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ANIMAL WATCH - 2024 was a shocking year for media reports on what seem to be some of the most savage Pit Bull attacks reported—and an alarming number on babies or small children dying due to misinformation on the dangers of this breed-- but there is a lack of initiative nationwide to try to stop them.
For instance, one owner was more concerned about saving her Pit Bull after it had just killed a toddler, she was babysitting than the trauma to the baby’s family and her 13-year-old daughter, who was home alone with the child when the deadly attack occurred.
PIT BULLS ARE FIGHTING DOGS
Pit Bulls can seem endearing, but they can also kill those who love them, innocent strangers and children without cause, without warning and without remorse, because of their DNA. ALL Pit Bulls are bred from bloodlines of fighting dogs—that is where they got their name.
If you choose to own any member of this breed family, be sure you are knowledgeable, have the assets to afford training, insurance, a location that will accept them and a yard they cannot escape.
Pit Bulls give no warning, because when placed with an opponent in a Pit, part of survival strategy is to not “show your cards” before the initial attack--- they just size up their opponent, get him (or her, because females are also fought against each other) off-guard, figure out how confident he/she is, and then go for a vulnerable area of the body, a limb or the jugular vein. Each dog has an innate fighting style.
This same pattern is seen continually in attacks by Pit Bulls on strangers, pet owners and/or children. All are caught off guard because “the dog was never aggressive.” Don’t be fooled by that, and you are less likely to become a victim.
A babysitter, Rosa Rodriguez in Bexar County , TX, was charged with the death of a 1-year-old baby boy, Jiryiah Johnson (above), while he was at her home with her 13-year-old daughter and her three other Pit Bulls, which broke through a door and brutally attacked the defenseless child on December 7, 2024.
A Medical Examiner confirmed that the boy was mauled to death and the vicious dog attack was the cause of his death.
The three Pit Bulls were photographed being taken from the property at Spruce Ridge Drive, according to News4, and the gruesome scene was described by officers as looking like a bloody tug-of-war took place with the child’s body torn apart by the dogs.
The owner’s daughter, a 13-year-old girl who was left alone to care for the little boy, valiantly fought to protect him, responding deputies said. She told them upon arrival, “He has holes all in his face.”
Rodriguez, 36, faces charges of injury to a child with intent — causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony; injury to a child -- reckless bodily injury; and abandoning or endangering a child in imminent danger--causing bodily injury, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
She was held in the Bexar County jail with bail set at $250,000, according to court records.
CHARGES ADDED
After this event unfolded, she was also charged with the injuries to her 13-year-old daughter, as well as abandoning or endangering a child in imminent danger--causing bodily injury, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
Although Rodriguez continued to beg deputies at the scene not to take her dogs, all three were taken into custody by Bexar County.
READ MORE: New charges against woman whose pit bull dogs mauled, killed baby boy near San Antonio
In her testimony on Zoom, Rodriguez pleaded to save her dogs, and “told the judge that all three of her dogs were kept inside, and that they often slept with her 13-year-old daughter.”
But, after the attack and here efforts to protect the child, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he considers Rodriguez's 13-year-old daughter “a hero.”
The deputy said the baby was placed on a stretcher, a paramedic began chest compressions because it appeared he stopped breathing, the deputy said Jiryiah opened his eyes slightly, but he wasn't crying as anyone would with this type of injury.
Heather Rodriguez (above) the babysitter, mother of the girl, and owner of the dog that killed the baby, was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies. All three Pit Bulls on the property were removed by animal control.
Rodriguez testified from the Bexar County jail via Zoom to try to save dogs, according to the report. All three Pit Bulls were euthanized by order of the court.
A GoFundMe was posted by Nicole Bennett, friend and coworker of the baby’s mother, Erika Castro, to help with medical expenses and funeral costs.
PIT BULL VICIOUSLY ATTACKS TWO YOUNG GIRLS AFTER DOG GIVEN BATH BY BABYSITTER
Two young girls were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries after a pit bull attack at an apartment complex on San Antonio’s (TX) West Side on Saturday, December 13, according to the police report.
The report was also shown on KSAT, with live footage of the dog being removed, and the expressed concern that this is the fifth Pit Bull attack this year in San Antonio, TX--with four involving children.
The attack occurred around 3:00 p.m. inside an apartment building in the 4200 block of West Commerce Street. Coverage by KSAT shows a man who appears to be the owner, assisting Animal Control Officers and police in putting the dog into the animal control vehicle.
The report stresses that the owner will also be liable for the Pit Bull not being licensed nor having current rabies shots. There was no further information on the condition of the tiny victims.
San Antonio Police will continue to investigate this case.
First responders called the wounds “very serious.” There is a lack of detail that might increase understanding of the unanswered questions, such as, why was the babysitter bathing a dog and not watching these small children; or, was it the babysitter’s dog?
When the woman was finished bathing the pit bull, police said it ran into a bedroom and attacked both girls—the 1-year-old was bitten on her face and eye, and the 3-year-old girl had deep bites to her lip and upper arm, according to police.
Animal Care Services responded and impounded the dog until the investigation is completed. San Antonio Police said a dangerous dog investigation is underway and the dog will be quarantined by Animal Services during that period.
“This investigation has begun in earnest and the dog is in ACS custody. But it is already very clear: Irresponsible pet care and guardianship are the root cause of tragedies like this and today’s attack was 100% preventable,” said ACS in a statement on Saturday.
3-month-old baby mauled to death by family Pit Bull in NJ
On March 14, a baby boy was mauled to death by a family dog in the town of Woodbridge, New Jersey, in a vicious attack that seriously injured his mother also, ” according to the NY Post.
The three-month-old baby, Daymon Balbuena, was found unresponsive when police arrived at the home at approximately 6:15 a.m.
The County Prosecutor’s office — which took over the investigation — believes the child was attacked by the family Pit Bull.
The Pit Bull has been euthanized by a local veterinarian.
A GoFundMe campaign was set up to help the family with expenses.
The child’s mother was also seriously wounded by the dog.
“The family and I are asking the community to come together during this tough time,” she wrote. “This tragic loss is one they will have to carry, let us gather together to show them our support.”
HONORING A MISSOURI MAN, CLAY CULBERTSON DIES FROM SEPSIS AFTER DOG BITES
Missouri man, mauled and killed by multiple Pit Bull dogs in Kansas City, MO (security camera caught the attack on video.)
Police and Kansas City Pet Project Animal Services Division, are combining efforts to investigate and assist in getting all the answers to this horrendous tragedy
“Just heartbroken,” said Culbertson’s sister, Angela, according to the police report, the attack happened just before 10 p.m. on Saturday night, near 80th and College.
Culbertson was recorded riding his bike on the street on a neighbor’s security camera, when two Pit Bulls start to circle him, lunging and biting at him.
This soon caused him to fall to the ground, which caused two more dogs to break through the fence and attack Culbertson by “grabbing his arms legs, feet and face with their teeth to bring him down. Later he described this to his sister Angela as, “They were trying to drag me like I was their dinner.”
Due to the disturbing footage, FOX4 did not show the full video. Angela said the “disturbing footage of the attack on him lasted 23 minutes.”
“I couldn’t imagine being bitten and torn by anything for 23 minutes,” she said.
Culbertson had 300 bites, 500 stitches and more than 100 lacerations, according to Angela. He became septic and died just days after the attack.
“He said, ‘I was reaching for help, and nobody was helping me,’” Angela said.
We spoke with a neighbor, who didn’t want to talk on camera, but said that night, she ran to help and tried using a golf club to fight off the dogs, but the animals started biting her. She ran and called 911.
Police said officers arrived and used lights and sirens to scare away the dogs, but did not speak about issuing citations and fines.
PIT BULLS/DOG ATTACKS AFFECT US ALL
The United States of America is one of the strongest nations in the world, but we are cowering under the rule of multi-million-dollar organizations that block passage of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) to stop a problem that is growing nationwide—dog fighting and dangerous dogs in communities.
Freedom does not mean the right to deliberately harm or threaten another. We have enforceable laws on speed for autos but lax laws on controlling dangerous dogs which keep communities living in fear.
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee, an animal activist and a contributor to CityWatch.)
