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47 thoughts on “2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Killed by Family Pit Bull in Visalia, 'Thoughts and Prayers' from Police Department

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  1. Idiots parents their little girl death wouldn’t happen if her parents chose any other dogs breed like a Golden doodle Shi Tzu border collie but no her parents choose a dangerous dog breed a vicious pitbull. I wonder how long her parents had the pitbull for when she was a baby or recently.

  2. So tragic. I would say the parents should be charged, but I also feel everyone complicit in foisting the lie upon the American public that pitbulls are just misunderstood and totally suitable (even preferable!) as family pets should be charged. With every new fatality (and they’re coming fast lately), my mind is blown anew at how this madness continues.

  3. This didn’t have to happen to this family. Shelters and other animal welfare organizations are pushing families to take these violent dogs into their homes. Pitbull ownership is being normalized when it ought to be illegal. This little girl died a horrible death because of systemic stupidity; it’s time for society to wake up and prioritize the well-being of children, and human life in general, over dogs.

    It would be nice to have a well-funded organization working for change, with billboards and ballot propositions for instance. PR and lobbying will be needed, for change to happen.

    • The only people who should own pit bulls should be single so if the dog turns crazy they are the only one attacked. These parents are negligent for having put bulls around children period!

  4. I don’t know why her family members are flabbergasted that their family dog killed her.pitbull are breed to killed livestock but they won’t admit that.I’m not really sure but back in the days people use the pitbull to fight and they outlawed that.Zoey kid you parents failed you.they could raised the pitbull with love and care but some will killed.

  5. Just another senseless loss of life.
    Note that I wouldn’t put my dog or cat within this beast’s teeth, but that is just me. I would save a dog or cat from this monster. I guess a child was worth less than a pet.

    • Very telling that the father is a Pitbull addict. Go work at a freaking shelter. Shame on you for having any pit bulls around your 3 children let alone 3 pit bulls. The other 2 should be put down too! And the father should be charged!

  6. That thing that never happens just happened again.
    It will keep happening until people care more about the safety of their kids than virtue signaling about having a “rescue pit”.

    Nobody ever stops to think if pits are such wonderful pets, how come so many of them constantly need to be rescued?

    It would seem even among fans of the breed many (I dare say most) of the pits are unable to meet the bare minimum low standards of pit bull owners.

    So they continuously get dumped at shelters, “somehow” get out and are not looked for and then get picked up by animal control. Animal control than spreads the lie that they are actually the best dogs. Obviously, that’s why people dump them.

    • Add on top of that Dr. Duke…

      Pitbulls will stop being popular when they stop being profitable.

      Rescues/shelters/Pitpushing Orgs are all sucking up millions, if not billions per year by making false claims that pitbulls are “just like every other dog”

      They’re not. If a GSD mauls someone, it’s a tragedy in some cases. Why? Because for all their faults and genetic traits, they generally don’t maul people *to death*–“death” being the operative word, here. If a goldie even bites someone, everyone is shocked.

      All these pitpushers need to be sued and regulated out of existence. They’re profiting off human and dog, misery.

      50%+ of pitbulls are dog aggressive as adults. NO other dog has anywhere near that level of aggression towards its’ own species. It’s not viable to have something that aggressive as a pet.

      Make pitbulls illegal. Period.

      There’s zero reason to own one except as a fighting dog and dog fighting is illegal. You can’t legally own a bobcat, or a tiger or a wolf and combined, none of those wild animals are killing a human a week, or more.

      • It’s crazy that people are allowed to keep pit bulls and other extreme aggression dogs. If a product or a car were killing people at the rate pits do, there would be a huge outcry and a recall. Somehow pit bulls get a free pass to attack and kill. I just don’t get it. It’s not right.

        • Agree 100%. Why isn’t there a ‘recall’ on these ‘defective’ supposedly domesticated dogs? Obviously they have failed to adapt to life as safe pets, so why do we continue to allow people to own them and subject everyone around them to the danger? They need to be banned with very strict consequences, ASAP.

  7. alot of dogs get agitated when other dogs or people splash in pools jump on trampolines swing on swings etc , the sped up dynamic can cascade into disaster , german shepherds and pits are notorious for getting agitated/aggressive around water ,ANYTHING that speeds up the dynamic is at risk of disaster with aggressive dogs

    • I have never had a pitbull so this comment is strictly about GSDs. I have had a lot of GSDs because I once bred them. GSDs, like all breeds of dogs, require training and socialization. Leaving them chained will turn them into dangerous biters unless they are chained in an area of no stimulation. (Cats, dogs, people, squirrels, etc.). There is no better breed of dog than a family GSD if the dog is stable, socialized and trained. However, imported GSDs bred to be police dogs can be very aggressive. Those are not good pets as a general rule. My GSD SD is very reliable. I would have great difficulty finding a safer dog.

      • GSDs, as you’ve said Rachel vary with breeding and training.

        I wouldn’t want them outlawed because they serve useful purposes, they can be amazing family pets when they’re trained up for it and they’re useful for security purposes when trained for that.

        They aren’t bred to kill other dogs or species. They’re working dogs and the biggest problem is they don’t do well, when bored or mishandled as “fluffy wuffies”. They’re often smarter than their handlers.

        Pitbulls, on the other hand, serve zero use outside of dogfighting.

        So unless dogfighting is making a comeback in the near future–time to outlaw them.

        • I don’t get rid of GSDs because they are troublesome if I raised them. I have accepted some unwanted GSDs in order to rehome them.

          The GSD my kennelman left hated me. He loved to snarl at me. He guarded his food from me. I knew that dog was a very loving dog in the right home. That’s why I did not euthanize him.
          His prior owner told me to euthanize him. If he had wanted him PTS, he should have taken care of it himself. Besides, the dog has bilateral elbow dysplasia. He was not lame in the house but running in the kennel wasn’t good for him. He also required soaked dry food or canned food.
          Dry food was getting stuck in his esophagus. He hated all dogs but he liked cats. A dog like him had to go to one experienced with dogs. While snarling at me, he was not trying to bite me. He also couldn’t be used for breeding due to his elbows and the fact that he attacked bitches.He was five years old.

          As of now, I generally won’t go into a kennel with any of the dogs other than Nodder and his son, Rocky. Nodder is in the house.

          Why? I normally get around with a walker.
          However, on August 29, I totalled my car.
          I’m in a rehab place. My left femur has an unhealed fracture in it. My left foot is a disaster. My right tibia was fractured at the ankle. Add to this a fx rib and three spinal fractures. I have no extra limbs to walk on.

          The truth with dogs other than pitties is this. Be a leader. Never show fear. Use no unfair corrections.
          The dogs learn to accept the rules. Don’t mix up commands. Nodder absolutely adores chicken. He won’t bite me over chicken, but I won’t be able to get it back.

          • With so many homeless steady stable GSD out there, keeping one with the dismal attributes you’ve listed as if the right home is out there seems like a weird ego thing. Why would you put a potential biter and general walk on eggshells dog into a home that a stable dog could occupy? That’s weird and not how I’d advocate for dogs needing rehoming.

      • its the complete opposite the germans are experts at breeding dogs the demand ;correctness of mind’ so the best dogs hail from the fatherland

        • Germany made the GSD the number one breed in the world with Hemophilia A.
          Hemophilia equals Dead Dog. German GSDs have high prey drive. High prey drive equals cat and livestock killers, but those dogs are mentally stable. They require good handlers and secure fencing.

  8. If they had marijuana then would it have been a crime to keep a vicious dog breed that killed their kids or is that only reserved for stupid 19 year old kids who are getting high in a different area of the residence? Why are so many vicious dog attacks left without criminal charges in California? It seems like the local DA’s are lazy pit nutters who allow human deaths to go unpunished despite the fact that it’s “not the breed it’s the owners” seems like it’s not the owners either it just a “tragic accident” like sitting in the open window of a fast moving car while going up the grapevine was a “tragic accident” thatm cost a teenager her life but resulted in zero charges against the driver! Just left the rest of the people who tried to save her with PTSD from seeing her injuries! I’m sure the hospital staff & first responers aren’t getting off as easy as the parents!

  9. The father STILL has pics of him and his nasty pit bulls on his FB page! Can you imagine still having pics of the beasts that killed your kid on your FB page? I just can’t relate.

    • Yep. His last post was that of his daughter at a birthday party, that he posted yesterday. It’s unbelievable he could post that while looking at his cover photo and profile pictures of him slobbering over his stupid dogs. A true pit worshipper. Sacrifice those children to those gods.

      • I’m glad he didn’t rush in to clean up and lock down his social media – this way we can get a feel for what the family/pitbull situation was. I suspect that he?) won’t be sharing so many pitbull-positive posts in the future.

    • “How do you know you can trust someone?”
      “If it barks or purrs is 100% good and reliable…”

      The implication is that human beings cannot be trusted.

      Zoey Hawkins trusted her parents.

      • ANY OF THEM is my reaction We both know it was probably a dog fight, for anyone to normalize look i was bitten ……….

      • they fall into ‘thou do protest too much ‘ on and on and on about the kind gentle breed etc yet here I am at ER random dog bite ! nothing new here , not we made a difficult decision to euthanize so and so after this ‘hospital bite ‘ in the the world of professional training the first thing you ask if someone has a dog with ”issues’ is has it bitten? if yes was it a hospital bite? if yes all dogs go to heaven he needs the express ticket . not i can ‘rehab’ etc

  10. Thoughts and prayers fall far short. People need to wake up.
    It takes literally 5 minutes of research on the internet to find the truth.

  11. Without laws recognizing that pitbulls pose special risk, everyone can pretend that they never could have guessed their pitbull would attack, can act completely clueless as to WHY their dog hurt someone.

    “Pitbulls are vicious” is a sentence written in a meme the father (or stepfather?) shared. He and other pit owners are aware. But without laws they can get away with pretending they never knew they were putting everyone around them at risk.

  12. Her father I don’t know why my sweet pit attack my little girl.I can tell him why he’s a pitbull a dangerous dog .I find it funny how he saying that the police got it wrong where she got attack who freaking care your lovable dog killed your firstborn baby if Zoey his oldest shame two years with that beast and he killed your sweet baby girl.pitbull nutters never listen.

  13. Another father of a slaughtered child on social media banging the “save a sweet Pittie drum”. Well, I guess now he understands why those of us with the sense to do some research (and respect the reality of said research) do not promote Pitbull Terriers as family pets. Not if you want to keep your family intact.
    I will not offer a dime to these idiot’s Go Fund Me accounts unless that account spells out exactly what happened to their defenseless child because of their stupidity and contempt for the truth.
    I applaud Daxton Borchardt’s father and the owner of the two Pitbull Terriers who destroyed that little boy for their willingness to share their horrific story and bring the truth to light about this dog breed! If you don’t agree with my description of “destroyed” I invite you to have a look at his autopsy photographs.

  14. ANY serious Professional knows pit bulls attack with a velocity ferocity and tenacity not seen in other breeds in part due to genetic LOADING because these men who breed them inbreed with zero taboo hence its not a breed its a genetic frankenstien

  15. Collen maybe you should contact UC Davis they already identified a genetic marker in malionis for individuals with deleterious genes that cause a propensity for aggression , its the same thing in Pits regarding the seemingly ‘unpredictable’ so a possible solution might develop a test identify these individuals and if you want to keep a dog with genetic propensity,,,,,,,,,,, these shelters could be forced to test and if a startling number had the marker at least we know , fast track to heaven https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/behavior-propensity-belgian-malinois

  16. “She’s been around this dog for two plus years,” Vargas said. “Her and the dog would always play with each other … so we have no clue on what the reason was.”

    This is why we need legislation to protect people and pets from these bully breeds: because so many people refuse to accept the facts, or do their homework, at best. At worst, they use these aggressive dogs as a form of passive-aggression; they won’t hit you, but they want a dog that might kill you.

    What puzzles me is why the authorities don’t remove the other children from the home if these dogs are still present in the home. They would remove children from the home if someone used drugs, or hit their partner, most of the time. Why not for this? Because the other children most surely are at risk.

    • It is likely that they did not remove the children because the parents agreed to give up all their animals. They euthanized the attacker and they may be rehomed the others…

      • Your Quiet Neighbor, we know you’re right about that because of Ontario, where authorities apparently decided they’re not going to enforce the pitbull ban, based upon what I have heard about the ubiquity of pits in Ontario. Did the police decide it would be too much effort? Looks like pit owners in Ontario who think they are above the law are right.

  17. The ridiculousness of the pit bull addicts rolling out the “adopt a pit bull” memes while breeding more pit bulls.
    Poor little girl never stood a chance, there were years of lead up aggression ending in this attack just brushed off like the dog bite to the subhuman father’s hand. Dying from being mauled under the arm pit must have been so incredibly painful and terrifying.

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