11 replies to this topic

[keporter]

Thursday, January 18, 2007 4:41 PM EST

Felony child abuse charges are filed against a Rome Township couple.

From staff reports

ADRIAN — A Rome Township couple face felony child abuse charges for bringing a pit bull terrier into their home that mauled their 10-year-old son on Dec. 30. The boy was taken to a Toledo hospital for treatment of severe wounds to his left arm, according to Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department reports.

The boy’s mother, Amanda Jane Gilbert, 30, was arraigned Monday in Lenawee County District Court and his stepfather, Kelly James O’Neill, 34, was arraigned Wednesday. Both face second-degree child abuse charges that carry maximum four-year prison terms. They are also charged with misdemeanor counts for failure to license or vaccinate three pit bull terriers police found at their home on U.S. 223.

Gilbert called for help after a male pit bull terrier attacked her son inside their home at about 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 30. Sheriff’s department reports said she pulled the dog off her son. She and the boy then shut themselves inside a bathroom for safety.

The dog kept an ambulance crew from entering the house until O’Neill arrived home and was able to lock it inside a cage, reports said.

The boy was taken first to Bixby Medical Center before being transferred to a hospital in Toledo for treatment of severe injuries to his forearm and serious bite wounds to his upper arm. Gilbert was also bitten while struggling with the dog, reports said.

All three dogs were taken to the Lenawee Humane Society shelter in Adrian for observation. The male pit bull was euthanized Jan. 1 after staff there reported it was acting viciously toward them.

Deputies reported O’Neill agreed on Dec. 30 that the attack was unprovoked and the dog should be put down.

The dog, named “Diesel,” was given to the couple a few weeks earlier by a cousin of Gilbert. Deputies interviewed the couple who previously owned the dog and reported they said they gave it away because of its attitude. They got the dog from another family member who told them it was too aggressive to be around their children.

Gilbert and O’Neill are accused of child abuse for failing to protect the 10-year-old boy from a dog known to be dangerous.

A deputy reported Gilbert said the attack happened while the dog was loose inside the home. She said she and her son were eating in the dining room and playing when the dog came inside the house. She said the dog jumped at her and came down on her son, biting his arm.

O’Neill told deputies the dog had not been fed for a day before the incident because of financial problems the family was having.

Preliminary examinations were scheduled for Jan. 29 for the couple before Judge Natalia M. Koselka.

http://www.lenconnec...news/news05.txt

[Melissa34]

Hmmm

One dog, not good with kids and hungry because it hadn't been fed for a day (that they admitted to so that means it probably hadn't been fed in a couple days)

And now it's put to sleep and the pitbull gets another bad rap. Again, that just sucks!

Whatever happened to responsible pet ownership?

[Kzoo]

Across from where my husband works, their are 5 pitbulls (or let me say were). These dogs were not nice dogs. When my husband had to work across from there (he is a farmer, land and turkey) they would growl and make terrible vicious noises. My husband was petrified of those dogs, and he doesn't scare easily. Needless to say the owners got evicted and we are not sure what happened to these dogs as the dog warden showed up one day (our county does not allow more than 1 pitbull at a time on residence).
Anyways, I have never met a nice one, I guess I have heard that about dobermans as well. But everyone who meets Tessa loves her. Even people who are terrified of them! My uncle came over and about had a heart attack when he saw Tessa, saying she would turn on us etc...... Well by the end of his visit, he liked her. Like I tell everyone, everytime you see a doberman on tv or movies they are always showing teeth and growling etc, because that is the parts they play on tv and in movies. That is NOT what they truly are. Of course they are protective over their families, so are chiuaua's. I try not have a view towards any animal until I know it, but they definitely have a bad rap (pit bulls). Personally, I don't trust that breed and wouldn't want to be near one. But for every person who believes that their is probably a person who believes the opposite.
Melissa K.

[Melissa34]

I have personally met some of the most sweet, docile, loving pitbulls. They were wonderfully social and great family pets. They had been taught from puppyhood. They were no different than any other breed that has been properly socialized and taught manners.

I am a firm believer in - the way a dog is raised and socialized pretty much determines the dog.

I believe with proper socialization and training, even a pitbull can make a good family pet.

But... that is just my opinion based on my life experience and what I have seen.

[LuvmydobeApollo]

unfortunately, alot is in the breeding, its just there. I have met nice pits, but i dont trust them at all. I have seen little pups come into our clinic and they have behavior problems and the family has just gotten them. We had a 9 week old rott the other day, he got vicious, and i mean he was NOT playing when we tried to touch his face. He bit hard and wouldnt let go, the owner was a moron of course, but i coudlnt believe that little thing! I am not a rott fan at all, ive had 3 instances where ive been bitten, and attacked by them.
I do believe that its the way they are raised also, but some are just born bad, its just in them, its sad.
How could they bring that dog into their home when they knew it had problems? That should be child abuse as well, that poor boy, he will never be the same about dogs now. and its such a shame.

sharen

[Kzoo]

My stepmom, although she trusts me is scared of Tessa. She'll pet her but feels very uneasy around her, because she was bitten by a dobe as a child........
people never forget.

[Prince_Pride]

I cannot believe the ignorance of these parents. They brought a dog that was known to be agressive/bad around kids into their home anyways.

I don't care if it was a pitbull, lab, golden retreiver. An agressive dog is an aggressive dog. A breed of dog doesn't determine how "agressive" it is going to be. Pitbulls always get a bad rap b/c of stupid owners. They are some of the sweetest dogs I have ever met.

Breed discrimination truley sickens me b/c it's attitudes like that endanger owning dogs like our beloved dobermans. If you can open your heart and home to a doberman and know they are not the vicious snarlning beasts as they are portrayed...can't you maybe be open minded when it comes to pits????

[debl]

I, too, have a friend who has a pit. Very, very sweet dog. Very protective of it's family, but not agressive. There are "bad apples" in every species?!!

[Kzoo]

As much as I love dogs and all animals, pits scare me to death. All I have seen are viscious ones, never a nice one. Like I said I believe all breeds have aggressives and non aggressives. I still have to laugh when i have hear people say dachshunds are mean. Actually I have been around several who have been, but I have seen people make them that way, by teasing...not playing. People cross the line all the time. Sad for the poor animals who must pay the price though. Any animal, any dog, no matter the breed. I believe any of you who say you know and have met sweet pits, I am sure there are. Just none that I have seen. I was quite surprised to learn alot of counties won't allow them or limit them, or that some insurance companies (home owners) will cancel you if you have one!! I think in that case the dog owners should have the dog evaluated and made a sound/stable dog, because that is clearly being judged unfairly! I guess it is probably personal preference for every one to own what they clearly feel comfortable with. I know it bothers some that I have a dobe. Yesterday someone wouldn't come to the door when they saw Tessa standing there......actually I feel safe having her here. I think it makes people think twice about possibly breaking into my home, but then again with 4 loud mouthed dogs barking in the background who would be dumb enough? Although, Tessa rarely ever barks!!
It is definitely a pity how some breeds are judged. I guess I probably judge them because of what I have seen. That is just how I feel. I personally will be more open minded when I meet a nice one

[Prince_Pride]

Alls I have to say is that it starts with pits...then moves to Rottweilers or Akita's or Shepherds or Dobes....once one breed is "banned" it will move to other breeds as well. We are lucky we live in Michigan b/c we are one of 12 states that insurance companies cannot deny converage based on the breed of dog that is owned by the homeowner. And usually even if a dog does have its CGC or obedience titles, and is a banned breed, it doesn't matter. No exepections once a breed has been banned usually. You would be surprised at some of the laws out there regarding pitbulls. Look up Denver or Chicago or Ontario pitbull laws. Some of them are completely rediculous! And as I said earlier, once one breed is banned, what is stopping another from being banned? Then another?

I hope I never have to move b/c I know in some communities, condos and apartments they do not allow specific breeds including Dobermans.

[scott]

I definitely agree specific breed descrimination is awful, Because these larger breeds fall into the wrong hands and are capable of more serious injuries than smaller breeds this is how they are judged. I too was skeptical of Pits but I ended up going to school with a guy who had 2 and they were the nicest dogs. I wouldn't say I was ever scared of these dogs or any other dog just because of all I was raised with but reading everything thats in the papers and watching the newscasts certainly makes you think they're trying to make everyone believe that certain breeds just serve no purpose. And for all the responsible owners who have these dogs this is a horrible and unfair thing to impose. For anyone who doesn't believe this type of thing can happen to our dogs had better think again. It was done with Pits and that is probably just the groundwork for others that they deem dangerous wether they actually know the breed or not. I've certainly gone on long enough but in the end Breed descrimination is in my opinion Very Very Wrong!!


Scott

[oreo5129]

You're right, Scott. Breed discrimination is mostly based on ignorance. And if I were to be bit I'd much prefer a small terrier, etc than a dobe, rottie, or pit. But, here in Saginaw dog fighting is very popular. Having a pit is a status symbol-in this city you have a pit to show how tough you are.
You can not even advertise the sale of pit bulls in the newspaper, and any pit that finds it's way to animal control is destroyed, never adopted out, and there's a reason for that here.
The horror stories of what pits have done to people and other animals here in Saginaw are true and happen way too frequently. I have to say that I am afraid of this breed in this town.
Some years ago my Cocoa needed to go potty at 3 in the morning, of course, and this was before my yard was fenced in. The group of young guys behind us who were renting had a pit. I put Cocoa out and then go to get her, and here comes their dog, and believe me he wasn't coming to say "hi". I literally dragged Cocoa in by her collar, because, of course, she thinks she is a bad bum. It scared me.
I don't like that I distrust this breed, but it's there. I don't have a problem with rotties, or any other breeds, but this one makes me think twice.

Mary