Kids Attacked By Family “Pet”

An article we did recently entitled Dog Attacks Are Increasing Despite Outcry we noted that of the close to 5 million dog attacks annually “almost half of those bitten are children, with the age group of 5 to 9 years old the highest age bracket of victims.”

I have been writing about dog attacks for a long time but never specifically attacks on children until recently. In today’s article we will give you more terrible stories about dogs attacking defenseless children. Some of them are so sad it makes me wonder why people love dogs so much.

Beginning with more stories about dogs attacking defenseless children.

The first chapter of today’s story comes to us from Grayson County, North Carolina where the Sheriff’s office arrested and charged two people with having a vicious dog after a pit bull mauled a 15-month-old child causing life-threatening injuries. Illegal drugs and ammunition were found in the home according to the Sheriff’s office. The dog had the baby’s head in its mouth. The man in the house was bitten in the face while trying to stop the attack but nevertheless was charged with felony child neglect and possessing a vicious dog. Neighbors have noticed aggressive behavior by the dog on prior occasions. The dog was seized by Grayson County animal control. Disposition of the dog is pending.

In Deleon Springs, FL. a 19-month-old child was the victim of a pit bull attack. Emergency crews from the county rushed to help the 19-month-old after the dog bit the child in the head. The injuries were so severe that the Sheriff’s office helicopter was called to transport the child to a local hospital. The pit bull is the family pet and has been seeing playing outside without incident so it’s not clear why the dog attacked.

Over in England a newspaper called “The Mirror” did a story recently revealing statistics that show where you are most likely to be attacked by a dog. These statistics show that admissions to hospital due to someone being bitten by a dog are up 7.3% from the prior year. In the age bracket up to 14, the increase was 4%.

In the area near Sacramento, California a Yuma County nine-year-old boy was the victim of a vicious dog attack. The boy later died. This attack has fueled a heated discussion about domestic dogs and children. A local attorney who handles dog bite cases nationally was quoted in the article as saying that “dogs that have been meticulously bred over hundreds of years to have qualities that have to do with fighting and killing” such as a pit bull have that instinct.

In 2013 the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association did an extensive study on dog bite related fatalities covering the nine-year period from 2000 to 2009. The study revealed a number of factors in common but that no particular breed of dog could be identified as a prime culprit, and in 87% of fatal dog attacks the most common factor was the absence of an able-bodied person to intervene. While this study seems to vindicate pit bulls, the SPCA offers free pit bull training classes.

In Denver, Colorado neighbors want answers about a dangerous dog who was allowed to live in a west Denver home for years despite multiple attacks on both neighbors and their pets.

The Rottweiler named “Loco” has bitten three people in the last six months, including a 20-month-old toddler who required surgery.

Denver Animal Protection now has the dog, but neighbors question why it took so long for them to get him off the streets.

“I think that’s a little too late — that’s four incidents too late. I think it should have been taken care of on the first incident,” said one neighbor who asked us not to use her name because she fears retaliation.

Officials from Denver County’s Animal Protection Services wouldn’t give us answer, citing the ongoing investigation of the attacks.

The dog’s owner, Martin Pena, is now charged with a felony and misdemeanor charge for unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog.
The neighbor said Pena has let his Rottweiler roam the neighborhood for years.

Court records show Loco first bit and hurt someone in 2011. The dog attacked an 11-year-old girl who was walking in the alley behind the owner’s house. Following that incident, the dog was impounded and deemed a “dangerous dog.”

In Perquimans County, N.C. a North Carolina dog owner was killed by an attacking dog while doing a chore many pet owners do every day.

The dog owner died as the helicopter was landing to bring her to the hospital following the vicious attack. The owner’s mother said that she got the dog after seeing a newspaper ad saying that the dog was good with children.

But the canine turned vicious when Story attempted to clean her crate.
Story’s sister who was home at the time of the attack was also injured trying to stop the violent animal.

The victim leaves behind two teenagers.

The dog is expected to be euthanized by animal control.

ABC news tells us that authorities in Colorado have issued a summons to the owner of three dogs after four children were mauled in El Paso county recently. The children’s mother took them to the home of her boss, where the man breeds Great Danes, after agreeing to check on his animals. The woman told authorities while checking on animals in a barn, she heard screams outside and found the children had been attacked by the dogs.

Our Sabre Brand Dog Pepper Spray is specially formulated to be highly effective yet humane and is strong enough to deter most dog attacks. The 1.8 ounce American-made, EPA approved, all-natural product has a flip top safety to prevent accidental discharge. The unit can spray up to 15 feet away. It is meant primarily for outdoors, so indoor use requires great caution so there is no cross-contamination.

Have any of your kids been attacked by a family dog? Please share your experience with us!