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48 thoughts on “2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull that Killed Boy Had a History of 'Dog Aggression'

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  1. As usual, uneducated pit owners can't understand that a dog that is willing to break all the social rules of the dog world to kill another dog will be willing to do that same to another type of social partner, a human. There is no such thing as a pit bull that is ONLY 'dog aggressive'.

  2. Former owner (summarized): "Not the breed! Not the breed! though it was ATTACKING other dogs, is SHOWED NO SIGNS OF AGGRESSION! Not the breed! Not the breed!"

    Doesn't she know how stupid she sounds?

    • Not aggressive, not vicious?

      What imagination.

      Then let's put them all to sleep, and you can tell yourselves that your pits aren't dead.

      Kinder than the dogs being beaten and shot repeatedly to stop the attack.

  3. We need a page with links to every time an owner (or former owner) says "he never did this before". Nope, not until right up to the time they DO do it. Poor little boy!

  4. I wonder if the person leaving the comment on the Facebook page of when the killer puppy was first born might want to rethink it

    "Kathy LaHaye Paris Awwe can I be your grandchild so I can have one ? LOL
    October 13, 2014 at 3:04pm · "

    From puppy to child killer in a pretty short time. Its dog aggression turned on early as well since it had already been given back to its breeder.

  5. Wow. I frequently see this breed "up for adoption" with a sad look on it's face and people remarking, "oh, the little sweetie". Yet people get rid of these dogs because they become aggressive and unmanageable. It's horrifying to think this type of dog is pawned off on unsuspecting people as being "a family dog".

  6. Oh no. Sometimes there are routes you just should not go down. Morin was waiting on a NEW puppy from the same breeder. At June 1, the pups were nearly ready to be released. I guess "spin the dial" and see if you can get a new pit bull from the same breeders (probably breeding with the same dogs) that does not have aggression.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1189156237761777&set=pb.100000022370251.-2207520000.1465166601.&type=3&theater

    Also, breeder was selling for $200, because the world needs more pit bulls… SMH

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1172729432737791&set=pb.100000022370251.-2207520000.1465166614.&type=3&theater

  7. The thread where the loose dogs and broken chains is posted is mid November.

    Even if bully people cared a little about pits, it's cold in Maine in November.

  8. It's all laid out in the Facebook posts. It looks like her parents had an accidental breeding between Koda, a pit/Boxer mix, and Zena, a Rottweiler/Shepherd mix. They also had an accidental breeding of their Dachshunds. Amber posted mourning the death of her Beagle at one point before giving up Koda, and when someone asked what happened and if it was old age, she said it wasn't but she would private message the person her answer. I think Koda killed her Beagle. When she mentioned the possibility of adopting a pit mix, someone posted warning her that there were too many stories of tragedies with pits, especially with kids. She argued back that her parents and brother had pits and they were great with kids. So, so sad that more people have been deceived into thinking these are safe dogs just because they're sweet most of the time or they've had positive experiences with most of them.

    • So much information right there that could've helped prevent this boy's death!
      On one hand it is deception that brings pits into homes and neighborhoods
      On the other hand there is a tolerance to violence that surrounds pitbulls and other bully breeds. People witness these dogs attack and kill and they accept it and they become numb to the violence and signs that something bad is going to happen.
      Back when, if a dog bit or killed it was a bad dog and it got euthanized. Now a days people worship their pets and ignore the health and safety of their families and communities! It's just gross!!!

  9. This is amber morin! For me to read this is outragous! Until everyone knows the whole story and situation then maybe they shouldnt speak about it! Me and my family are trying to grieve the loss of a 7 year old child and people seem to care more about the dog. And i can tell you right now you have the entire story twisted! Im not going into detail because i already know how twisted everything has become and i dont need it worse. I am not only grieving my family but my dog (the dog is minor due to the situation) but either way both is a loss. Nobody expected that would even happen, the dog as ive said before never showed aggression, always lived with kids and never had a problem. He lived with multiple dogs and the only dog he had a problem with was his "brother" vet said it was a testosterone thing due to neither being fixed! And for everyones information, "Stacy" is NOT my cousin and is also NOT the breeder of the dog! I got koda from somebody else as a puppy! You can all say what you want but instead of being concered about a dog who is no longer with us, you should be concered about the family of the child!

    • Amber,
      We are concerned about the poor child and his father, as well as preventing future victims. If there is anything specific that can be done to help the family, post it. We already have the go fund me, and people will support it. We are a group of victims/victims families, and understand the tragic loss. You don't have to agree with everything we say to get support here.
      Also-
      I know that you had no idea that Koda would hurt anything when you got him. I saw pics where you let your adorable baby hug him and get licked right in the face. Of course you didn't think the dog was aggressive to people! I'm sure you think back and say "that could have been my kid!". You're obviously a loving mom and did remove the danger as soon as you saw it.

      If you want to correct anything that's not right, post it. I know this site is happy to hear your info and edit accordingly.

      The reason we talk about the background is to show how these tragedies happen. Sadly, this is a perfect example of how people get pits and think they are great family dogs, and find out too late they are deadly. No one brings a pit around their children thinking something bad is going to happen. We aim to change that, so no more tragedies occur.

      You have a gorgeous child, and you're a dedicated mom. I pray for your family's safety and well being.

  10. Is this dog in the pics supposed to be a pit/boxer mix? I don't see boxer at all.

    • His dad is pure pit and mom is pit boxer. He got more pit traits, some of the other dogs from his litter look more boxer

    • Apparently he got the fighting/killing gene as well as the looks. Do his siblings have the aggressive traits too??

  11. Amber, I hope you're having that breeder contact all the other littermates' owners to let them know this is a bad batch of pit bulls. You wouldn't want to be guiltier still, would you?

  12. Well let's look at some dog fatality statistics. While pitbulls only account for 6.6% of the u.s. dog population, they account for 82% of fatalities causes by dogs. 41% of those victims were children (mostly boys) under the age of nine.

    Now let's look at the circumstances, re-homed due to aggressive behavior toward other dogs. Not neutered..so… high hormone levels increasing his aggressive behavior.

    What you mean is no one HOPED this would happen. Expected..that's a stretch. One would be a fool to think this couldn't happen.

    We are all heartbroken for this poor little man and his family. Which is a factor that pushes us to assess this situation for what it is. In HOPES to prevent this from happening in the future. Eyes wide open! This is not just a tragedy happening by chance. Statistics support this sad trend.

  13. It had no problems? It was DOG AGGRESSIVE

    Nearly every single pit bull or mix that has mauled or attacked a child is dog aggressive

    It is a red light for TROUBLE and danger

    So the breeders resold a known dangerous dog?

    This is what is going on when the breeders run the show. Everyone else is at their mercy, and they are not merciful

  14. Why am I thinking this pit killed another dog and it wasn't reported?

    This killing is why we need required reporting of ALL dog attacks and dog aggression too, and dangerous dog hearings on dogs that are aggressive to other animals

    Because people then get killed if things are not handled right.

    Also why are the police going on about what school the child attended? Why does it matter? Does anyone know?

    I hope this doesn't get swept under the rug as an "accident" and the breeders go right back to breeding and selling aggressive dogs.

  15. And then there is this post that speaks volumes as to who this dog really was.

    The two photos The killing dog as a puppy and all grown up and apparently having flexed his genetics titled "Then and Now" and this with the photos-

    Amber Morin
    January 6 ·

    As much as I dislike him right now.. he sure has grown to be a big man and although I can no longer keep him around I am proud of the good boy he has become (minus the bad side he does have)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=448175672038579&set=a.260119464177535.1073741829.100005384506336&type=3&theater

  16. PutMeInCharge, I believe because she is hoping to prove that Koda was only known as a gentle soul, at least with people. Authorities are still investigating this area.

    Noting her language on the WABI Facebook thread, "never showed aggression to any person" and he "did not get along with other small male dogs." Morin then claims in the message thread here, "the only dog he had a problem with was his "brother"." The problem with that statement is that Koda's male littermate was just as large as he was.
    The description of "SMALL MALE DOGS" would instead be her beloved male beagle that was killed in such a way that she would only "PM" this information to people, according to her Facebook page. Just after the beagle's death — the beagle was killed on Christmas Day, December 25, 2015 — she posted the following message about Koda (on Jan. 6) then got rid of the dog. "As much as I dislike him right now.. he sure has grown to be a big man and although I can no longer keep him around I am proud of the good old boy he has become (minus the bad side he does have)."

    The next day, she posts a Timehop photo of all 3 of her dogs (Aussi, pit bull and beagle) and states "I really wish I could go back to this day and fix the mistakes we made … I loved all my dogs and it breaks my heart to see how much can change in one year! R.I.P bandit! Till we meet again baby boy." By that time, the beagle named Bandit was dead and Koda was being booted from the house. The days of all 3 dogs sitting happily together on a couch are long gone.

    It must all be stressed that she recently acquired two new pit bull/mix puppies from the same breeders — about May 20. So after Hunter's death, she will be raising two pit bulls in a home with her young son.

    • Praying for the children who have to pay for the mistakes (repeated mistakes) of their parents and adults who are supposed to be protecting them from harm.
      When it happens again, will Amber be completely shocked? Will it ever sink in?
      Hey Amber!, step away from the pitbull puppies!!!!! Remember that one time…???

    • Holy crap! Thanks for the perspective truthbird! It's unfreakingreal the idiocy of people (parents esp!) that see it with their own eyes and just continue on down that path.

    • It seems some people are just plain stupid, she brings a pit into her home and after the first attack of "her precious baby the beagle" she wasn't smart enough right then to get rid of the dog, euthanize him or at least get him neutered. …duh. then she let's him kill her dog, still not euthanized and nt neutered, the other idiot breeders take him back so he can now kill a child….this whole group of people are ignorant, and a beagle and worse a small child have to die for stupidity. And the biggest idiot goes and gets 2 more….my God

  17. Social workers, where the heck are you?

    Where is anyone that cares about children around there?

    TICKING TIME BOMB

    Where are the sane adults that need to protect the lives of children?

  18. PutMeInCharge41Day and truthbirdtoo, thanks for the detective work. I think you guys are right — Koda killed the beagle. It makes you wonder, with how seldom pit bull attacks on strangers' dogs get reported, how many pit bulls kill their owner's other dogs and no one else ever finds out about it. There's such a culture of "protecting the reputation of the breed" among pit bull owners that they're all too willing to lie to do so.

    • Yes, it reminds me of Betty Todd. She died trying to save her grandchildren from the family pitbull. The pitbull had killed the family's other dog prior to the attack on Betty.
      Why do people keep dogs who attack and kill? It's unreasonable!

  19. Amber, why not admit your incredible lack of knowledge at this point and help other people understand these dogs are NOT pets and save some lives? Or maybe you're going to go full retar, er, full nutter instead-wouldn't be the first time. You know this tragic death was ENTIRELY foreseeable and preventable. The information IS out there for anyone who takes three minutes on the internet to find it.

  20. "Back in August 2015, the Town of Morrison declared both of Andrew's pit bulls vicious, Axle and Griz. "So according to the town of Morrisville my puppies are now fucking deamed by law vicious!" he wrote. Amber chimes into that post too, "Haha if [your neighbor] saw koda theyd be shittin bricks." So frankly the ownership of vicious dogs, young vicious dogs at that, was not a new concept to these family members. (Andrew seems to still own Axle, along with any pit bull puppies he received in May)."

    I feel for ANY and all children that live in or near these households. These people could not care less about their own kids or anyone else's.

  21. Did anyone happen to run across this article? This also occurred in Corinna. (It's a small town!) I wonder if it's related somehow. It would seem the tiny town is overrun with aggressive pitbulls. The full video is on youtube. (It does show a dog being shot, just as an FYI). What do you all think? I know my heart breaks for that sweet boy whose life was lost.
    http://wabi.tv/2014/09/29/video-pit-bulls-attack-neighbor-dog/

  22. Yes because i got him from someone she knew who is a family member that i was not friends on facebook with at the time

  23. So Koda the pit bull attacked Bandit the beagle in September so badly a baseball bat needed to break it up and save Bandit the beagle's life

    But instead of doing what needed to be done, Koda was kept and allowed to kill Bandit in December.

    He had already demonstrated he wanted to. So they let him do it.

    That is terrible animal cruelty, horrible, and now because there still was no responsibility taken, a child is killed.

  24. I also take great issue with the veterinarian involved in this

    They knew a pit bull had nearly killed a beagle that they treated in their practice

    But they did not tell this girl to euthanize this vicious dog and the vet did not report this violent attack to anyone? Just stitch up the beagle and send the bill?

    There are breakdowns all over the place here by people in positions of authority. If these breakdowns hadn't occurred, then that boy might be alive today.

  25. As I read through the comments in the conversation between this girl and her breeder mother, it is all too apparent.

    First, the dog Koda was being bred. Perhaps after the noise complaints at mom breeder's house, they decided they better spread out their breeding stock to other locations like their daughter's, but the dog was continuing to be bred.

    Instead of doing the obvious and euthanizing an obviously dangerously aggressive dog (where on earth can you have a dog that attacks other dogs, and be able to keep them away from other dogs, and the KIDS that inevitably get attacked?)

    instead the dog was shipped back to the mother because it is BREEDING STOCK, used to produce litters of puppies sold for cash. Ni issues with breeding known aggressive dogs to produce aggressive litters.

    No care for other dogs, no care for kids, This is business.

    The worst of it is that the breeder mother told the girl to keep the pit bull separate from other dogs because it would kill her other dogs (WHAT ABOUT THE GRANDCHILDREN GGRANDMA?), but the girl just went ahead and put that pit bull back with the beagle to kill the poor little dog.

    And after that? No feelings, no cares. Just shipped back to mom breeder to keep on breeding dangerous dogs. And now the stories, the excuses, the coverups, no care at all for anyone else.

  26. Thank you for that comment, Joelande. Here is the veterinarian's oath, which obligates them to protect animal welfare, prevent animal suffering, and promote public health.

    Revised 2011:
    "Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
    I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence."

    The entire veterinarian profession is should be blushing with shame at how miserably they are failing in this pit bull issue — how they have made their own oath into a blatant and shameless lie.

  27. However, if more than one puppy is sold in less than a year’s time, Merchant would be required to register as a vendor, according to state law.

    “A person may not advertise for sale, sell or exchange for value more than one cat or dog under the age of 6 months in a 12-month period unless that person has a valid animal shelter, kennel, breeding kennel or pet shop license or a valid vendor’s license,” Maine rules regarding the sale of cats and dogs indicate.

    Bemis-Goodall said Merchant has no business license registered with the town, and she does not know if he is a dog breeder.

    https://bangordailynews.com/2016/06/09/news/bangor/sheriff-dog-in-corinna-attack-recently-sent-back-to-homeowner/

  28. Oh boy, this is really complicated. However, "Koda" could certainly be "Dakota" too. 1.5 years old.

    An adult male pit bull that attacked and killed a 7-year-old boy in Corinna last week belonged to the daughter of the man whose care the dog was in and had come to live with him about two months ago, according to the town’s animal control officer.

    I love how they just keep the mother's name out of it all.

    http://www.centralmaine.com/2016/06/09/penobscot-county-sheriff-looking-into-history-of-corinna-dog/

  29. I absolutely can not even imagine the mindset of a person who would CONDONE one of their dogs killing another of their pets. Much less returning it to the breeder so can not only live but propagate.

    This dog needed a one way trip to the vet when it attacked Bandit the first time.

    No normal person would give a dog a pass like that. Only a nutter.

  30. Good job untangling all that! I looked at Danielle's and Gary's Facebook pages a bit, too, and had not been surprised to see Gary posting typical pit owner memes about pits not being vicious dogs. They all really drink the Kool-Aid.

    Danielle also very openly spoke about deliberately breeding her pit Tia, and she and Andrew talked about another pit, Loki, who apparently not everyone was fond of (but they loved him).

    When the story originally broke and before Stacey's page became unavailable, I read a lot on there, and it sounded as if the breeding of Koda and Zena (the Rottweiler/Shepherd mix) was accidental, as well as the breeding of her mini Dachshunds. The dogs were "caught" within a day or two of each other. There certainly is enough history to show that other breedings weren't accidental and no one was particularly motivated to sterilize their dogs. What a sad mess.

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