Fla. Man Dies Days After Dogs Tore Off His Arm

wctv.tv ^ | 16 June 2011 | AP story

[smokingfrog]

PALATKA, Fla. (AP) -- 6-16-2011 -

A north Florida man who whose arm was torn off in a dog attack has died.

Officials say 74-year-old Roy McSweeney died Wednesday afternoon in a Gainesville Hospital.

Jennifer Biewend, his family's attorney, says McSweeney suffered brain damage from severe blood loss when the dogs tore off one arm and partially removed the other. The dogs -- either pit bulls or pit mixes -- also attacked the man's face. The attack occurred June 10 as the man was doing yard work.

Investigators found that the dogs broke loose from the yard of McSweeney's next-door neighbor, Deanna Blitch. The dogs were taken by officials and euthanized. No charges have been filed, but an investigation continues.

[smokingfrog]

The dogs were well known to the police, having attacked two other people before Mr McSweeney.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the state attorney's office are still investigating and deciding whether to charge Blitch in the fatal attack. If they do, she could face a charge of negligent manslaughter.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Charge her!

This is unconscionable!
I believe those dogs ran loose a lot.

[cripplecreek]

The dogs were well known to the police, having attacked two other people before Mr McSweeney.

Why the hell were these dogs breathing?

[vladimir998]

Deanna Blitch. Just one letter off from being accurate.

[Venturer]

In before the Pit Bull apologists.

I admit the dogs aren’t bad ,the owners are, but what good does that do Mr. McSweeney? The dogs should be kept in cage’s like Tiger cage’s, Owners who do not do that are irresponsible.

[smokingfrog]

What a horrible way to die.

The poor man was a veteran too.

[wac3rd]

....where is the buttpimple who will cry “it’s the OWNER, not the BREED”???

Pitbulls are dangerous.

[IbJensen]

Correct misspelling: Deanna Bitch.

[allmendream]

1. Large and/or aggressive breed of dog? Yes - pit bulls - bred to fight to the death and ignore submission/surrender.

2. Running loose, often >1 running loose? Yes - one hop and both were over the fence and ready to kill as a pack.

3. Previous reports of aggression? Yes - multiple attacks on multiple occasions.

4. Unrealistic expectation of passivity from the dogs, often despite #3 above? Yes - in spades, manslaughter level negligence.

[Squantos]

Damn....

[353FMG]

Everybody and his dog has 1st Amendment rights, don’t you know?

[SJSAMPLE]

I have been told, repeatedly, that attacks like this are rare.

[truthguy]

Here's the data I've seen

Of all the fatal dog attacks in the last year we have:

1. Pit Bulls- 67%

2. Rottweilers-12%

3. German Shepards- 9%

4. All other breeds- 12%

In actual numbers these attacks are rare. But the data speaks for itself about Pit Bulls.

And that's not even mentioning the damage Pits do to other dog breeds. I've seen this first hand. Only extremely knowledgeable and capable dog people should own a Pit Bull or a Rottweiler.

[funfan]

There was one in San Francisco a few years back. A woman was trying to get into her apartment and 2 pitt bulls came out of another apartment and attacked and killed the woman they chewed her face off. The owner of the dogs was charged Marjorie Knoller (not sure of the spelling)and sent to jail. It was a horrible attack

[Bobalu]

Have to round all them critters up into a big pen, somewhere out in the desert. Nuke em from orbit...only way to be sure.

The apologists for the Breed Of Peace will be here any minute now to party.

[freejohn]

chet_99 .. That You? 8)

[SJSAMPLE]

noobs ;)

/s

[3D-JOY]

You are right, and I read it that way the first time.

[MsLady]

My niece has two pit bulls. While I was home visiting, one of them stood in front of me and barked at me the whole time I was there. She said oh, he’s just playful. And I’m thinking, yea, well, I hope he doesn’t think I’m one of his chew toys. She has two small boys. I know people who love them and think they are great dogs. I wouldn’t ever own one. I think the potential of danger from these dogs are to great a risk to have them.

[altura]

Totally agree. If Pit Bulls were the only dogs in the world ... I still wouldn’t want one.

But shelters and rescue groups are full of good dogs who need a home.

If you want a big dog, get a Lab. My Bubba is 103 pounds of love.