Dog kills owner - London, Ontario

Man was playfully poking wife when pet turned on him
By LONDON FREE PRESS STAFF

THORNDALE — A woman watched, horrified, Monday as the family dog attacked and killed her husband.

John Martin, 77, of Wellburn Road in Thames Centre was playfully poking his wife outside their home about 5 p.m. when the couple’s five-year-old-dog lunged at his throat, police said.

The wife, who had been standing in the driveway with a female cab driver, was eventually able to pull the dog off her husband.

Martin was pronounced dead at hospital in St. Marys.

The 40-kilogram mixed-breed dog has been quarantined by the Middlesex-London Health Unit at a local kennel.

Provincial police continue to investigate the incident, which occurred about 20 kilometres northeast of London.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/05/30/1606125.html


Gee, Bryant, you're really keeping people safe. :mad:

I just seen the dog on the news.( A channel) Its a mutt but of course they are saying that it has alot of pitbull in it but to me it looks like a typical farm mutt, more like a border collie cross. Once again the pitbull takes the rap.

In cases where a dog attacks someone or something, it seems to me that it is automatically labelled a pit bull! Who decides what breed these dogs are and on what basis?? Is it a veterinarian? The owner? The reporter? The health unit?? The victim? The police?

Seems to me that the breed is identified post haste as well, as if it has to be deemed a pit bull immediately to satiate the publics' misguided bloodlust....

What criteria and who's sayso is used?:confused:

It was the dog catcher that said " in my professional opinion this dog has alot of pitbull in it"on the London A channel news.I think that instead of relying on this persons so called professional opinion that they should trace down the history of the dogs parents and see if they can find out for sure what this mutt is really made of.

Yup, another dog catcher that has dog breed identification certification: NOT!

anyone have a pic of the dog?

London media is reporting the dog as a pitbull mix and Citypulse (Toronto) just reported the dog as a German Sheperd mix.

They also have it in the newspaper as a lab-cross.

This whole BSL is exactly that "B.S". We have to remember that the newspaper and other media are just "marketing" themselves to sell their product being the newspapers and t.v. ratings. What disappoints me the most and seems so upsetting to me is the fact that people (newspapers and media) have figured out another method of how to exploit dogs for profit. They will not get one red cent from me!

Just another reason not to poke your wife.:D

(ok, I know it's not funny, but some dogs are protective of their masters, regardless of breed).

when the couple’s five-year-old-dog lunged at his throat, police said.

Well according to CP24's 11:00pm news story, a witness said the dog went after the man, ended up knocking him down on his back and then went for his throat.
And IMO, I highly doubt the dog just attacked suddenly without warning signs. Some people think it's funny to get their dog in an excited state to see it's protective or agressive side, but when you tease a dog, the inevitable always happens. It happened when I was younger - teasing the dog(20lbs) = a bite to the face!

680news just reported it as a pitbull-cross .

dog not vaccinated or to the vet in 5 years.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/05/31/1607680-sun.html




Wow now anything is a pit bull. ^*^(*^$(@%*(@^#%*$)@(&#$)@($^@*(^%#@*%#($@)(&$@)(#&@(*%$(@&#$)!&#$^@%$&!@#$!)($&_@&*)@#(*^$(!#^(@*$^@(*5

Yes this is a very sad story and terrible that it happened, but come on... the man was 77 yrs old not a young man. I did see the news reports and the animal control office did have a vet come out and determine that it was a pitbull x, not to mention the wife,she would know and hasn't said anything different and yes there are some resemblance in the head and face,fur, they (pitbulls) have a very noticable 'smile' to them, not a Border collie x. I do not agree with the ban, its not the dogs fault it has stupid owners, and my hubby's family have always had them. Any dog will bite doesn't matter what breed. Working in the animal field for many years - pitbulls were the least of our 'trouble' dogs:pawprint:

Please note the comments from Wayne Uncer, the kennel spokesperson:

PIT BULL KILLS OWNER
THE CROSS-BREED DOG ATTACKED AS THE 77-YEAR-OLD VICTIM'S WIFE LOOKED ON IN HORROR.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Dateline: WELBURN

An elderly man died after his pit bull crossbreed dog attacked him and tore open his throat in front of his horrified wife and a taxi driver.
John Martin, 77, from this small community just south of St. Marys, didn't even see the Monday attack coming, Lynn-del Alderson, the cabbie who saw it with Martin's wife, Nancy, said yesterday.

"The dog started charging and pounced on him from behind," said a shaken Alderson, who was delivering groceries to the couple just before 5 p.m.

"He didn't have a chance."

Minutes earlier, the couple -- married for 25 years -- had been laughing and joking with each other on the lawn of their tiny farmhouse, she said.

The couple's five-year-old dog, Buster, a 90-pound cross between a pit bull and Labrador, was playing off leash nearby, she said.

Alderson, who regularly ran deliveries to the couple, stayed in her taxi, having been warned before by the owners not to leave the car because the dog had been aggressive in the past.

What happened next was a "surreal" twist of events that started when Martin playfully poked his 57-year-old wife and then turned to walk away, the cabbie said.

Through her driver's side window, Alderson watched in horror as the hulking dog lunged at the man from behind and knocked him over.

"They were just being goofy with each other, but as soon as John walked away, Buster ran at him," she said. "It was like he was protecting (Nancy.)"

Martin, whom Alderson called slight and gentle, struggled to get the dog off him.

"John ended up on his back and the dog lunged right for his throat."

Seeing Nancy frozen in shock, Alderson jumped out of her cab to see if she could find anything to use to beat the dog away from Martin.

"I was just screaming for her to get the dog off him and I couldn't find anything to use to get Buster off," she said, adding she then called 911.

When Nancy -- apparently the dog's favoured owner -- sprang into action, it took precious seconds for her to coax the dog off her husband, Alderson said.

Nancy leashed the dog, put it inside and the two went to work on Martin, bleeding profusely from the neck.

"We were putting towels on his neck, but there was just so much blood," Alderson said.

Paramedics arrived and Martin was taken to St. Marys hospital, where he died from multiple bites to the neck.

Ontario imposed a sweeping ban on pit bulls last year, after a rash of attacks on humans by the squat, muscular dogs.

Buster, a brown and white dog given to the couple as a puppy, was picked up by officials from Hillside Kennels Animal Control Ltd., contracted by Thames Centre.

Wayne Uncer, spokes-person for the Innerkip kennel, said a veterinarian confirmed the dog was a mix between a Labrador and a pit bull.

"This dog certainly has a large amount of pit bull in him," he said.

"Had it been a border collie or a German shepherd or a Lab, it might have bitten the person and let go," he said. "But a pit bull, once they get it in their mind to kill someone, that's what they'll do."
When officials arrived at the Martin home to remove the dog (law requires any animal that has bitten or scratched anyone be quarantined for 10 days), Buster was acting aggressively, Uncer said.

The dog, a neutered male that wasn't registered as a pit bull and hadn't seen a vet in five years, had to be put in a snare pull to be forced into a cage, he said.

Once at the kennel, however, the dog appeared to be a "placid family pet," he said.

While Uncer has seen a lot of dog attacks in his years as a kennel operator, he said he's never heard of a dog killing its owner.

"It's a really sad, unusual story," he said. "It . . . just turned nasty."

At Nancy's request, he said, Buster will be put down, likely after the 10-day quarantine.

Uncer hopes others will learn from the fatal attack.

"It may influence some of the owners to use excessive caution with these dogs," he said.

The first part of Ontario's phased-in ban on pit bulls took effect last August, requiring all pit bulls be leashed, muzzled and sterilized.

The London Free Press has the same picture on the front page with huge black letters "Pit Bull kills owner" I still say that the roots of this dogs background should be traced.This dog looks like a Border collie- lab cross!!!

Wayne notes that if the dog had been a Border Collie, GS or Lab...it WAS part lab....

and states: "once they get it in their mind to kill someone, that's what they'll do"

This is not my understanding of the dog at all. This to me is just misconception, misinformation and fearmongering at it's finest.....

holy crap... that dog looks exactly like my friend's dog... who is a boxer-husky mix (he saw both parents and none of the puppies look like their parents or looked alike!). this is a tragedy beyond words, from all sides of the story. :(

I'm not sure but maybe I'm just stupid, but I don't see where you can sit there and say it looks like a Border collie x:confused:

I'm not sure but maybe I'm just stupid, but I don't see where you can sit there and say it looks like a Border collie x:confused:


From features. When you mix a few breeds together you get a mutt and the dog may show show some features from various breeds. This dog is a mutt. A farm dog of unknown heritage. But, if it attacked it has to be a pitbull right?!?!

Also, I am not buying that the man was playfully poking his wife and the dog just decided to randomly attack him. He is the dogs master and the hand that feeds him ....(supposedly).
I have been playfully poked and tickled by my SO and neither of our dogs decided to go after him....I feel there is a heck of a lot more to the story then the media is reporting. Let's not forget the media picks and chooses what they want to report and how they want to report it.

Without tracing the history of the dog its anyones guess.Nobody is qualified to identify the breed of the dog including the vet.The DNA of dogs is all the same.If they want to keep saying that common mutts are instantly pitbulls as soon as something goes wrong then throw the book at them and slap them with 6 months in jail and a $10000 fine and let them waste their time and money in court crap.

Even if the dog is a pitbull - lab mix why blame the pitbull in the dog? Labs have a much higher rate of attacks on humans than pits.

they (pitbulls) have a very noticable 'smile' to them, not a Border collie x.
My dog has said "smile" but she is sooo far from being a pitbull. When you use classifications like "their smile" to identify a pitbull, you create confusion and massive misidentification.

Me thinks that this situation has just opened, very WIDELY, the inevitable...many Many MANY dogs are now going to be labelled PB when they, infact, are obviously not and every dog out there in Ontario that has questionable lineage has become much more of a target than they already were.

People...be vary wary of your dogs....things just got much worse.....

My dog has said "smile" but she is sooo far from being a pitbull. When you use classifications like "their smile" to identify a pitbull, you create confusion and massive misidentification.
Yeah, my Shiba Inu has the exact same "smile" and there's not a drop of pit bull in her either.

And there's been plenty of fatal and near-fatal Lab, GSD and Border Collie attacks. That person who said that quote is an idiot.

My bunny, Coco has a big smile...is he a pitbull ??:p

My bunny, Coco has a big smile...is he a pitbull ??:p
uh oh.. better pull out that bunny muzzle.....

My bunny, Coco has a big smile...is he a pitbull ??
Oh you better hurry and go register your bunny as a Vicious killing Pitbull! It has 4 legs right!! ITS A PIT:eek:

But seriously, I do see pit in that dog. Mixed with what??? I dont know! However It is a terrible story, sad for all ( as previously stated) Of course this attack will get TONS of publicity and be used against other Pits.

Funny thing though, May 24 weekend! a Shih Tzu at camp Seriously injured a little girl. Bet y'all didnt hear about that! Heck Doubt it was reported!!!
Pits/Rotts/Shephards ect... Sell papers!! Sad fact, but true!
WHat kind of world do we live in????

:sorry: If I offended anyone and their pets. I am going to stop this hopfully while I am still ahead, in no way shape or form was I bashing pitbulls or crosses. If you pls I also said that it is Not the breeds fault it has stupid owners, and that ANY dog will bite,today it is just the breed of choice to report and working in the animal field pitbull (x) were the least of our 'trouble' dogs, and I won't mention which ones were as I am sure I would offend someone else. Yes there alot of other breeds that have attacked but it doesn't make the news, if say there was a ban on labs, everything you would hear about were the lab attacks, and yes EVERYONE out there that has a short/no coat dog fitting the profile has to be cautious, perfect example I was out walking last week with my neighbour who has 2 pure bred boxers... a woman came out of her house screaming ran across the street at us telling us that if we didn't have them muzzled she was going to call the police

Did the article say that?
This dog is a mutt. A farm dog of unknown heritage.

[QUOTE=erykah1310]
Funny thing though, May 24 weekend! a Shih Tzu at camp Seriously injured a little girl. QUOTE]

Where's camp Seriously?? Just kidding:p

I have to say, I went to T.O this past weekend and I was so saddend by what I saw at a rottweiler show. Someone was socializing a 14 week old stafford terrier....great, but she then informed me that the police have already asked her to muzzle her. She is a show dog from the states. How do you build confidence in a puppy if you have to muzzle. I think it is truly horrible what is happening.
I later met a man who just adopted a british bulldog cross with pit....what a sweetie, but the saddened face with the stupid muzzel.
It is becoming way to real, I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to realize the agony all short hair breeds are going through.
I am dreading the day my rottweiler will have to wear a muzzle

Libby I think everyone knows you were poking fun at the idoiocacy of the whole breed recognition thing. I by the way this was a comment from a guy on the street who thinks he knows all about dogs " lady that is the biggest pit bull I have ever seen but shouldn't he be wearing a muzzle?" I never realized how similar in appearance an English Mastiff is to a Pit Bull.
It is really sad seeing all these sweet dogs with muzzles when the only thing that needs a muzzle is Michael Bryant.

It bothers me most that its a pit bull mix, cross breed. They mention lab in all stories but then continue to say pit bull cross. I mean it must have just been the pit bull in the dog right? Is that what they want the public to believe?

So are you all telling me that it couldnt be a mastiff lab cross? it could be just as much as it could be a pit bull.

The point is it could be any of those crosses but it will never be challenged
no one will ever point out the lab qualities in this dog but the possible pit bull traits will be screamed at the top of the mountain. I mean we all know the last known death before this I think was Courtney Trempe by a mastiff and so this guy says that it wouldn't have happened this way if it weren't a pit bull..... ummm ok... So all those other deaths what happened?

On top of it why the Vet would identify the breed at all when the OVMA says itself it is unqualified. So this identification CANNOT be taken as fact but will be, but only as opinion.

The Pitbull part of the dog has to be in the big bold headlines and the rest of it in much finer print.If dogs could sue all pittys would be rich.

I don't think it is pit, from that picture, because it DOESN'T seem to have the "distinctive smile", to me. I always think that Daisy looks like the Joker when she "smiles", and that dog doesn't have the big wide smile we're used to seeing.

Of course, it attacked, so it must be a pitbull.

I find the behaviour of the couple leading up to the "attack" more suspect than anything, and potentially telling as to why the dog reacted the way it did. Any dog can lunge and attack, and the fact that the media is blaming pitties or crosses is utterly savage and wrong. The "hulking dog" (makes me so freakin angry to see sensational verbiage just for excitement's sake) only "attacked" AFTER the man was poking his wife "playfully". What noise did the wife make? Did she scream? Did she cry out in surprise? What was THEIR physical history together? Did he do this to her often? Did he often make very physical, dominant and aggressive displays of human play against her in front of the dog? Somehow I doubt those questions were asked, since you put a dog (man's best friend) in a position to feel the need to defend it's pack (in this case, the wife) and you take the witness statement (a woman who was too afraid to get out of her car parked away from the scene) and hold that as pure, unadulterated evidence that the dog just snapped for no reason? Not buying it. My beagle-mix Max (RIP buddy we miss you) only ever "attacked" once, and that was to protect me from my brother when we were wrestling and it got fiesty, I let out a scream and Max jumped in the fray. As far as he was concerned, I was being hurt and as far as we were concerned, he wasn't wrong. Serious issues with this whole incident, sad that a man died, even more so that the dog will likely meet the same end, and worse that the media and governement is distorting this for their own vicious purposes.

Did the article say that?

Nope, the aricle did not say that...I did. The article in big bold letters in today's LFP states "Pit bull Kills Owner"....uhmmmmm it is a mixed breed dog and they even claimed so yesterday before the breed came out that it was a mixed breed. I do not use the media as a basis for facts...they only provide some carefully chosen information.

Someone very intelligent once stated, "Always remember: Not everything you read is fact. Not everything you see is real. Always seek from both sides and let yourself decide where the truth lies".

In the Toronto Star this morning it simply said "mutt"nothing about a pit-bullX.
To my untrained eye,he looks more like a lab than anything.

An unaltered, described to neighbours , by the owners, as aggressive and the dog had not seen a vet in five years, that may or may not be pit bull has attacked and killed after horseplay they might have provoked protective instincts. Go figure.

I’m sorry but they second I decide my dog is human aggressive there would be action taken. Neutering for a start (my dogs are both neutered).

This changes nothing as far as my stand on pit bulls is concerned. It can’t. In twenty three years there have now been 24 deaths involving 56 dogs and in two cases those attacks may of involved a pit bull. That makes it an even eleven times more likely to be killed in a dog attack by a dog other than a pit bull.

I'll take my chances with the pit bulls.

I'm sure Michael Bryant would be happy if his week didn’t already suck. He has been called up before a judge to explain why he is ignoring a court order, his government had to admit they may not be able to keep their already broken promise to eliminate coal by 2007(9) (never) and his government was ordered by the ombudsman to pay six million dollars to disabled people his government has screwed, maybe at least this will bring him a little sunshine.

I saw this story on City last night, they called it a Shepherd cross. When you see the dog on the video, rather than front forward, he looks much less "pittie like" (90) lbs...thats a really big pit bull...I agree with everyone saying this is a pretty suspicious story, and obviously very irresponsible owners, but the timing really sucks.

Maybe Im being preducice on the other side, but for all we know the dog has witnessed "aggression" against the woman before. The dog cant speak for himself...and thats always the problem, it sure would be nice to hear from the pooches when these things happen. It just doesn't make any sense, ofcourse the breed doesnt matter but what would make any dog behave that way?????...theres got to be more to it.

'PIT BULL' HEADING UNFAIR
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Column: Letters to the Editor
BY ADAM COUSINS, ST. THOMAS

Regarding the headline, Pit Bull kills owner (May 31):
Congratulations, London Free Press, for promoting hate-mongering and fear-building about pit bulls. Why was your article not titled: "Labrador kills owner," or "Pit Bull/Lab cross kills owner," or perhaps even "Dog kills owner"?

Where is your journalistic integrity? It is the media's responsibility to report the news -- unbiased. To be fair, you do mention that the dog is a pit bull/Lab cross -- but not until halfway into the article. Were you not able to fit "Lab" into the headline?

While this may seem like a minor change, it is clear what you are attempting to imply with this headline. This only serves to further blur the lines between editorial and news. Your readership is probably smart enough to draw its own conclusions if you just do your job and report the facts instead of your opinion -- but thanks anyway for telling us what we're supposed to think.

'PIT BULL' HEADING UNFAIR
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Column: Letters to the Editor
BY ADAM COUSINS, ST. THOMAS

Regarding the headline, Pit Bull kills owner (May 31):
Congratulations, London Free Press, for promoting hate-mongering and fear-building about pit bulls. Why was your article not titled: "Labrador kills owner," or "Pit Bull/Lab cross kills owner," or perhaps even "Dog kills owner"?

Where is your journalistic integrity? It is the media's responsibility to report the news -- unbiased. To be fair, you do mention that the dog is a pit bull/Lab cross -- but not until halfway into the article. Were you not able to fit "Lab" into the headline?

While this may seem like a minor change, it is clear what you are attempting to imply with this headline. This only serves to further blur the lines between editorial and news. Your readership is probably smart enough to draw its own conclusions if you just do your job and report the facts instead of your opinion -- but thanks anyway for telling us what we're supposed to think.

Great responce, is Adam one of us LOL ... ??? If not lets sign him up LOL

PIT BULL OWNERS GET FINAL NOTICE
THEY'RE TOLD TO REGISTER THEIR DOGS BY JUNE 30. AFTER THAT, 'HARDLINE' ENFORCEMENT IS PLANNED.

The City of London is warning nearly 300 pit bull owners that they have till the end of the month to register their dogs.
Jay Stanford, the city's manager of environmental services, estimates there could be about 290 unlicensed pit bulls in London, based the number of owners who haven't renewed their dog licences from last year.

A bylaw passed last fall requires all pit bulls in London to be licensed.

On May 30, the city issued its fifth and final notice to pit bull owners to have their dogs licensed, demanding full compliance by June 30.

Stanford described the enforcement approach as "balanced" as opposed to "hardline," especially given the uncertainty created by a court challenge of a provincial law banning the breed.

"If a situation requires a hardline approach, it will be implemented immediately," he said.

The issue of dangerous dogs was thrust into the spotlight last month when a 77-year-old Middlesex County man was fatally mauled by his unlicensed pit bull crossbreed.

John Martin's wife and a taxi driver witnessed the attack in the driveway of Martin's home in Welburn, south of St. Marys.

The dog is in quarantine but is expected to be euthanized.

The city has issued 685 licences to pit bulls owners since the province passed legislation last year banning the breed.

When the province amended the Dog Owners' Liability Act, the city followed up with a supporting bylaw.

Existing pit bulls were grandfathered under the law.

The laws require owners to have their pit bulls sterilized and microchipped. The dogs must be leashed and muzzled in public. The licensing fee is $50 plus an application fee of $10.

Bylaw infractions carry fines ranging from $200 to $500. Violations of the Dog Owners' Liability Act carry fines up to $10,000, six months in jail, or both.

Some pit bull owners may have moved or shipped their dogs outside the city or province, Stanford said.

"Some people don't believe they have a pit bull . . . so there's potential for denial," he said.

Some pit bull owners may be awaiting the outcome of the court challenge of the Ontario ban before spending the estimated $200 to $300 to sterilize and microchip their dogs, Stanford said.

"And there are people out there who are just taking the chance of not getting caught," he said.

The law bans pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American pit bull terriers and any dog "that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to any of those dogs."

The province imposed the ban after a number of vicious attacks by pit bulls on people and pets.

This year, London police have laid eight charges under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, compared with two last year and one in 2004.

Police have responded to 56 pit bull related occurrences this year, compared to 29 last year and 22 in 2004.

This year, London police have laid eight charges under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, compared with two last year and one in 2004.



I'd be REALLY interested to know how many of those were pitbulls. Considering that everytime a pitbull (cross) sneezes it's in the paper, I have a feeling I know the answer.

Why let a thing like relevancy stand in the way of good reporting?

I'd be REALLY interested to know how many of those were pitbulls. Considering that everytime a pitbull (cross) sneezes it's in the paper, I have a feeling I know the answer.

Why let a thing like relevancy stand in the way of good reporting?

I will try to dig up this info for you. May take a day or so....I'm on it!:fingerscr

I will try to dig up this info for you. May take a day or so....I'm on it!:fingerscr
Ah, Lezz with the connections.... :)

I bet that none of those dogs were pit bulls.....considering probably 99% of the "pit bulls" here are mutts.....

The city just wants its money before the province deems this law to be ridiculous. Greedy *&!$&&#@!

My "connection" is on it, but somewhat doubtful of getting the truth.

So far, this is her reply:

"I will try, (to find out if any incidents involved pb's), but I doubt I will get any answers. These charges can be anything from noise complaints to a neighbour being nipped by a dog."

We shall have to wait and see.....

None of these were pitbulls:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/dog-attack-plastic-surgery-for-toddler/2006/04/26/1145861374978.html

http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/story.php?id=227558

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1623644.htm

http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=7642&format=html

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS/604190367/1094/SPORTS03

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/8309801/detail.html

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/208/208900_courage_of_dog_attack_mum.html

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/14179463.htm

http://www.wvrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=176597


http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=viewstory&storyid=16864

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2006/05/01/news/community/monloc02.txt

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1084&ArticleID=1484891