Badly injured child is improving after dog attack (updated)

[Omaha Steve]

I had to call the Humane Society and then the police as a park caretaker 2 years ago. It was a pit bull attack 20 yards from the playground full of kids. It had attacked a golfer in the park. We chased 2 dogs 1/4 of a mile. A Society officer got 1 with a dart gun. Once it dropped, the other dog was cornered. They got an extended leash around it's neck. The first dog was destroyed after 10 days. No owner was ever found.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10367794

Published Friday June 27, 2008
Badly injured child is improving after dog attack
BY TOM SHAW AND JASON KUIPER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS

The day after a brutal pit bull attack, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and at least five Omaha City Council members say they're open to discussing some kind of pit bull ban for Omaha.


Charlotte Blevins following surgery for her injuries suffered in a dog attack.


The 15-month-old girl who was severely injured Wednesday was upgraded to serious condition today by doctors at Creighton University Medical Center. Charlotte Blevins had surgery Wednesday night.

Her injuries are not considered to be life threatening, Omaha police said.

In response to the pit bull attack, city officials will hold a series of meetings with the Nebraska Humane Society and Omaha police. A number of cities, including Council Bluffs, have banned pit bulls.

The number of pit bull bites in Council Bluffs has dropped dramatically since the ban took effect in 2005, and this year there have been no such bites, according to the city.

In Omaha, 48 pit bull bites have been reported to the Nebraska Humane Society this year.

Charlotte and another toddler, 17-month-old Cade Spring, were attacked along with their mothers about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday near 14th and Pine Streets.

FULL story at link.

[Blue Diadem]

1. I'm crying here, did you read about her surgery? The poor child was scalped.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10367943

Published Thursday June 26, 2008
Doctor forecasts years of surgery for child injured by dog

The 15-month-old girl whose scalp was torn off Wednesday by a pit bull terrier probably faces several years of surgeries, the reconstructive surgeon who operated on her said Thursday.

Dr. Amardip Bhuller said Charlotte Blevins underwent about two-and-a-half hours of surgery Wednesday night at Creighton University Medical Center and is doing well. He said she also was bitten on the chest and on an ear, and infection will continue to be a concern. She likely will undergo more surgery Monday.

"She basically got scalped by the dog," he said.

Bhuller, an assistant professor of surgery at Creighton University, spoke at a press conference Thursday. He said about a third of her scalp was torn from the back of her head in the attack, an injury that he described as "devastating." The torn scalp was roughly a quarter-inch deep.

more at link:
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10367943
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[MiniMe]

2. I have to ask, are you on an anti-pit bill crusade?

You have had a lot of posts on this topic in the last 2 days. 3 different incidents, but still. And as horrific as the little girl's attack was, I think this is at least the 3rd post about it.

[Omaha Steve]

3. If updating the story is uncalled for

The stories have had good click and response counts. Check the Omaha World Herald yourself, you will find over a dozen different stories from the last 48 hours about the 3 incidents. If pit bulls owners want to portray their dogs as loving, they would make sure these things don't happen. After 3 attacks in 24 hours in Omaha, I'd support a ban. But I live in Bellevue, and can't say crap to elected officials there. The mother of the child that was scalped is giving a press conference now.

http://www.omaha.com/

[MiniMe]

4. I'm just asking because it is the only thing I've seen you post in the last 2 days

I'm not really strongly pro or con pit bull, I've known some that have been very sweet. However, you could have updated the original post.

[OhioChick]

5. Thanks for posting, Steve.

Poor little girl.

They're trying to ban them in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs here, too.

As I posted in the past:

While I see both sides of the debate, I'd have to agree to a ban. When my brother got a new puppy, his wife used to go the "dog park" in Lakewood. She said that the dogs were all well-behaved and made many nice friends through the owners. One day in particular, she took their 3 month old puppy down there to "play." Once done, she leashed him up to leave and someone let their 2 pit bulls through the gate....they immediately went for their puppy "who was still leashed." One grabbed the pup by the throat....bit the hell out of him. The by-standers (including the owner) were beating this dog to make it let go of the pup. They had one hell of a time. It finally did....fortunately there was an animal hospital very close. My SIL was in shock, crying holding this pup and put him in the back seat of their car. As the pup's heart beat....blood spurt out of his neck wound. All in all, after many hours of surgery, the pup made it. She's never gone back to the dog park. However, she did make a complaint with the polic dept. and they said too many pit bull incidents were occuring at the dog park.....and on the city streets including residents. I saw that pup and cannot fathom that happening to a little kid.....