News

A dog owner arrested Thursday was charged with murder in an attack involving a frenzied pack of dogs that killed a 63-year-old woman who suffered more than 150 puncture wounds in the mauling. Pamela Devitt was attacked on the morning of May 9 by dogs in on a Littlerock road in the southeastern Antelope Valley, northeast of Los Angeles. Hours after the attack, authorities served a search warrant on a nearby home, confiscated eight dogs and arrested their owner on suspicion of growing marijuana. Six pit bulls and two mixed breed dogs — some with blood on their coats and muzzles — were taken from the home of Alex Jackson, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. DNA tests on the blood confirmed that it was that of the victim, which led investigators to the 29-year- old Jackson, who was charged Wednesday with murder. He was arrested Thursday at his home and bail was set at $1.5 million. Arraignment is scheduled for Friday. If convicted, Jackson, pictured below, … [Read more...]

A single mother of four lost both of her legs and one of her arms when a single bite from one of her dogs infected her with a bacteria that sent her body into a septic shock. Christine Caron, 49, of Ottawa, Canada, was placed in an induced coma for a month and a half three days after one of her Shih Tzu mixes bit her hand during a game of tug-of-war on May 22. When she woke up, as she told CBCS News, "My feet were black, and my arm was sort of — it was mummified." Full Article … [Read more...]

A 90-pound Neapolitan Mastiff-pitbull mix was shot by a deputy after it attacked two men in an unincorporated area of Riverside County near Murrieta Friday morning. The attacks left the 80-year-old father of the dog’s owner severely injured. Also hurt was an air- conditioning repairman who was working at the house in 39000 block of Salinas Drive. “This was a really bad one,” said John Welsh, a spokesman for the county’s Animal Services Department. Around 9 a.m., a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy was called out to the scene of vicious dog report. Upon arriving, the deputy found the 80-year-old man “in the garage being mauled,” according to a report written by Temecula Police Sgt. Terry Jones. According to the report, the dog charged the deputy, prompting the shooting. The animal was hit twice, but survived and left the scene. The four-year-old dog eventually was found at a nearby home in the 39000 block of Tangletree Way, where it was impounded by a Riverside County Animal … [Read more...]

A Saginaw city worker was attacked and bitten by a dog on Oakwood near Webber on the city's East Side today and taken to a hospital for treatment, according to an official. Saginaw police officers responded to a house at 2004 Oakwood along with Saginaw County Animal Control officers and MMR about 11 a.m., according to Saginaw County 911. The city water department employee was attacked while working on the 2000 block of Oakwood, according to a preliminary report received by Saginaw Employee Services Director Dennis Jordan. Jordan said he could not confirm any further details about the incident and declined to release the worker's name. Saginaw County Animal Control Director Kevin Wilken said he believes three dogs were involved in the incident, though he could not confirm if one or more actually bit the city worker. Wilken said animal control officers were called out to the property around 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, and are currently headed back to the Saginaw County Animal Care … [Read more...]

Police said a United States Postal worker was hospitalized after she was attacked by a dog in Florissant on Saturday. According to USPS, the letter carrier said she was walking past a house in the 1600 block of Fernbrook when a Mastiff-Boxer mix attacked her. The victim said during the attack, the dog tore into her leg, causing nerve damage. The woman also sufferered bite wounds to her arms. She was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Officials said she was scheduled to be released sometime Monday afternoon. The dog's owner said 2 1/2-year-old Chevy was being watched at a friend's home because the dog's owner travels a lot for his job. The female friend had been taking care of the dog since Demember at her home on Fernbrook. USPS officials said there have been 31 dog-biting cases in the St. Louis area in the past 12 months. Officials said it was up to each individual letter carrier if they want to bypass a house because they think it’s dangerous. … [Read more...]

State Farm Insurance, one of the nation's largest home insurers, paid more than $109 million on about 3,800 dog bite claims nationwide last year, spokesman Eddie Martinez said Wednesday. In 2010, there were about 3,500 claims and $90 million in payouts. The Insurance Information Institute estimated that nearly $479 million in dog bite claims were paid by all insurance companies in 2011, spokeswoman Loretta Worters said. In 2010, it was $413 million. It's no surprise that California — home to more dogs and people than any other state — led the way in 2011. Martinez says 527 claims were filed in California and victims received $20.3 million, a jump of 31 percent over 2010. State Farm is still working to determine reasons for the spike, Martinez said. About 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year and more than half of the victims are children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. About 800,000 people seek medical attention for the bites. Less than half … [Read more...]

Attendees learn bite prevention, driving safety and more. When he woke up on Friday, June 29, Entergy contractor Lee Wheelis of West Monroe didn't think he'd get attacked by a dog that day. But that's exactly what happened to him at Entergy's first meter reading operations contractor safety summit, held at the KAST Center in Clinton, Miss. Mitzi Robinson, founder and president of Bulli Ray Enterprises, was on hand that day to train attendees on dog bite prevention. And for part of her session, she needed a very special volunteer. Wheelis became part of the program when he offered to suit up in protective gear and help demonstrate what happens when a dog attacks. "When I started reading meters 15 years ago, we were expected to read the meter whether there was a bad dog sitting by it or not," said Wheelis, who works with Contract Callers, Inc. "Now, we tell employees and contractors to avoid mean dogs. Not only that, we train our employees to deal with aggressive dogs. I just … [Read more...]

American Society of Safety Engineers News Protecting people, property and the environment For Immediate Release Contact: Lindsay Stuart, 847-768-3404 847-768-3404, lstuart@asse.org DES PLAINES, IL (July 1, 2010) – Not only did the American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) held in Baltimore, MD, June 13-16 provide more than 200 educational sessions, but also featured a live occupational dog bite safety demonstration. This session was designed to help employees avoid being bitten while on the job. With an interactive dog bite demonstration that required volunteers from the audience, ASSE member, Owner and President of Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety Mitzi Robinson provided session attendees with valuable information and a great show. Robinson and her husband, Bulli Ray Vice President Anthony Robinson, started Bulli Ray Occupational Dog Bite Safety in 1993, after observing significant cultural changes in California. At a … [Read more...]

Since the day of the awful attack on a postman by dangerous Rottweilers in Gazeley Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge in December 2008 the police have been hung up on the issue of whether the attack occurred on a public road or not. At first the police said they were investigating if the attack was on a private road they are now saying they can’t bring a prosecution against the owner due to the fact the attack was on private land. It is important that this case goes before the court not only to ensure justice is administered, but also so that the injured postman has the opportunity, if the court determines it appropriate, to receive compensation. I am joining those calling for the police to reconsider their decision not to prosecute. I think there has been a misinterpretation of the law by the police, and prosecutors ought put the case before the courts and if there is a grey area they not the police or prosecutors should decide on it. Section 3 (1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 … [Read more...]