Dog kills 7-year-old, injures another child
First Posted: 7:19 pm – January 24th, 2016 Updated: 9:24 pm – January 24th, 2016 – The Robesonien
LUMBERTON — One child has died and another was injured after they were attacked by a pit bull this morning, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
The attack occurred at about 11:20 a.m. at a home on the 2400 block of Odum Road in Lumberton.
Deputies, paramedics and Animal Control officers found 7-year-old Talen Nathan West unresponsive with “severe puncture wounds about the body” and 8-year-old Jaylen Ray West with bites to his lower body, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Both children were taken to Southeastern Regional Medical Center, where Talen West died.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Jaylen West has been treated and released. Both children lived on the 2600 block of Odum Road.
“At this time the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division and the Juvenile Division are doing an investigation on the child’s death to determine the cause,” the statement said.
No other information was released.
http://robesonian.com/news/83746/dog-kills-7-year-old-injures-another-child
Pit bull attack victim talks about moment he saw his 7-year-old brother killed
Published: Updated: 
LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – Deputies with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death of a seven-year-old boy who was attacked by a pit bull Sunday morning.
Seven-year-old Talen West was playing in the woods behind his home with his eight-year-old brother Jaylen, and while walking back home, they were both attacked.
“The big one was just all over his face biting him up,” said Jaylen.
Jaylen saw the dog attacking his brother and tried to help, but it was already too late.
“When I saw his face and his lip with a big hole on it, I just …it was scary. I didn’t want him to die on me, but it was too late,” said Jaylen.
Robeson County Sheriff’s Office detectives found Talen unresponsive with severe puncture wounds on his body. The two boys were taken to Southeastern Medical Center Emergency Department where Talen died.
His brother Jaylen was injured in his lower body by the dog.
The family members say the boys played in the woods behind their home all of the time, and this is something they never expected.
“We hear about things like this and you never expect that to be in your family. Although your heart goes out to others who go through similar things, you never think that it could be your family,” said Locklear.
The family says Talen was an energetic boy who loved fishing, being outside, and spending time with his older brother, Jaylen.
“He was a wonderful child, happy, loving. He was just a little boy. He was a typical little boy,” said Locklear.
Now, the family wants justice for Talen.
“They should be held responsible because, like I said, pit bulls already have a bad reputation. Everyone knows they’re naturally aggressive, and if you’re going to have pit bulls, and be the owner of a pit bull, then you need to be completely and fully aware of where that pit bull is, what that pit bull is doing, and what kind of temperament that pit bull has, and if there’s any sign of aggression, you don’t let it run loose,” said Locklear.
Sheriff Kenneth Sealey with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office says when his deputies arrived at the scene, the dog was dead but did not have any apparent injuries.
7-year-old killed in Robeson County dog attack
Posted January 24 – Updated January 26 – WRAL.com
LUMBERTON, N.C. — One child was killed and his brother was injured after a Sunday dog attack in Robeson County.
Family members told WRAL News that 7-year-old Talen West and 8-year-old Jaylen West were playing in the woods near a home at 2484 Odum Road in Lumberton late Sunday morning when they encountered a neighbor’s pit bull.
The dog attacked both children. Emergency crews were called at about 11:20 a.m. and they found Talen West unresponsive upon arrival. The brothers were taken to Southeastern Medical Center, where Talen West died.
Authorities said he had severe puncture wounds on his body.
Jaylen West was treated for leg injuries and released.
Distraught family members said that the dog had no known history of violent tendencies when he turned on them.
“Everybody is just sad and under a lot of stress right now,” said the boy’s cousin Devin West.
Devin West said that the older brother tried to fight the dog off of his younger sibling, but was unsuccessful.
“His little brother had a machete or hatchet or something and got the dog off of him, but it was too late,” he said “He got him by his neck and broke his neck.”
The dogs belong to Afreda Locklear. Spencer Oxendine, Locklear’s brother, spoke to WRAL News and said one of the dogs recently had a litter of puppies.
Read more: http://www.wral.com/7-year-old-killed-in-robeson-county-dog-attack/15270638/
NC mom speaks out after son dies from pit bull attack
By Nate Rodgers, WNCN News – Published: Updated: Mother of mauled boy flees NC after DSS threatens to take other children
Posted January 29 – WRAL.com
LUMBERTON, N.C. — The mother of a 7-year-old Robeson County boy who died after being mauled by a neighbor’s dog last weekend said Friday that she is prepared to miss her son’s funeral to protect her other children.
Jamie West said in an exclusive interview with WRAL News that she’s being treated unfairly by social workers who want to take her five other children away while she mourns the loss of her youngest son.
Talen West and his 8-year-old brother were playing in the woods near a home at 2484 Odum Road in Lumberton late Sunday morning when they encountered a neighbor’s pit bull, which attacked both boys. Talen later died at a nearby hospital, while his brother survived.
Jamie West said she believes the incident reopened a 5-year-old rift between her and the Robeson County Department of Social Services, so she left North Carolina with her children after social workers said they would take custody of the children after Talen’s funeral.
“I could go to the service with my children,” West said she was told. “They would not walk in there to get them during the service, but pretty much after it was over and we left … I could hand them over.
“Could you just let me bury my baby?” she said.
DSS officials said they couldn’t comment on the case.
Visitation for Talen was Friday night, and his funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Floyd Mortuary on East 5th Street in Lumberton.
West said she plans to stay away from the funeral and stay out of North Carolina as long as necessary to keep her other children with her. DSS had taken them away before, but she was able to win back custody.
“I can’t bring back Talen, but I can hold on to my five,” she said.
All of the children are with her in an undisclosed location, and they are holding up the best they can, she said.
“I have prepared all of them that, if something happens and they have to leave, I let them know that I will be back to get them,” she said.
2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Kills Child, Injures Another in Lumberton, North Carolina
DogsBite.org reports
01/26/16: Victims’ Family Speaks Out
The mother of 7-year old Talan West spoke to the media Monday about the devastation she is suffering after Talan was mauled to death by two pit bulls. His 8-year old brother Jaylan West witnessed the attack and was also injured by the dogs. The two brothers were among four children chased and attacked by a group of dogs on Sunday. Talan died of his injuries; Jaylan suffered bites to his lower leg requiring stitches. Jaylan was treated and released from the hospital.
Talan and his three siblings were playing in a field behind their home, when three dogs began running after them. Jaylan said he jumped onto a car, but Talan could not get away. “One (dog) was on that leg, one (dog) was on that leg – the big one just all over his face biting him up,” Jaylan told WNCN. One of the dogs, a pit bull, attacked Talan. “It broke his neck but it took pretty much (took) the entire back of his neck off and that’s when he died,” said his mother Jamie West.1
While county authorities investigate, Talan’s parents were told by social services they cannot have any unsupervised visits with their children.
ABC 11 interviewed the boy’s father, Steven West. According to Steven’s account, only Talan and Jaylan were involved — the other two siblings were not. Steven witnessed an unnamed woman attempting to give CPR to Talan. “I saw the lady trying to do all she 
could on my son to keep him alive and my heart goes out to her,” Steven said. He also said the tool Jaylan grabbed to fight the dogs off was a pair of pruning shears, not a machete or hatchet as reported in other stories.
Read more: https://blog.dogsbite.org/2016/01/2016-dog-bite-fatality-pit-bull-kills-child-lumberton.html
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Third Fatal Pit Bull Attack Since 2012
The death of Talan marks the third fatal pit bull attack in Robeson County since 2012. In October 2012, Mary Jo Hunt, 53-years old, was struck down by her seven rescue pit bulls in Pembroke. At the time of the attack, Hunt worked for Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue. In November 2014, Alemeaner Dial, 83-years old, was mutilated and killed by her granddaughter’s four pit bulls in Rowland. The granddaughter and her pit bulls had moved in with Dial about 5-months earlier.
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is, like all the ‘bully’ breeds, one of this group of descendants of the British ‘bull and terrier’ type fighting bulldogs. Once imported into the United States, it was bred up to be bigger again, and again used in baiting animals and in dogfighting. The American Kennel Club (founded 1884) was unwilling to register these fighting dogs, so in 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded specifically to register working pit-fighting dogs and to promote dogfighting. In order to be registered, a dog had to first win three pit fights7,8,9. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) became a ‘breed’. As dogfighting declined in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Colby (the most famous and prolific breeder of these dogs) began to search for a new market and began promoting the APBT as family pets10,11. This despite the fact that his breeding lines included child killers12.
The APBT is of medium intelligence, and it is athletic. They have plenty of energy and exuberance for life. They are affectionate companions are often referred to as a “nanny dog”, which leads many families to believe that they are suitable companions for children. Many can live happily with children and never have an issue, but there are many cases of the family pit bull suddenly attacking or killing a child in the household. The Pit Bull advocacy group BADRAP recently retracted their original “nanny dog” statements (https://www.facebook.com/BADRAP.org/posts/10151460774472399)13. In 2013 and 2014, in the United States, 27 children were killed by Pit Bulls and their mixes. Most of these children were killed by family pet pit bulls that had never been neglected or abused and had always loved the child. As with all breeds, the traits needed for their original tasks remain in the dogs – in this case, the sudden explosive aggression that was necessary to survive in the fighting pit. An APBT may never show this aggression, but if it does there will be no warning and the attack will not be easy to stop. Extreme caution should always be taken when this breed interacts with children. They are fun loving dogs that have “clownish” behaviors. Despite, their many positive qualities, this breed may not be suitable for everyone. Their high energy requires a family that can accommodate and appreciate this aspect of their personality. They usually do best with active families. Many American Pit Bull Terriers get calmer as they age and an older dog may work for a more reserved family.
Click here to read more about the American Pit Bull Terrier
Tyler Trammell-Huston (9) – Linda, CA – Killed By Sister’s 3 Pit Bulls After She Left Him Alone With The Dogs (1/3/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/01/tyler-trammell-huston-fatal-pit-bull-attack-linda-ca/
Payton Sawyers (1) – Independence, VA – Killed By Pit Bull-Mix While Under Care Of Babysitters (1/8/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/01/payton-sawyers-independence-virginia-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Talen Nathan West (7) – Lumberton, NC – Killed By Neighbor’s Pit Bull While Playing In The Woods With His Brother (1/24/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/01/talen-nathan-west-lumberton-north-carolina-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Aiden Grim-Morelli (3 days) – Youngstown, OH – Killed By Family “Mix-breed Shepherd” When Left In A Laundry Basket (2/8/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/02/aiden-grim-morelli-youngstown-ohio-shepherd-death/
Suzanne Story (36) – Hertford, NC – Killed By A Pit Bull-Mix She Adopted 2 Weeks Earlier (2/10/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/02/suzanne-story-hertford-north-carolina-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Gladys Alexander (92) – Olympia, WA – Killed By Her Neighbor’s 4 Pit Bull-Mixes While Delivering Newspaper (3/8/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/03/gladys-alexander-olympia-wa-pit-bull-mix-fatal-dog-attack/
Bessie Flowers (86) – Charlotte, NC – Killed By Her Daughter’s 2 Pit Bulls While Visiting (3/28/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/03/bessie-flowers-charlotte-north-carolina-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Sonda Dyan Tyson (66) – Leesburg, FL – Killed By Her Own Pit Bull-Bullmastiff mix (3/31/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/03/sonda-dyan-tyson-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Valente Lopez Aguirre (58) – Fresno County, CA – Killed By Pack Of Dogs (4/14/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/04/valente-lopez-aguirre-fresno-county-ca-robert-simonian/
Sebastian Caban (3 days) – San Diego, CA – Killed By The Family Pit Bull-Mix While Lying In Bed With His Parents (4/21/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/04/sebastian-caban-san-diego-ca-fatal-pit-bull-attack-mira-mesa/
Manuel Mejia (49) – Homestead, FL – Killed By 1 Pit Bull Type & 9 Belgium Malinois-Bulldog Mixes While Farming (4/24/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/04/manuel-mejia-homestead-florida-fatal-dog-attack-2016/
Adonis Reddick (45) – St. Louis County, MO – Killed By His Own Pit Bull (5/9/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/05/adonis-reddick-st-louis-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Antoinette Brown (52) – Dallas, TX – Killed By A Pack Of 4 Pit Bull-Mixes, Rottweiler, Shepherd & Doberman-Mixes (5/9/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/05/antoinette-brown-dallas-texas-fatal-dog-attack/
Earl Stephens Jr. (43) – Stockton, CA – Killed By 3 Pit Bulls While Visiting A Friend – (6/4/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/06/earl-stephens-jr-stockton-ca-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Hunter Bragg (7) – Corinna, ME – Killed By A Pit Bull While Playing In Father’s Yard (6/4/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/06/hunter-bragg-corinna-maine-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Erin McCleskey (36) – Manor, TX – Killed By Pack Of Dogs While Serving Papers (6/15/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/06/erin-mccleskey-36-manor-texas-dog-bite-related-fatality/
Jocelyn Winfrey (53) – New Haven, CT – Killed By 2 Pit Bull Type Dogs While Visiting Friend (6/27/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/06/jocelyn-winfrey-hamilton-hicks-new-haven-ct-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Susie Kirby (3-days) – Fresno, CA – Killed By The Family’s 2 Pit Bull/Shar Pei Mixes (6/27/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/06/susie-kirby-fresno-california-fatal-pit-bull-shar-pei-dog-attack/
Kayden Begay (3) – Navajo Nation Reservation, AZ – Killed By The Neighbor’s 5 Pit Bulls (7/14/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/07/kayden-begay-navajo-nation-reservation-az-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Elizabeth Rivera (71) – Detroit, MI – Killed By Her Daughter’s 4 Pit Bulls (7/16/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/07/elizabeth-rivera-detroit-michigan-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Crisencio Aliado (52) – Honolulu, HI – Killed By 2 Loose Pit Bull-Mixes (7/29/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/07/crisencio-aliado-honolulu-hawaii-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Michelle Wilcox (30) – Screven County, Georgia – Killed By Her Boyfriend’s Pit Bull While Visiting (8/1/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/08/michelle-wilcox-screven-county-georgia-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Derion Stevenson (9) – Las Vegas, NV – Killed By Pit Bull-Mix While Visiting Friend (8/17/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/08/derion-stevenson-las-vegas-nevada-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Michael Downing (83) – Jacksonville, FL – Killed By Rottweiler & 3 Mixed-Breeds While Taking Out Trash (8/19/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/08/michael-downing-jacksonville-florida-fatal-dog-attack/
Susan Shawl (60) – Conifer, CO – Killed By Her Son’s 2 Family Pit Bulls (8/29/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/08/richard-susan-shawl-conifer-colorado-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Baby Jane Doe (6-days) – College Station, TX – Killed By Breed Unknown (9/1/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/09/baby-jane-doe-college-station-texas-fatal-dog-attack/
Piper Dunbar (2) – Topeka, KS – Killed By Family Friend’s 2 Pit Bulls (9/24/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/09/piper-dunbar-topeka-kansas-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Kiyana McNeal (4) – Sherman Township, MI – Killed By A Doberman-Mix Within An Hour Of Adopting (10/23/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/10/kiyana-mcneal-sherman-township-dog-doberman-fatal-attack/
Daisie Bradshaw (68) – New York City, NY – Killed By Her Daughter’s 2 Pit Bull-Mixes (10/25/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/10/daisie-bradshaw-68-staten-island-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
Isaiah Jacob Franklin (6) – Huntington, WV – Killed By The Family Pit Bull (12/2/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/12/isaiah-jacob-franklin-huntington-west-virginia-fatal-pit-bull-attack/
David Fear (64) – Grover Beach, CA – Killed By Neighbor’s Police K9 (12/16/16) https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2016/12/david-fear-grover-beach-california-fatal-dog-attack/
Here we are in 2016 and pit bull attacks are on the rise! When will the madness end? Enough is enough!