Pit bull savagely attacks owners in their home

[TexasTowelie]

BEEVILLE – A simple swat on the hind end of a 4-year-old pit bulldog Wednesday morning ended with two Beeville residents suffering serious bite injuries and the ultimate death of the animal.

Senior Animal Control Officer Lupe Valdez said Derek Malcom, in his 20s, swatted the dog to keep him from making a mess on a sofa and that led to the dog attacking Linda Engstrom, in her 50s.

Valdez said the dog went for the woman’s legs and ended up biting a chunk out of one arm. She also had bites to both sides of her spine.

The man grabbed a steak knife and tried to fight off the dog, but he also was attacked. The man ended up having a finger amputated after being taken by the Angel Care Ambulance Service to Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville.

More at http://mysoutex.com/view/full_story_landing/22540984/article-Pit-bull-savagely-attacks-owners-in-their-home?instance=landing_2nd_news_lead_story

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I'll bet it was really cute and cuddly

before it turned into a killing machine.

[DrDan]

2. " . . . the dog had been gentle up until that point."

that seems to be a common comment.

But according to the "experts" here, it is the owners fault. These dogs are sweet and gentle unless deliberately trained to be otherwise.

[michigandem58]

5. I don't understand the logic failure of pit bull owners

I have a "nice one". Yeah, lots are nice until they decide to attack.

[notadmblnd]

26. But that can be said for all dogs

Just sayin

[Mojorabbit]

28. I wonder what kind of "swat" it was. nt

[BeyondGeography]

3. Pit bulls in the news

This is becoming as common as weather reports.

[kestrel91316]

19. And small children getting ahold of loaded guns and killing somebody.......

[BeyondGeography]

21. So true

Don't know if the media is on the lookout for stuff that was always happening or if these incidents are simply more frequent. Either way, it's sad.

[ginnyinWI]

4. if it is any breed other than a pit bull--

They say "dog" or "family dog". If it is a Pittie, they say "Pit Bull". I have read that there are just as many of these attacks by other breeds. It depends on training, in my IMO, more than breed.

[michigandem58]

6. You've read wrong

Pit bulls are much more likely to attack and they do greater damage when they do.

[ginnyinWI]

7. from the ASPCA:

"...Despite this bad rap, a well-bred, well-socialized and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent and gentle dogs imaginable. It is truly a shame that the media continues to portray such a warped image of this beautiful, loyal and affectionate breed. Pit bulls once enjoyed a wonderful reputation. Some of the most famous dogs in American history were pit bulls. A pit bull named Stubby, a decorated hero during World War One, earned several medals and was even honored at the White House. During duty, he warned soldiers of gas attacks, found wounded men in need of help and listened for oncoming artillery rounds. Pit bulls have been featured in well-known advertising campaigns for companies such as Levis, Buster Brown Shoes and Wells Fargo. The image of a pit bull, which was considered a symbol of unflagging bravery and reliability, represented the United States on recruiting and propaganda posters during World War One. Many famous figures, including Helen Keller, President Theodore Roosevelt, General George Patton, President Woodrow Wilson, Fred Astaire and Humphrey Bogart, shared their lives and homes with pit bulls."

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/the-truth-about-pit-bulls

[DrDan]

10. more from your source

"When provoked, they may become aggressive more readily than another breed might. Sometimes they don’t inhibit their bites, so they may cause injury more often than other dogs."

[Doremus]

9. Citation for that (ridiculous) assertion?

i.e. "Pit bulls are much more likely to attack"

Frankly, it's as ignorant a comment as I've ever read on DU.

[DrDan]

15. "When provoked, they may become aggressive more readily than another breed might."

from the ASPCA source cited above

[PDittie]

22. "when provoked, they may"

Very definitive. Certainly cause for blaming (and trying to exterminate) a breed.

[DrDan]

23. NO ONE is saying they cause harm EVERY time they encounter another person or animal

the potential is there . . .

whether you agree with the ASPCA or not

[ginnyinWI]

11. one more link for your consideration

http://www.thelazypitbull.com/2012/02/pit-bull-facts-do-you-know-truth/

[DrDan]

13. a link from a pit bull owner who claims to have

". . . learned from my own experience" and offers no other source data for her "facts"?

biased perhaps?

[DrDan]

8. so what training do you think these victims gave their "dog"

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Don't chew on strangers.

[DrDan]

14. should have gone to the "don't chew on family" module

[Mojorabbit]

30. The wrong kind

I have a hundred lb shepherd and I have never swatted her. If I want her off the couch all I have to do is say, "Off". I trained her to simple commands when she was a puppy using positive reinforcement. I am wondering how hard he was actually swatting the dog to have it feel it needed to attack.

[CottonBear]

17. From 2005 to 2012, pit bulls killed 151 Americans & accounted for 60% of total recorded deaths (251)

"In the 8-year period from 2005 to 2012, pit bulls killed 151 Americans and accounted for 60% of the total recorded deaths (251). Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 73% of these deaths."

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2012.php

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Seattle, Washington (April 22, 2009) -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases its first multi-year report on U.S. dog bite fatalities. The report covers a 3-year period -- from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008 -- and analyzes data gathered from 88 dog bite incidences that caused death to a U.S. citizen.

The report documents dog breed information, property information (where the attack occurred) as well as dog bite victim age information.

Of the 88 fatal dog attacks recorded by DogsBite.org, pit bull type dogs were responsible for 59% (52). This is equivalent to a pit bull killing a U.S. citizen every 21 days during this 3-year period. The data also shows that pit bulls commit the vast majority of off-property attacks that result in death. Only 18% (16) of the attacks occurred off owner property, yet pit bulls were responsible for 81% (13).

Pit bulls are also more likely to kill an adult than a child. In the 3-year period, pit bulls killed more adults (ages 21 and over), 54%, than they did children (ages 11 and younger), 46%. In the 21-54 age group, pit bulls were responsible for 82% (14) of the deaths. The data indicates that pit bulls do not only kill children and senior citizens; they kill men and women in their prime years as well.

http://www.dogsbite.org/dogsbite-newsroom-2009-dogsbite-three-year-fatality-study.php

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Which breeds are they?

Pictured are the two most deadly dog breeds in America: pit bull terriers and rottweilers. Research from DogsBite.org shows that during the 8-year period from 2005 to 2012, these two breeds accounted for 73% of the total recorded fatal attacks.1 By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2012, a report by Animal People shows that pit bulls (245) and rottweilers (84) and their mixes contributed to 66% of the total recorded fatal attacks (497).2

It is important to point out that fatal dog attacks committed by pit bulls and their mixes more than doubles the attacks inflicted by rottweilers. It is well documented by experts3 and humane groups4 that pit bulls pose a substantial danger due to their selective breeding for dogfighting. Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls frequently fail to communicate intention prior to an attack (surprise attacks); possess a lethal bite style (hold and shake) and a ruinous manner of attack (gameness).

http://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs.php

************************************************************************************************************
http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/8-year-dog-bite-fatality-chart-dogsbiteorg.pdf

************************************************************************************************************

[Flatulo]

18. That's just BS. Pits account for 59% of attacks.

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics.php

If Pits were a type or make of gun, we'd be screaming bloody murder for their regulation. Actually, many are screaming bloody murder.

My Lab had a hole torn out of her side by a pit. It cost me $2K in vets bills., of course, the owner never paid, even though he was ordered to by the court.

[Vietnameravet]

16. Pit bulls are a danger

In spite of owner denial, in the last twenty years pit bulls have been involved in 50% more fatal attacks than the second most likely breed to attack ( Rottweiller) and more than three times more likely to kill than the third group, (German Shepherds).
You cant ignore the statistics and i will add one of my own..100% of pit bull owners thought their dog, Fluffy the Pit Bull, was friendly and harmless.

My rule of thumb is this: NEVER get a dog too big to beat the shit out of in you have to!

Check out the PDF from the CDC about half way down titled (Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/dogbite-factsheet.html

[mbperrin]

20. I call BS.

1. "Making a mess on the sofa." What mess? Piss? Poop? Vomit? Muddy paws? Really vague, but I can tell you that a 4 year old animal that is not sick nor injured does not do the first three, and the last one is hardly a capital crime.

2. The owner is in his 20s. This means that he has probably bought into the pit stereotype as a "mean vicious" trophy animal, and has treated the dog as such, hardly the dog's fault.

3. "Swatted" the dog. With what? Hand, bat, club, foot, what? If a dog is puking, pooping, or pissing, why would anyone interrupt that with physical force? Tell you what - burst in on your spouse this afternoon while they're doing any of the above and give them a "simple" swat and see if you get an angry response.

4. Then when the immature and perhaps cruel owner sees that his imaginary world is untrue and that abused animals will defend themselves, what is his loving reaction? First a steak knife and then Euthanasia. I sure hope this stupid couple never has children, and they should never be allowed to own an animal again of any kind.

5. So, in short, an incapable, stupid owner mistreats an animal until finally, as we all would, the end comes and defense is attempted, and then the animal is put down and somehow the stupid owner is seen as a victim, and the "bad dog" got his due.

I will bet a hundred dollar bill that dog fighting goes on within ten minutes of that place, and I'll bet that stupid couple knew about it, and wished to participate, or did.

I do hope "Stubby Finger" never wants to own another animal, because I'm sure that he will not be banned, seeing as how stupid many people are about this topic.

[TexasTowelie]

25. It looks like you will be collecting soon.

See post #24.

[TexasTowelie]

24. Some people never learn!

This comment was added to the story today:

Apparently there has not been enough tragedy as the victim's residence is now displaying another full grown pit-bull tied to something in the front.

Tyler Street is very heavily traveled by pedestrians on foot. The only thing between all of this foot traffic and that barking, huge dog is whatever he is tied to. It is only a matter of time, and maybe even more tragic, even fatal.

[Skittles]

27. I have petsat for pit bulls and never had a problem

but I admit I would not have one myself - they are just too, I dunno, "formidable" for me - for example, I was sitting on a couch and picked up a piece of rope-chew toy - I thought I could play tug-of-war with him - he grabbed it and pulled me clean off the couch onto the floor, where I was extensively attacked with a tongue - unbelievably strong

[BlueToTheBone]

29. We had a Dobi in the early 60s

and the breed may have been today's equivalent of a pit bull. My father was a really mean man and he was a "disciplinarian." One day Mikie (his nickname from his long line of papers) turned around and bit the shit out of him. Deep and bloody. I always think the owners have an imprint on the animal and these people are mean and their dogs reflect their behaviors.