Latest news with #pitbulls
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Video shows how pit bulls got out of house before Halloween attack in Tarentum last year
A Tarentum man is facing several charges after a dog attack left three injured, including himself, last Halloween. Tarentum police arrested 34-year-old Shawn Flynn on charges including aggravated assault, criminal trespass, and recklessly endangering another person for the incident that took place about five minutes before trick-or-treating was set to begin. Eight months later, Michael Shutack now has scars from his arms to his face and legs. They're painful memories from when pit bulls brutally mauled him on Oct. 31, 2024, leaving him out of work for two months. "Not knowing what's going on, I walked into an ambush, and they took me down," Shutack said. Surveillance video obtained by KDKA reveals how the dogs got loose in the neighborhood by East Seventh and Ormond Street. In the video, Flynn is seen in a hoodie, opening the door to the owners' home and running away. Seconds later, three pit bulls escape outside. "Who knows who else would have been attacked, and in a way, I'm kind of glad it was me and not a kid," Shutack said. That's initially how Shutack got caught in the crosshairs. He heard a noise, saw the dogs heading towards some kids and got them out of harm's way. "I picked him up and tossed him over the fence down at the end there, and I asked him, 'What's going on?' And he was too scared to talk," Shutack said. Before Shutack knew it, the dogs went after him. Flynn even tried to help, using a rug to distract the dogs, but got attacked himself. Another neighbor threw an old PlayStation console at the animals. Shutack eventually learned that the dogs had injured a woman in the area. "Whatever reason he had for doing it, there's no excuse," Shutack said. The dogs' owners weren't home at the time, but neighbors told KDKA they were evicted right after the incident, and court records show charges against them were recently dismissed. A spokesperson with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office told KDKA that dismissal was due to the new video evidence received by police. The criminal complaint also said Flynn only admitted to letting the dogs out after officers showed him the video. In an interview with investigators, he told them the landlord told his friend, "he would pay money for them to let the dogs out of the house" in an effort to evict the owners. Flynn said he never received that money. "He has to answer, take his lumps for what he did," Shutack said. As for Flynn, his mom told KDKA her son had never been in trouble until now. Flynn remains out of jail on non-monetary bail and will be back in court on July 30. It's unclear whether the landlord will face any charges.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Sweet little girl, 5, left seriously injured after two pit bulls attack her in friend's backyard
A five-year-old girl from Indiana is recovering from devastating injuries after two pit bulls mauled her in a friend's backyard. The attack in South Bend left her bloodied and permanently scarred in the brutal attack the occurred last month. Little Nylah Jones had only just stepped into her friend's backyard on S. Albert Avenue with her six-year-old brother when the two dogs lunged at her without warning sinking their teeth into her face and dragging her down as she cried for help. 'I just heard my son yelling "Mom! Mom!" said Jillquisha Jones, Nylah's mother to WNDU. 'I was like, "What's going on?" and he said, "The dog is on Nylah!"' The horrifying incident unfolded at around 7pm as neighbors ran outside to the sound of the youngster screaming. One neighbor, Angela, saw the child being carried in blood-soaked arms toward the street and said the scene was nothing short of horrific. 'She was bloody. She was carrying her,' Angela recalled. 'She met her mom and was like, "We've got to go to the hospital." It was just a really crazy scene.' Nylah's injuries were severe. She was rushed to the emergency room and is now left with dozens of deep cuts across her face - injuries that doctors say could leave her permanently disfigured. 'She has scars all over her face,' her mother said. 'They told me some of them might never go away.' The attack has left a lasting emotional imprint on Nylah's brother, who witnessed everything and now struggles to speak about it. 'Every time I look at her face, it just makes me really sad and cry,' he said told 21Alive. Nylah's family says the little girl is now afraid of going outside. 'My daughter almost died,' Jillquisha said. 'We could've lost her.' Her mother says she has since been stonewalled by local authorities and animal control, despite repeated attempts to get answers or action. 'At first, I just felt like they didn't care,' Jillquisha said. 'I'm calling them, I'm reaching out to animal control. Everybody from my friend's list on my social media tried to reach out, and they're not talking to me. They didn't say nothing. 'I don't care what kind of dog it is,' Jillquisha added. 'If it can do that to a child, something has to be done. 'There has to be more urgency. It shouldn't take a little girl being torn up for someone to care.' The two pit bulls were later voluntarily surrendered by their owners to the South Bend Animal Resource Center (SBARC), but no charges have been filed, and the city has yet to confirm what consequences the owners will face or whether the dogs will be euthanized. The City of South Bend said in a statement that all bite reports are reviewed 'on a case-by-case basis,' taking into account the source of the report, the severity of the bite, and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials from SBARC have confirmed they are aware of the incident but declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. This attack has reignited longstanding fears about safety around pit bulls, particularly when it comes to children. Animal rights groups and breed-specific advocates have long debated the temperament and risk posed by the breed, with critics pointing to fatal maulings and defenders blaming poor training or negligent owners.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination
Austin, TX May 30, 2025 --( )-- A comprehensive new report from a national dog bite victims' group, reveals that severe injury dog bites nearly tripled in two major Central Texas cities between 2018 and 2023, with Austin experiencing a 193% increase and San Antonio seeing a 169% rise during this period. The report, " Rising Dog Maulings in Two Central Texas Cities (2018-2023): What Public Safety Policy Got Wrong—and How to Fix It,' represents an 18-month investigation that required multiple Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain detailed bite severity data from both cities. The report includes extensive data analysis, charts, and statistics. While local media outlets reported the sharp rise of severe bites in early 2024, this analysis goes much deeper, examining 12 years of data from 2012 to 2023 to provide historical context. The research reveals that the dramatic increases weren't sudden spikes but part of a sustained trend that accelerated during and after the pandemic. Key findings include significant demographic shifts in bite victims, with adults 40 years and older experiencing the steepest increases — 433% in Austin and 396% in San Antonio. In both cities, the report shows that pit bulls were disproportionately responsible for severe injuries — over four times higher than any other breed. In Austin, severe bites inflicted by pit bulls surged 533% from 2018 to 2023. In Austin, the research establishes a clear connection between the city's aggressive no-kill shelter policies adopted in 2019 and rising severe bite injuries. The Austin Animal Center recycled 352 dogs with moderate or severe bite histories back into the community between 2019 and 2023, with some of these dogs later inflicting severe injuries on the public. The report documents what researchers call a 'sustained effect' of increased dog bite injury severity following COVID-19 lockdowns, aligning with findings from a UK study published in August 2024. That study, the first to examine post-lockdown dog bite trends, found a 47% increase in dog bites and significantly more severe injuries requiring operative management and longer hospital stays. Both cities have since implemented policy changes. Austin adopted the Dunbar Bite Scale in February 2024, restricting the rehoming of dogs with a Level 4 or higher bite history. San Antonio launched a strategic plan increasing dangerous dog investigations and compliance rates. Despite these efforts, San Antonio reported a 54% increase in severe bites in fiscal 2025. About is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks. Contact Information: Colleen Lynn 512-650-8510 Contact via Email Read the full story here: New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination Press Release Distributed by
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Saskatoon woman looking for 'justice' after dog attack leaves Pomeranian dead
Saskatoon's Haultain neighbourhood is on edge after a dog attack last week left a woman injured and her beloved Pomeranian dead. "I've been very traumatized and I'm extremely emotional and lost without Ryder. He meant the world to me and he was like a child to me," Susan O'Donnell said in a phone interview on Tuesday. On Thursday, the pair were on their nightly walk. As O'Donnell and her companion of nine years neared the intersection of Sixth Street East and Dufferin Avenue, O'Donnell saw a trio of large pitbulls running toward her. She said a group of men was behind the dogs. "My only instinct was to pick him up and try and protect him. I was unable to do that," O'Donnell said. O'Donnell said the three pitbulls jumped on her, knocking her to the ground and biting her hand before turning to Ryder. O'Donnell described the pitbulls as a "pack of hyenas." The sounds of the attack drew the attention of neighbours. Nikita Rathwell said she went to her kitchen window after hearing a commotion outside. "There's a woman screaming, 'They're killing my dog, they're killing my dog,'" Rathwell said. Neighbours were quick to run outside and separate the three pitbulls from the much smaller dog. Carol Klapwijk, another neighbour, brought a blanket outside to cover Ryder. Klapwijk said she was worried for O'Donnell, who looked extremely stressed. "There's nothing more we could do [for the dog]. I had been a vet tech in previous lifetime of work and there was nothing I knew we could do except comfort him and I could comfort her," she said. Eventually O'Donnell contacted her roommate, who helped bring Ryder to a vet clinic. The Pomeranian's injuries were judged to be too severe. O'Donnell made the decision to euthanize her dog, an experience she described as the most traumatic thing she's ever had to do or witness. 'Happened before' Rathwell said the attack was not a surprise for neighbours who live in the area, because the three dogs have gotten out before. "It's happened actually multiple times. And you know, the owners have been warned. The landlord had been warned," Rathwell said. Rathwell described incidents where the dogs have previously charged at neighbours and children. Other people in the neighbourhood have previously filed complaints with the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency. Nothing came of those complaints, Rathwell said. "It seems like there's a lot of roadblocks. The process takes a long time and it could be better," she added. Vic Bairos, the owner of the pitbulls, claimed to still have the three dogs. He told CBC the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency told him the animals will need to be euthanized. The Saskatoon Animal Control Agency directed all requests for comment to the City of Saskatoon. In a statement, the city said it would be unable to "provide further details as the incident remains under investigation." Klapwijk said the process needs to change. "I think we need to change the law for dangerous dogs and you need to let animal control take charge and give them enough power to go and grab them right away," Klapwijk said. 'Justice for Ryder' O'Donnell said she will be submitting a witness statement to the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency. Another neighbour has submitted a graphic video of the incident to the agency as well. O'Donnell said her neighbours have helped her mourn by providing her with flowers and cards. Others have given her hugs and messages of support. "My goal is to seek justice for Ryder and the safety of the neighborhood," O'Donnell said. She said that means putting the dogs responsible for the attack down. While O'Donnell waits for the investigation to conclude, she said she will try to remember Ryder as the "sweetest boy." "He never ever bit anybody or anything. He loved all animals, even cats, and children," O'Donnell said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lara Trump Likens Donald Trump To ‘Demonized' Dog Breed
Lara Trump talked about why she believes pit bulls are the 'Donald Trump of the dog world' during an episode of her Fox News show this weekend. 'Pit bulls have gotten a very bad reputation,' the former Republican National Committee co-chair told Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy in a segment marking upcoming National Rescue Dog Day. Their interview also touched on Portnoy's adoption of a rescue pit bull named Miss Peaches and the problem of America's overcrowded animal shelters. 'I actually call pit bulls the Donald Trump of the dog world,' the wife of Eric Trump continued. 'Because they've been mischaracterized by the media, they've been demonized in so many different ways and people have an assumption about them that really isn't true.' Portnoy chimed in: 'If you were brought up in a hostile environment and taught certain things, you may act a certain way. That's not on the dog.' Critics Shred 'Unbelievably Inhumanely Cruel' Entertainment Idea Pitched To DHS OOPS! GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Says 'Quiet Part Out Loud' With Awkward 'Freudian Slip' 'Mad King' Trump Torched Over 'Especially Jarring' Claim To U.S. Troops In Qatar
