Woman Seriously Hurt In Pit Bull Attack

[barrychapman]

Woman Seriously Hurt In Pit Bull Attack

POSTED: 2:02 pm PDT August 21, 2007
UPDATED: 6:10 pm PDT August 21, 2007


GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- Two pit bulls that entered a Gig Harbor home through a pet door attacked and severely injured a woman while she slept, sheriff's deputies told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

The dogs may have gone into the house to attack another dog, according to animal control officers. They attacked the woman in her bed as she tried to fight off the dogs.

DISCUSS: Pit Bulls

Deputies said the woman got a gun and fired at the dogs, but the attack continued. She was eventually able to escape the house, get into her car and call 911.

According to deputies, after the pit bulls attacked the woman they went after a neighbor’s Jack Russell terrier, killing it.

“They’ve had problems over there before a couple of houses down with the dogs. It’s one of those things. We just hope Sue is OK,” neighbor Ricky Russell said.

Pierce County animal control officers were able to capture the pit bulls.

“Highly aggressive, people aggressive, animal aggressive. They attacked a Jack Russell terrier out there and they attacked the lady pretty severely,” Brian Boman, with animal control, said.

According to investigators, the dogs were determined and difficult to stop.

“We ended up having to pepper spray them an our deputies thought they might have to terminate the dogs out there, that’s how vicious they were,” Detective Ed Troyer said.

The woman is at St. Joseph's hospital and is listed in satisfactory condition, according to a hospital spokesman.

The victim is disabled. Her dog is a caretaker dog, according to a neighbor.

[WVW]

man, thats skrewed up. I love those dogs so much, but you see them in the news more and more these days. But i wonder how much its really the breed or if there's something else going on. cause as much as you hear about Pits attacking other dogs or humans, how many people have them and never have a problem. for all we know, the owners could be running dog fights (as unlikly as it is) or just beating them or the like.

I would still get one...

[mpgt]

I think it's a safe bet there's more to the story.

[Ranger]

Punish the irresponsible breed owner, not the breed or the deed. If your dogs are not in your control, whatever they do is your responsibility, regardless of the breed. Jail time is a must for the owner of these two "dogs."

[Ekke]

We have trouble not just with Pit Bulls but with other breeds like Boerbull as well that the people are back yard breeders and in breeding them to a point of no return. Yes there are some breeds that genetically is more agresive than other but in a good home and loving enviroment they seldom just loss there minds and become killers. We have Rhodisian Ridge backs that are suppose to be sooo mean. My daughter hangs on there ears and she doesn't even get a groal from them.

[Kobi Baby]

My beau, Curtis, has a pit bull. We've already agreed that when we get our house at the first of the year, she will continue to live with his dad (where she is right now). Even though she isn't aggressive at all, I can't handle her; she is just too strong. And considering we get off work at different times, I would have to go home to her without him there to pull her off of me when she gets excited. Just to give you an idea of how strong she is, I took her out on a leash one time--the first and the last time, and she pulled me to the ground, flat on my face, when she saw a cat and ran for it. I had lovely bruises and scrapes. I told Curtis right then, "Babe, I can't live with this dog" and he said "I understand". There's been no further discussion of the subject.

We've both tried to teach her manners and she just won't learn. My dog on the other hand, I swear understands every word I say, and I don't have to tell her twice. I also trained my cousin's weimer for the hunting season when he left town for 1 and 1/2 months for his job. She was ready to get those ducks when he got back in town. So it isn't a lack of training skills.

I'm not saying all pits are like so full of energy and headstrong, but this is my experience.

[echoxxash]

I've had more problems with Chihuahuas and Poodles than Pits, Rotties, Corsos, etc.
As Ranger said, it's the OWNER. You abuse, starve, fight or even just neglect (not socializing, keeping locked up in a backyard with no contact with the outside) will create a bad and possibly dangerous dog.
And, yes, another thing with most attacks...there is a reason the dog attacked a human, they don't just wake up one day and say "Ooh, I'd love to bite that woman over there!" Taunting, throwing things, verbally abusing the dog, etc are all considered provoking and a fine reason for an untrained dog to snap.
Makes me very sad hear all the bad things about Pit Bulls. The media feeds on attacks, abuse, fights...but what they should show are the Pits that identified bodies at the WTC on 9/11, the police drug-sniffing Pit Bull that alerted to millions of dollars worth of heroin, the Pit Bull that Helen Keller had. There are SO many good examples of the breed that are just swept under the carpet because it's easy to blame one thing and not take responsiblty for the loser people that think a 80 pound, scarred, chained dog makes them look cool.

[Kobi Baby]

I agree, a 9 times out of 10, it is a neglegent or abusive owner that turns these dogs, but that is not always the case. Noone has ever raised a hand to Zima (Curtis's pitbull) and she is pampered to the max. But no matter how much you try and teach her things, she is stubborn and refuses to learn. No matter how many times I grab her bottom jaw under her tounge for biting, she continues the behavior becuase to her its a game. We can't convince her otherwise. So, I dunno. All we can do it let her live with his dad. Don't get me wrong, Curtis can handle his dog, but I can't. And I feel that it wouldn't be fair to keep a dog that I cannot handle when he isnt home. For my own safety and for the safety of others if she were to get out. Not to mention the safety of other neighborhood animals!

And the media does that with everything, not just pitbulls. Its media. I can't stand it either.

[TheBoaGuy]

Pit Bulls get a bad rap because of morons like mike vick. People who breed dog for fighting deserve to goto jail for a long time. I am personally hoping the judge throws the book at vick to set an example to these idiots that it is illegal to fight dogs and you will goto jail for a long time. The owner of the dogs that attacked that woman should be held accountable for the actions of his dogs. Exactly why were they out of his control???? I am a proud owner of a pit bull and am a FIRM! believer that it is how you raise the dog. My pit (nala) is the nicest dog ever and even plays with our pet rat and our ferrets. Does this look like the face of a viscous killer????
nala.pg.jpg