Posted on September 5, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Two-Week Old Baby Killed by Family Pit Bull-Mix

Victim Identified
UPDATE 09/05/11: Authorities have identified the infant who died early Sunday after being mauled by a dog. Brayden McCollen was in a baby carrier on the floor in a room at his family's home in Cypress when the dog began sniffing the newborn then mauling him. A spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Thomas Gilliland, said the baby's mother was outside at the time, watching him through a window. The dog pushed through a pair of French doors to reach the baby.

"The dog is a large pit bull. More than 100 pounds. It is unknown now how the dog got access to the child. It appears precautions were taken to prevent this, but it occurred anyway," said Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Dennis Wolfford.

The less than ten pound, 13-day-old baby was in a bouncing seat. Investigators say three people were at home at the time including at least one adult. My Fox Houston, Sept. 5, 2011

09/04/11: Another Baby Killed by a Dog
Cypress, TX - There has been another U.S. fatal dog mauling. The most recent death also involves a newborn. It was reported today that a 13-day old baby boy was mauled to death by the family's pit bull1 Saturday evening. The attack occurred in the 16500 block of Cypress Bridge Drive. Investigators said the pet attacked the baby as it laid in a baby swing on the living room floor. The Harris County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case for possible charges.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Texas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1Animal control officials identified the dog as a pit bull. The Harris County Sheriff's Office report has the dog listed as a "lab-mix." Sheriff's investigators clarified later Monday the dog was a large pit bull.

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Philadelphia Woman Killed by Husband's Pit Bulls

Memorial sign after Carmen Ramos was mauled to death by her husband's pit bulls.

Protocol Breakdown?
UPDATE 09/02/11: A week before the brutal attack that left Carmen Ramos dead, neighbor Dolores Estrella described how the same pit bulls had attacked and bitten her. Estrella was not the only person bitten in the August 19 incident, Gus Castro was as well. The PSCPA allegedly sent the dogs home three days later, which is a rabies protocol violation in many cities. The agency likely should have kept the dogs in quarantine for 10 days after the August 19 bites.1

When the dogs were returned, everybody on the block "was in shock," [Gus] Castro said.

Unfortunately, returning a dangerous, biting pit bull to its owner should not shock anyone, as many state laws allow for multiple bites prior to deeming a dog "dangerous" and long before a court ordered euthanization. What should shock all persons is when a rabies protocol violation occurs -- a disregard or error concerning the 10 day quarantine following a biting incident -- coupled with a person being mauled to death by the same dogs in a very close time span!

More Protocol Breakdowns?

Further review of early news reports shows more potential protocol violations by the PSPCA. One neighbor, Victor Viruet, claimed that Jose Alvarez had at least three previous run-ins with the agency. According to his brother Ariel, "He kept paying $200, $300 and they'd give the dogs back." Ariel added that the PSPCA removed 10 dogs from the Alvarez home last year and found dead dogs in his basement. The agency later returned the "living" pit bulls to him.

On September 1, City Managing Director Brian Abernathy launched an internal investigation into animal control -- the PSPCA -- to review if proper procedures were followed. It seems that many procedures were not. At the very least, the discretion of the investigating officers who continued to interact with Alvarez and his pit bulls was sorely lacking. The sufferers include the dead victim and her children, the bitten neighbors and the neighborhood as a whole.

09/01/11: Death Due to Canine Bites
Philadelphia, PA - A Hunting Park woman was mauled to death by her husband's pet pit bulls Tuesday night. Preliminary autopsy results show that 50-year old Carmen Ramos died from multiple canine bites. The manner of death was ruled accidental, according to the report. The victim's husband, 55-year old Jose Alvarez, told police he came home from work to discover his wife being attacked by five pit bulls in their living room in the 400 block of West Carey Street.

According to police, the victim suffered severe trauma to her head, face and legs. Neighbors said the dogs were vicious and that everyone was afraid of them. Neighbors also said the pit bulls were taken away August 19 by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) after they attacked two residents, but were returned to the residence three days later. The victim's son, Pedro Ramos, now places part of the blame on the animal control agency.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Pennsylvania Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

1Some states, such as Pennsylvania (See: Pennsylvania Dangerous Dog Statute), allow for "home quarantine," where the owner of a biting dog is allowed to keep the animal secure for 10 days in his home. Cities within these states, however, often create stricter rules that disallow home quarantines. It is unknown what the protocol is for Philadelphia, but clearly, it was unwise to place the dogs back into the Alvarez household.

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

Victoria Signals End to Unregistered Pit Bulls After Fatal Attack

30 Days Amnesty
Melbourne, AU - In the wake of a little girl brutally killed by a pit bull-mix in a "home-invasion" attack, the Baillieu Government is rushing new laws through Parliament to arm council officers with the power to seize and destroy unregistered restricted dog breeds.1 Prior to this, crosses of restricted breeds could escape inclusion on the dangerous dogs register. Owners of pit bull crosses have one month to register their dogs or face the animal's seizure and destruction.

On August 17, Ayen Chol was ripped from her mother's grasp by a pit bull cross that entered into the home where her family was staying.

The Government also created a Dangerous Dog Hotline (operational seven days a week) so that members of the public can notify council officials about restricted dog breeds living in their neighborhoods. Officials are also considering stronger penalties for owners of restricted breeds who are not in compliance with state law. The new penalties would require jail time, instead of the $4500 fine that was issued to the owner of the pit bull cross that killed Ayen.

A new set of identification guidelines spelling out exactly what is regarded as a pit bull or pit bull cross will stop owners claiming their dogs belong to different breeds.

An amnesty allowing pit bull and restricted dog owners to notify authorities of their pets will end on September 30.

From that day, dog inspectors will have the authority to destroy any unregistered dog fitting the pit bull description.

From today members of the public can "dob in a dangerous dog" through a $100,000 hotline to help council officers identify potential dangers hidden in their neighbourhoods. (Grant McArthur and Amelia Harris, Herald Sun)

Kudos on the crackdown Baillieu Government!

View Related video

Separately, there has been another fatal pit bull mauling in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago since the murder of Denise Rackal in May (See related articles below). Due to intense lobbying pressure by animal welfare groups it is anticipated that no actions will be taken by government officials.1Restricted dog breeds must be microchipped, sterilized, kept in a secure yard and muzzled and leashed when in public. Restricted breeds include: dogo argentina, japanese tosa, fila brasilia and pit bull terriers.

Photo: Daily Mail

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Tucson Man Succumbs to Injuries After Attack by Pet Pit Bull

Michael Cook, 61-years old, died after being attacked by his pet pit bull.

Dog Attack Victim Dies
UPDATE 08/23/11: Twenty days after suffering catastrophic injuries from his pet pit bull, Michael Cook succumbed to his condition this morning and died. Since the August 3 mauling, Cook required over 100 pints of blood and doctors removed both of his arms. The amount of blood Cook needed depleted area blood banks causing his family to issue a plea to the public to "replenish the blood site for the City of Tucson." The family provided a vintage photo of Cook.

08/15/11: Doctors Amputate Both Arms
Over the past few days, doctors have amputated both arms of Michael Cook. Thus far, the victim has required over 100 pints of blood. His sister Toni Sweet told reporters that the bleeding has finally stopped. Cook is still in critical condition, suffering from liver failure and kidney problems in addition to the catastrophic injuries inflicted by his pit bull. Cook is the third pit bull owner we have recorded who has become a double arm amputee after an attack.

Others include: Annette Williams of Greensburg, Indiana, and Vicky Jeffries of Abilene, Texas.

08/06/11: Mauling Victim Identified
The victim who was nearly killed by his pet pit bull, named Butch, has been identified as Michael Cook. As expected, his family is calling the horrific attack a freak accident and blaming the dog’s actions on a bad dose of medicine given to it after it was neutered. Cook’s son Nicholas admitted that Butch, who he called a big baby, had fought with other dogs in the past and that in this case, "He just happened to flip at the wrong time, you know?"

Thus far the victim has required over 60 pints of blood depleting area blood banks. The victim's family is calling on community members for blood donations to the Red Cross to help replenish area blood banks. The victim's sister Toni Sweet said, "donate what you can when you can to replenish the blood site for the City of Tucson because if another situation arise or God forbid another type of trauma, they won't have enough blood so we as a family are asking."

Dangerous dog breeds, primarily pit bulls, are a threat to public health for many reasons. This is why DogsBite.org -- a resource of over 2,000 pages -- was created. We can now add to this threat the "depletion of area blood banks" after a serious mauling. Lawmakers, media members and citizens of Tucson cannot ignore the seriousness of this issue. Area residents can contact Red Cross Blood Drives by visiting their website or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

08/05/11: Victim Left "Unrecognizable"
Tucson, AZ – A 61-year old man who was violently attacked by his pet pit bull1 Wednesday remains in critical care. The incident happened at the victim's home on Paseo De Las Aguilas, near Valencia and Camino De La Tierra. Initial reports indicated that the victim suffered "very serious" injuries, specifically bite injuries to his neck. According to Drexel Heights Fire, the man went outside to break up a fight between his two dogs when the pit bull turned on him.

Mauling threads with local voices have sprung up questioning if an improper dose of medicine by a veterinarian – the pit bull had been neutered that morning – caused the animal's ferocious attack. In one thread, user maghair wrote, "The family has spent every waking moment at the hospital since this tragedy and … We don't think he will make it ... the dog chewed thru every artery in his body, legs arms, hands, torso, neck and face and he is unrecognizable."2

Neighbor Fernando Lozano, 21, and his stepfather where doing yard work when they heard screams from a nearby home. They ran down the alley and looked over the fence. "It literally looked like he was eating him," Lozano said. "I just felt helpless." Lozano then described degloving injury commonly carried out by pit bulls. "You could actually see where the skin had peeled back on his arms," Lozano said. "You could kind of see the muscles coming out.”

Jayne Cundy of Pima Animal Care Center was quick to point out, "Every situation is unique ... we don't know what triggered it"3 and "[The pit bull] can't express itself like a human,4 so let's find out what happened. It's not just another pit bull attack," Cundy said. DogsBite.org and many witnesses to these attacks disagree. There is not a thing about Lozano’s account that differs in anyway from countless deadly attacks carried out by pit bulls over the past 30-years.

1Pit bull owners recently killed by their pet include: David Haigler, 38-years old (Spotsylvania County, VA), Justin Lane, 25-years old (Latta, SC) and Carter Delaney, 20 years old (Leesburg, VA). This does not include mothers and fathers killed by their adult child's pit bull or an adult killed by a parent's pit bull or the many instances in which pet pit bulls horrifically maul their owners who live to tell about it.
2The term "unrecognizable" and pit bull attack have been operating in unison for decades. "The attack rendered the child 'unrecognizable as a human being,'" ("The Pit Bull Friend And Killer," Sports Illustrated, 1987).
3The trigger required for a pit bull to launch an attack can be as simple as dropping a glass, or holding a stuffed animal. Expect to see professional whitewasher James Crosby show up on scene soon.
4The egregious anthropomorphism by pro-pit bull groups in defense of the breed -- all dogs are individuals, canine profiling and more -- typically snap back "Cundy style" after a serious or fatal mauling to, "Your animal is an animal. It's not human ... it doesn't have human values," Cundy said.

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