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Texas toddler killed by pit bull
Washington Times ^ | 3-16-07 | UPI

Posted on 03/23/2007 11:16:22 AM PDT by JZelle

A 2-year-old Texas girl riding her tricycle was attacked and fatally mauled by her family's male pit bull, it was reported Friday.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call Thursday afternoon from a man believed to be the girl's father, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Deputy Michael Ortiz said the girl's injuries were mainly to her face and head but neighbors who witnessed the attack said she also appeared to have been bitten on the throat and buttocks.

Witnesses said the girl's father was trimming weeds nearby when one of the family's pit bulls apparently broke it chains and attacked the child.

Authorities withheld the name of the victim and her father pending a decision on whether to file criminal charges in the case.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: dogofpeace; dop; pitbull; rdo
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To: stephenjohnbanker

I have a "Labweiler."


121 posted on 03/23/2007 1:21:39 PM PDT by Revenge of Sith
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To: HOTTIEBOY; rbmillerjr
if he makes sure his pitbull stays in the fence, and I won't accidentally blow its frickin head off.

That's a fair deal.

IMHO, any large dog left to run around free in a residential neighborhood should immediately be impounded, and the owner heavily fined. If it happens a 2nd time, the dog should be put down and the owner jailed for gross negligence. Dogs running free, especially in groups, very quickly can revert to the pack mentality and shed their human induced inhibitions.

Most good dogs I know don't run off their property. Mine don't--I once accidentally left a side gate open for 2 days and didn't notice. My dog could have got out, but didn't--He knew better, and really didn't want to leave. As soon as I discovered that I'd left the gate open, it had a huge spring installed on it before the sun went down that day.
122 posted on 03/23/2007 1:24:36 PM PDT by rottndog (If you don't believe in the abolition of government run schools, your views aren't radical enough.)
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To: HOTTIEBOY

Sounds fair to ME!


123 posted on 03/23/2007 1:26:22 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Misery loves miserable company.......ask any liberal. Hunter in 08!)
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To: Maximus of Texas

I love dogs but I have no use for the killer dog breeds. Whatever makes you feel big I guess.

I love this old n fat boxer my neighbor has...he is a great motivational tool for when I'm digging out my steep slope driveway lol. That dumb mut will butt-tube down and then try to get back up and do down backwards...funniest thing you ever saw.


124 posted on 03/23/2007 1:26:58 PM PDT by rbmillerjr ("Message to radical jihadis...come to my hood, it's understood ------ it's open season" Stuck Mojo)
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To: rottndog

I'm glad to see you are one of the responsible owners. But there are owners that are totally negligent. My two scrapes while running were just lucky for me - if that dog wanted me dead - I was dead...or greatly mangled.

The thought of kids getting mangled buy dogs that are bred to fight and kill makes my stomach turn.


125 posted on 03/23/2007 1:31:16 PM PDT by rbmillerjr ("Message to radical jihadis...come to my hood, it's understood ------ it's open season" Stuck Mojo)
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To: Revenge of Sith

: )


126 posted on 03/23/2007 1:31:45 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Misery loves miserable company.......ask any liberal. Hunter in 08!)
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To: rbmillerjr

It's the irresponsible owners that make it tough on people like me. This is why I wouldn't have a problem with special license requirements for large breeds. The city where I live has a good program--once your dog has gone through obedience training, it can repeat once a year every year thereafter for free. Mine have been several times.

But that's just common sense, and common sense isn't so common anymore.


127 posted on 03/23/2007 1:38:47 PM PDT by rottndog (If you don't believe in the abolition of government run schools, your views aren't radical enough.)
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To: -YYZ-

ooooh, she's precious!!! :)


128 posted on 03/23/2007 2:12:07 PM PDT by 007girl (I got a black belt in crazy, and I am not scared to use it!)
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To: wtc911
My own unshakable attitude about these dogs is that you can never, repeat never, predict which one will suddenly revert to instinct and that is enough for me to keep everybody I love as far from them as possible.

That can be said about any dog. To think otherwise would be ignorant.

129 posted on 03/23/2007 2:38:02 PM PDT by Long Island Pete
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Comment #130 Removed by Moderator

To: rbmillerjr
Well, I ended up with gashes on three of my four limbs. sigh He missed my face.

I was a huge dog lover before. Now, I can't walk around the block without a cane or something to protect myself. I just never quite got over the fear.

131 posted on 03/23/2007 3:30:38 PM PDT by Texas_shutterbug
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To: Domicile of Doom
Well, for gods sake how much proof do you need? Pit bulls are dangerous. I say that and I own a Bull Mastiff.

My FRiend, love, enjoy and care for your dog,
but please don't delude yourself that they won't be coming for your dog in the future.

132 posted on 03/23/2007 3:38:41 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: Long Island Pete
'That can be said about any dog. To think otherwise would be ignorant."

True, but not every dog has the capability to tear a grown woman to death.

My good friend's collie was horribly mauled and killed by a pitbull. UGH

I hate those dogs.

133 posted on 03/23/2007 3:39:58 PM PDT by Texas_shutterbug
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To: Long Island Pete
That can be said about any dog. To think otherwise would be ignorant.

---------------------------------------------

Poodles, spaniels, setters, labs...all killers...we just never read about it...gimme a break.

134 posted on 03/23/2007 3:49:13 PM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get back down that hill?")
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To: rottndog
As is so often the case this appears that it could have been prevent...

The article posted contains few details, here is one with more info...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032307dnmetgirlmauled.809b5a2.html

"The male pit bull – the family also owns a mother and puppies – apparently was chained nearby"

I'd bet the male was intact...

Sex of dog -

Though not possible to determine the sex of all the dogs involved in fatalities from 1965, a survey of the sex of the dogs involved in the last 6 years (Jan. 2000 thru Dec. 2005) reveal that overwhelmingly the dogs involved in fatal attacks are males. In the fatal attacks during this six year period, over 91% of these cases a male dog was involved, (i.e. either a single male dog or a male dog accompanied by other males and/or female dogs).

Reproductive status of dog (intact vs. altered)-

As with the sex of the dog, it was not possible to determine the reproductive status of all the dogs involved in fatal attacks dating back to 1965, but an examination of the dogs involved in fatal attacks from Jan. 2000 thru Dec. 2005, reveal that the overwhelming majority of dogs involved were unaltered.Of the fatalities during this 6 year period, 92% of the dogs involved were unaltered (not spayed or neutered).

Chained or restrained dogs-

Statistically, chained and penned dogs pose a greater danger than free roaming dogs. 30% of all fatal attacks are inflicted by a dog that was kept chained or penned. Dogs that are kept chained/penned may be more protective of their restricted space and their resources (i.e. food/water bowls). Additionally, the natural "fight or flight" response afforded to most animals in stressful situations is denied to a chained dog. Removing the option of flight for any animal will always increase the chance of a physical encounter (or fight response) to a perceived threat.

FAMILY DOG VS. RESIDENT DOG -

It needs to be recognized that dogs maintained outside the home (chained dogs, penned dogs, yard dogs) are not family dogs - they are resident dogs. This distinction is vital in the understanding of canine behavior and aggression. Dogs maintained as resident dogs cannot be expected to exhibit the same level of sociability as dogs afforded the opportunity to have positive interactions with humans on a daily basis. This is evidenced by the fact that 81% of the fatal dog attacks in 2006 were caused by dogs maintained in semi-isolated conditions (chained/penned/yard dogs).
link

"Neighbors said they had called authorities about the family's pit bulls before for being aggressive toward children. Authorities took the dog involved in the attack to the Balch Springs animal shelter, where its fate was unknown.

Although the dog apparently had been chained, residents said roaming dogs are a problem, too, because many people drop off unwanted dogs in Combine.

"They think that this is the country and they'll find a home," Mr. Norman said.

While authorities were at the scene Thursday evening, one loose dog chased a squirrel up a tree and others roamed freely nearby.

"It is one of the few problems we do have," said Mr. Norman, who has lived in Combine about 25 years.

The town has a leash law but lacks an animal control agency. It has one police officer and relies largely on Dallas and Kaufman counties for enforcement, depending on which side of town is involved."


Complaints of aggressive behavior towards children were not acted upon effectively.

135 posted on 03/23/2007 5:22:57 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: kanawa

Thank you kanawa for the facts. As I had suspected, this attack was entirely predictable and preventable--It's very sad. Another case where some common sense precautions could have saved a life.

BTW, what are your thoughts on special license requirements for certain breeds?


136 posted on 03/23/2007 6:04:25 PM PDT by rottndog (If you don't believe in the abolition of government run schools, your views aren't radical enough.)
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To: MikeA
seems to be an ever increasing group of people out there that put human children second, after animals.....

its just the decline of our culture and the rise of Paganism....

137 posted on 03/23/2007 6:18:36 PM PDT by cherry
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To: COEXERJ145
when animals/pets attack and kill humans, no big deal....

I would bet on average people that hurt little children get less time than a dog kicker......

I like animals....but the worship of them is just obscene especially when we can come up with no effective means to protect our own human children from predators....

138 posted on 03/23/2007 6:22:50 PM PDT by cherry
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To: rottndog
BTW, what are your thoughts on special license requirements for certain breeds?

I think many people acquire dogs without knowing what they're getting into,
with little known of what is socially expected and legally required of them,
and with meager understanding of dog behavior or of how to be an alpha owner.
Having this knowledge is crucial to responsible dog ownership.
Loving your dog is wonderful but without a strong basis of knowledge both the owner and the dog can get into trouble.
Owners of all dogs have to be knowledgeable and responsible,
while with owners of larger dogs this is particularly important
because attacks by their dogs are potentially more dangerous.
So if this licensing was similar to driver licensing,
being a combination of education and testing, then I could support it.

Unfortunately education can only go so far.
There will always be individuals that ignore the law and their social responsibilities.
That is why any education program must go hand in hand with rigorous enforcement of existing laws.

139 posted on 03/23/2007 6:45:50 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: COEXERJ145
Just yesterday a Texas jury found a man not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in a case where his dogs got out and mauled an elderly woman to death.

Could you link to that story please?
TIA

140 posted on 03/23/2007 7:02:36 PM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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