Tag Archives: Dog park

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?

Dog park

Dog sitter fights pit bull at dog park to save the dogs in her care

Name: Tracey S.
Victim: Pet
Location: Dog park, California
Year of attack: 2022

Tell us about the attack

I had just put three small dogs that I dog sit for in the dog park and was headed back to my car with one of the three following me. As I opened the dog park gate to exit, an unaccompanied pit bull came out of nowhere, slipped into the park through the partially-open gate, and immediately attacked the small dog (a Yorkie/poodle mix weighing about 20 lb.), seizing it in its maw. Luckily the pit bull had a collar on so I twisted the collar to choke the pit bull as I kicked it in the buttocks repeatedly until it released its victim. I have rheumatoid arthritis and am 64 years old but I fought with everything I had.

I then shoved the pit out the gate using my foot and while still maintaining a chokehold on its throat with the collar I got the gate closed.

I called 911 who refused to send help for me. They put me through to animal control who did not pick up the phone, so I called the non-emergency police phone number several times. But, they also would not help me, saying it was an animal control problem. I was stranded in the dog park for almost two hours, trapped there by the pit bull outside the gate, because police would not come and animal control was busy.

My friends eventually came with a shovel and pepper spray and drove the pit bull away from the gate so I and the three small dogs could get back to my car and my own dog.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
I survived and so did the dogs in my care but I am in a lot of pain. I can’t even lift my right arm.

I hope my physical pain goes away eventually because I had too much pain to begin with.

Legal Consequences
Animal control showed up only after my friends rescued me and they took the pit bull into custody. That is all I know, and I only know that because a friend stayed around and helped the animal control officer capture the pit bull and then told me.

We have a huge stray dog problem in this town of Long Beach California and the animal control services are overwhelmed and low staffed since the pandemic.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?

Thank God the pit bull had a collar on. I don’t think I would have gotten it to release the small dog if I could not have choked it. People need to carry something for protection against pit bulls, whether a cane or pepper spray or stun gun, etc. And never pick up a small dog when you see a big dog you are afraid of. * I had NOT done that but if I would have it would only have made it worse. Trust me.

Dog park

Pit bulls ruining dog parks for everyone else

Name: Dorothy Brooks
Victim: Other dog park situation / pit bull in with dogs under 20lbs
Location: Pole Green Dog Park, Hanover City, Virginia
Year of attack: 29 May 2022

Tell us about the situation

At the side of the Pole Green dog park in Hanover City, Virginia, there is an  “Annex” side yard which is for older dogs, handicapped dogs, puppies or dogs 20 lbs. or less. A woman drove up in a car, got out with her pit bull, and tried to let this pit bull into the Annex. I blocked the gate. She called the police on me and they let the pit bull into the Annex. Myself and another woman left with our dogs. We will never trust the safety of our dogs around a pit bull.

Legal Consequences
Parks and Recreations said any size or weight can enter the Annex side. Is there anything I can do? I feel like me and my small dog do not matter.

How has your life changed as a result?
Now I have to find another dog park. The other dog park in my county is an open area with all sizes and weights together, as well, so I have to go out of my county to Richmond or Henrico. This makes no sense.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Pit bulls are ruining dog parks for everyone else. They need to be banned not just from dog parks, but from this whole country, as many others have done.

Husky

Unprovoked pit bull attack in dog park; pit bull owner skips out on responsibility

Name: Stay Vigilant
Victim: Pet
Location: Unfenced dog park, Oregon
Year of attack: 2022

Tell us about the attack

My husky and I had just gotten to the unfenced dog park and were standing by ourselves in the large field when an unknown pit bull charged from 200 feet away. It attacked my dog immediately after puffing up for a second, putting a fang all the way through his nasal cavity.

The pit bull owner tried to claim the two dogs fought each other. His claim is invalid because he was not even on scene to witness what was happening until after I was able to get his pit bull off my dog. The pit bull had run up and immediately attacked with no provocation or warning.

Afterwards, I made an eight minute video of the pit bull growling and lunging at us, on a leash this time, while the pit bull owner — instead of trying to make his pit bull stop — got out his phone to film me trying to protect myself by documenting. He called me a Karen while my dog had blood pouring down his face.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
The pit bull attack impacted my entire week negatively. I was distracted by the stress and, kept processing it even during business meetings. I got a headache and couldn’t sleep from thinking about the attack and how the pit bull owner didn’t take responsibility. He did after community identification and said he’d pay the emergency vet bill, but then ghosted the whole situation.

Legal Consequences
I’ve filed a report. The pit bull has been labeled a nuisance. I’d like to hold the pit bull owner accountable to pay the vet bill still.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Please be careful. I had let my guard down as it’s rare any dogs show aggression to my dog, and it was a great day prior to this. This pit bull attack came out of nowhere.

Pit bull attacks at dog park

Dog park pit bull owner lied about its safeness

Name: Jean S
Victim: Adult, Pet
Location: Rosetta Canyon Dog Park, Lake Elsinore, CA, California
Year of attack: 2021

Tell us about the attack

There were two pit bulls inside the dog park and before I entered I asked the owners if their pit bulls were friendly and they both replied “yes”. As soon as I entered the dog park, however, the small grey pit bull immediately rushed and began attacking my dog. I pulled the pit bull off mine and was bit on the arm by it. The owner then grabbed his pit bull and asked “is your dog a female”, I replied “no it’s a male.” When I was examining my dog the owner states “I’m leaving and your dog can stay and play.” The pit bull owner then did a “pit and run”, without asking if my dog or myself would be alright or showing the least concern about us.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
Do not trust pit bulls or their owners.

Legal Consequences
Disappeared

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Be careful who your dogs interacts with at the dog park.