Couple injured, tiny dog mauled in pit bull attack

Valley Press on ^ | Friday, October 17, 2008. | DAISY RATZLAFF

[BenLurkin]

Thursday morning pit bull attack has left two Palmdale residents with arm and leg injuries and sent their 12-year-old dog Sugar to an animal hospital in very critical condition.

As he walked his dog about 9:30 a.m., 75-year-old Ron Levin said the pit bull jumped the fence at their home and ran over to his dog.

"I saw the pit bull coming and I tried to drag myself and the dog back in the house, but it was too late," Levin said. "It got hold of her (Sugar) and wouldn't let go. It just kept biting and biting. I kicked it, I hit the pit bull, and then it dragged my dog to the sidewalk."

Jody Levin, Levin's 74-year-old wife, said she saw the pit bull drag her dog across the driveway, with her husband still holding the leash.

"It was horrible, I heard him scream at the top of his lungs and saw him fall to the ground," Jody Levin said. "I thought he had a heart attack right then and there."

Ron Levin, who wound up being bitten on the left elbow during the struggle, said his wife came out and started hitting the pit bull.

"I tried to push it and hit it in the head, but god, it just wouldn't let go," said Jody Levin, who also was injured in the fray with a bruise to a leg. "And my poor baby (the dog), it was such a bloody mess. Her scalp was completely open, her eyes were ripped out. I have never seen so much blood."

[BenLurkin]

"We looked over and saw that a man was getting attacked by a huge dog," Janel Henderson said. "It seemed like the dog was latched onto his dog, and then he fell on the sidewalk. The next thing I remember is that he let go of the leash."

[allmendream]

Waiting for the same idiots from the last thread (where a CC permit holder shot the two attacking pit bulls) to say that the pit bulls were “provoked”.

[Mr. Mojo]

"If I had a gun, I would have shot it, shot it right there," she said of the pit bull.

Well, then buy one. ...and learn to shoot it.

[masadaman]

Realistically it seems unlikely one could retrieve a weapon when the attack is happening unless it’s on your person. We just don’t walk around our backyard with weapons at the ready.

Better IMHO is to forewarn any neighbor with a pit bull that should an incident take place with a loved one or loved pet, they will pay the price and not with $$$$.

[Irene Adler]

"And my poor baby (the dog), it was such a bloody mess. Her scalp was completely open, her eyes were ripped out. I have never seen so much blood."

Poor, poor dog. Just the other day, Mr. Adler and I were driving in another part of town and saw a gal walking an obvious pitbull (and don't anybody tell me I didn't know what I was seeing; I DID; the muzzle shape is the clincher). Thank God it is not in our neighborhood. I have bichons who are definitely lovers, not fighters. A pitbull would destroy either of them.

Read this again, "her eyes were ripped out." Almost kills me to read stuff like this. Hundreds of breeds of dogs available; dogs of every size and kind; you can find any kind of dog you want. NO ONE needs a pit bull!

[Mr. Mojo]

"Realistically it seems unlikely one could retrieve a weapon when the attack is happening unless it’s on your person."

She could've easily retrieved a firearm from her house (if she had one) while her husband was fighting with the dog.

[GladesGuru]

Bad Beast Behavior Syndrome indicates the beast in question has been eating a diet deficient in heavy metals.

Dr. Colt, Dr. Browning, or Dr. Ruger can write a prescription for both the correct dosage and the correct method of administration.

The Blue Moon Chinese restaurant will be happy to take care of any deceased dogs.

[papasmurf]

The owner of that pit should go to jail.

[Moleman]

Prayers for little Sugar. My best pal Oscar, a Yorkie, was killed by a coyotee in the yard.

[Scythian]

CDC Reports Prevalence Of Worms Transmitted By Dogs And Cats To Humans Is Higher Than Previously Understood

[Hoodlum91]

How horrible to witness.

Witnessing a dog go after a snack isn’t pretty.

[Califreak]

We used to have a neighbor who would let their pitbull run free at the exact moment I was leaving the house to take my small children to school.

It usually went straight to our yard, which always made me very uneasy.

I always went outside first to recon the yard.

I never let the kids go out there without doing this until they moved away.

I am so glad they’re gone.

[mom4melody]

Our daughter has a pit bull...only he thinks he’s a little lap dog. The kids sit on him, play dress-up with him, pull his ears and tail, and he just takes it. He is the best dog ever. They got him from another military family that could not take him to their next duty station, he was a rescue dog that had been trainined to fight but would’nt.

This is not a breed thing, it’s an owner thing. My grandma had the meanest dog ever...a snappy little poodle.

[allmendream]

And as long as the “lap dog” is properly restrained and cannot jump the fence or break out to attack passing dogs and people it should never be a problem.

When it does jump the fence or break free to get at a passing dog and its owners; your daughter's “lap dog” will think it is doing its duty to protect its area, and it will attack and potentially kill.

[Cecily]

You and your family had better hope that the day never comes when that animal decides he has had enough or feels provoked in some way. It is a breed thing.

[CaliforniaCon]

Question for you since you sound like an expert: my dog is a mix — approx. 2 - 3 years old and often quite playful, i.e., jumping, running around, etc. She’s from a shelter, no known history; was just “turned in as a stray” in south central Los Angeles.

She has a problem, however, with some aggression. She has gone after a few males of all ages and nipped (or tried to nip at) their legs. Only once has she actually drawn blood (like a tiny cut)and a couple of times has put a tiny hole in clothing.

We have had her in a class with a great trainer, and she KNEW he was in charge and never acted up one time. But here at home, when on the street or if someone comes to the house, she has to be watched closely.

Trainer said her breeds (DNA test says dominant German Shepherd, then equal parts Chow, Shar Pei and Tibetan Spaniel) make her the way she is and not much can be done to completely train the traits out of her.

Do you agree? Are we foolish for not having this dog put down? Trainer said we must keep her on a short leash and/or keep her away from all visitors as there are many dogs who are good dogs but simply cannot ever be completely well-socialized.

We agonized about taking her back to the shelter early on but it’s been 7 months now and we have grown attached to her. She is very protective of women and immediate family. She has never nipped at a female at all.

Any advice? Like the Pits you describe, this dog nips without warning — like it’s some instinct she has that when a male makes a quick move or gets too close to a female in the area, she rushes over and nips. I fear that some male child will rush up to her on the street and there will be real trouble that I can’t prevent. Whenever I even see a kid get halfway close I yell, “get back, this dog bites!” It’s not fun to walk her, that’s for sure, and she loves to go for walks.