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Monday, May 24, 2010


Natylee Murphy Update: Eight Months and 10 Surgeries After Brutal Pit Bull Attack

Natylee Murphy recovers from pit bull attackNatylee Murphy recovers from pit bull attackNatylee Murphy recovers from pit bull attackNatylee Murphy recovers from pit bull attack
Natylee Murphy seen eight months and 10 surgeries after the brutal pit bull attack.


Natylee Murphy before the attack and a week after at Memorial Herman Hospital.

Victim Slowly Healing
Shepherd, TX - Last September, DogsBite.org reported on the horrific pit bull attack involving 3-year old Natylee Murphy. In that blog post, we also wrote about the history of the Texas State anti-BSL law (HB 2065) that was passed in 1991 in order to prevent all future Texas municipalities from enacting pit bull laws. We also called out the sole remaining politically active co-sponsor of the 1991 legislation: State Senator Rodney Ellis who represents Harris County.

My Fox Houston recently published a follow up story on Natylee's condition, depicted in the first row of photos of this blog post. The attack occurred in Montgomery County, on September 10, 2009. Natylee's mother, Kortnie Murphy, initially did not believe her daughter would survive. Murphy told reporters, "The dog pretty much removed the left side of her face, slashed it in different spots. They (doctors) had to sew it back together in different places."

Natylee underwent 10 surgeries to repair the wounds. Today the left side of her face suffers from paralysis. Natylee will have surgery every six to nine months for the next ten years. Doctors hope to eventually make her smile whole again and remove signs of trauma. "They're hoping by the time she's 16 there will be just a little bitty line and that's it," Murphy said. The article also addresses the unseen scars suffered after a violent dog attack: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"She won't talk sometimes. She'll act like a baby. She'll have to wear a diaper, and she'll just pitch fits like out of this world," said Murphy.
The attack occurred while Natylee was visiting her aunt's home in New Caney. The offending pit bull named, Tank, was euthanized following the attack. No mention was given about the other two pit bills that the aunt's boyfriend had been breeding in the backyard at the time. Despite the horrible mauling and near death of a child, and the aunt being injured in the attack as well, the boyfriend refused to allow Animal Control officials seize the other two pit bulls.

DogsBite.org prays for Natylee's complete recovery.

Natylee Murphy Fund
To help the family pay daunting medical bills, donations can be made at City Savings Bank, 1-337-463-8661. The account number is 1885499.

Related articles:
05/03/10: Pit Bull Scalp Attack Victim, Brianna Watkins, Recuperating
09/17/10: 3-Year Old Girl Airlifted After Backyard Breeder's Pit Bull Attacks

Photos: MyFoxHouston.com

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6 comments:

Blogger 4truth  |  5/24/2010 11:53 AM  |  Flag  
I'll be praying for Natylee and her mom. I can't imagine how they both must still feel.

She's going to have to have surgeries until she's 16! This poor girl is going to suffer because of this injustice for her entire childhood!

This is unacceptable, the price of owning a pit bull is too high. How can her relatives even look at their dogs now? My guess is because they hold their dogs in higher regard than their own little niece. Disgusting.

Blogger Dark  |  5/24/2010 6:49 PM  |  Flag  
There's another effect of multiple surgeries like that. Anesthesia can permanently impair memory and brain function. I'm grateful that there was follow-up on this story. People need to see that the attack is only the beginning of suffering and that there are long-term consequences to these incidents. A pit attack is not a "dog bite". It is a concentrated, prolonged mauling like one would expect of a bear or a shark. My prayers are with this family for recovery and healing.

Blogger ItsATragedy  |  5/24/2010 8:04 PM  |  Flag  
I wish that Rodney Ellis and other legislators in Texas could explain why honest people and businesses must pay their taxes, but breeders of fighting dogs can run unlicensed breeding businesses, breed violent dogs that cost vast amounts of money and suffering to the state and those honest citizens, but those breeders are allowed to CHEAT ON THEIR TAXES? And keep breeding dogs that maul and kill people, and cost the taxpayers?

Blogger Josue  |  10/05/2010 1:44 PM  |  Flag  
I am one of the grandmothers of Natylee Murphy. I cannot begin to tell you what this little girl has gone through. She is in Pre K now and is doing good. She is still having a lot of nightmares as well as her aunt. Her mother has got to be the strongest person I know in this lifetime. I cannot stand to look at or talk about a pitt bull dog. You see it effects other family members as well. Natylee loves all dogs except pitts. She is an amazing little girl. She is strong willed and not afraid to tell you what happened to her or what she thinks. I have no doubt that the doctors will make her whole again with the help of the Good Lord above. For without him we are nothing. I pray for her everyday and that is all that we ask of anyone else. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Blogger april 29  |  10/05/2010 7:01 PM  |  Flag  
Josue, I am SO sorry about the physical and mental trauma to your lovely grandchild, and to your whole family. We all had the nightmares, none of us can look at a pit bull without that sick feeling in the pit of our stomach. I hope Natylee has received counseling, medication may help, a treatment called EMDR was very helpful to me. Natylee's aunt and her mother may benefit from treatment as well. I went through a very dark period after my attack, treatment by mental health professionals was VERY valuable. I did not require surgery, I can't imagine that part. Natylee is a very brave little girl. Your family remains in my prayers.

Anonymous Anonymous  |  11/30/2010 10:06 PM  |  Flag  
Pit bulls were bred to do this, to attack with the intention of killing. Just like herding instinct cannot be bred out of a collie, the killing instinct cannot be bred out of a pit bull. Many of them may seem very friendly and never appear aggressive, but as witnessed by many victims, they can snap in an instant. They should never have become family pets, and owners of pit bulls need to suck it up and admit their dog could become dangerous, and keep them away from small children and other pets. Many owners that have claimed their dog would never bite, that their pit bull protects their children and is faithful to the end, have had their dogs turn on them or their children. There have been too many young children like beautiful Natylee who have had their lives scarred, or taken away, by pit bulls. I personally have seen the sweetest pit bull I've ever known turn her teeth on her owner's arm after going into kill-drive. It happens too often. These are not dogs you can trust with your life.

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