From left: Joe Munn, Charles Smallwood, Doretta Zinke, Jennifer Lowe.
Dade County, FL - On May 16, 1945, Doretta Zinke was savagely killed by a pack of pit bulls in the state of Florida. Headlines of the grisly attack covered newspapers across the county. Authorities seized and killed Joe Munn's 27 dogs. Deputy Sheriff Mark Richardson testified that Munn admitted he had been raising fighting dogs and that he knew the dogs were vicious. Munn was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in jail. He served one year and was released on parole.
Ten years later, we learn that he continued to raise dangerous bulldogs. In 1955, two of Munn's dogs bolt out of his dry cleaning establishment and attack a senior citizen's dog. Harry Smalley, 73, tried to save his dog, and by doing so, got injured in the attack. Munn tells reporters that the recent attack was "something that happens once in a million years." This is after his previous set of dogs killed a human being, bit children and attacked horses and their riders.
In the lifespan of Munn, how many people and pets did his dogs injure or kill? This is a question that can't easily be answered. Based on his track record, however, we can presume quite a few. Dog laws didn't effectively deal with Munn in the last century and few laws do in our century today. In the mass majority of cities, "repeat offending" owners of dangerous dogs are free to buy and breed these animals after multiple serious and even fatal attacks.
In the 2007 deadly attack of Jennifer Lowe, the dogs had previously been deemed dangerous. Knox County animal control said they "routinely" checked on the dogs owned by Charles Smallwood. Jennifer Lowe, 21, suffered the grave misfortune of being left alone in his house with the dogs. She paid with her life. After the attack, authorities killed Smallwood's 5 dogs. It was not long, however, that rumors sprung up saying Smallwood had purchased brand new pit bulls.
The only unique aspect to the 1945 fatal mauling is that Munn was convicted within days of the crime and actually served one year in jail.
04/03/55: Man Tells Cops 'Killer' Dogs Attacked Him
MIAMI, Fla., April 2 (AP) -- Harry Smalley, 73, complained to police today that a bulldog belonging to Joe Munn bit him severely Thursday.
Munn, 54, was sentenced to five years for manslaughter in 1947 because his pit bulls bit Mrs. Doretta Zinke to death. Munn served a year and was released on parole.The dog owner said the newest incident was "very unfortunate; something that happens once in a million years." He said only one of his two dogs was involved.SMALLEY DECLARED that he was walking his own dog Patsy, when Munn's animals ran from his dry cleaning establishment and attacked the leashed canine. Smalley tried to drive them off, and said one of the animals bit his arm and finger.Passersby took off their coats and beat the dogs off, it was reported. Smalley was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital and released.Mrs. Zinke was literally torn to pieces May 16, 1945, by a pack of pit bulls. Fifteen of Munn's dogs were ordered shot after that incident.
Associated Press, "Man Tells Cops 'Killer' Dogs Attacked Him," The Charleston Gazette, April 3, 1955.
Related articles:
12/29/08: Part III: Doretta Zinke, 39, Killed by 9 Pit Bulls (1945)
12/07/08: Part II: Doretta Zinke, 39, Killed by 9 Pit Bulls (1945)
11/29/08: Part I: Doretta Zinke, 39, Killed by 9 Pit Bulls (1945)
“Knox County animal control said they “routinely” checked on the dogs owned by Charles Smallwood”
If Animal Control takes on the task of personally monitoring people’s dogs, Animal Control and the city or county bear FULL RESPONSIBILITY if something happens
(When did taxpayers start paying for dogsitting through Animal Control?)
So next time I’m help up at an appointment, I can call AC and have them come over and walk my dog for me?
I’ll make sure the blue bags are with the leash so they can pick up after him, too.
Or do they only dogsit pits?
Attack someone, ONE BITE FREE in some states! Mauler goes back to its owner. Attack a police cruiser, here come the sirens and “Dangerous Dog” orders…WITH these orders, comes personal dogsitting; showing a dog owner what a “leash” is and what a “dog pen” is. If the dog owner cannot read, which appears to the case in the instance of Smallwood, a 6-week course in READING is also provided free of cost.
Yes, animal control routinely checks on dogs. That’s what they say in public but what do they say in private?
http://www.thepitbull-place.com/index/viewtopic.php?p=159780#p159780
Re: Urgent Situation in Tacoma
by Diane on Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:17 pm
Could she maybe ditch a few of the dogs and then sneak them back in a month or so? Believe me, AC doesn’t check back.
Here is a great article about a new city councelor in North Plains Oregon. She is an experienced dog handler and trainer of hunting Labs, as well as a former kennel manager.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1230580214324901.xml&coll=6
"You are a pit bull fan, or you care more about protecting people," Ogan said. "In the past 20 years, people, men, criminals, drug dealers, et cetera have bred them to be more aggressive."
The dogs are legal weapons, Ogan says, pointing to several recent reports of pit bull attacks across the Portland metro area.
"What's happening is, everybody you talked to that's pro-pit bull says it's not the dog's fault, it's the owner's fault," Ogan said. "If we choose to believe that they are correct – why did the person choose a pit bull out of the other breeds available?"
Here is another dog owner whose on-leash dog was badly mauled by a pit bull…
http://www.in-forum.com/News/articles/226352
The woman has been so traumatized by the violent attack, she will no longer walk her dogs in public. Exactly where are the “humane advocates” for canine victims of pit bulls?
Best Friends and ASPCA are actually in the position of supporting cruelty to most kinds of dogs.
They think it is ok for pit bulls to maul and kill other pets.
Ledy Van Kavage was trying to get ASPCA members in legislative alerts to contact districts that wanted to get dogs declared dangerous and follow restrictions if they attacked other pets
Ledy thinks it is OK if pit bulls (the only kind of dog she has) kill as many other pets as they want.
What has ASPCA allowed its organization to turn into? Basically an apology center for dog fighters, making it easier for them to stay in business.
Oh my. Is that Diane Jessup? The premiere pit bull expert? And former ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER?
haha!
The woman has been so traumatized by the violent attack, she will no longer walk her dogs in public. Exactly where are the “humane advocates” for canine victims of pit bulls?
THE CURS DON’T MATTER TO THEM!
Anything that is NOT pit bull, does NOT matter.
You know, kind of like the Germans during the early 1900’s. If it wasn’t a GERMAN, it didn’t matter!
“The dogs are legal weapons.”
So are registered guns in the hands of licensed owners.
Too bad most of the pb’s out there are neither registered nor licensed.
After obtaining my pistol, I’ve had two friends realize that they, too, need protection.
So called Dog lovers loving dogs bred for killing other dogs…That’s whacked!