Posted on 04/21/2010 10:46:49 PM PDT by Chet 99
5-year-old mauled by pit bull in Hurricane
April 20, 2010
HURRICANE -- Many owners of American pit bull terriers say the dogs get a bad rap, that they can be as sweet as any other breed and can make great family pets. But if a pit bull attacks, one Utah mother says the results can be devastating.
A pit bull mauled Katie Weeks' 5-year-old daughter, Saleena Wickward, in Hurricane Monday night. The little girl is now recovering from reconstructive facial surgery.
"She's already asked her mom for a mirror, and we're waiting on that," Weeks says.
Right now, Saleena's face only resembles what she used to look like: swelling, stitches and staples consume her innocent face.
"I was so afraid to walk into that room and see my little girl because I just thought she would never look the same again," Weeks says.
But she says her daughter already looks better than she did right after the attack.
It happened Monday night in Hurricane around 5:30. Weeks says her daughter wandered to the next yard over to catch a caterpillar.
According to the dog owner, Saleena was throwing rocks at the pit bull. Then, it lunged at her face.
"The dog was on a chain, but he grabbed her and didn't let go," Weeks says.
The owner had to pry the jaws off of Saleena's head. Neighbors called 911.
Saleena stayed conscious while waiting for an ambulance.
"We got a towel and pushed the skin up against her, and just wrapped it around and held it there until 911 got there, and just rocked her and tried to comfort her the best we could," Weeks says.
At Dixie Regional Medical Center, the 5-year-old had six and a half hours of reconstructive surgery. Two plastic surgeons helped put Saleena's face back together.
Stitches go from the middle of her lip, to her nose and cheek, then around her ear. A plate and screw are stabilizing her fractured cheek.
Now, doctors and family members will have to wait to see if there's any nerve damage. In the meantime, weeks says her emotions are all over the place.
"Fear, hope, more prayers than I've ever said in my life," she says.
The dog owner didn't want to comment. Weeks doesn't place blame on the owner. She says the dog had played with her kids before.
Hurricane police say the pit bull is with animal control.
Yes. I did get a new dog and wanted Easter Recipes. We did not cook the dog, you will be happy to know. ;)
Such a common sense idea would never occure to djf or others like him...it would take more than IQ than is available to some....
Center mass is always best...
If Pit Bulls are banned I doubt the irresponsible owners of them will rush out to buy Chihuhuas, Yorkies, and such. I see them getting other large dogs that can be a lethal danger. That is why I say it is not about the breed but the owner.
I do think people should think about breed traits carefully before getting any dog. My daughter had neighbors with a border collie- the neighbors neglected the dog and it barked all the time and destroyed their property. The wife told my daughter the dog was getting agressive and she worried about it around her kids and wanted to give it away. My daughter brought it to a rancher friend of ours and he thinks this "horrible" dog is the best dog he ever owned. The dog is now cared for and gets the exercise it needed and it is doing great- doesn't bark, destroy things, and is not ever aggressive. The dog was bred to work livestock and that is what it gets to do now. Every breed has different needs and people need to consider that. Most don't though- most want whatever is popular in their area.
Raised 4 boys, probably older than you now....their only issues is with authority. Based on their military training records...still makes me chuckle..(only 2 of the 4 were military) but they had many years combined in the service..
No, that was Minny, whom Djinni _acts just like_.
Djinni, as a pup, never saw or was around any little girls.
Spooky, innit?
“Will have issues”?
Too late for *that*....:)
I’m smart enough to live somewhere that the government is smart enough *not* to build them.
Slapping “the projects” down in the middle of a bunch of crazy, gun totin’ hillbillies would *not* be wise, in the extreme.
“He does know how to push your buttons, and that’s what makes it funny..”
That’s odd...~he~ was the one doing all the Queen Gertrude-esque shrieking and backpedaling.
Who was truly pushing whose buttons?...:)
[and FYI, placing poisoned food out, *even* on one’s own property is considered “baiting” and ~is~ illegal]
Being a hillbilly is an honorable position in society...Have know quite a few.....they will protect your back if needed...:O)
Oddly enought I didn’t see and back peddeling by CM68. I guess its all in one’s prospective...some seem a little afraid of his honesty......
‘Some of those in government houseing are not afraid of some gun totin citizens, they are gang bangers with their own set of rules and laws...”
They wouldn’t last 5 minutes here.
We have no “rules” or “laws”.
Case in point, a “gang banger” passing through was stopped for speeding about 150 yards up the road from my house.
He got mouthy to the county sheriff, made a “fast move” that was interpreted as a threat and got his brains blown all over his girl friend and windshield.
Guns and drugs were found in his vehicle so it was ruled as justifiable.
The county sheriff [a female, no less] went back to work, no harm, no foul and no grief.
“Oddly enought I didn’t see and back peddeling by CM68”
Of course *you* wouldn’t.
“some seem a little afraid of his honesty......”
If he ever actually posts any, let us know.
You told me about your kids with the short names and your grandkids,please i beg you Chet99 is not kin,say in ain’t so...
When HarleyMama came home there was a young woman pushing
her little one in a stroller,,,
She was readin’ the thug the riot act for letting his dawgs
run loose,,,finger waggin’,,,pissed off Mom look!!!
Kept pointin’ at her dawg,,,The Funi ?,,,
She has a mastiff/pit/moose mix that she had on a chain leash
with a real choker spike/chain/? collar on him,,,
It must go about 100-130lbs,,,
Bwhaha,,,He got his ass chewed by Mom about Leash Law...;0)
Sounds like you have a good sheriff...
I Really don’t find these exchanges to be too interesting. So I guess I will just wish you a happy week end and hope the weather is great where you are..
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