Neighbor's dog attacks, kills girl, 5

[2JSC]

Neighbor's dog attacks, and kills 5-year-old girl >>> source (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1214GirlMauled14-ON.html)


Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 14, 2004 07:05 AM

With two sets of parents in mourning, Navajo County prosecutors were contemplating criminal charges Tuesday against the owner of marauding dogs that killed a 5-year-old girl in Show Low.

Police Sgt. Shawn Roby said Annilee McKinnon was playing with other children Monday in the front yard at her birth parents' home when three "pit bull-type" canines attacked.

He said the girl's father, Troy McKinnon, hurried outside, picked his daughter up and ran for help as the mongrels continued jumping and snapping at her.
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Annilee suffered fatal injuries to her head and neck. Police chaplains were brought in to comfort family members, witnesses, investigators and medical workers traumatized by the incident.

Roby said the dogs are owned by Janice Caulkins, 38, who was cited two weeks ago because the same pack went into another yard and attacked a neighbor's dog.

On Monday, Roby said, Caulkins told investigators her children must have left a door open allowing the animals outside her house. Caulkins could not be reached for comment.

Roby said it is unclear what prompted the attack: "There's absolutely no explanation. Other kids were in the yard playing with Annilee. For some reason, the dogs targeted her.''

All three dogs were impounded.

Navajo County Attorney Melvin Bowers said he must await police reports before deciding how to proceed. "We've asked them to investigate as though it were a crime," he added. "It's certainly a terrible, terrible tragedy. Is somebody criminally responsible? I can't answer that yet.''

Potential charges range from manslaughter to a vicious-dog felony to misdemeanor leash-law violation.

Annilee, described as an energetic little redhead, was on a court-approved visit to her birth parents, Troy and Dawn McKinnon, when the attack occurred about 3:20 p.m. Monday. They could not be reached for comment. Annilee lives with foster parents Robert and Cathy Fichtelman of Concho, a community about 30 miles northeast of Show Low.

The Fichtelman's, crying during a telephone interview, said they could not comment because of rules imposed by Child Protective Services.

"We had her for four of her five years," Robert Fichtelman added. "I want to talk so bad{ellipsis} But we have another (foster) child we could lose if we breach confidentiality.''

"We've been fighting to get somebody's eyes open," added Cathy Fichtelman. "This little girl - her words, her thoughts, have just been ignored.''

Liz Barker, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman, said information on Annilee's case is confidential. "Our hearts go out to this little girl's family, and to everyone who loved her," Barker added.

Today it was announced that the 2 women that own the Pitt Bulls are being charged with second degree murder. And just 2 weeks prior to this, one of the women were sited because one of the dogs got into the nieghbors yard and attacked thier dog.

Looks its another bad mark for Pitt Bulls.

[raven27]

That is sad I feel for the parents I know that have to hurt I have 3 kids and I would be heart breaken if that happen to one of my kids. pit bulls are good dogs but people make the dogs bad.I seen a documentary that show you how the people train the dogs and tell you alot about it check out the clip http://www.88hiphop.com/feds/FEDS-DVD-clip.mov sad.

[Tivon]

I don't like big dogs, lock them all up for all I care. If you have a dog that has problems and it's big enough to kill a kid. Then it's your own darn fault if they get out and hurt someone. Do yourself a favor and get a smaller dog or at least chain them up so they can't get out!

[raven27]

I do not have a dog and I do not say the the dog was right it is the owner and the dog who needs to get locked up.I have on pets

[2JSC]

I don't like big dogs, lock them all up for all I care. If you have a dog that has problems and it's big enough to kill a kid. Then it's your own darn fault if they get out and hurt someone. Do yourself a favor and get a smaller dog or at least chain them up so they can't get out!

Not all big dogs are troublesome. i grew up around Dobermans(one was 150lbs) and he was the biggest baby! In my opinion, no dog can be more loyal than a Domberman. They may look agressive but are the sweetest giants.

I just don't like Pits, thier whole reputation is just one to make me stay away from them.

Currently I have a beagle, poket beagle, and bassethound beagle mix. All are very sweet but kinda vocal(damn hound dogs).

[raven27]

No Tivon is said that "Then it's your own darn fault if they get out and hurt someone. Do yourself a favor and get a smaller dog or at least chain them up so they can't get out!" and I do not mean all big dogs are no good.I mean that people make dogs bad and the pit bull I seen is very good dogs people make pit bulls seems bad.

[egarrard]

I've known, separately, of a couple of Jack Russell terriers who have brought down deer by themselves. I've watched one tear up two full-grown Dobermans that happened to wander into his yard. Size isn't everything.

[nighthawk15]

It's the owners fault because there had been problems before, therefore they knew they had a dangerous dog and if the owners had kept it on its own property that little girl would still be alive right now.

[efernandez_98]

I wouldn't consider a Pit Bull a big dog. Lexi, my dog - a sheppard/beagle mix, is a little larger than the Pit Bulls I've seen and she is considered a medium sized dog. I believe the range goes from toy, small, medium, large, x-large, and horse. Anyway, its not the size of the dog that matters, it is what the dog understands as acceptable behavior.

People keep telling me that certain dog breeds have aggressive attributes, but like any breed of dog a some of their stereotypical behavor can be curbed by good training. Like any individual, they grow up with certain propensities, and they learn socially and enviromentally how to interact with their enviroment.

Of course, with certain individuals you understand what they are capable of, and their behavior. Once the owners realized that these dogs were aggressive, they should have made precaustions to avoid such an event. Hindsight is 20/20 and unfortunately a little girl had to pay with her life because of the dog's owner(s) negligence. Surely, the dogs will be destroyed because of this. So, I hope that the owners become liable for their ignorance and negligence.

[CyberGuy]

Dogs are subject to neurosis and volatile personalities just as people are.

It really doesn't matter the size or breed of dog, but often purebreds are be subject to hair-trigger personalities and neurosis more often than your average mutt due to the inbreeding necessary to keep that breed 'pure'. I haven't see too many 'Heinz 57' mutts that are as agressive as other 'pure' breeds.

In general dogs, even purebreds, form a dependency bond with the people who care for and feed them. With these people they can be extremely affectionate and loyal. However they will not necessary share this same level of trust with people outside of this scope. I have seen this many times. My mother's purebred Siberian Husky (Ydnic - 'Cindy' backwards) is a good example of this - she will be as playful and affectionate as a puppy with them, but let anyone else show up that she does not know, and she is immediately curling her lip and snarling at them -- scary as hell to watch. It is said that Siberian Huskies are really domesticated wolves. I don't doubt that for a second. Ther second dog, 'Ilka' is a shepherd/collie mix. Very different personality. A strange kid can come over and pul her tail and try to ride her loke a pony, and she takes it all in stride with a likc or two at the kid. The husky has to be locked in the basement while the kid is in the house.

A friend's purebred bull terrier (Seamus) shows the similar traits as my mom's Husky (although not quite as openly aggressive). While the owner is in the same room with you, it would as friendly and sociable as you can ask. Let the owner walk out of the room, Seamus would plant himself in front of you, stare and growl at you if you so much as fidgeted. If you stand up and move around he will rush up and nip at your pants. Bull terriers are small, very smart, very loyal, and very strong dogs that could take on a Rottweiler and probably win.

[wazman]

Any dog is just as mean or nice as its owner. I've seen people with huge dogs (including Rottweilers and Pit Bulls) and those dogs were some of the most gentle and kind dogs I've ever seen. Because the owners were.

Just like with children - the owner (parent) is responsible for the temprament of the pet (child).

[Tivon]

Not all big dogs are troublesome. i grew up around Dobermans(one was 150lbs) and he was the biggest baby! In my opinion, no dog can be more loyal than a Domberman. They may look agressive but are the sweetest giants.

I just don't like Pits, thier whole reputation is just one to make me stay away from them.

Currently I have a beagle, poket beagle, and bassethound beagle mix. All are very sweet but kinda vocal(damn hound dogs).

Did I say that all big dogs are killers? "If you have a dog that has problems and it's big enough to kill a kid." Just being a big dog does not bother me one bit. It's just the big dogs with problems that I don't like. C'mon people if your dog is attaking other dogs and people just chain them up! You know these kinds of dogs should only live out in the country where the only kids they see are the owners. :)