Pit Bull ATTACK

Well, here's another pit bull attack, but the penalties are a bit stiffer in San Diego. The attitude of it's their first time seems to be prevalent, but apparently it didn't work here. Those charges are felonies.

Pit bull owners plead not guilty in attack on San Diego woman, 75
June 30, 2011 | 4:29 pm

A mother and daughter pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges linked to an attack by their pit bulls on a 75-year-old neighbor in San Diego.

Alba Cornelio, 39, and Carla Cornelio, 19, are charged with a felony of having an animal that caused serious bodily injury and misdemeanors of failure to protect the public, owning a dangerous animal and failure to restrain a dog.

Two pit bulls owned by the Cornelios attacked 75-year-old Emako Mendoza on June 18 in the backyard of her Paradise Hills home.

Bitten severely on her legs, arm and back, Mendoza has had her left leg amputated and faces surgery on her right leg in an effort to save it, according to prosecutors.

The Cornelios were arrested Wednesday night and arraigned Thursday in San Diego County Superior Court. Bail for each was set at $350,000.

"Dog owners must take responsibility for their animals and prevent them from hurting the public," said Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis. If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces up to three years and eight months in prison, Dumanis said.

After the attack, the dogs were seized and euthanized by the county Department of Animal Services.

Boris
 
While the owner has a tremendous influence on how the dog turns out, breeding is at the core of the matter. Herding dogs herd, hunting dogs hunt. tracking dogs track and fighting dogs fight.
A responsible pit bull breeder will have generations of dogs bred for health and good nature. The back alley breeder will breed only dogs that want to fight.
Rottweilers are used as herding dogs for renegade livestock that won't obey smaller, more traditional stock dogs. Thankfully they seem to have fallen out of fashion and there is no money to be made in them by the thugs running puppy mills.
 
First, we get insurance companies NOT to insure them. Then when we sue, we take the owners house, cars, and boat.

Second, many towns OUTLAY pit bulls. If you have them have heavy fines.

Fred
 
Stepping back from the regulation and temperament debate - I've a bit more to add on the protection front. Just had my second attacking Pit Bull encounter this morning.

I've been running lately in more remote areas, both trails in the Olympics and rural neighborhoods. There's a route I've been on for a few weeks now right next to our house, that has a ton of dogs. There are several that live off leash, in unfenced yards. I've had a bunch of encounters, but being pretty dog savvy - I've been able to keep them back by stopping, holding my ground, and not running away from them. Most of them now know me, and even though some still yap and give a little chase, it's not been a big deal...until this morning.

Heading up a gravel road, I heard a couple dogs barking from a home I'd not heard them at before. As I approached the driveway, on the opposite side of the street - I saw an older German Shepard mix and a Pit Bull coming at me full tilt. I stopped, squared off and looked right at them as they approached, and made myself look as undaunted as possible.

The German Shepard mix slowed quite a bit and continued to bark, but the Pit Bull kept coming. He slowed just a tad as he hit the street, but continued right at me off the owner's property, still barking and aggressive.

At about 5 feet away, without him slowing down any more - he got a blast from the UDP Jogger Fogger I started carrying a few weeks ago. While this isn't quite the same strength as the large canisters of Bear Spray this company is known for, it's still stronger than most pepper sprays - 10% OC and 2 million SHU's. It's very light and comfortable to carry and super quick to access, making it ideal for activities like hiking, biking and running.

Anyway, back to the dog - a one second burst from 5 feet away, sent out a cloud perhaps 6 feet in diameter, completely engulfing the dogs head and chest area. The dog's reaction: It stopped dead in it's tracks as the plume hit it , looked at me for a fraction of a second like it just saw a ghost, then retreated just as fast as it approached sneezing up a storm and pawing at it's face. The dog was in obvious discomfort, and the German Shepard that had joined it seemed to understand something bad had happened, and joined it's pal as they ran back to the house. The toughest part for me, was holding out until the dog was that close...your instinct tells you to spray from much farther away, but fortunately I'd read quite a bit about the fog pattern ahead of time. It's extremely easy to engulf your target with a large, fine mist - but you gotta be up close and personal to do it correctly.

My next step - report the dog to the County, and let the owner gain some first hand experience with Washington's dangerous dog statutes, some of the toughest in the country.

I'm also tempted to send the owner a bill for my $20 pepper spray.
 
Glad you stood your ground and the spray worked as it's supposed to. Still scary though...

I swear, irresponsble dog owners... :evil:
 
I encountered the Pit Bull on my morning run again today. Didn't turn out like I expected.

I saw the dog from about 500 feet away this time, as she was out in front of the house, instead of up the driveway. She was alone this time, no sign of her dog buddy from our last encounter. I kept running until I got closer, getting the pepper spray ready to go again.

As I approached within 50 feet or so, I stopped running but kept walking. Her ears went back, tail straight as an arrow, and I could hear a low growl. Unlike last time - she didn't charge. However, she didn't stop either. She crouched down, walking towards me very, very slowly. It didn't look promising...so at this point, I stopped and got ready for party time again.

At about 20 feet, I started talking. Kept my voice nice, calm and friendly, but little did she know I was trash talking her.

"Hi Sweetie. How hot do you like your Kung Pao? Good girl...want some tabasco on those eggs?"

This seemed to calm her a bit, so I reached into my pocket with my free hand where I carry a couple dog treats - there are other dogs along my run, that I've befriended. I tossed one towards her, and her whole demeanor instantly changed...sniff sniff, eat the cookie, ears down, tail wagging, and she trotted over happily for more.

She came right up next to me, and sat down. I put my hand down to her, she sniffed, licked, and then we were buds. I gave her a scritch behind the ear, stayed and talked to her for a couple minutes, and gave her another half of a cookie.

As I started to walk away, she followed. Still keeping a hand on the pepper spray, I started a slow jog - she picked up the pace, but not aggressively...she just wanted to tag along.

Which she did, for about a 1/2 mile...at which point she turned around, and went back home. Too bad - thought I had picked up an impromptu running partner.
 
when I drove propane I carried a bag of dog treats in the truck. works most of the time. Some dogs got so use to the treats that you could not get OUT of the yard with out giving them another. Dogs are great but each one is different and have good and bad days. Glad you did not have to spray her again.

short story: I was repossession a propane tank again from a lady on 10 acres. If I got hurt out there no one would know. As I am doing the paper work on the seat standing in the open door of the truck I sensed something behind me. I turned around to have a great mastiff pin me to the door while he smelled my upper chest. His nose was at the height as my heart and pressed into my jacket. He was on all fours and not on his hind legs. This dog weighted over 200lbs. He smelled me, licked me, found me uneatable and walked away to lay in the drive way. I went back to breathing again and paper work. 10 minute's later I could hear the owner coming home in her jeep down the long drive that starts at the top of the hill. The dog, Fred, got up walked over to me and started to bark slowly, like it was a unwanted job, at me for the 3 minutes it took the owner to get to the house and tell him to shut up. then she ask if Fred had scared me?
 
While I admire the jogger's courage and common sense in taming the pit bull, she shouldn't have had to do what she did. Dog owners *MUST* be responsible for the actions of their dogs. We have a dog, and my wife often complains that the only thing he will hurt is a fly, which he loves to snap up with his teeth. I wouldn't have a dog that showed any willingness to attack someone.
 
Dog bites is major public health issue.

How big is it?
About 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year
Almost one in five of those who are bitten, total of 885,000: require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries.
In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.
 
Hi Bill, I'm curious, what would have been your second line of defense, say if your thumb pressed so hard on your sprayer, it broke? Like maybe a quick kick to the dog's mouth under the chin (if you can be so accurate...???), or maybe hitting it with a pipe or bat?

We also have lots of dogs in our neighborhood and once in awhile they get loose -- otherwise tame, nice, family dogs can turn real ugly if on their own and see an opportunity. A family lab made a rag-doll sandwich a few years back on our long-haired chihuahua (medium sized dog, not miniature). Hospitalized for 3 days, stomach ripped open and 3 ribs broken, almost lost him, very traumatic. Also bit my wife when she tried to stop it (with her hands), seemed pretty helpless in the situation.
 
Dora~Jean":15yv96l9 said:
Hi Bill, I'm curious, what would have been your second line of defense, say if your thumb pressed so hard on your sprayer, it broke?
Click to expand...

For this particular dog - I'd probably have tried to outrun it. Typically, that's a baaaaad idea, as it just encourages a dog to give chase. But this dog, just didn't look that fast...short legs, very stocky, and seemingly out of shape.

Otherwise, in the more typical case where the average dog could easily catch me - I don't really know. It's simply not feasible to carry anything substantial while running.

One option I've seen referenced elsewhere, by other runners - find a nearby car, and jump on top of it.
 
I back up pepper spray with a C7 taser. It is very small and gives you one shot at a distance(15 feet) and then very useful as a direct contact device. Just don't be carrying a metal cup when discharging it close to the cup. I know and it was amazing how it felt, and not in a good way. I can guarantee any dog will lose interest. But, I carry pepper spray (pepper blaster from Kimber) for the run of the mill dog. Never have had to use the taser...yet. And, like with people, I always try to be friendly and kind as long as they return the favor and don't try to bite me. Most are friendly, some are scared, and a few are just mean.

Ron
 
Bill,
Thanks for the story and the link to the pepper spray. We have been running further from home recently, into areas in which we don't know the dogs. I have bear spray at home, but it is too big to carry when running. It looks like the one you use will work for us. I'm ordering some today.
Lyle
 
Spray is great but is not the end all. I have found that my voice and manner are the first defense. dogs like to follow orders, you just have to be the one in charge. I have had to stand down a few dogs just by standing still and raising my voice. Susan had to stand up to a rott once in a drive way. the dog bit her twice but she stood up to it and ordered it to sit repeatedly until it did.

If that does not get the job done then the spray is great. current question is if the spray does not work what will you do? Me I love dogs. I have had a dog almost all my life and despite the grief I give Susan about Shadow I like having a dog. That said I hate to get bite and carry a knife just in case. we are talking about getting knocked to the ground by one or more large powerful dogs. I carry a knife anyhow all the time so its handy. a deep repetitive jab to the body should get the job done. That's my plan if a dog every takes me down. Yell, spray, kick and stab.
 
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