Posted on November 2, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2008 Dog Bite Fatality: 62-Year Old Muncie Man Killed by Pit Bulls

Autopsy: Death by Attack
UPDATE 11/02/08: An autopsy conducted on 62-year old Chester Jordan shows that he was alive when he was brutally mauled and killed by three family pit bulls at his Muncie home. Jordan died from the dog bite injuries and blood loss. The dogs attacked his facial area, chest, arms, stomach and legs. The majority of the bite injuries and the most severe were on his arms and legs. The findings are contingent upon toxicology reports, which may take days or weeks to complete.

The basement where Jordan stayed was described as damp and bare, furnished only with a bed, chair and television, said by Lt. Al Williams of the Muncie Police Department. The basement also contained a fenced-in area for the dogs. The puppies were in a cage in the garage.
"We're going to make sure he wasn't neglected," Williams said. "The concern we have are the living conditions." - Kelly Day, The Star Press, November 2, 2008

11/01/08: Neglect of Elderly Suspected
DeWayne Benning, the boyfriend of Jordan's daughter, found 62-year old Chester Jordan dead. Jordan, his daughter Aretha, and Benning all lived at the home on Tilmore Drive. Jordan apparently lived with the dogs in the open basement. Delaware County Coroner James Clevenger Jr. said the victim suffered major tissue damage and was repeatedly bitten by the dogs. He added that the victim had a history of dementia and also had older bite mark injuries on his body.

Aretha Jordan came to the scene, and broke down crying as she and Benning were taken to city hall for questioning by detectives. Police Lt. Al Williams said the victim suffered serious injuries from the mauling and there were plenty signs of a struggle, reports The Star Press. Neighbors reported that Jordan was rarely seen outside and police talked with family members about his living conditions. Williams said there might be an issue of neglect as the investigation continues.

Animal control officers came to the scene and took the dogs and the puppies to the local shelter.
Ron White, animal shelter director, said the dogs were aggressive when they were collared and put in the trucks. The puppies from the one female dog were found in the garage.
White said the dogs did not appear to be trained to fight and there was no evidence the Jordans were professionally breeding the dogs, saying the animals were pets. - Rick Yencer, The Star Press, November 1, 2008

10/31/08: Father Killed by Family Pit Bulls
Muncie, IN - In a developing story, Muncie police are investing the death of a 62-year-old man reportedly killed by three pit bulls. Police officers were called to a home on the 1100 block of Tilmore Drive, where the victim, Chester Jordan, had been living in the basement. His daughter owns the house and her boyfriend, DeWayne Benning, found Jordan when he returned home from work. Neighbor Markus Jackma told WTHR News, "My understanding was, he had been killed."

Authorities confiscated three adult pit bulls from the home, two males and a female. Muncie Animal Control also confiscated six pit bull puppies from the property. Neighbors seemed surprised by the dogs' vicious attack. "I have never seen the dogs acting violently," Jackman said. But police had been contacted a number of times about the dogs being at large. Even after calls to police, the dogs still got loose and roamed the area. The dogs are expected to be euthanized.

Posted on October 24, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

Pit Bulls Ruled "Unpredictable"

Toronto, CA - Pit bulls are dangerous and unpredictable dogs that have the potential to attack without warning, the Ontario Court of Appeal said today in a decision upholding the province's ban on the animals. The Ontario government enacted the Dog Owners' Liability Act in 2005 to ban the breeding, sale and ownership of pit bulls after several incidents in which the dogs attacked people.

The ruling confirms that the ban is constitutional.

The pit bull law survived a constitutional challenge in March 2007, though some changes were ordered. Superior Court Justice Thea Herman said a ban on "pit bull terriers" was unconstitutionally vague because it didn't refer to a specific type or breed of dog. The Appeal Court not only disagreed with Herman's ruling, they fully restored the law to the form in which it was enacted.

"The total ban on pit bulls is not 'arbitrary' or 'grossly disproportionate' in light of the evidence that pit bulls have a tendency to be unpredictable and that even apparently docile pit bulls may attack without warning or provocation."

"This evidence of unpredictability provided the legislature with a sufficient basis to conclude that the protection of public safety required no less drastic measures than a total ban on pit bulls." (view full ruling)

The lawsuit was initiated by Catherine Cochrane, who hired lawyer Clayton Ruby to try and strike down the law. Ruby had argued that the "breed-specific legislation" passed by then-Attorney General Michael Bryant wasn't clear on what constituted one of the dogs and was too confusing to be enforceable. The two are now considering an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Posted on October 7, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Infant Dies After Being Mauled in Waianea

Infant Died Quickly
UPDATE 10/07/08: Opal Sao, the grieving dog owner, said she left the baby on her bed, asleep, and had gone to the kitchen for a drink of water just after midnight. Penelope Rose, a pit bull mix, followed her to the kitchen, but while Sao was drinking, she realized the dog had left. She ran to the bedroom to find the dog standing on the bed over the baby.

The bed was reportedly off limits to the dog.

By the time she handed the baby to her niece, his mother, the baby was dead. But the dog attacked the niece, biting her thigh and calf. "The dog went wild," Sao said. "Penny grabbed my niece's leg. She was attacking her. I attacked the dog to get her off. Penny's behavior was something I'd never seen before. I didn't recognize her." The dog was euthanized yesterday by the Hawaiian Humane Society. The mother was not named.

"It replays over and over in my mind," Sao said. "If only we could go back in time. I'd give my life to bring this baby back. It was a tragic mistake." The Honolulu medical examiner's office conducted an autopsy yesterday and said the baby died from "cranial cerebral injuries" from a dog attack. The state Department of Human Services said it was investigating the attack, under a "possible lack of child supervision."

Sao said she bought the dog when it was 6 weeks old as a gift for her husband, who lives in 'Aiea. The dog lived four of the last five years of its life there, until it moved to her Wai'anae home about a year ago. The dog, she said, was not raised to be malicious or violent. Just recently, Sao had let Penny out of the kennel in the backyard to socialize with other dogs, who were inside and outside dogs. Soa said the dog had never attacked anyone before.

A Family Grieves
With only a few precious pictures of 8-week-old Iokepa, family members are grieving and seeking solace in each other's arms. Friends and family dropped by the home all day yesterday bearing flowers and food. A sheet of laminated photos taken at the hospital shortly after Iokepa was born on July 30 at 7 pounds, 12 ounces, was passed around to family and friends. A funeral date has not been set. Sao said. "We've been crying since Sunday..."

10/07/08: Star Bulletin Alters Story (Revised Story)
On October 6th (below link), the Star Bulletin published a story where the dog was described as a "pit bull mix" in several instances. The following day, these instances were removed. This may be due to pressure from the Hawaiian Humane Society, an entity that did not allow anyone to photograph the dog, did not offer a description except for a "mixed breed" and has many online news articles that show a clear biased toward protecting pit bulls.

DogsBite.org has written a letter to the publisher of the Star Bulletin asking for clarification. Specifically, why did the newspaper alter the description given by a witness, why wasn't the timestamp of the article updated -- to reflect that a change was made -- and why does the newspaper trust that the "mixed breed" identification offered by the society is true? Certainly the society can determine if the dog is a collie-mix or other mix.

10/06/08: "Hiding the Breed" Continues (PDF Original Story)
The Hawaiian Humane Society did not allow KITV to film the dog being held at their facility. Keona Leslie and his wife live in a home behind the family and heard screaming. "At first I thought it was a domestic fight," said Leslie. "But it was a startled, surprised scream that went on for a while." His wife called 911 after the couple heard women screaming and rapid, agitated footsteps across a wooden floor.

Robert Vidinha has lived behind the family's home for 32 years. Four years ago he built a 4-foot-high iron fence because the dog, named Penelope Rose, would bark violently at his young grandchildren. "My grandchildren couldn't go into the back yard because I thought that dog was dangerous," said Vidinha, 68. Vidinha said three other dogs lived at that home, but only Penelope Rose had a mean spirit.

10/06/08: Hawaiian Humane Society in Denial
The dog is now being identified as a pit bull. KHON states, "[Pit bull] A breed believed responsible for a young child's death." This may be another instance of an animal agency attempting to hide the breed. Initial reports labeled the dog a "mixed breed." This label was presumably supplied by the Hawaiian Humane Society because they had custody of the dog.

"That maybe the case [in reference to the breed], but definitely we don't feel this is breed specific to a pit bull or a rotweiler,' says Kawehi Yim, Hawaiian Humane Society. The Hawaiian Humane Society says no particular breed is more dangerous or deadly than another.

The Hawaiian Humane Society was founded in 1897. There is no excuse for the organization to be "unaware" of the pit bull's horrendous safety record, which began in the mid 1980's. For over twenty years pit bulls have been killing American citizens at alarmingly high rates compared to other breeds. One has to wonder if "prevention" is truly a goal of the organization.

10/05/08: Family Dog Attack
Waianea, HI - In a developing story, an infant, who has been identified as Iokepa Liptak, was pronounced dead at an area hospital early this morning after being mauled by a dog shortly after midnight at the family's home. The baby was 2-months-old and was attacked by the family dog, according to Major Frank Fujii of the Honolulu Police Department.

The dog, a black mixed-breed, was seized and is being held in isolation, said Kawehi Yim, Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman. The baby's mother was also bitten and taken to the hospital; she is reportedly in stable condition. An ambulance crew was called back to the home less than hour later to treat another adult who was not taken to the hospital but was also injured in the attack.

Nearly half (8 of 20) of the fatalities in 2008 have involved a child 1 year and younger.

Posted on October 3, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

Fort Riley, Kansas Army Base Bans Pit Bull Type Dogs

Banned Dog Breed Policy
Fort Riley, KA - On September 30, 2008, Fort Riley Army base issued a memorandum for distribution. The subject of the memorandum was titled: Banned Dog Breed Policy. Effective October 1, 2008, Fort Riley banned new and unregistered pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers and crosses of these breeds from the entire base.

Effective October 1, 2008, pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers, and crosses of these breeds will no longer be allowed on Fort Riley. This policy applies to Soldiers, Family members and civilians who own a pit bull, American Staffordshire terrier, or a cross of this breed of dog. Any pit bull, American Staffordshire terrier, and crosses currently residing in on-post housing and registered with the Fort Riley Veterinary Clinic before October 1, 2008 will be allowed to remain in on-post housing. However, no newly acquired pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers, or a cross of these dog breeds will be allowed.
This breed of dog has been bred for the purpose of aggression and may pose a danger to Soldiers, Families and visitors to Fort Riley. The pit bull, American Staffordshire terrier, or a cross of this breed has a genetic propensity which may lead to unprovoked aggression or attacks. This policy has taken into account the fact that Soldiers and Families become very attached to their pets; however, it also takes into account the fact that the safety of everyone on the installation is the primary concern.
This policy change will be included in the new Fort Riley Regulation 40-28, Pet Control and Disease Prevention currently under revision. Fort Riley Regulation 40-18 is referenced in the Fort Riley Resident Occupancy Agreement (ROA). This policy is punitive. Any violation of the policy is subject to UCMJ or Federal Prosecution as deemed applicable. In addition, violation of this policy could result in a bar from family housing areas.

See all: Military Breed Bans