Posted on April 18, 2009 by Colleen Lynn

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Bans Dangerous Dog Breeds

Cites "Unreasonable Risk"
Jacksonville, NC - It was announced this week that Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune shifted policy for base housing. The shift comes on the heels of the U.S. Army adopting a similar policy across all RCI privatized housing facilities. From this point forward at Camp Lejeuene, pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breeds and their mixes are prohibited aboard base. The Lejeune website adds, "Visitors are also banned from bringing these unauthorized dogs onto base."

New Base Order Bans Vicious Breeds from Base
"Past incidents involving domestic animal attacks aboard Camp Lejeune have prompted recent revisions to the existing base order regulating the possession and control of pets.
From this point forward, full or mixed breeds of pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breeds or any canine breeds with dominant traits of aggression, as determined by the base veterinarian, are prohibited aboard base. Visitors are also banned from bringing these unauthorized dogs onto base and all military sponsors will be held responsible for enforcing this regulation.
Base Order 10570.1D will be signed today by the base commanding officer to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from potentially dangerous animals on base.
"The reason for this change is clear," said base commanding officer Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr. "To the extent possible, we want to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from dangerous or potentially dangerous animals. These specific breeds present an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of our residents and are therefore prohibited."

The new policy follows the fatal attack of 3-year old Julian Slack in 2008, a serious attack upon 9-year old Ashley Gaston in 2005, and as Flateau states in the article, "In the past year there have been 12 reported dog attacks on base." The article, penned by the Associated Press, also makes several critical ommissions. DogsBite.org would like to add the following information regarding the number of U.S. cities and military bases with breed-specific laws:

U.S. Cities and States with Breed-Specific Laws

The article states, "12 states and several cities and towns have adopted bans on specific breeds." Anyone familiar with breed-specific laws knows this to be invalid, in that it fails to recognize the scope of U.S. cities that have enacted these laws. By counting up the cities found in the DogsBite.org State-by-State section, which only offers a glance at the number of U.S. cities that have passed breed-specific laws, we can supply the following statistical data:

At least 29 U.S. states contain cities that ban pit bull type dogs.
At least 230 U.S. cites have adopted breed-specific laws (excluding Ohio cities).
The entire state of Ohio has adopted breed-specific laws. Wikipedia lists 254 cities within the state (townships and villages excluded).

U.S Military Bases with Breed-Specific Laws

The article also states, "The Marine base at Quantico, Va., also banned pit bulls and Rottweilers. Several Army bases and at least one Air Force base have done the same." While the statement is true, again it misses the scope of the many military bases that prohibit these dogs. The U.S. Army prohibits dangerous breeds from all U.S. bases (40+ facilities) and the Air Force Space Command does as well (10+ facilities). Please see: Military Breed-Specific Laws

Download the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Order that prohibits dangerous breeds.

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Colleen Lynn

2009 Dog Bite Fatality: Huron County Veteran Killed by Three Dogs

Autopsy Complete archived
UPDATE 04/15/09: An autopsy confirms that David Whitenack, Jr. (previously reported as "Whiteneck") died as a result of an attack by dogs. Dr. Kanu Virani, forensic pathologist and Oakland County deputy chief medical examiner, conducted the autopsy. "It was determined Mr. Whitenack died from multiple puncture wounds, which numbered between 150 and 200," said Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson, adding that the bite wounds covered Whitenack’s entire body.

The preliminary investigation indicates Whitenack was attacked outside the camper by three non-neutered male dogs, which were reported to be blue heeler-Australian shepherd mixes. According to police, Whitenack did not have a vehicle or a cellular phone to call for help. It’s believed the dogs, which also lived on the Leavine property, had Whitenack trapped inside, and he was unable to reach a neighbor’s house to get help following the vicious attack.

It is unknown, however, who had been caring for the dogs since Leavine -- who suffers from a life threatening illness -- no longer lives on the property. While the cause and manner of Whitenack's death has been determined, the time of his death has not. Witnesses have come forward to say that Whitenack was last seen around noon on Saturday in the Port Austin area. The Huron County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with more information to come forward.

04/15/09: Property Owner Identified archived
Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson said the property was owned by Frank Leavine (6028 Carpenter Road). He was also told that Leavin owned the three mixed-breed dogs. Hanson described the animals as extremely vicious and a harm to the community. "It wasn’t because they were hungry -- there was food found on the property," Sheriff Hanson said. The dogs that attacked Ignash, and are believed to have fatally attacked Whitenack, were destroyed at the scene.

According to Hanson, Ignash and Franzel went to the property in search of Whiteneck when they came across three aggressive dogs. Hanson said Ignash was attacked by the dogs, and Franzel was able to beat the dogs off of Ignash. The two continued their search for Whitenack, checking the camper that was strapped to a snowmobile trailer, where Whitenack was living. He was found dead inside the camper. The friends then called 9-1-1 to alert authorities.

Police reports indicate that Whitenack, who was found shirtless, had several deep, wide wounds that appeared to be dog bites. Reports also indicate he was bitten throughout most of his body. A large amount of blood also was found inside the camper. Dr. Richard Lockard arrived on the scene to examine Whitenack’s body and where it was found. Whitenack was then transported to Huron Medical Center in Bad Axe, where Lockard further examined the body.

04/14/09: Mauling Victim Identified
Authorities have identified David B. Whitenack Jr. as the mauling victim. Friends found the mutilated remains of the 41-year old veteran yesterday on the property another friend owns in Dwight Township. Whiteneck lived in a camper propped on a snowmobile trailer on the property. Huron County sheriff's deputies destroyed the three "mixed-breed" dogs investigators believe killed Whitenack and attacked his friends Douglas Ignash of Kinde and Randy Franzel of Filion.

04/14/09: Autopsy for Veteran Planned
Kinde, MI - In a developing story, a 41-year-old veteran may have been mauled to death by vicious dogs in Huron County. The sheriff's department says it was called to the man's property after a neighbor found the longtime Huron County resident's body inside a small camper. Radio station WLEW-AM reports that a neighbor was also severely bitten by three dogs, which had to be beaten off by another neighbor. An autopsy of the 41-year old victim, still unnamed, is planned.

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Colleen Lynn

2009 Dog Bite Fatality: Winterhaven Man Killed by Pack of Dogs

Blames "Wild Dogs"
UPDATE 08/15/09: Photographed above two "Beware of Dog" signs, the owner of the dogs seized by the county, Larry Alvin Stubel, says the dogs that attacked Lykins were not his. The 11 adult dogs and nine puppies Stubel kept in a pen surrounded by chicken wire had nothing to do with Lykins' death, according to Stubel. Though his own dogs were loose at the time of the attack, Stuble claims the culprits were a pack of wild dogs seen roaming the area.

The 11 adult dogs and nine puppies Stubel kept in a makeshift pen surrounded by chicken wire had nothing to do with Lykins’ brutal death, Stubel said. The attack occurred a distance from his Airstream trailer on the remote 12-acre Ross Road property on which Stubel lives.

County authorities euthanized Stubel’s adult dogs and some of the puppies on the grounds they were considered “dangerous” by animal control officials who concluded the dogs ran loose at the time they attacked Lykins, according to an April 3 letter the county’s Public Health Department sent Stubel. - Silvo Panta, Imperial Valley Press Online, August 15, 2009

04/22/09: Three Amputations Prior Death
The Imperial Valley Press provides many more details regarding this savage attack than the previous YumaSun articles. Writer Silvio J. Panta reports that Gordon Lykins suffered three amputations; both his legs and an arm were amputated, according to Sgt. Scott Sheppeard. The victim was found by the owner of the seized dogs after he heard sounds of barking. The man's name continues to be withheld while the investigation unfolds.

According to Sheppeard, Lykins was a handyman by trade and lived in a recreational vehicle near the All-American Canal. He was found in a drainage ditch in the 1700 block of Ross Road. The ditch lies between Imperial County and the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, from where the dogs were initially believed to have come (thus complicating the investigation). It was not known if Lykins had any immediate family. Lykins was the only apparent witness to the attack.

Winterhaven fire authorities initially received a 6:30 p.m. call of a traffic accident at the location, but found Lykins instead, said Winterhaven Fire Chief Steve Taylor. Two separate calls were received but it was not immediately known if they were made by the same caller, according to Sheppeard. Moments after Lykins was loaded up into an ambulance, the dogs charged five firefighters who climbed atop a fire engine to avoid getting bitten, Taylor said.

Persons with information can call the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office at 572-0229.

04/14/09: Sparse Details About Attack
Winterhaven, CA - In a terrible "pack attack" that we have been watching for two weeks now, it was reported yesterday that the victim, Gordon Lykins, 48, died Friday in a Phoenix hospital. On March 28, Lykins was violently attacked by a pack of dogs. In addition to one of his legs being nearly chewed off, Lykins sustained numerous dog bites to his whole body. Shortly after arriving to the hospital, Lykins had to have one of his legs amputated from below the knee.

Since the first report of this attack, there has been little information provided. For instance, authorities quickly seized 11 suspected dogs from a neighbor. Yet 15 days after the attack, the dog owner remains unnamed and none of the dog breeds have been identified either. Sgt. Scott Sheppeard said in the first report: "We just don't have confirmation right now that these are the right dogs. Until he regains consciousness, we won't know whether we have the right dogs."

Of the three articles that have been published by the YumaSun about this attack, none have mentioned if blood was found on the dogs or the possibility of DNA tests. Each, however, has mentioned that the dogs continue to be held at the animal shelter until authorities determine whether or not they have the right dogs. As long as the dogs go unidentified, authorities cannot press charges (assuming there are any charges to press other than having loose dogs.)

Each article also reminds readers that due to the extent of Lykins' injuries he was kept under sedation after the attack and unable to identify the dogs. This constant reminder shows the horrific disparity between victim rights and the rights of the dog owner: the former has zip. Not only was the man terribly mauled, incurred a leg amputation and is now dead, he also pays the price of being too injured to identify the dogs, which may eliminate recourse for his family.

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Colleen Lynn

2009 Dog Bite Fatality: Michael Blaise Landry, 4, Killed in Own Yard

Michael Blaise Landry, 4-years old, was attacked and killed by three boxers.

Deputy Released Dogs
UPDATE 04/14/09: Authorities say it was an off-duty Pointe Coupee Parish sheriff's deputy who released three boxers out of their cages just moments before the dogs attacked and killed Michael Landry. 18th Judicial District Attorney Ricky Ward said his only option as a prosecutor would be to file a negligent homicide charge, which would require establishing that the child’s death was the result of gross negligence -- defined as a "gross deviation of normal standards of care."

Ward said he has prepared Michael's family for the possibility that neither the off-duty deputy, Rob Roy of New Roads, or the dogs' owner and Roy's fiancée, Candace Wells, will be arrested in their son's death. "I don't see there being a criminal prosecution at this time," Ward said. Debra Patin, a cousin of Michael's mother, Tammy Landry, said that Michael's parents aren’t thinking of a criminal prosecution at this time. "All we're worried about is a little boy we have to put in a grave," she said.

Sheriff Beauregard “Bud” Torres said Roy, a three-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and a member of the office’s K-9 division, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the State Police investigation.

Torres described Roy as “a very caring, good guy” who is distraught over Michael’s death.

Roy let the dogs loose Friday at the Morganza home of Todd Wells, who is Candace Wells’ father, as Roy helped his fiancée clean the dogs’ kennels, Torres said. - Koran Addo, The Advocate, April 14, 2009

100th U.S. Fatal Dog Attack (3.25 Year Period)

The death of Michael Landry is the 12th fatal attack DogsBite.org has recorded in 2009 and the 100th death since January 1, 2006. In the 3-year period of 2006 through 2008, canines inflicted 88 fatal attacks in the United States. Boxers accounted for just 2 of these deaths (3 if one includes the conflicting media reports of "bulldog-boxer mixes" involved in the death of John Matthew Davis). Boxers and their mixes account for 2.5% of the 100 fatal attacks in the 3.25 year period.

04/11/09: "Care Taker" Cleaning Kennel
New information about the death of Michael Landry has been released. Captain Steve Juge told reporters that a man "acting as caretaker" for one or more of the dogs was cleaning out the kennel at the time of the fatal mauling. The man tried to rescue the boy, and was also taken to a hospital because his blood pressure spiked. He was not bitten by the dogs. Authorities will not release his name until the investigation is complete. Three dogs were reportedly involved in the attack.

He said the caretaker was cleaning out the kennel next door, and went into a shed to fill the dogs' food bowls when the animals came into the yard where Michael was playing and his mother gardening nearby, Juge said.

A chain-link fence runs between the two houses but not behind either, Juge said, and barbed-wire fencing ran behind the kennel.

The child's father told deputies that the dogs had never gone into his yard before, Juge said. - Associated Press, April 11, 2009

04/11/09: Child Mauled to Death by Dogs
Morganza, LA - In a developing story, a 4-year old boy was killed by at least one dog as he played in his family's own yard in Morganza, Louisiana. "Somehow the dogs got out of a pen and the four-year-old was playing in the yard next door and the dogs attacked the child," said Captain Steve Juge of the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Department. Michael Blaise Landry was airlifted to Point Coupee General Hospital in New Roads. Authorities said he did not survive his injuries.

Captain Steve Juge added that the owners of the dogs -- who live in a home very close to the child's home -- are friends with Michael's family. The sheriff's department does not have a record of complaints on the dogs, described as boxers, or their owners. Further, Juge points out that it is clear these animals were family pets. "These dogs are pets. They were on concrete, very well-maintained animals." The dogs were loaded into vans and taken into away by animal control.

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