Pit Bull Kills man trying to resuscitate his owner

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

West Virginia police say a 62-year-old man has died after being mauled to death by a pit bull that attacked him as he tried to revive the dog’s unconscious owner following a heart attack.

Wheeling police said the pit bull attacked Roy Higgenbotham Jr. in a home shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday.


Officers also found the dog’s owner, David Wallace, 63, dead in the house.

Lt. Phil Redford said police believe Wallace suffered a heart attack. Higgenbotham was attacked as he tried to resuscitate Wallace.

Autopsies will determine an official cause of death.


The dog, a 3-year-old female, was removed from the residence by Ohio County Animal Control and placed in quarantine.

Neighbors told WTRF-TV it appears the dog became protective and attacked when she saw Higgenbotham try and administer first aid to his stricken friend.

“One of them had, had some heart problems and it seems like she was protecting him from the person trying to resuscitate him,” Beth Patsch told the station. "She was always wonderful, they had had her and her mother and her mother had just passed away in the fall, I believe, and this was the puppy. They've had her since she was tiny, tiny and never a problem."

Patsch, who lives across the street, said a woman was in the house at the time. She said she saw the woman climb out a second-floor window onto a porch roof to avoid being attacked by the dog.

Fox affiliate WTOV reported that the pit bull was not registered with the city, despite an ordinance that requires all pit bulls in the city be registered.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


So what say you ? Was the dog justified ? Should the Dog be put down ?

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by SNR

Would rather own a pitbull than an ugly ass rat that people call "small dog breeds"

Nah, i'll take the small dog breeds.. Even if my dog attacked someone trying to help me live he probably wouldn't break skin and would be tossed across the room for good reason.

[srvy]

Back in the day when we did a lot of residential boundary surveys we would have to get into yards where the home owner was at work and left there dog out. A co-worker was deathly afraid of dogs therefore had nothing but hatred for them. Me I grew up with dogs and could usually reason with any dog. I do believe they sense a fear in humans. Dogs just took an aggressive posture and behavior when he was near. Me on the other hand could talk calmly and have them wagging tail and running around with toys shaking ready to play.

Now little dogs are the ones for me to be wary of those lil ankle bites like to creep up when you turn back. Miniature schnauzers are a good example. And Chows while not small are a keep your distance and show respect animal. I dont know if they keep records on such things but I would bet a Chow is high up on the dog bite scale.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Personal note, my pit is the sweetest dog in the world. She wouldn't hurt a fly unless that fly was trying to attack me. Having said that I'm fully aware of what she's capable of and if I sense that there may be a danger issue either it being she's getting to aggressive playing with my neighbor's dogs or some kids happen to be walking by that she is barking at that's not her normal "play" with me bark, I'll remove her from the situation and bring her inside.

So, what happens when you have a heart attack and can't remove the dog from the situation?

That's the issue here, not whether or not they behave when you're around. It's what they do when you aren't in control that's the problem.