Latest news with #pitbull
Irish Times
20-07-2025
- Irish Times
Dog is euthanised after attacking owner in Cork incident
A dog that attacked its owner in Cork City on Friday, leaving her with serious injuries, has been euthanised by a vet. The woman, who is in her 30s, was attacked in Glenfield Park in Ballyvolane on the northside of the city. The family pet, which is understood to have been a pit bull crossbreed, lunged at the woman at her home at around 7.30pm on Friday. The emergency services attended at the scene, and she was taken to hospital for treatment. The woman sustained non-life threatening injuries in the attack. However, she was left deeply shaken by the incident and required treatment to her upper body. READ MORE It is understood the dog had not shown any previous sign of aggression. Gardaí said inquiries into the incident are ongoing. Separately, a number of serious and at times fatal dog attacks have taken place in Ireland in recent years. Nicole Morey died just days after her 23rd birthday in June of last year having been attacked by her dogs at her home in Fedamore in Co Limerick. Ms Morey kept four dogs that were all on a restricted breed list. In June 2021 three-month-old Mia O'Connell died after being attacked by a family dog in her home in Waterford. Her inquest in January 2023 heard the one-year-old dachshund terrier cross breed had snapped at Mia when she was first brought into the family home. In recording a verdict of misadventure Coroner Philip Comyn urged animal owners to educate themselves on dog aggression. He said that he fully appreciated the wonderful benefits and companionship of dogs. However, he warned they are still animals and 'unpredictable' especially when its place is displaced by the arrival of a newcomer.
National Post
19-07-2025
- National Post
Barbara Kay: Pit bulls are a canine scourge, and the numbers prove it
Two weeks ago, a Montreal woman was viciously attacked by her stepson's previously amiable pit bull, losing two litres of blood from some 20 lacerations on both arms. Heavily bandaged victim Melanie Chartrand, marvelling that she survived, told TVA News (in French), 'She was chewing my arm and she liked it,' adding, 'These are dogs that were designed for fighting. I have the impression that it can happen to anyone, at any time.' Chartrand is right on both counts. Article content Article content Four decades ago, when pit bulls were associated almost entirely with dogfighting, the general public understood the danger of the breed as empirically received wisdom. Then, pit bull related fatalities were vanishingly rare. Now, pit bull types are the most popular dogs in America, making up six per cent of the U.S. dog population. Between 2005 and 2019, they accounted for 66 per cent of 521 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities. There are far fewer pit bulls in Canada, but their disproportionately high attack numbers here mirror those in the U.S. Article content Article content What eliminated the cultural guardrails that prevented so much carnage? Article content Ideology. Notably multiculturalism, which attributes all social discrimination to racism, and speciesism, which precludes moral distinctions between humans and other species. What we got, when these theories were applied to pit bulls, was 'multicaninism,' and with it the assumption that, for example, if police shoot more pit bulls than other breeds — and they do — the disproportion is racially motivated. In fact, the police shoot more pit bulls because of public safety and self-defence. Article content Article content Stereotyping individuals according to their race is wrong, but to describe the stereotyping of any animal breed as racism is simply absurd, since the entire point of 'breeding' animals is to produce specific traits. Thus, the conflation of human 'race' with animal 'breed' runs completely counter to scientific facts. And yet the propaganda mill of the pit bull advocacy movement — resting on bogus 'studies' by speciesism-enamoured academics — has successfully gaslit the media, many politicians and otherwise brainy public intellectuals into the belief that they are combatting racism when they defend the 'right' of pit bulls not to be 'profiled.' Article content Article content Katja Guenther, for example, a gender and sexuality studies professor and pit bull advocate, is the author of the award-winning book, The Lives and Deaths of Shelter Animals, which emerged from three years of field work at a high-intake animal shelter. (Pit bulls are the highest-intake breed in the U.S., making up between 19 and 32 per cent of the shelter population.)
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Pit bull attacks Dearborn Heights teen girl and her dog, police say
Police and animal control officers in Dearborn Heights were on Virgil Street Thursday after a pit bull attacked another dog and that dog's owner. Dearborn Heights police say a 16-year-old girl was walking her dog Thursday morning when a pit bull attacked her Shih Tzu and then bit her. "I hollered down cause I saw them outside, and one of the girls was like, 'Everything is fine,'" said neighbor Mona Bradley, who lives on Virgil Street. "I couldn't believe it happened around here. I haven't seen any loose dogs like that." "People need to be cautious of their animals and stuff and where they are going," added neighbor Nevaeh Black. Police were able to capture the pit bull, which they say was not licensed. The teen is expected to be okay. Dearborn Heights ordinance requires that all potentially dangerous or vicious animals be licensed with the city. The ordinance includes: Bradley says that pit bull owners should be held accountable. "For it [pitbull] to attack the little dog and little girl, that's too much," she said. Police issued the pit bull owner a citation for dog at large, vicious animal and having an unlicensed dog.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- CTV News
B.C. dog owner rallies supporters in fight to save pit bull from euthanasia
A B.C. dog owner is fighting to save her pit bull from being put down, after the animal was deemed dangerous and ordered to be euthanized. Amardeep Haer, who lives in the Township of Langley, says her dog Enzo was wrongly seized by bylaw officers in April 2024 after a contractor was bitten at her home. Township officials say Enzo was responsible for the attack, the second biting incident involving the dog, but Haer insists it was her family's other pit bull, not Enzo, who bit the man. 'Honestly, we just want our dog back,' Haer told CTV News. 'And I won't stop until we do. Because I know my family was wronged.' Enzo has been held at the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) ever since the seizure and is slated to be euthanized. Haer has hired legal counsel, gone public with her story, and launched a petition that has garnered more than 14,000 signatures. 'It's an amazing amount of support,' she said. On Wednesday, Haer and supporters rallied outside Township of Langley City Hall, protesting the euthanasia order. While Haer is taking legal action, she's also facing a lawsuit of her own. Brandon Fox, the contractor involved in the 2024 incident, has filed a claim against Haer — alleging both pit bulls 'viciously attacked' him, causing injuries requiring multiple surgeries. He declined to be interviewed and none of his claims have been tested in court. Haer also declined to comment on the lawsuit. According to court documents, Fox is seeking damages for pain, suffering, lost income, and permanent scarring. His lawsuit claims Haer 'failed to adequately secure her animals' and knew they posed a risk. 'After entering the backyard to bring fencing materials, a rear door of the residence was opened – allowing two dogs, Enzo and a female pit bull, to enter the backyard. The dogs were uncontrolled and viciously attacked the plaintiff, repeatedly biting him,' read the claim. The Township of Langley says Enzo was involved in two separate attacks before his seizure including on a 16-year-old girl who was bitten and treated in hospital. The second attack resulted in serious injuries and lengthy hospitalization, according to the Township. An independent behavioural assessment reportedly determined Enzo posed an ongoing threat to public safety. The Township also confirmed Enzo sustained minor injuries during the seizure, caused by biting a catch pole, and was treated immediately by LAPS, the non-profit animal control service contracted by the Township. Haer alleges LAPS committed animal abuse during the seizure, which the non-profit denies. Haer also claims Enzo wasn't treated by vets for nearly 24 hours. The seizure and euthanasia application were carried out under the Community Charter and Township's Animal Control Bylaw. The decision on Enzo's future rests with the provincial court. The Township launched a 'For the Record' website to clarify public information about the case. 'There are two different versions of what happened, and this is why the matter is before the courts,' said Township Mayor Eric Woodward. 'It's a pretty tragic incident from top to bottom – for both Enzo and the individual that was injured in the attack, which no one denies occurred.' Woodward confirmed council can intervene legally but only through formal direction and with consideration of liability. 'If council wanted to change direction and give legal direction to staff, it would have the option to do that,' he said. 'That would be subject to legal advice and a healthy debate about what future liability that may put the Township in.' Woodward has reviewed court filings and is reserving judgment. 'It's difficult to render an opinion on something that's before the courts, given the role that I have,' he said. 'But I've read everything, and I think it's important that people base their opinions on all the facts – not just one media report or social post.' A decision on Enzo's fate is expected to be handed down by a judge by September.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pit bull-type dogs attack prominent SC prosecutor out for a jog at Harbison Forest
A prominent Columbia federal prosecutor out for a jog in Harbison State Forest found himself fighting for his life when he was attacked by two large unchained pit bull-type dogs over the weekend. But Winston Holliday, who has helped put some of South Carolina's most notorious criminals behind bars, was saved when an off-duty police officer happened upon what could have been a fatal mauling Saturday morning. The dogs were either pit bulls or pit bull mixes, Holliday said. Holliday, 57, an avid jogger and runner, suffered wounds to his arms and legs, the most serious being to his right forearm. The gash from dog bites required five stitches. A photo Holliday posted on Facebook shows his arm stitched up and spattered with blood. One of his hands won't close because it is so swollen from punching the dogs in self defense. All told, he received 17 stitches on his arms and legs as a result of the attack. Meanwhile, the state Forestry Commission said Monday afternoon that it is closing Harbison State Forest until at least Thursday while it tries to locate the dogs. The commission's notice was posted on FaceBook. The commission said that it had become aware of other incidents in and around the state forest near Broad River Road. Two large aggressive dogs cornered a teenager Friday, but the youth managed to escape without injury, the commission said in its Facebook post. Holliday's attack is being investigated by the Columbia police department, whose jurisdiction includes Harbison forest. Dog traps have been set in an effort to capture the animals, which the Forestry Commission said had not been seen since Saturday. A Forestry Commission spokesperson did not return calls by The State seeking more information, but its Facebook post said a similar dog sighting had been reported July 9. 'Nobody knows who the dogs belong to,' said Columbia police Chief Skip Holbrook. 'Animal control has put some traps out to try to trap them. We have notified the park law enforcement to be aware and be on the lookout also.' Holbrook said it is also possible that the dogs may be running wild. Determining their ownership, or lack thereof, is one of the objects of the police investigation. In an interview with The State, Holliday said he may not have survived the attack if the other man had not happened upon the brutal event. The dogs stopped attacking and ran away when the man, Marc Miramontes, an off-duty police officer with the Lexington police department, showed up, said Holliday, who worked with Miramontes in law enforcement years ago and sometimes sees him while on runs at Harbison State Forest. 'I remember thinking 'I'm flagging, I'm getting tired and they are not losing any''' energy, Holliday said. 'They were getting more aggressive. I think they sensed that I was getting tired. If Marc hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened.'' Because of the attack, Holliday said he is on antibiotics and will have to undergo a series of rabies shots during the next two weeks. Holliday said the state Forestry Commission, which oversees Harbison forest, is investigating the incident, along with local law enforcement. Holliday spoke with an animal control officer Monday morning. At least one person has indicated he could identify the dogs. Holliday said he hopes they are caught because the animals could hurt other people. They have been reported to have attacked several people's pets in neighborhoods near Harbison State Forest, Holliday said. State foresters told him there had been other reports of the dogs being spotted near the nature preserve, Holliday said. The federal prosecutor said he suspects the dogs were not strays but were owned by someone because they appeared well-fed. They could have been trained as hunting dogs, based on how they worked together during the attack, he said. 'They're strong dogs; they're not being fed on frogs and crickets,'' he said. Harbison State Forest, just nine miles from Columbia's downtown, attracts numerous visitors and nature lovers. A 2,137-acre greenspace, with more than 18 miles of trails, it is a mecca for families, group daytime excursions and outdoor enthusiasts of all types, from joggers to mountain bikers to canoeists. Holliday, an assistant U.S. Attorney in Columbia since 2003, has been on prosecution teams that have sent some of South Carolina's most prominent criminals to prison, including fraudster and convicted killer Alex Murdaugh. Although state prosecutors persuaded a jury to convict Murdaugh of the double murders of his wife and son, Holliday and two other federal prosecutors secured Murdaugh's guilty plea for numerous cases of fraud. Holliday also prosecuted top SCANA and Westinghouse Electric officials for criminal charges related to the failure of the effort to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer plant in Fairfield County. Additionally, he and his colleagues have focused on wildlife crimes, as well as on illicit dog fighting rings. Details of the attack Saturday are chilling. A distance runner for 40 years who regularly jogs the trails at Harbison State Forest near his home, Holliday said he was more than a quarter mile into a run through the forest about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when he heard two dogs barking to his left, 15 feet away. As he looked over, he saw the pit-bull-like dogs advancing and beginning to circle him, as if they were a team preparing for an attack. Pit bulls are often considered unpredictable and are responsible for many attacks on people across the country. Typically, dogs that bark at joggers will run away or calm down when the jogger makes noise and yells at them, said Holliday, who has run in distance races across the world, including in Africa and Jamaica, and who is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School. But the Harbison dogs were different. They came after him as he tried to scare them off, he said. While one animal would bark, the other would lunge at him, Holliday said. The dogs inflicted wounds by biting, then tearing at his flesh, he said. 'Once they were circling, one of them was always trying to be in front of me, while the other one got behind me,'' he said. 'In whichever way I was looking, the other dog would launch. I was kind of spinning.'' He tried to fight the dogs off with a stick and with punches, but they kept coming . The animals weighed anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds, he said. Hitting them was like 'hitting a concrete block,'' he said. Holliday, who weighs a lean 185 pounds, said he doubts someone smaller could have held the dogs off. He estimates the attack occurred for about five minutes. Holliday, who is married and the father of three grown children, said it will be hard to forget what happened over the weekend on what he expected was little more than a routine jog. 'As bad as the physical injuries are, in a couple of weeks, that's going to be fine,'' he said. 'But mentally, trying to get back to the point where you feel comfortable running by yourself, I don't know. The sense of helplessness is not something I ever want to experience again.'' This story has been updated with comments from Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook and information from the S.C. Forestry Commission.
