Video: Two Mothers Share Their Tragic Stories of Losing a Child in Family Dog Attack

Family Pit Bull Suddenly Kills Innocent Child

Please click an image to play the video. From left: Roxanne Hartrich and Angela Rutledge.

DogsBite.org - On the fourth day of Canine Victims Awareness Week, we have selected two powerful videos of mothers who have lost a child in a sudden, vicious family dog attack. Roxanne Hartrich of Bloomington, Illinois lost her 4-year old daughter after the family's two pit bulls brutally attacked her in January. Angela Rutledge of Fulton County, Georgia lost her 2-year old son after her family pit bull of 8-years, Kissy Face, suddenly attacked and killed him at their home last year.

Each of the videos touches upon the unexpected nature of the attack and the tremendous violence of it. Both fatal attacks involved well-raised and cared for family pit bulls -- raised from puppyhood -- that had previously played with the child countless times. Both mothers have shared their painful stories to prevent this from happening to another family and to offer a warning to other parents about the dangerousness of pit bulls. "Had I known then what I know now," Roxanne reflected.

Roxanne Hartrich - Bloomington, Illinois (2014)

The raw, emotional account of Roxanne will pain the hearts of viewers. She begins by saying that the day of the horrific attack was her daughter Kara's 4th birthday. The family owned three pit bulls, two males and one female. At the time of the attack, Kara and her younger sister were at the family home being watched by Roxanne's mother. After Kara put a toy away, she came into the room with her grandmother and sister and said, "Brody knocked me into the wall. Brody hurt me."

Roxanne said that her mother picked up Kara and said, "I'm sure Brody didn't mean it Kara ... are you okay?" Roxanne said she had barely gotten that out when "Brody came flying from the playroom, and jumped into the air, and attacked my mom and my daughter. He attacked her out of my mom's arms," Roxanne said. Despite her mother's efforts, Brody continued to attack. "He initially went straight for the jugular. He also bit her face, her head, everywhere," she explained.

I got out of my car. I was met by my husband, my mom and police officers and the firemen. They said you need to go to BroMenn. Go to BroMenn now ... And the doctor came in and he said, "Your daughter is gone. There is nothing we can do for you, for her." And he said, "Prepare yourself, the damage is going to be excruciatingly painful to see." We have three dogs ... Brutus was two, Brody was one, Bella was in her crate ... In retrospect, if I could turn back the clock, had I known then what I know now, you are absolutely correct, we should not have had them around our kids. My little girl is gone because we were, in essence, ignorant ... The ones that are attacking are the family dogs... - Roxanne Hartrich

Angela Rutledge - Fulton County, Georgia (2013)

Another raw, emotional account features Angela Rutledge speaking with State Rep. Keisha Waites. In April 2013, Angela's 2-year old son Beau was savagely killed by his family's pit bull at their home. Neighbors who saw the attack scene said it was "like a horror movie." The family had owned the female pit bull, named Kissy Face, for 8-years without any aggression issues. That suddenly changed that day in April, when Angela left her son momentarily to go to the bathroom.

She begins by telling Rep. Waites how stealth and fast the vicious attack happened, and how she did not hear any noises. "When I came downstairs, it wasn't because I heard anything," Angela said. "It wasn't because I heard a scream or any banging. I don't even to this moment understand how I did not hear anything. There was no music playing in my house. It was so quick," she said. "I walked down those stairs not expecting anything other than to cook lunch for my son," she said.

My son had puncture wounds in his neck. Gashes in his head. And he laid there, and I screamed so loud ... I ran upstairs to go get my cell phone so I could call 911. I couldn't even call 911 because I kept slipping in the blood, and I kept dropping my phone ... The reason why I am supporting this legislation is to undo the lie ... There's a horrible rumor out there saying that nature will submit to nurture. It's almost like if you were to get a lion as a cub -- They are very innocent and very sweet, but there comes a point ... They are ticking time bombs. You cannot reach into their minds to know what is going to click on that detonator and set them off ... I believed that if you loved these dogs... - Angela Rutledge

Many more videos of victims sharing their histories are located on the Victim Videos page.

This blog post is part of a special series DogsBite.org is running for the first ever Canine Victims Awareness Week, November 9-15, 2014. Learn more by visiting the AVOCA website.

Family Pit Bull Suddenly Kills Innocent Child

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