Posted on 03/04/2010 8:31:42 PM PST by Chet 99
Updated: Mar 04, 2010 7:36 PM PST
By Logan Smith
LEE COUNTY, SC (WIS) - A pit bull was euthanized in Lee County Thursday after it attacked and killed its owner's aunt, who had been caring for it while her nephew was out of town.
Lee County Sheriff E.J. Melvin said Ethel Baker Horton, 65, was killed off Stokes Bridge Road near the town of Lucknow while defending her 71-year-old husband, Jerry Horton, from the pit bull.
"You never think of somebody dying that horrible death like that, not someone as close as she is to us," said Brenda Gillespie, who had breakfast with the Hortons just two days ago. "It's just terrible."
The Hortons were dog-sitting their nephew's 10-year-old pit bull named Brutus while the nephew was out of town, Melvin said. The dog had been tied to a 15-foot chain attached to a stake in the ground in the backyard next door.
"I've always been scared of pit bulls, but they weren't scared of them," said Gillespie.
Around 11:40am Thursday, Jerry went out to feed six beagles and two huskies that were also being kept in the backyard. As Jerry was feeding the other dogs, Melvin said the pit bull pulled the chain loose and attacked Jerry.
Ethel ran out and tried to defend her husband with a plastic pipe, but Brutus turned on her and mauled her. Jerry called his son, who in turn called 911.
Ethel was killed in the attack, and Jerry was taken to Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville with non-life threatening injuries.
"I know this is gonna just be so hard on him if he makes it, because they were just as one," said Gillespie.
The pit bull has been taken away and euthanized, and is being tested for rabies. The as-yet-unidentified nephew has been notified of the incident, but it's unclear if he will face charges.
The sheriff's department says Brutus never acted out before and in fact, the Hortons were familiar with him since he was a puppy.
"If any stranger comes around he may bark or anything like that but any other family member that's close to the dog, anybody can go up to him," said Major Daniel Simon. "That's what the family told me."
"It's very devastating, because if you're expecting someone to pass away that's not as bad," said Gillespie. "But for something like this, it's kind of hard to comprehend."
Pit bull attacks are not exactly uncommon in the Midlands, even when they don't result in death. In April 2009, different dogs attacked a Florence woman and a Sumter 10-year-old within a month of each other. The previous fall, a pit bull attacked a woman and her puppy, injuring her and killing her dog.
But fatal attacks have also taken place in the Midlands, mainly on children. In 2007, a father was charged with involuntary manslaughter when his five pit bulls killed his 22-month-old child. Later that year, a two-year-old was attacked and killed after wandering into the fenced-in backyard.
Looks like a Bull Terrier.. I don’t believe the same as a pit bull.
Tethered would be the correct word. It sounds like the dog pulled out the ground anchor, though.
I am no pit bull fan, but the guy fed 8 dogs in front of him while he’s chained up?
I would too if someone tied me like that.
Pit bulls need plenty of tender loving cavitation from a well balanced diet of proper bullets. Criminals who worship pit bulls need the cleansing of their drug-polluted systems in prison work camps.
Send all Dogs of Peace overseas to be with their human counterparts.
check out post 26... if only the poor pittie poo had been fed first, everything would have been okay.
Chet, check out this kennel. http://kinnemankennels.com/PITBULL_KENNEL.html
Be sure to educate yourself on the wonderful qualities of Pit Bulls by reading the included links:
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Pitbull History and info
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UKC / United Kennel Club Information
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Pitbull Weight Pulling Information
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Pitbull Puppy Nutrition Tips & Articles
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Pitbull Training Information
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Dog Training Basics
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Positive Pitbull Media
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Bully Breeds
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Pitbull Kennel Training
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Info From Razors Edge Kennel
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AKC Information
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Breed Specific Legislation / B.S.L
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History Of Gottiline
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Our Greyline Blog
I am no Golden Retriever fan, but the guy fed 8 dogs in front of him while he’s chained up?
Feel free to pick any other breed of dog and see if your statement still makes sense to you.
baddestasspitbulls.com?
Put em’ in a sack and drop em’ in the river...
Get rid of them all. States and counties need to pass laws banning them and the ones that exist now, should have to be spayed or neutered. Bad dogs...with killer jaws.
That’s not a pit bull.
I witnessed an off the leash pitbull attack a 10 year old black lab that was on leash and under the owners control a few weeks ago. The lab was not even looking at the pit when it struck, and did nothing to provoke the attack. Thankfully the lab went completely submissive and did not try to pull away from the pit, or the outcome would have been fatal. As it was, the lab’s owner, and then the pit’s owner was able to get the pit to release. The pit was a fairly young dog, and the owner a young woman. Sorry, but I wouldn’t trust a pitbull with your life, let alone the lives of family, friends, or neighbors.
Oh please, give me a break. Euthanize them all.
See my post #35
Yeah, they look real cute when a puppy - not so much when full grown.
For those that don't know,,,
We only walk the yorkie out back behind my fence because
of a pit puppy-mill rite next door,,,
The thug/turds tend to let them loose to shit where they
please,,,
Most are kept chained in their back yard and they get loose,,,
Anything/Anybody that comes over My wire Will be shot dead.
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