3 Year Old Attacked by Pit Bull

WYTV ^

[Chet 99]

A Warren toddler is recovering after being attacked by a pit bull over the weekend.

Three year old Christine Francis required 19 stitches after the animal bit her face. The dog got inside her home on Saturday after her father trapped it on the front porch, hoping animal control officers would come and pick it up. However, due to budget constraints, no one was available.

The girl's father, Thomas Holmes, says he understands the city's financial concerns, but feels an exception should be made when it involves something dangerous. "I know those dogs aren't good to have around. When something like this happens, they should come and get those dogs so nothing like this can happen. That is something she didn't need to go through," Holmes said.

Warren Police Chief John Mandopolis says the animal control officer is normally given permission to come out on overtime when vicious dogs are involved. He says he's not sure why that didn't happen on Saturday.

[GoldStandard]

"nor do I want to ban pit bulls. They can be kept in zoos next to other wild, vicious and undomesticated animals"

Yeah, that's gonna happen.

Let's ban everything that can kill anyone!

[GoldStandard]

It’s still around a dozen deaths a year. Hardly an epidemic worthy off the irrational hysteria that surrounds it.

[kanawa]

I have been told, repeatedly, that attacks like this are rare.

You are today's winner of a free copy of....

Thanks for playing and please come again.

[kanawa]

“I have seen 5 stories this week on Pit Bull maulings.
Please show me the 5 stories of Collie maulings you have seen this week.”

Can’t do that...
but I can tell you I provided Chet with two links this week.
One of a mauling and the other a death.
He has so far refused to post them.

If you rely on the media or FR
for even handed reporting of dog attacks
you will be disappointed.

[kanawa]

A dozen deaths by pit bull mauling is a dozen deaths too many.

One death by any dog is one death too many.

[kanawa]

Here’s an update just came in of another attack Chet99 never posted....

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12047662?nclick_check=1

[uncommonsense]

No, not touchy. Your post focused on Merritt Clifton as a "kook" and you sounded pretty condescending with your comments:

"Here is a sample of your "expert's" thought..."
"You do no service to yourself nor your 'cause' by using him as reference."

You said there are "more accurate, unbiased and reputable sources out there", then didn't provide a single source. So, your goal is to discredit, not educate, and after seeing your dog, it connects the dots for me. I said some things about your breed that you didn't like, but had no defense for, so attack the messenger.

The numbers in the Clifton report are what I was focused on, not the man. He doesn't seem to know a lot about dog breeds, but he collected data, I think as best as he could, over a long period of time.

My family had had up to 23 dogs at a time. My dad for some stupid reason bought a giant Alaskan Malamute. It was essentially a super-strong wolf and escape artist. It didn't matter how we tried, the only thing that could keep it home was a totally enclosed pen with a cement floor. That sucks for a dog. Dogs get out and they get into trouble.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I witnessed a spectacle involving a Pit chasing a horse on a beach. I have never in my life seen an animal take the punishment that the Pit did. Direct, full-force rear leg kicks from a large horse to its head and body - not so much as a yelp from the Pit. Maybe your Pit will never get away from you and will never even nip at another dog, but the sad truth is that mistakes handling these indestructible dogs have far greater consequences then the average dog. Our Malamute was about 120 lbs and was supposed to be able to pull 2,000 lbs. on ice. It's a wolf. There's no way the Malamute would have a chance against the Pit Bull I saw on the beach!

Cesar Millan's opinion:

"I deal with a lot of red zone cases, and I often hear people incorrectly blaming the breed. Any breed can cause trouble. The difference between an aggressive Chihuahua and an aggressive pit bull is that the bigger breeds can cause proportionately bigger damage. It is important to recognize the power of a strong breed, like the pit bull, the Cane Corso, and the Mastiff. These dogs are very powerful and, if they are unbalanced, they can cause serious injury."

Here's something I found on The Discovery Channel: http://blogs.discovery.com/news_animal/2008/06/the-most-and-le.html

" This data comes from owner-reported interactions? That's about as useless as Clifton Merritt's use of newspaper articles. Could we possibly get a little actual science with our, you know, "science" article?"

"Hi Emily,
The researchers conducted two independent surveys and each resulted in nearly identical data.
They also address your concerns at length in the study, as many other such reports have relied upon dog bite statistics. They argue that such statistics are misleading because:
a. most dog bites go unreported unless medical attention is sought
b. the total number of dogs of a given breed in the local community is seldom known, so the degree to which that breed is over-represented among reported dog bites is usually undetermined
c. in many cases the breed of dog involved cannot be verified
Also, it's important to note that the study has been accepted for publication in the peer reviewed journal Applied Animal Behavior Science. It will be interesting to see what other studies—using this method or perhaps something else—will determine.
Jen"

[Shyla]

ANY animal is capable of of distruction.

It is the OWNERS that make an animal what the animal is on the major part.

I have two pure wolves, was out there today. I got my face licked.

We take great care of our animals.

Idiot owners make idiot pets.

[Shyla]

A dozen deaths by pit bull mauling is a dozen deaths too many.

______________

I agree.

My animals have always been raised in love and respect.

Years ago, the paperboy kept saying that my dog, Bridey always tried to bite hime.

I was in HS at the time. I hid an watched him come to the house when Bridey was on her chain. He would walk up and kick her.

I called the newspaper office and complained. he was off the route. After that, neighbors mentioned the same thing happening.

Kid was brought up without animals and was afraid or evil.

[savedbygrace]

OK, so you’re confirming my suspicion. You believe a mauling is acceptable, as long as nobody dies.

That’s a detestable POV.

Since you so well versed in the stats, how many mailings do Pit Bulls do each year?

Have any of YOUR children ever been mauled?

[kanawa]

You said there are "more accurate, unbiased and reputable sources out there", then didn't provide a single source. So, your goal is to discredit, not educate, and after seeing your dog, it connects the dots for me. I said some things about your breed that you didn't like, but had no defense for, so attack the messenger

You have a nice day

[TASMANIANRED]

Dog was outside and dad brought it inside...

Kids doesn’t stand a chance.

[Shyla]

Know anything about the Warren area?

Hey, hugs to you.

These threads kill me. Some areas are well, bad....

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Some info :

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6.j_dJJhAYBuLlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzNGlvamNmBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0gyOThfMTM0/SIG=120nt9kkq/EXP=1238650659/**http%3a//www.dogsbite.org/victim-realities.htm

” Studies show that two breeds account for nearly 70% of bites that end in death and serious injury.”
~~~
Other sites say 2-3% commit 65% of K-9 homicides/maulings.
Guess what breed...
~~~
Then there is the cost :

” If hospitalization was required after the attack, the victim can expect to stay 3.6 days4 in emergency care. If surgery was required — as it often is for attacks that involve facial and bone injuries — a victim's first night in care can easily reach 20 thousand dollars. “

FWIW...

[Ditter]

I have always raised my dogs gently and with love too, and a couple of them turned out to be mean biters in spite of that. Some dogs are mean because their parents were mean.

[Shyla]

I am not sure if I agree with that but not knowing the history means alot. There are time when you just do not have a good animal. I have been fortunate.

I have two little midget house dogs. Got the first when my daughter was little. I always blew into her face (just knowing what a kid would do) it has no effect on her, but she kisses back. Stuff like that makes a HUGE differnce when it comes to pets and little kids.

[Shyla]

Line breeding? That may be why.

Though some are just, well, the way they are.

[TASMANIANRED]

I don’t know anything about Warren.

I hate to hear about kids getting hurt period, but especially by dogs.

Hugs to you too.

[Shyla]

A “tougher” area.

Thinking fighter animals.

[Ditter]

The first mean dog was a Westie. I bought him from a breeder, they brought the puppy out and said the others are sold, neither would they let me see the parents. That is a bad sign but I was young and wanted the dog. Our boys were little at the time and when they tried to love the dog he would bite them. When he was about 2 years old he went next door and attacked a cow. the cow stomped him to death. Saved me the trouble of putting him down.

Years later I bought a Jack Russel from a breeder in Olympia Washington. We flew there from Houston. Same deal, didn't let me see any of the adult dogs, I fell for it again. Brought home the dog, 6 weeks old. he slept under the covers at my feet his whole life. Bit his first child when he was 6 months old, got worse as he got older. Finally when he was 13 he was so out of control I had to put him down.

I have had 15 Jack Russels in the last 18 years and never had a bad one since. I have had lots of other dogs during the same time and none of them have been mean.
There ARE bad dogs that were never mistreated.