Elderly Orange woman's arms amputated following pit bull mauling

mercury news ^ | 2-16-04 | N/A

[EggsAckley]

ORANGE, Calif. - A 91-year-old woman who was mauled by a pit bull remained in critical condition Monday with both arms amputated at the elbow, officials said.

Ruby Sharum was attacked late Friday night by a pit bull owned by her great-grandson and was being treated at UCI Medical Center. The pit bull, named Zion, was euthanized Saturday by county animal officials.

Next-door neighbor Shelbi Moore said Sharum's granddaughter pounded on her door, screaming that her grandmother was being attacked. Moore said she walked into her neighbor's kitchen after calling 911 and saw the pit bull hovering over the elderly woman with blood stains on the floor.

"I was terrified," Moore said. "I had always thought that dog might hurt somebody." Sharum and her granddaughter were putting away groceries about 10 p.m. Friday when the dog growled and then lunged at Sharum.

The pit bull's owner has another dog, a Rottweiler, that was impounded at a county facility until officials can determine if it took part in the attack, said Pat Markley, a spokeswoman for Orange County Animal Care Services.

The owner does not want the Rottweiler euthanized, Markley said. Moore said she had called Animal Care Services at least 10 times in the past year because she and her two young daughters feared Zion.

County animal-care workers checked on the dogs numerous times over the past six months due to reports that they were loose, barking or fighting with each other, Markley said.

A third dog that lived at the home, also a pit bull, was put to sleep a few weeks ago after being injured in a fight with Zion, Markley said. There were no prior records of any of the dogs biting a human before Friday's attack, Markley said.

"It's really an unfortunate, tragic incident," Markley said. "Pet owners need to watch their animal's temperament not just for their own family, but for their neighbors."

[Khurkris]

Woman lives in the City of Orange in Orange county California.

I have the same reaction many times a week when I see it used this way. I also slip sometimes and wonder if its a story about Ireland.

Terrible trajedy involving pit bull attacks again.

[tiamat]

The gun is very unlikely to jump a fence and attack someone without it's owner's knowledge/command etc without provocation...... pits go off "half-cocked" all of the time!

[tiamat]

You and I have talked about this before. We are in agreement.

[liberty or death]

Agreed,
All of these dog breeds that runs free around my family, soon disappear. People can argue to defend them all day but I won't debate it.

[ClearCase_guy]

A third dog that lived at the home, also a pit bull, was put to sleep a few weeks ago after being injured in a fight with Zion

Uh huh. That's what happened. It's not like there was any organized dog fighting going on. Nosiree. It's not like Zion was trained to be a blood-thirsty killer. Who would do that??

Having said that (and who owns 2 pit bulls and a rottweiler??)I'll just add that this is a horrid breed and even if not trained for fighting, they are far too aggressive to be a pet. Extinction was good for the Mollossian Mastiff and its good for these suckas.

[EggsAckley]

I agree. Haven't heard of the Mollossian Mastiffs, but even the name sounds formidable. Heheheh.
The problem is the PEOPLE who want these vicious breeds. They will defend them over and over.

[oceanperch]

A couple of kids 20ish were making fun of my boys/labs parked in the car next to theirs as their Pit Bulls were chomping at the car window barking at my boys and my boys got rather bored. Then they put the 18 month old baby in the back seat and drove away. Shudder.

OK OK BRAG TIME
It's A Boy
Address:http://community-2.webtv.net/YaquinaBay/LangleyPortar/

[MineralMan]

"Substitute "guns" for "pit bull" and you have the liberal argument for gun control.
"

Nonsense! Guns cannot attack anyone on their own. Pit bulls can, and do, with considerable regularity. For a while, someone was posting a daily story about a pit bull attack, until the Admin folks started moving all such stories to chat. Now only the most heinous stories get posted.

Firearms are harmless unless they are used by a human being. Pit bulls act on their own. There is no comparison, and your argument diminishes the RKBA.

[TexasCajun]

Anyone interested in a pedigree white lab? Male & Bitch have AKC papers. Litter of 12, all white, I forget the number of males and females. 3 weeks old. Still have males and females.

Thought I'd pass along the info for my brother in Lafayette, Louisiana.

[oceanperch]

You wrote:
I've only known thugs and dope-dealers to own pits. They are bred to be mindlessly agressive and the world would be a better place without them.

---

The thugs or the dogs? : )

[BUCKSBUD]

NO ONE HAS DIED YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EggsAckley]

Arrgghh......right now I'm trying desperately to GET RID OF a six year old female black lab who is untrainable and bull headed. I "inherited" her when my friend died; seemed like a sign of respect to take the mutt, but after nine months of her breaking down fences and screen doors I've had it. She's worthless. Want her?????? </;o)

[tiamat]

Take your pick! I'm easy! LOL! ;-)

[oceanperch]

too late

[tiamat]

Have you tried obedience school?

I did it with out dog way back when ( half sheltie, half shephard....) Made her the most POLITE puppy, and NEVer broke her spirit!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

This is sad. But I'll be very lucky to live long enough for my great-grandson's pet to maul me.

[EggsAckley]

This dog is beyond obedience school and frankly I don't like her enough to even bother. Fortunately my friend's grandson is finding a home for her. Normally I wouldn't give up, but this creature (85 pounds) is IMPOSSIBLE.

[sweetliberty]

"The owner should be charged with manslaughter - or negligent homicide"

Kinda hard to charge someone with killing someone who isn't dead.

[EggsAckley]

Something to look forward to.......?
</;o)

[LizardQueen]

Wow, what a cutie! I love baby Labs, they've got the cutest feet, too.

My girl will be 11 in April. Still enjoys life but the age is starting to show....

LQ