Dog attacks woman at dog show

Washington Times ^ | 3-26-07 | AP

[JZelle]

Animal Services officers in Melbourne, Fla., say a large dog completing in a local dog show suddenly attacked an elderly woman and nearly severed her foot.

The Akita, owned by Sally Jaffe, attacked Maria Patman, 70, during the competition Sunday at Wickham Park Pavilion, WKMG-TV, Orlando, reported Monday.

Capt. Bob Brown, spokesman for Brevard County Animal Services, said it was unclear why the dog suddenly attacked the woman and chewed on her ankle for several seconds.

"It's an odd occurrence. This breed is not known for the propensity to bite, but it's obviously an animal. That's the bottom line. Everyone has to make sure they are aware of that," Brown said.

Jaffe, who was not handling the dog at the time of the attack, was cited by animal control officers for a bite causing injury. The Akita is in animal control custody and its fate will be determined at a dangerous dog hearing in 10 days.

[PzLdr]

I've known of a few Akitas that bit. And they bite hard. Plus, if I recall, the breed standard requires Akitas to be "dog aggressive" [as a result of their origin as fighting dogs].

[wndycndy]

This Akita was NOT a show dog and as a dog show exhibitor myself I say there is really no excuse for the animals behavior. The person responsible for the dog was very likely negligent and did not know enough about dogs to own an Akita in the first place.
To the fellow who said show dogs aren't trained, You are certainly ignorant in the dog show department. Successful show dogs are highly trained and have excellent temperaments. Our veterinarians and groomers (I am one) love our showdogs because among all of their other wonderful attributes they also know how to calmly stand for an exam and grooming.
Showdogs are very steady and basically the cream of the crop. Not everyone at a dogshow has been in the sport for very long and occasionally a real idiot slips thru with a bad dog, but they don't last long.

[Sax]

Pics from the local paper.

[JZelle]

I used to live next door to one. It was a total spaz!

[Roses0508]

I have a friend with two - he NEVER allows them to interact with other people unless he is present and has them on leash. He said they are bred as guard and fighting dogs and are of uncertain temperament.

Naturally, as soon as they see me they throw themselves down and roll over, begging for a tummy rub. Its hard to view them as aggressive in that position, but I respect his knowledge of the breed.

[afraidfortherepublic]

The peacock wing is pretty hurtful too when arroused, and their beaks are sharp. Also they scream soumething that sounds like "Rape" all the time when intruders come around.

[afraidfortherepublic]

They are not particularly friendly to strangers and can be aggressive.

That is why we can be pretty sure that Nicole Brown Simpson's dog (a white Akita) knew her attacker.

[Xenalyte]

Buddy of mine who grew up in Memorial (a very tony part of Houston) had peacocks wandering near his house.

The first time I heard one of them shriek, I almost jumped out of my skin. Scared the hell outa me! He'd been in that house all this life, and he said he was in his early teens before he got used to 'em.

[capt. norm]

My wife and I were dumb enough to raise three peacocks. We bought them as chicks but were warned that they were finicky eaters and had a bad chick survival rate.

In one of my few plans that worked out, I bought some baby mallard ducks at the same time and raised the picky eaters (peacocks) with the glutton mallards and it worked perfectly.

We didn't find out until they got full-size that they would go up in the trees at night and make horror-movie-quality screams at night until it was almost too late.

They were excellent pets though. The male was a real exhibitionist and would put on his show at the drop of a hat.

[PissAndVinegar]

Ok - I've know some older folks and dogs in my day...My theory:

•Dog was hungry (so it's attentive)
•Old Lady - messy eater; had combo of gravy, animal cracker crumbs and prune juice drippings on her ankle.

Results - well, you read the story. LOL

[Judith Anne]

As I understood the TV report on Fox, the dog was not entered in the show, it was just brought there by the owner, who didn't have it under his direct control.

I'm sorry for the lady. Akitas, in my experience, are aggressive by nature.

[brytlea]

I just read something online from someone who was there. She said the owner knew the dog was aggressive and was asking strangers to approach the dog to see if it would be aggressive (I suppose she had been working on the problem, I'm not sure). So, it didn't sound at all like this dog was a normal, sweet dog and suddenly went on a rampage for no reason.
Additionally, apparently she had the dog on a loose lead, which is stupid at a dog show, period.
susie

[brytlea]

Hmmm, my show dogs are trained, just not to sit and heel. They are trained to stand, to go around the ring with me at a trot, to allow LOTS of handling, looking at teeth etc, to put up with grooming and leash walking and being ooohhhed and aahhhhed by strangers. Yes, they are trained!
susie

[dervish]

I too have heard of Akita's being aggressive to people and definitely to other dogs.

[xJones]

Just Googling for Sally Jaffe, it doesn't appear that she's a bad person. She has a good history of dog training, and made a terrible mistake that day. Of course, nothing excuses the injuries caused to the victim, and it's sad all the way around.

Here's a photo of Sally Jaffe comforting the 70 year old victim.

[theFIRMbss]

...Ladies and gentlemen,
The monster,
Which the peasants in this area call FRUNOBULAX
(Apparently a very large poodle dog)
Has just been seen approaching The Power Plant
Bullets can't stop it
Rockets can't stop it
We may have to use NUCLEAR FORCE!

HERE COMES THAT POODLE DOG!
BIG AS A BLIMP WITH A RHINESTONE COLLAR
SNAPPIN' OFF THE TREES
LIKE THEY WAS BONSAI'D ORNAMENTS ON A DRY-WOBBLE LANDSCAPE
KEEP IT AWAY! DON'T LET THE POODLE BITE ME!
WE CAN'T LET IT REPRODUCE! OH!
SOMEBODY GET OUT THE PANTS!

The National Guard has formed up at the base of the mountain
And is attempting to lure the enormous poodle towards the cave
Where they hope to destroy it with napalm
A thousand of the troopers are now lined up and are calling to the monster . . .
Here Fido
Here Fido
Here Fido...

[afraidfortherepublic]

I spoiled my peacocks shamefully with people treats -- torn up bread (they prefer white and it must be fresh), raisins, grapes, blueberries, shelled peanuts, etc. And they had a barn where they retired at night. A fox killed their leader one night, and after that they refused to come out of the barn. One of the males would stand at the door of the barn and display his tail and prevent the females from coming out. I had them for almost 10 years, but eventually they all died. I never succeeded in getting them to hatch their eggs.If I ever adopted peacocks again, I would leave them to their own pursuits and would not try to get too chummy with them. The hens just pecked one of my males to death because he thought he was a person.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I know Memorial well. I used to live in Missouri City. Houston would be a great place to raise peacocks (if you had a bit of land) because the climate is temperate. They can practically live on their own. They are a bit more trouble in Wisconsin with our long winters.

[wndycndy]

It's really too bad this whole unfortunate event happened. It puts negative attention on our dogshows, which are mostly wonderful family events that include LOTS of active seniors showing and judging. There is so much bad press and anti-dog legislation out there from the Dems and stories like this just add fuel to their fire. We raise and show Beagles which are a very gentle breed therefore I am always reminding my son (8) that not all breeds are as loving and tolerant as ours and I keep him on a very short leash at the dog shows

[Ditto]

The first time I heard one of them shriek, I almost jumped out of my skin.

I wasn't there, but yesterday, my beautiful 5 month old granddaughter (the world's most beautiful baby --- just ask me) had her first field-trip --- to the National Avery in Pittsburgh. It's a great place to take the kids where you can walk right amidst the birds and most are very friendly and not at all shy among people.

From what I'm told, she had a wonderful time until a peacock came close to her and said hello by doing it's 'shriek' thing. I can't blame the little darling for being scared out of her whits by that. That is one loud noise.