The story that 3-year-old Victoria Wilcher was asked to leave a KFC restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi may have been fabricated, but her scars from a pit bull attack are real and well documented. Wilcher’s injuries became internationally known through reportage by Charlotte Alter of TIME.com, the online edition of the TIME magazine news weekly, published […]
Stamford fires shelter manager for rehoming dangerous dogs
“Certain details will continue to be withheld” STAMFORD, Connecticut––Stamford, Connecticut mayor David Martin on June 17, 2014 announced the firing of Stamford Animal Shelter manager Laurie Hollywood for repeatedly rehoming dogs with bite history, without disclosing that history to the adopters. Investigation of the situation by the Stamford Police Department continues, Martin’s statement said, […]
Roswell resumes releases of dogs to rescue groups following 3-day suspension after pit bull attack
Dennis Kintigh reviewed the shelter policies ROSWELL, New Mexico––The Roswell, New Mexico city animal shelter on June 16, 2014 resumed releasing impounded dogs to the Roswell Humane Society and shelterless rescue groups, after an over-the-weekend suspension while mayor Dennis Kintigh reviewed the shelter policies. Kintagh on June 14 followed Stamford, Connecticut, in suspending transfers of […]
Connecticut shelter investigated for allegedly adopting out dangerous dogs
STAMFORD, Connecticut––A fatal attack on a Dachshund named Dulce by a pit bull named Banks on June 4, 2014 reminded Stamford, Connecticut that the Stamford Animal Shelter has operated on a restricted basis for nearly six weeks while three city agencies investigate allegations that it improperly adopted out dangerous dogs. Laurie Hollywood, the Stamford […]
Women convicted for British dog attack fatality
LIVERPOOL, U.K.––Liverpool Crown Court Judge Mark Brown on June 3, 2014 sentenced female housemates Hayley Sulley, 30, and Della Woods, 29, to serve 12 months in jail apiece for violations of the Dangerous Dogs Act that led to the May 25, 2013 live dismemberment of retired hospital porter Clifford Clarke, 79, by a rampaging Presa […]
U.K. amends Dangerous Dogs Act, but fails to close “Staffordshire” loophole
Bull mastiff mauling came two days before amendments took effect MANCHESTER, U.K.––Amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act that permit prosecuting people whose dogs attack other people on private property took effect two days too late to satisfy Paula Kudray, 33, of Moston, a district of Manchester. The amendments took effect on a Tuesday, explained Dan […]
“Service pit bull” who attacked three people & dog is re-impounded
Pit bull was returned before dangerous dog hearing YAKIMA, Washington––Yakima Animal Control and the Humane Society of Central Washington on May 14, 2014 re-impounded an alleged “service pit bull” who had mistakenly been returned to owner Kali Katzenberg after completing a 10-day quarantine, but before a hearing scheduled to determine whether the pit bull […]
Shelters sued for attacks by rehomed pit bulls
Seven-year-old mauled KNOXVILLE, Tennessee––Much praised for steeply reducing shelter killing in recent years, the Blount County Animal Shelter is now facing a lawsuit alleging that incautious behavioral assessment and adoption promotion led to a seven-year-old boy suffering a severe mauling by a pit bull the shelter had recently rehomed. The victim, Sport Kim, of […]
How many other animals did pit bulls kill in 2013?
An attempt to find out How many other dogs, cats, and domestic hoofed animals do dogs kill or injure each year in the U.S.? How many are killed or seriously injured by pit bulls? Often asked, these questions have eluded answer because no agency systematically tracks dog attacks on other animals, and even if any […]
Weak dog laws blamed for deaths in Ohio & U.K.
Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and Royal SPCA of England & Wales each ignored repeated complaints DAYTON, Ohio; BLACKBURN, Lancashire, U.K.––Animal control officials blamed weaknesses in the dog laws of Ohio and the United Kingdom for the early February 2014 deaths of Klonda Richey, 57, and Ava-Jane […]