Another Serious Dog Attack in the Trinidad Area Has Residents Pushing for Changes in Animal Control Laws
Stella, the black lab. [Photo provided by Ted Pease]
This last Wednesday, the well-known editor* of Humboldt County’s Senior News, Trinidad resident, Ted Pease, his wife, Brenda Cooper, and their dog, Stella, a 10-year-old black Lab mix, went for a walk as they often do.
“As we turned onto Ocean Ave. from Edwards, we saw a loose dog at the far end of Wagner, perhaps 200 yards away,” Pease wrote. “We had not gone another 15 feet when the dog had sprinted the length of Wagner and violently attacked Stella. It was impossible to get her off.”
Pease said that eventually he and his wife managed to separate the dogs for a short time. Stella, terrified, fled. The “60-pound, white and brown pit bull/heeler mix” gave chase to their lab eventually attacking her twice more.
“We finally got Stella away from the dog…a couple of us just lying on top of the dog,” he wrote. “I’m bleeding like a stuck pig. People are screaming. Without all the good Samaritans, Stella could have been killed. Certainly, a smaller dog or — God forbid — a child would have been killed.”
The dog’s owner reached the scene, according to Pease, “and took her before Animal Control officers arrived.”
Both Pease and his wife as well as their dog were badly injured. “Brenda was bitten in the calf and knocked down on the pavement during the attack, banging her head,” Pease said. “The dog bit off the end of my finger, which we found in the street. Stella went to the vet, and I went to the ER; Brenda saw her doctor.”
The results of the attack were serious. “Stella was pretty chewed up — neck/face and left front foot, which was crushed,” Pease said. “We are tending her and each other.”
Pease, who describes he and his wife as “lifelong dog people” and “former volunteers at the Animal Shelter”, wants the dog euthanized. But, he says, he’s not sure that will happen.
“The attacking dog…has been “quarantined” in her owner’s home on Wagner Street since Wednesday,” he explained. “At the end of 10 days, if the dog shows no signs of rabies, Animal Control will decide how to classify her.”
According to the Humboldt County code, “[A] licensed and vaccinated dog that has bitten a human being may be quarantined on the owner’s premises or in the care of a veterinarian or in a licensed kennel.”
The code states that there should be a hearing on whether a dog in vicious.
“The hearing shall be held promptly within no less than five (5) working days nor more than ten (10) working days after service of notice upon the owner or keeper of the dog,” according to County Code. “The hearing shall be open to the public.”
There the owner can argue that the dog is currently and will be in the future properly confined and a determination could be made that restricting the animal in an enclosure is enough.
But, Pease doesn’t want to wait for someone else to suffer as his family has. “In our personal opinion, the dog is already clearly vicious and a danger to public safety,” he explained. “Unprovoked, she attacked and mauled our dog, and seriously injured two people. If she were a human assailant, she would not be resting at home, but charged with assault and jailed.”
He added, “I believe that she poses an ongoing danger to the public and should be euthanized.”
Pease argues, “The county’s regs on violent dog attacks is obviously woefully inadequate… .”
He says is working with officials to make changes. “Steve Madrone has asked Sheriff Honsal to work with him to revise the applicable ordinances, and the city of Trinidad is trying to figure out what it can legally do to get this dog removed,” he said. “It is a danger to public safety.”
Pease said, “The dog’s owner has not answered or returned my phone calls, nor responded to us in any way.”
He says the Trinidad community is in an uproar and people have been supportive of him and his wife. In part, he believes that is because they “are also worried for their own safety, of course.”
Pease explained, “We very much hope that a stronger county and local dog ordinance, with enforcement, can come out of this.”
He offered these suggestions,
Many people have asked whom to contact about Wednesday’s dog attack.
• Humboldt County Animal Control is 707-840-9132; Andre Hale is the Animal Shelter manager. The Animal Control officer is Deputy Rob Patton: 707-388-6988
• They are part of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department: Sheriff Billy Honsal, 707-445-7251; [email protected].
ca.us. Our county supervisor, Steve Madrone, has asked Honsal to work with him on a new county animal ordinance with more “teeth” in it. [email protected] . • The city of Trinidad is also reviewing its ordinances and enforcement. City regs supersede county ordinances. Address concerns to City Clerk Gabe Adams or City Manager Eli Naffah at 707-677-0223 or [email protected]
and [email protected]. Mayor Cheryl Kelly is also working on this: [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE: We incorrectly identified Mr. Pease as the Publisher but he is the editor of the Senior News. We also replaced Mr. Pease’s beliefs on what might happen to the animal with relevant pieces from County Code.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
When such things happen, it is time to sue the dog’s owner for everything that they own.
That’s why the owner won’t talk with Mr. Pease.
Why is Mr.Pease even trying to contact the owner, to ask him to pay vet bills, to surrender the dog, to apologize-what? And acts surprised with no response? Was Mr. Pease’s dog on a leash at the time? The attack is terrible, so sorry.
I don’t know about the dog, but i don’t think Mr. Pease and Ms. Wagner were leashed. Does this let the attacking dog off the hook for injuring them?
The current law is that the dog must be under the control of the owner. It does not require the dog be leashed. Are you suggesting the victim of this attack is somehow at fault?
Omigosh, i guess i really have to use the “sarcasm” or winking emoji. NO! I do not think the victim is at fault, and NO, i would not even think it a problem if a gentle Lab dog, under voice command, were walking unleashed. It was the UNleashed vicious dog, attacking both the Lab and the people, that was absolutely at fault (well, the bad dog and his owner).
PS I also don’t actually believe adult humans should be leashed while walking.
All dogs must be leashed in Trinidad
Current Trinidad law is that dogs must be leashed at all times. No exceptions. Eureka also has this law
For the record, Laura, Stella was leashed and minding her own business. Mr. Brodell’s dog was loose, without a collar, unsupervised in the street.
Doesn’t matter all dog bites are owners responsibility. Otherwise of mice and men.
Period.
They usually are broke ass losers with no assets.
So you’re saying being broke and having no money you’re a loser so you got to have money to be a winner [edit]
Absolutely! DTJ is rich. That means he’s successful. He bought a pretty wife, and several properties, that means he’s making his way in the world. Anyone with money is to be admired for having it. The more money, the more admiration/respect/props.
It’s the Amerkin way!
Don’t let animal control fool you with “there is nothing they can do” gambit. The law actually states they must impound the dog if a human injury or animal death occurs IF the victims request it. IF but no mention of that is made. It is part of the State law that Humboldt Co incorporates in their own regulations. They just don’t want to do it. They pawned me off with a “there is nothing we can do because the owner has good fencing and the escape was an accident.” Well it wasn’t an accident as the dog had been seen on the street a number of times and they dismissed whatever I said.
I still don’t understand why the attacking dog isn’t impounded. Is it up to the victims to insist on this? Please explain. Shouldn’t animal control automatically do it?
They should but they don’t. I think that what I said doesn’t apply inside an incorporated town. I think it’s under the Agriculture Codes about dogs going after livestock. However even then State laws allow the dog to be impounded.
§ 31625. Seizure and impoundment pending hearing
(a) If upon investigation it is determined by the animal control officer or law enforcement officer that probable cause exists to believe the dog in question poses an immediate threat to public safety, then the animal control officer or law enforcement officer may seize and impound the dog pending the hearings to be held pursuant to this article. The owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable to the city or county where the dog is impounded for the costs and expenses of keeping the dog, if the dog is later adjudicated potentially dangerous or vicious.
(b) When a dog has been impounded pursuant to subdivision (a) and it is not contrary to public safety, the chief animal control officer shall permit the animal to be confined at the owner’s expense in a department approved kennel or veterinary facilhttps://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-dangerous-california-dangerous-dog-statutes#s31607https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-dangerous-california-dangerous-dog-statutes#s31607 https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-dangerous-california-dangerous-dog-statutes#s31607
It is true, for rabies they let the owner quarantine animals at home
My neighbors crazy tom cat, who’d never had a rabies vaccine, who she refused to have neutered, came into my house and attacked my cats. He bit me also. She was required to quarantine him at home for ten days. He also had his balls cut off and turned into a much better happier cat.
That’s why everyone should carry. Dogs like that should be put down immediately. I’m an animal lover but bit your wife? And bit your finger off? And mauled your dog? Euthanize it. Once dogs get the taste of blood they’ll never stop.
I support personal firearm ownership. Reasonable concealed carry laws are fine. Open carry in rural areas is fine with me. Talk to your attorney. Firearm use on the street is a problematic danger to the innocent public. Pepper spray the hell out of the dog and note where it goes home for the police and your lawyer(s).
How is carrying a firearm “on the street” a “problematic danger to the innocent public?” Especially when,according to CA state law, a concealed carry permit is required to carry. A permit process that requires a level of knowledge and training well beyond that required to own a firearm….or post misinformation on the internet.
Please, be specific.
My guess is there’s too much risk of missing, and hitting a bystander or someone nearby; I’ve heard of kids killed in their beds by stray bullets. I could be wrong, of course.
All of those possibilities are considered before a trained permit holder discharges their weapon. If they don’t, they’re negligent. Always know what’s behind your target, it’s gospel.
“Negligent” assessments happen more often after a deadly “accident”..too late to avoid avoidable victims.
Right? People can’t be trusted to be responsible with dogs and so many other potential dangers yet everyone should be carrying a gun?
Hard to miss when the gun barrel is touching the target
When you shoot the wrong thing?
Don’t most concealed carry permits get taken away for road raging?
Can you train people to go not-asshole?
Would it be legal for a couple, of various race/genders, to carry an unloaded weapon in the open… on one non binary person, and the other, loving member of a committed dog walking relationship, carry the magazine? Ten feet away? What if the one in the back is wearing a Hajib? With a trigger lock?
Road Rage – #1 Reason Gun Owners Getting Arrested
Ricocheting bullets, bad aim, most people panic and are terrible shots in emergency situations. Hot tempered reactions to situations. Unfortunately so many people are mentally unstable, and have anger managment issues, and are not able to read situations calmly and rationally. With dogs, bear spray achieves the same result, without innocent bystanders being hit by way- ward bullets.
Yes please. That’s the main reason I carry. A big dog can do too much damage. A pack is absolutely lethal even to a healthy adult. Playing games with regulations and rules is not an option. Its time to step up.
People aren’t responsible with dogs but everyone should carry a gun? Get real. A knife ok but a gun is more likely to end up used in unintended injuries “accidents”, crimes and suicides.
Pellet pistols don’t require ccw to carry. 40 or 60 pointed lead pellets, even at just 650 fps will send any dog in the opposite direction. Recommend Sig Sauer M17 AIR with Gamo Rocket pellets. I carry mine in a shoulder holster.
Why are people any different then?
Yeah, everyone. Nothing says safety like crossfire. A knife would have taken care of that F___ing POS dog. Dogs are a reflection of their owners.
Ccw. It doesn’t matter what new laws are in place when a pit bulls mauling your child/pet/self.
My note above was meant for you. I sympathize completely but shots on a public sidewalk can miss or ricochet, compounding the tragedy. Bear spray and police and lawsuits up the yang-yang.
Misinformation.
So, a CCW only comes into play if you are carrying a loaded weapon, AND end up getting searched by Law Enforcement?
You think every gun owner should get a CCW?
Would that be equivalent to greater regulation, and training requirements for gun owners, above and beyond CAs existing laws?
Does this make you a woke commu-socialist diversity hire?
Don’t underestimate the usefulness of a big stick; a hard whack on the nose should get anyone’s attention.
The woman who saved her husband from a mountain lion used exactly that..a big stick and she was elderly. Not that one is handy when needed but worth a try if so.
If I recall correctly, she also stabbed the animal in the eye with a ballpoint pen.
Several stores around here sell nice, sturdy hiking sticks, complete with a wrist loop so you won’t drop it when whacking an aggressor.
I carry what I call my “dogwhacker” when I am out with my little (leashed) dog. My sister’s dog was killed by a loose dog while leashed….on the street in NYC
Soccer kick to the ribs of the attacking dog. Knocks the wind out and takes the fight out.
I appreciate your reply and i live in a rural area, but that doesn’t always apply, to get your ccw you are a unicorn in the state of California, luckily our county is lenient but it is still not easy and you will need to go accuracy training with each firearm a personal interview with the sheriff, a class on use of lethal force as well as a through background check with all fingerprints submitted to the feds so the chance of a ccw holder shooting a bystander are slim to none, actually I would like to hear if one has done that at all and there are many holders in the county and state.
My friend who has his ccw told me he usually doesn’t carry because of the hassle of it. And how often does one get in a situation where they’re like, jeez I whish a had a gun right now?
Outside of city limits in an unincorporate areas of Humboldt county you can open carry legally f*** a concealed weapons permit
Good luck with that
A squirt gun full of ammonia works wonders It’s inexpensive but effective Not as sure as a bullet though.
you ever carried a squirt gun, or any squirt container of ammonia in your pocket? definately not safe to do.
Have you tried yelling
“STICK YOUR FINGER UP THEIR BUTT!”
While slinking away?
Don’t “you people” use ammonia in squirt bottles to clean your chariot windows, and hide the weed smell?
just carry a can of bear spray.
or a knife.
Labs are the happiest critters and this situation sounds horrible. As for your suggestion, you spray that on any dog, you could blind them. And guess what will happen, the culprit will be sued to oblivion and will be involuntarily leaving Humboldt County. Bank on it. The fact that you suggest this, suggests to me you should be quarantined from owning or being near any animals. Your other great idea I am sure is an M80. I would be very careful if I were you because dogs are considered peoples family members and children and as such, I will let the last sentence sink in……..bigly.
Watch People’s Court, very informative. The sad reality is that pets are considered property and thus, if they are killed, you can only sue for the value of the dog at that time. The solution is to sue in small claims court for costs incurred and pain and suffering, a $10,000 limit in CA but you don’t have to hire a lawyer.
Would a taser be helpful in preventing this attack?
Would be good to know though it wouldn’t prevent attack it could stop it maybe and not be so prone to wind as bear spray which one commenter also said could blind a dog…then couldn’t it also blind a person? I’ve not heard potential blindness as a warning with bear spray but i don’t own any.
Pepper spray (better than bear spray) comes in a gel form that streams rather than sprays and is less subject to the wind.
Where is this area in Trinidad for those not familiar with area ?
The southeast corner of town
Nice right in town .
You leave the beach on Edwards. It goes up the hill (with a spectacular ocean view on your right) and runs into Ocean Blvd, where you go left, away from the ocean.
Agreed. HumCo Animal Control did not even let me know the results of a vicious dog hearing where my neighbor’s German Shepherd dug under my fence, pushed through a barn door, took my cat off her sleeping area, killed her and left her in my yard. I got to come home to that- after supporting our local community at the farmers market this day. Neighbor never apologized, actually had the nerve to call the cops when I was screaming and crying at their gate trying to figure out what happened. At the hearing, HumCo Animal Control Officer, Megan Nims, rolled her eyes and told my boyfriend I was acting crazy. At that hearing, I was sad, patiently waited my turn to speak and very polite.
Our county is in a dire situation with multiple issues causing economic downturns. People are moving to the area looking for a safe and affordable alternative to La, Bay Area etc, but what they will find, is to be frank, dangerous situations they cannot protect themselves from.
So sad to see this happen. My sincere apologies to those affected. I wish you a healthful and peaceful recovery.
Right in Trinidad – about a block from the old location of the memorial lighthouse when it was up on the hill before you drove down toward the Seascape and the beach
The dog was unleashed, outside of the control of the owner, and was aggressive to other dog and to humans. The owner should be sued and held liable for all medical costs, both for the dog and the humans that the dog attacked.
Finally, nobody and I don’t care how many times I hear someone say “he is a nice pit bull”, nobody should be allowed to own a pit bull.
They were bred to kill, it is in their bloodline.
Yes to the first paragraph and the second is absurd. They were nanny dogs initially. Shepards are dangerous and many owners around Humboldt seem to think they are the dog whisperer and their Shepard need not be on leash ..no matter their Shepard trails 5 feet behind or even ahead of their owner who is not paying close attention. Any large breed over bred and bred for fighting and even guarding is going to be a problem simply because they are less likely to be well cared for by owners with those priorities (guarding live stock is one thing and guarding large illegal grows was a source of many dangerous dogs running loose) . Looks are why pit bulls were chosen for fighting and got the bad rap. “Pitt bulls” are actually a thin skinned breed and therefore more sensitive and easily injured than breeds with thick fur and skin. Anytime one breed becomes popular and over populated there are more incidents/attacks by them..happened with Dalmatians after the 1001 Dalmatians movie people bred Dalmatians, got Dalmatians then realized they couldn’t properly care for them. The fools that breed Pitt bulls for fighting did so due to the breeds looks..a foolish reason for a heinous cause and Pitt bull haters hate based on looks and the results of abusive owners ..equally foolish.
Pitbulls make the number one rating year after year for the most dog attacks in America, followed by Rottweilers then generally Shepherds and labs.
From what I read, they top the list of serious injuries and deaths (largely due to their size and strength) not number of attacks. Yes, I’m splitting hairs, but accuracy matters.
You can defend them all you want but Pit bulls kill more people each year then any other breed by a wide margin.
What they were used for 100 years ago is irrelevant
And your point is exactly what?. All dog breeds can attack for a number of reasons: health problems, being bullied and pestered by children, being bullied and pestered by adults, being trained to attack which is on the rare side, allowing your dog to go up to fenced in the yard dogs and intimidating them daily resulting in retaliation by fenced in dogs, and a myriad of other reasons, known and unknown. The fact that uppity, white, rich liberal loons in Trinidad are walking around with tasers is going to end badly for them. Especially when they cause an innocent dog to die of a heart attack or miss and tazer another human or their own dog. Stupidity. Then, boom, you be giving away your home and all your possessions and money to the damaged victim. So far, I have heard people claim they will be carrying crowbars, hammers, guns, tasers, ammonia, and bear spray. What a bunch of dumazz morons. Good luck and speaking for the dogs who cannot speak or they would give you an earful.
Misinformation and falsehoods should not be the basis of decision making.
Some people, like myself, prefer using facts as a basis with which to develop opinions.
More should try it. It sure beats pre-conceived notions and fearmongering, see the novel Dr. Frankenstein for a primer.
https://www.pitbullinfo.org/pit-bulls-temperament.html
https://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-page1/
Even Toy Poodles place lower than “pitbull” breeds.
But considering most people have very little concept of how to actually communicate and work with dogs or how to gauge temperment of various dogs breeds, it’s unsurprising how you all get worked up into a tizzy before you even know what breed was involved in this attack.
The biggest problem with ignorance is that those that exhibit it don’t know it.
Shepherd. SHEPHERD!!
I know Ted Pease slightly through friendly communications around the Senior News.
I am so sorry, Ted, that this has happened to you, your wife Brenda, and your beautiful Stella! It’s terrible. You know this. I’m sorry you have to know this so well. May you all enjoy a rapid recovery and the knowledge, soon, that this one scourge of a hell-hound will not be threatening innocent lives.
We don’t need stronger ordinances, we may need better enforcement of those we have.
The hearing officer has a number of remedies including requiring fencing to be built or maintained, and the dog controlled in addition to the option of requiring destruction of the animal after a bite. It is the Animal control officers do little to nothing to enforce the existing laws after a dog attack. Why don’t the animal control officers do more when called? The remedies are already there.
Of mice and men
There are 3 or 4 animal control officers for the entire county. By the time they are able to arrive on scene it could be half an hour, an hour, two hours, or more after the call was dispatched. They also don’t have powers of arrest. The sheriff’s deputies and city police officers do, but they don’t think it’s their job to protect people from vicious dogs.
If this dog has attacked, or been agressive unrestrained, to others as reported, the owner can be criminally prosecuted. This dog owner in this infamous SF case was recently denied parole. https://sfist.com/2023/02/16/woman-convicted-in-notorious-sf-dog-mauling-murder-case-gets-denied-parole/
pit bulls or pit bull mixes should be illegal. The number of serious attacks by this breed is staggering. They seem to be the dog of choice for misfits and there is an alarming number of these mixes up for adoption.
That’s only because they’re large and have a very strong bite; no one keeps statistics on chihuahua bites. (Full disclosure; I was bitten by a chihuahua when I was small, and had an unfair dislike of small dogs for decades.)
Yes actually someone does. The CDC does. But that this a pretty silly diversion as in creating injury, size matters.
https://topdogtips.com/statistics-on-dog-bites/
Yes and many large dogs are as if not more dangerous..have equal or greater bite strength. Pitt bulls were picked for their looks by unscrupulous fools and pit bull haters hate for same foolish reason.
Bull pucky. Other dogs can be dangerous but the denial level of pittbull owners has no limits.
Chihuahuas generally don’t crush your bones when they bite you.. what would you consider more dangerous, a pet house cat or a pet lion?
Did you lose a limb like the woman in Myers Flat a few years ago? Did you die? Comparing pitbulls & chihuahuas is ludacris
Yes, good comment Jefferson. Pit bulls tend to run on 7 cylinders and when they decide to attack they go all out. It can be anything that sets them off. I’ve seen it several times. I keep my family and my dogs far away when I see one running loose. Why they are so popular is lost on me. I think it says a lot about our society.
“They go all out” is due to abuse and running in packs and not a breed specific quality. You’ve seen it many times is antedotal and also a result of the breed being chosen by unscrupulous people. I would avoid any large dog running loose that wasn’t obviously friendly. The same reason shallow reason dog fighters etc. picked Pitt bulls is the same reason haters hate them: looks. (jaws look strong yet are not stronger and are in fact less strong than some other large breeds).
How silly can you get. Whimpy dogs do not win dog fights no matter how they look. Form follows function. Pit bulls are bred to kill and kill they do.
Misfits will just pick another breed. Shepards are very dangerous and seem to be getting more popular and their owners though using them for pets and guard dogs not fighting are still prone to be irresponsiblely arrogant and not leash them especially in rural areas.
Pitbulls don’t even make the top 20 of most popular dogs in the United States. Yet year after year make number one for the most dog bites in the United States.. Sorry that’s just the facts, I would agree that German Shepherds are dangerous as well though, they make number three to number four on the most bites per year.
“Top 20 most popular breeds” lists are based on faulty data sources, such as the AKC (which only registers “purebreds” and doesn’t recognize most pitbull-type breeds), or compilations of cities and counties’ dog license statistics – not everyone licenses their dogs.
Pit bull.
Dead man walking….
Unfortunately there are some folks in our community (& probably most communities) where if there are no consequences they will continue to do whatever they damn well please. There have also been incidents in Eureka with out of control dogs who attack and the owners don’t seem to give a crap. What the heck does Animal Control do anyway? Certainly not enforcement. It is time for there to be serious enforcement including major fines and euthanasia if necessary for dogs that seriously attack and injure other dogs and humans. The fact that this person’s dog that attacked is at home is BS.
We are so spoiled. We don’t fund animal control then whine, we don’t report issues unless severe and we whine we don’t vote and participate enough in government then whine.
ANY dog that attacks a human should be put down. With a hearing ONLY if it was in defense of its owner. On the owner’s property.
There is a bite scale. Defining “Attack” is helpful. https://apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf.
Semantics. If a dog comes towards me and initiates any aggressive contact it’s an attack.
There have been adults, children, livestock, and pets killed by vicious dogs and their careless or evil owners. I value all people — even you — above any so-called “pets” that are loose on the street and attack others.
That’s my scale. Don’t give a tinker’s damn about any others.
At least commincate with the victim, such a shithead move. Hiding behind litigation. Once my young daughter was walking out dog, scared by a jogger, she nipped at him. We had a discussion, even paid for his medical visit. Anyone who doesn’t communicate is trying to get away with shit
Tool up people, it’s a violent world and those at risk need to be tooled and on guard
Sue the guy and get a big settlement. And definitely more responsible citizens should carry guns.
No, more guns is a stupid solution. What, are you going to go Clint Eastwood on a dog on a public beach with kids around? Get real.
thank you for your common sense.
If a dog was attacking to kill another creature then yes in front of children it should be stopped even with deadly force but a gun is just silly…some people watch too many movies. Good luck aiming correctly. Guns more likely to injure “Accidentally”, in crimes or in suicide.
Weak argument.
Fact-based argument. But I’m aware that facts usually do nothing to temper beliefs.
Are you the dog owner?
Maybe I would. I’d certainly stab a dog latched onto my leashed dog.
In spite of everything that has came down with this situation the question remains why the heck is it so expensive to have dogs spayed or neutered? Would seem a program for free spays and neuterings would pay for itself with a decrease in strays, animal control needs and attacks. Something so simple could be beyond impactful.
Humboldt Spay Neuter Network offers it very cheap.
The problem is, the people who are most likely to allow their dog to attack someone are the people who are least likely to get their dog fixed, even if it’s free, even if they get a free bag of dog food for doing it. “I wanna breed him/her and make money off the puppies”
Pit Bulls are almost 100% banned in Germany, with very few exceptions. Nearly all of the animal shelters in CA have a boatload of Pit Bulls available for adoption.
As someone who has owned an large, aggresive-breed dog, I was ever vigilant to make sure he never had a chance to do something like this but I also knew that if he ever did, I would put him down. Attacks like this are not one-offs and a symptom of serious anxiety. For the dog’s own well-being, it should be put down. And if this man wants to be part of this community, he should also consider its safety. Because everyone in town is buying tazers or pepper spray- its crazy. Responsible dog ownership means making tough choices, and the only way for the residents of Trinidad to feel safe again is for that dog to be gone.
Sorry but most of the people who post on this site are way meaner than the average pit bull. Want to get educated on the subject – read “PIT BULL, The Battle Over an American Icon”. They were called nanny dogs for a reason. Want to go deeper, read “Debunking the Alpha Dog Theory”, about how some people accidentally train their dogs to be bad. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/debunking-the-alpha-dog-theory/ Then all that being said, there are some dogs have high prey drive and predatory drift or even brain problems and need to be treated accordingly.
The reason for the nanny dog trope was some pit bull lover attempted to Madison Avenue their image in the 1970s. It was never true.
So the ones in little rascals were dangerous? No matter “Nanny dogs” they are a thin skinned breed which means they are more easily injured than breeds like Shepards and malamute which have thick protective coats ..thin skinned/furred breeds are more sensitive and actually less prone to aggression unless like any breed they are chosen by unscrupulous owners.
Possibly it was just one if the gang and had great comedy timing. And it was possibly Lassie did save children who fell into wells, Rin-tin-tin knew who was a bad guy and took him down and the golden retriever in the Subaru ad does drive a car. Anyone who thinks Hollywood shows reality has questionable qualities to own a dog of any kind.
key word .. pitbull
key word: foolish.
Three of the biggest problems with controlling animals are:
In 11 years my pit bull looking pup never hurt another dog and was never attacked in SF, Berkeley, Marin, Houston, Oakland, Arcata, Eureka or McKinleyville yet was attacked three times in Fortuna cause people act like it is the old days when there were fewer dogs and people concentrated in same areas and also less mobility so people and dogs tended to know one another and dogs often ran loose in rural areas especially. They also leave their dog poop all over more so than other towns I’ve been in. I’ve heard from multiple sources that in Ferndale there is not an off leash dog problem like there is in Fortuna but no one said why they think people keep their dogs leashed there.
My dog (people assume is a Pitt-bull and does have mastif and bull dog but instead of terrier she has Great Dane and has been for 11 years a total sweet heart even when escaped from yard) was attacked by:
1. a shepard that came out of nowhere from behind us while mine was on leash ..only time I’ve ever called animal control and the animal control officer was great. The dog and owner were known to be a problem and when Fortuna Animal Control cracked down on owner as much as they could given ordinances etc. the guy started up in Rio Del..people posted on FB about his dog attacks.
2.A malamute at the Fortuna dog park. Found out later that the owner of the attacking dog was known by people at Eureka dog park to have also let his dog attack dogs there.
3.A bull dog type, not a Pitt bull. The owner was overall very responsible though didn’t have their dog secured in the back of their pick up which the dog jumped out of and ran over to my car and went for my pup through the rolled down window. The owner was there immediately and was clearly a good responsible owner and said his dog had been friendly until attacked ..i understand as now mine has pinned anther dog at the dog park (no injuries though every opportunity and scared me and the other dog’s owner) after being attacked.
So you say the woman who owned the pit bull set him to attack? Or that dogs that look like pit bulls but aren’t are safe?
Didn’t you say my comment was ‘anecdotal’? Hmm. How about some good old facts. Look up, dog breed most likely to be involved in an attack.
Astoundingly horrible. So very sorry. So lucky there is good community around to support the victims as too many people have to deal with such things mostly alone. Was Animal Control interviewed about this? People are so quick to blame them and they are likely trying to do what they can given the resources we the public have given them. Yes the dog should be put down, the owner not allowed another dog and there should be manditory low cost training (good citizen certificate for example) required for anyone who owns a dog 50 pounds or larger. Even labs can be dangerous and clearly Stella was not the aggressor and also humans were seriously injured. What about potential for rabies? Did they have to get shots too?
A small gun tucked into a pocket is just about manadatory in rural Humboldt for this very reason.
I once stopped an attack by two Rottweilers on me by sharing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with them.
I’m so sorry to read this about Ted and Brenda, long-time Trinidad residents and great members of the Humboldt community. That dog should have been confiscated and quarantined by animal control. The damn dog bit two people, including biting Ted’s finger off, and injuring their dog!
I’m not a litigation-happy person, but I’d sue the heck out of the owner for actual injuries and punitive damages. I’d probably have PTSD if I ever saw a loose dog again while out on a walk. I wish all of the victims a speedy and thorough recovery.
It would be interesting to interview neighbors on Wagner to see how often the pit bull was seen loose on that dead-end street. I’d bet this isn’t the first time the animal was out loose.
I have a miniature dachshund and I don’t take her anywhere without a leash, I have a stroller that I put her in when we go walking and I leash her into it. Walking down a road where I used to live I had a pit bull come out of a yard and try to attack her and even with me yelling at the dog and the owner never came outside to control her dog. Yes I immediately called the sheriff. If my dog or myself had been injured I would have sued them for everything I could get. The area I live in has so many loose dogs and people seem to think their dogs can roam wherever they want. We have 2 dogs that don’t leave our yard and I don’t want anyone else’s dog in my yard.
Wondering why “badly” was crossed out. Losing part of one’s finger, being bitten on one’s calf etc. Seems badly injured to me. I have twice been attacked and bitten by loose pitbulls while on my own property. It is a terrifying experience. The attacking dogs here and in my case were unprovoked, are vicious, and should be euthanized. No question.
I used the term “badly.” The victims felt it was too strong of a term.
They are kinder than I
In Eureka too! My neighborhood has way too many and they’re not cute little dogs either the owners let them bark day and night I’m just waiting for something like this to happen there are small kids who have big dogs I don’t understand why do they let these dogs bark and bark…I believe if people want dogs they should have to train them and there ought to be laws on barking I love dogs I’ve had many including pit bulls all trained by pros I akin it to abuse I’m sure it is just as uncomfortable for the dogs as it is for people
Leash your dogs. Teach your dogs manners and how to appropriately socialize with other dogs. Never let your dogs toward an unknown dog or person in public. After too many incidents with aggressive or inappropriately “playful” off leash dogs, I now carry dog spray when I’m out with my good boy.
So sorry to hear about this incident. It sounds both scary and painful for the owners and poor Stella.
S.R.K & P.S.K. – “THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS SEE ALL”.