Update: Animal Shelter confirms breed of dog that bit student

Just because as is usual for these types of stories, the question of whether it was indeed a pit bull stirred up so much discussion yesterday: When we talked to Ann Graves of Seattle Animal Shelter a short time ago for a followup on the Lafayette dog-bite incident from yesterday (original WSB report here), she confirmed, yes, the dog is a pit bull. Might have a tiny bit of other blood, but mostly pit bull and that’s how they’re classifying it. Meantime, they still haven’t found its owner; “we’re hoping someone will come forward,” Graves says. For now, the dog is in 10-day quarantine at the Seattle Animal Shelter to make sure it doesn’t have rabies or anything else that would mean further treatment for the little girl, and “an active investigation” continues.

iloveapbt June 18, 2008 (3:18 pm)

First, it was great to hear that nothing happend to that little girl, except for some bruises. For a girl of her age, it was nice to hear that she didn’t blame the dog.

Second, I hope that they find the owner.

Third, is this really considered a news stories?

Oh wait, it is called Sensationalism.

WSB June 18, 2008 (3:21 pm)

Yup, child gets attacked by anyone or anything, particularly at a school, it’s news. And since so many people made such a big deal yesterday (our logs show the link was posted on dog-fan message boards) about whether the determination of the breed was really accurate or just speculation, it was our responsibility to follow up on it today and report on what the Animal Shelter had to say.

fiz June 18, 2008 (4:02 pm)

Yes, it’s news.

beachdrivegirl June 18, 2008 (4:10 pm)

Did anyone else see in the Seattle Times that Wapato (outside of yakima, wa) is banning pit bulls breads from their town??? Interseting.

J June 18, 2008 (4:22 pm)

Thanks WSB.

Yes iloveapbt, it’s news… We know you aren’t happy that the dog turned out to be a pit bull, but it’s still news.

SomeGuy June 18, 2008 (4:25 pm)

The bad news is that Wapato just legalized wolverines as pets.

JanS June 18, 2008 (4:51 pm)

they’re hoping that the owners will come forward? For some reason Ikinda think that they may not…now that this is all over the “news” in WS. What will happen after the quarantine, if it’s not claimed? Anyone have that answer?

WSB June 18, 2008 (5:18 pm)

I asked, totally depends on the outcome of the investigation.

BGH June 18, 2008 (6:27 pm)

Not a surprise. Feed the pit bull to the lions.

JanS June 18, 2008 (6:43 pm)

I just saw a thing on KIRO a bit ago about this. The reporter said that if the owners don’t come forward, the dog would probably be euthanized.

If the owners did come forward, they said that the dog wold probably be released to them, because of the insignificance of her injury.

A shame, if the dog has no peior history, that this animal couldn’t go to a “foster” home for training, or to some other people in general. Present owners shouldn’t be allowed to have a dog unless they can prove that the dog will be tended to, and not allowed to run

susa June 19, 2008 (7:35 am)

Dogs reflect their owners.

WSMom June 19, 2008 (9:00 am)

As reported this morning on Seattle Times online

5-year-old boy killed by pit bull in Texas

The mother of the little boy lives here in Washington State. Very sad.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008005981_apdeadlydogattack.html

AJP June 19, 2008 (9:29 am)

I just moved to WS from the north end, where I lived in various neighborhoods for 11 years. I have never seen so many pit bulls in my neighborhood as I do now. There are two on my block who run along the side of the chainlink fence as I walk by from the bus, snarling and barking, not wagging their tails like the golden retriever who lives next door does when she barks. It scares me. A kid in Texas was just killed by one: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_deadly_dog_attack.html

jrk1901 June 19, 2008 (9:34 am)

I am so sad every time a story gets posted about a pit bull that has bit someone. I work in a mental health agency that treats children and we have a pit therapy dog. She is the sweetest dog and she does so much to help these kids.

I truly beleive that those who have the condemned breed could understand that it is entirely the owner and not the dog that is the problem. We live in a society where the pit is the “in” dog for protection and to be cool. They are taken home and are either mistreated or or trained to be dangerous. Once they go out of style we will be having this same discussion about the next “it” dog. The fact that they are so popular is why we hear about them so much.

What was really upsetting to me about Wapato banning pits is that they also banned other breeds of dogs including the mastiff. I have NEVER met a vicous mastiff and am surprised about that. My parents have a mastiff rottweiler mix who is the biggest baby I have ever met. His biggest problem is that he herds children. At worst it’s irritating, at best it’s funny.

Tonya June 19, 2008 (11:26 am)

It’s not the dog, it’s the rearing of the dog. If anyone should be locked up it’s the ignorant owner.

SomeGuy June 19, 2008 (11:36 am)

5-year-old boy killed by pit bull in Texas
(AP) June 19, 2008
WESLACO, Texas

A pit bull fatally mauled a 5-year-old boy staying at a southern Texas home with relatives, authorities said.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday. Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Rosa Trevino said the condition of the child’s body suggested there was no way emergency responders could have saved his life.

Authorities were trying to determine whether the dog had been confined and how it came in contact with the boy, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said.

Trevino declined to identify the boy pending notification of his mother, who lives in Washington state. The boy’s father lives in Mexico.

The sheriff said the boy had been living in the house north of Weslaco with his aunt and uncle after Child Protective Services placed him with them.

Luis Palomo, 20, said he was down the street playing football with friends when the trouble began. He said the victim was at home with a baby sitter when one of two pit bulls at the house began running around the front yard, getting a second pit bull inside the home riled up.

Palomo said the baby sitter and boy were inside the house with the second dog and were scared, so he tried to intervene. While he managed to distract the dogs temporarily, the boy wandered out the back door. One of the dogs grabbed the boy by the torso and dragged him, locking its jaws around the boy’s neck, Palomo said.

ALS June 19, 2008 (3:40 pm)

“We live in a society where the pit is the â€œinâ€ dog for protection and to be cool. They are taken home and are either mistreated or or trained to be dangerous. Once they go out of style we will be having this same discussion about the next â€œitâ€ dog.”

Amen, jrk1901. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Teri June 19, 2008 (3:42 pm)

Killing the dog is not the answer. Proper behavioral training (of human and dog)and humane restraint is the answer. We have a dog leash law–for ALL dogs–not just pits. Is there a dog lover out there, who understands the needs of pits, that would contact SAS for possible adoption of this dog? Maybe a compromise and/or behavior plan with can be negotiated Seattle Animal Shelter and the dog will go to good, knowledgeable, safe home.

Time and time again, many people purchase/adopt dogs for their looks or stereotypical personalities…without understanding the needs of the specific breed. The human is the one that needs to experience the consequences via fines, community service hours, training, etc.