Deltona man shoots pit bull to stop attack on neighbor, 82

^{By Patricio G. Balona – [email protected] – Published: Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 5:34 p.m.}

DELTONA — Nigel Bailey always believed that stories about pit bulls attacking people or other animals without provocation were exaggerated. Not any more.

According to a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office report, Bailey was walking his dogs in the Brighton Avenue and Derby Drive area of Deltona about 10 a.m. when the pit bull attacked. A neighbor, Lorenzo Smith, heard Bailey’s cries for help and shot the dog in defense of his neighbor, the report states.

Bailey is recovering from puncture wounds to his right leg and left arm.

On Wednesday, Smith said he had never seen a vicious dog attack like the one last week. Smith was in his backyard working in his garden when he heard Bailey screaming for help.

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Florida man shoots pit bull to stop attack on neighbor

^{THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – 04/24/2015 7:33 AM}

Lorenzo Smith told The Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://bit.ly/1bA4ubc ) Wednesday that he heard Bailey’s screams and watched the dog became more violent as Bailey tried to protect his dogs. Smith grabbed a gun and shot the dog.

The dog’s owner said there was no justification for the shooting. Animal control officers say they’ve had previous reports of the dog roaming the street.

Florida Man Shoots Pit Bull to Stop Attack on Neighbor

^{By: Associated Press – April 24, 2015}

DELTONA, Fla. (AP) — A central Florida man fatally shot a pit bull that was attacking his 82-year-old neighbor.

A Volusia County Sheriff’s arrest report says Nigel Bailey was walking his two small dogs on April 17 when a pit bull appeared “out of nowhere” and attacked him and the dogs.

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American Pit Bull Terrier

Pit Bull Terriers need regular vigorous physical activity. They crave mental and physical stimulation. Regular long walks and plenty of play time can be ideal ways to burn energy. If their exercise needs are not met, they can develop destructive behaviors. They can often excel at physical activities, such as jogging and weight pulling. Some clubs admit them to agility and fly ball; others don’t because it is dangerous to have APBTs off leash near other dogs and the clubs don’t want to bear the liability in the event of an attack.

The American Pit Bull Terrier needs early socialization and training. Since they are active dogs, they can become unmanageable quickly. They need a firm and consistent handler that can maintain control at all times. They are eager to please and can learn tricks if trained patiently. They are very active both indoors and outdoors. Despite proper training and socialization, many dogs may be hard to manage and can still have unwanted behaviors.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has a history and bloodline deep rooted in the blood sports of animal baiting and dogfighting. As with all breeds, they retain their original traits. They often to do not accept other animals, especially dogs, and can be extremely aggressive towards them. They may accept animals they are raised with, but have been known to kill other family pets even after years of living together happily.

Most APBT puppies get along fantastically with other animals, including dogs. Puppies often love to play with and have companionship with other animals. This often gives owners a false sense of security. As the APBT matures, their relationship with other animals can change drastically. Often dog aggression issues emerge from 1-3 years in age, but some dog’s exhibit aggression as early as 6 months of age. They often will actively seek out other dogs to engage in fighting with and have broken their collars, crashed through windows, and torn through fences to do so, and one recently leaped from an apartment 2^nd story balcony, to get to a dog. They can get along with other dogs at times, but things can escalate quickly and they can attack suddenly and for no apparent reason. They often redirect onto humans who try to break up the fight¹⁴. Extreme caution should be used with all animal interactions and owners should never be completely comfortable. They can be unpredictable and a dog that plays nicely with dogs for years can suddenly change. Many owners have been shocked to see their beloved pet’s fighting instincts suddenly surface. It is highly recommended that the APBT is separated from other animals in the household when they cannot be supervised¹⁵. This is not a breed that is suitable for interactions at off leash dog parks¹⁶.

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POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS

This is a list of dog breeds that have a history of being potentially dangerous to people, especially children. Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness understands that any dog has the ability to bite or inflict serious harm to humans. This list consists of several dog breeds that have a higher than average number of recorded human fatalities. Please use extreme caution if you choose to bring one of these breeds into your home. Rental communities and homeowners insurance may restrict many of the dog breeds on this list due to the likelihood of a serious incident.

Pit Bulls, Mastiff, and Rottweiler lead in fatalities and are listed first. The rest of the breeds are listed in alphabetical order:

Pit Bull Terrier Family