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2007 Dog Bite Fatality: Tori Whitehurst, Killed by American Bulldog

Killed by Family Dog
Phoenix, AZ - 4-year-old Tori Whitehurst was playing in her backyard when the family's American bulldog, Kane, suddenly attacked killed her. The attack occurred at the family's rural home near Happy Valley Road. Authorities say the dog grabbed the girl's arm first then bit her neck. Tori died in a medical helicopter en route to the hospital.

Both parents were at work at the time of the attack. A 59-year-old, live-in nanny was watching Tori and her older sister. Dani During, a family friend, says the nanny went inside for a couple of minutes when the dog attacked. The nanny tried to break up the attack by stabbing the dog with scissors and hitting him with a pool cue. Neither worked.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says deputies arrived approximately 10 minutes after the 911 call. They saw the dog lying next to the fatally wounded child. When the dog became aggressive toward the deputies, the sheriff says they tased the animal, which did nothing. So they shot it seven times, which finally killed it.

Kane was surrendered to the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) in March of 2007 and adopted to an unnamed person the next month. This person allegedly gave the dog to the Whitehurst's in June. The AHS does not know how Kane ended up with Tori's family. They report that when Kane left their facility, "he was fully evaluated by three behaviorists and showed no sign of aggression."

Somehow, in a period of 6 months, the dog went clinically insane.

Related article:
11/06/07: Arizona Humane Society Statement

Labels: 2007 Dog Bite Fatality, American Bulldog, Arizona