[News] American Bulldog Kills Yorkie and Injures Girl

[fasteddie]

A Virginia Beach girl and her pet are attacked by a bulldog.

Her dog is killed and the animal responsible is locked up.

13-year-old Marshawn Cuffee was out Thursday night walking her dog, Giga, when an American Bulldog, a type of pit bull, charged and bit the dog and the girl.

"It was a hard fast bite. He was just biting he pulled the leash down, Giga dropped and was in his mouth," said Marshawn as she recalled the attack.

The Bulldog, Cooper, is now in quarantine at Animal Control in Virginia Beach.

Cuffee says she tried to hold her Yorkshire Terrier above her head to keep it away from the larger dog, but Cooper's bite was no match for her strength.

That's when Cuffee says Cooper pulled on Giga's leash and bit the dog to death and bit her in the arm.

Cuffee will be okay but her whole family is upset Giga is gone.

"I tried to save his life get him to the vet in time, but there wasn't enough time, he just died," said Shawn Cuffee, Marshawn's mom.

Cooper's owner, Cathy Ware is being charged with owning a dog that killed a domestic animal and owning a nuisance animal.

The dog will be held until a court date on August 7th.

Cooper could be put down after the court proceedings are complete.

http://www.wtkr.com/Global/story.asp...6&nav=ZolHbyvj

[Peters]

that dog should be put down but where was it's owner? poor little yorkie!

[becasherwood]

It's soooo ridiculous how the dog that attacked always carries the most blame. Where was his leash, probably with it's owner, where was it's owner, obviously not supervising the dog properly. I am a huge advocate for the pit bull and it's close relatives, so of course I naturally get pissed when people blame the dogs who attack. I wish society will open their eyes and realize that many of the dogs are in the wrong hands. People get these dogs to be guard dogs or personal protectors but that is not what they are for. They are highly animal aggressive which genetic and if someone who doesn't understand how animal aggressive they can be owns one, then the dog is in the wrong hands and that's why tragedy strikes. I don't know what else to say but society always finds something to be prejudice of as usual.

[txshopper73]

Very sad!

[Jo's Jack]

We had same experience last December... a neighbor's dog attacked our Yorkie,Belle...and that was her demise. I am not sympathetic to any aggressor, whatever the reason.

[Laur]

Originally Posted by becasherwood

It's soooo ridiculous how the dog that attacked always carries the most blame. Where was his leash, probably with it's owner, where was it's owner, obviously not supervising the dog properly. I am a huge advocate for the pit bull and it's close relatives, so of course I naturally get pissed when people blame the dogs who attack. I wish society will open their eyes and realize that many of the dogs are in the wrong hands. People get these dogs to be guard dogs or personal protectors but that is not what they are for. They are highly animal aggressive which genetic and if someone who doesn't understand how animal aggressive they can be owns one, then the dog is in the wrong hands and that's why tragedy strikes. I don't know what else to say but society always finds something to be prejudice of as usual.

While I agree that the owner should be held responsible, the dog is at fault too. Even if the dog is off the leash and the owner is not nearby, he/she should still behave without the owner. I know pit bulls are aggressive but that doesn't give them the right to injure other dogs. I know a lot of people who have pit bulls as pets and they would never attack another dog because I have seen them off the leash plenty of times. That dog deserves to be kept until they can come to a decision as to what they are going to do. He could easily hurt another dog.

This really hits home because I am right near VA Beach and while it could happen anywhere, it's scary to think that it happened not even 30 minutes from me. I can't even imagine what the owner is feeling right now.

[becasherwood]

The second sentence in your post is a clear indicator that the dog would only know how to behave if it was raised properly. Come on people we should know better than to blame the dog, but because of irresponsible people we blame the dogs. Is it because the dogs can't defend themselves or are we too afraid to confront the owner. In reality the dog doesn't know better because it wasn't raised to know better. If my pit bull attacked another dog I would kill her right there on the spot because she knows better than to attack anything without my say so. Those of you who blame the dog should really be ashamed of yourselves and I mean that.

Originally Posted by Laur

While I agree that the owner should be held responsible, the dog is at fault too. Even if the dog is off the leash and the owner is not nearby, he/she should still behave without the owner. I know pit bulls are aggressive but that doesn't give them the right to injure other dogs. I know a lot of people who have pit bulls as pets and they would never attack another dog because I have seen them off the leash plenty of times. That dog deserves to be kept until they can come to a decision as to what they are going to do. He could easily hurt another dog.

This really hits home because I am right near VA Beach and while it could happen anywhere, it's scary to think that it happened not even 30 minutes from me. I can't even imagine what the owner is feeling right now.

[MeganS]

Originally Posted by Laur

While I agree that the owner should be held responsible, the dog is at fault too. Even if the dog is off the leash and the owner is not nearby, he/she should still behave without the owner. I know pit bulls are aggressive but that doesn't give them the right to injure other dogs. I know a lot of people who have pit bulls as pets and they would never attack another dog because I have seen them off the leash plenty of times. That dog deserves to be kept until they can come to a decision as to what they are going to do. He could easily hurt another dog.

This really hits home because I am right near VA Beach and while it could happen anywhere, it's scary to think that it happened not even 30 minutes from me. I can't even imagine what the owner is feeling right now.

In response to the bolded sentence: The dog may not have been trained properly. He wouldn't behave off leash if he didn't know the correct way to behave.

It makes me sad as well, when people only blame the dogs. This person should be punished as well. Pit bulls can be dangerous dogs, but they can also be very sweet if they are raised properly. and because they have the instinct to attack other animals and people, they should always be kept on a leash. I think the owner was more at fault than the dog here.

anyway, this is a very sad story. I'm sad for the girl, the yorkie, the family, and Cooper.

[browniesmom622]

Originally Posted by MeganS

In response to the bolded sentence: The dog may not have been trained properly. He wouldn't behave off leash if he didn't know the correct way to behave.

It makes me sad as well, when people only blame the dogs. This person should be punished as well. Pit bulls can be dangerous dogs, but they can also be very sweet if they are raised properly. and because they have the instinct to attack other animals and people, they should always be kept on a leash. I think the owner was more at fault than the dog here.

anyway, this is a very sad story. I'm sad for the girl, the yorkie, the family, and Cooper.

Great post megan i agree 100%
i think the owner should be in trouble big time !!!

[yorkie_luvr2]

I am a FIRM believer in the proper training of your dog and I believe that training and love along with attention is _part_ of what makes toward the final personality of the dog, however _some_ dogs are bred for aggression and will respond aggressively toward anyone, be it animal or human. These are the dogs that people hate and that cause the breed to get a bad reputation. All that said, I am so sorry for the girl, who must feel terrible about the loss of her dog. This is something that COULD have been prevented and there is NO excuse that will cover it.

Originally Posted by becasherwood

The second sentence in your post is a clear indicator that the dog would only know how to behave if it was raised properly. Come on people we should know better than to blame the dog, but because of irresponsible people we blame the dogs. Is it because the dogs can't defend themselves or are we too afraid to confront the owner. In reality the dog doesn't know better because it wasn't raised to know better. If my pit bull attacked another dog I would kill her right there on the spot because she knows better than to attack anything without my say so. Those of you who blame the dog should really be ashamed of yourselves and I mean that.

[becasherwood]

Unless properly trained and handled. Why don't you understand that? We just got a Yorkie and he is by far the meanest dog I have owned, although he can't do much damage, I still plan on keeping him and training him. He snaps at everyone he encounters and he growls at them also. My pit bull will lay on her back and wait for you to rub her stomach. It's about time for you to open your eyes and quit trying to have such a vendetta against pit bulls and other bullt bred dogs. GROW UP.

Originally Posted by yorkie_luvr2

I am a FIRM believer in the proper training of your dog and I believe that training and love along with attention is _part_ of what makes toward the final personality of the dog, however _some_ dogs are bred for aggression and will respond aggressively toward anyone, be it animal or human. These are the dogs that people hate and that cause the breed to get a bad reputation. All that said, I am so sorry for the girl, who must feel terrible about the loss of her dog. This is something that COULD have been prevented and there is NO excuse that will cover it.

[yorkie_luvr2]

Originally Posted by becasherwood

Unless properly trained and handled. Why don't you understand that? We just got a Yorkie and he is by far the meanest dog I have owned, although he can't do much damage, I still plan on keeping him and training him. He snaps at everyone he encounters and he growls at them also. My pit bull will lay on her back and wait for you to rub her stomach. It's about time for you to open your eyes and quit trying to have such a vendetta against pit bulls and other bullt bred dogs. GROW UP.

Whoa there gal!! I don't have any "vendetta" against pit bulls or any other large breed, in fact we use to breed and show great danes and irish wolfhounds and you can't get much bigger and if one of them is NOT TRAINED PROPERLY they could be damn mean!! Ours were just love bunnies, but that didn't stop people from being afraid of them. When I say trained properly maybe you misunderstand what I mean...a LOT of people who buy or aquire the large breeds deliberately WANT them to be mean so they abuse them, and use other methods to make them mean and aggressive. In MY book no dog is born mean or aggressive, they are MADE to become that way by people.

My eyes have been open for a long time sugar and believe me, I am well GROWN UP. I can agree to disagree with you but I refuse to stoop to silly attacks on people who do not agree with my views or beat them over the head with my views...that is exactly what they are MY VIEWS and I am entitled to them, just as you are entitled to yours.

[shecass]

How awful. I hope that justice is served.

[Zoey's Momma]

Aww, I feel so bad for the family of the attacked girl and Yorkie. All she ever wanted to do was to walk her poor little princess.

[becasherwood]

All in all, no dog is to blame in any case. People can be very irresponsible and don't take time to handle their dogs properly. Like I have said, anyone who blames a dog for it's actions shouldn't have a dog. Sorry for those who lose a pet to accidents like such as this one, that doesn't give you the right to target a specific breed or group of people for that matter. The owner/s and the owner/s solely is the responsible party/s for a dogs' actions.