A sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 70-pound pit bull Thursday after the dog attacked a student in an apartment stairwell and turned on a neighbor attempting to help.
Two others charged the pit bull with knives and a machete, trying to get the dog to loosen its grip on one of the victims, according to Alachua County Sheriff's officials.
Ryan Tyler, 21, of Jupiter, and Ryan Troup, 19, of St. Petersburg, were rushed to Shands at UF and treated for arm injuries.
The dog was in the hallway on the second floor of a Gainesville apartment complex when it lunged and severely bit Tyler on his left arm, biting almost to the bone, said Sgt. Steve Maynard of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.
"If the dog had been left to chew on him, he probably would have been dead," Maynard told The Gainesville Sun.
Maynard said the dog, a black pit bull with reddish hues, was named Tango.
Tyler's friend, Ian Carmichael, heard screams, rushed from his apartment and jumped on the dog's back. He tried pulling Tango off by its collar. At the same time, Nathan Lezniewicz, ran to the scene with a machete and kitchen knives.
The men furiously stabbed the dog while its teeth were clenched on Tyler's arm, Maynard said.
The dog, bloodied and with a knife in its torso, released Tyler's arm and ran up to the third floor. But it immediately came back downstairs, cornered Troup and bit his arm.
Neighbors called for help, and deputies arrived soon after.
With Carmichael and Lezniewicz still trying to fend off Tango, deputies pounded the dog with a pole. Officers then shot the dog, Maynard said.
Deputies were trying to contact the dog's owner. The Sheriff's Office did not say whether charges will be filed.
Maynard said the apartment building prohibited certain types of dogs, such as pit bulls.
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Well we are dealing with a person that didn't follow regulations posted at the Apartment complex where he/she lived. I am pretty sure the owner could never pay the medical bills the 2 people will have as a result of this. Neverthelss he should be held responsible for all damages and pay as much as he/she can. Charges should be filed what that will accomplish I don't know but these people could possibly be handicapped for life especially if a nerve in an arm was bit thru.
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- Joseph Biden
Associated Press 11/18/93
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Unless the dog's owner actually commanded the dog to attack, I don't believe any criminal charges should be filed. I agree with oldelkhunter--the owner needs to fork over some money for the victims' medical treatment.
The dog's owners should definitely be held responsible for all medical costs of the victims. They should also be fined for the dog running loose and for violating the rules of the building.
As far as charges beyond that, if it can be shown that the dog had previously shown unprovoked aggression, charge them with assault or whatever else applies. If this was a dog that up until now had shown absolutely no signs of aggression, no. However, even then, if the dog had not been killed during this attack, he should have been immediately after---history of aggression or not.
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Unless the dog's owner actually commanded the dog to attack, I don't believe any criminal charges should be filed. I agree with oldelkhunter--the owner needs to fork over some money for the victims' medical treatment.
I think medical treatment and punitive damages. Dangerous negligence should be punished.
I think medical treatment and punitive damages. Dangerous negligence should be punished.
Unless the owner knew the dog was a threat to others and deliberately allowed it outside of the apartment, I think negligence would be hard to prove. We have only half the story, so it could be so. To me, once the dog is destroyed and the victims compensated for medical expenses, justice has been served.
There was a similiar situation in San Francisco with presa canario dogs which are in reality a super pit bull exceeding 100 lbs. The owner was jailed but then again the victim was killed after the dogs somehow got out of their apartment. My wife and I used to have Rottweilers and although ours were always even tempered loving dogs they did have a very protective side to them and would lay their lives down for their owners of this I have no doubt. Needless to say we never let them run loose and we had to monitor them closer then you would your average dog. Had they indeed for whatever reason ever run loose we would have to accept the consequences of their actions had they harmed anyone.
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"Banning guns is an idea whose time has come."
- Joseph Biden
Associated Press 11/18/93
"Be thankful that we're not getting all the government we are paying for." Will Rogers
Until the state of Florida regards human life more valuable that that of a dog, we will continue to hear of these senseless events.
I have always (jokingly of course) said that if you want to get rid of your children bring them to Florida but don't mess with a dog you could get life in prison.
The owner is always ultimately responsible. From there it is up to enforcing laws that are on the books.
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I have seen it too in other states but I do know, because I live here, that dog ownership here is some different than I have seen in other states. At night the entire state howls from the number of dogs. I think I read somewhere recently that there are more dogs in Florida than people and the the average home had something like 2.1 dogs.
Now I ain't quoting statistics - just trying to make a point and that is the need for responsibility.
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If you give a politician an enema you can easily hide them in a bread box.
What should be done to this dog's owner?
