Tag Archives: Apartment building

Maltese shih tzu pup

A pit bull took my sweet pup from me

Name: Shannon Squire
Victim: Pet
Location: Apartment Community Dog Park, Florida
Year of attack: November 2022

Tell us about the attack

My sweet 12 lb. Maltese shih tzu, Janson, had just turned 4. We were in the unleashing area of my apartment’s dog park when a pit bull charged through the gate, grabbing, mauling and shaking Janson to death in front of me.

Pit bulls are banned in my apartment complex. It belonged to a 23-year-old girl who had rescued it after finding it dumped in a parking lot three weeks prior. Her boyfriend grabbed the pit bull by the neck, punching it in the face over and over and it would still not release my dog. This attack went on for several minutes and there was no stopping this pit bull. Neighbors heard screams and came to help, to no avail.

A neighbor rushed me to the vet where Janson was confirmed dead.

My sweet Janson had done nothing to provoke this. He was targeted by this pit bull as prey.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?

It’s been three weeks and I picture the attack every time I close my eyes or even try and remember happy memories with my dog. Janson was everything to me. I took him everywhere. I am depressed and struggle through every single day. I can’t get through the day without bursting into tears at any time, no matter where I am. My relationship is now suffering because I cannot focus on anything else.

I’m afraid of pit bulls and want to move to a country where they are banned and I’m scared to get another dog and have this happen again.

I feel I can’t even tell Janson’s story because pit bull apologists on social media, in denial about what pit bulls are capable of, viciously threaten you for speaking up and telling your story.

Legal Consequences
The pit bull owner was told by the leasing office to remove the dog from the apartment complex but faced no other consequence. I’ve spoken to police officers and four lawyers who say there is nothing I can do aside from spending hundreds of dollars bringing the owner to small claims court to try to sue for financial replacement of my dog.

The pit bull owner claims she took the pit bull to be put down but there’s no way of confirming and the leasing office told me it’s “nobody’s business” as long as they’ve confirmed the pit bull is gone. She’s been rude and callous and washes her hands of any responsibility, claiming she is not at fault since she “didn’t command her pit bull to attack” Janson.

There isn’t a single law in Florida to hold this person accountable, even after she deliberately introduced an aggressive breed which she had no background knowledge of into an apartment community where they are banned.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Pit bulls are dangerous, unpredictable animals. Rules banning them in certain housing communities exist for a reason but pit bull owners just don’t care.

This could happen to anyone. An adult, a child, or another dog, but it seems there will be no real consequences for pit bull owners.

We need to listen to victims of pit bulls, look at statistics, and introduce laws that hold real legal ramifications for owners of pit bulls. Most renters and homeowners insurance policies don’t cover these breeds for a reason. Laws forbid you from driving a car that doesn’t have insurance. Why are there no laws that forbid people from leaving their house with this aggressive breed?

Apartment building

Pit bull attacks new tenant moving in

Name: Nicole
Victim: Adult
Location: In apartment hallway, New York
Year of attack: 2022

Tell us about the attack

As a new tenant moving possessions in, in the hallway I walked into an ambush: an irresponsible pit bull owner allowed the animal to snarl, growl and threaten me in hallway. Other tenants had already complained against the owner of pit bull to NO Avail. The SPCA visited the pit bull owner but sided with the pit bull owner.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
Terrified

Legal Consequences
None today

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Pit bulls are vicious and unsuitable for the dense population in apartments.

Pit bull

Owner of vicious pit bull takes revenge for reporting animal

Name: NTR3
Victim: Adult
Location: Apartment complex, Indiana
Year of attack: 2021

Tell us about the attack

In August 2021, I went to pet an apartment neighbor’s pit bull, and the dog lunged at me and ripped my clothes in half. The attack also left a small bite mark, and the owner asked to make sure I was not hurt. I told her I was not… but I was shaken, and would have been seriously injured had I reacted a split-second slower.

The apartment staff, when notified, gave written notice that the animal must be removed. But they then gave several wink-nod extensions of the removal deadline, of which I was only told when I continued to see the animal around and followed up. Once the “final” deadline had passed, I saw the animal again, took photos, and emailed to the building management.

Twenty minutes after taking the photos, I was assaulted in my apartment parking lot by the alleged father of the pit bull owner, causing several head contusions.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
The alleged father (i.e. the assailant) was masked, and thus local law enforcement never followed up with the pit bull owner, argument being that mask = can’t identify in a lineup.

The black-and-blue marks covered my face and took three weeks to heal. I incurred $4,000 in medical expenses from the attack. Attorneys informed me that the apartment management did just enough to cover itself to make civil damages an iffy proposition.

I have since relocated to a different city in Indiana.

Legal Consequences
The pit bull owner was told to leave the apartment premises, and I was released from my lease without the contractual buyout fee. But to the best of my knowledge, nothing ever happened to the pit bull, and the apartment refused to cover my medical expenses despite their negligence.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Document everything… no matter how small. The wink-nod extensions of the deadline for the animal’s removal were conveyed to me over the phone, and only when I followed up. I did not record nor take detailed notes on those conversations after they happened. Doing so may have strengthened my legal case for a meaningful negligence lawsuit against the apartment.

Pit bull launches unprovoked attack on pug from out of nowhere

Pit bull launches unprovoked attack on pug from out of nowhere

Name: Pug
Victim: Pet
Location: parking lot in apartment complex, California
Year of attack: 2021

Tell us about the attack

I was walking back to my apartment unit with my two pug dogs. Because I am a single woman and wise for my age, when I saw possibly a few men standing off close I decided to go a different way. When my dogs and I had cleared about 5 ft of the alcove, a pit bull emerged out of nowhere and attacked my female pug. I started screaming and within a half a minute those men came out and tried to dislodge their female pit bull from where she had bitten my dog at the juncture of her arm and her ribs. My pug screamed in pain and I did not know how to get out of this sudden awful situation. The strangers were indifferent and didn’t seem to be affected by what happened. It was all captured on surveillance cameras.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
Perhaps had I not walked the way I had, both me and my dogs could have been seriously hurt. My vet said that it was a miracle my dog was not killed. She had saliva and a puncture wound all over her side, fractured ribs, but she was such a trooper because once her medication wore off it was like it never happened. About a month before this attack I thought I saw a pit bull running loose in the parking lot resembling the one that attacked, and the young man that seemed to be one of its owners. This was probably who I encountered that unfortunate day. There are so many loose pit bulls running around unattended to and unleashed, and there needs to be more crusades that will get people to care about the horrible consequences of this reckless irresponsibility.

Legal Consequences
Because the situation could have been far worse in so many ways I chose to not press charges, and I also chose not to sue because of personal safety reasons. The owners were told to leave the property. I’m not sure if the animal was impounded or confiscated.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Keep your pit bull on a leash, always! So many pit bulls are running loose literally in the street, and they attack and kill people as well as other animals. If you ever have an unleashed pit bull that has latched on to another, count yourself very lucky if you were able to reverse the assault. Pet owners and dog walkers should never take anything for granted. Always be aware of your surroundings, any possible dangers. You never see it coming. The vet might recommend using pepper spray but sometimes this method of defense fails. Please obey leash laws, no matter what. Even if your pit bull is trained off leash it’s no guarantee of their or anybody’s safety. Animals suffer because of man’s ignorance. If you can’t responsibly control and care for/about your animal you shouldn’t own one.

Young boy checking mail victim of unprovoked pit bull attack

Young boy checking mail victim of unprovoked pit bull attack

Name: VWG
Victim: Child
Location: Apartment Complex, Texas
Year of attack: 2021

Tell us about the attack

On September 9th, 2021, my young nephew, King, was doing one of his chores, which was checking the mail as he did every day. As King was going to the mailbox, the neighbor’s pit bull attacked him. A passer-by saw the pit bull biting at his face. She and the pit bull’s owner were able to get the pit bull off King. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, with a very hysterical mom. King received over 60 stitches in his head. He also had lacerations on his forearm from trying to cover his face. He was able to return home the same evening. His mom was told that he may need to see a surgeon because the scarring may be permanent.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
My nephew no longer wants to go outside alone. He has nightmares and is afraid of all dogs now. He was also upset about this accident keeping him from playing on the Junior High school football team. My nephew was always happy and silly at times. I see a complete turnaround in him now.

Legal Consequences
The pit bull was taken by animal control.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
That just because you are minding your business, things like this could happen to anyone.

Landlords renting to people with illegal pit bulls

Landlords renting to people with illegal pit bulls

Name: Bema
Victim: Child
Location: Apartment building, Ontario
Year of attack: 2020

Tell us about the attack
My daughter was walking with her two-year-old child. When she approached the door of the apartment building, a large illegal pit bull lunged toward her child’s face.

If my daughter had not grabbed her child as quick as she had, the aggressive large pit bull would have bit her little face. The superintendent rents to owners of pit bulls that are not muzzled. We are so terrified to even walk or go anywhere around or in the apartment building. Why is the owner allowed to rent to persons of such… are they not breaking a law? Can they be held accountable for a dog attack? I don’t know what to do. We not only fear the pit bulls but also the pit bull owners. I cannot even let my grandchild be safe when they visit me. I don’t know what TO DO.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
We are so in fear, afraid that one of us could get murdered by an illegal pit bull.

Legal Consequences
None

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Why are landlords allowed to rent to owners of pit bulls, which are banned in Ontario? Why would anyone want a pit bull that murders children, babies, elderly, pets?

12-week-old Cockapoo pup mauled to death by illegal pit bull

12-week-old Cockapoo pup mauled to death by illegal pit bull

Name: Toby
Victim: Pet
Location: Apartment Complex in Winter Park, Florida
Year of attack: 2020

Tell us about the attack
Our little Cockapoo “Stevie” was mauled to death by an unleashed pit bull as we left the elevator. We attempted to fight off the pit bull but Stevie died in my arms moments later.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
My son said he will miss the years of loving experiences we were supposed to have. Stevie was only 12 weeks old. We were both traumatized and are now in therapy with a psychiatrist who concluded we have PTSD. This was the most violent event I ever experienced.

Legal Consequences
Orange County FL…sad…couldn’t even take the hell hound…however the pit bull owners, who lacked any remorse, surrendered the pit bull to animal control. The apartment complex is avoiding responsibility even though they were aware of an illegal pit bull living in the building. Stevie is viewed by law as property but to us he was family.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
This was senseless…no leash on the pit bull.

Pit bulls gave me a pit bull education, and now I advocate against them

Pit bulls gave me a pit bull education, and now I advocate against them

Name: Steve
Victim: Pet
Location: Courtyard of apartment building, Maryland
Year of attack: 2019

Tell us about the attack

A month or so after I got my Newfie puppy, Floyd, a pit bull mix attacked him in the shared courtyard of our apartment building. I had to yank him into the air and kick the other dog away. As he was only 4 months old and around 30-40 lbs, I was able to lift him quickly. Turns out the attacking pit bull was owned by the boyfriend of a girl living in the building and the pit bull should never have been in the building to begin with. 18 months later, Floyd is around 150 lbs and is attacked again by another pit mix. This time, I can’t lift him so he runs towards door with the pit latched onto the hair on his neck trying to dig for skin. I was able to grab the pit, yank him off and throw him away far enough that Floyd and I could get inside and shut the door. This time it was an “emotional support” pit bull

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
I no longer take my Floyd to dog parks and won’t walk him in areas I don’t know. I’m now scared to allow him near any other dogs. He loved other dogs when he was younger and now aggressively barks at all others. He’s still a Newfie so barking is the most he’ll do but he is still not the same dog.

When I was 18, I heard girls screaming outside my family’s house and went outside with my father to find a dog that was on fire. We were able to get help and save the dog. It was a pit bull mix. We adopted the pit mix, named it Kaybee, and gave it a great home. Still, I was never comfortable having other people around it, but didn’t think anything negative about pits until the attacks on my current dog. As a result of the attacks, my opinion about pits has completely evolved and I now support strong BSL (Breed Safety Laws.)

Legal Consequences
The first pit bull that attacked mine was not allowed there anyway so it was banned and the apartment tenant’s lease ended soon after. The 2nd one was a battle. The pit bull owner was apologetic but refused to remove her pit bull from the premises. As there was only one shared area for dogs to use for the entire apartment building, this was not acceptable so I told them it had to go. When I said I would contact animal control, I was informed that it already had a bite on its record so that would mean it would be euthanized. The owner decided to move out and probably let her pit bull attack other pets in her new apartment rather than have her vicious killer put down.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Pit bulls are responsible for the vast majority of fatal dog attacks on humans and especially children. But that is not the only concern: they are also bred to fight dogs and they have an extremely aggressive prey drive. They are vicious killers that do not belong around children, other pets or any decent person. If you want to guard your junkyard, then maybe a pit is the dog for you. Otherwise, let these mutant killers die out by eliminating the breeding population.