Mid Year Results 2009
DogsBite.org - To evaluate the numerous U.S. media reports on pit bulls and their mixes shot for public safety reasons, DogsBite.org is recording these incidents over the 12-month period of 2009. The Mid Year Results (January to June 2009) show 194 occurrences in which a U.S. law enforcement officer or citizen was forced to shoot a dangerous pit bull to prevent an attack or to stop an ongoing attack. The 10-page mid year report tracked 12 data aspects per incident.
Report Summary
- Of the 194 incidents, 362 bullets were fired and 173 pit bulls were killed.
- 84 people suffered pit bull bite injury in these incidents. Of these victims, 82% (69) were citizens and 18% (15) were law enforcement officers.
- In two instances, the bite injury resulted in death. These victims included: Leonard Lovejoy Jr., 11-months old (Eastpointe, MI) and Izaiah Gregory Cox, 7-months old (San Antonio, TX).
- Eight people suffered bullet injury in these incidents. Of these victims, 75% (6) were citizens and 25% (2) were law enforcement officers.
- States with the highest number of shootings included: Texas (22), California (17), Florida (15), Tennessee (13) and Ohio (12).
- The findings also show that firearm intervention may have prevented five deaths by a pit bull mauling1.
1These victims included: Duane Vanlanham, 48 (Buena Vista Township, MI), Derrick Benton, 25 (Jeffersonville, KY) and Jane Doe, 13 (Gallipolis, OH). In the life altering attacks involving Shaylee Crosson, 3 (Bonham, TX) and Faith Guelde, 8 (Lookout Mountain, GA), each offending pit bull was dead (presumably shot) prior to authorities arriving.
Notable Incidents:
The February 16 incident in Osteen, Florida involved pit bull owner Bruce Evans shooting and killing his two dogs after they began fighting. Evans' wife and daughter were also bitten trying to break up the fight.
The March 12 incident in Chicago, Illinois involved a police officer shooting a pit bull up to 10 times before the animal was finally killed. "It took that many shots to put that dog down," said witness Marlo Weathers.
The March 18 incident in Deland, Florida involved a woman shooting her son's pit bull with a shotgun four times after the dog, which formerly "slept with her like a husband," attacked her dog and herself.
The April 23 incident in Eastpointe, Michigan involved the father of 11-month old Leonard Lovejoy Jr. firing 8 shots at the family pit bull with a .45-caliber gun after it fatally attacked the toddler.
The June 2 incident in Oak Ridge, Tennessee involved a dangerous pit bull that tried to "get up" after being shot 6 times. It took 5 more shots by Officer Matt Tedford to finally kill the animal.
The June 10 incident in Mineral Wells, Texas involved an officer firing a round of double-ought buck shot at a pit bull's head. The dog "got up" 2 more times, requiring two more rounds to kill the dog.
The February 16 incident in Osteen, Florida involved pit bull owner Bruce Evans shooting and killing his two dogs after they began fighting. Evans' wife and daughter were also bitten trying to break up the fight.The March 12 incident in Chicago, Illinois involved a police officer shooting a pit bull up to 10 times before the animal was finally killed. "It took that many shots to put that dog down," said witness Marlo Weathers.The March 18 incident in Deland, Florida involved a woman shooting her son's pit bull with a shotgun four times after the dog, which formerly "slept with her like a husband," attacked her dog and herself.The April 23 incident in Eastpointe, Michigan involved the father of 11-month old Leonard Lovejoy Jr. firing 8 shots at the family pit bull with a .45-caliber gun after it fatally attacked the toddler.The June 2 incident in Oak Ridge, Tennessee involved a dangerous pit bull that tried to "get up" after being shot 6 times. It took 5 more shots by Officer Matt Tedford to finally kill the animal.The June 10 incident in Mineral Wells, Texas involved an officer firing a round of double-ought buck shot at a pit bull's head. The dog "got up" 2 more times, requiring two more rounds to kill the dog.Related articles:
07/26/09: Pit Bulls Lead "Bite" Counts Across U.S. Cities and Counties
06/03/09: Report: U.S. Police and Citizen Shootings of Pit Bulls 2008 - DogsBite.org
02/26/09: What's There "Not to Get" About Regulating Pit Bulls?
Thank you DBO…The Pit Bull problem is not only a mauling issue, but a law enforcement and fiscal one as well.
This criminal breed stewardship of the pit bull community must cost a fortune!
That's 567 shooting incidents and 492 Pit Bulls killed during beserking episodes by the good citizenry/law enforcement in 18 months!
But…but…It's the Cocker Spaniels!
You never cease to amaze me with these facts. It's incredible that people stay in denial about these dogs.
Oh, the cockers ARE biting and killing and maiming and being shot by police in even greater numbers than pit bulls — it's just that the media covers ALL THOSE incicdents up because they hate pit bulls and love those killer cockers. And law enforcement covers it all up, too, cuz they hate those deadly cockers, and those who are maimed by cockers and whose loved ones are killed by cockers don't know a cocker from a pit bull, so they report it as a pit bull, because the media has brainwashed them!
Pardon me….I was just channeling a pit nutter….
And these are only the ones you read about. How many more are there?
These results show a mere fraction of the actual number of shooting incidents involving dangerous pit bulls. We will be gathering data to highlight this for the final year end report.