Last May 18th, seven-year-old Tanner Joshua Monk left his home to go play with some neighbor children. He never got there. His body was found that afternoon in a ditch surrounded by four pit bulls. The dogs, owned by a neighbor, had killed the child.
When deputies arrived, two of the dogs attacked them and had to be killed. As they tried to take the other two dogs, the owners didn't want to give one of them up. They claimed it was a "house dog", even though it still had the child's blood on it.
I have to admit that I really don't understand dog owners like this. They have the right to own dangerous animals, but not if they're unwilling to control them. They don't seem to realize that everyone else has the right to not be terrorized by their animals. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to these animals and are many times unable to protect themselves.
In the last session, the Texas Legislature passed a law to protect the public from dog owners who won't control their dangerous animals. That law holds these owners responsible if their animals kill or injure anyone. I supported the law when it was passed, and I'm glad to see it being enforced. Everyone should have the right to walk the streets without being menaced or attacked by the animals of irresponsible owners.
Last week the new law was used for the first time. Crystal Michelle Watson and Jack Wayne Smith, the owners of the dogs that killed young Tanner, were convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. They were lucky. They could have been sentenced to as much as twenty years.
Frankly, I don't feel any sympathy for them. Those dogs couldn't have hurt anyone if they had not been allowed to run free. Watson and Smith must accept that they are responsible for a child's death.
Agreed. And I'm a dog lover.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who either weaponizes their animal or turns a blind eye to the animals genetic potential is woefully negligent.
Someone I used to know, years before I knew them, had a child killed in a similar manner.
Having a pit bull is like bringing an alligator into the neighborhood! The dog whisperer is full of crap. No one needs a killing machine as a pet. We need to start w/ registration and restriction on amateur breeders. Mothers need to realize their children are being killed because we have liberty but no order in the companion pet world. Free roaming cats are killing 15-20 million birds a day in the US alone. AS a dog trainer I run into folks getting their bitch pregnant so the kids can see the "miracle of birth" Meanwhile we got 180 million cats in the USA w/150 million running free. If we had a skunk for every other person in the USA we'd be singing a different tune!
ReplyDeleteYou're so blinded... This ENTIRE article is about making the OWNERS responsible, instead of the dogs. HAD they been tied up or in the house, Tanner would still be alive. Why should an entire breed pay for a small percentage's mistakes? Are you aware that the most common breed/ mixed breed in the united states (and many other countries) is the Pit Bull? Most neighborhoods have them.. and most neighborhoods have no problems.
ReplyDeleteI really hope someone reads this...I so agree with having a pit bull dog is like having a aligator set free around people. June 8,2005 and i was 37 years old and I had a pit bull dog that I was careful with and thought he was a good dog, I was careful and never thought he would hurt me...People listen , I fed this dog, Played with him , did just about everything for him, though he wasn't my dog..he was my boyfriends dog..but he got him two months before I met him .The dog was two years old. I was down picking something up that I dropped and the next thing I was on my back and his mouth was crushing , tearing, breaking, eating my nose he was on my face and he was killing me...for some reason he got off me at the last second. I will always believe GOD had other things in store for me.I was flown to the nearest hospital, I couldn't even be flown to as trauma hospital.. they said I probly wouldn't make it and I did, I have fought thru infection , pain, P.T.S.D., anxiety, panick attacks ... I still can't figure how to move on after five years. I have a metal nose, tubes in my eyes,I'm missing things that you can't see. I ask all the time how could this dog do this to me, he broke a tooth off in my temple. People have to know that these dogs can snap at any moment...They are the most dangerous dog...If you don't think so and if you have one...Just be careful and if you have kids ...ALWAYS BE READY FOR YOUR CHILD TO DIE AT THE HANDS OF YOU OWNING A PIT WITH A BABY OR CHILDREN IN YOUR HOME AND IF THAT DOG TURNS ...AND KILLS OR EVEN IF HE TURNS ON YOU BECAUSE YOU CAN TURN THE OTHER WAY AND IF IT ATTACKS YOU...YOU CAN'T GET AWAY 99%of the time. I ask people to listen to me. I lost so much of my self and I seem to just be here, if I can keep helping people to see and save people, then it can make all worth what I've been thru.
ReplyDeletemy e-mail is paigebfreeman@yahoo.com
feel free to contact me
thanks
My name is Tanda Duncan from Madill,Ok. On April 22,2011, in Ardmore,Ok.my baby brother who was 50 yrs. old was mutilated by a pit bull. My brother was around the dog frequently. All though the dog was tied with a very small cord to the front porch, my brother was seen petting the dog only minutes earlier. The dog mauled him and a 12yr. old neighbor boy found him, and found help. Tony was still contious when a neighbor who is a nurse got to him. The dog had torn his whole face off, even exposing his eyes. When the EMTs put him on the stretcher, his face fell off. The owners are saying they they weren't at home, that is still under investigation. His throat was completing torn open and the jugular was severed. At the hospital they gave him 9 pints of blood and fluids. He was in route to a trauma unit in Dallas when he passed. The doctor himself told us he had never seen a human mutilated this bad. My family did not see him before transport, and the doctor told us You don't want to see him. The dog had to be shot before emergency personnel could get to Tony. Tony lived in a rural housing addition out of the city limits. The dog a month earlier had bit the 12yr. old boy who found him, and nothing had been done at this time. County department said there were not ordinances to do anything. My brother, in my opinion was MURDERED. These dogs should not be allowed to be in any area where anyone besides the owners reside.We have been approached by people in that same neighborhood who own pits, and they have children in the home. Of coarse they say their dog would never hurt them. I pray to God that never happens, but it only takes once. My brother will not die in vain, my family is going to take this as high as we can to get something done about these dogs. I encourage anyone who owns one of these dogs to cage them the proper way and don't let them around others. We can't bring my brother back, but if can save 1 life it will matter.
ReplyDelete