Dog lovers, need your help!

[luvwinnie]

I'll try to give the short story:
On Long Island a little boy and his grandfather were bitten by a rottweiller...WITH the rottie was another rottie and a bulldog. Articles give conflicting info about whether or not the other rottie and bulldog attacked or were just there with their "pal"...they are all from the same irresponsible owner. The owner has made a "deal" with the town to just have ALL the dogs euthanized to avoid more headaches for himself. IF IT IS TRUE that the bulldog and other rottie did not attack this is a shame. The bulldog is only a year old. Bullies are known to be docile, sweet dogs IN GENERAL...we know not all bulldogs are this way, but the local bulldog rescue just wants a CHANCE to have the bully evaluated. If he is indeed aggressive and did attack, then it's understood that euthanasia is the correct action, but they were told by shelter staff that he is NOT aggressive. If you have time and you agree, could you just drop an email to the town supervisor (the link will bring you to it), just asking to give the dogs a chance to be EVALUATED instead of blindly euthanizing them? THANK YOU!


Kate Murray Town Supervisor
Hempstead Town Hall
One Washington Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 489-5000

http://www.townofhempstead.org/content/home/contact.html#helplineform

 

[Sherri]

I just filled out the form. When I pressed send it gave me a message that said badness. Not sure if it meant it went through or not.
This was a REAL sad story. I hope the other dogs get a chance.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Was this the story I read about this week where the rottweiler had been sentenced to death in another town but the owner moved him to another location where he then bit the boy? I so hate reading things like this.

I suppose it's possible that the bulldog, being with the aggressive rott, was acting under "pack mentality", where a dog who normally would be ok by himself, in a pack may have behaved badly. I suppose unless there was proof the bulldog bit, it would only be fair for him to have a chance to be evaluated, as long as he's under supervision by people very familiar with dogs, dog behavior, and the bulldog breed. It may be that if he is found to be safe, he should be placed only in a home with no other dogs, so a repeat of the incident never occurs (since it could have become a learned behavior). I'm sure some people may feel it is not worth the risk, and that would perhaps be understandable under the circumstances.

What happened to the boy and the man? How are they doing? What do they have to say about it?

 

[luvwinnie]

I believe the boy is now home from the hospital, I know he was doing ok...not sure if the grandfather was hospitalized at all. I haven't heard what they want to happen.

I just got a phone call from the town. They are sending all the emails they get to the town attorney's office, so they ARE paying attention.

 

[gris gris]

Were the dogs already euthanized? This is horrible, again lumping all bully dogs with one bad one. The owner should have had his dogs taken away but the other 2 should have been evaluated and placed in a rescue. I'll send a note! My vet has actually recommended to us that we get a bulldog as they're good with kids and good family dogs. He said an American Bulldog would even be better.

 

[luvwinnie]

Were the dogs already euthanized? This is horrible, again lumping all bully dogs with one bad one. The owner should have had his dogs taken away but the other 2 should have been evaluated and placed in a rescue. I'll send a note! My vet has actually recommended to us that we get a bulldog as they're good with kids and good family dogs. He said an American Bulldog would even be better.

No, May 9th is the date they have set.

From what I have heard/read American bulldogs do tend to be aggressive...at least more so than bulldogs...in GENERAL.

 

[bridget&jimmy]

I sent a note

 

[Debbie Jean]

I also sent a note and will keep those little fur babies in my prayers. They at least deserve the opportunity for an evaluation.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you all.

 

[hiwaygal]

Here's a link to a story about the boy:
http://www.nydailynews.com/05-05-2006/news/crime_file/story/414876p-350631c.html

I didn't hear anything about the grandfather being attacked (not that it didn't happen, but I just didn't hear it).

Unfortunately, many dogs die because of irresponsible owners (something like 42% of dogs euthanized were because of lack of training/proper care). It would be great if someone can save at least one of these dogs.

I also hope the owner is restricted from ever owning dogs again...but we know that won't happen...

On a good note, a Childrens Foundation gave the boy and his family a trip to WDW to help make this as much of a "positive" experience as they can.

 

[gris gris]

OK I just read the article and they make it sound like all 3 dogs attacked? Where are the other articles saying it was just one?

Your town hall is going to be wondering why those of us who don't live in NY care! I told them about my bully dog and not to judge them all.

 

[luvwinnie]

OK I just read the article and they make it sound like all 3 dogs attacked? Where are the other articles saying it was just one?

Your town hall is going to be wondering why those of us who don't live in NY care! I told them about my bully dog and not to judge them all.

Witnesses have said (to the rescue people) only one dog attacked (and he had been in trouble before for killing a pet rabbit) and the shelter staff also said it. I'll try to dig up the other articles.
It's not my town hall. I don't live there. People from ALL over are writing in...it's not just a local issue, it's an issue for anyone interested in justice, I think.

 

[luvwinnie]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lirott014724896may01,0,877360.story

here is an example of an unclear article...they keep referring to the "dog" and the "rottweiler" and then later on "the dogs pounced"...as a journalist I find this to be unacceptable reporting.

 

[hiwaygal]

My guess is that since there were three dogs, someone just assumed they all attacked. It's also possible that the witnesses were confused by everything that was going on...I know I would be.

There is the possibility (as Pea-n-Me suggested) that the bulldog participated out of "pack mentality" or even as a hunter/prey thing (as most people would try to run away from a mean dog...and that only makes it worse as the dog chases them down).

Afterwards, in the shelter, the staff could make better judgements about the temperament of the dogs.

Not too long ago near where I live, a pit-bull was put in a shelter. He was accused of being vicious...he was released about a week later (after he escaped from the shelter) and was found NOT to be vicious...his owner just needed to confine him better. Don't know how she was going to do that...the dog escaped the shelter by jumping over a 7ft concrete wall!!!

My apologies to luvwinnie if I stuck my two cents in (by posting the article) where I shouldn't have...

 

[luvwinnie]

My guess is that since there were three dogs, someone just assumed they all attacked. It's also possible that the witnesses were confused by everything that was going on...I know I would be.

There is the possibility (as Pea-n-Me suggested) that the bulldog participated out of "pack mentality" or even as a hunter/prey thing (as most people would try to run away from a mean dog...and that only makes it worse as the dog chases them down).

Afterwards, in the shelter, the staff could make better judgements about the temperament of the dogs.

Not too long ago near where I live, a pit-bull was put in a shelter. He was accused of being vicious...he was released about a week later (after he escaped from the shelter) and was found NOT to be vicious...his owner just needed to confine him better. Don't know how she was going to do that...the dog escaped the shelter by jumping over a 7ft concrete wall!!!

My apologies to luvwinnie if I stuck my two cents in (by posting the article) where I shouldn't have...

No apologies needed! I agree that while being attacked, if you see three dogs in the chaos you aren't going to be clear on what happened...we just want to get to the bottom of it rather than have all 3 dogs killed if they are not dangerous. The articles have been unclear in my opinion.

 

[bridget&jimmy]

Well I just got off the phone with the town supervisors office and she said that the dogs are going to be euthanised because consent was given, and that they have witnesses that are stating that the bulldog was also involved in the attack.

Bridget

 

[luvwinnie]

Well I just got off the phone with the town supervisors office and she said that the dogs are going to be euthanised because consent was given, and that they have witnesses that are stating that the bulldog was also involved in the attack.

Bridget

I was just going to post that info. I am so sad. Praying this man NEVER gets another animal.

 

[bridget&jimmy]

I was just going to post that info. I am so sad. Praying this man NEVER gets another animal.

The woman who called me said well the guy gave consent to put the dogs down, I said well I don’t care about what he has to say because honestly the dogs are that way because of him.

 

[luvwinnie]

The woman who called me said well the guy gave consent to put the dogs down, I said well I don’t care about what he has to say because honestly the dogs are that way because of him.

Right! To me, he shouldn't have the right to train them to be mean and then just toss them away! WHy is it up to him when he's obviously an irresponsible moron.

 

[luvwinnie]

This is the first story reported by Newsday: It says only ONE dog ATTACKED!! And today is the day they are being put down. I am so upset.

BY DENISE M. BONILLA
STAFF WRITER; Staff writer Collin Nash contributed to this report.

April 29, 2006

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized in guarded condition Friday night after one of his ears was nearly severed in an attack by a rottweiler as he walked with his grandparents in East Meadow, Nassau police said.

The grandfather also was hospitalized with chest pains after the attack just before 2 p.m. on Barkley Avenue.

The grandparents, whom police did not name, were with the boy, who neighbors said is named Matthew, and their 14-month-old granddaughter in a stroller when three dogs - a male and female rottweiler and a bulldog - approached them, said Sgt. John Buckley of Nassau's First Squad.

The dogs were in a nearby enclosed backyard, but apparently pushed open a gate, he said, so no criminal charges have been filed.

The family tried to retreat to the nearby home of the boy's parents, but one of the dogs attacked the boy, Buckley said.

The dogs jumped and bit at the family, knocking them to the ground, then chased them up their driveway, through the back-door vestibule and into the kitchen, he said.

While the grandmother protected the granddaughter, the grandfather tried to hold the boy aloft to avoid the dog's jaws, but one rottweiler named Jasmine tore into him, Buckley said. The dogs eventually retreated from the home on their own, he said.

Next-door neighbor Mitchell Shapiro was in his basement when he heard screaming and ran to his front door. When he opened it, he said he saw a rottweiler standing there.

"Right away, I'm thinking baseball bat or shotgun," he said. He took a baseball bat and tried to shoo the dog away, he said, but it did not move far.

Police showed up and directed what appeared to be pepper spray at the dog, Shapiro said, but the dog still did not move. Only when its owners pulled up in a truck did the dog leave, jumping into the truck with the other rottweiler, he said.

Matthew was admitted to Nassau University Medical Center with large cuts to his forehead, eye and cheek and bites to his torso and buttocks, Buckley said. Both ears were injured, he said, and the boy's right ear was torn down to the lobe.

Matthew was in guarded condition Friday night, said hospital spokeswoman Shelley Lotenberg. Matthew's grandfather, who Shapiro said was visiting from Ecuador, was in stable condition, Lotenberg said.

All three dogs were confiscated by the Town of Hempstead animal control.

The dogs' owner, whose name was not released by police, lives at 712 Buchanan Road, Buckley said, around the corner from the attack.

Buckley said one of the rottweilers was cited in January 2004 for killing a neighbor's pet rabbit, but it is not clear yet if the dog was Jasmine. A civil judge had placed restrictions on the dog, Buckley said. The investigation will continue