Mother, boyfriend, arrested in dog attack on child [Pit Bull Alert]

AP ^ | 9-18-03 | AP

[ambrose]

The Associated Press

Thursday September 18, 2003, 03:55:09 PM

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A mother and her boyfriend were arrested Thursday on felony child endangerment charges after a young boy was mauled by a pair of pit bulls in the family's backyard.

Issac Guerrero was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition after the Friday attack. The 2-year-old was in serious condition Thursday at Children's Hospital Central California in Madera, hospital officials said.

Vanessa Cruz, 22, and Anthony Zapaleta, 23, were arrested at the hospital while visiting the child. Both face felony child endangerment charges. Police said the boy was left home alone Friday morning while his mother drove her boyfriend to work. The dogs were in the backyard.

"The child was able to navigate his way out through the backdoor and into the backyard where the attack took place," said Commander Steve Del Tour of the Kern County Sheriff's Department.

"There were two pit bulls. One had hold of the child' head and the other one had his feet," Del Tour said. "The officer that was the first responder thought he'd been hit by a car."

Del Tour said a neighbor heard the boy screaming and "at great peril to himself, jumped the fence and rescued the child."

The boy suffered severe bite wounds to his head.

The dogs will be held in quarantine for 10 days before being euthanized.

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"The Dog of Peace"

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"The Dog of Peace"

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"There were two pit bulls. One had hold of the child' head and the other one had his feet," Del Tour said. "The officer that was the first responder thought he'd been hit by a car."

[Thinkin' Gal]

Palestinians of the dog world ping.

[calljack]

Here come the pit bull defenders to save the much maligned reputation of the "Peaceful dog of peace who would never hurt anybody if only they were properly trained."

[KineticKitty]

Here come the pit bull defenders to save the much maligned reputation of the "Peaceful dog of peace who would never hurt anybody if only they were properly trained."

It's amazing isn't it?

[Gritty]

It's all the owner's fault.

Everybody knows pit bulls are sweet, gentle animals and it is the owner who needs to be euthanised!

In fact, that's not a bad idea.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Precious, misunderstood loving pets of peace, so good with children.

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ping

[metalcor]

2/3 of all fatalities due to dog attack have been attributed to pit bulls or rottweilers. But that is because they have the worst owners, not because they were bred for fighting and biting.

Give those same owners a Golden Retriever and you would have vicious mauler who would at least bring the victims appendages back to its owner, making reattachment a possibility.

[ambrose]

"There were two pit bulls. One had hold of the child' head and the other one had his feet," Del Tour said. "The officer that was the first responder thought he'd been hit by a car."

I love how the pitbull apologists say "my cousin's sister's nephew's aunt's bestfriend was once bit by a lab"...

Ever hear of a lab tearing a child to bits like it were a chew toy?

[ambrose]

Give those same owners a Golden Retriever and you would have vicious mauler who would at least bring the victims appendages back to its owner, making reattachment a possibility.

That isn't true. A Golden Retriever simply does not have anywhere near the jaw strength of a pitbull. They don't have lockjaws either.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I'm here. I can only speak from my experience. What is your experience with being around pit bulls?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

My mom was bit by a little sh-teater dog one time. My mom was the third person bit by it. She was also the last because it was put to sleep after it bit my mom.

[metalcor]

Was kidding, of course. But if you have played tug of war with a big Golden, you know they could rip your arm off and play fetch with it if they were so inclined. Haven't ever heard of it happening, but it would be physically possible.

[metalcor]

I can testify to this--My first experience was having a friends 10 year old mauled and put in the hospital where he received over 100 stitches, most on his face. His friend's dear family pet pit bull was the perpetrator.
My second was seeing a pit bull who was on a leash, break loose from his owner owner and tear a kitten away from some little girls in my front yard. After tearing the kitten to shreds he went ofter my daughter. I killed him with a pry bar that was in my truck. Other than that I have no personal experience with the beasts.

[TheBattman]

Just goes to show that some people lack the sense of responsibility and even common sense to be a parent. This child likely would have been far better off had he been put up for adoption.

The fact that a 2 year old was left home alone was bad enough. That the child was attacked by her own pit-bull dogs just caps it. I believe it's time for some new parents for this poor child.

Did the police search the home for drugs? Probably should have....

[Hoof Hearted]

It is not true that "pitbulls" have locking jaws - no dog has locking jaws...pure hysterical hype

[altura]

I continue to be amazed at the pit bull defenders.

I think they get the dogs to begin with because it gives them a vicarious macho feeling to own a scary dog.

Then they feel called upon to defend their choice.

I have a 90 pound black lab who could drown you with slobber but that is about his worst.

He could definitely do damage if he were so inclined; but he is NOT so inclined.

Pit Bulls are, or have the potential of being killers and only the demented would defend ownership of one.