiful vehicle in the eyes of the driver, but we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that just anyone can handle one.

Interesting you created a brand new handle just to post to me on this old thread. Guess you missed the latest thread about the 2-year-old boy mauled by... well, I'll let you guess.

[NoIgnorancePlease]

You analogize a dog with a tractor-trailer rig. Brilliant. What personal experience do you have with the American Pit Bull Terrier? Have you ever owned one? Have you been attacked by one? Have you ever petted one? Is all your experience based on the media exposure the breed has received?

If your only experience is based on media coverage, and number of attacks reported, then you have no basis to comment. A Pomeranian killed an 8 week old baby in Los Angeles. There have been several deaths by Great Danes and Saint Bernards and Huskies and Malamutes. Should we ban them too?

If you focus on media hype only, you can reach some dangerous conclusions. This was true, even before mass media. You probably would have hung innocents in Salem, Massachussets, during the Salem Witch trials. If you lived in Germany, during Hitler's era, you would have been told that jews are bad and should be exterminated. My guess is you would have swallowed that line of tripe, hook, line and sinker. Blacks and Hispanics commit more violent crime, per capita, than whites do. Should I, as an Hispanic, be treated differently because of that? You probably think so.

Prejudice is an ugly thing.

[Feiny]

Hello there....I guess you don't get out much. I am a proud owner of a "pitbull". She looks alot like Susie. There are many freepers who own American PitBull/Staffordshire Terriers.

I suggest you do a bit of research before spouting off about something you know little about.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com
http://www.pbrc.net/home.html

[Feiny]

For you pitbull haters.....

[Mr. Mojo]

I'm not a pit bull hater. Don't you play the "breed card" with me, pal ; )

[dtel]

Alright,
Who kidnapped sinkspur?
My jaw is on the floor, sir.

[sinkspur]

Old story.

[dtel]

I saw that.
A complete 180 for you, none the less.
Hope all is well at the sinkspur house.

[LUVABUL]

As far as your cat is concerned, I’m sorry he was killed due to its irresponsible owner as well as the irresponsible owner of the dog you claim to be a “Pit Bull”. No animal should be left unsupervised. There are leash laws in effect for a reason – which usually apply to all pets! If your cat would have been inside, like it should have been it wouldn’t have had the chance to be attacked by the dog ort cat, or hit by a car, or poisoned, or tormented or even killed by another person. Irresponsible owners letting their cats and dogs alike run free are the main cause of diseases being spread over our communities as well as the over population of pets. SHAME ON YOU!

BE RESPONSIBLE!! Until we as humans can learn to own up to our own mistakes and take responsibility for them (not blaming everyone and everything else) – this world will keep going in the downward spiral it has been over the years.

Do not fear dogs, fear irresponsible owners!

Cristie Newgent
Founding President
LUVABUL Rescue & Education Association
www.geocities.com/bully_love@sbcglobal.net

[LUVABUL]

I am the founding president of LUVABUL Rescue & Education Association. I have been involved in some sort of rescue from the age of 14. I have seen all kinds of dogs come into programs abused, dumped, and left for dead. The only dogs that were unable to be placed were fed some kind of chemical to force them to become mean (usually gun powder). All of the others have been placed and are wonderful dogs. I have an Amstaf that was beaten so bad as a puppy that he is mentally handicapped – still a wonderful dog!

I know A LOT of individuals that out bully breeds that are responsible owners. If all you know is irresponsible owners with these dogs, you might want to rethink the individuals you associate with.

Yes there are some individuals to seek out these dogs due to the false reputation ignorant individuals, such as yourself, give them. So when you get down to it you are part of the reason irresponsible owners want these dogs. Why don’t you do some research, actually figure out what you are talking about before you open your mouth.

[LUVABUL]

You wish the all would be “humanely destroyed”? Please tell me, what in the hell is so humane about killing animals just because you don’t like them? Every comment you have made on this board shows exactly how undereducated and cruel you really are. You are no better than the degenerates that abuse these dogs!

Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it must die.