5yr old gets mauled...

[Ride1Rob]

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HIGHLAND CITY - A 5-year-old boy is recovering after a family friend's pit bull mauled him Tuesday afternoon, the Polk Sheriff's Office said.

Martin Collier was a guest at the home of Scott Gawtrey, of 4619 Great Blue Heron Drive in Highland City, about 3:30 p.m. when the attack happened.

Gawtrey's pit bull bit Martin on the head, face, arm and legs, according to the Sheriff's Office. Martin was flown to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa by helicopter and needed more than 50 sutures in his scalp, a 3-inch piece of which was missing, and more than 200 sutures on his top lip.

Martin suffered three or four punctures on his left forearm, between 13 and 15 punctures on his left leg and two punctures on his right leg. Despite his extensive injuries, doctors expected to release Martin on Tuesday night.

His family declined comment through the Sheriff's Office.

Gawtrey surrendered the pit bull that attacked Martin to Sheriff's Office Animal Control officers, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said. The 5-year-old dog is being kept in quarantine while the attack is investigated.

Neighbor Michael Dodge, 27, said Gawtrey and his wife have lived in the dark beige corner home since August and kept two pit bulls.

He would see the couple walking the dogs shortly after they moved in, but after erecting a privacy fence around their backyard, they stopped.

"Even (next-door neighbors) said they forgot they had them," he said.

From what little he saw of them, Dodge said the dogs seemed friendly, and they were quiet.

Another neighboring couple walking their three dogs Tuesday night said they spoke with the Gawtreys after the attack and Scott Gawtrey told them he's raised the pit bull that attacked Martin since it was a puppy. However, after Tuesday's events, he turned over both of his dogs to Animal Control out of fear that they may become violent again, next time against his own child, the couple said, declining to give their names.

Nobody answered the door on two separate visits to the Gawtrey home Tuesday evening.

The last incident involving pit bulls in Polk happened in January 2005, when a pair of dogs attacked 10-year-old Jesus Arriaga as he walked to school in Lakeland. Arriaga suffered minor injuries.

[blupits04]

The sheriff's office gave the following account: around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies were called to 4619 Great Heron Blue Drive in Highland City, the home of Scott and Cassie Gawtrey, after it was reported that a child had been bitten severely by a pit bull. Witnesses told officers that Collier and his mother Tonette Hayward, who live in Lakeland, were visiting their good friends the Gawtreys at their Highland City home. The Gawtreys' 5-year-old red nose pit bull Dozer gained entry into the home by pushing open a sliding glass door and approached Collier, who was sitting on the living room couch. Dozer began licking Collier. Reports varied, but it appears that either Collier or his mother, or both of them, at some point screamed, and immediately after that, Dozer grabbed Collier by the head and face with his teeth and began biting him all over his head and body. Another friend at the home was able to get the dog off of the boy and put the dog into a bathroom.


The Gawtreys voluntarily surrendered Dozer and their other pit bull dog, Trinity, to Polk County Animal Control, where both dogs will remain under quarantine. Dozer does not have documented rabies vaccination, and the owners will be cited for that, sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said. After a 10-day waiting period to determine if Dozer tests positive for rabies, he will be euthanized, along with Trinity, who exhibits signs that she cannot be adopted out, Rodgers said today.

Seems to me the dogs were either being abused or have been hit at before. Especially if both dogs show signs of aggression.

I just saw on the news where they said the boy was being spanked and then the dog attacked.

 I don't know exactly what happened and like many others no one else will b/c the story seems to change everytime I see/hear it. The also said the man gave up both of his pits b/c he was afraid they would attack... Anyone who has ever raised a pit since a puppy knows how loyal and protective they are, so either something happened to scare the dog or maybe I miss understood the news and someone tried to spank the dog.Either way it's a tragedy and I feel for the boy. Yet another bad rap on the pits b/c no one can account for what REALLY happened.

[Turboderf]

WoW thats crazy

[quadracer1992]

Thats insane.

[trx#9]

I don't break, for pit bulls!

[bigwake]

that reeeaaaaalllly sux! its all michael vick's fault though..that idiot!

[gearhead400]

yea, vick is a scum bag. Sucks these things happen. Hope to boy recovers alright. Good looking pit too, its a shame, he doesnt even know what he did wrong. 

[yfz450runner]

i also do not brake for pits. how many inoccent people have to get maulled or injured before something gets done about it. those dogs are very unpredictable and should not be trusted at all!!!!!!!!! and for that matter people who post on here trying to get rid of there pits, there thread should be taken off before someone who we ride with gets badly injured. in some counties in miami owning a pit is illeagal. i beleive all pits should be illeagal.  just my 2 cents.......

[blupits04]

i also do not brake for pits. how many inoccent people have to get maulled or injured before something gets done about it. those dogs are very unpredictable and should not be trusted at all!!!!!!!!! and for that matter people who post on here trying to get rid of there pits, there thread should be taken off before someone who we ride with gets badly injured. in some counties in miami owning a pit is illeagal. i beleive all pits should be illeagal.   just my 2 cents.......

well hopefully after using your last 2 cents your now broke and we don't have to hear your ignorant ramblings. Ask any pit owner on here if the believe anything you just said and i'm sure you'll get more than $.02 worth. As for the comment about people who are trying to get rid of there pits.... it's ignorant, unknowledgable people like you who do stupid stuff to instigate a pit to where they are just protecting themselves or their owners. To put it where you might understand.... Most of the pits who have attacked are pits who have been abused or neglected and are just trying to protect themselves, Lets say someone comes up to you and swings are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna fight back? Tell the truth now I don't know one person who wouldn't try to protect themselves.  I guarantee you'd brake for my pits if they were out..it'd be a shame to lose a nice vehicle over a dog


that's just part of my $.02 for ya

By the way other than Shirah, Big Daddy,  And Trojan who all own pits on here?


Kari

[sparkplug01]

You talk like you haven't ever owned a pit.So your fine to hate all you want.but It's all in how they've been raised.I raise them and sell them and have never had a bad one yet.But I will say I bet you want ever lay a hand on any one of my three kids in a mean manner.but at the same time my pit will play with anyone at any time just dont mess with the kids and your ok.you talk from your own ignorance , dont blame the dog for that.And the only dog I ever had that would bite for no reason was a German shepherd .......owe well you want to buy a pit?I have a whole litter for sale right now.And for the record I am very sorry to here about the little kid getting bit,but I bet if the truth was known the owner had raised the dog to be mean or abused .

[bigwake]

i've never owned a pit..but it WOULD seem that its in how they are raised..i mean maybe they have some aggression in their nature..but if in the right home and cared for right..they would be fine dogs..the violent pits are trained that way..or were abused as pups and when they are bought when older..then the owners say after it attacks someone "its never been mean or anything" yet it was abused as a pup

[gearhead400]

i've never owned a pit..but it WOULD seem that its in how they are raised..i mean maybe they have some aggression in their nature..but if in the right home and cared for right..they would be fine dogs..the violent pits are trained that way..or were abused as pups and when they are bought when older..then the owners say after it attacks someone "its never been mean or anything" yet it was abused as a pup

thats very true, my unlce has two of them and they are the biggest pansy's.

[KB]

blupit's, I'm w/ you on this one again too. I LOVE PIT BULL'S !!!

It's how there raised, as soon as the media hear's the word "pit-bull" they have them a story, I feel bad for the little boy that got mauled, if it was my kid the dog would be dead, then if the dog was abused, I'd find the abuser.

I wonder how many times a kid/adult was mauled by another dog that wasn't a pit, & we never even hear about it because it wasn't a pit ?

But let's not get this topic into a flame like the last one we had here, too many people don't know the dog/breed, & know only about as much as some of these new's reporter's IMO.

I know some pit's that are the sweetest dog's I've ever seen, they'll lick you to death (no pun intended) IT'S HOW THEY ARE RAISED, JUST LIKE HOW PEOPLE RAISE THERE CHILDREN, then there children turn into a John Couey or some other nasty freak.

[budman]

All dogs can bite. They are animals. They all can be unpredictable at times. The rap against pits is they have extremely strong jaws and therefore are the ultimate fighting dog. They can be aggressive, but so can a poodle. Hell, I know a guy who's dachshund would bite the crap out of you. If his jaws were like a pit, your a$$ would be grass. I have owned pits. But I am also wary of owners with them. Most pit owners like the fact that their breed is feared. Not all, but most. This is coming from a former pit owner of lovable pits.......

[budman]

ok, before I get flamed....maybe I should not say "most"....a heluva lot would be more appropriate

[Da_Mtg_Man]

All dogs can bite. They are animals. They all can be unpredictable at times. The rap against pits is they have extremely strong jaws and therefore are the ultimate fighting dog. They can be aggressive, but so can a poodle. Hell, I know a guy who's dachshund would bite the crap out of you. If his jaws were like a pit, your a$$ would be grass. I have owned pits. But I am also wary of owners with them. Most pit owners like the fact that their breed is feared. Not all, but most. This is coming from a former pit owner of lovable pits.......

I'm with ya Budman, We raised a Am Staff from a pup when I was young and it was the best dog we've ever owned. He was the best tempered dog but at the same time, Let someone show aggression to one of us kids. He would run and play all day long with us and then crash out on the fllor in the living room while we all weatched tv at night.
As Mike said, All dogs have some sort of aggression but pits have  jaws that lock so they just get a bad rap. Also, Dogs don't attack unless provoked. We don't know the whole story and never will but my guess is that the dog got a finger in the eye or something along those lines. All kids do it.

[blupits04]

I had a min pin puppy that was abused as a pup he was 2 and raised around kids, he was fine until my son went to pick him up one day and he turned and bit him in the face. Luckily it was only a small bite on his lip but non the less I got rid of him. The lady that owns him now said he's a sweetheart and wouldn't hurt a fly, but she doesn't have kids.


As my hubby(sparkplug01)  said it's all in how they are raised. I can tell our dogs to go to their pen and they go (I wish it was that easy with kids   lol ) My 3yr old can go outside and play with Trixie and she'll stay right by her side if she goes where she's not supposed to Trixie will turn her around. When she's done playing she'll tell her to go to her pen and she'll go...How many other dogs do you know that will listen to a 3yr old? No matter who's kids come over she's amazing with them she watches them like they were her own and is very protective. If someone pulls in the yard while they are out she doesn't leave their side she stays with them until the vehicle stops and she's called away.

5 min after having her first couple of pups I went outside and picked them up sat down with her and played with her while she had another one. She never showed any sign of aggression.


Our Males we had never showed any aggression unless they were threatened. The people that have them now say they are great they are very protective. Cowboy's new owner was pregnant when they first got him, the baby is now 3 months old and he won't let anyone near the baby unless they say it's ok. He sleeps by the door and wakes up when the baby cries.


Anyone who has bad mouthed the pits has never owned a pit or they have only been around abused ones.

And you'll have a hell of a fight on your hands if you wanna talk crap about them cuz I will argue with you about them until I'm blue in the face! I'll never be convinced until I see one of mine turn. People can say whatever they want when something bad happens no one wants to take the blame and say they abused the dog or made it mean and thats why it attacked.

Most of the pits who are shown on TV that have attacked are mixed they aren't even full blooded pits, most are mixed with chow, rottie, boxer, dobie, or lab... you mix anything and you could have problems. But again it's all in how you raise them....Back when I was little Chows were the ones you saw in the news all the time.


And the reason it's illegal in Miami to have pits is b/c of all the fighting rings down there. Not b/c of the breed.

True Budman very True

[Joedirt]

Why are the people who do not like Pit Bulls "Ignorant Ramblers"??

[yfz450runner]

Ignorant........ i think not! check the papers and the news,  most of the pits that have attacked recently hade great owners and were never abused. the owners were quaoted as saying " i dont understand were this came from, he or she is the sweetest dog".  As for you people who defend pits, one day you will wake up and see the light. hopefully it wont be a loved one in the mouth of a pit. the breed should be halted and all pits should be e-chiped so they can be moniterd all the time. it is true that many breeds of dogs can bite or even turn on an owner, they are only dogs, but pits do it alot. that can not be denied. it is also true that it is how you bring up a dog. treat it mean and it will eventually turn. and of course there are some extensuating surcomstanses that will make a dog go bad too. but once again pits seem to be the exception. and turn more often than many other breeds.
Quote;

  "I guarantee you'd brake for my pits if they were out..it'd be a shame to lose a nice vehicle over a dog"  blupits04

if this is a threat ...bring it on!!!! and no i would not worry about losing my vehicle. the tires are big enough were if i hit one i would not feel it!!!!

i am a big dog lover and own 2 great dogs.i plan on getting more dogs in the near future. but a pit wont be one.  thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[budman]

Why are the people who do not like Pit Bulls "Ignorant Ramblers"??

Ignorant Rambler:
1. anyone who has a different opinion than yours.
2. An American Motors car made between 1954 and 1969 that doesn't know
 sh!t about pit bulls....     

[Joedirt]

Why are the people who do not like Pit Bulls "Ignorant Ramblers"??

Ignorant Rambler:
1. anyone who has a different opinion than yours.
2. An American Motors car made between 1954 and 1969 that doesn't know
 sh!t about pit bulls....     

LMAO....

[shirah86]

bro u are bout as ignorant as they come, i know alot of deputies that have been aroung dog bite incidents the majority of them are smaller dogs maybe 1 in 10 is a pit if that, pits are pretty much the scapegoat for all dog bites anytime a dog bite is mentioned first thought is that it was a pit, so go drive around with your big tires  and  u will see the light, lying on your back after youve ran over somebodys dog-----

[yfz450runner]

once again " ignorant  not me"  educated and know the truth,,  yeah thats me. as far as cops go  most will lie and tell you what you want to hear, but that is a different thread. pits are dangerous and not good dogs. great for defending a junk yard, but not a kid. you all can keep defending your pits and i am sure they are a great dog for you. hopefully they never become crazy or turn on you and they live a long happy life. i will never own one and will tell anybody who asks what kind of bread dog they should get, not to get a pit. this has been a fun thread but lame and boring now. good luck to all of you pit owners.

[MOTOCROSS MAVERICK]

i also do not brake for pits. how many Innocent people have to get maulled or injured before something gets done about it. those dogs are very unpredictable and should not be trusted at all!!!!!!!!! and for that matter people who post on here trying to get rid of there pits, there thread should be taken off before someone who we ride with gets badly injured. in some counties in Miami owning a pit is illegal. i believe all pits should be illegal. just my 2 cents.......

so with this comment is it safe to say that how many people have to get hurt on ATV's before something gets done about it! doest sound fair does it? that is one of the most ignorant commets i have ever read on this site! i bet you didn't get change for your 2 cents! my dad has owned pits my whole life and they are some of the best dogs you can own! how many pits have you owned? i always hear from people that they got bit by a Doberman, rot, or some other dog but you don't hear that on the news! you only hear about pits because of there power and rap!

[Bigscrb15]

Maybe we should ban porcupines too!!!!