Man attacked by pit bulls in Pahrump dies

This dog is one of three pit bulls that attacked three men, critically injuring one of them, in Pahrump on March 13, 2015, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.

^{By Pashtana Usufzy (contact) – Wednesday, April 15, 2015 | 3:19 p.m.}

A man who was attacked by three pit bulls last month in Pahrump has died, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.

Kenneth Ford died at a hospital just over a month after he and two other men were attacked March 13 at 1091 Black St., the Sheriff’s Office said.

One of the men went to help feed a neighbor’s cats when the dogs jumped a 6-foot fence and attacked him, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The man shouted for help, and two men who came to his aid also were attacked, police said. It was not clear which one of the men was Ford.

One of the men shot two of the dogs, but the animals kept attacking until an ambulance scared them away, police said. One of the injured pit bulls was euthanized, police said.

The same dogs were involved in another attack eight months earlier, police said.

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Pahrump man dies 1 month after dog attack

^{By Caroline Bleakley, Senior Online Editor – 4/15/15}

PAHRUMP, Nev. — A Pahrump man attacked by a neighbor’s dogs last month has died as a result of his injuries, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s office.

Three dogs owned by Ricky Davidson attacked neighbor Kenneth Ford, 79, on March 13. Ford died Tuesday.

Two other people who attempted to help Ford during the attack were also mauled, even after one of them shot at the dogs.

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Pahrump man dies after March pit bull attack

^{By KIMBER LAUX – LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL – 4/15/15}

A Pahrump man who was attacked by three pit bulls in March has died, the Clark County coroner’s office said Wednesday.

Kenneth Lawrence Ford, 79, of Pahrump, died Tuesday at University Medical Center, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

Officers from the Nye County Sheriff’s office responded about noon March 13 to a two-home property in the 1000 block of Black Street in Pahrump.

Ford had gone to his neighbor’s home to feed his cats when the neighbor’s three pit bulls jumped a fence and began attacking him, deputies said.

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Three men injured in Pahrump pit bull attack; dog owner arrested

PAHRUMP, Nev. (KSNV My News 3)– A Pahrump man was arrested and faces multiple charges after three pit bulls attacked three men, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s office.

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a dog attack at 1091 Black Street in Pahrump shortly before noon.

Deputies arrived and discovered there are two residences on the property. One of the residences belonged to the land owner and the other belonged to a tenant living on the land behind the main residence.

According to officers, the land owner has cats that a neighbor helps feed. The tenant, identified as 40-year-old Ricky Davidson, has three pit bulls who were kept behind a 6-foot-high fence.

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3 injured after pit bull attack, 1 critical, owner arrested

^{By Nikki Bowers, Digital Media Producer – 3/13/15}

Law enforcement said it first received the call about the dog attack at 1091 Black Street in Pahrump around 11:55 a.m. It all unfolded when the first victim went to his neighbor’s home to feed the cats. The neighbor who has the cats owns the property, but rents out a section of it to 40-year-old Ricky Davidson who has three pit bulls.

Deputies said when the first victim walked up to the home the three dogs jumped a 6 foot fence and began brutally attacking the man. He began screaming for help, so one of his friends ran over, and he was also attacked.

Nye County Sheriff said a third man jumped in to help the two other men, and the dogs attacked him too. At some point, the two men who tried to help the first victim broke free from the clutches of the pit bulls and dragged the first victim next door with them as they fled.

Detectives said they victims closed the gate behind them, but the dogs were able to find a hole in the fence and continue attacking.

Deputies said that’s when one of the men grabbed a gun and shot two of the dogs, but that didn’t stop the dogs. In fact, they apparently didn’t stop their attack until Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue arrived with sirens, which scared them off.

The first victim was taken by Mercy Air to University Medical Center where he is listed as critical.

“He was in shock and he was bleeding really bad,” said Wells. “My heart goes out to him. I pray to God that he’s okay.”

The other two victims were taken to Desert View Hospital with serious injuries.

Further investigation into Davidson’s dogs revealed this wasn’t the first time they’ve attacked somebody. There was an incident where another man was allegedly attacked eight months prior to this latest incident.

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2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Pahrump Man Dies One Month After Vicious Pit Bull Attack

^{DogsBite.org reports}

Witness Interviewed
UPDATE 04/16/15: After the media began reporting the death of Kenneth Ford Wednesday, News 3 interviewed a man who said that he saw the violent March 13 attack. Going only by “Ron,” he paints a very grim picture, including that the dogs chewed off the man’s left hand and he lost six pints of blood. One of the two men who came to Ford’s aid, and was also viciously attacked, spent 23 days in the hospital. The Nye County district attorney continues to interview witnesses.

News 3: It happened back on March 13. Ron, who doesn’t want to be on camera saw it all happen.
Ron: I’ve never seen nothing like that in my life.
News 3: He thinks the dogs were provoked.
Ron: I sat down here on the porch and I seen the guy that’s in jail now, out here in front of the house, beating these three dogs with a stick.
News 3: The next thing he says he saw was 79-year old Kent Ford who was taking care of this home for the owner walked up to the door and was viciously attacked.
Ron: Cause the dogs absolutely chewed his left hand plum off. He lost six pints of his blood. And his face was tore off. His eye was hanging out. I mean I have never seen nothing like that.
News 3: Ron says that two neighbors, Jerry and Manny, came to Kenneth’s aid, but they were also attacked. The neighbors knew their choices were limited.
Ron: That’s when he come running and he said, “Get your gun” and Manny shot one, and it did not even slow him down. He just kept attacking.
News 3: Two of the dogs were shot, and as officers and an ambulance arrived, the dogs ran off. Ford was clinging to life.
Ron: He was in the ambulance, he actually died in the ambulance, and they brought him back to life.
News 3: He died Tuesday at a Sunrise hospital. All three dogs were caught and put down. The two other victims in the case are still recovering from their injuries. One spent 23 days in the hospital. Just returned a couple of days ago. He didn’t want to go on camera for this story, saying he may get an attorney and file a lawsuit in this case.

It was initially reported that owner’s pit bulls had previously attacked another man. The Pahrump Valley Times, however, states there are no known previous attacks on humans. If true, this may complicate criminal charges. While police continue to investigate the March 13 attack, it is known that Davidson was cited twice for allowing his dogs to run loose, once in February 2013 and September 2014. In August 2014, Davidson was cited after his dogs attacked another animal.

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Kenneth Ford

79-years old | Pahrump, NV

Kenneth Ford, 79-years old, was brutally attacked by three pit bulls on March 13 and airlifted to University Medical Center (UMC) in critical condition. Just before the attack, Ford went to his neighbor’s two-home property to feed his cats. The neighbor with the cats owns the property and rents out a section to a tenant who owns three pit bulls that he kept behind a 6-foot fence. When Ford came to feed the cats, the pit bulls jumped the fence and attacked him. Ford screamed for help and two men ran to help him. The dogs then attacked them too, inflicting serious injuries to both. The two men were able to drag Ford next door and close the gate, but the pit bulls found a hole in the fence and continued their attack. One man was able to get a gun and shot two of the pit bulls, but the dogs continued attacking the men undeterred. Authorities arrested and charged the owner of the pit bulls, Ricky Davidson, immediately. His dogs had a history of aggression and being at large. Ford died of his injuries at UMC on April 14. [source citations]

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American Pit Bull Terrier

The ‘bull and terrier’ type was originally developed in England in the early 19^thcentury. The lineage goes back to the mastiff / molosser types, including what we now call the Olde English Bulldogge, that were used for bear-, bull- and horse-baiting from the 12^th through the 18^th century. This isn’t the bear-baiting we think of today, when hunters feed bears in order to bring them out in the open to shoot them. Rather, the bear, bull or horse was confined in a public arena where the mastiff ‘bulldogs’ would slowly tear them apart alive for the public’s amusement^1,2,3,4,5.

The popularity of this ‘sport’ declined as education became more emphasized in urban society of the Industrial Revolution and literacy among the population grew (from about 30% in the 17^th century to 62% by 1800)⁶. The ‘sport’ was banned altogether by Act of Parliament in 1835.

The lovers of blood ‘sports’ turned to dogfighting to satisfy their fancy, breeding the large, mastiff-type bulldogs to smaller working terriers to get dogs both smaller and more agile, easier to keep and to hide, but just as willing to attack and fight to the death. With the rise of the kennel clubs and the desire to distinguish dogs by looks and pedigree as well as by performance, this ‘bull and terrier’ type eventually divided into many official breeds. They all share the same ancestry and function, distinguishing themselves mostly by slight differences in appearance.

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 fights^7,8,9. 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 pets^10,11. 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, in the United States, 16 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.

It is recommended that American Pit Bull Terrier owners have and carry a break stick¹⁷. A break stick is a device designed to open a Pit Bull type dog’s mouth while it is engaged in fighting. Pit Bull type breeds have a very distinctive fighting style and often will latch on their opponent and not let go. They usually will shake the other animal violently when they are latched on. This can cause horrific damage quickly. The break stick was designed by dog fighters to be inserted into the Pit Bull’s mouth and release his grip. The original purpose was to safely end a dog fight. The break stick often is the ONLY thing that will release the dog’s grip. People have been known to hit Pit Bulls with objects such as a bat or even shoot them and the dog still will not let go. Bully Breed owners should always have one handy in cause of an emergency. The break stick is not safe to use on other breeds of dogs and is only recommended for dogs in the Pit Bull family that were once used for dog fighting purposes.

Research is advised before selecting an APBT as a pet. They are often on the list of dogs that many landlords/property management companies do not allow. There are many American towns that have breed specific legislation or restrictions on certain breeds, including theAPBT. There are also many countries that have enacted restrictions or bans, such as the United Kingdom, that include the breed. It is wise to make sure your pet will be allowed into your community.

Breeds in the Pit Bull family are the most common surrendered and stray dog breeds in the animal sheltering system. They are also the most commonly euthanized dog breed. Owners are often unaware and unprepared for these breeds. While many families own bully breeds successfully and have only positive experiences with the breed, there are families they are not suited for. Because shelters are so full of APBTs and other Pit Bull types, it’s important to neuter your APBT rather than breeding it – for the sake of the APBTs themselves¹⁸. No dog lover wants to breed any kind of dog only to have it quickly end up in a shelter after it’s sold!

The American Pit Bull Terrier requires a minimal amount of grooming and only sheds lightly. They are prone to several medical issues such as hip dysplasia, cataracts, allergies, and heart disease. They usually weigh between 30-70 lbs and their average lifespan is about 12 years.

In North America, from 1982-2014, Pit Bull breeds and mixes have seriously attacked 3,595 humans that resulted in 2,233 maimings and 307 deaths

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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