'Rehabbed' Pit Bull Attacked Just After Shock Collar Removed
Margaret Colvin died after being brutally attacked by a pit bull adopted hours earlier.
Misdemeanor Charges
UPDATE 11/17/17: Five months after a woman was brutally killed by a pit bull her daughter had acquired from a rescue group hours earlier that day, authorities filed charges. Jamie Cochran, the 33-year old owner of Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, has been charged with 10 misdemeanors for importing animals without a veterinary inspection certificate, according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. More charges may follow once the investigation is complete.
Prior to killing Margaret Colvin, 90, the pit bull, named Blue, had been returned to Forever Home due to his "reactive" behavior -- aggression and lack of impulse control -- which the rescue was aware of. Tia Walke, the previous adopter, said Blue attacked her adult nephew. She said back then, "I can't control him" and called the experience "very frightening." Before arriving at Forever Home, Blue had been on death row at the New York City municipal shelter for "biting people."
"She saw her mother disemboweled, virtually, and her mother's arm had to be amputated and her mother died." - Irv Blank, Linda Patterson's attorney
Forever Home did not disclose to Colvin's daughter, Linda Patterson, Blue's history of bites and aggression. Just seven hours after the dog arrived at Patterson's home wearing a shock collar, the animal viciously attacked and killed her mother. Three months later, Patterson filed a $5 million dollar lawsuit against Forever Home. Now finally in November, possibly all prosecutors can do is charge Cochran with importing dogs into Virginia without a veterinary inspection certificate.
History of Misdemeanors
Cochran is familiar with misdemeanors. Court records show that in April 2015 -- one month after the Commonwealth found "significant findings of noncompliance" at Forever Home -- Cochran was charged with 17 misdemeanors for inadequate animal care. Her partner Toni Enright was charged with 18 violations of the same nature. All charges were later dismissed. In 2013, Cochran and Enright pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor embezzlement charge, related to a former employer.
Failing to obtain a veterinary inspection certificate after importing a dog from another state is a Class 1 misdemeanor, the highest class in Virginia (§ 3.2-5902. Certificate of veterinary inspection required for importation of certain pet animals; examination; exceptions; penalty). Authorized punishments for conviction of this provision include, "confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both," states the Virginia decode website.
The police investigation into Cochran is "into its very last stages," the city prosecutor said Friday, indicating that more charges may be coming.
Finally, the most uplifting news is that Virginia lawmakers are working on legislation to regulate animal training centers due to the foreseeability of Blue's vicious attack. Just recently, State Senator Bill DeSteph said he was in the process of drafting regulations to ensure this cannot happen again. Hopefully, the legislation will center upon "rehabbers," rescues and training centers that claim to rehabilitate aggressive dogs. Senator DeSteph will introduce the bill next year.
08/24/17: Rescue Center Sued for $5 Million
Nearly three months after a rehomed pit bull brutally attacked and killed a 90-year woman, the victim's daughter has filed a lawsuit against the rescue center. Linda Patterson filed a civil lawsuit for $5 million dollars against Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia Beach. The recently adopted pit bull, named Blue, attacked her elderly mother after Linda removed the dog's shock collar, about seven hours after the dog was delivered to the Patterson home.
Predictably, the lawsuit states the dog had a history of biting before the attack and that the rescue should have known the dog's history. A "trial by jury is demanded," according to the court filing. Prior to mauling and killing Margaret Colvin, the pit bull had been returned to Forever Home due to his "reactive" behavior -- aggression and lack of impulse control. Previous to arriving at Forever Home, Blue had been on death row at New York City Animal Care and Control for "biting people."
The most glaring "foreseeability" of this attack is that Blue was adopted to the Patterson family and required a shock collar as a condition.
The fatally attacking pit bull, with a slew of known aggression issues, was advertised by Forever Home as "playful, affectionate" and "gentle, goofy." Linda had even told Forever Home before agreeing to the adoption that the sole "deal breaker" would be "aggression." Linda did not even understand what the shock collar was for, until it was too late. She had initially thought the collar sent out signals like "sound waves," not blasts of electricity to shock and correct the animal.
In the hours following Colvin's mauling death, Forever Home issued a liability "denial" statement claiming, "none of us could have ever predicted this horrible event." Though drenched in the foreseeability of this violent attack, Forever Home kept issuing denials in its aftermath. Back in July, the rescue tried to end their lease at their Virginia Beach property. It is unknown what has become of the Forever Home operators, Toni Enright and Jamie Cochran, since that time.
06/07/17: Previous Adopter Speaks Out
On May 31, Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (FHRC) adopted out a 1.5 year old male, neutered pit bull named Blue. The dog arrived at the adopter's home wearing a shock collar. Seven hours later, its new owner, Linda Patterson, removed the shock collar. After doing so, the dog quickly attacked and killed Linda's 90-year old mother. WAVY-TV spoke to a woman who adopted Blue on April 22, but returned the pit bull to FHRC two days later due to its aggression.
Linda had told FHRC the one "deal breaker," in the terms of adopting this pit bull, would be "aggression." - Kerry Dougherty, The Virginian-Pilot
Tia Walke said Blue attacked her 26-year old nephew as soon as she let the dog out of its crate. The dog jumped on him, she said. "I had the leash and I was yanking and pulling as hard as I could to get the dog off,” Walke said. In a text message to FHRC she wrote: "I can't control him. And he's scaring me now." Walke described it to WTKR as a "very frightening experience." She quickly returned the dog to FHRC. A month later, the rescue adopted "reactive" Blue to Linda.
In our last update, we explained how "reactivity" and "lack of impulse control" can quickly escalate to dangerous "impulsive aggression," which is how Walke and Linda described both attacks.
FHRC responded to Walke and her nephew's experience by marginalizing the incident down to an "insect bite" and denying any culpability. After the horrific mauling death of Linda's mother, FHRC denied any foreseeability or culpability as well, despite the dog's documented history of aggressive behavior, including being surrendered to NYCACC after biting a child and thereafter multiple rescue groups using "code words" to describe Blue's dangerous "impulsive aggression" behavior.
On top of this, Blue was sent to Linda's home wearing a shock collar. According to a Virginian-Pilot article, FHRC described the collar to Linda as sending a "signal" to the dog by remote control. Linda thought it sent out sound waves, reports The Pilot. It was not until she took the collar off to recharge it that she realized the "signals" were jolts of electricity to shock (and correct) the dog. FHRC is quite literally drowning in foreseeability and culpability, yet they continue to deny both.
By the time rescue workers arrived, the woman's intestines were on the floor ... Her mother's arms were mangled. - Kerry Dougherty, The Virginian-Pilot
The Experts Respond
Multiple experts responded to this fatal dog attack, including pit bull expert Diane Jessup, who wrote on Facebook: "She [Linda] bought a breed she didn't need from a charlatan "trainer" [FHRC] who tried to suppress a dog's true character with shock, who got it from a facility [New York City Animal Care and Control] that didn't have the wherewithal to euthanize a dog that bites family members." Jessup added, "A 'rescue' that sends a dog home with a shock collar on ... Nuff said."
Pennsylvania-based behaviorist Ilana Reisner responded as well. We issue a fair warning to readers who may choke on her outrageous use of jargon terms: "impulsive, disinhibited, affective defensive aggression" and "toggle-switch like" aggression and "impulsive, rage-like aggression." However, Reisner also admits what behaviorist Alexandra Semyonova has long stated about temperament testing. Such tests "cannot prevent or predict explosive, disinhibited aggression."
On this same thread, trainer Victoria Harter states this is the fourth attack she knows about after FHRC adopted out a dog. "This is the 4th dog that FHRC has adopted out that has bitten someone, there could be more. I've also worked with several dogs they have adopted out that are supposedly trained and rehabilitated," Harter writes, "They do not disclose to adopters the history of dogs which is dangerous to the family. I am not at all surprised that this has happened."
06/03/17: A 'Foreseeable' Attack
After reviewing a wealth of information, it is clear that a violent, unpredictable attack by this dog was "foreseeable." We hope the Patterson family sues Virginia Beach-based Forever-Homes Sanctuary, Inc., also known as Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (FHRC), after the dog killed a woman just hours after the rescue rehomed it. FHRC is a reckless dangerous dog rescue that has been "saving" death row dogs for years and is no stranger to legal troubles.
In a 2012 article, The Virginian-Pilot describes the two founders, Toni Enright and Jamie Cochran and the birth of their operation that saves "misunderstood" dogs. Enright said the two met while working at Owl Creek Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach: "It was chaos," Enright said about their beginnings. "Our dogs didn't get along. They were tearing stuff up," she said. "Another one kept biting me. And my pit -- he was the kind that was going to wind up in the newspaper one day."
The two self-describe as "disciples of Cesar Millan" and that his "pack-based philosophies struck a chord." - The Virginian-Pilot, July 1, 2012
Back then, the duo operated out of Knotts Island, North Carolina and lived in a double-wide overflowing with dog beds, crates, supplies and a mob of dogs. Enright described the trailer as a "ghetto." The gist of the 2012 story is that after The Lexus Project, a New York-based legal group, persuaded a judge to release a 5-time biter, named Alchemy, the dog was sent to the pair. But before reaching their rescue "ghetto," the dog attacked one of The Lexus Project attorneys.
Also at that time, Enright and Cochran where charged with felony embezzlement after their former employer, Owl Creek, claimed the pair outfitted their rescue with dog supplies taken from the clinic, reports The Pilot. We do not know the results of those felony charges. One does not need to in order to understand the "mentally ill mindset" of two young women bent on "saving" dangerous dogs from humane euthanasia through their "self-proclaimed" talents of magical rehabilitation.1
In March 2015, after the rescue moved to Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth of Virginia notified Cochran of "significant findings of noncompliance," including failing to obtain emergency medical treatment for a dog and transferring an unsterilized dog to a "private business" that breeds dogs.
History of Killer Rescue Dog
On Wednesday, the Patterson family adopted a male pit bull from FHRC, named Blue, for $20 after responding to a Craigslist advertisement. Previously, Blue had been a death row dog. Last December, Pennsylvania-based Animals Can't Talk Rescue (ACT) "pulled" Blue from New York City Animal Care and Control. The dog was on death row for biting people. A fundraiser states Blue, who needed "socialization and impulse control," would be sent to FHRC if funds were raised.
Manhattan Center
My name is BLUE. My Animal ID # is A1098430. I am a male white and brown pit bull mix. The shelter thinks I am about 1 YEAR. I came in the shelter as a STRAY on 12/02/2016 from NY 10029, owner surrender reason stated was BITEPEOPLE.
In addition to Blue needing "socialization and impulse control" training, the fundraiser by ACT states Blue "has been through a lot. His behavior -- too -- was cause for concern. He seems to react badly to loud noises and sudden movements." The fundraiser attempted to raise $10,000 in order for Blue and Lexie, another dog pulled from death row in New York City, to be trained and housed by FHRC. In this online effort, they fell dismally short, raising only $10 after 71 shares.2
On February 4, ACT delivered Blue to FHRC after a "whole bunch of donations." In an April 21 update, they state, "He will be ready for adoption in about a month." Apparently, the FHRC gals (Cesar Millan disciples) needed four months to "rehabilitate" Blue, including the heavy use of shock collar training. Just days later, we see Enright, Cochran and two other FHRC devotees walking a pack of 16 large dogs down a residential street, as if posing for a Reality TV show.
The Fatal Pit Bull Attack
On May 31, just hours after Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center delivered Blue, shock collar and all, to the Patterson home, Blue explodes with impulsive aggression. The victim's daughter, Linda, told The Pilot she was in the backyard with the dog, when she removed the shock and canvas collars. At that time, she also realized she had been locked out of the house. She knocked and called out to her mother, but she had fallen in her room and could not get up.
Linda took a hammer and smashed a window pane to get back inside her home. She was on her way to her mother's room when Blue rushed by her and pounced on her mother, which Linda described as initially being playful. Seconds later, Blue began mauling her mother's arms, abdomen and thighs. Linda swung the hammer at the dog -- other news outlets report she banged the dog with a skillet -- to no avail. Then the dog turned on Linda, biting her in the upper arm.
"I’ve had animals all my life and I have never seen an animal act like that. It was horrible," Linda said. "I’ll never forget that sight." - The victim's daughter
13News Now reports the elderly woman underwent multiple surgeries Wednesday night, including an arm being amputated. She died of her injuries Thursday morning. Attempts to explain the pit bull's explosive unpredictable aggression range from the elderly victim shouting at the dog, "Get the heck off me," which might have riled the dog up, according to Linda, to the dog only ceasing its brutal attack after the victim, who was being horrifically mauled, "stopped screaming and crying."
As animal behaviorist Alexandra Semyonova has explained in the past, selecting for impulsive aggression, as dogfighters did, created an utterly disproportionate response: "It’s also not realistic to pretend that impulsive aggression is not pathological. The environments (the fighting pit, the baited bull, the escaping slave) for which these behaviors were selected as an adaptive response are so extreme that in fact there is no appropriate context for these behaviors in normal life."
Rescue Denies Foreseeability
This brutal mauling death shows just how disproportionate this pit bull's response was, which allegedly began as "play" and turned into a catastrophic mauling claiming two victims. Blue was advertised to the Patterson family as "playful, affectionate" and "gentle, goofy." Yet all three animal groups, FHRC, ACT and NYCACC, knew the dog had been on death row for biting people, lacked "impulse control" and had "bad reactions"(or reactivity) -- often code for "impulsive aggression."
Dogfighters specifically selected for reactivity that quickly escalates to "impulsive aggression," which is exactly how Linda described the attack.
Yet, the most glaring "foreseeability" of this attack is that a dog, allegedly rehabilitated by FHRC, was adopted to the Patterson family and required a shock collar as a condition. This type of dog should not be adopted to anyone, but an experienced trainer who desires a constant "project dog" with continuous management. Linda did not seem to have any experience with shock collars, as evidence by the fact that she took it off because she thought the collar "seemed to be tight."
No matter how the dice is rolled, Blue was a problematic pit bull -- far beyond the help of any narcissistic "disciples of Cesar Millan," who live in a Reality TV fantasy of their own making. The Patterson family should feel lied to because they were lied to by this rescue. We hope the victim's family sues FHRC into oblivion, forcing them to stop all rescue operations for good. In fact, they should sue the whole chain of them, including ACT and NYCACC, as each lent a helping hand.
Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center's Denial StatementWe send out our deepest condolences to the Patterson family who adopted Blue. Blue went through our 3 month board and train program, and was a favorite amongst all of the staff members and volunteers. Blue loved other dogs, and didn't know a stranger. He never showed any aggression while at our training facility, and passed his final evaluation with flying colors before being adopted out to the Patterson family. Trainers spent yesterday morning checking over Blue's new home and going over training with Blue's new owner. There were 2 other dogs in Blue's new home, who Blue immediately bonded with. We do not know what events transpired in the moments before this tragedy occurred with Blue's owners mother, and none of us could have ever predicted this horrible event. We are devastated for the Patterson family and our thoughts and prayers go out to them.
Summary
As noted by our commenter, K-Hart, "These rescuers need to be held liable" for their "mauler peddling ads." Such ads regularly use "code words" for aggression to hide this behavior from the public and greatly minimize -- if not totally erase -- any mention of aggression. There is no such thing as "proof of rehabilitation" either, especially in the area of "impulsive aggression," by self-appointed experts, whose claim to fame is self-described as "disciples of Cesar Millan."
In their Denial Statement and web advertisement, Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center claimed they never saw aggression while at the same time supposedly rehabilitating Blue for behavior problems that are described with "code words" for aggression: “needing socialization" and "lack of impulse control" and bad reactions to "loud noises and sudden movements.” In other words, they claimed to rehabilitate a dog of negative behaviors they now say they never saw.
Simultaneously, their web advertisement describes a practically perfect dog, which required the new adopter to use a shock collar for correction.
The other arrow needs to be shot through city and county funded shelters that release death row dogs with documented aggression to unregulated rescues and rescue transporters en masse across the country. Blue was an owner surrender by the ripe age of 1 after lashing out at a child. By the ripe age of 1.5 years old -- when pit bulls reach sexual maturity and the bite, hold and shake trait typically kicks in -- he unleashed an unbridled attack on an elderly woman, killing her.
06/01/17: Rehomed Pit Bull Kills
Virginia Beach, VA - A pit bull adopted out by Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center viciously attacked an elderly woman the same day it was adopted. Police said the attack happened Wednesday. Police were dispatched to a home on Bunker Hill Lane in Pembroke Manor about 7:30 pm and found the victim with life-threatening injuries from the dog mauling. She died Thursday morning. Police said the dog is a 1-year old pit bull terrier, weighing 50 pounds.
Investigators said the dog attacked the woman after she fell on the floor (See: fatal pit bull attack of 86-year old Bessie Flowers. Her daughter's pit bulls killed her after she tripped on the dog bed last year). The woman's granddaughter told 13News Now the attack was "gruesome" and lasted about five minutes. She also said the family adopted the pit bull on Wednesday; the day of the attack. The pit bull showed no signs of aggression "until they took the shock collar off," she said.
The web advertisement also states the pit bull is male and that "all dogs will be spay/neutered and up to date on vaccines when adopted."
The granddaughter also shared with 13News Now the web advertisement for the dog: "Good with dogs, Good with older/considerate kids only, Good with adults, Does good in the car, Leash trained, Crate trained, Plays fetch, Likes to play with toys, Obedient, Playful, Affectionate, Eager to please, Intelligent, Even-tempered, Gentle, Goofy." Which is why the dog was wearing a shock collar? The dog is currently in quarantine at the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Liability "Denial" Statement
The Virginia Beach-based rescue group subsequently released a liability "denial" statement to 13News Now that essentially blames the adopting family: "We do not know what events transpired in the moments before this tragedy occurred with Blue's owner's mother, and none of us could have ever predicted this horrible event," it reads in part. The news group reports the Patterson family is considering obtaining an attorney and taking legal action against the rescue organization.
It remains unclear if the rehomed pit bull was delivered to the home with the shock collar or not. What is clear is that in March 2015, Jamie Cochran, the president of Forever-Homes Sanctuary, Inc., was sent a notification letter by the Commonwealth of Virginia after "significant findings of noncompliance" were discovered at the rescue located at 4937 Broad Street. One of them was adopting out a dog unsterilized to a "private business" whose business is BREEDING dogs.
The Virginian-Pilot documented a deeper disturbing history of this rescue group back in 2012.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Virginia Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.Also, General District Court records show that in April 2015 (one month after the Commonwealth found "significant findings of noncompliance" at Forever-Homes Sanctuary, Inc.), Cochran was charged with 7 misdemeanor violations for BRD/GROOM failure to provide care and 10 misdemeanor violations for inadequate animal care. Toni Enright was charged at the same time with 18 misdemeanor violations of the same nature. All of the General District Court charges appear to have been dismissed and were likely related to the failed inspection.
2It was 71 shares as we wrote this update. By the time we finished, it was 170. Obviously, sharing this fundraiser has taken on new meaning since the fatal pit bull attack due to the role it plays in the dog's known behavior.
Related articles:
01/31/18: Kerry: Unemployed & Unedited: Pit Bull Petition Is Too Late. I Already Quit.
09/20/16: What's Behind the Clickbait Web Advertisements of Aggressive Shelter Dogs?
04/29/16: 2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Rehomed by Humane Society Kills Newborn Baby
11/18/15: 2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Newly Adopted Rottweiler Kills Owner in Madison County...
08/06/15: 2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Recently Adopted Out Pit Bull Kills 6-Year Old Boy in...
05/05/09: Alexandra Semyonova: Heritability of Behavior in the Abnormally Aggressive Dog
FFS, how stupid do you have to be to adopt a PIT BULL that requires a shock collar?
LOOK at those dog walkers? How the hell is anyone going to control even TWO of those PIT BULLS if they get triggered? That right there is epic negligence!
Wow, the Forever Home Rescue and Rehabilitation Center sure know a lot about dogs. Blue is so even-tempered, gentle and goofy.
Wow. Just frightening. Toddlers trip and fall all the time. Children do too but not as much. Frightening to know the tripping and falling on the ground is enough reason/trigger for a pit to maul you to death.
Its crazy. When I adopted my 9 yr old weener dog (he passed at 15) from the shelter, I have a joint condition, and fall, and get hurt quite a bit. NEVER ONCE, had he hurt anyone. My current weener dog cries if I get hurt. Why wouldn’t they adopt a nice small weener dog like that? Those are great dogs for elderly ladies too, a huge dog that can knock u down even while playing is stupid for a grandma to have, nevermind a crazed evil dog that was to be put down for attacking people!
Pit Bulls are still legal in most places. Can anyone give me a legitimate reason they haven't been banned everywhere? I didn't think so!
These "rescues" need to be held liable!! The following is my take on bully breed rescue spin. The strikethrough is the reality they try to gloss over in their mauler peddling ads. (I hope it translates correctly in the comments view.)
Meet K̶i̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ Mr. Wiggles! Mr. Wiggles is a 1 year old P̶i̶t̶ ̶B̶u̶l̶l̶ ̶T̶e̶r̶r̶i̶e̶r̶ All American Mix. He i̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶e̶ ̶m̶y̶s̶t̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶u̶s̶ has been at the shelter for a month now and although he f̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶e̶n̶s̶ ̶v̶i̶s̶i̶t̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶t̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶g̶g̶r̶e̶s̶s̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶s̶o̶n̶a̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ gets noticed by visitors, he hasn’t met the right s̶u̶c̶k̶e̶r̶ family yet. Due to this wiggly guy’s d̶e̶s̶i̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶l̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ tendency toward over exuberant play, he’d do best in a home without s̶m̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶h̶u̶m̶a̶n̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶y̶ ̶u̶p̶o̶n̶ young children under 12. We also feel that his u̶n̶b̶r̶i̶d̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶g̶g̶r̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶t̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶w̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶d̶o̶g̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶a̶t̶s̶ sometimes inappropriate play makes him an ideal candidate to be ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ the only buddy you share your love with! If you have a d̶e̶a̶t̶h̶ ̶w̶i̶s̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶u̶l̶t̶i̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶d̶o̶l̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶u̶r̶a̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶l̶i̶c̶y̶ big heart and a warm bed, this bouncy goofball would love nothing more than to u̶s̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶j̶u̶g̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶r̶i̶n̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶u̶n̶t̶a̶i̶n̶ share your lap and love! Come l̶i̶s̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶s̶o̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶a̶s̶s̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶a̶g̶a̶n̶d̶a̶ meet Mr. Wiggles today! You won’t be l̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶n̶e̶x̶t̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶ sorry if you do!
There are times when we use shock collars in the training of herding dogs. These dogs are purposely bred to be high energy, stubborn, and fearless in order to move cows. I can tell you that the shock collar will extinguish a behavior completely – as long as the dog is wearing the collar. They know when it's not on them they won't get shocked. Some of them even know when the collar's not turned on. The collars are not a fail-safe device to be used forever to keep a killer dog in check.
It sounds like it wasn't the grandma's dog? Figures. Seniors and children often don't have a choice when these killer dogs are brought to their home, and they're the most likely to be the victims.
I hope this family sues the rescue group into the ground.
K-Hart hit it on the mark. All these shelters do is lie about the dogs (mainly the bully breeds) that they have just so people will buy them so they won't get euthanzed. No concern for HUMAN safety. No responsibility taken when the dogs kill. Just more lying and victim blaming. This woman suffered a tragic death because some idiot shelter workers thought a clearly very aggressive dog (the thing wasn't wearing a shock collar for nothing) was worth keeping a live more than another human being. It's disgusting.
Forever Home describes all of their adoptable pit bulls the same way. I guess "goofy" means "will rip your throat out"
After a few big lawsuits, the pit bull lobby will be a shadow of its former self. BSL, aka breed-specific LITIGATION. Bring it on!
I just love this: "owner surrender reason stated was BITEPEOPLE".
These rescue people are either impossibly stupid or think that everyone else is (or both). Nobody could foresee that an attack dog with aggression issues would attack somebody? That's like saying that no one could foresee that jumping in a lake could get you wet.
Enough of the lawsuits. This is criminal negligence. Everyone involved with adopting out this dog needs to go to jail.
Wow, Cesar Millan disciples. I should have known. He's the perfect idol for these mentally ill people who believe all dogs can be "rehabilitated" and should be "saved." His pit bull advocacy and heavily-edited TV shows deceiving viewers into thinking his methods magically fix dogs forever (not to mention those non-disclosure clauses the owners sign so no one really knows what happens when the cameras turn off), along with his scientifically-debunked pack theories and harsh, aversive training methods from the Dark Ages of dog training that just suppress problem behaviors and aggression rather than changing them, all come together in a perfect storm to fundamentally quirk how dogs are viewed and massively screw up the human/dog relationship–and lead to these horrific attacks and deaths! It's been documented that he also uses shock collars, and unfortunately his methods have become popular to those who just don't know there's a better way–after years of gains made in spreading awareness of the science of dog behavior and positive reinforcement training, he's taken dog training back into the old days of abuse, intimidation, and fear. I'm sure the macho attitude appeals to these young women who have a fetish for dangerous dogs and believe they have the right "energy" to tame the beasts.
I posited the theory some time back that the reason we seem to be seeing more dog attacks in the last few years is directly related to people attempting Cesar's methods on their dogs, which science tells us can cause explosive aggression. It's disheartening that people's thinking has gotten so messed-up and the joy of having dogs is being ruined in so many ways. Not all dogs can and should be saved, euthanasia is not the worst thing ever (far more humane than a dog living for years in a stressful shelter environment), genetics and breeding matter, dogs bred for aggression can never be trusted, and aversive training methods only harm the owner/dog relationship and cause behavior problems.
It's all just sick! This poor elderly woman had a lovely little terrier of her own and could have enjoyed an addition to the household that wasn't a high-energy, aggressive fighting breed. She would still be alive today if it weren't for all these lies being spread.
So they say they are totally shocked by this event, but also say that the dog has been returned multiple times due to biting issues? What kind of people are these? Who doesn't put down a pit that's known for biting. Surely they had other non-pit dogs available at that shelter that they could have sold this family instead. This is just a straight up negligence and lack of caring towards safety. These people should all be fired, the shelter shut down, and all dogs euthanized.
And I haven't kept up on Ceaser Millan in a while, but I swear that even he has said pit bulls can't be rehabilitated. That they will never loose their urge to fight and can never be rehabilitated into submission. Some 'disciples' these guys were.
Not sure how to give a "Like" out to K-Hart… but you nailed it!
I certainly hope they sue and don't settle. We need this in court and with a high profile so people will wake up. If we can't ban them from our cities (too many stupid people), we should do what Detroit did and make it unlawful for anyone under 18 to walk them. It would be a start.
The people running 'Forever Home' need to go to jail, period. Anyone who adopts out a dog that kills- no excuses. Promote the breed, pay for its deed.
Pit bulls were BRED to IGNORE PAIN WHILE ATTACKING: DIANE JESSUP, pit bull expert, breeder, former ACO
Unlike dogs who are nippers and rippers, her pit bulls are typically "grippers" who bite down and hang onto their victims."
Jessup believes that much of dog behavior comes from their genes. “I truly believe that a dog is about 90% genetics,” says Jessup.
on protection sports
This difference in “sheepdog versus bulldog” mentality in a trainer is best understood when training the "out!” or release command. It is common practice for those training shepherds and sheepdog types to use force such as hard leash corrections or electric shock to get the dog to release the sleeve. Sadly, I had one young man come to me because a club trainer was slugging his little Am Staff bitch in the nose, till she bled, trying to get her to release the sleeve. She would not! And of course she would not! She was a good little bulldog, hanging on for dear life, just as her bull and bear baiting ancestors of old did. She was a super little gripping dog, who took the pain she experienced as just “part of the job” once her owner set her upon the sleeve. And this is the response from well bred pit bulldogs—to ignore pain while gripping. It is, after all, what they are bred for!
CESAR MILLAN, celebrity dog trainer
"Yeah, but this is a different breed…the power that comes behind bull dog, pit bull, presa canario, the fighting breed – They have an extra boost, they can go into a zone, they don't feel the pain anymore. He is using the bulldog in him, which is way too powerful, so we have to 'make him dog' (I guess as in a "regular" dog) so we can actually create the limits. So if you are trying to create submission in a fighting breed, it's not going to happen. They would rather die than surrender.". If you add pain, it only infuriates them..to them pain is that adrenaline rush, they are looking forward to that, they are addicted to it… That's why they are such great fighters." Cesar goes on to say…"Especially with fighting breeds, you're going to have these explosions over and over because there's no limits in their brain."
Lol, ny animal control reported him as a STRAY, but in the same paragraph said he was an inner surrender for biting..which is it. The ny shelter us partially to blame for not euthanizing a known child biter and allowing it to be rehomedrehomed to anyone..adoption rescue group or private adopters..makes no difference. Surely there weren't other WORTHY dogs that this group could have helped? Other dog that were euthanized due to space that could have been saved if this group wasn't hell-bent bent on saving a " misunderstood' dog that attacked a child. Both the NY animal shelter and all rescue groups that passed this dog along to the home where an elderly woman was killed. Seriously, how could anyone think a pitbull with a known bite history and that HAD TO WEAR A SHOCK COLLAR TO ITS NEW HOME could be a pet that was safe to re-home???
These animal shelters and rescues need to know there are consequences for readopting known child biters back into homes whether they attemp to sanitize the dog's past or not. Every shelter/ rescue in the chain of this dog's post surrender history should be accountable. The NY animal control should have euthanized the dog. The "rescuers" should have concentrated their efforts and resources into saving pets that were surrendered for other reasons and had no history of human or domestic pet aggression. This animal had over 5000 in vet care..think of all the good pets that could have been saved for that! Seriously, how could anyone think that an animal rehomed with a shock collar could be considered a safe adoptee. There are pics of this dog at the rescue with other dogs..he is the only one seen wearing a shock collar..few of the other dogs have collars at all.
If you look at the color pic of the group walking the dogs, it's obvious that the gray dog on the far right has not been neutered. seems like that would be the first thing they'd do. Also appears to be wearing a corrective shock collar.
I can not believe the pathologically thinking these "shelter" owners seemto have. I suspect their thinking is similar to a cat horder with 50 cats in a 1 bedroom house, only a big difference, the cat horder's cats aren't attacking and murdering people. Pit bulls are dangerous to begin with–because they can so easily kill someone, unlike many other breeds that can not easily kill a human, how can anyone be so irresponsible to lie and adopt out a pitbull with a multiple bite history, and that requires a shock collar just to deliver the pit bull to the victim's house?!?!?! Most people are full of crazy love for their dogs, so when a family turns a dog into a shelter for biting, it's safe to assume that family already tried everything they could to keep the dog in their home, so definitely the dog needs to be euthanized before it kills! It should never be adopted out to another family (even if the family is aware of the biting history, because even if that family doesn't care about their own safety, they are still putting their neighbors and visitors in danger.) Yes, the family should sue and put that haven for killer-dogs shelter out of existence. Unfortunately, I'm sure the shelter has few assets for the family, and there will be another haven for killer dogs shelter ready to take its place. The owners really should have been charged with involuntary manslaughter–ie the shelter owners didn't mean to murder anyone, but their deliberate deceit directly led to the murder of a person. The law really needs to start holding these people lying and adopting out killer dogs responsible. Even Caesar had a modicum of intelligence (or at least fear of being sued) that not every dog should be with any random family (there was one episode with a violent dog that he tried to rehabilite before the owner gave birth to her first child, and he ended up giving the family a different dog and keeping the violent dog for his pact.) Too bad these shelter owners didn't pick up THAT important lesson from Caesar, some dogs need to remain with the "trainer" forever and will never be suitable for adopting out.
The 'politically correct' dog trainers who use the terms reactive, poor impulse control, anxious etc. to sell dog training have made a cottage industry for themselves. Classes for reactive dogs abound. Dangerous dogs, now described as 'he's just reactive," are paraded by their selfish owners on public streets with zero consideration of safety for other people's pets or our right to basic safety in public. I have been a dog trainer for forty years and the embracing and re-branding of dangerous dogs as 'reactive' and encouraging owners to keep these dogs is a marker of how the dog training industry flourishes from the public's refusal to end their fairy tales of dog ownership.
Enright and Cochran has admitted in public that thewy take in known violent dogs and make them worse. There is no such thing as "rehab" of a fighting bereed.
The victim's daughter found out that her pit bull did exactly what breeders have bred pit bulls to do for hundreds of years- attack, maul, kill.
So many pit bulls are given up because the public discovers they are fighting breeds.
Cochran and Enright are actually in a form of the dog fighting business, only the pit is our neighborhoods and parks and yards. The big question that remains unanswered is WHY the town let these two endanger everyone in the community with out-of-state violent dogs with proven records of mauling.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS REHAB FOR DANGEROUS DOGS.
"for a dog and transferring an unsterilized dog to a "private business" that breeds dog"
This is not a shelter, rescue, or rehab. It is a DOG DEALERSHIP BUSINESS.
These pit bulls are likely going back to the dog fighters who bred them for some more breeding.
This is how bad it has gotten- "rescuers" are abusing dogs themselves!
Does anyone have any information on who is funding them? Who is paying for this?
Is taxpayer money being used to launder dangerous dogs through this dealer operation?
There are so many sweet, gentle dogs losing their lives for lack of homes while money gets wasted on violent dogs that have no hope and put us all at risk.
Who is paying for this lie?
As I read more of the articles, I see how this is even worse than I thought.
The state of Virginia KNEW that Cochran and Enright were committing animal abuse too.
"A 2015 inspection report showed Forever Home Rehabilitation Center had numerous violations. Several cages were deemed unsafe, and there was not adequate ventilation, resulting in an odor. An inspector also found a dog wasn't given proper emergency care, which resulted in its death.
Since the 2015 report, the center had undergone inspections and passed.
In terms of people closely associated with the shelter, online court records show that President Jamie Cochran had multiple charges filed against her for inadequate animal care in 2015. Manager Toni Enright also faced 25 charges of failing to provide proper care for animals"
But the state still let them have a license.
So with all these problems and history, how could state animal control and the state vet "clear them" after this incident? This is a LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL ISSUE, not the state vet's affair! How can he make a statement about criminal culpability?
Is this telling me that the state vet and state animal control were enabling this dangerous and abusive operation?
The state vet is Dr Charles Broaddus, who is fairly new in that role. his residency was in animal reproduction, breeding, and he looks to have affiliations with the agriculture lobby from what I can find
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/press-releases-160328-broaddus.shtml
The dog business they transferred one dog to uses German Shepherds for police/guard work. I suspect they tried to offload a dog of that breed which was too aggressive for families, as police agencies will use much harder, more violent dogs than any family would accept. I've read a few books recently about military working dogs and secret service dogs, there's a definite macho culture of being willing to use very hard, biting dogs if they do the work otherwise. A flawed philosophy which is no doubt why we keep getting unjustified attacks on Americans by trained police dogs.
Enright appears to have quite a thing for Weims and Dobes – the intact males seen in photos are all of those breeds, there's a Weim puppy in one FB photo, and I wonder if she's showing/breeding them. I have nothing against purebred dogs and breeding, by any means – but it is unusual in the hardcore pit rescuers. I've googled around but haven't found anything connected to Enright and AKC competition, so I wonder what's the deal with her purebreds, if she's breeding them or doing anything with them. They're fairly unusual breeds – Weims are a sporting breed which are only recognizable through the Wegman photos and Dobes have been on the decline since the 1970s.
The women at that rescue shelter show by their every action and word that they have zero understanding of Cesar Millan's methods. That's no surprise because it's hard to learn dog training and handling from a TV show.
The problem is there are lots of people out there that think they understand what he's teaching. They go out and "rescue" a dog with dreams of "rehabilitation", when the truth is they haven't got a clue about how a dog's mind works.
Cesar needs to stop teaching that pit bulls, Rottweilers, mastiffs, and other powerful breeds are suitable for the average owner. America's been trying that for the last 30+ years, and it's been a disaster.
So true. Rescue places do lie through their teeth about pitbulls. Those attacked need to sue their pants off. Tired of these glassy eyed bitches endangering the public.
So much for 'unforeseeable': http://wtkr.com/2017/06/04/woman-claims-she-warned-fhrc-of-dogs-aggression-before-attack-of-elderly-woman/
Wow, Ka D, they can't deny not knowing that dog was aggressive before they adopted it out this time, not with that information. Guess it's up to prosecutor, judge and jury to decide whose life was more important, the dog's or the 90 YO woman's.
"Joeland — Their group is only required to file a 990-N, so that indicates their donations annually are $50k or less."
There is no way possible that anyone could care for this number of large dogs on less than 50K per year. Just the vet bills should be more than that!
There is money flowing around here that is not being accounted for.
I feel as I write this that I am writing about a dog fighting operation in the deep South instead of something that claims to be "charity."
It is clear that the state of Virginia has been looking the other way while lots of problems are escalating.
(speaking of vets- who was providing their vet service while withholding information about violence and danger at their operation?)
Why was this dog released to this "rescue organisation" (using the term lightly) in the first place?
When it was first taken in by animal control and assessed as aggressive (didn't it already have a bite history?) it should have been euthanized.
Why waste resources "rehabilitating" aggressive dogs when there are so many gentle non aggressive dogs desperate for homes? The money spent on this dog probably could have promoted and rehomed dozens of gentle dogs that wouldn't ever attack anyone.
Why are some rescues (and some money donors) so intent on trying to fix the "bad" dogs, at the expense of the nice dogs?
Our 7 year old border collie was mauled and killed in front of my 12 year old daughter last night by a pit. All of our dogs have been rescues, and I keep telling myself this isn't a dog or a breed issue, but an owner issue. I don't know if I believe it now. My daughter is despondent, she is inconsolable, replaying the blood and the sounds and the last few breaths our Maggie Lu took. The Virginia Beach Animal Control suggested since our pet was also off leash, the judge may not put the pit down. The dog broke out of a fenced area to kill our dog. I believe now the dog should be put down, without question. I am sorry … we are all forever changed by this attack. My 16 year old is devastated. so violent. My heart goes out to the elderly lady who lost her life and her daughter who tried to save her from the attack.
Imagine this conversation with a firearm dealer:
"This is a really nice gun. It's practically brand new. But you need to handle it REALLY carefully, ok? It's gone off without warning a few times. No one was even touching it. The first time it was a little kid, but that little kid shouldn't have been playing in the path of the bullet. Luckily, she was only nicked in the butt. The next guy, well, he was hurt a little worse when it went off, but he's ok too. The bullet got him in the wrist. But listen…this gun has so much potential. You just need to keep a trigger lock on it 24/7, ok? I mean, if it just goes off and you didn't follow my instructions EXACTLY, I can't be held liable. After all, every gun shoots, right? Well, here you go! Thanks for saving this gun from the oven! No gun that has a history of shooting people without warning should be just melted down…am I right?"
You'd be daft to buy that gun, right? Is it worth the risk? Now change "gun" and "bullets" to "pit bull" and "teeth". Is it now worth the risk because the object in question has warm brown eyes and wagging tail? Death is death, regardless of the manner. This poor woman had no chance against that dog. No one did. It was a death waiting to happen. And Forever Home wants to lay the blame on the family who BELIEVED THEIR LIES? They're sick, wretched, depraved, individuals. I hope they go through their days with the burden of an innocent woman's death on their souls. Perhaps a better term for their operation is a "deathscue" as opposed to "rescue".
Also, Christina Campbell, I'm very sorry to hear about your dog. That's awful. My heart goes out to you and your daughter. Please be careful with that pit bull around if the authorities don't euthanize it. What your poor daughter witnessed was exactly what pits were bred to do. Kill at all costs. I'm so sorry your pup had to be at the receiving end.
As for their claims of under 50k per year, not only is it not enough to care for these dogs, these two women are also taking personal salaries out of this and paying their personal expenses!
There is NO WAY this accounting for this organization is accurate or law-abiding.
I think every pitbull apologist in the country has headed to the comments section of the commentary you linked to. There are a few "I am sorry for their loss BUT…" explanations, at least one person is sure it is one of "many fake pitbull stories made up by dogsbite.org". I think the most amazing ones are those that are claiming the woman's injuries happened in the fall. That's right, the fall tore her arm off and disemboweled her.
You would think in a case like this that, a known biter who was on death row for biting who gets adopted and returned for biting and then is adopted again with a shock collar and kills the same day, that the pit lobby might concede that maybe this dog should have been put down. Nope, dogs are blameless 100% of the time. I did not read all the comments but wont be surprised if there is a go fund me to give this poor widdle wiggle butt yet another second chance.
Since this organization has adopted out multiple aggressive dogs, is there any hope the adopters could be gathered together for a class action lawsuit? It isn't just this one dog, this one incident. The entire practice of adopting out fighting breeds needs to be examined.
They still have the dogs picture posted on FB https://www.facebook.com/183745341669918/photos/a.659014254143022.1073741851.183745341669918/1527694477274991/?type=3&theater
Let's not forget thousands of these dogs get adopted out to the public, and only a few have had problems..Blue with a bite history should not have been adopted out by the rescue, or at least the rescue should have warned the new owners of Blues past, and made them sign a release form they were aware of his past before adoprting out..The rescue NOT NYCACC is responsible for this..There are hundreds of rescues that pull dogs from the ACC, and never have I seen a rescue pull a dog with a bite history, and I am on the NYCACC site all the time. This rescue should never have pulled Blue, or if they did they should have kept him as a sanctuary dog.That was irrisponsible what they did, and now they have ruined it for all the dogs at the NYCACC.
Toni Enright and Jamie Cochran should be getting charged with murder. These two exploiters of the public with dangerous dogs for financial gain need to be tracked as they try to move their dealings to another state, and kill someone else.
I hope people out there will keep an eye on their activities, and let any new communities know about their history, including their history of animal abuse. I know I will. The more people following them, the better.
Congratulations to the victim's daughter for doing the right thing and suing. It has to be done, and I hope that this sets an example for the future. ALL rescues and shelters taking in and placing aggressive dogs need to be sued or they will keep murdering. People should let shelters and rescues taking in fighting dogs from the South or places like New York City that they are being watched.
There is sadly money to be made in victimizing the public with violent dogs through "rescues" and dog dealing, and it attracts deviants and sociopaths
It sure looks a lot like these two tried to hide their tracks and escape responsibility by fleeing town, doesn't it? I would have put in a request for criminal charges and a request that a judge require bond.
This conmment makes my blood boil
"Let's not forget thousands of these dogs get adopted out to the public, and only a few have had problems"
YES there are problems all the time with the fighting breeds, but the shelters or their deluded followers NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEM. A vast percentage of these fighting breeds don't last a few months in the new home. They are euthanized, dumped at open shelters, or given to dog fighters. Or abandoned to die on the streets.
THEY HAVE PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE THEM. The shelters and their staff and followers operate under delusions of finding good homes for fighting breeds. It's a fairy tale. it isn't happening.
and after peopole give up their rehomed fighting breed, guess what? They don't go back to shelters because they assume that all shelter dogs are like this. The pit bull apologists have ruined rescue and sheltering so they could be pawns of dog fighters and commercial trade in these breeds.
As for NYCACC, they are rotten. Completely corrupt. They give out known aggressive dogs all the time because the No Kill maniacs took it over and are playing a game of let us pretend we are doing good and get lots of money for it. NYCACC has been responsible for much injury, harm, animal cruelty, and they deserve many lawsuits.
This level of willful negligence on the part of the rescue should lead to hard jail time and financial restitution.
I hope NYCACC is added to this lawsuit. It is obvious that the 2 pit pushers have skipped town and in the unlikely event that they had any assets to seize they have been put in someone else's name.
If NYCACC's liability insurance goes up after paying a $5 million claim maybe they will euthanize the next biter rather than pass it off to a "rescue".
Good luck getting any money from a pit rescue.
This shelter will give you a free pit bull if you find one of their special painted rocks!
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20170822/find-lake-animal-shelter-painted-rock-adopt-for-free
Because as we all know, the ability to care for an animal can be easily determined by one's ability to find a rock.
This is how desperate some shelters and rescues have become, thanks to the incredible influx of unwanted pit bulls.
Many other rescue groups are deceptive also. They list available dogs as "Boxer mix" and you look at the dogs with huge jaws, broad foreheads and tiny eyes….yeah "Boxer mix" my ass. The dogs are always listed as playful, goody lovebugs.
If the family's attorneys are any good, they will find the deep pockets where the millions are. Might be the rescue group's assets. Or their insurance company. Or up in NYC at the animal control agency.
A few misdemeanors for killing someone with a known vicious dog. This had to stop. These people need to go to jail for a long time.
My local public transportation service recently released a document concerning updates to their ADA compliance stating that a 'service dog' can be used for service or PROTECTION. I replied that that is completely WRONG and sent them a link to this piece about why that is not the case. I'd be interested to hear what anyone else has to say along the lines of making an argument about this. https://www.scribd.com/document/246928612/The-Tragic-Fantasy-That-A-Protection-Dog-Can-Make-A-Reliable-Family-Pet
The laws so badly need to change. Shelters need to be held legally and fiscally responsible for releasing a KNOWN aggressive dog back into society. >:(
Also in Virginia recently was the mauling death of Bethany Stephens, who was attacked by her two pit bulls. Gruesome detail: according to sheriff's deputies who arrived at the scene, the dogs were eating from the corpse.
And in Lowell, Massachusettes a seven year old boy was killed in another pitbull attack around October 22nd. 🙁
A little more information from March, 2018:
https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/article_f4a59f0e-278d-11e8-8788-a79958dde3bb.html
She was fined $750. Hopefully not the end of the story.