Notable Dog Attacks, and How You Can Protect Yourself from Being a Victim
We tend to think of dogs as docile creatures, friendly four-legged companions who become part of the family very quickly; we generally consider them to be as safe to be around as other family members. However, not all dogs are friendly, and some dogs are prone to attack. Most of us know that an unfamiliar dog should not be trusted, such that we would be wary of approaching a strange dog who is acting aggressive.
In some cases, however, attacks come seemingly out of the blue. Even truly docile pets can sometimes become agitated, and attack. For example, a trusted family pet can suddenly turn on a baby or small child, seemingly with no provocation.
Why do dog attacks happen?
Sometimes dogs have been raised to be aggressive or have inbred aggressive tendencies, as appears to be the case with the attack on Californian Diane Whipple in 2001. In these cases, dogs who are clearly known to be dangerous are not controlled by owners for whatever reason. Perhaps they can't control them, or are negligent in their behavior such that they willfully allow or at least don't stop attacks from happening.
When owners know dogs are dangerous and do nothing to protect the public
One of the most famous cases of this type in recent years has been that of Diane Whipple; she was a lacrosse coach and player, an athlete who, one would think, would certainly be able to defend herself or at least extricate herself from the situation with at most non-life-threatening injuries.
Diane Whipple
In 2001, lacrosse player and coach Whipple was attacked and killed in her apartment building's hallway by two large Presa Canario dogs; these dogs were owned by neighbors Robert Noel and his wife Marjorie Knoller.
• Details of the case
Knoller and Noel had gotten the dogs through a friend, Paul Schneider, who was the dogs' original owner and an Aryan brotherhood prison gang member; he was incarcerated and serving a life sentence at Pelican Bay state prison. Schneider was attempting to start an illegal dog fighting business from prison. Janet Coumbs was raising the dogs on behalf of Schneider, as part of their business. Against the dogs' breeder's advice, Coumbs chained the dogs up in an isolated place on her farm, causing them to be even more aggressive. Schneider did not agree with this tactic, especially once the dogs attacked and killed a goat and some chickens. (Nonetheless, Coumbs continued this practice, which could very well have contributed to the dogs' aggression; the Presa Canario breed is also known to have aggressive tendencies.)
Subsequently, Knoller and Noel took possession of the dogs; they'd met Schneider while doing some legal work for the prisoners Pelican Bay.
The dogs were very large; the male (Bane) weighed 140 pounds, such that Noel was usually the one who handled him. On the afternoon of the attack, Knoller was home alone with the two dogs. She decided to take Bane up to the roof, which necessitated going up a flight of stairs. The victim, Diane Whipple, was coming back and was entering her apartment with some groceries when Bane attacked her; it's not clear whether or not Hera, the female dog, was also involved in the attack.
Regardless of whether the attack was caused by just Bane or involved both Bane and Hera, what was clear was that the victim, Diane Whipple, was no match for the two dogs in spite of her athleticism. She ultimately sustained 77 wounds, and died as a result of blood loss from multiple dramatic increase caused by the dog bites.
Bane was immediately euthanized, and the female, Hera, was also euthanized several months later, in January of 2002.
• The trial
The case went to trial; the dogs' owners were both charged with serious offenses relating to the attack. Marjorie Knoller was indicted for second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Her husband, Robert Noel, faced involuntary manslaughter charges. Both also faced charges of "keeping a mischievous dog," a felony.
Both Noel and Knoller were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and of owning a mischievous animal that caused the death of a human being. Knoller was also found guilty of second-degree murder.
During the trial, Knoller's defense attorneys and she argued that she had attempted to defend Whipple while the dog(s) were attacking her. However, witnesses contradicted this testimony; other witnesses also said that the owners had minimal to no control over the dogs. One of the witnesses, a professional dog walker, told Robert Noel to muzzle his dogs, whereby he was told to "shut up" and was victim of some name calling by Noel, as well.
Another witness testified that the female dog, Hera, had bitten the acquaintance quite severely a year before Diane Whipple's attack, and that Noel did not apologize for the attack.
Noel and Knoller were convicted of their crimes because it was felt that they knew the dogs were already aggressive to other people, and did not take precautions with them even though the animals were clearly large and dangerous, such that they could severely harm someone else. (It was not clear whether or not they had actually trained the dogs to fight or attack.) Knoller and Noel were also both lawyers by trade, and the state of California suspended their licenses in 2002 after conviction. Noel was disbarred in February of 2007.
Cursed by dogs: The mailperson's professional hazard
The dangers postal workers have had to face on the job from dogs are so ubiquitous to American history that they've become sort of a running gag in American culture. However, it's really no joke.
Eddie Lin
In May 2010, 33 year old Chinese American postal worker Eddie Lin was attacked while he was delivering mail. Although he was not killed by his dog bite injuries, he sustained massive head trauma because he severely hit his head on the ground during the attack, sustaining massive head injuries. He died 10 days later.
Unfortunately, the situation above is not entirely unique. In 2010, almost 6000 postal workers were attacked by dogs in the country, or about 11.txt every delivery day. That doesn't include simple "threats" of attack, those that don't actually result in injury.
• Attacks on postal workers by state
For postal workers, Houston is the most dangerous city when it comes to dog attacks, with 62 in 2010. San Diego, California, and Columbus, Ohio came in second, with 45 dog attacks in 2010, while Los Angeles came in third, with 44 attacks.
Beyond postal workers: The ramifications
4.7 million Americans fell victim to dog attacks last year - most of them children. In addition to the injuries themselves, the ramifications are financial, as well. The US Insurance Information Institute has stated that of all of the homeowners' insurance liability claims paid out in 2010, more than one third were as the result of dog attacks, with a total payout of almost $413 million.
When family pets attack "out of the blue"
Houston infant
On September 5, 2011, an unidentified woman in Houston left her two week old baby unattended with the family Labrador; she was not in immediate proximity of the baby, but could see the child through a nearby window. She watched in horror, helpless, as the family Labrador pushed through the French doors to the room where the baby sat alone. At first, the previously trusted family pet simply sniffed the child, but then mauled the baby before the mother could get to it. The dog was immediately pulled off the child and placed in a kennel; the baby was airlifted to a trauma hospital, but it died from its injuries. Authorities are currently investigating whether or not the mother should be charged with negligence.
•Why did this dog attack happen?
Experts surmise that even calm and usually docile family pets can become aggressive around unfamiliar people, especially children and babies. Small children and babies have erratic movements, and they may not be seen as human by the dog at first; the dog can simply "attack" not simply because it decides to be willfully aggressive toward a child, but because it's following its instincts. It sees a foreign "animal" that it then turns predatory towards. Therefore, experts say, small children should never be left alone with even the most seemingly docile of family pets.
How often do dog attacks happen?
Dog attacks are relatively commonplace, but they're rarely fatal. Of 33 fatal dog attacks in 2010, five of the victims were four years of age or younger. Still, almost 5 million people get bitten by dogs every year, with 50% of dog bites being inflicted on children, and 20 to 25 million other dogs the victim of attacks as well.
Minimizing the possibility of dog attack
Every dog owner has the responsibility to minimize the possibility of dog attack. One of the major reasons dog attacks can happen is simply owner negligence. Either owners know that their dogs are aggressive, and failed to do anything about it, as with the case of Diane Whipple, or they have the mistaken impression that their dog could "never" bite, as is possibly true in the case of the Houston baby who was mauled by the family Labrador.
• If you're a dog owner
1. Be vigilant
If you're a dog owner, make sure you keep an eye on your pet whenever he or she is around strangers or small children. Don't be complacent about this, because absolutely EVERY pet is capable of biting. Even the most docile dogs may bite if they feel threatened; some loving family pets may also mistakenly think that they're protecting you from danger, and will bite simply because they're following their protective instincts.
2. Manage aggressive tendencies immediately
If you notice aggressive behavior in your dog, take care of it immediately. Take your dog to obedience training or to a dog trainer so that you can both get proper instruction in control and management of your dog.
3. Tie up or contain your pet humanely if you can't be around to make sure the dog behaves
If you know someone (such as the mailperson) is going to be stopping by, make sure the dog is put away in a safe place or tied up so that he or she can't get loose. It's up to you to protect anyone on your property when you have a dog, even if you think that dog doesn't bite.
• If you are threatened by a dog
1. Don't run
If you're threatened by a dog, DON'T run. Dogs see this as an invitation to chase, and will simply pursue. Back away slowly from the dog, eyes averted.
Don't challenge the dog's gaze or speak sharply as you do so; again, a very aggressive dog will simply see this as an invitation to attack.
Notify the dog's owner and if necessary, animal control or other authorities if you have contact with the dog who has been aggressive. If the dog's owner does not take appropriate action to either trained dog or protect the public from the dog's actions, notify animal control. They may not have the authority to intervene, but they might be able to. Even if they can't, they may have resources and suggestions for you so that you can stay safe.
_______
References
Biting dogs become real danger to many Americans. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/21/c_13886177.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
Diane Whipple. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Whipple. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
Dog's Owner Is Devastated by Mailman's Death. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Dogs-Owner-Is-Devastated-Daughter.html.
Help Stop Dog Aggression! http://www.preventdogattacks.com/. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
Newborn Was Alone in the Room When Attacked by Family Dog. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/208774/20110905/dog-mauled-baby-infant-newborn-labrador-houston-mother-alone-negligence.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
Perro de Presa Canario. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presa_Canario. Retrieved September 10, 2011.