Posted on September 8, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Alexis Hennessy, 6-Days Old, Killed By Family Husky

Alexis Hennessy, 6-days old, was attacked in her crib by the family husky.

Newborn Attacked in Crib archived
Hopatcong, NJ - A 6-day old Hopatcong Borough infant had died after the family dog attacked her while she laid in her crib. Newborn Alexis Hennessy was attacked and killed by the family's 3-year old husky named Shadow. Paramedics rushed the infant to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Sussex County Prosecutor David Weaver said the girl's parents were home at the time of the attack. The preliminary investigation indicates no foul play Weaver said.

A 6-day-old baby girl from Hopatcong was momentarily left alone in her crib Saturday, seemingly safe, authorities said.
But that's when the family dog, a 40-pound male husky named Shadow, bit the baby on the head and inflicted a mortal wound. Alexis Hennessy, born Aug. 31, was rushed to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead Saturday night, authorities said.
Both parents, whose names were not released, were home at the time. Hopatcong Police Chief John Swanson said no other children were in the house.
The baby's mother "left the room momentarily and came back in and discovered it (the bite) either ongoing or just done," Swanson said. "They didn't do anything that any other parent wouldn't have done. It's just one of those things." - Jim Lockwood, The Star-Ledger, September 9, 2008

Posted on August 23, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

Blue Eyes Euthanized, Constroversy Still Swells In Mississippi

Tony Evans Jr., 3-years old, was killed by his neighbor's chained pit bull.

Pit Bull Owner Blames Dog
Jackson, MS - It took officials one month to euthanize Blue Eyes. On July 22nd, Tony Evans Jr. was killed by the dog after he wandered into the dog's area. The chained pit bull clamped down on his neck, drug him into his dog house and killed him. The owner of the dog, Shannon Reason, recently said he only wishes the dog could have been killed sooner. "All I've been saying is kill that dog."

He said one media outlet wanted to "fly me and my wife to New York so we can defend the pit bull breed. I don't want to have anything to do with that." Too bad Reason did not name the source. Such a brilliant idea: Get the owner of a chained pit bull that killed a toddler to defend the breed. Whoever Reason is referring to, let's be clear on the power of the pit bull propaganda machine.

It's like the power of a black hole; even light can't escape.

Controversy continues to surround the tragedy of Tony Evans Jr. His mother, Chassidy Vardaman tells police that she had asked Reason to watch Tony because she was caring for her other small son in her home. Reason has repeatedly disputed her statement. Vardaman could not be reached to comment in this particular Clarion-Ledger article. A knock on her door went unanswered.

In what can only be described as ironic, Reason says things have gotten really bad in the community. He says he has been threatened by people on the street and has gotten several threatening phone calls. He even carries a gun now. Reason said his family is looking for a new home outside of Mississippi. "I know it is what it is," he said, "but I did not kill that baby -- my pit bull did."

Typically, the scenario is reversed after a serious or fatal dog mauling.

Victims and familys of victims are frequently harassed by pit bull owners and advocates after a serious attack. Not only do these individuals suffer the physical and emotional injuries of the attack and bear the medical cost burden, they have to deal with intimidating dog owners, who in many instances are their nearby neighbors. Due to this, victims frequently relocate to a new home.

Posted on August 22, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

Fort Hood, Texas U.S. Army Base Passes New Pit Bull Restriction

Fort Hood, TX - A reader of DogsBite.org has brought to our attention that Fort Hood, a U.S. Army post, has recently passed a new pit bull law. The regulation prohibits new pit bulls and their crosses from living on base housing. It requires existing pit bulls to be registered with the Fort Hood Veterinary Clinic (FHVC) by 10 July 8. If the dog has not been registered by this time, it will be subject to removal.

Military law supercedes state law, so Fort Hood is not bound by the State of Texas that prohibits breed-specific law. DogsBite.org has a section within Legislating Dogs that lists military bases that have adopted breed-specific law. This list continues to grow. Sadly, after a rottweiler mauling in 2005 and a pit bull attack that led to death in 2007, Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) still refuses to adopt breed-specific law.

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Colleen Lynn

Defendant Diane Cockrell Pleads No Contest in Double Fatal Dog Mauling in Livingston County

Dog Owner Sentenced
UPDATE 09/18/08: The owner of the dogs that mauled to death two people last year, Cheryl Harper, 56, and Edward Gierlach, 91, has been sentenced. Diane Cockrell, 52, of Iosco Township, was ordered to serve a minimum of 3.5 years to a maximum of 15 years in prison for allowing her American bulldogs-mixes to run free and kill two people in rural Iosco Township in 2007.

The MLive Michigan article reported that Cockrell shocked some people in the packed courtroom by saying she knew both of the victims and had spoken to them in the past. "I remember (Cheryl Harper) was just a light," Cockrell said. "(Ed Gierlach) was trying to teach me how to grow plants. He was a wonderful person, and I am just devastated by what has happened to all of you."

Members of the victims' families also spoke at the sentencing hearing. "My kid is now deathly afraid of dogs; I hope this doesn't affect her for the rest of her life," said Todd Harper, one of Cheryl Harper's sons. Todd Harper also read a letter his daughter wrote to the judge: "I really miss her hugs and kisses, her taking me to the pond to fish. She was the only grandmother I had left."

The judge has allowed Cockrell to delay serving her sentence until Jan. 2 so she can have a previously scheduled surgery procedure. Harper's sons objected, saying that by the end of the year they will have missed out on two Christmases and two Thanksgivings with their mother, but Cockrell will be with her family. The families also disagreed with the length of the sentence.

"I feel (Cockrell) deserved to get a harsher sentence. When you take a life away, I don't think three years, seven month is sufficient. I feel she deserved at least five to seven years." - Todd Harper

On the day of the attack, Cockrell was out of town. The dogs escaped her property and killed two human beings. A sign that hung on Cockrell's property read: "This property is maintained for the comfort and security of our animals. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT PLEASE GO AWAY."

08/20/08: Mandatory Jail Time
Livingston County, MI - A woman whose bulldog-mixes killed two people in 2007 has pleaded no contest to three charges. Diane Cockrell, 52 of Iosco Township, entered her plea today to two felony counts of keeping dangerous animals causing death and a misdemeanor count of allowing her dogs to stray. The plea isn't an admission of guilt but it will be treated as such for sentencing.

The prosecutor's office agreed to recommend a prison sentence of between 3 years and 7 months and 15 years. Each felony count carries a maximum of 15 years. Cockrell's sentencing in circuit court will be Sept. 18. Authorities say Cockrell's four bulldogs attacked 91-year-old Edward Gierlach in his driveway and 56-year-old Cheryl Harper nearby on September 13th, 2007.

Cockrell made a wise decision to plead; a judge recently ruled the jury could be shown the injury photos. Edward's son, Eugene testified in a previous hearing that his father's body was missing flesh on his leg, including a portion that was "just bone." A short while later, he saw what appeared to be a pile of debris in the road. It turned out that "debris" was the body of Cheryl Harper.

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