Latest news with #pitbulls
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination
Austin, TX May 30, 2025 --( )-- A comprehensive new report from a national dog bite victims' group, reveals that severe injury dog bites nearly tripled in two major Central Texas cities between 2018 and 2023, with Austin experiencing a 193% increase and San Antonio seeing a 169% rise during this period. The report, " Rising Dog Maulings in Two Central Texas Cities (2018-2023): What Public Safety Policy Got Wrong—and How to Fix It,' represents an 18-month investigation that required multiple Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain detailed bite severity data from both cities. The report includes extensive data analysis, charts, and statistics. While local media outlets reported the sharp rise of severe bites in early 2024, this analysis goes much deeper, examining 12 years of data from 2012 to 2023 to provide historical context. The research reveals that the dramatic increases weren't sudden spikes but part of a sustained trend that accelerated during and after the pandemic. Key findings include significant demographic shifts in bite victims, with adults 40 years and older experiencing the steepest increases — 433% in Austin and 396% in San Antonio. In both cities, the report shows that pit bulls were disproportionately responsible for severe injuries — over four times higher than any other breed. In Austin, severe bites inflicted by pit bulls surged 533% from 2018 to 2023. In Austin, the research establishes a clear connection between the city's aggressive no-kill shelter policies adopted in 2019 and rising severe bite injuries. The Austin Animal Center recycled 352 dogs with moderate or severe bite histories back into the community between 2019 and 2023, with some of these dogs later inflicting severe injuries on the public. The report documents what researchers call a 'sustained effect' of increased dog bite injury severity following COVID-19 lockdowns, aligning with findings from a UK study published in August 2024. That study, the first to examine post-lockdown dog bite trends, found a 47% increase in dog bites and significantly more severe injuries requiring operative management and longer hospital stays. Both cities have since implemented policy changes. Austin adopted the Dunbar Bite Scale in February 2024, restricting the rehoming of dogs with a Level 4 or higher bite history. San Antonio launched a strategic plan increasing dangerous dog investigations and compliance rates. Despite these efforts, San Antonio reported a 54% increase in severe bites in fiscal 2025. About is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks. Contact Information: Colleen Lynn 512-650-8510 Contact via Email Read the full story here: New Report Reveals Near Tripling of Severe Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and San Antonio — Provides In-Depth Examination Press Release Distributed by
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Saskatoon woman looking for 'justice' after dog attack leaves Pomeranian dead
Saskatoon's Haultain neighbourhood is on edge after a dog attack last week left a woman injured and her beloved Pomeranian dead. "I've been very traumatized and I'm extremely emotional and lost without Ryder. He meant the world to me and he was like a child to me," Susan O'Donnell said in a phone interview on Tuesday. On Thursday, the pair were on their nightly walk. As O'Donnell and her companion of nine years neared the intersection of Sixth Street East and Dufferin Avenue, O'Donnell saw a trio of large pitbulls running toward her. She said a group of men was behind the dogs. "My only instinct was to pick him up and try and protect him. I was unable to do that," O'Donnell said. O'Donnell said the three pitbulls jumped on her, knocking her to the ground and biting her hand before turning to Ryder. O'Donnell described the pitbulls as a "pack of hyenas." The sounds of the attack drew the attention of neighbours. Nikita Rathwell said she went to her kitchen window after hearing a commotion outside. "There's a woman screaming, 'They're killing my dog, they're killing my dog,'" Rathwell said. Neighbours were quick to run outside and separate the three pitbulls from the much smaller dog. Carol Klapwijk, another neighbour, brought a blanket outside to cover Ryder. Klapwijk said she was worried for O'Donnell, who looked extremely stressed. "There's nothing more we could do [for the dog]. I had been a vet tech in previous lifetime of work and there was nothing I knew we could do except comfort him and I could comfort her," she said. Eventually O'Donnell contacted her roommate, who helped bring Ryder to a vet clinic. The Pomeranian's injuries were judged to be too severe. O'Donnell made the decision to euthanize her dog, an experience she described as the most traumatic thing she's ever had to do or witness. 'Happened before' Rathwell said the attack was not a surprise for neighbours who live in the area, because the three dogs have gotten out before. "It's happened actually multiple times. And you know, the owners have been warned. The landlord had been warned," Rathwell said. Rathwell described incidents where the dogs have previously charged at neighbours and children. Other people in the neighbourhood have previously filed complaints with the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency. Nothing came of those complaints, Rathwell said. "It seems like there's a lot of roadblocks. The process takes a long time and it could be better," she added. Vic Bairos, the owner of the pitbulls, claimed to still have the three dogs. He told CBC the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency told him the animals will need to be euthanized. The Saskatoon Animal Control Agency directed all requests for comment to the City of Saskatoon. In a statement, the city said it would be unable to "provide further details as the incident remains under investigation." Klapwijk said the process needs to change. "I think we need to change the law for dangerous dogs and you need to let animal control take charge and give them enough power to go and grab them right away," Klapwijk said. 'Justice for Ryder' O'Donnell said she will be submitting a witness statement to the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency. Another neighbour has submitted a graphic video of the incident to the agency as well. O'Donnell said her neighbours have helped her mourn by providing her with flowers and cards. Others have given her hugs and messages of support. "My goal is to seek justice for Ryder and the safety of the neighborhood," O'Donnell said. She said that means putting the dogs responsible for the attack down. While O'Donnell waits for the investigation to conclude, she said she will try to remember Ryder as the "sweetest boy." "He never ever bit anybody or anything. He loved all animals, even cats, and children," O'Donnell said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lara Trump Likens Donald Trump To ‘Demonized' Dog Breed
Lara Trump talked about why she believes pit bulls are the 'Donald Trump of the dog world' during an episode of her Fox News show this weekend. 'Pit bulls have gotten a very bad reputation,' the former Republican National Committee co-chair told Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy in a segment marking upcoming National Rescue Dog Day. Their interview also touched on Portnoy's adoption of a rescue pit bull named Miss Peaches and the problem of America's overcrowded animal shelters. 'I actually call pit bulls the Donald Trump of the dog world,' the wife of Eric Trump continued. 'Because they've been mischaracterized by the media, they've been demonized in so many different ways and people have an assumption about them that really isn't true.' Portnoy chimed in: 'If you were brought up in a hostile environment and taught certain things, you may act a certain way. That's not on the dog.' Critics Shred 'Unbelievably Inhumanely Cruel' Entertainment Idea Pitched To DHS OOPS! GOP Lawmaker Accidentally Says 'Quiet Part Out Loud' With Awkward 'Freudian Slip' 'Mad King' Trump Torched Over 'Especially Jarring' Claim To U.S. Troops In Qatar
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
New NY law would hold owners accountable after pit bulls attack tiny dog
The Brief A City Hall rally backed Penny's Law, aiming for criminal penalties on negligent pet owners after Penny the Chihuahua was attacked by pit bulls. Penny suffered severe injuries in a May 3 attack, with the pit bulls' owner reportedly leaving the scene, leading to high vet bills and distress. Dogs are currently considered "property" under state laws, and therefore the pit bulls' owners can't be charged. NEW YORK - A rally at New York's City Hall on Friday advocated for new legislation, known as Penny's Law, aimed at imposing stricter penalties on irresponsible pet owners following a brutal attack on Penny the Chihuahua by two pit bulls. The backstory Penny, a 10-year-old Chihuahua mix, was viciously attacked by two pit bulls on May 3 while walking on the Upper West Side. "As we pass these dogs, I think the woman from behind let go of one of the dogs and the man turned around and led his other dog onto Penny, and they started attacking," said Devon Allen, one of the owners and a contractor who works with FOX 5 NY. "They picked her up from both sides, like together as a team. Seemed like they were led on to her, and he did nothing to try to stop them." The attack was unprovoked, and witnesses reported that the dogs' owner walked away, leaving Penny, an emotional support animal, severely injured and requiring $11,000 emergency surgery. And this apparently isn't the first time these pit bulls attacked other neighborhood dogs. An anonymous sender gave FOX 5 NY video of another dog attack, claiming it involved the same two dogs. This anonymous person told us the dog owners, again, left the scene. Local perspective Animal lovers, dog parents, and concerned stakeholders gathered at City Hall Park to support Penny's Law, advocating for change in how dog attacks are handled legally and stressing the importance of public safety. The proposed legislation, sponsored by State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, seeks to hold pet owners criminally accountable for negligent handling of aggressive dogs and for leaving the scene of an animal attack. Penny's Law aims to address the lack of investigation into dog attacks, as dogs are currently considered "property" under state laws. What they're saying Assembly Member Rajkumar emphasized the need for "real criminal penalties for people who let aggressive dogs attack other dogs." "It will create consequences for leaving the scene of an animal attack. It will crack down on people who keep letting their dogs off leash over and over again," Rajkumar said. NYC Councilmember Liz Schulman highlighted the public safety risks posed by aggressive dogs. "These dogs are not just risks to other dogs. they're risks to other people as well," she said.
ABC News
08-05-2025
- ABC News
Man jailed for his role in Australian dog fighting ring boasted online he 'killed more dogs than parvovirus'
Warning: This story contains graphic content involving animal cruelty. A man jailed for his role in a dog fighting ring remains a member of multiple online groups that discuss the blood sport, even boasting that he has killed "more dogs than parvovirus". Darling Downs man Glenn Wilson was found guilty in 2019 of supplying a pit bull terrier called "Pretty Girl" for fighting and failing to provide appropriate living conditions and treatment to several other dogs. He was sentenced to six months in prison, banned from owning pit bulls for life, and forced to pay $60,000 to the RSPCA. The ABC can reveal that, almost five years later, Wilson remains a member of online groups where people frequently post about dog fighting and the sale of pedigree American pit bull terriers. He is also a member of several RSPCA victim support and accountability groups. It comes after an ABC investigation revealed Australia's links with the global trade of dogs with fighting bloodlines. In some groups, Wilson proudly posts images of himself posing with pedigree dogs and appears to discuss their fighting credentials. In response to one comment, he explains the dog he has posted is a "CH" or champion — slang that experts say refers to a dog that has won at least three contracted matches. He talks about preparing dogs for fights during the "keep" conditioning period and how he would get them down to fighting weight. "After a true keep, dex (a drug given to dogs), empty outs, shaving hair off, starving my mutts I can't lose a few grams, let alone a lb," he wrote. In another post, he captions a photo of a snarling dog with "show me winners!!!". "He reckons I've killed more dogs than parvovirus. FACT!" he tells another commenter. In response to a post asking members to pray pit bulls are protected from "dog fighters, abusers and neglectful owners", Wilson responds: "FFS what a load of fur mummy bull shit". In another post someone asks for the definition of animal cruelty and Wilson responds, "using a [sic] axe not a hammer". When contacted by the ABC, he denied any involvement in dog fighting but admitted to culling dogs that could not hunt by shooting them. He said his social media posts were part of his online persona and designed to "shock". "I know the lingo, I've got it down-pat. I've been invested in dogs, had bull terrier type dogs since I was a child," he said. In 2018, the RSPCA seized five dogs at a Yalangur property where Wilson was living, along with a treadmill with a leash attached and a "break stick" used to separate fighting dogs. "Pretty Girl" was found in a cage with significant scarring that was consistent with involvement in organised dog fighting, according to court documents. Two other dogs, "Chico" and "Jesus", were also found with heavy scarring in a separate enclosure of dirt and rocks with "a small amount of scattered straw". They were tethered by a heavy metal chain to an axle partly buried in the ground. The dogs, plus another canine called "Beetle", were diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis after their seizure. Beetle was found in a raised donga without access to food, water or proper bedding. "Naughty", a fifth dog found in the back of a ute at the property, was lame in the right hind foot. The magistrate found Wilson showed a lack of remorse or insight into his offending, sentencing him to six months' imprisonment with three months' parole. Mr Wilson said he did not support dog fighting but "if it's done on a scientific or professional level, I'd be interested and probably intrigued by the outcome." Wilson said he has suffered both personally and professionally due to his conviction, and has been unable to find a job, has lost friendships and is in debt. He said losing his dogs was a big blow to his identity, conceding he was "obsessed". The ABC does not suggest that Wilson is involved in dog fighting now — only that he is a member of several online groups where users have posted about dog fighting. Dog fighting is outlawed in Australia, but the penalties vary in each state and territory. In Queensland, organising and participating in dog fighting carries a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment or a $48,390 fine. But several of the state's most high-profile dog fighting cases have received only half the maximum penalty and served even less time behind bars. Queensland man, Jarrad Trenear, spent less than a month in jail after being sentenced to six months' imprisonment over dog fighting and animal cruelty charges. Twenty dogs were seized from his Mount Cotton property in 2018, along with "rape stands" — a term dog fighters use for breeding stands — heavy chains and dog fighting paraphernalia. Richmond man Bradd O'Keeffe was sentenced to six months behind bars in 2019 after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying a dog for dog fighting but was released on parole after two months. Joshua Baskerville, charged with possessing prohibited spurs and one count of supplying a dog for a prohibited event, was sentenced to three years' probation. Dr Virginia Maxwell — a professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, with expertise in animal crimes investigations — said it was not uncommon for those involved in dog fighting to get a "slap on the wrist". Contact our investigative reporter on to share news tips. "When you're only getting six months, that's not a deterrent for dog fighting, in my opinion," she said. "[In the US] we seem to have so many more laws beyond dog fighting, it's possessing paraphernalia, training dogs to fight other dogs, possessing dogs with the intent to fight, using dogs as bait, organising, advertising or promoting a dog fight, the list goes on. "They've made everything associated with dog fighting illegal." The RSPCA has been at the frontline of multiple dog-fighting busts, with many cases tied to other forms of organised crime. While the blood sport has been pushed underground, its Queensland office says there has been no decline in fights taking place. In recent years, the RSPCA has been involved in multiple dog fighting-related seizures, with many cases tied to broader criminal networks. "The RSPCA remains committed to advocating for stronger legislation and tougher penalties for those involved in dog fighting," a spokesperson said. A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said they were "not aware of any" recent cases of dog fighting and referred the ABC to the RSPCA.
