Camdon Bozell suffered multiple fractures after being attacked by a relative's pit bull.
Severe Facial Attack
Plainwell, MI - Late Monday, we learned that a 6-year old boy was attacked in the face by a relative's pit bull on Saturday. Camdon Bozell suffered a broken nose, fractured skull and many facial injuries. "He underwent emergency surgery and was pieced back together by a plastic surgeon and taken to ICU for recovery," states Becky Rose, the organizer of his fundraiser. The attack occurred at his paternal grandmother's home, while his mother, Tristin Lent, was at work.
In what we can only term as "bizarre," Lent spoke to Fox 17 about her son's attack, but spent nearly an equal amount of time "defending the breed." Lent was surprised the pit bull "went for his face" in "literally a second." The attack was "totally unprovoked," she said. "This dog has no history of aggression. He's used to being around loud, rambunctious kids," she said. Unknowingly, Lent just ticked off the well-identified risks of why pit bulls are dangerous, especially to children.
Next, Lent defended the breed. "I love pit bulls too and always have," she said. Then she displayed shame and a willingness to suppress breed information. "Now when people are asking 'what breed' he was, and I just don't want to answer them," she said. "Because I know that once I say, 'it's a pit bull'…" Again, this is after Lent stated the reasons why pit bulls are dangerous: an unprovoked violent attack to the face and the pit bull, allegedly, had no history of aggression.
"The data showed that compared with other dog breeds, pit bull terriers inflicted more complex wounds, were often unprovoked, and went off property to attack ... The probability of a bite resulting in a complex wound was 4.4 times higher for pit bulls compared with the other top-biting breeds ... and the odds of an off-property attack by a pit bull was 2.7 times greater than that for all other breeds."1
Though we have not yet done a post devoted to the above West Virginia study (we only show highlights), it has relevant findings given Lent's reaction. The study is the first to define a "mauling event." Mauling injuries were recorded "when 3 or more bites occurred over 2 or more distinct regional anatomic areas, typically the craniofacial region, back, torso, and extremities." Pit bulls were responsible for the most, 12, and 67% (8) of these attacks were inflicted on family members.
The study also examined scienter status, which was "directed at all owners and some relatives whose dog inhabited the domicile in which the attack took place." This status was "recorded as positive if there was knowledge of aggressive behavior of the dog (dogfighting, growling, or posture indicating threat of chasing or biting) or the dog had attacked or bitten a person before the current injury," states the study. Pit bull owners, however, could not be trusted to be honest.
Pit bull owners admitted to a positive scienter status in 14 of the 49 recorded bites. However, knowledge of previous aggression could not be determined for a high number of pit bulls because of the non-family status of the dog or because the owners or family members were ambiguous as to their dog's behavior history or "would not admit such knowledge." One adult who sustained mauling injuries refused to identify the breed of her dog, thus it remained "unknown" in the study.
For the remainder of this post, it is presumed this mauling event was carried out by the female victim's own pit bull, not an "unknown" breed.
Lent is now in the position of doing the same thing. "Now when people are asking 'what breed' he was, and I just don't want to answer them," she said. No doubt due to the person's predictable response. "That is what pit bulls are known for." They will attack without provocation; without a history of aggression (known or otherwise); will inflict complex wounds, and in this case, multiple facial and skull fractures. This was a "mauling event," not a "dog bite" as the fundraiser claims.
Further, of the 9 unreported fatal dog maulings we have uncovered through public records requests, 89% (8) involved pit bulls and 78% (7) involved family pit bulls killing a household member. Thus, the most common scenario of an unreported fatal dog mauling involves a family pit bull. This may be due to the same shame demonstrated by Lent. Pit bull owners and their family members will undermine statistics by suppressing information after a fatal pit bull mauling.
The Creepy Video
In addition to the GoFundMe, the organizer published a disturbing video of the boy in distress. The video, in our eyes, was strictly for fundraising purposes. In the background, one hears the mother attempting to console her son. The creepy fundraising video appears to be exploitive, but perhaps was a necessary evil in the fundraiser's mind to garner more donations. By Wednesday afternoon, the fund for Camdon had reached over $36,000 with the initial goal of reaching only $2,000.
Owner of the Dog
Camdon was visiting his paternal grandmother's home when the attack occurred, but this does not inform readers who owns the dog. The dog could belong to the grandmother or family members who lived at her home or were visiting. The fundraiser only indicates the owner is male. The "ambiguousness" of who owns the pit bull is deliberate by family members, just as pit bull owners or family members were ambiguous about their dog's history of aggression in the medical study.
Alarmingly, the Fox 17 article insinuates the dog is being hidden by the owner as well. "Kalamazoo County Animal Control is investigating the case, but would not comment further," states the article. "The exact whereabouts and future for the dog are unknown at this time," states the article. That was reported Monday evening and the attack occurred on Saturday. Given this outrageous ambiguity, we imagine there is a good chance Camdon is also undergoing rabies vaccination.
That would be one more checkbox from the West Virginia medical study. No provocation, no scienter status, no vaccination, simple wounds: yes, complex wounds: yes, multiple fractures: yes (facial and skull), and in this case, the attack was on property. Among vaccination status in the study, it states: "Most dogs were vaccinated. A disturbing trend was noted, however, among pit bulls: 37% were not vaccinated or could not be confirmed as vaccinated, which was significant."
Table from the medical study, Dog-Bite Injuries to the Craniofacial Region (Kahn, et al., 2020)
Owning a Pit Bull
The stigma of being a defender of the breed, as Lent displayed, or owning a pit bull, as the female in the study displayed by refusing to name her dog breed after it attacked her, most often comes to light after an unprovoked attack by a family pit bull. There is shame because the public has known for many years that pit bulls are a well-identified risk for inflicting severe injury. When an innocent child is the victim, the shame experienced by the owner or their family members is likely worse.
We have also seen denial by family members after a family pit bull has killed a household member: "The family does not blame the breed."2
On the Fox 17 Facebook post, commenter Sierra Moore-Day claimed to "know this particular situation" and stated what other commenters said. The "boy's uncle lives with the grandma and is the owner of the dog."3 Moore-Day defended Lent, calling her a "great mother" and that "it sucks that her interview with the news comes off as that she is still a supporter of the breed." Moore-Day also stated that Lent asked the owner of the dog to put it down and the male owner refused.
Though this information is unconfirmed, Moore-Day is believable. She is also correct that Lent had no control over how Fox 17 edited her interview. Media often picks the most controversial (or emotional) aspects of an interview to create drama or to incite controversy. However, Lent did say what she said. Those words were then juxtaposed against her son's injuries after being mauled by a relative's pit bull that was "used to being around loud, rambunctious kids," according to Lent.
Summary
Pit bull supporters, owners and their family members will suppress breed information, either to lower their feelings of shame or to "protect the breed" after a serious or fatal mauling. The West Virginia study documented that an owner will even do this in a trauma center after being severely attacked by her own dog. When the denial of well-identified risks is confronted by an actual outcome, an unprovoked facial attack resulting in severe injury, humiliation sometimes follows.
Operating on the theory that Moore-Day's information is valid does not remove what Lent said on camera, but it does offer context. Lent did not own the dog, has asked the owner to put it down, and the owner, allegedly the child's uncle, has refused. The child's uncle is the despicable party. Lent said, "I love pit bulls too and always have" at a disastrous time. She also expressed shame and a willingness to suppress breed information when she did not even own the pit bull!
Camdon Bozell needs all of the help that he can get. His road to recovery will be long and insurance only covers reconstructive surgeries, not cosmetic. The GoFundMe states that he may have "possible nerve damage to the left side of his face" too. Throughout his recovery, there will be too many doctor visits to count. As his face and skull grows, he will likely undergo future plastic surgery. This tragedy could have been prevented if the uncle had owned a beagle instead.
Camdon Bozell seen in hospital bed after being attacked in the face by a relative's pit bull.
In August, it was confirmed that the male pit bull that attacked Camdon was named "Chaos."
2The brother of the victim's full statement after Connie Holley was brutally attacked by her son's pit bull: "The family does not blame the breed. I am her brother. I love pits have only met a couple that have been bad. I personally think the dog a rabies. This dog did not attack like a normal dog. It attracted her drug her into the bushes, brutally ripping her thighs down to the bone. He bit her on the neck and behind her head, he them continued to rip and chew on her for the next 4 hours. It was a horrible tragedy. But I don't blame the breed. So that I squared up maybe you can do something constructive and tell people to vaccinate their pets." [sic]
3 The male pit bull could be "Chaos." We hope we are wrong about this.
Related articles:
03/25/20: Victim Shares Video After Violent Facial Pit Bull Mauling
09/21/17: 2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies of Injuries After Pit Bull Mauling in Mississippi
The responsible adult knows that dangerous breeds are unpredictable animals that kill and maim by switching from nice mode to kill mode in a tiny fraction of a second without warning, unprovoked, at random. When this killing and maiming happens, the responsible adult will defend the dangerous animal and its ilk. The civil authorities will do the same thing. There are some exceptions to such manifestations of this social and governmental malady, but when such happens, it is painfully too late. People who defend the dangerous animal make them selves to be the winner by deploying such a pathological defense mechanism. The baby, the infant, the toddler, the senior citizen, the pedestrian, the every person: They are the losers. This disease is a spiritual malady. When hate for neighbor and self is replaced by love for self and neighbor, dangerous animals will no longer be chosen as pet animals. I will not live long enough on earth to see that day. I will see that day soon in another Kingdom that non-loving people can not know or attain.
Here is a 100% way to show people that the “its the owner not the breed” is a 100% lie.
Pits are only 6% of the dog ownership, yet account for by far the MOST human deaths and serious maulings of any dog breed.
Labs are the MOST owned dog breed in the US. Yet Labs dont kill but 1 person every couple of years? Compared to 20 plus per year for Pit Bulls.
So if Labs are the most OWNED dog in the US, that means there are FAR MORE BAD lab owners than Pit Bull owners just based on sheer numbers.
So, it if truly was an “owner” problem and not a breed problem, then Labs should BY FAR have the most human deaths per year…
But they just dont…It is a big lie. You can stop any PB owner in their tracks with this logic, but unfortunately PB owners are usually not the brightest bulbs in the batch to even consider logic and common sense…
“Moore-Day also stated that Lent asked the owner of the dog to put it down and the male owner refused.”
I wouldn’t be asking. That dog would have been well on its way to being compost before my child was out of surgery, owner’s “refusal” be damned.
Today I was talking with a very nice woman who expressed shock that pit bulls today could be aggressive since they have been bred for pets for so long. She is a GSD owner. I found this a bit scary since a pit bull could easily kill her dog.
At any rate, obviously more people need to be educated as to the danger these dogs present.
As someone who survived a pit bull attack, that video broke me. I’m bawling like a fool, hearing that sweet baby feeling the things I felt while in the hospital. Knowing what he has to endure for the rest of his life kills me inside. And I’m sorry, but this mother should be ashamed. Not for recording him, because that should be documented. But for her tone in response to this boys anguish. He endured pure hell, and her only response is, “I know, I’m sorry.”?????? My family sobbed over me before my first surgery. I bawled like a baby over my 4 year old and she only had a tooth, maybe 2 teeth, in her forehead/neck before I pushed him away and he mauled me instead. But just that look on her face and the blood on her face devestated me. Those tiny scars rip me apart when I see them on her, and this mother can only make false sounding apologies???? I’m repulsed.
My heart broke when Camdon said, “I wish this never happened.” Such an adult statement from a 6 year old and unfortunately something he we repeat for decades. Mom’s voice comes off as not being too concerned and honestly fake like she is acting for the camera. Yes, he will need money for further surgeries but something tells me that money will be spent on other things and long gone before it ever benefits him.
A very adult statement indeed. I’m so sorry for the boy his parents and relative failed him but also society has for not seeing through the lies about these dogs made up by sick people.
In that video, the mother sounds like a psychopath. She’s mouthing the words, but it’s obvious that she lacks empathy.
Is child protective services involved in this case? It should be.
Poor little boy. I wanted to mention that this sounds like one of those too-common setups that lead to dog attacks, a grown man dependent on a woman – usually an older female family member – for financial support and part-time housing then brings a muscular fighting/guard breed like a pit bull or Rottweiler into her house. So many pit bull attacks involve that setup. It’s easy for the man to ghost with the pit bull because he has no real financial ties to the property – his mom, aunt, sister, baby mama, etc. are the ones paying the bills, whose names are on the rent agreement, the lease, the mortgage. This is basically the 21st century version of the “intact male dog chained outside 24/7” setup that resulted in most dog attacks in 1980.
Typical zero knowledge pit bull owner, never got any information that wasn’t off a propaganda site.
I am sorry but Pit Bulls deserve the negative stereotype that the breed has. My grandson was mauled and another on killed one of my dogs. This is my opinion only but this breed is good for target practice only. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice and my dog gets killed. Pits are not nice dogs. They shouldn’t be around children.
This entire thing is just heartbreaking. The uncle or whoever actually owns the dog should be ashamed, choosing an animal over their own family. This poor child could have lost his life and the whole family seems more concerned on making sure poor pitmauler doesn’t get exposed. Disgusting. That beast needs to be put down and this child saved from this family.
I watched that video and it shocked me. The mother doesn’t sound upset at all. I’m not a parent, but if anything like this ever happened to so much as a close friend, I don’t know what I’d do with myself, let alone a family member. Her empty voice just saying “I know, I’m sorry”, like he just fell or something is mind boggling. She should be doing everything in her power to have the mutant animal put down.
Yes, the reporter sounded more concerned about the child. The mom, on the other hand, seemed more concerned about the reputation of a fighting breed than her own child. It’s an outrage.
I hope all the money raised goes to the child. He’s going to be very traumatized by this.
I scrolled through the update’s on this child’s gofundme organized by a great aunt. She made this comment,
“It sounds like Cam will be going home today. Lots of swelling. Fox 17 wants to cover Cams story. Tristin is feeling uncomfortable accepting help but is VERY grateful for every ones generosity. Unfortunately as of now the dog has not been removed from the premises. It was the owners choice. He said “NO”
Shocking? Not really, but it should be. Once again the pit bull is valued more highly than the child.
If that dog chews up this child again, the dog’s owner or the child’s caregiver will be going to prison.
Where are the authorities?! How could anyone allow a dog that did this to a child to stay alive?! Who cares what the owner says. Euthanize that monster before it does this to another child! And just what on earth is wrong with this family? I cannot believe the mother would rather protect a dog that could have KILLED HER SON than speak out the truth of what happened. Thank goodness word got out that this was a pit, or she’d be trying to hide it. It’s pure lunacy.
Unfortunately as of now the dog has not been removed from the premises. It was the owners choice. He said “NO”
Really?
Can you imagine the fear the child will feel trying to recover with that dog in the house?
Don’t know what the law is in Michigan, but in Virginia if a dog kills an animal or human, it’s deemed dangerous and must be destroyed.
This mother – if that term is even applicable here – is the absolute epitome of what is wrong with pit bull defenders and advocates. Her own son was a hair’s breadth away from death, and yet she stands in front of God and everyone professing what? That she “doesn’t blame the breed.” Utterly brilliant.
She ticks off literally every reason why pit bull type dogs are so damned dangerous. The dog had been around loud rambunctious children all the time, had never shown aggression before, was unprovoked, and snapped at the face and was on the child “in a second.”
Ding! Ding! Ding! She wins the “No shit, Captain Obvious” prize! The truth is laid bare for her and she still chooses to act shocked and surprised that the land shark she trusted around her innocent, defenseless child did what it its genetics tell it to do: sudden, unprovoked, violent aggression aimed at a someone/something completely vulnerable and defenseless. They were bred to kill, and by the grace of God her son didn’t meet that awful fate.
She’s received a horrifying wake-up call and she’s hitting the snooze button. I pray her poor son never gets put in a situation like that again, but it sounds like there is a very high possibility it will happen again.
This mother has been given the gift of her child’s life for a second time. She has been given what so many parents never have. She gets to hold her sweet child again for another day. I hope her eyes will be opened and she will truly realize what she almost lost, and the reason why she almost lost him was believing that pit bulls are safe.
Thank God that poor little guy survived. I just wish he wasn’t at the mercy of “adults” whose decision making skills make me wonder if their synapses fire properly.
Where are the authorities in this mess? Why does the uncle even have any choice whether or not to put the dog down? This is an absolute no brainer. SMH.
This was not covered by the other Kalamazoo news sources at all. Dogsbite report was the first I heard of this as I don’t watch Fox17. Nor did I hear anyone at work talk about this; I work with people from Plainwell who i would think would know about this.
The article I read stated that she said “obnoxious” kids instead of “rambunctious”. I took a Screen shot of it because I was floored that she described children as “obnoxious” and then follows with how she “loves” the breed AFTER her son was horrifically disfigured! Did the article I read mistype that?
This little boy…it actually breaks my heart AND the video of him crying.. he is very lucky that the mutt didn’t rip his eye area, also his lips but this is truly a horrific ( but probably quite ‘normal’ pit damage fkn disgusting) this image should be played on national news throughout the states! Who is behind the propaganda machine, that prevents US folks from seeing this damage? I am so sorry for the average North American who just doesn’t understand the viciousness of these ‘breeds’ if it looks like a pitbull or bully breed…it IS one! and you may not be safe, in your own backyard…take care, my US allied, from Australia xx
These ” parents ” need to loose custody of this poor child !