Deseret News | Boy's cheek bitten off in pit-bull attack

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Boy's cheek bitten off in pit-bull attack

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erudite | 8:15 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

No bad dogs, just bad dog owners? Hah!

Its not the dogs fault | 8:22 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

I like this quote from the story, "But Petersen said he also was concerned the incident would result not only in his dog being labeled as vicious, but it would be another unwarranted black mark on the character of all pit bulls.

Petersen said his dog had never been aggressive toward anyone. There is a 2-year-old girl that lives in his house. Toys could be seen scattered all over Petersen's yard Friday."

These pit bulls are always the nicest dogs until they viciously attack and mame or kill. Then it is always the same old excuse. The dogs was really nice.

Well we never hear of other breads being really nice and then just all of a sudden maming or killing in a vicious manner.

Whne will local government leaders have enough courage to ban the bread.

Why? | 8:32 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

We have a pit bull in our neighborhood and everyone is scared of it. It went after me once and then walked away. Pit bulls should be outlawed.

Comments continue below

The dog owner | 8:38 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

is blaming the CHILD in this case? When he was somewhere else, with other kids? Are you serious? If he'd aggravated the dog and then let it out, it would have attacked him right there in the yard, not wandered off for a leisurely stroll with some other kids before deciding to do it.

Any time a dog attacks a kid like this, for whatever reason, it should be put down, and I say this as a dog owner.

Take responsibility | 8:55 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

The owner of the dog states that he is concerned and then turns and tries to place all of the blame on this 5 YEAR OLD CHILD. It doesn't matter that your dog has never done this before. He has now and should be put down!

Chris | 9:55 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

1st problem - these dogs are unpredictable - I would never have one because of the potential harm.

2nd problem - That little boy should have been taught to leave the dog alone. Where is the parental control here?

K'lee | 10:35 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

Why do pit bull owners always acted surprised when their dogs attack? Hello???

EM | 11:04 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

There needs to be legislation regarding this breed of dogs. The danger is too great.

Concerned dog owner | 11:16 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

Regardless of the breed, if any dog was getting poked in the head like that more than once then I wouldn't be surprised of some type of attack would occur. Someone should have warned that little boy not to do that to ANY type of animal!

I also agree that if a canine attacks then it should be tested or put down. I also agree that its the dog's owner that should be responsible for any damages caused to that little kid.

RIck | 11:27 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

I'm not sure why we have this debate over and over. Yes, the way an owner trains a dog matters a great deal. But yes there is evidence that some breeds are more aggressive than others. How come in many cities we can't raise our own chickens for eggs but we can keep dog breeds known and proven to be aggressive?

Boy that makes sense.

Anonymous | 11:31 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

A pit bull which belonged to her neighbor charged my daughter and her baby without provocation. Where are the leash laws and laws restricting dogs to the owners' property! Any animal which has been a danger should be put down without hesitation!

Carlie | 11:54 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

Re: RIck "DITTO"

Make them pay | 12:07 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

The insurance companies should get with the city dog licensing division and double the cost of homeowner insurance for pit bull owners.

The dogs are UNPREDICTABLE!!!! In other words - a MAJOR risk.

The extra premiums should be used to pay restitution for those that are attacked.

Also, dogs of any breed that provoke and hurt people should be immediately euthanized. Sorry, humans trump dogs and I love my 2 dogs very much. I have had to put down 2 dogs for aggressive behavior and I don't regret it. Nice to be able to sleep at night.

Ban pit bulls | 12:29 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Unwarranted? The dog bit off the kids cheek! Kids tease dogs. It's what they do. For the life of me I can't understand why anyone would defend a pit bull over a human child!

SJ Bobkins | 12:37 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

How many kids have to be killed or disfigured before we ban the buying, selling and ownership of this breed? Many cities have done so because they like every other place in the country have seen numbers of these terrible incidents. The Pit-Bull owner groups fight such bans by saying: "it's the owners not the dog" or "it's unclear what is or isn't a Pit-Bull". Funny thing, it's always the same Pit-Bull when a child is attacked. You can't place a loaded 80 caliber howitzer in your back yard, why is it that you can place a dog breed with the physical characteristics and disposition that guarantee that people are attacked and when they are that 2000 pound/per inch bite does a great deal of damage. There are zillions of dog breeds that are loyal, gentle, and able to live in an urban environment, why do we have to tolerate the ownership of these time-bombs, that CANNOT be trained not to attack?

Anonymous | 12:56 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I hope there are criminal charges filed as well as civil lawsuits against this owner. How sad for a little boy to be disfigured just because he's singing a Halloween song.

Brian | 12:57 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Fox News has a lead story on a 17 month old boy that was just killed by a pit bull in Madera. The parents of this boy should haul the owners into court and take their cars, their home and bury them in judgments for the rest of their unnatural lives and then they will have something more to worry about then the well being of their dog!

Floridian | 4:40 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I don't have a pet gater in my yard and I don't have a pit bull in my yard. Why? they are dangerous. Come on people use some common sense-get rid of all the bad dangerous pets and save the children.

Not just pitbulls. | 5:10 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Provoking and teasing animals in to attacking is not limited to any breed of dog or animal or insect.

An adrenalin rush in any life form can create some impressive reactions, even to jumping fences or dragging someone with a leash or lifting a 2 ton car off a trapped child.

Although pitbulls are by their breed and size have gotten most of the animal attack news, how many other breed attacks have not been reported? I've been attacked, unprovoked, by Chihuahuas but because of their size it goes unreported.

I have to put the blame on all pet owners of all pets for even incarcerating them in families and homes. This is not their natural environment and no one is secure.

Nice Doggy | 5:51 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

"My pet mountain lion is so nice with the kids. I can't figure out why he would have attacked someone? Someone must have let him out."

Enough is enough! Get rid of pit-bulls or mandate legislation for those dog owners to carry at least a $million in homeowners insurance to cover attacks.

How much is a little boys face worth. These dog owners are making a bad name for the rest of us dog owners! Get a life and get a real dog and stop trying to live your manhood through your dog.

put the dog down! | 6:12 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

"He's never attacked once" the owner says....well, he just did. We once had a puppy (mixed breed, mostly lab) we had to put down because he attacked someone's feet and drew blood - the vet said as soon as a dog tastes blood, it is extremely likely to attack again. I believe there are certain dogs, regardless of breed, who are going to be more aggressive and violent - just like people. But funny how it is almost always "nice" pit bulls who attack and surprise their owners. (just not anyone else) I honestly can't figure out why anyone would want to own one. If animal control lets that dog back in that house with a 2 year old, they should be criminally charged with child endangerment!

Anonymous | 6:24 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

If a five year old provoked a man, and hit him in the head with a broom handle, and he attacked the five year old would there be any question. Most dogs would be docile some dogs have been breed for their aggresiveness. This is an outcome of taking that risk to own one of these breeds.

KILL IT | 7:21 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

How there is even a possibility that this dog might survive the weekend is beyond me. Who cares whether it was poked, provoked, or not? It got out and attacked and maimed a boy for life.

I'm sorry, environmentalists, but people are more important than animals, and this one should be destroyed. How many times must we hear stories like this about pit bulls before we finally make the common sense decision and outlaw this breed? There are so many other breeds of dogs that do not have the problem that pit bulls repeatedly do... why do we continue with this insanity? How many other maimed or killed children before we wake up and take care of this? Isn't one child enough?

In the Spring our neighbors brought home a pit bull puppy, and we've tried to have the dog get to know us. Recently my wife is working in OUR yard, the dog gets out of his fenced yard, comes into our yard right up to my wife, stops, and starts barking aggressively. She froze. Luckily the owner noticed the aggressive bark and quickly restrained it.

Come on, people! Wake up!

Naive pitbull owner | 7:22 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I swear I've never heard of this happening before and my pitbull is very sweet- he'd never do anything like that!!!

Scott | 7:32 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I am happy to help by shooting the dog.
Lets kill a few dozen all at once for a good start to gettng rid of them.

Leash laws | 7:40 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

for ALL dogs is the only way. Our community does this and most people feel much safer.

This same conversation comes up after EVERY pit bull attack.

South Jordan banned pit bulls. Follow suit. City by City, it can be done.

sc | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Owners of this pit bull should receive capital punishment. what, they didn't know, didn't expect it. I wish it was their child.

re:Rick | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Oh yeah! But pitbulls have more meat on their bones than a chicken.

Anonymous | 8:33 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

All dogs should be shot, and their owners fined. Dogs bark, poop, and attack people, and yes, they always get out and run the streets.

If cities had any sense of responsibility at all, any dog on the street would be put down, and the owners fined $5000. That would end the dog attacking problem; not to mention dogs pooping and peeing on everybody else's yard, shrubs, tires and trees.

Send the dog to heaven | 8:33 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

where it belongs.

Skippy | 8:44 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Shouldn't dogs be on leashes if outside in Utah?

Visitor | 8:51 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Do some "pit bull attacks" searches around the country and see what you find.

SPOT | 8:52 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Don't you know that in Utah, it's always the kids fault. Adults like blaming them for everything. If a dog bites a kid it is their fault. The pit bull dog is perfect and without spot.

Anonymous | 9:51 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

The dog has to be put down. Sad as it may be there is simply no choice.

There is responsibility to be had on ALL sides.

ulysses | 9:56 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

People own this breed of dog for the same reasons that people own over-sized trucks or guns: They are overcompensating for coming up short in another part of their pathetic lives.

suzyk | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

We have a pit bull next door to us. She is a big one. I've tried to befriend her just so I won't be so afraid she is on the other side of the wall. She knows who I am and my husband but still I believe she would kill just to get out of that backyard. She tries to jump the back wall to get at people who walk on the sidewalk behind it. They are vicious and are not, in my opinion, a dog for a pet. Many mexicans(illegal and legal) have these vicious dogs in AZ and they should be outlawed.

Dog Teeth | 10:13 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

There is a large Pitbull dog in our neighborhood that wanders the neighborhood. His jaws look like an aligator! Have you seen the teeth on those dogs?
I'm calling Animal Control right now!

It's too bad | 10:16 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

that the parents of the 5-year old weren't watching him closer and that the opportunity for the attack was even possible. If the dog was really fenced in and was let out, then I don't see how the dog can be held in such contempt. I've owned pit bulls and they are loving, loyal, and playful. I think a lot more investigation needs to go into this case before it's automatically assumed that the dog involved needs to be destroyed. Is it also possible that the child had some kind of food on his face and that maybe the dog was just attracted to it? I hope this boy isn't seriously hurt, and if he was capable of talking and saying that the dog had bitten his face off and that he was going to die, then I have to think that he might not have been as severely hurt as this article is leading us all to believe. I hope he isn't.

Anonymous | 10:16 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Based on what I have read thus far, if Children tease, or in any way abuse and animal, they can expect something like this to happen. The little boy had no business making fun of the dog.

Anonymous | 10:24 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

No bad dogs, just bad owners???? How about bad dogs, stupid owners??????????????

steve | 10:34 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

people do the same thing there nice they would not do that, do we outlaw them NO WE PUT THEM IN PRISON IN HOPES THEY CAN GET OUT AND HAVE KIDS JUST LIKE THEM!

To Chris | 10:34 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

"2nd problem - That little boy should have been taught to leave the dog alone. Where is the parental control here?"

HELLO! Note the article:
Petersen said that three times, he has caught Andrew poking his dog with a broom handle through the fence, including twice earlier in the day on Friday. "He's poking my dog in the side and in the head," he said.

Of all breeds, pit bulls are famous for this type of insane & impulsive savagery. Dalmations and Chows are also suspect. If you have a pit bull dog kennel next to a fence where a 5 year-old can poke a broom handle through the fence, into the kennel, FIX YOUR FENCE!

Don't blame a 5 year-old for not using extreme caution around a YOUR pit bull. Petersen showed zero caution, zero good sense by leaving his fence unrepaired. Now a child is disfigured for life through Petersen's blatant stupidity.

Many pit bull owners are weak men propping up their fragile ego's by walking around with a "scary-looking" dog at their side. It's like walking the street carrying a baseball bat. Weak, fragile, little men.

RUKiddingme | 10:35 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

The legislature passed a law making it a FELONY for being cruel to an animal.Should there not be laws against animals being cruel to people?

TheHailstorm | 11:02 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I have raised dogs and would never want to be near a pit bull. I can,t stand the breed and I would like everyone of the ghouls put down. They are not for the city and are worthless in the country.
Many dogs have loving personalities but these dogs act like they are on crystal meth all of the time. Ban them and let society move on. Bond the owners for extreme amounts to cover the lawsuits and damages , then we are sure to see fewer and fewer.
I just can't stand them and this poor kid will be scarred mentally and physically for life. I can only wish he and his family my kindest regards and a healthy recovery.
Flogging the owner wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.
Was the dog off of the property.. the the dog and owner should take responsibility. Kill the dog and fine the owner big time.

Josie | 11:07 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I was just at the animal shelter yesterday and noted that one third of the dogs there are Pit Bulls. They told me that if the Pit Bull is under two years old and well trained they will never exhibit these vicious tendencies. However, any dog can be unpredictable. My Border Collie once bit someone he thought was going to be a threat. Fortunately he just grazed the skin but he was quarantined for 2 weeks. Dogs do not think like humans and any dog can be a threat!

Pit Bull | 11:18 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Exterminate the breed! Worthless, ugly and killers... get rid of them... PERIOD.

Tired of it | 11:23 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

Our neighbor lets his dog out to go poop in all the neighbors yards around midnight every night, so he never has to clean up the poop from his dog in his own yard. However the guy is not a good person kinda dishonest, so what else could the neighbors expect of him. One neighbor is putting up a hidden camera so we can catch the guy and his dog in the act. Then we will all file charges against him.

I say, Humans FIRST!

Anonymous | 11:31 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

I myself am not an advocate of pitbulls but it sounds to me like the owner used proper care...leashed, inside chainlink kennel, inside fenced yard. Someone let that dog out which makes that person responsible. I noticed the "halloween song" the children said he was singing was "Tank" which coincidently is the dog's name...basically he was calling the dog to him. ANY dog can react violently including my sweet loving Border Collies. If the dog jumped on him when he "sang" his name and the child hit him or kicked at him the dog reacted as the child had been abusing him. The other children said he had been running and playing with them and was "nice".

Re: ulysses | 9:56 a.m. Oct. 24, | 11:31 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

"People own this breed of dog for the same reasons that people own over-sized trucks or guns: They are overcompensating for coming up short in another part of their pathetic lives."

Or maybe people own trucks because they use them for work (not only business, but work done around the home)? Maybe they own guns because they use them to hunt and/or for protection?

Why bring your anti-truck/anti-gun personal issues into this? This is about a breed of dog that has shown to have a propensity for violence. It has nothing to do with the separate issues of "truck ownership" or "gun ownership". Stick to the topic.

Fact is, how many of us have owned dogs that kids have been rough with? My kids were very rough with our dog, and it didn't bit their face off. Or a cat? Maybe the got a scratch when they did something the cat didn't like, but it didn't bit their face off. The animal has shown itself to be dangerous. It needs to be put down.

Anonymous | 11:37 a.m. Oct. 24, 2009

A child that is nipped while teasing a dog is one thing but a child that is maimed is unacceptable. The dog should be put down.

Breeds have characteristics and pit bulls are aggressive. And they are big.

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