Woman Fatally Mauled In Pit Bull Attack

AP ^ | 2.7.05

[ambrose]

Lanett Woman Fatally Mauled In Pit Bull Attack

Owner Could Face Criminally Negligent Homicide, Manslaughter

POSTED: 3:43 pm CST February 7, 2005

LANETT, Ala. -- Authorities have said criminal charges could be filed against the owner of a pit bull after the animal attacked and killed an elderly Lanett woman Friday afternoon.

Police Chief Ron Docimo said 70-year-old Barbara Pilkington died from severe face and neck injuries when she was mauled at about 5 p.m. on a city street. Lanett Fire Chief A.J. Johnson said he was forced to kill the pit bull after the dog displayed aggressive behavior toward him.

Docimo said the Chambers County District Attorney's Office will determine if criminal charges are warranted. He said the owner, whose name was withheld, could face charges ranging from criminally negligent homicide to manslaughter.

Docimo said he also wants to know whether Lanett has an ordinance on the books, requiring all animals be properly restrained.

Tests are being conducted to determine if the dog had rabies.

[Scoutmaster]

Please help me clear up some confusion. I know there are (English) Bull Terriers (like General Patton had) and Staffordshire Bull Terriers -- and these are different breeds. Is either one of these considered a "Pit Bull"? In DeKalb County (part of Atlanta) it is now illegal to own a pitbull, a Bull Terrier, or a Staffordshire Bull, and there's a bill pending in the Georgia legislature to outlaw all three breeds in the entire state.

Even if pit bulls are getting painted with too broad a brush, aren't legislators going way overboard by including Bull Terriers?

[Scoutmaster]

Please help me clear up some confusion. I know there are (English) Bull Terriers (like General Patton had) and Staffordshire Bull Terriers -- and these are different breeds. Is either one of these considered a "Pit Bull"? In DeKalb County (part of Atlanta) it is now illegal to own a pitbull, a Bull Terrier, or a Staffordshire Bull, and there's a bill pending in the Georgia legislature to outlaw all three breeds in the entire state.

Even if pit bulls are getting painted with too broad a brush, aren't legislators going way overboard by including Bull Terriers?

[HairOfTheDog]

Bull terrier:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier:

American Staffordshire Terrier:

"Pit Bull" is a general type of dog bred to fight. I am not a big fan of bans, but all three of these breeds were created to fight, and are still being bred to fight today.

[Scoutmaster]

Thanks. Most of the reading I've done on the breeds sets the plain 'ole Bull terrier as being bred to rid British estates of vermin, large and small, and not specifically to fight other dogs.

[Protagoras]

Funny you mention Retrievers because they are statistically more likely to bite people than Pit Bulls are.

Are they statistically more likely to KILL people?

[Protagoras]

The arguments have gone back and forth on this issue until it's pukeville, but one thing I don't see advocated very often, (actually not at all) is doing the sane thing until this whole thing gets sorted out.

When I was a kid, dangerous dogs were required to wear muzzles. Bring 'em back.

[diamond6]

That poor woman; what a horrible way to die. :(