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Wednesday, September 5, 2012


2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Trotwood Senior Citizen Killed by Own Dogs

Son Speaks Out
UPDATE 09/05/12: In a new troubling update, the victim's son, Joe Jurgens, said he does not believe the coroner who determined the cause of death was multiple puncture wounds to the head and neck due to dog bites. "I don't believe that's what happened," Jurgens said. "I don't know what happened ... I'd feel a little better if I really knew, but I do not believe those dogs attacked her out of aggression ... I can't imagine, even fathom, that [these dogs] would attack and kill her."1

09/05/12: Victim "Lived" for the Dogs
In a troubling update, it is learned that the elderly Trotwood couple began raising the pair of cane corsos from puppies two-and-a-half years ago.2 The victim's husband, Carl Jurgens, said his wife lived for those dogs, "from the day they were born until Saturday." Dawn Jurgens, 76, suffered major injuries to her face and scalp as well as bite wounds to her arm, according to police. It was Carl who discovered her body. At the request of the family, both dogs were put down.

09/05/12: Woman Killed by Own Dogs
Trotwood, OH - In a developing story, Trotwood police say that 75-year old Dawn Juergens was attacked and killed Saturday by her own dogs at her Union Road home. Officers described the dogs, presumably two canines, as cane corsos -- a Molosser type dog, often infected with fighting bloodlines. Her husband discovered her in the yard after he returned home. According to police, no one witnessed the attack. More information is expected in the coroner's report.

Related video

1Denial: It's not just a river in Egypt.
2An elderly couple raising two cane corsos is a disaster waiting to unfold.

Related articles:
08/17/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Chicago Man Killed by Pit Bull(s) in His Home
07/11/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Avondale Man Mauled to Death by Pit Bull-Type Dog
05/08/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Pet Pit Bull Kills 74-Year Old Santa Fe Man

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10 comments:

Blogger Your Quiet Neighbor  |  9/05/2012 11:42 AM  |  Flag  
How's that BSL ban working out for you, Ohio?

Blogger DubV  |  9/05/2012 12:33 PM  |  Flag  
I've read that the Cane Corso was almost extinct by the 70s and then recreated by cross-breeding. Is this true? Anyone have information on what was crossed in?

Blogger Putme Incharge  |  9/05/2012 1:39 PM  |  Flag  
I am seeing more and more Cane Corsos and starting to see puppies offered on Craiglist in my area.

Just last night when I saw the ad for the puppies I thought to myself- we are going to start seeing this dog appear in headlines.

Blogger bitbypit  |  9/05/2012 2:48 PM  |  Flag  
Sometime ago, we did some looking into this. The below website seemed to have decent information:
http://molosserdogs.com/m/articles/view/1395-american-cane-corso
http://molosserdogs.com/m/articles/view/842-cane-corso-italiano

The Italiano was only recognized by the AKC in 2010.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/cane_corso/index.cfm

Blogger april 29  |  9/05/2012 8:32 PM  |  Flag  
The following is a quote from the Toledo Blade, dated 5/23/2012. The title of the article was "Change in law takes effect on vicious dogs."

"Jean Keating, co-founder of Lucas County Pit Crew, said the law change means that "we no longer discriminate based on physical appearance in our Ohio Revised Code. Perhaps now we can move forward with educating people about why dogs bite and how to stay safe around dogs."

I wonder when this "education" might begin. There have been 3 dog bite related fatalities in Ohio since the bill was passed in February. Looks to me like the Lucas County Pit Crew is way behind on this.

Blogger Garnet  |  9/05/2012 9:55 PM  |  Flag  
"I am seeing more and more Cane Corsos and starting to see puppies offered on Craiglist in my area."

Yes, those and the similar Presa Canario. I've also seen the latter type show up in stories about severe dog bites or fatalities.

It's freaky the way breeders are promoting and selling these fighting dog breeds as pets. I'd really like to know who on earth adopted the two Cane Corsos to this couple. Do they know what happened? Are they going to stop breeding these dangerous dogs?

Blogger Your Quiet Neighbor  |  9/06/2012 7:42 AM  |  Flag  
I have a relative who lives for her dogs. It's sad in a way. She's sacrificed a lot of human relationships in favor of her bond with the various dogs she's had over the years.

Which leads me to conclude that dog ownership isn't always a healthy thing. I think that too many people use dogs as a way of avoiding their difficulties in dealing with other people.

Add to this trouble a dangerous dog, and you have a recipe for tragedy. Sorry, but you can't love a dangerous dog out of its tendencies. It's not misunderstood or abused. It simply is what it is.

Blogger Putme Incharge  |  9/06/2012 6:19 PM  |  Flag  
The son thinks it was something other then the dogs.

Coyotes perhaps?

Maybe his mom fell off a ladder while in the backyard, and the ladder just disappered....

Maybe it was Freddy Kruger.

What other great all time excuses am I missing here that will no doubt be used in some comment section somewhere.

How does someone live 70+ years and think buying and raising TWO Cane Corsos is a good idea.

I am glad the dogs were taken care of before the son got involved.

Blogger Your Quiet Neighbor  |  9/07/2012 6:17 AM  |  Flag  
@Putme Incharge said: "How does someone live 70+ years and think buying and raising TWO Cane Corsos is a good idea."

To which I say:

I know from personal experience that "dog people" can and do such things. Why? Because a Cane Corso is just a poor widdle fur-baby that needs love.

Never mind the fact that said baby has been bred to be aggressive. Or that it's a big dog that would a fit adult in his or her prime would have trouble handling.

It's a DOGGIE. Nothing else matters. And I do mean nothing.

Blogger Putme Incharge  |  9/08/2012 10:23 AM  |  Flag  
Your Quiet Neighbor- good point. You can love all genetic traits out of a dog.

Their son made a comment that I found very telling-"They used to walk through the woods with her - they protected her," Jurgens said. "I can't imagine, even fathom, that they would attack and kill her

I can not tell you how many alleged dog people misconstrue a dogs weak/poor temperament as "protection" and intead of trying to deal with the issue they cultivate it. Those dogs were not protecting her at any point, they were showing prey drive and were directing it at whatever they wanted to. On the day of this womans death they directed their prey drive on her.

In my opinion the only dog who should protect its owner is a dog who has been specifically trained in personal protection.

Its my job to protect my dogs, not their job to protect me. Of course I have mentally stable dogs who have been bred to be human companions for generations, not bred to attack and kill other animals.



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