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Woman Mauled In Pit Bull Attack
July 18, 2013
A Nokomis woman is in critical condition after being viciously attacked and mauled by two pit bulls at her home in the 8000 block of Jakes Road early Thursday morning.
Sandra Lambert, 63, was outside to feed her chickens just before 6 a.m. when two pit bulls attacked her, causing massive injuries to her arm and biting her legs. Lambert was airlifted as a “trauma alert” to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile. Relatives said doctors were forced to amputate her arm at the elbow, and she may lose her entire arm.
A family pit bull was also critically injured and was not expected to survive.
One of the dogs involved in the attack was trapped on an enclosed porch until Escambia County Animal Control arrived, tranquilized and captured it.
The second pit bull was captured by Escambia County Animal Control Friday morning at the home.
The second pit bull also attacked and critically injured a family pit bull that intervened and tried to protect Lambert. That dog did not survive.
Lambert had taken the two dogs in as strays, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and had been caring for them. The dogs had reportedly been left behind about five months ago when their owners moved away from the area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Animal Control will continue to patrol the area throughout the day to search for the second dog. Traps have also been set.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Animal Control officer removed a tranquilized pit bull from an enclosed porch. Pictured inset: One of the two pit bulls involved in a vicious attack Thursday morning was trapped on an enclosed porch. Pictured below: One of the dogs responsible for the attack after being tranquilized. Pictured bottom: The attack happened at a mobile home in Nokomis, FL. The victim was airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
83 Responses to “Woman Mauled In Pit Bull Attack”
[quote]
ANSWERING:
“Why hurt the dog?”
Because it has proven itself willing to attack humans without provocation. Ask and they might let you keep the dog as long as you are willing to accept full responsibility for its future actions.
We don’t live under Mosaic Law,
but it might be interesting to read Exodus 21:28-36 for conceptual guidance.
David for good dogs
and responsible people [/quote]
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
ANSWERING:
“Why hurt the dog?”
Because it has proven itself willing to attack humans without provocation. Ask and they might let you keep the dog as long as you are willing to accept full responsibility for its future actions.
We don’t live under Mosaic Law,
but it might be interesting to read Exodus 21:28-36 for conceptual guidance.
David for good dogs
and responsible people
I was attacked by an older pitbull that i rescued, first he attacked my doberman my son and i got them separated and i got my dobie outside, the pitbull bit my son and my pitbull protected us both if it hadn’t been for my pitbull the injury on my arm could have been much worse, i came real close to losing the use of my hand.
I feel for this woman she was trying to do a good thing for those neglected dogs, and she lost her dog to. Its heartbreaking what some people have turned these dogs into. After my attack i don’t underestimate what my pitbull is capable of, he is so sweet i didn’t think he had it in him to fight but he kicked ass to protect me. My son hit the attacking pitbull with a metal folding chair about 6 times and he stopped, i got my dog in the basement and told him come on lets go in your cage he wagged his tail & followed me to his cage wagging his tail the whole time his face covered in blood……like nothing happened. I had to call an ambulance because my hand was numb and i was lite headed…shock & blood loss. If my five year old had been there it could have been so much worse. We had him put to sleep later that day.
Why hurt the dog? Other people get in trouble for Animal Crulety when they get hurt. &’ yet the law has permission o hurt the animal?! That’s messed up. I live with 4 Bull dogs and they’ve bit me tons of times but i’m not gonna hurt them. I hope the lady is okay but this world is REALLY* scewed up for that !
no we did not miss the breed of the dog they killed while it was supposedly trying to save her. Even if ninety percent were good dogs, the others who are killers should not be forgotten. If someone only tried to kill you one time in a hundred, you would still be antsy around him.
Ironically while all the people on her bashing pit bulls, apparently missed that part about HER OWN PITTBULL fought to the death to protect her!
CONTEMPLATING:
“a dog catcher of 25 years once told me that the worse attack he had ever seen was a child attacked by a LAB..any dog can be vicious. Obviously you aren’t much of a dog lover”
So if the worst he had ever seen was by a Lab, that means Labs are the worst? Did that Lab also tear off an arm or a face? Is that one incident more important than the general numbers?
I like dogs (stupid and stinky though they are), but I like people more.
David for people lovers
Dog lover..
Its ppl like you that give bulldogs a bad rep. You ever sat back and thought about that this lady would most likely be dead if it were not for HER BULLDOG SHE OWNED who protected her and gave his life for as BULLDOGS WERE BREAD FOR. A loyal protector of their master. You can in bread ANY animal and they become crazy..but here’s an even better one for you..a dog catcher of 25 years once told me that the worse attack he had ever seen was a child attacked by a LAB..any dog can be viscous. Obviously you aren’t much of a dog lover, you don’t do a lot research. Instead of bashing the entire bread why don’t you do something constructive like get on board with prosecuting and putting an end to PEOPLE who MAKE these dogs viscious for illegal reasons.
THANK YOU GOD for giving a BULLDOG to this woman whom gave his life for hers! Praying for a speedy recovery for her and may God replace her animal protector!
A Russian experiment with wild foxes selected the most docile, human friendly individuals from each generation and bred them to each other. After 50 generations, the foxes were as friendly as dogs.
As a control, the experiment selected another group for aggressive behavior. After only a few generations, the aggressive foxes exhibited vicious attack behavior at the sight of a human near their cages. It had NOTHING to do with “upbringing.”
It doesn’t take much to selectively breed an animal for viciousness. Pitbulls exist for this purpose. It’s time to euthanize and/or neuter them into extinction, as a failed experiment.
People using a vicious animal as an affectation to stoke their own ego is not a good enough reason to allow these animals to proliferate. Buy a Corvette.
What kind of dogs do the most killing? In the 8-year period from 2005 to 2012, two dog breeds accounted for 73% of the attacks that resulted in death: pit bulls and rottweilers. (DogsBite.org.) In 2013 there have been 13 fatal dog attacks, all but one of them involving pit bulls. (Dogbitelaw.com, “Overview of breed specific laws,” accessed May 13, 2013.)
Unfortunately 2013 seems to be no better than 2012. Given that 13 Americans have been killed in the first third of the year, the nation might see 40 deaths this year. That prediction assumes, of course, that lawmakers continue to ignore calls for a variety of changes that could take the “bite” out of the dog bite epidemic, such as Attorney Phillips’ 10-step plan for reducing dog bites. (See Dog Bite Law: Preventing Dog Bites.)
Now, go figure, pits are nice kind and friendly, until you or a family member is added to the death toll for the year!! And remember, this is deadly accounts, not including the number of attacks where death wasn’t involved!!!
REGARDING:
“If you have never owned a pitbull and been around one in a loving home you have no right to make comments on their personalities or demeanor.”
Actually, yes they do have that right. They might be wrong or right but have the right to express their opinions even if you dislike their opinions.
Rejoice!
YOU have the right to disagree and disprove what they say if they are wrong.
David for freedom
answering:
“JUST FOR THE RECORD……….IF YOU DONT PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE SHOULD WE NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO SEND KIND THOUGHTS”
No, that would foolish of us. We aren’t talking to her unless she is reading this. We are discussing a matter which affects all of us at some point in our lives.
We all wish her well.
We wish she had never been hurt.
We wish nobody had ever been hurt by any animal, person or event.
If she has telepathy, she can pick up our kind thoughts sent her way.
Meanwhile, there are dogs to be considered, owners to be considered, fears to be considered, facts to be considered.
David for better records
Gigi
Just a thought, no a 14lb dog can’t “maul” an adult but yes he can maul a child. I’ve seen what a sweet little mini can do to a child and it isn’t pretty. Having owned large dogs Rottweiler’s, Lab’s, and little dogs, dachshund’s, Chihuahua’s I can say the large dogs were for us the gentler dogs. The small dogs snap often where my large dogs NEVER snapped. It’s NEVER the dog it always comes down to how he was raised.
JUST FOR THE RECORD……….IF YOU DONT PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE SHOULD WE NOT COMMENT EXCEPT TO SEND KIND THOUGHTS to her and her family. This has been made about the dogs and not the people. You can blast me for posting this go ahead! But Leave all negativity away from Sandra she cant defend herself and shouldnt have TO! She is a very loving person and kind to everyone and everything . She is different herself which many pople dont like. But she is MY FRIEND. Every negative comment towards her or her family is wrong because there is not one of us who have made mistakes or done something another percieved as stupid. But we each had our reasons that seemed right at the moment. Sandra is loving and forgiving. Many times she felt rejected but always ran to the hurt or down trodden. She wanted everything to be loved and have a home and yes it has cost her. But loving HUMANS at times has cost her her heart but she loved them anyway. Even when they rejected her or symbolically bit her arm off! So please forget the animals and the debates or Sandras reasoning. FORGET THE I TOLD YOU SO! And pray for her she would us. Besides For the most part the ANIMALS loved her back! HAVE A HEART!!!!
RE: Shana Castro
WOW!
Are you seriously advocating for censorship on pittbull attacks? The headline does NOT blast the pitbull, it merely relays facts. The lady lost her arm!? How more devastastating can that get?
You say you understand that the dog is still on the loose but clearly you don’t….So if a dog goes on a vicious attack in a neighborhood and is still on the loose you don’t think citizens should know the breed?
Okay let’s censor the breed so if any citizens in the area see a dog walking around they won’t know what it looks like or the breed.
Those things are important for the community to know. Color of dog, size, breed, any distunguishing marks, collar, ect. That is the very basic stuff Shana!
With that same logic, for example, the media would censor the race of a serial killer on the loose in Pensacola because that race gets bad PR and headlines.
That is absolutely heinous. I seriously hope you are NEVER in a position of responsibility or authority with your logic! Wow! I you are in such a position, you need to be evaluated and or terminated!
A vicious dog on the prowl that has already attacked a human is an emergency situation. Peoples lives are at risk!
That just shows that your first few sentences on the injured citizen are much less important that your own pitbull agenda!
Wow!
Droopy…out of all these comments, yours seems to be the most appropriate… and funny…
Seriously, the debate is long and varied by many. My prayers go out to Ms. Lambert. She was only trying to help and is obviously an animal lover. I also agree with the lady who said she made a report last year about these dogs and nothing happened to catch those dogs at that time. ” If” is a BIG subject. Maybe in the future the animal control folks can beef it up a little and get the animal before something else happens and so many “IFS” can be talked about.
Any dog can bite. Very true. But, have a daschund bite you, might have a skin tear or bleeding at the site…have a pit or larger dog bite you, lose limbs, face, or even life. I don’t care how “trained” they are or how gentle they are suppose to be. Dogs go by instinct. If they believe they are being threatened or even see someone like a child or person crying or raising their voice, they see that as a threat. They will attack! Plain and simple. I believe pits should be illegal and banned and those who have them for fighting purposes should be jailed. And those who say they leave their children with pits or they sleep together are ignorant and would be the first to say “I don’t know why this happened” when their child is killed in their sleep.
Blame the good heartedness of the lady instead of the dogs…that’s really sad!!! This is an unfortunate situation and at this point the focus should be on Mrs. Lambert and not the stupid dogs!!! How can someone make the statement, “I hope she learned her lesson…” Obviously there is no humanity in that statement!
I adopted a little chi-rat terrier mix from the shelter. Nobody wanted him because he’s the meanest little dog around. If he was the size of a pit, he would be a menace to society. For you pit lovers, we get it. Any breed can be mean or nice BUT and are you listening right now? My little doggie cannot maul somebody to death because of his size. Forget about blaming. Doesn’t solve a thing. Pits need to be outlawed because we can’t trust everybody to properly take care of them. This is the only logical solution. Sorry. PS. I love my chi-rat, but I wouldn’t let him off the leash even though he only weighs 14 lbs because I am one of those rare breeds myself – a responsible pet owner.
As a retired Animal Control Officer of Escambia County for 12 yrs I have to ad my input by saying that Sandra chose to feed and house those dogs for at least 5 months and she is now considered the owner of those once stray, abandoned dogs. She had the opportunity to call Animal Control and have those dogs removed and I assume, did not. I do not know what started the attack as I no longer work there and do not follow up on these issues. I do pray and hope that Sandra will be ok and I’m sorry that she was attacked so severely and I’m sure her love for animals is what made her keep and care for those dogs. However, I am sure she learned a valuable lesson from this ordeal. May everyone learn a lesson from this incident that any dog can be a liability when you choose to take in and house a stray dog. Any breed of dog can turn on you, especially when you have 2 or more dogs. I adopted and took in several pitbulls when I worked with animal control and brought them home to my rottweilers and Yorkshire terriers and cattle dogs and NEVER had any incidents with them, but then again, I can read temperaments and knew how to evaluate them. Sandra meant well by taking in the dogs that were abandoned by the previous owners and she has a big heart but now it has cost her a huge lesson and I pray she recovers quickly and will not choose to house anymore stray dogs.
I would NEVER adopt a pit, mixed breed pit, chow or rottie of any kind. I love pits but adopting one is Russian Roulette, you have no idea what the animal has been through. Yes it is a dog like any other but some breeds have a bloodline to hunt humans or fight hence PITbull…PITfighter. My dad and I raised pits for years and never had one issue. We had them all as puppies and gave them the love and attention they needed, I was a kid then so they were also raised around kids with my sister and I. Don’t blame the dog, the dog is only gonna be as good as its owner is or has been toward it.
EXCUSE ME…but I think we have missed the point here! Is this a/b the dog or Mrs. Lambert? This precious human being is lying in a hospital with a missing limb & serious injuries. Where is the human compassion towards her in a time of need? Yes….I too am an animal lover & passionate a/b my dog…but let’s get our priorities straight. I do not know Mrs. Lambert, but if someone from her family is reading any of these remarks, please know that many of us are sending her our prayers and concerns!
@Sweet B, you couldnt have said it better. I agree with you 100%.
None of you are convincing any of the people on the opposite side of this “debate” to see things your way. It’s a hot topic that causes much conflict.
That said…..I’ve owned many different breeds. I’ve had good dogs, and I’ve had bad dogs. I’ve had sweet, even tempered dogs, and I’ve had crazy, mean dogs. The ones who were crazy, mean, etc….were euthanized because it would have been irresponsible of me to take the chance with the lives of innocent people. The sweetest, most gentle and best dog I ever owned was a 53 pound red nosed pit. The only “fights” she ever had were when the neighbors’ dogs came into OUR yard and attacked HER! Coincidentally, she did NOT fight back and required over $1000 worth of emergency vet care… the FIRST time. The next time it happened….it cost $600. The third time…..I had to have her put down because they mauled her so badly. At NO TIME did she fight back. The dogs who attacked her? They were all common, every day dogs that nobody would have thought anything about, including a wiener dog. They were, however, aggressive to people and obviously to other dogs…..but I am vilified for owning a pit. Hmmm, I see the logic of your thinking.
The point is that ANY DOG, no matter the breed, can be dangerous and can kill people and other animals. The solution? Breed responsibly, care responsibly, and stop trying to blame everything on a breed. Never relax your vigilance no matter what breed you own. Just like people, they can, and often do, surprise us. There is no guarantee that any dog will not bite, attack, maim, or maul. According to the American Temperament Testing Society, pits and rotties score higher on being “people friendly” than chihuahuas, pomeranians, yorkies, toy poodles, miniature poodles, coonhounds, etc, dogs that are generally considered to be family dogs.
DON’T TAKE CHANCES!
Someone has already written part of what I am about to write, but I want to re-iterate it because it is absolutely true.
I love dogs. I have dogs. They are part of the family. But there is NO BREED of dog that I fully trust. Dogs are dogs. They are animals that were once wild. They were domesticated by humans, but they will ALWAYS have “wildness” in their DNA. In some of those rare, crazy moments, I have been bitten by my own dogs. Not mauled like Ms. Lambert, but a bite is a bite. And NEVER leave children alone with a dog – regardless of how “sweet” or “good” or “gentle” it may be.
With all this having been written, I also think Pit Bulls – along with some other breeds – have gotten a bad rap/rep unfairly. Some breeds APPEAR to have a greater propensity for being aggressive, but how much of that is fueled by the media selecting which breeds to report as such? I got bit by a Chihuahua once, and that bite was just as bad as the one “given” to me by a Rottie. A dog is a dog no matter what.
I just have one question. Why didn’t Animal Control do something about those dogs last summer when I personally contacted them and informed them that the dogs had been abandoned at a home at the end of Nokomis Rd (At junction of N Pineville Rd) after the dogs attacked my husband on an evening run? Fortunately, he was not injured and was able to run them off. Maybe if Animal Control would have trapped these dogs when the report was made a year ago none of this would of happened.
I really hope Mrs. Sandra will pull thru. She is a very sweet and caring woman and I truly hate that this has happened to her.
Good point about the homeowner’s insurance policies. I used to own a German Sheppard and had to find another home for him because it clearly stated in my policy that coverage was null and void for the following reasons: Several were listed, but the one in question stated that certain breeds of dogs on the premesis were grounds for voiding the policy. German Sheppards, Pit Bulls and Chows were three that come to mind as I was reading the policy. They were specifically listed by breed. I would suppose if you owned Pit Bulls or any other questionable breed and have a mortgage, that you should probably really study that policy if you don’t want to lose your shirt, pants and home, should something happen.
Subject of pitbulls !! I’m employed in Pcola. , and on numerous occasions I have the opportunity to visit the parks in the median of Palafox St., between Gordon & Wright St.. This perticular area is housed by the Pcola. homeless, and several do have pit bulls.I guess the Mayor furnishes them with electric,because they have 20′ electrical cords running to the City’s electrical boxes.They sleep on & occupy the benches all day, and have metal trays on legs which they set a 24″ lap top monitor on, playing games & Wifi, I guess they use the City’s Wifi service.Their in need of a porta potty Mr.Mayor, so they don’t have to relieve in the middle of the park, like I’ve seen them do many times.Also there is no need to euthenes these stray unwanted pit bulls, bring them to Town {Pcola} and give them to the Pcola park bench gang, they’ll take them, don’t these bulls need tags or a lic.in order to have them. Visit downtown Pcola. you’ll never forget it.
prayers are coming your way from our hearts with love….from the foster and clemmons families.
Mortgaged homeowners! If your homeowners policy has to pay out on a dangerous animal attack they are going to drop you and notify your mortgage holder.
Your mortgage holder is going to give you X number of hours to obtain new coverage.
No insurance company in it’s right mind is going to underwrite such a high risk policy.
Your mortgage holder is going to call in your loan and you are going to have to dig up some mason jars or pull some cash out of someplace?
The mayor dont want police in BDU’s at airport..may scare his wife..guess he dont worry about image the pit bulls with homeless on Palafox median presents to tourist and citizens.
Bitbulls are the tractor trailers of dogs,as anyone can drive a car with a normal license and insurance ,tractor trailers require special licenses and insurance because of the extra amount of damage they can and do cause.
For Shana: I do feel for owners who do take good care of their pit bulls BUT there have been many stories where those who were good owners and treated the pit bull pets as cherished family members; were attacked, mauled and one case that always stays with me, killed along with her unborn baby. Being someone who has had to battle a neighbor because of his pit bulls getting loose and coming after not only me, (he came under my courtyard fence) but also my husband and a police officer. The owner was taken to court three different times before he finally had to move the dog out of the city limits– I’m safe but what about the neighbors where the dog is now residing??? I know you and others love their pit bulls and knowing my next statement will be upsetting to you and those same others– Pit Bulls should be owned only with permits (like a weapon) and high amount of insurance for those who may need medical coverage because of your dogs. I would even go to the extreme and hope that one day, the breed will be banned in our area like they are in so many other states.
The main point at the moment is wishing that Ms. Lambert recover and if there is any kind of benefit or place to donate on her behalf, please let the public know.
Obviously, the pit bull breed generates much controversy and fear among many. While many are condemning the breed due to the nature of this attack, I did see in the article that the family pit bull died trying to save Ms. Lambert.
Never have a pet that can take you…
Praying for Ms Lambert.
An American Pit Bull Terrier is GAME. I don’t care how you raise them, they have GAME tendencies. Yes, they can be some of the greatest pets but they were originally bred to be relentless and be vicious hunters and killers. I once raised them but they had to go when my Wife and Children came along. This poor Ladies misfortune is Case and Point. Prayers go out Ms. Sandra.
@truetalk: You should be ashamed of yourself comparing humans of any race to dogs. Dogs are products of their breeding and are carefully mated to produce offspring having very specific characteristics. Although genetics also influence human behavior to some extent, environmental factors have a greater influence on humans because their maturation period is 18-21 years as opposed to a few months for dogs.
And for those of you who claim any dog can be trained to attack or will become vicious if abused, this just isn’t true. When animal shelters take in abused dogs, the overwhelming majority of them will whimper, tuck their tails between their legs and cower when approached by a strange human and even if cornered, will only bite (not attack) as a last resort.
Have all of you forgotten Laura Miller, the vet technician in Panama City who had her arm ripped off and was almost killed by a pit bull last summer? The pit bull that attacked her had been to the facility before and had never exhibited any aggressive behavior. All pit bulls are “good dogs” until they suddenly, and usually without warning or provocation, become “bad dogs” by trying to kill someone.
I, too, own a pitbull; found her one night on a lonely road and, though fearful of the breed, I didn’t have the heart to leave her there to possibly get killed on the highway. She’s become a wonderful part of my family and I love her dearly. Uust tonight, after letting her out to use the bathroom and bringing her back in, I thought to myself how great a dog she is and how lucky I am to have found her.
THAT BEING SAID, I’m certainly not ignorant to her breed, what the breed was originally intended to do, or her massive strength. She’s never bitten, but just through play biting, it’s very clear she has amazing strength in her jaws and the capacity to seriously injure or kill very easily. I understand that and am willing to accept that she could turn on me at any time, without provocation. I also understand that any of my firearms could kill me should I decide to act irresponsibly with them by, say, juggling them while loaded. But I’m neither a juggler nor an idiot, so that would never happen.
Now, with THAT ALSO BEING SAID, I fully believe it is up to every individual owner to handle these dogs with extreme care, rule with an iron fist, and show “tough love” that they not only understand but respect. As with anything that has the capacity to maim or kill, pitbulls should NEVER be left with the weak (children or elderly), should never been given free reign, should be sterilized to reduce hormonal surges, and should not be left alone with other pets. And, should the time come that the owner cannot continue to care for the pitbull, I believe the most responsible (and possibly even the most loving) option for that pitbull should be to have it euthanized. If my situation ever changes to where I can’t continue to care for her, or should she bite anyone in a way that shows she’s no longer fit to be part of our family (such as out of fear or unprovoked aggression), euthanasia will be the only route we take.
Any dog can be a loaded gun given the right circumstances.
Its funny how people react to the demonization of other people, things, policies and animals by the media. If you have never owned a pitbull and been around one in a loving home you have no right to make comments on their personalities or demeaner. The one German Shepard I owned was way more aggressive than any of the many pits i have ever owned were. Pits were bread to be fighters. Many still are. But many are not. History proves genetic traits in animals can be altered through breeding programs. How do you think we got pits anyway. My dogs are loyal and always have been. My uncle had pairs of dobermans for years that routinly snapped and growled at him and my aunt. And rottweillers bite and hurt people to. So I guess we should just terminate all the breeds that hurt people to make up for the sorry people in the world that still breed the dogs to fight or mistreat these animals. I love these dogs and was very glad to have one when my pit was the only thing between my 12 year old daughter and the neighbors chow who got out in our yard. She stood her ground while my daughter yelled for us from the trampoline. After a breif squirmish the chow fled and my dog didnt even give chase. She was raised right and loves us. Sorry other people dont get it. Millions and Millions of pits in this country and less than a thousand attacks across the US last year for all dogs total. Almost 13000 homicides occured in the US in 2010. It sounds to me like we are way freakin more dangerous than pits. So who needs to be extinct.
Pit bull owners are not stupid! Neither are pit bulls!
I have seen them hang from a tree for hours,almost drown in a creek because it just can’t rip that tree root off the bottom and fight an old car tire because it was the only thing in reach of the truck chain holding it to that tree it hangs from. I even seen one that would crap on the basketball regularly when the kids left it out. sooo sweet.
They are just misunderstood cuddly little sweethearts trying to protect their domain.
Well, in my domain there is a No Fly Zone for all pit bulls. So keep them at your home to do their mauling and no one will have to shoot them.
Except you someday.
I for one one these types of dogs, it’s not the breed of dog it is up to each person to have the knowledge of the breed but, also raise them in a certain manner maybe some of you need to go back and read the story again it was a bulldog that layed it’s life down to protect her and it seems to me that it’s always blamed on the breed it’s not the bred but how they are raised that causes the problem she was took these animals in and tried to do her best by them but , didn’t know the history of the 2 dogs . i know the family personally and they are good people that do what they feel right . But at the same time we need not to judge what happened to we all really know
I do hope Sandra will be ok and recover quickly…but when animal control tells u to leave wild dogs alone and stop taking them in…please please please for gosh sakes people LISTEN! And is anyone else bothered by the way that officer is carrying the dog after it was tranquilized..??? Looks like an improper technique to me…
Beagles were bred for generations to trail and track. They like to run free and wild. Labs have been bred to fetch. They love to swim and retrieve. Pit bulls were bred to fight and many are inclined to. Why is this so hard to accept? And why do their owners seem to project there own personal insecurities on their dogs?
My prayers go out to her. I have walked Jakes for years and seen dozens of abandoned dogs. Many I have taken to shelters and taken care of. Pits as all have stated above are mans friend but no one else and will kill anything that threatens what they deem their domain. It is sad people abuse and neglect their animals in such a hostile way. The Pit removed had a collar and belonged to someone. That person should be very worried.
saying all pitts are bad because of the ones that are is like saying all black men are criminal because the majority of inmates in prison are black males or that all cops are crooked because of the few that do wrong with their authority. All im saying is dont stereotype all dogs can be vicious and unpredictable
I have a pit that I adopted about a year ago, and he has never been aggressive, not with my MinPin, my grand daughters or family and friends, he even loves strangers!! I do watch him any time anyone else is around, just as I have done any other large dog breed I have owned….(German Shepard, Rottweiler,…..) pit bulls have gotten a bad rep because it was realized they could be very efficiently trained to fight to the death, fir the profi some jackass can make off illegal fights, but do your research people, stray mutts attack people, German shepards attack, weenie dogs attack (i know this first hand!! lol) Almost all dog breeds can/will attack if provoked, starving, protecting their young, frightened or abused!! Hell, even kitty cats attack! My niece was attacked a few years ago by the family pet, a small sweet lovable little mutt, and she required many many stitches and plastic surgery. There was no warning, he just attacked and went straight for her face. I’m not saying there aren’t bad pits out there, but there are bad apples of every breed!!
Its so strange how this same breed is always in the news,but these are such good dogs according to the pit bull lovers/owners.Let just keep saying “its the way they are raised ” over and over and maybe if we do someone will believe us, you know like when something is a lie and you say it over and over to try to make it believable .This breed must be over insured into extinction .Every property owner who allows this breed on their land must be required to carry million dollar polices to cover the death and great body harm they cause on a regular basis.
Has anybody noticed the group of “homeless” individuals and their pitbulls, who live on the benches in the median on Palafox St. near the MLK Plaza? Sort of strange, they sleep on the benches at night with their dogs. They sit there all day on the benches, with their dogs, using the city electricity to power their laptops, and their cell phones. People with their toy pets and children have to walk around them.
The pitbulls seem to more healthy than their owners, pretty dogs.
Saturday morning, you can buy produce, baked goods, etc., from this unsanitary site….just wondering.
It seems like they only attack women, children and the elderly. I don’t recall ever hearing one attack a fit man..
hate pit bulls, one comes in my yard, its dead, no questions asked. don’t want to be airflighting my wife or kids to the hospital..
Great comment David!
I am so tired of blaming the owner for the genetic traits of these dogs, as if those traits can somehow be trained or loved away. Even the most basic research on the most pro-pit bull sites states very plainly that it can’t be done, that these are fighting dogs, that they need special precautions. It’s not the owner, its the breed – any educated person understands that. Does abuse make other dogs kill 20-30 people a year? Let’s think about it: how many people have racing greyhounds killed? beagles being tested on in science labs? And how many family pet pit bulls treated well have killed?
Just because your pit bull has not hurt anyone yet does not mean they are all safe. Just because Wikipedia told you BSL does not work does not make it true – studies have proven how effective it is. Just because someone speaks the truth about these dogs does not mean they are being bashed or hated.
I, for one, used to have uneasy feelings about Pits, and I love dogs! But 1 year ago this month,I moved to Nebraska (to work for family biz) and I swear the only dogs I see here are Pits. A few others, but Pits everywhere. I also must say that I now truly believe they are one of the friendliest, gentle, and affectionate dogs I have encountered! Bottom line is……..I blame the owners, who from more than likely their parents, were raised the wrongful way to appreciate a dog. Think about it. We learn from our parents, apparently here in Nebraska, people know how to treat a dog, (like a family member) and raise and treat it as such! Thankyou for allowing me to voice my opinion………Jerry
I will be the first one to tell you I used to never be scared of dogs ever however I after being nearly killed 2 years ago by a german shepard that had never shown any signs of agression to me after being around it for several months I am afraid now ! You never know when a dog will snap, just like a person can snap so can a dog, this is aweful this lady was trying to do something nice and care for the homeless animals and now is in critical condition, what an aweful thing to have to go through, they could have killed her, thank God she is alive, praying for this lady and would love an update on her condition if anyone knows. I still love animals but not at the cost of a person and pit bulls are one of the most common dogs I have ever heard of turning on their owner, my neighbor almost lost her leg to one almost 2 weeks ago at a friends house, her leg looks aweful and her husband had to jump on the dog and beat the dog off of her or it would have killed her.
Don’t let a few lucky owners convince you that these dogs aren’t dangerous. A friend of mine years ago was attacked by his own pit bull after 6 years of owning him without incident. The dog lunged at my friend and locked onto his face. He had to crawl to the kitchen, disassemble the drain pipe under the sink, and beat the dog in order to get it to release it’s deadly grip on his face.
The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a medium-sized, solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and Ireland. It is a member of the molosser breed group. The American Staffordshire Terrier and The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) by breed are from the same lineage; Staffordshires was the name given by AKC, and American Pit Bull Terriers by UKC. The real difference between the two breeds is 6–8″ in height and 25–35 lb in weight. The APBT tends to be the larger of the two.
The dog was bred first to bait bulls and bears. When bear-baiting and bull-baiting were deemed inhumane, rat-baiting and dog fighting became more popular. The APBT Breed was used in both sports, and its prevalence in being put in pits with rats, or other dogs led to “pit” being added to its name.
Twelve countries in Europe, as well as Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Venezuela have enacted some form of breed-specific legislation on pit bull-type dogs, including American Pit Bull Terriers, ranging from outright bans to restrictions and conditions on ownership. The state of New South Wales in Australia places restrictions on the breed, including mandatory sterilization. A few counties, and cities in the United States as well as the Province of Ontario in Canada, have outright banned ownership of the American Pit Bull terrier, and the breed is banned in the UK.
I hope the lady gets better.
but REGARDING:
“These dogs under no circumstances should be left unattended. This is what gives owners and the breed a bad name.”
And yet, in the real world, owners sleep sometime and/or do an imperfect job of attending their dogs. In the case of most dogs, this is not deadly.
AND:
“If we can be more sensitive to the breed, perhaps people would be more open to see not all pitbulls and their owners are bad apples.”
I know we should be sensitive to the dogs’ feelings especially since MANY never rip a person to shreds, but surely SOME care for the acknowledged danger is in order. Yes? No?
AND:
“I think any dog will turn violent if they are mistreated”
Most likely but most people aren’t in mortal danger around violent Chihuahuas and if the size mattered, the number of injuries and deaths would be more widely spread out, not centered on just a very few breeds.
AND
“Pit bulls are not bred to attack and kill.”
Actually, that is exactly what the breed was bred for. Per:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/truth-about-pit-bulls
“After animal baiting was banned in the early 1800s, people began pitting dogs against each other, and the cruel sport of dog fighting was born. As it grew in popularity, enthusiasts developed a lighter, more agile dog for the fighting ring”
If you could prove each would be safe, they would grow in popularity.
David for good dogs and people
I hate them kind of dogs never met a nice one yet nothing good ever comes from them , shoot them all , you people that say, oh they are ok I have one it never bite anyone are just lucky so far , just do not turn your back on them , why would anyone want such a mean unpredictable animal around them or your children if they are so nice how come we hear so many story like this happening all the time and why in the world would you want a dog that you got to fear will attack someone ,every time I read a story about a dog attacking someone it,s always a pitbull, what does that tell you, a friend of mine just had 2 goats that were in her fenced in yard mauled to death by 2 of them that jumped her fence and got them ,Oh but they are nice dogs with a bad rap”’ right,”’ I am a big animal lover but I would shoot one in a heartbeat.if it came anywhere near me or my animals.now that poor women lost an arm not to mention the pain she had to endure while being attacked , just because she was trying to do the right thing and take care of the dogs after the owners left them behind , my prayer go out to her, hope she is better soon , I say have both of them no good unpredictable dogs put down.then find the rightful owners and remove each one of their arms , see how they like it . an eye for an eye .again prayers for the women , and nothing for the dogs .
@Lee77 : Six times more likely!? Really!? Did you know that 78% of statistics are made up on the spot?
A dog is a dog. It’s not a person. It’s not a rational thinking animal. The fact remains that pitbulls are one of the main breeds that make the news for attacking people and other animals. I believe it has more to do with the environment in which they were raised, but at a point people have to realize that they are a large and potentially dangerous breed.
I think Jeeperman said it best that even a freindly pit bull “would never hurt anyone. Until someone pulls the trigger.”
@Pit bull lover: If pit bulls weren’t bred to attack and kill, what do you think they were bred to do? Don’t tell me, they were bred to be “nanny dogs” … right? People who own pit bulls all say the same thing you’re saying until their sweet, wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly “pittie” attacks and tries to kill someone. Then it’s “… can’t understand what happened … such a good dog … never any signs of aggression ….” And I’ll bet that before this morning when they tried to kill her, Sandra Lambert defended those two monsters she adopted.
Pete Sparks was called the “dean of Florida pit bull breeders” and he measured a puppy’s value by its fighting spirit and the power in its jaws. In Sparks’ own words, “If he [the pit bull] can’t punish the other dog, and he doesn’t have the biting power, then he’s not going to be what you call a top dog.” Florida Humane Society officials blamed Sparks, along with other pit bull breeders in Florida, for vicious attacks by pit bulls on humans, and animals. Marc Paulhus, director of the Tallahassee office of the Humane Society, said “Mr. Sparks really is the problem, he and people like him. For many years, he was perhaps the most visible advocate of dog-fighting in this country.” Paulhus said most of the pit bulls which have attacked people in Florida are descendants of fighters bred by Sparks. “If a pit bull attacks you,” Paulhus said, “he’s going to do damage, severe damage.” While Sparks denied breeding human-aggressive pit bulls, he conceded, “There are screwballs and some of these dogs are emotionally unstable.”
Today’s pit bulls are descended from dogs bred for their “fighting spirit” and the “power in their jaws” and no one knows if their pit bull is descended from a “screwball” or “emotionally unstable” dog.
BTW, a couple years ago, a woman in Tennessee was attacked and killed by a pit bull she had raised from a puppy and the dog had never shown any signs of aggression until the day it decided to kill its owner … better think twice before turning your back on YOUR 9-year-old pit!
I agree with #pitbulllover. It is usually the owner and enviroment that makes any breed of dog vicious. Here is a quote from trusty old wikipedia regarding bans and such on Pit Bulls, “Research indicates that breed specific legislation is ineffective because it is not the breed of dog that is dangerous, rather it is unfavorable situations that create dangerous dogs. [8] [9] [3].”
Praying for the lady, sorry she lost her arm but could have been a whole lot worse, does she have someone to help her once she gets home, if not maybe some neighbors will help out am so glad it wasn’t a child
Look at the nipples of the dog laying on the ground. Its been breed a few times already. Its not the breed people. The people mess these dogs up…..
Notice how the supporters of pitbull dogs never acknowledge that the breed has been bred to strengthen the ability to inflict harm above all other breeds ?
They only harp on the fact that any breed can turn violent.
Well duh.
Pit bulls are not bred to attack and kill. And it is not what all pit bulls do. My pit is almost 9 years old and has never attacked or even acted like she was going to attack a human or another dog. It makes me sick every time I hear “pits are just a bad breed.” No, unfortunately many pits have bad owners. It is not right to attack an entire breed and call for the death of all these poor animals because human have turned them bad. I love my pit, and she’s not going anywhere, ban or not.
Don’t bully my breed!
Pit bulls are the only breed that you hear about doing stuff like this. They should get rid of this breed before they get a little kid around this area. I kill everyone I can!
According to the article, Ms. Lambert took the dogs in and had been caring for them since they were left behind by the previous owners. So, these dogs were not roaming at large. They were in her care when they attacked her. I guess no good deed goes unpunished and my heart goes out to Ms. Sandra. She was only trying to do what was right. Both of these dogs will be destroyed, but they’ll be checked for rabies first, as a precaution for Ms. Lambert. Hope they find the other one soon.
Sandra is a kind hearted women that will help any animal in need i pray that she is ok and as for the breed of dog i think any dog will turn violent if they are mistreated the people that owned them before beat them Sandra did nothing to deserve this they need to arrest the owners of the dogs and make them pay for this.
Mom “I think these people should be located & charged!!”
I agree. The owners who left these two dogs need to be located and charged. They also need to pay compensation to this lady that was attacked. What a stupid thing to do.
I realize there could be a chance that these folks gave these two dogs to someone from whom they got away, or were turned loose.
@Shana
They are not blasting the breed specifically. They are simply warning the public that there is a vicious dog on the loose (that has already put a woman in critical condition) and to be aware. The breed of dog just happens to be a pit bull. I, for one, am thankful for the warning…
To Shanta Castro: In case you didn’t know, freedom of the press is one of the basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. Newspapers, TV/radio stations, etc. have the right to “blast” the breed of dog in the headline if they so choose. And are you actually saying the reading public doesn’t have the right to know what breed of dog attacks and kills, or tries to kill, someone? Any time there is a serious dog attack, 99% of the time, the dog is a pit bull! At least this site saves its readers the trouble of making a telephone call to ascertain the breed of the dog — and readers ALWAYS find out the breed of the dog one way or the other and post it in the comments section on various sites.
So far this year, 19 people in the US have been murdered by dogs and many others have been badly injured by them. Of the 19 deaths, pit bulls were responsible for 16, and they have been responsible for almost 100% of the severe injuries. It isn’t the media “blasting” the breed of dog in headlines that gives pit bulls a bad name, it is the fact that pit bulls are vicious killing machines that gives them a bad name! These 4-legged demons should have been banned long ago!
Pit bulls aren’t normal dogs. They were bred to attack and fight to the death and that’s what they do. Even the ones raised from puppies that are never mistreated and fairly well-trained are six times more likely to turn on their owners than a normal dog and these were abandoned. Taking in a pit bull is equivalent to bringing home a stick of dynamite and placing it on the mantel above the fireplace — it may never explode, but if it does, someone will likely end up badly injured or dead.
How horrible that she had to loose her arm. Praying for her.
Please continue to pray as Ms. Sandra is in recovery, sadly she has lost a arm, and may have to have another surgery, will know more later! Thank you for the prayers!!!
My heart goes out to the woman of the attack, there is no reason for any dog to randomly attack another animal or a person. I wish her a full and quick recovery
On another note, I’d like I comment on the pitbulls. As an owner of an 80lbs pit bull terrier, I’m also deeply saddened that more responsibility was taken. These dogs under no circumstances should be left unattended. This is what gives owners and the breed a bad name. It’s also unfortunate the coverage this story receives because of the breed. I do know they are a strong and protective breed; however my heart goes out to breed that is horrible displayed in the media. I’m aware this is an announcement to the public for a vicious dog on the loose–but to blast it in the headlines? Along with this I have attached links to other stories related to dog bites/attacks. If we can be more sensitive to the breed, perhaps people would be more open to see not all pitbulls and their owners are bad apples.
In this article they do not release the breed of the dog.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/rose-rocco-files-suit-seeking-damages-after-dog-bite-during-house-campaign/2131953
In this article, a pitbull attacked someone and the breed was not blasted in the headlines.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/07/resident_says_female_mail_carr.html
Why both with the tranquilizer?
Just shoot it dead.
Don’t kid yourself there “just sayin”
Yours is like a loaded gun, would never hurt anyone.
Until someone pulls the trigger.
Oh but that can happen with any dog.
That is true, but you can’t deny that pitbulls are built to inflict more damage than the majority of other breeds.
I have a favorite breed, don’t own one now as my husband chooses our dogs and when he was ready, there simply wasn’t one of my fav’s available.
I don’t even say what my breed is, as I want to promote adoption of homeless dogs. Maybe some day we will have one of my favorite breeds again.
HOWEVER, if my breed was disproportionately suffering and dying AND also causing so much disproportionate suffering and death,
if my breed was often acquired not as companions but as weapons, for breeding more aggressive expert dog killing dogs,
if my breed was rarely spayed/neutered so multiplying so rapidly that nearly a million must be killed in the USA, if only to make room for the next swarm of surplus dogs.
If my breed was generally living short brutal lives and the primary dog used for dog fighting…
I would work tirelessly to ban the breeding of my favorite dog, via mandatory enforced spay/neuter of all of my breed/ mixes to the point of causing my breed to become extinct. Extinct is better than what is happening to pits and pit neighbors. (pets/people).
Colby, pit fancier(fighter), breeder, author wrote: “Inasmuch as dog fighting is illegal… as long as these dogs are bred there will be pit contests to prove who has the better fighting dog.”
He foretold truth. And with those words he tells us how to end dog fighting: end the breeding of THE fighting dog.
Sandra was a nurse in Atmore for years, Has the doctors been able to save her arm or leg?
praying for Gods mercy and grace for you and your family
So I pray for the woman, I am glad she had a pit bull of her own because had she not had one who knows how this story may have ended. This is the difference between a dog who is raised in a good home vs dogs that are raised improperly. I own an American Bull Dog and she is a 90 lbs baby but if we were threatened by a person or another dog she would definitely try to protect us. I am sorry to read such a tragic story I hope they are able to find the other dog and put him down before he hurts anyone else.
I had already been down there before to break up the two dogs fighting each other. I told her then how quickly and seriously it could have turned bad for her. I pray for her quick recovery.
God please wrap your healing arms around Ms Sandra, praying for healing!!!
I pray this woman is ok. It’s rediculous that the owners of the two pitbulls just moved away & left these dogs to roam freely! They could have took them to the shelter or put them down themselves (would have been better than what happened)! I think these people should be located & charged!!