Blames "Wild Dogs"
UPDATE 08/15/09: Photographed above two "Beware of Dog" signs, the owner of the dogs seized by the county, Larry Alvin Stubel, says the dogs that attacked Lykins were not his. The 11 adult dogs and nine puppies Stubel kept in a pen surrounded by chicken wire had nothing to do with Lykins' death, according to Stubel. Though his own dogs were loose at the time of the attack, Stuble claims the culprits were a pack of wild dogs seen roaming the area.
The 11 adult dogs and nine puppies Stubel kept in a makeshift pen surrounded by chicken wire had nothing to do with Lykins’ brutal death, Stubel said. The attack occurred a distance from his Airstream trailer on the remote 12-acre Ross Road property on which Stubel lives.
County authorities euthanized Stubel’s adult dogs and some of the puppies on the grounds they were considered “dangerous” by animal control officials who concluded the dogs ran loose at the time they attacked Lykins, according to an April 3 letter the county’s Public Health Department sent Stubel. - Silvo Panta, Imperial Valley Press Online, August 15, 2009
04/22/09: Three Amputations Prior Death
The Imperial Valley Press provides many more details regarding this savage attack than the previous YumaSun articles. Writer Silvio J. Panta reports that Gordon Lykins suffered three amputations; both his legs and an arm were amputated, according to Sgt. Scott Sheppeard. The victim was found by the owner of the seized dogs after he heard sounds of barking. The man's name continues to be withheld while the investigation unfolds.
According to Sheppeard, Lykins was a handyman by trade and lived in a recreational vehicle near the All-American Canal. He was found in a drainage ditch in the 1700 block of Ross Road. The ditch lies between Imperial County and the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, from where the dogs were initially believed to have come (thus complicating the investigation). It was not known if Lykins had any immediate family. Lykins was the only apparent witness to the attack.
Winterhaven fire authorities initially received a 6:30 p.m. call of a traffic accident at the location, but found Lykins instead, said Winterhaven Fire Chief Steve Taylor. Two separate calls were received but it was not immediately known if they were made by the same caller, according to Sheppeard. Moments after Lykins was loaded up into an ambulance, the dogs charged five firefighters who climbed atop a fire engine to avoid getting bitten, Taylor said.
Persons with information can call the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office at 572-0229.
04/14/09: Sparse Details About Attack
Winterhaven, CA - In a terrible "pack attack" that we have been watching for two weeks now, it was reported yesterday that the victim, Gordon Lykins, 48, died Friday in a Phoenix hospital. On March 28, Lykins was violently attacked by a pack of dogs. In addition to one of his legs being nearly chewed off, Lykins sustained numerous dog bites to his whole body. Shortly after arriving to the hospital, Lykins had to have one of his legs amputated from below the knee.
Since the first report of this attack, there has been little information provided. For instance, authorities quickly seized 11 suspected dogs from a neighbor. Yet 15 days after the attack, the dog owner remains unnamed and none of the dog breeds have been identified either. Sgt. Scott Sheppeard said in the first report: "We just don't have confirmation right now that these are the right dogs. Until he regains consciousness, we won't know whether we have the right dogs."
Of the three articles that have been published by the YumaSun about this attack, none have mentioned if blood was found on the dogs or the possibility of DNA tests. Each, however, has mentioned that the dogs continue to be held at the animal shelter until authorities determine whether or not they have the right dogs. As long as the dogs go unidentified, authorities cannot press charges (assuming there are any charges to press other than having loose dogs.)
Each article also reminds readers that due to the extent of Lykins' injuries he was kept under sedation after the attack and unable to identify the dogs. This constant reminder shows the horrific disparity between victim rights and the rights of the dog owner: the former has zip. Not only was the man terribly mauled, incurred a leg amputation and is now dead, he also pays the price of being too injured to identify the dogs, which may eliminate recourse for his family.
Related articles:
07/18/08: 2007 Fatality: Cora Lee Suehead Attacked by Pit Bulls
04/01/08: 2007 Fatality: Carshena Benjamin Case Closed, Unresolved
Comment from the YumaSun:
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(User: gstazman) I know these dogs too well. I have camped out and offroaded with my family out at Picacho too many times to count. On a couple of occasions while being on the road next to the all american canal these dogs have come out and have tried to chase my truck down and on one occasion I was on my quad and they almost got me. I no longer ride the canal road with my quad due to the fear of being attacked by these dogs. These dogs aren’t just chasing vehicles or people to scare them, they actually want to attack. I am a huge animal lover and love dogs but these dogs over by Picacho are just crazy!! It’s sad that this happened but I knew it would happen sooner or later since I have experienced these dogs first hand. Beware of the levee dogs!
Here’s something from a different paper: http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/04/14/local_news/news04.txt
So , is there a dog breeding/dog fighting operation on this reservation?
Something is CERTAINLY going on…
I want to know why they’re being so cagey with naming the breeds of the dogs. It is certain they have at least some clue, and let’s face it. Lab mixes don’t cause amputations. Members of that community ought to demand more transparency in the investigation and from the media. Who’s protecting pits this time?
I can’t imagine a more gruesome death than being consumed alive, especially by man’s best friend.
Annod, I’m with you. I’ve often thought about that when pitnutters say “all dogs bite.” There is such big difference between a bite that might leave puncture wounds or scratches, and the carnage caused in the majority of pit “bites.” Even if the victim doesn’t die, it is still a horrific and life altering experience to have a bezerking dog trying with all it’s might to kill you. A one minute attack would be bad enough, because a minute takes a long time to go by when a dog is trying to eat you alive, but what about those that go on for 15 minutes? Victim gets attacked. Someone first has to hear their screams or see it and come to their aid. The rescuer usually tries to stop the attack to no avail. Police are called. On a good day in a small town they might show up in 5 minutes from the start of the call. The police get their and have to fight the dog off, try to contain it, taser it 10 times, call for animal control — call an ambulance. Good gawd. I hate to think about it the terror the victim is going through all that time. And if the victim dies, it is not a fast painless death.
The Dogmen sure accomplished what they set out to accomplish — they created a killing machine. And they didn’t doing it by abusing the dogs, as so many pitnutters are want to cry. They did it by selectively breeding those traits into the dog. How many more people have to be eaten alive before all those Responsible Wiggle-butt Owning Pitbull apologists get it?
Charges are being filed next week:
“Although the investigation has not concluded, at this point we feel we have enough information that we want the district attorney to move forward with pressing charges,” Sheppeard said. “We expect charges could be filed as soon as sometime next week.”
http://www.yumasun.com/news/charges_49452___article.html/dog_fatal.html
All of the dogs weighed between 30-50 pounds…