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Flashback: Cody Yelton 3-Years Old, Loses Arm in Pit Bull Attack

Child Pulled Through 2 Fences
Moore, OK - On June 12, 2005, a 3-year old boy was brutally attacked by his neighbor's 4 pit bulls. Officials think Cody reached through a chain-link fence in his yard to pet the dogs. The dogs clamped onto the boy's arm and ripped him through two fences -- one chain-link, the other stockade. Cody was flown to Children's Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where his left arm was amputated. Chris Yelton, 24, the boy's father, was also severely bitten in the attack.

The owner of the dogs, David Capp, allowed the city to put the four dogs down. After the attack, KOCO news reported that Capp expressed remorse about the incident. But Yelton's father, Chris Yelton, said Capps' behavior has been different in the days since the interview aired. "There's a couple of times he's cursed us out, and he flipped me off several times. He shows no remorse toward it. He hasn't even sent a card. That makes me really, really angry."

Moore city officials said that under current laws, no citation could be issued against the owner of the dogs, David Capp. 6 months later, State Representative Paul Wesselhoft (also of Moore) introduces statewide legislation that would require pit bull owners to build childproof, 8-foot-high fences; spay or neuter existing pit bulls; and carry a $100,000 liability insurance policy on each dog. The law, dubbed "Cody's law" ultimately does not succeed.

Note: This article was published on January 3, 2006, as State Rep. Wesselhoft announced his proposed law. On this same day, Cody Adair, 4-years old, is killed by his uncle's pit bull in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Related article:
09/22/08: Oklahoma: One State's Struggle with a Breed-Specific Prohibition