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Pit Bull That Attacked 4-Year-Old Girl Released From Death Row
Filed under: In The News, Pets
Franchesca Surun, right, with her dog Snoop, who spent eight months on doggie death row for biting a 4-year-old girl.Credit: Joe Marino, New York Daily News
Following a lengthy legal battle, a Bronx pit bull named Snoop was released from death row Aug. 15. The hound had been incarcerated after biting Terrence Roker and Taite, his 4-year-old daughter, on Dec. 6, 2009.
Roker tells the New York Daily News it is "ridiculous" that Snoop is still alive.
"I just don't know what it takes," he tells the newspaper, adding that he loves animals, but not "animals who attack my family."
So how did Snoop manage to get this new leash on life?
Franchesca Surun, the dog's owner, received free legal help from attorney Rachel Hirschfeld, who tells the Daily News she had to talk to the shelter "every three days ... about not killing him."
Back in April, a Daily News report said Hirschfeld had "outfoxed" city officials by insisting that Snoop's rights be honored "to the letter of the law."
The case was unusual because "most dogs (only) last a few days on Death Row," according to Kevan Cleary, a volunteer at the Brooklyn shelter where Snoop was held for eight months before his release.
The incident occurred last winter when Snoop escaped from Surun's yard and attacked Roker and his daughter while they were walking in their neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. The dog bit "both of Taite's feet" and ripped open Roker's leg, according the Daily News. Roker is planning to sue Surun.
In order to satisfy city officials, Surun has agreed to construct a 7-foot-high fence in order to keep Snoop from escaping from her yard again.
In 2009, the New York City Housing Authority banned certain dog breeds from city housing projects, including "pit bulls, Rottweillers and Doberman Pinschers," according to PawNation. Other cities have laws that restrict ownership of certain types of dogs, or require their owners to carry liability insurance.
Related: 9-Year-Old Saves Girl from Pit Bull
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 2)
8-18-2010 @ 12:27PM
Alicia said...How about seeking rehabilitation for the dog? If it attacked, there's a reason and the situation and the owner needs to be investigated and this dog might need to be retrained. We should never euthanize animals lightly and it's been proven that even "vicious" pits can be rehabilitated and made into loyal, happy, healthy, friendly family dogs.
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8-18-2010 @ 1:49PM
jerri said...Just wondering, Would you still feel that way if it were your four year old child who was attacked?
8-18-2010 @ 2:31PM
T said...I agree with Alicia. I've had pit bulls and pit bulls mixes since I was a kid and never had a problem with any of them. I think when it comes to any breed that its more how they have been trained more that anything. I would also like to say that I think that if the officials are going to ban certain breeds that there are a few more they need to add to the list....like chows. My brother has a chow chow and she is meaner than any pit bull I have ever been around. That's just my two cents.
8-18-2010 @ 2:36PM
traciewell said...I am sorry. ALL dogs that bite people should be put down. I lost my 6yr old niece to a rottweiller a few years back. Ripped her face off and her throat out! You never recover from that!!! ever! Shame on anyone that thinks a dog wont bite again. And the rottweiller that mauled my niece Victoria to death was a show dog with several titles. He was put down.
Accidents happen and this dog could get out again and the consequences much worse. Is that what it takes? Is it worth the life of a child or anyone fo rthat matter? really?
I have a black lab and if he ever showed signs of aggression or but anyone I would put him down...I love him with all my heart. I could never live w myself if he bit a child knowing i could have prevented an attack on a child.
8-18-2010 @ 2:57PM
makeredhappy said...Why am I NOT surprised that this dog is owned by minorities?!!
8-18-2010 @ 3:55PM
Alicia said...Yes, Jerri, if my four year instigated the attack. They're very vague on the details of the attack, but if the dog was lost and the child ran up and tried to hug it, then the father is equal responsible for the attack because he should've stopped his daughter. Any dog would bite a strange child if they felt threaten. I was bitten as a child by a boxer because I startled it and attacked by a golden retriever puppy who thought I was laying when I ran away. It was neither of the dogs' faults and I'd be heartbroken if I found out that either owner put down the dogs that hurt me. I should've known better than to grab a strange dog or run from one that was giving chase.
9-06-2010 @ 12:52AM
John said...Alicia, you sound like all the other bleeding heart liberals that think they can rehabilitate Humans that commit crimes too; it doesn't work and you are living in a fantasy world! It is an animal and it will continue to act as an animal until it is destroyed!
6-03-2011 @ 12:01AM
Jessa said...Alicia, your not a dog trainer are you? In fact your probably one of those idiots that think little dog's are cute when they snap or are "just playing". Well, I am a dog trainer. There is a lot to be said about the genetics of a dog as to how it will behave and how it is raised and socialized. But your comment that if the dog got loose and the little girl ran up and it was scared then it was not the dog's fault is BS! A properly bred, socialized, trained dog would have cowarded maybe or growled but not bit. I train German Shepherds to be service dogs and they by nature tend to be shifty as pups. There is not a single one that a large mentally ill, verbally and mobility challenged man or woman couldn't run up to and grab and hug face to face (and one guy love sombraros) and the most they do is put back their ears and turn their heads. These dogs are off lease and don't bother other dogs or kids or food. I save these dogs from shelters when they are given up so they are not some super dog. It's about how you train them and only keeping dogs alive that are geneticlly and emotionally stable. Sorry if that sounds cruel. Stop over breeding! The problem with dogs is greedy breeders who know nothing of biology and stupid people who know nothing of the pyschology of a dog. You should have to take classes to have kids and dogs. Thanks!
8-18-2010 @ 3:07PM
stela said...I have always Loved Dogs and Cats!... But, I LOVE Children More!!
My own children and those of Other PEOPLE.
IT is STUPID to give the Dog Another chance to HURT some Again!
I do not Care How many Medals it Wins....
I Choose Children/Die Dogs
bottom line........................
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8-18-2010 @ 3:03PM
sks said...it's all about how the dogs have been trained. shame on the owners for not keeping a watchful eye on their pet. as for the person who commented about chows, one of my childhood pets was a chow - best dog i've ever owned hands down. i have 2 dobermans right now, also complete sweet hearts! maybe some people just shouldn't be dog owners. i've always said you should have to obtain a license to have kids AND pets.
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8-18-2010 @ 3:20PM
Satin Doll said..."makeredhappy" says: "Why am I NOT surprised that this dog is owned by minorities?!!"
You are not surprised because you are a bigot.
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8-18-2010 @ 3:56PM
Ray said...Fortunately, for our people and country... those who think like you, are also.... now "Miniorities."
8-18-2010 @ 3:44PM
Ray said...Killing the dog is not the solution, but making the negligent owner accountable surely is. Furthermore, a dog is a dog and the particular breed is irrelevant... As one black postman explained: "If it has teeth, it will bite you." Clearly, there are some breeds, i.e. the Golden Retriever, etc, that are less likely to attack even when threatened.... The same can be said for people come to think of it. Still, any dog with proper care (love), control and training can be trusted around the family... In public, all dogs should be on a leash and even muzzled, depending on temperment.
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8-18-2010 @ 4:45PM
ts_laughter said...Dogs have rights?
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8-19-2010 @ 7:40PM
JBoogie said...Um, if that dog had attacked my child I wouldn't have waited on the shelter to put that dog down.
I live in SC, and my neighbor's cat was killed by a chow that was wandering the neighborhood. She called the cops, and they said to shoot the dog if she sees it again. The law in SC is that once an animal becomes a nuisance--kills a cat, digs up your flower bed, whatever, you can shoot it. I have two dogs that share my pillow every night, but the dog that bites my son is gonna be a dead dog, one way or another.
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8-20-2010 @ 2:38PM
Iri said...Ugh, I am disappointed at no mention of what consequences the owner of this dog is facing. I am a pit lover myself, and have one of the sweetest pit ever. But I do think if you have any breed of dog that has shown ANY sign of aggression, you should take ALL steps possible to make sure your dog will not get out or hurt any one. I hate hearing that owners promise to do that only after the dog hurt someone. Another fact is, even though all breads of dogs can bite a pit has far more power in their jaw then most other breads. And they don't just bite and release. They will lock their jaw and shake to tear.
To sum it up, every owner should know their dogs behavior and be responsible.
I love my pitt!! : )
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8-23-2010 @ 2:07PM
helena said...Rehabilitate dogs? There is a reason why animals are called 'ANIMALS'!!! The only reason dogs are calm is because they are domesticated- dont forget that they come from the canine family...the same as WOLVES!!!
Once they bite without provocation then its hard for them not to do so again! I feel so bad for the woman who lost her niece to a dog attack.
If a dog mauled my son I'd kill it myself- no hesitation and if my dog (yes, I own a few) attacks a child, I'll have it put down or shoot it myself. A human being's life (especially a child) is worth FAR more than that of an animal as far as I'm concerned..
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9-02-2010 @ 11:57PM
chevygrl said...I think it is crazy that so many people hate pits just because of the breed. It is horrible that this child had to go through what she did. My problem is why do people, news etc always post about the bad things these dogs do... why not the good.
if you want to complain about dog attacks so much do it on all breeds
not just our pits...
i have two pits now and a two day old puppy and they are the best dogs i have ever seen. but i as a responsible dog owner yes i said dog owner not pit owner... I watch my dogs around my kids and the is not because of the breed its because i am not a idiot. all animals have teeth and all animals can bite. i do not agree one bit with the breed being responsible for an attack it is the owners and the stupid people who are breeding for the heck of it and not doing their research on the dogs they are breeding. you should know the temperament of both dogs and any history you can find out before you breed and this is on any dog not just your "aggressive" breeds. socialize your dog with people and animals from an early age and raise it dont just feed it and water it, for christ sakes its not a plant. and for those who have the excuse of well it escaped from my yard, fence it in and not with a little four ft fence or a chain fence dogs can jump and they can climb. my pit can actually clear a 6ft wooden fence. use your heads people.
and for all the breed prejudice idiots out there, just because you dont like the dogs for some reason doesn't mean everyone else has to think like you.
PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED.
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9-05-2010 @ 8:39PM
nonnie22 said...Years ago I worked as an ER nurse for a number of years. Every dog bite I ever saw in the ER was from a German Shepherd. I guess the pits and rotties have taken their places.
I have a problem with a dog that has attacked anyone unprovoked being returned to the same owner. I agree with many of the other posters that often it's the owner who is the cause for an aggressive dog.
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9-06-2010 @ 12:57AM
John said...Sure, didn't you know? Its guaranteed in the constitution;all animals are endowed with inalienacble rights, among them are life liberty and the pursuit of your neighbors and their children.
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