Meet Frankie Flora. He was 5 yrs old at the time that he was viciously attacked and mauled by a pit bull type dog.  

He can't be at the Walk For Victims despite how much he wanted to be.

He's written to all of the Walkers, and I'm sharing his letter here. This is Frankie.....

Hi my name is Frankie Flora. I am 8 years old now. I was severely mauled by a dog when I had just turned 5. Four sections of my head was eaten down to my skull, my right cheek was missing, my left side was torn apart. I almost died. They told my mother that night they did not think I was going to survive. Dr. Anthony Allessi saved my life. He gave me blood transfusions and pieced me back together with donated skin. I had over 1,000 stitches to my head and face, nerve damage to my hand, and hearing loss. My leg has a big “Z” scar in it now.

 

I know what it feels like to be attacked and mauled to the point of almost dying. I wish I could have been here at the Walk in person but I was unable to get there. I am sorry that you have been through what I have been through. I am also sorry for all the people that died from an attack! I know their families must be sad. I am trying to pass a law in New York State to get rid of the " one bite rule " . Any of you can contact me at www.frankiefund.com. I wish you all joy, health and happiness. You are all in my prayers! STAY STRONG!!!

Thank you, Frankie. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We will Walk for you, and so many others tomorrow, Frankie. God Bless!

Levi before the attack

Levi at the hospital right after the attack

Meet 4 year old Levi Mulkey, viciously mauled by two pit bull type dogs as he tried to recover the frisbee that he and his brothers were playing with.  The frisbee landed just outside the neighbor's inadequate fence, and when Levi reached down to pick it up, two dogs reached their heads through the fence and grabbed Levi by the face, trying to pull him through the fence.

Jayden, Levi's big brother and hero!

His older brother, Jayden, 7 y/o at the time, saved Levi's life.....he ran to Levi and pulled Levi while kicking the vicious dogs. The dogs finally let go of Levi, but not before injuring him critically.

Levi almost lost his right eye, the eye socket was broken, his jaw was shattered.....Levi needs reconstructive surgery on his eye socket, his naval cavity, his jaw (which was wired shut for 3 weeks), his tear ducts, and his cheek.  

Levi is a strong little fighter, but he continues to have difficulty in his day to day life. He suffers PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as do his parents and brothers. He has difficulty sleeping at night due to horrific nightmares, and must endure more surgeries to come.

Levi healing slowly

We will be taking donations at the Walk for Levi and his family, as they continue to struggle with medical bills and more surgeries. His father, Matt, has missed a lot of work and is at least $20,000 in debt. They continue to struggle with monthly bills and with the trauma of almost having lost their son to vicious dogs.

Please join us at the Walk, to walk for and support all the victims of vicious pit bull and other dangerous dog attacks, and donate to help Levi and his family as they struggle through this nightmare. 

 

This is a photo of the inadequate fence. There were 8 dogs living behind this fence, 2 of which attacked and mauled Levi, grabbing him by the face and trying to pull him through the fence, as he attempted to recover the frisbee that landed right outside of this fence.  When will people understand and care about how important it is to have adequate fencing to contain their vicious dogs?! This owner was previously warned about the inadequate fencing several times and was told to have it fixed/replaced when another child was mauled by these vicious dogs prior to Levi's being attacked.  Because of this owner's carelessness and lack of consideration for the safety of her neighborhood and community, another child has endured and must continue to endure horrific pain and suffering, just because he wanted to get the frisbee and continue playing with his brothers. This is unacceptable! These vicious attacks and maulings must stop!!

Please come and walk with us on Saturday October 27th, 2012 at Lincoln Park and donate to Levi and his family.

You are in our thoughts and prayers, Levi and family. We will do our best to collect as many donations as we can for you, little angel, and we will walk for you! 

A more recent photo of Levi

Levi's first day back to school

Still in the hospital

After his first reconstructive surgery, still at the hospital

This is a letter written by the mother of Seleena Wickward to the Parents Against Dog Chaining, about her daughter, Saleena's vicious attack by a neighbor's pit bull. This is a powerful letter that should be read by all.
Saleena is a young child VICTIM of a vicious pit bull attack that left her severely injured and disfigured for life. 

"I noticed on your map, Utah doesn't show any children injured or killed. I am Saleena Wickward's mother & I can testify that in 2010 alone, 3 children just in our area were injured. 

People always have a reason for why that particular dog attacked. Let's be honest, the majority of severely injured children or children mauled TO DEATH comes from the jaws of a Pit. I am often accused of being a "Pit Bull Hater" which humors me. I raised American Pit Bulls, owning a total of 51 over the years. The problem that plagues me is that there IS NOT ALWAYS A REASON THAT AN ANIMAL ATTACKS! Chico (the dog that mauled my daughter) was extremely well cared for. He wasn't left on a chain for hours at a time. He wasn't abused, neglected, taunted, mistreated or anything else that one might think. That dog was taken for walks every day. He spent a lot of his mornings & early afternoons inside with his owners & had ample outside time as well. There wasn't one single thing that anyone could say the owners of Chico didn't do. 

So now what? While hundreds of people contacted us when Saleena was initially injured, nobody contacts us about it anymore besides her doctors. Nobody sees the now 7 year old child plagued with nightmares, self image issues, & PTSD . Nobody calls to see why Saleena didn't show up to picture day at school. No one has sympathy for us when we went without a vehicle for 3 months because my once pristine credit is now unworthy of a loan for a piece of paper. No one understands when Saleena's older brother has anxiety & panic attacks when anything even suggests a threat to his younger sisters. Not one person gives an iota of a care when four children won't even go to a public park, pool, or grocery store without the fear of God inside of them at all times. This being after almost 2 years of counseling.

Yet, the support for proper care of animals & Pro Pit Bull banter continues. Like a slap in the face, there's a new commercial, website, or facility asking for donations to save the animals, Pits in particular, almost everyday it seems. 

WHEN DO WE START SAVING OUR OWN CHILDREN?! When did animals start ranking above our race...our futures...& the little people we bring into this world that look to us for protection?! Saleena's accident brought out the support for pits more than anything. While a child was stuck in a hospital bed, with her hair being rubbed off the one side of her skull due to the severity of injuries encompassing her head... fighting infection...without the ability to open her eyelids due to the excessive swelling and bruising...having lucid nightmares...withdrawing from morphine...and all of this after having her face pieced back together with glue, stitches, staples, a metal plate, a screws. Her family in a state of emotional/physical/mental perdition, unsure of their loved one's outcome, & unable to be together to support & sooth one another not only during that time but for months to come along with more heartbreaking surgeries, scares, and distress at levels in which some will never even fathom... All of these occurrences & ANYONE was concerned for the dog's situation or fate?!? What?!

It makes me absolutely sick that anyone would donate to any of the "animal support" facilities when there are families like us out there paying astronomical amounts to try to save their child's life, put a face or limb back together for them, & pray that somehow a miracle will happen to save us from the poverty that an animal's mouth plagued our lives with. 

We eat cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals but chose a canine's life over or own children.

Honestly, how can anyone be confused as to why our communities grow more corrupt generation by generation, or what we're doing wrong by our children to have our crime rates rise, children shooting up schools, or addictions forming at younger ages continually?

No one seems afraid to stand up for the animals. In my opinion not only should they be afraid, but ashamed. Ignorance plagues our country like an outbreak of Ebola Zaire. Then to add salt to a wound, we publicize the "animals rights over children's safety/lives" for the entire globe to see. There were actually comments on the articles about Saleena's accident saying that "the dog was in his yard (mind you there was no fence & a dog run built having never been used) the little girl got what she deserved". I researched to the highest extent possibly in desperation to find the sadistic tormented mind behind those words. I wanted nothing more than that person to say those words while showing his/her face. There is no way that person had children. I'd love to sit with those people & show them every photo of Saleena taken due to this dog. The pre surgery photos would cause almost anyone to have haunting visions and nightmares for the rest of their days. 

I could go on and on from the $ worth put on a little girl's face to every single domino of our lives that fell all aftermath of "man's best friend."

I pray that we quit breeding ignorant & self destructive tendencies into our children. When will there be enough lives taken, enough innocent children sacrificed? I wonder how many "animal rights activists" could voice those same opinions after seeing their child shredded like the first course of a starved lioness. 

I wish it was as simple as changing the way we confine our pets. Instead, our communities stand & support this issue as our children are one by one traumatized, brutalized, & demonized. You never hear these stories where the dog owner says they knew there was a problem. The first time so often being the only time due to the severity.

Animal rights..... What happened to Human Rights? Who is going to protect our babies if we don't???"

Aiden McGrew, 2012

We will WALK for YOU, Aiden.  RIP little Angel. 

Meet Aiden McGrew, 2-months old from Ridgeville, SC

Aiden was viciously mauled to death by the family dog, a Retriever Mix that was recently adopted by the family. 

Aiden McGrew, 2-months old, was killed by the family dog while his mother was away and his father was sleeping. The mother found her son after returning from a doctor's appointment with her 7-year old daughter. The other child in the household, 3-years old, was asleep with the father during the mauling. The baby was left in a "bouncy chair" by his mother before leaving to the doctor's office. Initially awake that morning, the father, Quintin McGrew, fell back asleep. The recently adopted dog, described as a golden retriever-mix, pulled the infant from the chair and severed the baby's leg during the attack. Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nesbit ruled the death a homicide and that neglect led to the boy's death by "animal eating." The father was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The couple's two other children were taken into protective custody after the attack.

Please come and WALK with us for VICTIMS like Aiden, and so many others who's lives have been so tragically and unfairly taken in such a horrific way. 

R.I.P. Aiden

You did NOT deserve this. 

Meet Kaylie Foster

Meet 3 y/o Kaylie Foster, recently mauled by her father's pet pit bull while having court stipulated visits with him.

Her father owned a pit bull and no doubt assumed it was safe to have around Kaylie.  He was wrong! His dog latched onto Kaylie's little face and would not let go, as pit bulls do, until it was stabbed to death by a family member.


It took 100 stitches to close Kaylie's little face.

Now Kaylie proudly wears her t-shirt in support of the Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs. 

Thank you, Kaylie for your courage and bravery! Heal quickly, sweetheart, you have an ARMY of support behind you! 

Please come and Walk with us to support VICTIMS like Kaylie, and so many others who continue to wear the physical and emotional scars of vicious attacks by Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs. 

Press Release Goes Out

Tucson-Based Activists Announce Walk Event to Raise Awareness For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

The grassroots organized walk event for victims of pit bulls and other dangerous dogs is the first of its kind in the country.

Local grassroots activists and the Facebook Pit Bull Regulation Project Group announce the first ever, Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs - Tucson, AZ, to honor the victims of serious, and sometimes deadly dog attacks and to raise awareness in the community of the dangers associated with vicious dogs. The event kicks off Saturday, October 27, 2012 at high noon at Lincoln Park on South Pantano Road in Tucson, Arizona. Admission to the event is free.

The two activists created a website for the upcoming event, walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, and a Google Group email list. Members of neighborhood associations, parents and victims of dog attacks and their family members are urged to visit the website and sign up for the Google Group list to stay up to date as the October event date approaches. Please view the link below:

Website: Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

Event Details:

• Walk for the Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs
• Saturday, October 27th 2012
• 12:00 noon
• Lincoln Park 4325 South Pantano Rd Tucson, AZ 85730
• Admission is free

Why a Walk for Victims?

Here in Tucson, there have recently been several pit bull and other dangerous dog attacks on people and on their pets. 

There is no doubt that public awareness needs to be brought to this issue, as these type of attacks continue to occur. For these victims, there is a long physical recovery period, if the victim does survive the attack; however, the psychological impact of these attacks are often severe and long lasting as well.  One victim speaks of the psychological impact here:

"I usually stay up until 4-5 in the morning because I just can't sleep due to the nightmares. What are the nightmares about? The pit bull attack (my dog) and I experienced. When I close my eyes, I can see that helpless look on (my dog's) face, and when I go to sleep, the attack is played out all over again in my nightmares. I also have nightmares about the pit bull attacking and killing my friends and family, and dreaming about a pit bull tearing my little sister apart is just unbearable."

Below are the most recent attacks perpetrated by pit bulls and other dangerous dogs.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) A Tucson-area woman is recovering after authorities say she was attacked by two dogs. Northwest Fire Capt. Adam Goldberg tells KGUN-TV (http://bit.ly/xM5lFo) the victim is 89.
The Pima County Animal Care Center says the dogs are pit bulls that escaped from their owner's backyard Wednesday through an unlocked gate.
The sheriff's department says the woman was getting her mail when she was attacked.
Officials say neighbors helped capture the pit bulls. The dogs are in quarantine. (KGUN 9)

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/142124613.html

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Two dogs viciously attack another canine in Midtown then move on to that canine's owner. Next, they turn on a man rushing to help, leaving the animal lover and Good Samaritan no choice than to take deadly action. The victim in that attack, Marisa Miranda, spoke out to 9OYS. She says the attack has stolen her sense of security.
Miranda owns Bon Bon, a Chow mix. They've been together for the last 12 years. She was used to walking him everyday without incident, until the day of the attack. She says she's now scared to go on walks in the neighborhood.
Earlier in the week, Pima County Animal Care confirmed one of the dogs who attacked Bon Bon and Miranda was a pit bull mix. That dog was shot and killed. The other ran away.

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/140523843.html

Pit bull attack victim dies

TUCSON - The man who was severely injured when his pit bull savagely mauled him two weeks ago succumbed to his injuries this morning.
A statement from the family of Michael Cook reads:
"We are saddened to inform your news team that around 1:30am this morning Michael Cook succumbed to his injuries and has passed away."
Cook was attacked outside his home on August 3. His 16-year-old son says "Butch," a 6-year-old Pitbuill mix, had just been neutered and was medicated when the attack occurred.
Cook was bitten on his arms, neck, stomach, and leg, and all or part of both his arms were amputated.
Cook's family has established a memorial find on his children's behalf to help with funeral expenses. Donations can be made towards "The Michael Cook Fund."
Pictured: A vintage photo of a young Michael Cook, provided by his family. (KVOA.com)
TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) - Another pit bull attack in Tucson left one man injured and two dogs dead.  Police shot and killed two pit bulls in an East side neighborhood after they attacked an elderly man and his golden retriever early Wednesday morning.
Jim Skevington was walking his dog when two of his neighbors' pit bulls attacked.  Neighbors tried to stop it and called police but the dogs didn't back down. (KGUN 9)

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/131151728.html

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Another pit bull attack in Tucson---this time on the east side.
The attack injured a woman, and left her dog dead.
The woman was walking her dog at apartments near Golf Links and Pantano Thursday when the pit bull attacked her dog and she tried to protect her pet.
It's the latest in a string of high profile attacks by dangerous dogs. (KGUN 9)

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/132831913.html

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A 7 year-old girl went to the hospital for treatment Tuesday night after the family dog bite her on the arm.
Emergency crews responded to the residence located in the 4200 block of East Benson Highway after 6:15 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Deputy Dawn Barkman with the Pima County Sheriff's Department told KGUN9 that the dog, a pit bull mix, left a serious dog bite to the girl's arm. The injury while serious is believed to be non life threatening. (KGUN 9)

http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/139924503.html

Dog Attack Statistics

Victims of serious dog attacks often suffer acute damage, which may require $250,000 to one million dollars in specialized medical care treatment. Reconstructive surgery, such as skin grafting, tissue expansion and scar diminishment, often requires multiple procedures over a period of years. In many instances, insurance and the dog owner pays little of this amount, if any.

Pit bull terriers and Rottweilers are the most dangerous of the dog breeds according to statistics.  Research shows that during the 7-year period from 2005 to 2011, these two breeds accounted for 74% of the total recorded fatal attacks.  By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2011, a report by Animal People shows that pit bulls (215) and rottweilers (81) and their mixes accounted for 64% of the total recorded fatal attacks, which totaled 466.

It is important to point out that fatal dog attacks committed by pit bulls and their mixes more than doubles the attacks inflicted by rottweilers. It is well documented by experts and humane groups, that pit bulls pose a substantial danger due to their selective breeding for dogfighting. Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls frequently fail to communicate intention prior to an attack (surprise attacks); possess a lethal bite style (hold and shake) and a ruinous manner of attack (gameness). (Dogsbite.org)

(Chart representing study by Merritt Clifton of Animal People, September 1982-December 2011)

(This study is ongoing and continues to be updated as attacks occur)