COVINGTON, Ga. — A 9-month-old baby is in critical condition at an Atlanta hospital after she was attacked by two raccoons while sleeping in her crib in the same room as her mother.

Authorities say they are investigating how the raccoons got inside the home and whether the family was keeping the animals as pets.

Newton County Sheriff’s Lt. Tyrone Oliver says authorities arrived about 4 a.m. on Wednesday after the mother called 911 to say the baby had been attacked. She was bitten severely on her head and on other parts of her body.

Oliver says the raccoons were outside the family’s house when deputies arrived, and that one was aggressive and fatally shot by a deputy. The other raccoon was given to animal control to be tested for rabies.

via Raccoons attack Georgia baby in her crib.

A rabid fox bit a visitor at Six Flags American in Bowie last weekend and officials are searching for anyone who have come in contact with the animal.

Prince George’s County Health Department said the fox bit a Six Flags visitor on June 26. The fox was captured on Tuesday and sent for rabies testing. The fox tested positive.

“Because rabies is a highly transmittable and treatable disease, the Health Department is taking all measures to locate any individuals that may have come in contact with this infected fox or any other infected animal,” Donald Shell, the county’s health officer, said in a news release.

Officials said the health department also needs to know of any animals that may have come in contact with the fox.

The first sign of rabies in animals include a change in behaviors, such as appearing unusually tame or extremely aggressive, staggering, convulsions, frothing at the mouth, gradual paralysis or change in voice. Officials say that if a pet has a wound of unknown origin a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Officials said any person or animal who may have come in contact with the fox should contact the county’s health department at 301-583-3750. After normal work hours, the weekend or holidays, call 240-508-5774.

via Post Now – Rabid fox bites visitor to Bowie Six Flags.

A fox that attacked a Cottonwood woman Wednesday tested positive for rabies Thursday.

It was the first reported rabid wildlife attack in Yavapai County this year, after several odd incidents in 2009.

The year 2009 saw a record 280 confirmed reports of rabid wildlife. About half were skunks, 69 were bats and 51 were foxes. Fifteen cases occurred in Yavapai County, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Last year's record was a 59 percent increase from the previous record of 176 set in 2008. So far this year, the state has recorded 61 rabies cases in wild animals, two-thirds were skunks.

While state agencies don't track rabid wildlife attacks, at least three occurred last year in the Prescott and Cottonwood areas.

In the latest incident Wednesday evening, a woman who lives along North Willard Streeet in Cottonwood said a fox attacked her and bit her hand.

She had just caught a javelina in a trap in her yard and when it was loaded into her vehicle, she went back into her yard.

Suddenly a grey fox jumped over a retaining wall and bit her hand, then ran away. She suffered minor lacerations and is undergoing rabies shots.

The woman's husband said the fox had been in the area for some time and thought it lived in an abandoned house next door. However, it had just started acting strangely in the last few days.

When the report came into the police, they suspected the fox was rabid because they had received two earlier reports of a fox trying unsuccessfully to attack people in the area, including a UPS driver who fended off the fox with a clipboard, according to state wildlife officials and Cottonwood Sgt. Gareth Braxton.

An officer spotted the fox in the vacant home next to the victim's home, Cottonwood police said. When the fox leaped onto the retaining wall about 15 feet away from the officers, one of the officers shot and killed it.

Arizona Game and Fish Department spokesperson Zen Mocarski warned people to stay away from wild animals and watch for unusual behavior indicative of rabies.

Signs of rabies include lethargy, lack of fear of humans, unusual aggression and activity during the heat of the day, especially from nocturnal animals.

The last reported rabid wildlife attack in Yavapai County took place in April 2009 when a rabid bobcat attacked a family walking along Lynx Creek in Prescott Valley.

In March 2009, a rabid bobcat attacked patrons in a Cottonwood bar, and the saloon's video camera captured the havoc.

And in February 2009 and November 2008, two separate rabid foxes attacked hikers at the Granite Mountain Recreation Area just west of Prescott.

via Rabid fox attacks Cottonwood woman – The Prescott Daily Courier – Prescott, Arizona.

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) – Arizona Game and Fish Department officials say a mountain lion has been found and killed southeast of Prescott and it's believed to be the same one that attacked a man last weekend.

Officials say the mountain lion was located Friday less than a half-mile from the house where a 30-year-old man was attacked Sunday night near Walker. The man survived with minor injuries.

Game and Fish officials had been looking for the mountain lion since Monday. The one found was a 6 to 7-year-old female weighing approximately 75 pounds and they say the animal's size was consistent with tracks found at the attack site.

A full necropsy will be done and the mountain lion's head will be submitted for rabies testing to help determine if disease or other physical ailment influenced the animal's behavior.

via Mountain lion killed near Prescott attack site – KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA |.

What would you do if you suddenly spotted a growling mountain lion about eight feet away in the dark?

Andy Bell said he was only about 100 feet from his Walker home when that happened to him Sunday night while he was turning off his outdoor water supply, so he decided to bolt for his front door.

Unfortunately, his running triggered the catamount's predatory attack response.

“It was on my back and took me down to the ground,” Bell told The Daily Courier Wednesday while in Prescott for doctor visits and rabies shots.

With the lion on his back, Bell said he slid about six feet down his gravel driveway and ended up directly under the back of his truck.

Luckily, he barely cleared the truck hitch but the lion's head rammed into it, peeling the lion right off his back.

“If I would have hit that hitch, he would have had a free dinner,” Bell said.

The stunned lion ran off and Bell ran into his house. He came back out with a gun but the lion was gone.

He had just experienced the most terrifying moment of his life.

“I've had close calls before in car accidents, but this is a completely different game,” Bell said. “I have a whole new respect for nature and its power.”

Bell is a hunter and he knows he shouldn't run from lions, but when he heard that lion growl he felt like his best chance was to run for the house because it was so close and he was unarmed.

“Put yourself in those shoes and see what you would have done,” Bell said.

While Bell suffered only a scratch from the lion, the six-foot slide in the gravel injured him significantly.

He has large gouges in the palms of his hands and injured his left elbow and right knee. He's getting tests to determine the extent of the injuries. On Wednesday he had to get rabies shots.

He hasn't been able to do much work at his RMS Fleet Service diesel repair shop in Prescott.

Bell said his dog has gone into barking fits about the same time almost every night since Saturday, and the dog refused to go outside with him Sunday night when the cat attacked, even though the dog always wanted to join him in the past.

Then Tuesday night, his neighbor reported seeing the lion after it set off his outdoor motion-sensor light. The neighbor lives about 150 yards away in Walker, a small forested community a few miles southeast of Prescott.

Like Bell, the neighbor got his gun and went back outside, but the cougar was gone.

“I was up all night just knowing it was out there,” Bell said.

Bell and his girlfriend are staying armed when they go outdoors, and Bell would love to get a shot at the lion. But he knows it's not an easy job to track a cougar, especially when he's limping.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services trackers plan to try a second time today to track the lion, said Zen Mocarski of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Their dogs were unable to pick up a scent Tuesday. Wildlife officials have not been able to identify any lion tracks in the area, either.

Despite what he has been through, Bell still loves nature and worries that his experience will scare off visitors to Prescott. So he is urging people not to fear the forest because of what happened to him.

via Walker man details lion attack – The Prescott Daily Courier – Prescott, Arizona.

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Two attacked by bobcats

By PHIL SARATA, T&D Staff Writer  Thursday, May 07, 2009 

BRANCHVILLE — Two Branchville men have reported being attacked by bobcats.

While at least one of the men undergoes rabies treatment, officials are trying to figure out if one or two felines were involved in the separate attacks.

Both attacks took place in Branchville, the first around 9 p.m. Tuesday and the second shortly after midnight. The bobcat in the first attack was able to escape. The bobcat in the second attack didn’t.

Both attacks left the victims with injuries that required medical attention. One man required stitches.

Hugo D. Valentine says he was informed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control late Thursday afternoon the animal that attacked him had rabies.

Describing the attack, Valentine said, “I was clearing a piece of land off Old Orangeburg Road with a backhoe Tuesday night. Me and some friends had piled up the debris and were burning it.

“Around 12:30, I felt something on my leg. I looked down and a bobcat had latched onto my thigh. I grabbed it by the ears and tried to hold it on the ground. We were able to pin the front paws down but it was still trying to bite me. Even though my friend was standing on its back legs, the bobcat’s back claws were still scratching up my hands. It died before I could get my knife. It looked as though we had smothered it.”

Valentine said he was treated at a hospital.

“All I have are scratches on my hand and teeth marks in my thigh,” Valentine said. “They treated the wounds and gave me a shot of antibiotics on the left side of my butt.

“I brought the cat to the hospital. I spoke to a DHEC representative and I was asked to put the head on ice so it could be tested for rabies. Once DHEC told me it did have rabies, my doctor started my treatment.”

DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said that he had not been able to confirm with Orangeburg DHEC officials the dead bobcat had tested positive for rabies as of early Thursday evening.

“If the case involves a human, we would recommend that the individual proceed with a rabies treatment, just to be on the safe side,” Berry said.

Branchville police say that an ambulance had responded to the scene of an earlier bobcat attack at 9:17 p.m. on Smoak Street.

Branchville Town Clerk Treesa Suggs said that victim suffered injuries to his arms and head.

“He came by town hall (Thursday),” Suggs said. “He had about 16 stitches in his head and several more in both his arms.”

Attempts to reach the victim were unsuccessful.

Bobcat attacks don’t happen much, said S.C. Department of Natural Resources Chief of Wildlife Statewide Projects, Research and Survey Derrell Shipes.

“We have had a lot of raccoons and foxes over the years with rabies but bobcat attacks are unusual,” Shipes said. “Most are afraid of humans and won’t attack unless provoked, such as being caught or cornered. They are not rare but they are also not abundant in South Carolina. They do not live close to humans.”

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Fox attacks two hikers

By Doug Cook, The Daily Courier

Sunday, May 03, 2009

PRESCOTT – Craig Leicht and Paul Janowski were enjoying their regular stroll along the three-mile loop of Prescott National Forest Trails 347 and 341 when a fox took a deadly interest in them.

At 6:45 p.m. Thursday, the Prescott neighbors were ending an otherwise routine hike on a trail near Granite Mountain, a mile west of Prescott’s municipal boundary and little more than a mile away from their homes, when the male animal attacked them.

Thanks to a quick response, Leicht, who moved here from Texas in February, and Janowski fended off and killed what they think was a rabid fox close to the trails’ far junction toward the bottom of a ravine. Neither of the men suffered bites or injuries.

“The fox appeared dazed, although he didn’t have any froth in his mouth,” said Janowski, 70, on Friday. “It was really weird, in a way.”

An Arizona Game and Fish Department official hauled away the fox’s body Friday morning and its frozen head will go to a state medical lab for testing Monday in Phoenix to determine whether it had rabies.

“The popular belief is that rabies tends to be cyclical in nature, and it’s just running its course throughout that area,” Game and Fish public information officer Zen Mocarski said. “Your odds of a wild animal encounter for the number of people that are outside still remains very low.”

Thursday’s incident was only one in a series of human vs. wild animal clashes during the past several months in Yavapai County, including the tri-city area.

“I looked ahead and saw something crouching on the trail, and I thought it was a bobcat in a hunched-down, crouching position,” Leicht said Friday about the fox encounter. “It was probably about 100 feet ahead or maybe more, so I bent down and picked up a rock just to scare it. By the time I stood up, this thing was about five feet away from me.”

Leicht, an anesthesiologist at Yavapai Regional Medical Center who lives in the Hokegon neighborhood off Iron Springs Road, about a mile west of Williamson Valley Road toward the Granite Mountain Wilderness Area, said he and Janowski were walking toward the latter’s residence when the incident happened.

“I threw a 15- to 20-pound boulder at the fox and it bounced off his back,” Leicht said. “I thought that would have deterred him, but he got up, came back at me, grabbed my pants leg, and I finally kicked him with my boot. He kept getting up and tried to attack again.”

At that point, Leicht kicked the fox as hard as he could, flinging it into a tree. Leicht and Janowski subsequently ambushed the animal and stoned it to death.

“I was surprised he was so aggressive and that it would come at me at such a distance,” Leicht said. “It was growling the whole way it was charging us. Once I kicked it a couple times, it would whimper and growl.”

One of Leicht’s neighbors plans to erect a homemade sign at the trailhead warning hikers about the possibility of having an encounter with a rabid animal.

Leicht recommends hikers carry hiking sticks and wear boots and long, baggy pants in case something happens.

“We didn’t have sticks or anything,” said Janowski, adding that he might start packing a .22-caliber pistol for safety when walking the trail. “It was very scary. I’m going to be very observant.”

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Canine attacks, injures teen

By Richelle Bailey | The McDowell News

Published: April 27, 2009

A Buncombe County teen told local authorities he was attacked by a coyote in the woods off Mill Creek Road Sunday. Animal Control officers say he suffered extensive injuries from some sort of canine, but it’s unlikely it was a coyote.
Simon Joseph Sexton, 17, and a friend were scouting for places to turkey hunt around 5 p.m. They had walked two-tenths of a mile into the woods close to the first pull-off on the left coming from Ridgecrest, according to McDowell County Animal Control Sgt. Brian Walker.
Sexton got ahead of his friend and out of sight. A canine jumped toward the teen and went for Sexton’s throat and then his groin area, Walker stated. Sexton’s friend heard the commotion and came running, which, in turn, scared the animal off.
“The victim said it was a big coyote, about a hundred pounds. His friend said it looked like a German shepherd mix,” said the sergeant.
Monday, Walker, Animal Control Cpl. Frank Holder and Sexton’s father, Rodney, went back to the area of Mill Creek where the attack occurred to search for any signs of the animal.
“We found the tracks of a canine, but this animal would only weigh about 50 pounds,” Walker stated. “Generally, a coyote that weighs 35 to 40 pounds is considered a big coyote. Based on the tracks we found, we think the animal might have been a hybrid or a domesticated dog that someone turned loose that is now feral. … More than likely, it was probably a female that had pups nearby and felt threatened because they usually don’t want to be around people.”
The sergeant said that Sexton’s friend carried the 17-year-old out of the woods. He was taken to an Asheville hospital, where his wounds were stitched and he was started on rabies vaccines and was released.
Walker advised anyone walking in the woods to be aware of their surroundings and carry a stick.
“It might not protect you against everything, but it’s better than nothing,” he stated. “Also, go with someone if possible. If you’re going by yourself, let someone know when you will be out so if you’re not back on time they can call for help.”

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It’s almost like an animal revolution is going on.

Possible rabid animal attacks reported in Winchester area

WINCHESTER – At least three incidents of possible rabid animal attacks have been reported to Animal Control this month, according to a press release issued today by Winchester police.

On Wednesday, a woman reported that she and a child had been attacked by a red fox on Battery Drive.

“The female reported that after leaving a business on Battery Drive with a male child that she was caring for, a red fox came out from underneath a vehicle and bit the child’s shoe. When the female intervened, the fox bit the female several times. The female then drove to seek treatment at the Winchester Medical Center, ” the release states.

“The parent of the child decided she would seek treatment the following day at the child’s pediatrician, since the fox bite did not penetrate the child’s skin. The female described the fox as having a mangy coat, wet and bloody mouth.”

Animal Control has set traps in the Battery Drive area where the incident occurred. Area neighbors reported seeing the fox under cars througout the day. 

On Sunday, a homeowner in the 100 block of Linden Drive reported her dog had been attacked by a groundhog, and that when she tried to scare the animal away, it charged at her.

“The homeowner, who was not bitten, went back into her residence and called the dog inside. The groundhog was not on the property when Animal Control arrived. Several traps have been set in the area in an attempt to catch the groundhog. The homeowner’s dog was up to date on his rabies vaccination; however, the 45-day hold was placed on the dog. It cannot be confirmed that the groundhog is rabid until the groundhog has been caught,” the release states.

On April 15, a homeowner in the 700 block of Merriman’s Lane reported that his dog was attacked by a raccoon.

“During the attack, the homeowner was able to kill the raccoon. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed the raccoon was infected with rabies. The homeowner’s dog was up to date on his rabies vaccination; however, the Virginia Department of Health requires a 45-day hold on the dog, which is monitored by the Department of Health,” the release states.

Winchester police are asking area residents to report any wildlife or animals that exhibit signs of rabies, or if a bat enters a residence. Call police at 540-662-4131.

Signs of rabies include dingy or mangy coat, wounded appearance, bleeding or wet mouth, and/or aggressive or confused actions.

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Woman Attacked by Wild Pig

Posted By: Gary Detman 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Cassandra Frank says she hadn’t even had a chance to have her morning cup of coffee on Monday.

She says the father of her 6 and 7-year-old children told her there was a pig in the backyard of their home on 23rd Avenue North.

A pig in the neighborhood is definitely odd, since they live within the city limits. You can see Interstate 275 through the fence that runs along the side of their home. Cassandra says, “I used to have a pig growing up, so I thought it was, you know, not that big.”

The pig was behind a wooden shed in the back yard. It appeared to have been digging a hole there. Cassandra went to take a closer look.

“Well, when I saw the back end of it, I didn’t think it would be that big. But when it came charging at me and I really got a look at it… I mean, it scared me.” 

It was that fear she says that sent her running back to the front of the house. The hog, weighing nearly 200 pounds, was moving fast too, and came straight at her. “So when I looked at my leg and I saw that it did, you know, nick me.”

Frank was left with a scratch and a bruise from the wild hog’s tusk.

Nine emergency workers responded from the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue department, St. Petersburg Police Department and Pinellas County Animal Control Department.

Lt. Dan Robinson says, “We were all trying to capture the pig.”

Lt. Robinson, a 15 year veteran of the St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue department, says he had to jump over a six foot wooden fence to get out of the wild hog’s way. “She stopped about 10 feet short of me and looked at me. I looked at her and tried to scare her back to the pack, and at that time then she charged me.”

Robinson was able to get out of the way in the nick of time and wasn’t hurt.

Bill Warzybok, the animal control officer, finally captured the hog. He says the attacks could have been life threatening.

“The last thing you want to do is get gored by a 170 pound hog. It’s definitely not going to be good.”

Warzybok says it’s fortunate that the hog’s tusks were ground down and not three to four inches long. “It could hit a femoral artery and you could literally bleed to death.” 

The hog injured its leg during the attack and had to put to sleep. It’s now being tested for rabies.

Meanwhile, Cassandra plans to head back to her job Tuesday at a local fast food restaurant. She’s also studying to become a medical assistant.

No one is sure where the animal came from, but the case is under investigation.

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What’s going on in NY? The 4th Coyote attack in 3 weeks.

Coyote attacks local man

Officers forced to shoot and kill
coyote

Updated: Thursday, 16 Apr 2009, 9:47 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 16 Apr 2009, 6:37 AM EDT

• Jericka Duncan
• Photographer Danylo Paszkowsky Posted by Emma Orn

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Police officers were forced to shoot and kill a coyote that attacked a man in Niagara County Wednesday night. 

For the man who was close enough when the coyote turned ugly, getting away unharmed was quite the feat. Officials said the 31 year-old man was walking along Zimmerman road late Wednesday night when the coyote circled him and then nipped at his legs. 

“They’re usually not aggressive. They usually try to stay away from humans,” said Capt. John Mangus from North Tonawanda Fire Department. 

Despite what’s typical of these animals, the health department reports this is the 4th time a coyote has tried to attack a human in the last three weeks in North Tonawanda. 

Nicole Azim is a resident there. She said, “I never thought we’d have a coyote living across the street from my house.” 

Some neighbors who heard police fire the shot that killed the coyote said they feel safer. “It’s not out running around anymore so I feel like I can go outside without it running out,” said Courtney Connors. 

Fire Captain Mangus said coyotes aren’t uncommon in the area. What you can do to protect yourself is simple. “Stay away from it! Right now what we’ve experienced is these are aggressive now. They’re not just running away,” said Magnus. “Be aware that they are out there. You know going out into your backyard. Turn lights on first. Hopefully that will scare them off.” 

Health officials said they will test the coyote for rabies. 

Mark Alessandrea from North Tonawanda said, “Unfortunately it didn’t have rabies. That’s kind of sad. I like the wildlife here. That’s why I moved here.”

>> Click here for Coyote Safety Tips

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These stories are far too common.

Pit bull attack: Investigation underway

CAPE CORAL: Animal Control officers are investigating a dog attack in the Cape. A woman was walking her dog along SW 41st Street, when she says a pit bull lunged at both of them.

Judy Soehnlein says the leather dog leash she uses made it home from her morning walk intact, but the 11-year-old Dalmatian it was holding was not so lucky.

“He’s got bites – about eight to ten bites around his neck where he latched on and wouldn’t let go,” she said.

Slick, the Dalmatian, is still getting those wounds treated and Soehnlein is recovering from hers.

Her bandages tell a terrifying story of an early morning pit bull attack right outside her Cape Coral home.

“I grabbed my hand and my arm was bleeding everywhere,” she said.

She calls it a split second struggle that will leave a lifetime of scars.

Animal Control officers say a neighbor’s pit bull, named Diesel, got loose and lunged for Soehnlein and Slick.

“I saw him coming around the corner. His feet were kicking up he was running fiercely,” she said.

Animal Control says it has happened before. They explained that just a week ago, Diesel attacked a small dog down the street.

Diesel’s owner has been cited seven times for letting the dog off his leash and for not having proper licensing or vaccinations.

For now, Soehnlein is in need of rabies shots and hoping someone will take action soon against the pit bull and its owner.

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Another Wild Animal Attack in North Tonawanda

Originally printed at http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/43078107.html

A North Tonawanda man was attacked by a fox on Monday night, according to Niagara County health officials.

The man was walking home from the store on Niagara Falls Boulevard near Erie Avenue when the fox approached him and bit him in the leg.

It’s the third attack by a wild animal in the city during the past few weeks.

Health officials say it’s important for residents to protect themselves. The advise people against approaching or feeding animals.

North Tonawanda police are searching for the coyote and have instructions to shoot and kill it if it’s safe to do so. Health officials want to test the animal for rabies.

In all three attacks, the victims are undergoing rabies vaccinations.

In early March, a fox was captured and killed in the Town of Wilson. It tested positive for rabies, which is a potentially fatal disease in humans if left untreated.

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State officials confirm bobcat had rabies

The Daily Courier

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

State officials confirmed Tuesday that a bobcat that attacked two people in Prescott Valley Monday had rabies.

The human victims, as well as a dog that suffered bites in a separate attack Monday, must get rabies vaccinations now.

PV police killed the bobcat shortly after it attacked a mother and daughter along Lynx Creek near StoneRidge Drive Monday afternoon.

The bobcat was acting extremely aggressive, so the rabies came as no surprise, said Zen Mocarski, an information officer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman office.

To hear the police dispatch tape of the 911 call for help when the bobcat attacked the mother and daughter, visit The Daily Courier’s website at dcourier.com. The website also contains a more detailed story that ran Tuesday.

Mocarski said he fielded a lot of calls Tuesday from Prescott-area citizens concerned about all the recent northern Arizona attacks by wildlife with rabies.

People might want to carry a walking stick, but “The odds of encountering a rabid animal remain very low,” Mocarski said.

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Here’s a very thoughtful essay about the issue of dogs attacking children and what can be done to prevent it in the future.

Work together to solve dog attack issues

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Pits bulls again made the news. Now, before I go on, don’t think this is an editorial about pit bulls. All dogs bite. While bites have long been endured as a job-related hazard for utility and postal workers, for many cities the problem affects the entire community. Dog bites are serious public health problems that cause considerable physical and emotional damage to victims and incalculable costs to communities.

Following a severe attack, there is always an outcry to do something by citizens, and the something that is done often reflects a knee-jerk response. Typically, it’s an outcry to “ban the breed.” However, a knee-jerk response does not cure an ongoing problem. Of critical concern are the demographics of typical dog bite victims. Almost half are children younger than 12 years old, and boys 5 to 9 are at the highest risk. People more than 70 years old comprise 10 percent of those bitten and 20 percent of those killed. The costs of dog bite injuries are high. The insurance industry estimates it pays more than $1 billion a year in homeowners’ liability claims resulting from dog bites. Hospital expenses for dog bite-related emergency visits are estimated at $102.4 million.

A frequent question is what breed or breeds of dogs are most “dangerous.” This inquiry is generally prompted by a serious attack by a specific dog, or it may be the result of media-driven portrayals of a specific breed as “vicious.” Lately, it’s been pit bulls, but Dobermans, Rottweilers and German shepherds have all been targeted at some point. Singling out a breed for control can result in a false sense of accomplishment. Doing so ignores the true scope of the problem and will not result in a responsible approach to protecting the community’s most vulnerable citizens. In general, dog bite statistics do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite. However, what is clear is that chained, intact (unneutered) male dogs are involved in 70 to 76 percent of reported dog bite incidents.

Total costs associated with dog bite injuries cannot be easily measured because so many intangible quality-of-life issues are involved. These costs include time spent by officials on animal-related issues, deterioration of relationships between neighbors, citizens’ concerns about neighborhood safety for children, concerns about being able to walk safely, homeowners’ insurance costs within the community and even animal shelter support for unwanted pets. These are quality-of-life issues that ultimately determine the desirability of a community to its citizens and contribute to feeling safe in our neighborhoods.

What can Abilene do to help prevent dog bites and attacks? Make responsible dog ownership and public education a priority. We have many programs already available in our community that could easily add a dog safety program.

To begin, we need Abilene animal control to enforce the ordinances and to let the City Council know if the current ordinances are ineffective in controlling animal problems. For your information, all animals in Abilene must have current rabies shots and be licensed; this makes the owners responsible for their animals. And, yes, this in turn helps fund programs. Offer reduced registration fees for neutering/spaying your pet. Many cities have passed ordinances requiring “breeder” licenses to help control overpopulation. Lack of enforcement regarding animal control ordinances in Abilene is a major safety concern of every citizen, young and old.

Dog bite injuries rank third only to bicycle and baseball/softball injuries as a leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals. Since every school child in Abilene goes through “Safety City,” add a short “safe pet” program for our children, sponsored by a local vet or another animal agency.

Parents, if you don’t know the safe dog rules, ask your school or child care facility to help sponsor a safe pet program. Always keep in mind that children are the most likely to be bit in the face.

And finally, to help the older victim of dog attacks, target the senior population through our senior centers and Meals on Wheels programs. Seniors are vulnerable not only because of mobility problems but underlying health issues that can turn a nip into an unhealed wound.

Responsible dog ownership is not only a good neighbor policy but a community responsibility. Abilene should be a safe and responsible community with safe neighborhoods. Unfortunately, until everyone is willing to take responsibility for their pets, it is up to Animal Control to enforce our ordinances.

Let’s put aside our differences about our “beloved” pets and work as a community to do our best to keep this tragedy from happening in Abilene.

Lydia M. Long, Ph.D., teaches criminal justice at Excelsior College and owns a Welsh corgi.

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Not a Pit Bull this time, but a chow retriever mix. Looks like the boy startled the dog and triggered an attack instinct.

Dog Mauls Boy In One Of County’s ‘Worst Animal Attacks’

Family Dog Bites 7-Year-Old Boy In Face

 

POSTED: 6:51 am EDT April 11, 2009

UPDATED: 9:41 am EDT April 11, 2009

 

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – A boy was bitten in the face and required several stitches in what the Hamilton County Humane Society called one of the worse animal attacks they have ever seen. 

The attack on Dillon Absher, 7, happened on the same day his family brought the dog, a chow-retriever mix, home from the Fulton County shelter in northern Indiana, 6News’ Renee Jameson reported. 

Dillon’s mother, Kathy Absher, was just a few feet away when the attack happened on the floor of a bedroom on April 3 after the dog licked her son in the face. 

Absher said her son tried to return the affection when the dog attacked. 

“He leaned down to kiss the dog on the forehead and it obviously startled the dog,” she said. “He just attacked his face and split his mouth open.” 

Dillon’s parents rushed him to the hospital. The dog was taken to the Hamilton County Humane Society. 

“It’s important for the public to be aware that any dog can bite … given the right circumstances and environment,” said Rebecca Stevens, of the humane society. 

Animal experts said families planning to adopt a dog should ask about its temperament and make sure the animal is up-to-date on vaccines and has been spayed or neutered. 

“Especially with males, those who are not neutered are almost three times more likely to bite than a male that is neutered,” Stevens said. 

Absher said she will make sure the family’s next dog is suited for children and has been given the proper vaccines. 

“(I will) definitely go to a shelter that does testing on the dogs to make sure how their temperament would be and take our kids and our other dog with us,” she said. 

The dog was placed in quarantine while rabies tests are run. It will likely be euthanized. 

Absher said her son will not need to have plastic surgery, but his wounds will take time to he

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Considering how little danger bears actually pose to people, and how few people there actually are in Alaska… I really don’t support any plan that allows hunters to take down large amounts of the small populations of bears that live there.

Under recent scrutiny for their wolf hunting and seal bashing practices, Alaska is now on the chopping block of condemnation for its eradication of the black bear.

In what some are calling the “predator-control toolbox,” recent board and state government decisions over certain species of wildlife in Alaska are causing a landslide of negativity not only for the outsiders, but from the local perspective as well. 

A report in the Alaska Dispatch, a small and recently established online news source developed due to thestate’s unheard voices, explained a recent decision made by a group whose purported role is to protect all wildlife: 

The Board of Game and Department of Fish and Game aim – or at least hope – to kill up to 60 percent of the 2,500 to 3,000 black bears (in a particular region)

Alaska, whose square mileage is touted as being the largest state in the United States at 663,268 sq mi 
(1,717,854 km²) and yet the least densely populated, with under 700,000 human inhabitants, it is safe to say that the abundance of wildlife and natural beauty present is far from a shocker. However, The Department of Fish and Game, in the name of protection, support the removal of many of those species because they pose a “threat” to other animals deemed more important. 

For instance, they host bear trapping clinics to teach individuals 16-years-old and older the art of that which is illegal and most states with bears. In 2004, the initiative to ban bear baiting lost out by a relatively narrow margin of 46% for the ban and 54% against it. Many hunters in Alaska, according to the Department of Fish and Game, do not support bear baiting. Black bears are a trophy hunt and are also used for their meat. 

Mistakes in both baiting and killing could serve to negatively impact other more protected species such as the accidental killing of another wildlife animal or even the protected brown bear due to similarities: 

brown bears can range from near black or dark chocolate along the coast to the “blonde” phase often seen in interior grizzlies. Black bears can vary in color from jet black to white, but black, brown (or cinnamon), and blue (or glacier) are the three most common color phases. Black is the color encountered most frequently across the state, but brown or cinnamon bears are sometimes seen in Southcentral Alaska and on the Southeastern mainland. Cinnamon-phase black bears are also common in the Interior, so be sure to look at the other characteristics of any brown-colored bear at your station

What about the “collateral damage” trapped in snares intended for the blacks only? 

In defense of the program, black bears are the biggest nuisance to humans due to their curious natures, however, they are by far the least dangerous of all three types of bears indigenous to the area and prefer to take flight rather than fight. Black bears attack when cornered, injured or protecting their cubs. In the wild, browns have been known to wipe out their black brothers in certain reported cases due to the timid nature of the black. Black bears also do not regularly engage in violent behaviour with wolves, and are typically the loser when it comes to fights over a kill. 

In the article, it was further explained the Board’s decision to now open up killing the Grizzly Bear, once considered an “untouchable,” in a certain area: 

Board decided in Monday’s meeting to allow the snaring and killing of both black bears and grizzlies in the McGrath control area. Apparently not even grizzlies maintain the “untouchable” status they once enjoyed in Alaska’s predator-control programs.

They also allowed a legal number of what is considered “collateral damage” of ten brown bears, that is mistakenly snaring or the lethal harvest of the so-called protected browns. And if that weren’t enough, the Board voted 4-2 to allow children aged 10 to 15 to join the experienced hunters in the black bear slaughter. 

Public outcry was tempered by the assurance that snaring of bears, whether black or Grizzly and of course the gassing of wolf pups also approved as part of the thinning out of the population process, was a humane practice, corroborated by “experts.” Snaring, however, is a relatively unregulated practice with little or no boundaries for operation. For the “general trapper,” the rules of killing a wolf as set forth in the 2008-2009 regulations specifically prohibit the use of helicopters in the transport (pdf version of regulations in the you may not section). 

In Alaska, the Alaska Science Center completed an analysis of the encounters with all bears in the state over the past one-hundred years. In the report, it is estimated that the total black bear population in the massive state at the time of the report was around 110,000. And yet, 86 percent of bear attacks were from the treasured brown, not black. If you go to the official fish and game site, they would have it appear that blacks are dangerous and unpredictable killers as they lump their threat level into a general “bear” categoryon a wildlife description page specified for the black bear, although the black responsible for 12 percent of bear attack fatalities, with the much lesser population of brown absorbing an 86 percent kill rate. On the description of the brown, there are no references at all to the high rate of aggression or danger posed by the much smaller population. As for the blacks, the low incidence of attack is not to say they are your fuzzy pet friend, just they aren’t posing a serious danger to the general population, human or endangered species. 

The ADF&G is run by the Alaska state government. 

So is the recent eradication process to eliminate a potential danger or an attempt to get rid of the black bear because it is an annoying animal, posing a “potential” problem for a non-endangered species of a moose population that is allowed by law to be harvested at an annual rate of 7,000 for its 175,000 total numbers. How about stopping the harvesting instead? Moreover, the alleged threat of wolves to specific populations, the caribou, in the state and the recent controversy over the mass killing and even the recently approved gassing of puppies has left the largest state in the nation looking a little blood thirsty happy these days. Caribou are not on the endangered list, with over a million of them pouncing around on the open land of Alaska, outnumbering the human population of the state and the balance between the wolf and the caribou as a natural predator/prey relationship is an important part of nature. Wolf attacks, whether by a gray or red, on humans are very rare, especially unprovoked, where they left to the wild or in cases where wolves did not have rabies. Fatal attacks are even more rare with wolves, especially when compared to a one year analysis of fatal dog attacks in the United States alone (note Alaska’s number). 

Gassing of animals is considered inhumane in 12 states, where a ban on the practice is already in place. Six other states have recently set forth attempts to have the practice banned because of its potential outcome: 

“During the process, which can take 30 minutes, panicked animals may gasp for breath, try to claw out of the chamber, and even attack each other.”

The support of hunting is one thing. The support of ethnic cleansing is another.

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Here’s a thought-provoking essay about Dog Attacks, their causes, and what could perhaps be done to prevent them.

When dogs attack

Over the past couple of weeks, several cities in southeast Texas have reported dogs attacking children. Lets not get into dog physiology and “why” dogs attack. Lets move past that point, the dog has attacked the child, the child suffered minor injuries and is alive and well.

My personal opinion, if a dog acts aggressive towards children – the dog should be destroyed. This usually means taking it to a vet and having it put to sleep.  When a dog attacks a child – parents, friends, relatives and law enforcement must ensure that another attack never happens again. If that means destroying the dog then so be it.

There are a lot of people that disagree with that statement. They will argue that it was a “one time event” and will never happen again. This makes me wonder about the people. Who do they care more about, the dog or the child?  This issue is addressed at the bottom of this article.

Then there is the health issue – does the dog have rabies? Has the dog had its rabies shots? Does the dog need to be tested for rabies? The questions about rabies will be decided by the local health officials, doctors and animal vets.

 

Animals think on a primitive level – food, water, reproduction. Besides those there is a hierarchy in the animal colony. There is the alpha and omega, the leader and the follower.

Dogs that attack children might be trying to get a step up the social ladder. And if this is the fact, will the dog ever stop?

Its kinda like a thief in the night. Most of the time that is all they know – and that is stealing. Chances are the thief will never change their ways, but some will.

Here is a story about a 12 year old girl that was attacked by a pit bull dog.  And like most pit bull owners, I am sure they will say “the dog has never acted like that before.”  Or something like “the kid should have stayed away from the food bowl.”  Which are both statements of denial.

Some breeds of dogs are more likely to attack children then others.  According to a recentstudy on dog bites, the American Pit Bull Terrier is one of the breeds of dogs that are most likely to attack children.  Followed by the Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes. Which are responsible for 74% of attacks.

In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question.Source - Dog Bite Law

This goes back to – “the dog has never acted like that before.”  Well, guess what – it just did.

Dogs are going to bite – that is just the way it is. But, when a pit bull bites there is a great risk of the dog killing its victim. Regardless of that victim is another dog, man, woman or child.

So when you thinking of buying a dog for the family, keep those kinds of things in mind.

Some of the recommended breeds of dogs for families are:
Golden retriever
Pembroke Welsh corgi
West Highland white terrier
Irish setter
Schnauzer
Labrador retriever
Pug
Collie
Source - Recommended breeds of dogs.

The author of this article (Kevin) is not a professional in dogs.  Any information contained in this article is for information purposes only.  Do your own research before buying a dog.

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I think when you are walking down a street you really aren’t expected to get circled by a coyote and then bit on the knee. This had to be a crazy moment. Good thing children weren’t involved.

NIAGARA COUNTY: When wild animals attack

NT man claims coyote bit him in latest wild animal encounter report.

By Neale Gulley
Niagara Gazette
A North Tonawanda man reported that he was bitten by a coyote on Sweeney Street around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

The Niagara County Health Department’s Director of Environmental Health Jim Devald said it is the latest of three suspicious animal reports in as many weeks. In each case a bite was reported.

The man, who is in his 20s, refused immediate treatment for a single puncture wound below the knee, North Tonawanda Fire Department Assistant Chief Joseph Sikora said. 

“I guess he was just walking down the street,” he said, “He told us the coyote came out, circled him a couple of times and nipped him in the leg.”

Sikora, an avid gamesman, Devald and Mayor Larry Soos’ Secretary Gregg Schnitzer all said it is the first time they’ve ever heard of such a thing involving a coyote within city limits. Schnitzer sent a memo around City Hall Tuesday to inform officials of what had happened. The health department also issued a press release warning residents about rabies.

The coyote apparently attacked along the 1100 block of Sweeney St., ran off and has not been located.

Gina Browning of the SPCA said such events don’t usually involve her agency.

“Everything I’ve heard from our wildlife department is that coyotes are very highly unlikely to approach people,” she said.

Devald said the incident was reported to his department as required by law, and the man now must undergo post exposure treatment for rabies.

“The intent is to air on the side of caution,” he said. “Rabies is fatal, so you don’t want to make any assumptions.”

The first case of rabies in Niagara County was reported this past week on Ide Road in Wilson where a fox tangled with a man’s dog. The animal was captured, killed and tested positive for the disease.

Last weekend, health officials got word another man driving along Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda spotted a fox, “So he got out to pet it and the fox bit him and ran off,” Devald said, stressing it is never wise to approach a wild animal.

Similar to Tuesday’s coyote incident, treatment involving five shots over the course of 28 days will be required even thought the animal’s health status cannot be confirmed.

Link

Another bobcat attack. Curious. Maybe it’s a conspiracy.

FLORIDA: Florida Fish and Wildlife reports a bobcat attacked two people in separate incidents in Citrus County Saturday.

Johnathon Knecht, 10, and Frank Womack, 71, both sustained scratches and bites from the attack.

According to FWC officers, Knecht was hiking in the Withlacoochee State Forest with his Boy Scout group when the bobcat jumped onto his back, scratching and biting.

The other Boy Scouts came to Knecht’s assistance, and the animal ran back into the woods.

Knecht was taken to Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness where he was treated and released. 

The bobcat then moved on to Womack’s property.

The animal bit Womack on the leg, and the man was able to put the cat down.

Womack killed the bobcat in self defense and he was treated and released at a local hospital.

The bobcat was removed by county animal control officials who will test the bobcat for rabies.

Rabies always is present in wildlife populations and any warm-blooded animal can catch the disease if exposed to it.

It is extremely important that people make sure their pets have current vaccinations against rabies, FWC officials said.

Wild animal attacks are infrequent. However, most of the time when they do occur, the animal is sick.

According to FWC the bobcat is equipped with razor-sharp claws, needle-like teeth.

Bobcats can measure up to three feet in length, including the tail, and weigh 15 to 30 pounds.

They are excellent climbers and extremely efficient hunters.

Never a headline you want to read. Everyone remember that dogs can be dangerous, and take all needed precautions.

 

Springfield 4-year-old suffers severe facial injuries in pit pull attack

Posted by lrivais March 30, 2009 10:14AM

By PAMELA H. METAXAS 
pmetaxas@repub.co 

SPRINGFIELD – A 4-year-old boy was seriously injured Sunday morning when a relative’s pit bull type dog attacked him when he apparently tried to pet it. 

City police were dispatched to 145 Woodside Terrace at 10:58 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report that a dog had bitten a small child in the face. 

Responding officers found the child suffering a deep laceration to the forehead and side of nose. 

The child, who has not been identified, was taken to Baystate Medical Center for treatment. 

Police Sgt. John M. Delaney, executive aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said the investigation indicated the victim’s 30-year-old uncle was baby-sitting for the boy while the mother went out. 

Several other children and adults were in the area at the time of the attack. 

The uncle told authorities the boy petted the dog, and for some unknown reason the pit bull, which was named “Gordo,” attacked. 

Delaney said the dog will be killed. 

Police said the child underwent surgery and was expected to be released Monday. 

He is expected to make a full recovery with minimal scarring. 

Barbara L. Hays, executive director of the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, said the male unneutered dog is about 4 years old and between 80 to 90 pounds. He has been surrendered to the center by his owner, she said. 

He will be held for 10 days for rabies observation and then will be euthanized. 

Hays said the dog is very aggressive and has been placed in a covered cage in the kennel. 

“It’s hard to tell why he is so aggressive, maybe his early upbringing and early lack of socialization. A bit part of the problem that contributes to this aggression is when the dog is not neutered. They are three times more like to bite,” said Hays. 

“People need to keep in mind these animals are not suitable as companions. They are a public safety risk.” she said. 

Hays said pit bull is not a breed but a mixture of certain breeds. She called this dog a pit bull type. 

At times, “We see pit bull puppies taken from their mothers at 2 to 3 weeks and this precludes relationships with other dogs.They don’t understand dog language and normal behavior. It’s a recipe for disaster. They need to be with mom,” said Hays. 

Presently, the center has 61 dogs and 23 of them are pit bull types. 

“Several are being quarantined and the majority of them come here after we picked them up running loose, fortunately in time” before someone was injured, she said.

 

Amazingly enough, coyotes have not only survived but thrived in urban and suburban areas across North America, according to this article by the Associated Press.

Urban coyote attacks on rise, alarming residents

By JUDITH KOHLER – 20 hours ago

DENVER (AP) — A coyote ambling into a Chicago sandwich shop or taking up residence in New York’s Central Park understandably creates a stir. But even here on the high plains of Colorado, where the animals are part of the landscape and figure prominently in Western lore, people are being taken aback by rising coyote encounters.

Thanks to suburban sprawl and a growth in numbers of both people and animals, a rash of coyote encounters has alarmed residents.

Wildlife officials are working to educate the public: Coyotes have always been here, they’ve adapted to urban landscapes and they prefer to avoid humans.

“Ninety-five percent of this problem is a human problem, and we really need to focus on that 95 percent to solve it,” said Nicole Rosmarino, wildlife program director of the environmental group WildEarth Guardians.

Since December, four people in the Denver area have been nipped or bitten by coyotes. A fifth told police a coyote lunged at him.

State wildlife officers have killed seven coyotes. An eighth was killed by a sharpshooter hired by Greenwood Village, in Denver’s southern suburbs.

“These are coyotes that were born and raised in the ‘hood,” said Liza Hunholz, an area manager with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Marc Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Colorado, says there are more people and less habitat along Colorado’s Front Range, bringing the animal and people populations into closer proximity and producing what he calls “an unprecedented scare response.”

“The communities seem to be really feeding one another,” said Bekoff. He has studied coyotes for 40 years and believes that in some cases dogs are mistaken for coyotes.

Coyotes once were found primarily on the Great Plains and in the Southwest, but have expanded their turf to most of North America. Populations of wolves, a fierce competitor, have shrunk, and swaths of forest have turned into coyote-friendly open spaces.

After generations of urban living, some coyotes navigate subdivisions as easily as the cactus and scrub oak of the high desert where their ancestors roamed. Experts won’t even try to guess how many coyotes there are nationwide.

Coyote sightings have skyrocketed in Greenwood Village. Last year, police received 186 reports, including 15 clashes with pets. Already this year, there have been 142.

“People are afraid to let their pets out or their children to walk to school,” said Greenwood Village City Manager Jim Sanderson.

Jacque Levitch, of south Denver, was bitten by one of three coyotes she said confronted her and her Labrador retriever, Taz, on Feb. 21. “I hit it with my right fist and right forearm,” Levitch said.

Taz was all right. Levitch had to endure rabies shots. She said her neighbors now carry big sticks and golf clubs.

“If nothing is done, I can only see the problem escalating,” Levitch said.

In New York City, a coyote pup was found in the Bronx last year, and in 2006 police captured a coyote in Central Park. In California’s San Bernardino County, two toddlers were reported injured in separate coyote incidents last year.

One toddler was killed in California in the 1980s in the country’s only known fatal coyote attack.

WildEarth Guardians’ Rosmarino thinks in most cases it’s people who need to change their behavior. She has organized volunteers in Greenwood Village and other cities to walk through parks to shoo coyotes and make them more wary of people.

Most coyotes do everything they can to avoid people, said Stan Gehrt (GURT), an assistant professor at Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. That’s true even in Chicago, where Gehrt has led a study since 2000. About 300 coyotes there have been radio-collared and tracked.

The coyote that walked into the Chicago sandwich shop in 2007 got a lot of attention. But Gehrt said few people are aware of how many have lived in Chicago for decades. One of his subjects has a hiding spot near the downtown post office and thousands of people pass within yards of it each day.

“Even though they live in urban areas and figure out how people work … it doesn’t mean they’re necessarily becoming more aggressive toward us,” Gehrt said.

They also haven’t changed their diet. Gehrt expected to find urban coyotes eating a lot of garbage and pets. But their scat shows rodents are still the meal of choice, followed by deer, rabbits and birds.

Coyotes view pets such as cats and dogs as competitors, not food, Gehrt said. Most coyotes are submissive toward dogs, though some will stand their ground — especially during breeding season, when they may see dogs as rivals for mates. Mating season peaked in February, when some of the Denver-area incidents occurred.

Residents are warned to not feed coyotes, to keep dogs on short leashes, and to yell or throw rocks at coyotes so they associate humans with bad things. Bird seed may attract mice and voles, which then can draw hungry coyotes. Don’t leave out pet food and garbage, and don’t leave pets alone.

A coyote that bit a boy snowboarding on a golf course in Erie, 26 miles north of Denver, had been fed by golfers.

Reducing the number of coyotes doesn’t work, Rosmarino said, because the animals breed more and have bigger litters when their population declines. The U.S. Agriculture Department’s Wildlife Services killed more than 90,000 in 2007 to stem livestock attacks.

Relocation also doesn’t work, Gehrt said. Coyotes moved from Chicago to the country headed back to the city.

“The coyotes are here, they’ve always been here and the only way to deal with them is to understand them and make them afraid of you,” said Ned Ingham, a Greenwood Village retiree and one of Rosmarino’s volunteers. “We live in an area with wildlife.”