Coral Springs mother of two savaged by her 120-pound pet (dog)

South Florida Sun-Sentinel ^ | Posted August 19 2006 | By Robert Nolin, Sallie James and Jennifer Gollan

[Fawn]

CORAL SPRINGS · A burly exotic guard dog, one of several that frightened residents of an upscale neighborhood in recent days, ferociously mauled and killed its owner Friday afternoon, apparently in sight of the woman's young daughter.

Police said they found the dog, a Presa Canario named Zino, in the backyard of a home in the 9000 block of the Northwest 39th Court in The Hills neighborhood. It was standing over the body of the mother of two.

[mdmathis6]

The article says it was

[johnny7]

...one bad-ass dog.

[Fawn]

That is not a country atmosphere in Coral Springs...hard to believe people would buy such a large dog like that in such a populated community.

[beezdotcom]

I, for the life of me, will never, ever understand why people can accept that shepherding, swimming, pointing, and hunting can be part of a dog's genetic makeup but fighting isn't.

A most salient point, that seems to be overlooked by defenders of various breeds. If people want one of those dogs, they should at LEAST acknowledge this point.

[NewCenturions]

Sorry, I couldn't link properly to the article (ancient computer)

[Fawn]

what is the fascination?

Power? Knowing their dog can kill on a whim.

[King Moonracer]

Probably. After the Dianne Whipple murder, it was found that drug dealers like these happy little pups. Also, people who can't control their own dogs are playing Russian Roulette, with themselves, their families, and their neighbors.

[Publius6961]

Isn't that the same breed of dog that killed the woman in San Francisco a few years ago?

Exactly.
But since I am convinced that 25% of the general public is insane, there are some discussions I totaly avoid.

[Sooth2222]

The convicted criminal living in the $800,000 house next door owns a vicious guard dog.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest that it's possible that they owned dogs for a variety of functional reasons, not for amusement.

[1rudeboy]

2006 Darwin candidate?

Not eligible.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

From WIKI

Temperament

The Presa Canario breed is known for its calm temperament, which is often referred to as the "island temperament." It is considered "gentle and noble" with the family, and distrusting of strangers. The Presa Canario forms a strong bond with its master and human family and can be very protective. The breed is intelligent and is known to possess a "severe gaze." It is also known to do well with children. Yet, a Presa Canario attacked and killed its owner in Florida on Aug. 18, 2006, and had to be shot by police. (Sun Sentinel Newspaper report)

Despite its one-time notoriety, the Presa Canario is not a breed known for its man-aggression.

---

Who writes this stuff?

Oh, yeah...anyone can.

[sweet_diane]

"Isn't that the same breed of dog that killed the woman in San Francisco a few years ago?"

From the article...

"They almost went extinct in the 1950s, but were perpetuated through breeding with mastiffs. A Presa Canario gained notoriety in January 2001, when it savagely killed a San Francisco woman. Its owner was sentenced to four years in prison."

The homeowner (the attacked boyfriend) was put on probation in 2003, is now a landscaper who can afford an $800,000 home. Have to wonder what exactly he might be growing or cooking...ya know?

[Mr Rogers]

DANG!

Even here, the 'cycle of violence' BS gets pushed!

"In most cases, fear in dogs is a very common cause of aggression," Rodgers said. "The owner could have been disciplining it or using punishment that caused aggression to escalate."

I'm guessing the dog was a Muslim upset about the loss of Spain.

Still, horrific as it was ("Blood was smeared on bricks by the pool, as well as a side door, through which Willey may have tried to escape"), I'm glad it was the owner who died and not the neighbor's kids.

[Fawn]

the woman, identified by neighbors as Shawna Willey, 30......Willey's daughter, identified by a neighbor as 8-year-old Tyra, ...... Willey also had a son, a 14-year-old middle school student named Trey

She was 16? Young mother

[Fawn]

...Another dog-related fatality occurred last month in Osceola County south of Orlando, when a man, 81, died after being mauled by two pit bulls.

Missed this one. Is it so common they don't even print it anymore? Will have to hunt for it now....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That animal would last one day near my home.

[bboop]

"I'm glad it was the owner who died." Exactly! Her kids could have been eaten, instead. Or a neighbor. Sad but well-earned Darwinian reward.

[Fawn]

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - A burly exotic guard dog, one of several that frightened residents of an upscale neighborhood in recent days, ferociously mauled and killed its owner Friday afternoon, apparently in sight of the woman's young daughter.

Police said they found the dog, a Presa Canario named Zino, in the backyard of a home. It was standing over the body of the mother of two.

"It looked like she had lacerations all over her body," police Capt. Rich Nicorvo said of the woman, identified by neighbors as Shawna Willey, 30. "It was quite surreal. There was quite a lot of blood."

The blackish gray dog, a leash still around its neck, reacted aggressively when officers entered the backyard, so they shot and killed it, Nicorvo said. The animal either fell or jumped into the pool and sank.

The 120-pound dog tore into Willey, in shorts and top, when she was bathing it in preparation for a family vacation this weekend, Nicorvo said. "Obviously something set him off," he said.

Willey's daughter, identified by a neighbor as 8-year-old Tyra, apparently witnessed the attack. "The daughter went to a neighbor and said the dog was attacking her mom," Nicorvo said.

Blood was smeared on bricks by the pool, as well as a side door, through which Willey may have tried to escape. She may also have grasped a roof gutter, which was tilted downward, in a desperate attempt to flee, but Nicorvo said police couldn't be sure.

Nicorvo couldn't recall such an attack in 21 years on the force.

Neighbor Paul Previtz, 17, said Willey also had a son, a 14-year-old middle school student named Trey.

Court records show Willey has had several citations for owning a vicious dog, allowing a dog at large, and failing to have proper registration and vaccination papers. The citations, which resulted in fines totaling thousands of dollars, occurred in Tampa and dated to 2000.

John Faiella, a friend of Willey's, said he was sickened. "This is horrible," he said. "She was really beautiful."

Property records show the $800,000 home is owned by Lazaro Rivero, a landscaper who police said was Willey's boyfriend. Rivero, 38, identified Willey's body, officers said. Two other dogs of unknown breed were in the home at the time. They were turned over to the Coral Springs Police Humane Unit, and Rivero will decide their fate, Nicorvo said.

Willey's body will undergo an autopsy. Nicorvo said animal control officers hadn't decided whether Zino will be examined for rabies or other afflictions.

Neighbors said the family had moved to the area within the past year. Recently, their dogs had been seen roaming wild. "A week ago, they were running through our backyard. They looked like two pit bulls," said Dawn Phillips, 44.

"Their dogs were out a lot and barked a lot," said Lou Righi, 54. "I was afraid because they were large and they looked mean. They were spooky."

The backyard of Rivero's peach-colored home was bordered by a canal and fence. All windows were either sealed with hurricane shutters or interior shutters. The Presa Canario was originally bred for fighting and guarding in the Canary Islands. They nearly went extinct in the 1950s, but were perpetuated through breeding with mastiffs.

A Presa Canario gained notoriety in January 2001, when it savagely killed a San Francisco woman. Its owner was sentenced to four years in prison.

While Hillsborough County cited Willey numerous times on dog-related charges, Nicorvo said her record here appeared clear. Court records show Rivero has several convictions from Miami-Dade County dating to 1986, including grand larceny and burglary. He was sentenced to five years' probation in 2003 after pleading no contest to a robbery charge. He and Willey's children went to an undisclosed location after the attack, Nicorvo said.

Another dog-related fatality occurred last month in Osceola County south of Orlando, when an 81-year-old man died after being mauled by two pit bulls.

What causes dogs to turn on humans is often unclear, said Stephanie Rodgers, Broward County's director of animal care and behavior. The animal may be acting out of provocation, or even have some form of sickness, such as a brain tumor. Guard dogs, such as the Presa Canario, may have natural aggressive tendencies amplified through training.

"In most cases, fear in dogs is a very common cause of aggression," Rodgers said. "The owner could have been disciplining it or using punishment that caused aggression to escalate."

Rodgers said Willey's earlier brushes with the law over dogs indicated a problem. "If there are ... citation for a vicious dog, obviously it falls on the owner's shoulders," she said. "She could have had a dog that was a high risk pet and put herself in harm's way."

---

[houeto]

The article also states that the attack apparently happened in front of the woman's little girl.

Growing up, my dad had a German Shepard named Colonel. I loved that dog and he loved me. On several occasions Dad tried to discipline me in front of Colonel. He would have none of it. I believe he would have killed Dad if he'd have whipped me while Colonel was there.

Dad got rid of the dog for that very reason. Maybe the woman went to spank the girl for something. Just a guess.

[elfman2]

"Court records show Willey has had several citations for owning a vicious dog, allowing a dog at large, and failing to have proper registration and vaccination papers. The citations, which resulted in fines totaling thousands of dollars, occurred in Tampa and dated to 2000….

Neighbors said the family had moved to the area within the past year. Recently, their dogs had been seen roaming wild. "A week ago, they were running through our backyard. They looked like two pit bulls," said Dawn Phillips, 44.

"Their dogs were out a lot and barked a lot," said Lou Righi, 54. "I was afraid because they were large and they looked mean. They were spooky."…

The Presa Canario was originally bred for fighting and guarding in the Canary Islands. They almost went extinct in the 1950s, but were perpetuated through breeding with mastiffs. A Presa Canario gained notoriety in January 2001, when it savagely killed a San Francisco woman. Its owner was sentenced to four years in prison."

Such a sweet looking breed. I don’t have a lot of sympathy. The kids are probably better off without a mom who’d have the freak as a pet.