Posted on 03/04/2014 7:09:54 PM PST by nickcarraway
Kenneth Clodo Santillan (pictured with his dad), 13, was attacked and mauled to death last Friday by a bullmastif while walking in Paterson, N.J., with a friend. The unidentified friend was also attacked, as was the dog’s owner, Paul Clarke (pictured with Trigger), according to The Record.
Police records state that Santillan and his friend were walking along a street at about 4:30 p.m. when the 115-pound dog, whose name was Trigger, lunged at them. As to what provoked the animal, the details, per investigators, remain sketchy.
The canine initially bit the unidentified child on his hand, yet he was able to get away. Santillan, however, was not so lucky; Trigger chased after him and at 11 p.m., hours later after the initial attack, his lifeless body was found behind Clarke’s home.
The child who had accompanied Santillan was spotted running down a block bleeding from his hand. Carmen Baez, who was outside of her home when the unnamed child approached her, was told by the boy that he had been attacked by a dog. Baez ran into her house to get bandages and paper towels for the youth in order to control the bleeding. According to Baez, the fidgety child wrapped his hand, then quickly left the premises. The woman offered to call 911 but the child asked her not to do so. He also did not reveal his name.
Maria Zacheus, who lives near where Santillan’s body was discovered, told The Record that at around 9 p.m., she heard what seemed to be a search party taking place behind her apartment building. Zacheus heard a man crying unceasingly and yelling repeatedly, “My son! My son! My son!” The woman used her smartphone to record several video clips of the search.
Clarke, who had owned the dog, was forced to stab his canine repeatedly in order to get away from it because the animal had then turned on him on the same day as the Santillan attack.
According to neighbors, the dog was friendly at first but then his temperament changed for the worse after kids on the block taunted him. Other residents told the paper that many feared the aggressive dog that often barked and growled as strangers walked by his fenced area. One neighbor said Trigger had actually escaped his fenced area twice in the past by jumping over it because he was a big dog.
Zacheus said Trigger had tried to attack her and her 6-year-old grandson in the past, stating, “Monday through Friday, I walk through here to go pick him up from school. I always see the dog. He starts barking. He’s very aggressive.” The grandmother admitted that she had to cross the street in order to avoid any close contact with the dog.
Trigger was “humanely euthanized” by police and his remains are being tested for rabies. Santillan’s friend and Clarke were treated at a nearby hospital and released.
Investigators are still delving into the Santillan case. An autopsy will be conducted on the teen in order to find out the exact cause of death.
Thus far, no charges have been filed against Clarke. Police are asking anyone with information about the Santillan case to contact 973-321-1120.
Prayers. We are former bullmastiff owners. They are normally docile, gentle giants.
We had an English Mastiff, and had to put him down at four years old because he was aggressive towards strangers. It was so heartbreaking, but we couldn’t risk him harming anyone.
Sounds like some hell kids at work. The article is so poorly written it's hard to make heads or tails of it.
Yep.
Along with rabies, they should check for tick borne disease and hypothyroidism.
The latter two can make a gentle dog “go berserk” without warning.
I’m very curious as to why the surviving kid didn’t want the law called.
Had they just been tormenting the dog?
Our Sampson was a rescue through the Bullmastiff Association. He knew he had been given a second chance. He was such a lovie. We joked about him being a lap dog!
“We had an English Mastiff”
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I learned years ago that purebred dogs had reached the equivalent of the “Peter Principle”. They have been over bred for too many years. Today, nothing beats a mutt.(just my opinion)
Before some of you jump on me, yes, I know that most of you believe that you have the most magnificent purebred dog in the world :P... I do know that there are many exceptions.
Choosing a purebred should involve an extremely diligent search and knowledge of its breeding.
Dreadful. RIP.
That's possible, but it's also possible those kids had a general distrust of the police.
My daughter has one. She has two small children and he is very good with them. He is a very gentile dog; the only time he gets excited is when he is getting a treat.
I distrust them too but if ~my~ friend was in the process of being mauled to death by a huge dog who had just bitten *me*, I *think* I’d make an exception.
me thinks the kid that got away knows something he wants to keep to himself.
They’re always gentle and kind, until they’re not.
Your post implies quite a lack of understanding of genetics. I have had three Irish wolfhounds, all of which were excellent examples of the breed. The Saga of Nial has a good description of the breed and why they were so valued. My present English Mastiff is a male and he is a frustrated lap dog - 225 pounds is too much for any lap except that of the Jolly Green Giant!
Pure bred dogs will have far more predictable behavior than mongrels. However, when canid behavior indicates aggression toward humans, reasoned and prudent owners ascertain the reason for the new behavior and act accordingly.
I agree with you. Our mastiff was about as picture perfect as they come, but had serious aggression issues. After him, we got a “purebred” English Bulldog from a “reputable” breeder. She has had about every possible health problem that bulldogs are prone to- due to over-breeding to meet a “standard”. Before these two, we had two mutts....they were healthy and sane. This bulldog will be our last dog, she’s worn us and our bank account out...
Which is why I’d rather be your friend, than that kid’s.
“Pure bred dogs will have far more predictable behavior than mongrels.”
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I knew that I would be castigated by pure-breed owners, but has nothing to do with my knowledge of genetics.
Yes, pure bred do have particular characteristics. Not all of those characteristics, however, are good.
My comments are not based on any claims to be professional in the dog breeding or training business, but a result of my 69 years of experience with numerous dogs of all types, from Manchesters to Graet Danes. None of the purebred dogs in my life turned out to be as nice or as healthy as the various cur/mongrel dogs that I knew, or adopted.
Yes, I know that each breed has particular characteristics, both good and bad.
My best friend, now deceased, had at least three, maybe four wolfhounds over fifteen years.. They were nice, but certainly too big for my taste, and not noted for longevity.
My largest dog was three-quarter Great Dane, and one quarter St. Bernard. She was quite large, but as sweet as any dog could be. She did, however, have 200 acres to range over.
I now care for 2 wild Philippine dogs, both female. They run free on the beach, and are liked by the neighbors. They are quite friendly and nice to have around. Anyway, my six cats keep them in line.
There are also a number of wild/unowned dogs in the neighborhood, but they never seem to be a problem for anyone. The two dogs that I care for are quite noted by each having a collar.
Dogs are great. Some will kill without human instigation. They’re animals.
I don’t think any of that has any science behind it....just anecdotal
But I do that too
Any dog can be aggressive....it just takes on a certain urgency when they are bigger ....registered or mongrel
I can anecdotally claim I’m glad chihuahuas are tiny or else it would be mass murder
Likewise I think chows bite a lot.....
And yes pits have a great jaw
But if there as many rotts or mastiffs or Anatolians owned by thuggish folks who abuse their pets they would be known as killers too
I’ve owned ....14-15 dogs in my life...all would bite if provoked
Some even if not
And plenty would kill cats....
You have to watch them with kids...a big guard male will always view kids as under his pack rank
They cannot take his food or toy or tease him like alpha male or female can...I don’t think tease big digs period....why beg trouble...I’ve seen folks bit teasing a dobie even after I warned them.
You have to train the kids just like the dog....
poorly written is understatement/lol
Kenneth Clodo Santillan (pictured with his dad), 13....
My but they start young in NJ
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