James Hudson, 10-months old, was mauled to death by a family pit bull-mix.
Dog Euthanized
UPDATE 09/14/12: The dog that attacked and killed 10-month old James Hudson has been euthanized. Hertford Police Chief Douglas Freeman Jr. told The Virginian-Pilot on Friday that he has concluded an investigation into the boy's death and plans to meet with District Attorney Frank Parrish on Monday to determine whether to press charges. Freeman also added that despite conflicting reports, he and others he has consulted believe the dog was a pit bull-mix.
Hertford Police Chief Douglas Freeman Jr. said Friday that he has concluded an investigation into the incident and plans to meet with District Attorney Frank Parrish on Monday to determine whether to press charges.
The dog, believed to be a pit bull mix, attacked James Hudson just after 6 p.m. in his home on West Railroad Avenue. The family owned the dog. The baby's grandmother Terry Atkinsson was at the home with other children at the time of the attack. - Virginian-Pilot
09/12/12: More Information
WAVY.com reports that Hertford police officers were dispatched to the home on West Railroad Street Tuesday evening after a report of a child not breathing due to an animal bite. 10-month old James Hudson was taken to Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City where he later died from his injuries. According to Hertford Police Chief Douglas Freeman, Jr., the initial investigation shows the family's pit bull-mix attacked the child while under the care of the baby's grandmother.
The family dog, named Copper, attacked the baby while he was playing on the bed, according to the child's grandfather who was outside at the time of the incident. He said his wife tried to restrain the dog, but could not. The dog is currently being held at the Tri-County Animal Shelter. Employees at the shelter told WAVY.com that the dog was not a pit bull, but a "labrador-American bulldog mix" -- It is unclear where the original source of the breed mislabeling stems.1
An article from the Virginian-Pilot identifies the grandmother as Terry Atkinsson. The dog had previously bitten an older boy in the home in a separate incident. James Thatch who lives and works in the neighborhood said he knows the family and the dog. No long ago, Thatch was mowing the grass at a house next door when the dog pulled at its leash aggressively trying to get at him. "The woman [the child's mother] was barely able to hold him back," Thatch said.
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09/12/12: Confirmation of Death
WVEC.com confirms that a 10-month old child was attacked and killed by a family pit bull-mix dog while under the care of his grandmother at her home on West Railroad Street. The grandmother was also bitten during the attack trying to save the child. Local and county authorities continue their investigation. Findings of the investigation will be turned over to the Perquimans County Department of Social Services and the District Attorney's office for possible further action.
09/12/12: Child Killed by Dog
Hertford, NC - In a developing story, The Daily Advance, a "walled off" newspaper, reports that a 10-month old boy was killed Tuesday when a pit bull attacked him while under the care of his grandmother. DogsBite.org will be watching for additional new stories, as sending users to this type publication lies outside of our mission of a public education website. Persons with additional information in the Hertford area, please send email to info --at-- dogsbite.org.
Related articles:
09/11/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 15-Month Old Girl Killed by Family Pit Bull
05/13/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 1-Year Old Henderson Boy Killed by Family Dog
01/19/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Baby Boy Killed by Family Pit Bull in Montgomery Co.
A bit more information on this mauling death. http://www.wvec.com/news/local/10-month-old-killed-by-dog-in-Herford-NC-169460386.html
The grandmother's boyfriend speaks on the video: "everybody should just love your kids…tell them you love them and always be cautious around dogs"…but he doesn't say if the Pit Bull Mix was owned by him ! How can you be cautions when the dog is licking the baby one minute and killing it in the next second?
Build the coffin stack higher.
More info from the Virginia Pilot as well: "Not long ago, Thatch was mowing grass at the house next door when the dog pulled at its leash aggressively trying to get at him. The woman was barely able to hold him back, he said."
My guess is charges are on the way!
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http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/10monthold-child-killed-dog-hertford-nc
Another heartbreaking story.
I am so sorry for this baby.
What more can we say?
The blog owners is certainly being kept busy more and more with these stories.
When will people finally get it that you can't love genetics out of an animal? My husband, just moments ago, before I read this newest story,was trying to fathom if someone thought they could love out a bloodhounds instinct to trail and why they could not get that concept in regards to pit bulls.
As I said with the update yesterday on the Las Cruces case-
Criminal charges are whats called for, as this was no accident.
"How can you be cautions when the dog is licking the baby one minute and killing it in the next second?"
Exactly. unpredictability is the watchword.
"Criminal charges are whats called for, as this was no accident."
agree completely!
An American bulldog isn't a pit bull — what a joke.
Less funny is the pit-nutter joke on so many parents, about how pit bulls only lick babies to death.
They'll likely be laughing secretly on their forums at how stupid these parents were not to understand the code language: that it's the death kiss of the pit bull their joke is referring to.
This wasn't an accident, but then it never is when a pittype dog mauls, maims, dismembers and/or kills.
The Carolinas tolerate Dog fighting and Pit Breeding…However, they normally, go after the Pit-perp with Manslaughter charges after the fact..
May justice prevail here.
Too bad they couldn't prevent these unfortunate instances.
I get sick seeing photos of beautiful children that have been killed by these frightful animals. How can a pit bull lover ignore this? What is wrong with these people?
@BanTheBull: Pit bull lovers ignore the carnage for one simple reason. And that reason is that they have no empathy whatsoever. None.
Understand that, and you'll go a long way toward seeing why pit bull lovers react the way they do. Any injury or death that their chosen type of dog causes is the victim's fault.