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Vicious strays cost family their pets
Published Monday, March 16, 2009
A Selma family hopes no one will ever share an experience like the ordeal they went through Thursday afternoon. The Cox family lost three dogs in a span of a year due to vicious dogs coming on their 22-acre property and starting fatal fights.
They want people in the Potters Station area aware of these dogs to protect their animals, children and even themselves.
It’s hard to see any pet die, but to lose three dogs like Tina and Jim Cox have makes it almost unbearable.
“I came home Thursday after school about 3:15 p.m. and my carport was covered in blood,” Tina said. “There was blood all other the walkway to the back porch, on the porch and on the patio furniture. I thought that my dogs had been shot at first.”
Tina happened upon the family’s year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Libby, by the air conditioning unit. The small dog had rested on the back porch and succumbed to deep bite wounds from an attack.
“I must have been screaming really loudly because my neighbor heard me,” Tina said. “Our house is situated in the middle of our 22 acres, too.”
After looking for 30 minutes, Tina found Rudy, a 7-month-old black Labrador retriever. He was under a holly bush. The jet-black puppy’s collar was found in the yard wadded up, discarded from an unfair and undeserved brawl.
“He was so sweet and clumsy,” Tina said. “He couldn’t ever have defended himself against dogs that could do this.”
After calling Jim out of a meeting at International Paper, Tina reported the incident to authorities because at that time she though someone had shot her pets because of the amount of blood and size of the wounds.
Selma Police Officer Evelyn Ghant responded to the call and began taking a report. Even though the Cox’s are in police jurisdiction, they are out of city limits. If there is an animal control concern outside Selma, then the county responds. Dallas County animal control officer Jenny Agee began working the case.
The Cox’s sent Libby and Rudy off to Selma Animal Hospital were they could be X-rayed to determine the cause of death. There they learned their dogs died from other dogs’ bites.
“Dr. Wood said they died from a small-jawed dog and that it is consistent of a pit bull,” Tina said.
The Cox’s must have thought back a year ago to when they found another Jack Russell Terrier, Chip, dead in their front yard. Chip was also a victim of vicious dogs.
The Cox’s are not alone though. Neighbors in the Old Marion Junction Road area have had problems with pit bulls attacking their dogs.
Ghant told Tina the police had received a call Thursday morning of vicious dogs in the same area. Six months ago pit bulls attacked the Cox’s neighbor’s dogs. The neighbor shot one of the three dogs, leaving only two at large.
“My main concern is when I went onto Plum Road, which is right behind my house, I saw so many kid’s toys,” Tina said. “If these dogs can hurt a 70-pound dog, then they can certainly hurt children or adults.”
Sheriff Harris Huffman said this is a sad incident, but will be stopped.
“[Tina and Jim] were taking care of their dogs,” he said. “Their dogs were spade and neutered and they were on their property. These dogs had to have come on to [the Cox’s] property and started this.”
Under Alabama law all pets must be vaccinated and have a collar with an identification or rabies vaccination tag on it. Huffman and the county animal control are telling people to be on the look out for vicious dogs with or without identification.
“We want people to call in and tell us when there is a problem with a dog,” he said. “We are going to be focusing on that area because of the problems. There will be traps set for these animals. If they are caught, then under Alabama law we have a time before they can either be adopted or euthanasied.”
Huffman said any dangerous animals are not adopted, but in the round up of collarless pets some gentle ones may be taken in.
“People need to keep their dogs in their own yards,” Huffman said. “They need to be chained, fenced or penned because if not then it could get other people or dogs hurt.”
Tina said her family would not get a dog anytime soon.
“I can’t imagine the pain they went through,” she said. “I can’t even begin to think what they must have thought and I just can’t put another dog through that.”
The Cox’s want the dogs responsible to be caught before anything like this happens again, but realized the vicious dogs will more than likely have to be put down.
“Even though I would never hurt an animal I know these dogs need to be disposed of if they are caught,” Tina said. “I just don’t want this happening again. No one deserves this.”
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Comments
Posted by Liberty (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so sad.
They don't care about your animals and they don't really care about their own - if they did, they would FIX them and keep them on their property so that they don't attack other people's animals or wind up dead in the middle of the road or in the kill shelters.
As for calling animal control, I know a family that has called several times about animals who are being starved to death and nothing happens. The sheriff was called, as well, he didn't do anything but ask that the dead animal be removed from the pin he was in, meanwhile there are still animals on the property - so as far as I'm concerned, they aren't worth a d@3n.
FIX YOUR ANIMALS!!! KEEP THEM ON YOUR PROPERTY!!!
Posted by JHain (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like Tina, I would never hurt any animal, even a stray. However, there has to be a way to protect the family pets from harm. I am sorry for your loss, Tina.
As for what is posted above, I left Selma to join the Navy before animal control was established. So, I can't say anything about that. However, I will agree that some owners don't care about their own animals, which is why they are left to starve and die. Those owners should be brought up on animal cruelty charges.
I know Tina and her family care about their animals, as if they are human. I am the same way with my 2 dogs. I pray that it doesn't happen again, if and when the Cox family decides to get another pet.
Joseph Hain
Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
joseph.hain@gmail.com
Posted by I_saw_what_you_did_in_Selma (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd be sitting vigil on the front porch with a rifle and at the first sign of a pit bull..................this would NOT happen again.
Posted by fleur (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 4:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, the last I heard, we only had TWO animal-control officers and it is hard for them to be everywhere they are needed.
That said, it does come down to responsible pet ownership. Even in "Old Town" owners let their pets run loose, and, while, so far, we haven't had any incidents of attacks that ***I*** have heard of, it's also a great way to lose your pet to either a thief or an accident. As a friend of mine puts it "It only takes ONE car." As to thieves, it's a common practice to steal small dogs and use them for "bait" in "training" fighting dogs.
So, you say you LOVE you little doggie or kitty? Then you expose them to the chances of some kind of terrifying, painful and horrible death either as the victim of a set of tires or as bait in a dogfight? Great. You really show your love, folks!!!
Frankly, I wish there were some kind of fines and jail-time for pet owners who behave so irresponsibly.
Get your pets SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND VACCINATED and KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL.
Posted by Trublu (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fluer, very well said
Posted by fleur (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
On the other hand, why leave your own pets OUT, even in their own yard, while you are away? A nice-sized kennel in the garage or outside will keep them IN and predators OUT.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they come on your rural property....shoot them. That's a quick fix.
Posted by sparkl88 (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've had a dog almost killed by a pit bull too. My dog was a small dog and loved everyone. He got out through a hole in the fence I didn't know about. The pit bull came into my yard and attacked him. It broke his neck and dislocated his hip, also left teeth marks all the way around his neck. Thank God he survived but the hip was never the same. I was told that if the dog came back into my yard to shoot to kill because you are afraid for your life. I have a lot of no trespassing signs in my yard. That means dogs too. I wouldn't kill just to be killing, but if my family and pets are threatened I would do what I had to do to protect them. The owner of this pit bull had actually moved out of town and left this dog to roam free. After much ado he did finally pay half of the medical expenses and someone took the dog off. My precious puppy died last year and I really miss him. My heart goes out to this family. Pets, when loved and cared for become part of your family and it hurts to lose a family member. My prayers are with you.
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pit Bulls are an abomination, they need to be made illegal in Selma and Dallas County like they are in other municipalities in this country. A Pit Bull to a gangster is no different than the gun they have tucked into the waistband of their pants. They have one purpose and one purpose only, to instill fear. The city council and county commission should take action against these dangerous animals and their owners.
Posted by JHain (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Archangel,
I disagree with some things you said about Pit Bulls. Yes, they CAN be dangerous when handled improperly, but at the same time, I've known several people who have owned Pits for years and their dog wouldn't hurt a fly.
It all boils down to how you treat a Pit Bull. If you treat them with love and respect, **most of the time** they will repay the favor. But, if you treat any dog with malice and bad intentions, then they are going to always be mean.
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been with people who have said their Pits wouldn't hurt a fly only to see them lunge at something unfortunate to come across its field of vision. Having a Pit Bull is a bit like walking around with a loaded gun, sure you think the safety is on, but an accident just has to happen once. The aggression they have is no inbred into them that its akin to having a wild animal because you just don't know what's going to set it off. The difference between a Pit Bull treated with malice and a Golden Retriever treated poorly is the aggression that has been bred into that animal from generation to generation. The Golden Retriever isn't going to maul you to the point where it has to be shot so that its jaws will release the bloody stump where your appendage once was.
Posted by catchem (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God doesn't make them any sweeter and any more devoted to her pets than Tina!!!
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pari --
Why did you buy a Pit Bull? Their history as a breed has them bred out to be efficient killing machines. The only reason that I can see someone buying a Pit Bull is to send some message to the rest of their "world". How high of a fence do you have on your property where you have your animal? As I've mentioned before I really don't draw the line between a Pit Bull and a loaded firearm.
Lots of breeds have reputations of biting and aggression, there are others who despite "training" are still more prone to unpredictable aggression, like Pit Bulls. Can't say that I have seen too many German Shepards, in the dog fight videos I have had the unfortunate opportunity of being privy to having too much success with a Pit Bull. They're used frequently as bait dogs to train the animals. Makes sense that you'd want that beast to take on a little larger challenger, why give him top round when he could have a filet.
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pit Bulls get a bad wrap . They are not all bad. It's how a animal is treated . Thugs and drug dealers train these dogs to be vicious and fight to make money off of them . I have relatives who own this breed . My sister's dog is 6 years old and he's a sweetie pie . She had him every since he was a puppy and is a member of the family . He also is well taken care of . I don't believe most pit bulls are bad . It's the environment in which they live that makes them become vicious if they are abused and treated badly . This also applies to any dog regardless of the breed .
Posted by ChangeSelma (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pari1220 ,I agree with you . People should stop judging these dogs by the bad behavior of others who are responsible for them . I thought the breed was dangerous also in the beginning. I was so wrong . My sister's pit bull lives inside the house . He has his own personality LOL . He doesn't like to go outside when the grass is wet after it rains .
Posted by JHain (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It all goes back to the Michael Vick thing last year (or was it 07?). Either way, something around 50 dogs were seized, and all but one were eventually adopted out to loving families.
So, in my mind, it isn't the dogs' fault, but the owners and ppl who decide to treat these animals with disrespect.
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
See Pari --
Thats irresponsible, and I guarantee you if you were my neighbor, I would not love them. You are asking for trouble letting those animals be at large. What I have against Pit Bulls and other dangerous breeds like it is the fact that they are bred to be killers. These dogs were purposely bread for their violent aggression and ability to bite something and hang on. I was also witness to a horrific attack in which authorities were required to shoot the Pit Bull because it would not release the victims leg.
If experts thought that it was okay to possess Wolf or Dingo hybrids more people might do it, but they don't because the realise the potential that those animals might just snap. Fact of the matter is that these animals are ticking time bombs. Its dog owners like you who think that "everyone loves my dog" and lets them run at large who are the problem. I wouldn't be surprised if its your dogs doing the running around and killing.
I hope that when your dogs do eventually end up biting someone you get yourself a good lawyer, because whomever is their victim is going to sue you for so much money your great-grandchildren will be paying your debts.
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me describe the scene, an irresponsible neighbor, like you, did not adequately fence his animal in his yard. This individual moved into the neighborhood and for sometime allowed his dog to run at large until he was warned by animal control after an incident where the animal bit a young child while they were playing in their yard. The owner was required to keep his animal fenced in from there forward.
One afternoon the animal got out of the shoddily fenced yard and once again was running at large. A group of schoolkids happened upon the animal, knowing that this animal was dangerous they made an attempt to avoid the it. Unprovoked, the animal lunged at a small child, the older sibling of the child attempted to shield the youngster but ended up with the animal on his lower leg.
The animal would not stop, one of the children happened to make it home to a parent who had called 911. Animal Control and Police responded. The attack was so fierce and gruesome at this point that one of the officers on scene decided the best course of action was to shoot the animal, even though it was still mauling the older child.
I was one of the kids walking that day. We never provoked that animal, in fact we did everything possible to avoid it. I will never forget that scene. My friend, the one mauled, ended up having the lower part of his right leg amputated because the attack had done so much damage to the tissue and muscle and also needed reconstructive surgery on his left hand which was torn up from trying to fend off the animal.
I have dogs, and I have cats. Always have. So the whole depravation and lack of love assumption is false. The difference between you and I is the fact that I am a responsible pet owner, I keep my dogs within the confines of my backyard. When we go on walks, they're on leashes. I did not want to put my family at risk, so I made the conscious choice not to pick a dangerous breed like a Pit Bull.
Posted by archangelsk (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, my dogs are not chained up, they're free to roam the yard and they get to go run around up on our property outside of town almost everyday. Once again, this draws the line between myself who is a responsible pet owner and you who has consciously chosen to be an irresponsible one. This has EVERYTHING to do with the animal being a Pit Bull. THEY WERE BRED TO FIGHT AND TO KILL!!!!! Their whole physiology was purposely bred so that it could be a light yet powerful fighter. You're just some apologetic that refuses to see the forest past the trees. You weren't thinking about your family when you got those dogs, you were being selfish and trying to inflate some part of your ego that is lacking, dont tell god and everyone that your family always comes first. I'm telling ya pari, its just a matter of time before one of those beasts that you call a "pet" turns around and takes your kids face off. I'm sure we'll end up reading about it here, and I will be the first to post "I TOLD YOU SO".
Posted by JHain (anonymous) on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm trying to figure out where the discussion about the pit bull stopped and the name calling started........ Maybe the forum should be closed on the issue.
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