Posted on February 3, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

It's Official: Pit Bulls Attack Planes, Trains and Automobiles

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DogsBite.org - While browsing through The New York Times historical archives recently, we happened upon an incident in 1911 where a "big white bull terrier" (known today as a pit bull) darted into a whirling propeller of a biplane killing itself. The force of the blow split the propeller and knocked a corner loose. The daring aviator, Harry N. Atwood, wanted to risk the flight with a piece of the blade still hanging, but was cautioned by his mechanics to replace the propeller.

Atwood opted to wire the damaged propeller and 15 minutes later, fired up the engine again. Passenger Charles K. Hamilton, another historic aviator, climbed inside of the biplane and the two were off. After rising two hundred feet, the plane crashed into the ocean. Both men survived, and with the help of onlookers, dragged the wrecked machine back to shore. According to The Times, the two men laughed as they emerged from the water. The dog wasn't mentioned again.1

Atwood's Flight Stopped by a Dog
Atlantic City, NJ, July 7 - Harry N. Atwood, carrying Charles K. Hamilton as a passenger, started for Washington in his aeroplane this afternoon on the last leg of his 518-mile journey for the cup offered by The New York Times, but had hardly risen from the beach when a big white bull terrier ran across the sands and poked its nose into one of the whirling propellers. The dog was killed and the force of the blow split the propeller for about six or seven inches and knocked one corner of it loose.

Atwood's mechanic and people in the crowd shouted to him and he shut off his power to discover the extent of the injury. He was willing to risk it with the piece of blade hanging. (The New York Times, July 8, 1911)

In 2009, a pet pit bull bolted into a train killing itself and its female owner who had securely wrapped -- possibly even knotted -- the leash around her hand. The young woman could not stop the dog nor undo the leash wrap in time. Numerous incidents have been documented when a pit bull has attacked an automobile; most occurrences involve a human being inside. None of these victims laughed afterward, nor would the aviators of 1911 had either man been killed.2

1Six days later, on July 14, Atwood became the first aviator to land a plane on the White House lawn.
2There was another story we found during the same search, "Johnny No Match for the Dog," that did not have an uplifting ending. A 14-year old boy was brutally attacked by a bull terrier. Police pumped 5 bullets into the animal but it later "got up and ran away." Eventually, the dog was driven into a vacant lot and "its brains beaten out." (December 3, 1893)

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Young Girl Killed by Grandfather's Japanese Akita

Kristen Dutton, 9-years old, was fatally attacked by an akita new to her home.

Fatal Neck Injury archived
McCormick County, SC - A 9-year old girl was killed by a dog Saturday at her grandfather's home in Modoc. Kristen Dutton, a fourth grade student at Meriwether Elementary School, was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her grandfather, Mickey Abercrombie, had purchased the 98-pound Japanese akita1 -- a breed with a well known heritage of dogfighting and guarding -- just three weeks earlier for his grandchildren who lived at his home.

Kristen was reportedly playing with the dog when it turned on her, biting her fatally in the neck. McCormick County Coroner Faye Puckett said that Kristen's younger brother saw her laying in the yard and alerted their grandfather. The Department of Health and Environmental Control took the dog into custody. The dog will be euthanized. Kristen's grandfather said the 4-year old dog had never displayed a "hint" of aggression, even though he had only known the dog for three weeks.

Mickey Abercrombie purchased the pet about three weeks ago for his grandchildren, who lived with him at his home on Hood Drive in Modoc, along with their mother.

Just hours before the attack, the grandfather had taken the dog on a walk, along with the children. Later, Kristen took the dog on a walk by herself, without incident.

Abercrombie told authorities he fastened the dog up to its runner beside the kennel before going inside to help his grandson with his homework. Kristen stayed outside to bond with the new pet. - Bianca Cain, The Augusta Chronicle, January 26, 2011

1Akitas usually make the "Most Dangerous Dog Breed" lists that circulate the news media. A 2010 Daily Beast article, which based their results on the Merritt Clifton report, ranked Akitas as the fourth most dangerous breed.

Photo: The Augusta Chronicle

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Pontotoc County Man Killed by Three Pit Bulls

Men seen hauling away one of the pit bulls that killed Ronnie Waldo.

Manslaughter Charges
UPDATE 03/03/11: To our dismay and delight, the owner of the pit bulls that brutally attacked and killed Ronnie Waldo has been charged with manslaughter. James Casey Swanson, 30, of Topsy Road was arrested Thursday morning after the charges were issued by a special grand jury. We encourage readers to take a good look at Mr. Casey, as he represents the "exhausted cliche" pit bull owner who nearly always walks away without consequences after a devastating attack.

01/31/11: Fatal Dog Attack Ruled Accidental
Authorities have ruled the death of Ronnie Waldo, who was savagely killed by his landlord's three pit bulls last week, an accident. Pontotoc County Coroner Kim Bedford said the autopsy results show the victim died due to injuries inflicted by the dogs and that the manner of death was accidental. It is unknown if Waldo has any surviving family members. The Clarion Ledger posted an obituary for Waldo on Saturday. Sadly, it is the shortest obituary we have ever seen.

01/27/11: Mauling Investigation Continues
News reports indicate that Ronnie Waldo went to his neighbor's house to borrow a relay switch when three pit bulls savagely attacked and killed him. His neighbor, James Swanson, owns the pit bulls and the nearby property where Waldo lived. In a recent video, Swanson said he was Waldo's friend, but that he didn't understand "why he was in the yard" (blaming the victim). Even though being a tenant and a friend are perfectly normal reasons for Waldo to enter into the yard.

01/26/11: Mauling Victim Identified
Pontotoc County, MS - In a developing story, NEMS360.com reports that a 51-year old man died today after being attacked by three pit bulls in Pontotoc County. Ronnie Waldo was killed this afternoon at a home on Topsy Road. Emergency responders pronounced the victim dead on the scene and deputies shot and killed at least two of the three dogs after being aggressive toward them. Pontotoc County Sheriff Neal Davis said the mauling death is still under investigation.

Though details are still emerging, Waldo was renting property from Casey Swanson and was found in Swanson's front yard. In another "pit bull breeding operation" that ended in human death, NEMS360.com reports, "A half dozen pit bull puppies scurried around the yard, seemingly oblivious to the howls and growls of the adult dogs that were being corralled from the backyard by sheriff’s deputies."1 They also noted that the adult pit bulls did not go "without a fight."

1There is typically zero accountability regarding the offspring (puppies) of fatality attacking dogs. We imagine it will be the same in this case.

Photo: NEMS360.com

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Kill 5-Year Old Girl, Severely Injure Grandmother

Pit bull attack victim, Makayla Woodard.

Grand Jury Indicts Pit Bull Owner
UPDATE 03/16/11: A Union County grand jury has indicted the owner of the pit bulls that killed Makayla. The indictment formally charges 23-year old Michael Gordon of Waxhaw with felony manslaughter in connection with her death. Deputies arrested Gordon Thursday inside the Union County courthouse while he was to appear on the felony and misdemeanor charges. In the weeks leading up to the attack, Waxhaw police officers had warned Gordon about restraining his dogs.

Makayla's family has set up a petition website to help prevent future pit bull maulings.

01/19/11: Commissioners Set Up Panel
In the wake of Makayla's death, the Waxhaw board of commissioners set up a panel to study how to deal with stray and potentially dangerous dogs. The City of Waxhaw had an animal control officer in training before the fatal incident who is expected to go on duty in the next two months. Mayor Daune Gardner said that the entire community is "torn up" by what happened. The swift actions by the commissioners are not uncommon following a deadly attack.

Last year, San Bernardino County, California, Hinds County, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee enacted stricter dog control laws following a fatal pit bull mauling. DogsBite.org encourages cities not to wait until there is a death prior to adopting proactive dangerous dog laws. The Charlotte Observer article also notes that the owner of the dogs that killed Makayla remains uncharged, but the case has been turned over to the Union County district attorney.

01/13/11: Charges Expected in Deadly Attack
News agencies have been steadily updating details about the pit bull mauling that killed Makayla and left her grandmother hospitalized. WCNC reported that neighbors had complained many times about the two dogs who often ran loose and that police officials had a hard time discussing the case because the injuries were so "gruesome." 9 News reported that Police Chief Michael Eiss said that charges against the dogs' owner may come soon.1

Like in the 2010 the death of Anastasia Bingham, Makayla was only home that day due to school closures for snow and ice conditions. Exactly where Makayla was when she was attacked, either in her yard or the dog owner's yard (the homes are next door or across the street from one another -- reports vary), does not matter given that the dogs had escaped their restraints, and the expected charges against the dogs' owner, 23-year old Michael Gordon.2

01/12/11: Pit Bulls Kill Child, Injures Grandmother
Waxhaw, NC - In a developing story, two pit bulls killed a 5-year old girl and severely injured her grandmother. Makayla Woodard and her grandmother were attacked by the dogs just after 11 am on Rehobeth Road behind the Captain's Galley seafood restaurant. Both pit bulls, owned by Michael Gordon, were fatally shot by law enforcement after the incident. The victims were rushed to Carolinas Medical Center-Union, where Makayla later died from her injuries.

According to police, the grandmother, 67-year old Nancy Presson, was injured trying to get the dogs off Makayla. As of 4 pm Wednesday, Presson was under sedation and listed in stable condition in the hospital's emergency department. Makayla's mother (and Presson's daughter) told WBTV that her mother's injuries were severe, but that she would survive them. Police had visited Gordon's home around Christmas and warned him about restraining his pit bulls.

1Information is still unclear in some areas and unfolding.
2Craven Desires left a link showing that Gordon is a convicted felon, released from prison in 2010.

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