Pit bull bite seen as among ‘worst’

There are nine houses on the 5500 block of East Commerce Avenue, and on Saturday afternoon a visitor to the neighborhood could count at least 12 dogs. Most appeared to be pit bull terriers or part pit bull.”Beware of Dog” signs and decals were displayed on some doors. A chrome-plated hood ornament in the shape of a menacing-looking dog was mounted on a pickup parked curbside. Property lines were separated by chain-link fences.

The day before, a boy who entered his girlfriend’s house on this street was attacked and maimed by two pit bulls. Residents beat to death one of the dogs, and police shot the other.

“It was one of the worst bites in Spokane in many, many years,” dispatcher Hope Merkison of SpokAnimal said Saturday. SpokAnimal, which handles the city’s animal control, is investigating the attack.

The victim’s name was reported as Ryan Adam, believed to be 12 years old, in Saturday’s newspaper. A neighbor said his last name is Adams, although Spokane police Officer Teresa Fuller could not confirm his name. “The family has asked to have some privacy,” she said.

Shortly before the attack, the boy was with a group of friends, including his girlfriend, Chloe Ramirez, said neighbor and eyewitness Mercedez Ivie, 14. She said Adams was advised to stay outside because of the dogs, but he followed them in, and the animals attacked.

Adams’ left ear was bitten off, and he lost half of his right ear, as well as suffering bite marks to his face. He was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Fuller said Adams is in stable but serious condition. He suffered several fractures in addition to the bite wounds and will need reconstructive surgery.

“His girlfriend (Chloe Ramirez) told me he wrote a note to his mom that said ‘I don’t want to go to school anymore because people are going to make fun of me,’ ” said Ivie, sitting outside her house while her part-Red Heeler, part-pit bull Rocco barked continually from inside.

Police said they could not find Adams’ ear at the scene of the attack. The dead dogs – Marvelous, or “Marvey,” and Looney – were taken to the Pet Emergency Clinic where a veterinarian also attempted to find the boy’s ear.

In addition to the pit bulls that live on Ivie’s block, the teenage girl said she thinks there are several more pit bulls in the neighborhood.

Lisa Lucas, certified pet dog trainer and owner of Northern Tails Dog Training in Stevens County, said pit bulls have become a dog of status for some people.

The dogs were originally bred to fight other animals and specifically not to be aggressive to people, Lucas said.

“Bad, irresponsible breeding has created pit bulls who are aggressive to people,” she added.

Although Ivie – who has lived across from the Ramirez family for a year – said she had never seen Marvey and Looney hurt anyone, Lucas said a pit bull’s aggressive behavior doesn’t happen overnight.

“Dogs do not just go from OK to not OK,” Lucas said “It’s an old myth that dogs just turn bad. There’s a gradual progression.”

Lucas said she has also worked with pit bulls, teaching them basic obedience.

“If trained properly, they can be safe dogs,” she said.

In the case of Adams’ ordeal, however, Lucas said, “Once they start fighting, they don’t stop. They never let go.”

Ivie said there were roughly 10 people in the Ramirez house during Friday’s attack, which happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. Both dogs attacked Adams at the same time, with Looney dragging Adams from one room into the kitchen.

Ivie estimated the attack lasted several minutes before Adams broke free and fled to a bedroom.

When someone began hitting Marvey with a broom handle, the dog bit the broom handle in two, Ivie said. Later, Ramirez stuck a crowbar down Looney’s throat.

“A broom handle isn’t strong enough,” Lucas said. “Any responsible pit bull owner is going to own a breaking stick (a pipe, something strong enough to open a dog’s jaw).”