Mary Jo Hunt was mauled to death by a pack of her own rescue dogs in Pembroke.
Claws and Paws Rescue
UPDATE 10/04/12: Several issues are clarified in the FayObserver.com article today. Mary Jo Hunt of 17 Sharon Lane in Pembroke lived with her sister Deborah Jacobs, according to a neighbor who would not provide his name. Both women worked for the Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue. Glenna Hicks, the chairwoman of the rescue's board, said all of the seized dogs had been up for adoption through the rescue. Hicks expects the dogs to be put down.
A neighbor, who would not give his name, said Hunt lived at the home with her sister, Deborah Jacobs.
Both were animal lovers and worked for the Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue, said Glenna Hicks, chairwoman of the rescue's board.
Hicks said she did not know Hunt well, but "she was a good person."
Hicks said about nine dogs, mostly pit bulls, were taken from the home.
The dogs were seized by Robeson County Animal Control, whose officers were assisted by Maxton,Pembroke and Lumberton animal control officers, Sealey said.
The dogs had been up for adoption through the rescue, Hicks said. - Fay Observer, October 4, 2012
10/03/12: Rescue Pit Bulls Killed
Nine dogs were seized from the victim's home on Sharon Lane, according to Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey. He identified the victim as Mary Jo Hunt, a mother of three who worked with a rescue group called Claws and Paws Rescue. Hunt had about 10-15 dogs in the fenced-in backyard of her home, all of which were rescued, Sheriff Sealey said. "Some of the dogs were ones she rescued off the street," he said. "She had been rescuing dogs for a number of years."
Sealey said a neighbor called 911 at about 12:30 p.m. concerning the attack. When deputies arrived, Hunt was still being attacked. The deputies were able to remove the dogs from the woman, but she was already dead, according to Sealey.
“The deputies were the first ones on the scene,” he said.
Hunt lived with a sister, but she was at work at the time, Sealey said. Hunt had worked with attorney Hugh Rogers at his law firm on and off for about 15 years.“She was a good-hearted person and a hardworking employee,” Rogers said. “I think it’s a terrible, tragic thing.”
Hunt was a widow and had two sons and a daughter.
Sealey said that Hunt was trying to protect a small dog from the larger dogs by using a rake. She was then attacked and knocked down by the larger dogs and mauled. - The Robesonian
Bill Smith, Director of the Robeson County Health Department, said the seven pit bulls that attacked Hunt are being held at the Robeson County Animal Shelter. Two terriers believed to have been attacked by the pit bulls are at the shelter as well. Another pit bull, also attacked, was taken to a veterinarian. Smith does not believe any of the dogs that were part of the fatal pack attack came from the county shelter. The shelter is holding the dogs until the investigation is complete.
10/02/12: Woman Killed by Own Dogs
Pembroke, NC - In a developing story, another woman who "rescues" dogs1 has been attacked and killed by her own dogs. Robeson County Sheriff Ken Sealey said they responded to a home on Sharon Lane after they received a 911 call about a woman being attacked. Sealey said the victim was "mangled and her clothes torn off" after attempting to stop a fight between her dogs. Police found the victim lying dead on the ground near the gate of her fenced-in backyard.
Sealey said it appeared the dogs were in the yard when "several large dogs attacked a smaller one." The woman apparently tried to stop the fight using a rake, but the animals overpowered her. Sealey did not provide information about the number of dogs involved or the breed-types. It is also unclear who called 911 and who witnessed the attack. Animal control officials from four jurisdictions responded, including: Robeson County, Maxton, Lumberton and Pembroke.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: North Carolina Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.
Related articles:
08/17/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 23-Year Old 'Dog Rescuer' Mauled to Death by Own Dogs
04/06/12: Week of Escalating Violent Attacks by Rescued and Adopted Pit Bulls
08/15/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Pregnant Pacifica Woman Killed by Family Pit Bull
06/16/10: 2010 Dog Bite Fatality: Lorain County Man Killed by 'Rescued' Dangerous Breeds
Just more tidbits on the potential homeowner of 17 Sharon Ln Pembroke, NC:
You can see a Deborah Jacobs / 910-369-2252 / at 17 Sharon lane here:
http://www.locatefamily.com/Street-Lists/USA/NC/28372/index3.html
Though that phone number is different than below, it seems to be lining up in a lot of ways too:
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix Age: Young Adult
Compatibility: Good w/ Most Dogs, Good w/ Most Cats, Good w/ Kids and Adults
Personality: Average Energy, Very Submissive
Health: Neutered, Vaccinations Current
Hi I am PJ and like peanut butter and jelly you won't be able to resist my love and affection. I am the sweetest doggie, please take the time to check me out. I am 2 yrs old and have the best personality. I don't bark alot, I just love to sit and listen to people talk. I enjoy taking walks to the park and get along really well with other dogs, cats one on one. I am so ready to find my own forever home. Won't you please take me home with you. If you would like to adopt me, please call my foster mom, Deb Jacobs at 910-374-1453 or email her at [email protected]. You can complete an adoption application on line at http://www.rccprinc.org Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue or contact Deb Jacobs at 910-374-1453 for further information…
Adoption Fee: $85.00 Animal Location:
Robeson County Pembroke, NC 28372 MAP IT!
Contact: Deborah Jacobs 910-374-1453
EMAIL
Deborah K Jacobs (910) 775-9175 17 Sharon Ln
Pembroke, NC
Age:
55-59
http://pageserver2.dexpages.com/guide/NC/Maxton-Raeford-Red_Springs-St_Pauls/White_Pages/322.asp#
Another Canine IED Rescue Cell operating in a residential neighborhood…
The DBRF rate in the US is skyrocketing like a third world country. Number 30 for 2012 so far with 3 months left to go.
The Dog Lobby has some splainin' to do.
Haroldton "Hollywood" Hunt, 53, of 218 Haroldton Drive, Pembroke, died Sunday, April 23, 2006 … He was preceded in death by his father, Tommy Hunt; a son, Eddie Dean Hunt; and three brothers, Eddie Dean, Javie Hunt and Daryl Hunt. Surviving are his wife, Mary Jo Hunt; two daughters, Janice Hunt Lowery and her husband, Adam, of Red Springs, and Denise Jacobs of Pembroke;
http://www.robesonian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Haroldton+Hunt%20&id=1644636
If I am reading this right, Jacobs is a daughter.
Getting maxed out in Jan 2011 —
> From: Deborah Jacobs
> Date: January 18, 2011 9:50:28 PM ES
> Subject: Fw: Beautiful Doggies
>
> Hi Dear Sweet Ladies,
> I emailed this to you back in December. The foster who has Benny is not doing well and is not able to take care of herself at this time. She is in a lot of pain from the chemo treatments. I am begging for help to find Benny, Tootie and Amy a home. Lord knows I would take them if I lived in the country and could let them enjoy being outside, they stay in a fenced-in yard now. I have a neighbor that would shoot them if they got in his yard or my other neighbor complains about all the barking. He complains about everything! Please help me!!!!! The adoption fee is waived and I will provide transport. If this lady doesn't pull through, I will have to move them. I am resenting this message. Please help me cross-post. I am to a max with number I can handle where I live. 910-301-2285 or 910-775-9175 Suggestions Welcomed!! Thanks you! Deb Jacobs
http://pets.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnimalsNeedUsNow/message/19457?var=1
9 dogs were taken out of the home, no wonder her neighbor was at the end of his rope.
I can not wait to hear the excuses on this one.
Thunder? Lightening? Mars was in Venus?
Ahhh yes one commenter on one of the articles said the dogs were probably starved which turns them into coyotes…….
It appears another lion tamer falls to the propoganda.
New update-
In this article says the victim is a Mary Jo Hunt-
PEMBROKE — Nine dogs were seized from the home of a 53-year-old woman after they mauled her to death on Tuesday, according to Robeson County Sheriff Kenneth Sealey.
Sealey said he did not want to release the name of the woman, who lived at 17 Sharon Lane, because out-of-state relatives had not been notified; but according to an obituary in today’s The Robesonian, the woman was Mary Jo Hunt. The Robesonian has learned she worked with a rescue group called Claws and Paws.
Sealey said the dogs seized included several German shepherds and a pitbull mix. He said Hunt had about 10 or 15 dogs in the fenced-in backyard of her brick single-family home, all of which were rescued.
http://www.robesonian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Dogs+attack-+kill+woman%20&id=20342578&instance=top_stories
I think it's time that the word "rescue" was restored to its proper context. It implies heroism. And saving dangerous dogs from being put down is not heroism. It is putting the lives of others in danger.
Oh, one more thing, and I'm quoting from the Animals Need Us Now message, "…my other neighbor complains about all the barking. He complains about everything!"
The neighbor who complains about all the barking has a point. Did you know that barking noise is considered to be a toxin? Just like any other sort of noise? Thus said the World Health Organization.
Be a good neighbor. Keep your dog quiet. Or, if you can't handle that responsibility, then don't have a dog.
SEVEN PIT BULLS!!!!!
—————
Sealey said several of the dogs were German shepherds, but Bill Smith, director of the Health Department, said seven pit bulls that attacked Hunt are being held at the Robeson County Animal Shelter. Two terriers that are believed to have been attacked by the pit bulls are also at the shelter. A pit bull that is believed to have been attacked was taking to a veterinarian.
The fate of the dogs hasn’t been determined, but Smith said the shelter’s policy is that if an animal causes life-threatening injuries or kills a person, then the animal is to be euthanized. But the shelter is working with the Sheriff’s Office and holding the animals until the investigation is completed.
Read more: The Robesonian – Dogs attack kill woman
http://www.robesonian.com/view/full_story/20342578/article-Dogs-attack–kill-woman?
Interesting, the Deb Jacobs (55-59 years old) of the 17 Sharon Lane address also worked with Claws and Paws…
Here is the Obituary listing for Mary Jo Hunt- they must fax these things to the paper right from the hospital or funeral homes.
http://robesonian.com/bookmark/20348264-Incompletes-for-Oct-3
Mary Jo Hunt, 53, of 17 Sharon Lane, Pembroke, died Oct. 2, 2012, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center. Thompson’s Funeral Home
"Deb Jacobs" who shares the same address as the puported "victim" has a lot of pit bulls listed with her with the contact on the "Happy Tails" section of Claws and Paws "Rescue". Happy Tails is the listing for the dogs that have been SOLD by said "rescue".
I see six pit bulls just on the first page alone….did all these dogs cycle through her home? Talk about a neighbor from hell. And this is just the first page of the "happy tails"
Lillie, Callie, Brutus, Allie,Molly,Fumble,
http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?No=50&shelter_id=NC588&status=X
"Deb Jacobs" is all over the place online with her rescue activities, I wonder if it is her sister? Will find out soon enough when the obituary comes out.
Again! It seems we're seeing more and more stories about 'rescuers' being killed by their fighting-breed 'gripping' dogs (pit bulls, cane corsos, presa canarios, etc).
They just won't learn that keeping fighting dogs (especially several at once) is dangerous and often ends very badly.
Maultalk the way I read it, it appears that Ms. Hunt and Ms. Jacobs are sisters.
Also in one of the most recent articles-
Hunt lived with a sister, but she was at work at the time, Sealey said. Hunt had worked with attorney Hugh Rogers at his law firm on and off for about 15 years.
http://www.robesonian.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Dogs+attack-+kill+woman%20&id=20342578&instance=top_stories
Denise Jacobs appears to be the daughter of Haroldton "Hollywood" Hunt (Surviving are his wife, Mary Jo Hunt; two daughters, Janice Hunt Lowery and her husband, Adam, of Red Springs, and Denise Jacobs of Pembroke;). Mary Jo Hunt and Deborah Jacobs might also be related by the marriage of Hunt's daughter Denise to Jacobs' son — Lots of family lineage fun! It's no wonder the media is confused, certainly multiple people were advertising/posting about rescue dogs that all led back to this household.
Yesterday evening, I was at a local meeting that was hosted by an organization involved in animal rescue.
The host of the event had something like 14 cats in her place of business. They were in a back room with the door closed. I told the host that I'd be staying out of that room because I don't know the cats, they don't know me, and I'm very wary of animals in situations like that.
She insisted that the cats were adoptable (hint-hint) and that they needed to be socialized. Well, to put it mildly, I'm not interested in adopting a cat. I have allergies. And I don't care for that litter box smell.
But this exchange pointed out something that's long bothered me about the rescue movement. It's all about getting the animals out the door, rather than screening potential adopters. Oh, yes. Raising money. It's very much about that too.
From the story:
Glenda Hicks, the chairwoman of the rescue's board, said all of the seized dogs had been up for adoption through the rescue. She expects the dogs to be put down.
To which I say:
Anyone want to adopt a dangerous but dead dog?
"She expects the dogs to be put down".
Expect it- if she were normal she would have said she would be happy to help put them down herself.
Kudos to the rescue on their excellent temperament testing and placing of dogs into foster homes…..
If only the rescues pit bulls subscribed to Claws and Paws "No Kill" stance, we wouldn't have stories like this week after week.
that shelter is still offering pitbulls for adoption.