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Boy airlifted after dog attack in Lake LA

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The dog attack happened in the backyard of this home in the 40000 block of 166th Street East, sheriff’s officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The dog attack happened in the backyard of this home in the 40000 block of 166th Street East, sheriff’s officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
LAKE LOS ANGELES – A 13-year-old boy suffered a “significant injury” to his arm and was airlifted to the hospital Wednesday after he was attacked by a family pit bull in Lake Los Angeles, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at a home in the 40000 block of 166th Street East, said Lt. Joseph Fender of the sheriff’s Lancaster Station.

The boy was at the home of his aunt and uncle. He was in the backyard with his uncle, a cousin and the dog when the attack occurred.

“[They were] preparing to feed the pit bull when it suddenly attacked the victim by biting him on the right arm,” Deputy Kit Gruppie of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station said in a news release. “The child’s uncle was able to free him from the dog’s grasp, and he was flown by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.”

The extent of the child’s injuries is unknown at this time, according to Gruppie.

Lt. Fender said the child suffered a “significant injury” to his right arm.

Officers from Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control responded to the home and took custody of the dog at the owner’s request, according to Gruppie.

“No citations were issued, and no arrests have been made at this time,” Gruppie said.

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55 comments for "Boy airlifted after dog attack in Lake LA"

  1. It’s time we sterilize every one of these ugly, tough-guy looking, gang banger, pumpkin headed, did I say UGLY yet, mongrels. Worthless breed.

  2. This is why I tell everyone that pit bulls should all be put down,as in 6 feet under.they are no good for anything…..I know many people whose children have been mallet to death and almost to death by so called (family pit bulls)…….. it’s time for pit bull genitive

  3. Another child dies after an attack by the family dog. Please read the whole story before commenting.

    A family pit bull attacked and killed an 11-month old boy in the town of Marshall last night, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. The dog, a 2-year old pit bull named “Diesel,” was with the baby and three other children in the home when the family pit bull suddenly attacked the boy. Responding deputies found 32-year old Lisa Cittadino trying to give the child first aid. Cittadino said she struggled to pull the family pet off the baby then called 911.1
    The baby died due to facial and neck injuries, according to deputies.
    Syracuse.com reports the ages of Cittadino’s other children, all daughters, are 7, 10 and 12. At the time of the attack, all four were playing with the family pit bull in the living room. Cittadino turned her back momentarily then heard screams from her baby boy and her daughters. When she saw the dog attacking her son, she frantically tried to get the animal to release its grip. Cittadino told deputies the family pit bull has never been aggressive since joining the family 2-years ago.

    The still unnamed baby was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, where he died. The pit bull was taken into custody by the town of Verona animal control officer and will be euthanized at Cittadino’s request. WKTV stated in their update that the family told the sheriff’s office they had raised the 2-year old pit bull from a puppy.

  4. I learned the hard way as a kid to never place my face near the St. Bernard’s food bowl at feeding time. Grew up forgot that tidbit, was “playing around” with my St. Bernard by pretending to eat with him, got nipped in the face! OUCH! Lesson relearned with no harsh feelings for the animal.

    Not saying this is exactly the situation here but it is probably a safe bet that something similar happened.

  5. This is a very unfortunate situation, BUT not all details were provided in this story. Dogs, no matter what the “breed” is, ALWAYS give warnings when there’s something that isn’t following up with them, therefore the OWNER FAILED to read those signs. Just as us humans don’t like being discrimated, let’s not discrimate the dogs as well. I was raised & brought up with the bully breed and have NEVER seen any of my dogs display “aggressive traits” and I will stick with those furry animals for life and bring my future kids up with them and show them how to be a responsible dog owner, as well. Dogs are like children, you raise & bring them up in a great disciplined environment, they’ll be golden, but if you don’t then things like this happen which is never the dogs fault.

  6. I wasn’t going too write anything, but after reading so many stupid comments from people with Google degrees, I have too, the dog breed that is considered to be dangerous is the Akita,Chow and Dalmatian. I am not a Pit Bull owner, just tired of hearing dumb ass people talk about stuff they have no knowledge on other than hear say information.

    • Tom, You disparage people that do not agree with your opinion but offer no facts to counter my facts. My facts are based on studies and statistics.

      Even if I agreed that aggressive Pit behavior is due to neglectful/abusive owners you are still playing the odds when you walk into a home or yard of a Pit owner. There are many other breeds that when neglected or abused cannot of will not severely main or kill people. Children especially are much safer around these other breeds. When is the last time you heard of a death or serious injury due to a beagle?

      As a former postal manager I have seen, far too many times, the life altering injuries caused by severe dog bites. When I carried mail, I was bitten on three different occasions by, according to their owners, loveable dogs that would never bite.

      So again I state that facts are facts. Your opinion cannot change that,

    • Tom,

      You disparage people who do not agree with your opinion yet fail to offer any insight into you position.

      I have offered fact based statements which you have ridiculed yet fail to provide contradictory facts. Do you have an informed opinion to offer to the conversation?

      While many breeds can be provoked into attacking and biting most cannot kill or permanently main their victims.

      In addition, as a former postal manager, I have seen first hand people lives permanently impacted due to severe dog bites. I was a letter carrier for several years. I was bitten on three different occasions by, according to their owners, loveable dogs that would never bite.

      Any child or adult attacked by a dog is one too many. It does not matter to the child or their families what the reason for the attack was.

      If you find anything I have stated to be untrue, please provide a intelligent and factual based response.

  7. Euthanize the people who abuse Pit Bulls. and Child Molesters, Rapist and Thief’s, those criminals are more dangerous then Pit Bulls. We have a saying “Euthanize a Gangsta not a Pit Bull”.

  8. Sorry Frustrated,

    You simply cannot argue away the facts. The fact is that the Pit Bull Breed(s) is the most likely to turn on their owner and main or kill. Here are some facts to digest from Dogbite.org.

    Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2014

    By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2014, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animals 24-7, shows the dog breeds most responsible for disfiguring injuries and deaths.

    Download Study
    View 32-Year Summary of Pit Bull Trends

    Study highlights

    The combination of molosser breeds, including pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers, and their mixes, inflict:
    86% of attacks that induce bodily harm
    81% of attacks to children
    89% of attack to adults
    76% of attacks that result in fatalities
    86% that result in maiming
    Embody 9.2%+ of the total dog population

    Discussion notes:
    Even if the pit bull category was “split four ways,” attacks by pit bulls and their closest relatives would still outnumber attacks by any other dog breed.
    Pit bulls are noteworthy for attacking adults almost as frequently as children. This is a very rare pattern, only seen elsewhere in the bullmastiff/presa canario line.
    If a pit bull or rottweiler has a bad moment, instead of a person being bitten, often a person is maimed for life or killed. This has created off-the-chart actuarial risk.

    1982-2014 chart

    Breed Pit bull
    Bodily harm 3397
    Child Victims 1355
    Adult Victims 1312
    Deaths 295
    Maimings 2110
    % of tot dog pop 6.69%

    The full chart and additional information can be easily obtained from Dogbite.org or many other institutions.

    Another article from Dog Bite Law

    The deadliest dogs

    A review of 82 dog bite cases at a level 1 trauma center where the breed of dog was identified concludes that attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Bini, John K. MD; Cohn, Stephen M. MD; Acosta, Shirley M. RN, BSN; McFarland, Marilyn J. RN, MS; Muir, Mark T. MD; Michalek, Joel E. PhD; for the TRISAT Clinical Trials Group, Mortality, Mauling, and Maiming by Vicious Dogs, Annals of Surgery (April 2011, Vol. 253, Issue 4, pp. 791–797).

    Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, has conducted an unusually detailed study of dog bites from 1982 to the present. (Clifton, Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to November 13, 2006; click here to read it.) The Clifton study show the number of serious canine-inflicted injuries by breed. The author’s observations about the breeds and generally how to deal with the dangerous dog problem are enlightening. According to the Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks that were included in the study, 68% of the attacks upon children, 82% of the attacks upon adults, 65% of the deaths, and 68% of the maimings. In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question. Clifton states:

    If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull terrier or a Rottweiler has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed–and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price.

    Clifton’s opinions are as interesting as his statistics. For example, he says, “Pit bulls and Rottweilers are accordingly dogs who not only must be handled with special precautions, but also must be regulated with special requirements appropriate to the risk they may pose to the public and other animals, if they are to be kept at all.”

    While I agree that most Pits do not bite, why take the chance with the life of a child. There are so many lovable and docile dogs that are more kid friendly. In my opinion anyone that allows small children around pit bulls is guilty of child endangerment.

    • Well you know what they say about opinions and I guess I’m guilty of child endangerment and animal cruelty. Both of mine have been raised around cats AND my kids have grown up with them. I have a question though, have you raised a ” pitbull “? Also, are your facts obtained from dogbite.org were those ” pitbulls ” raised in normal families? I will stand up for the breed regardless of what anyone says, until they have raised or rescued one. I’m assuming its okay to pour battery acid along their backs too?

      Research the ” Pitbulls ” rescued from pro football player Michael Vick. These dogs were shot, used for fighting, bait dogs, and the females were restrained in an apparatus and raped by other dogs, yes raped while restrained to prevent the female from defending herself. That’s okay too because they’re “pitbulls”?

      Lastly, I have been bit by dogs 3 times in my life all 3 times have been by Chihuahua’s. So let me go rant and rave about how horrible and vicious Chihuahua’s are. Give me a break!

      Go volunteer at the animal shelter or perhaps a rescue organization and then I will value your opinion of a “pitbull”!

        • Obviously you did not read the article or the many articles with facts but instead rely on your own experience. Of course there is no breed called a Pitbull. It is a generic term.

          Most guns do not kill people but I would not have one around children. You have an opinion but I offered facts. Why you would play the odds is beyond me..

          • you say~most guns don’t kill people.. I’m sorry, NO guns kill people, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!! I’m just sayin

          • I’m not “playing” any odds, I’m living a normal life.

            You consider media informed databases FACTS?

            also, which are you arguing the “pit-bull” or guns? Guns are a whole separate can of worms not really worth opening. Guns don’t kill people, technically bullets kill people.

            you watch too much CNN, NBC, KTLA, ABC…. NEWS!!

        • Sorry to bust your bubble….. Yes the pit bull is a breed. It’s classified as a American Pit Bull Terrier or and Pit Bull Terrier. It was crissd breed from the The Staffordshire Bull Terrier and The American Stafford see hire Terrier.

          • @ Lynda the “pit-bull” professional

            The “Pit Bull” isn’t an actual breed at all, but a slang term that current American culture uses to describe any dog that has a big head, cropped ears, brindle coat or eye patch usually a large/stocky dog. The true breeds most commonly labeled as Pit Bulls are: American Pit-bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier

            Wikipedia:
            Pit bull is the common name for a type of dog. Formal breeds often considered in North America to be of the pit bull type include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.[1] The American Bulldog and the Bull Terrier (standard and miniature) are also sometimes included

    • Your source gets its data from the media. Your source is no good. There are not any good statics for dog bites or dog attacks.

      • What is your source that says these stats are not tracked? As a postal employee for over 30 years I can assure you we not only track bites, but incidents as well. The statistics are available unfortunately there are those the will not believe statistics unless they show what the reader already believes.

        • so as a postal worker for 30+ years you should know that ALL dogs bark at the mail man, and you should also know that not ALL dog bites are from “pit-bulls”

          Again, until you have rescued one, fostered one, or are a pet parent to one, have a seat I think the news is on.

    • Ahh…Jim did you read the part where it says they were getting ready to feed the dog. I’d bet my life on the fact the kid was teasing the dog… Bet me. The reason the owner surrendered the dog.
      He was in shock. I wish people who have never had the awesome opportunity to have a Pitt in their life would shut the hell up. You can’t possibly know anything about the breed . Only what you paste and copy from the internet. We all know everything on the internet is true.

      • So Sandra, if the boy teased the dog he got what be deserved? Sad that you believe that if you have not owned a Pit you have no right to an opinion. Here is a case where you should study the facts before showig your ignorance on the subject.

        And just a note. I have had dogs my whole life and my children grew up with dogs and other animals as well. Just not dogs capable of killing or seriously maiming people.

        If any of you wish to argue back please do so but please source your information. Anecdotal information is just an opinion.

        • Jim, ANY dog is capable of killing or seriously maiming a person if the “right” circumstances present themselves.
          Cute, little fluffy dogs are not immune, but, naturally, larger, stronger dogs will will inflict harm in greater rates.
          You mentioned in another comment that the postal service tracks dog bites and incidences and that the info is available to those that seek it.
          I know of many studies, but have never come across what you’ve described.
          Do you think you can stop being snarky and calling people names long enough to post a link?
          Also, regarding “anecdotal information,” or “anecdotal evidence,” as some prefer to call it, when hundreds of thousands, if not MILLIONS, of pit bull owners speak to the gentleness of these dogs then the “anecdotal information” comes from the minority — such as yourself — who speak from their bad experiences or what they’ve “heard.”

  9. I hope they put that damm dog to sleep!! We have enough violence from humans to humans to also have violent dogs.

    • Wishing death upon other creatures indicates that you are not as convinced there is enough violence as you claim. While there is no doubt that this dog will be killed, having been betrayed by the people it viewed as lords and masters, I consider that a very sad outcome rather than something to have hoped for.

      • NEVER A Truer comment. We should put the moron who could not take care of his dog to sleep. The truth is if that Pitt was vicious that kid would be dead. There is a reason why that kid was attacked. The first one is the owner was not paying attention to what the dog was saying. Dogs don’t just flip out . They have reason why they do what they do and they will tell you everytime. You have to be smart enough to8sten.

  10. I think there are just “crazy” dogs, like there are just “crazy” people. I do believe some breeds are more aggressive than others. I wont own certain breeds due to my own personal experience, German Shepard and Rottweiler, but I do not believe all of those dogs are bad, just the ones I came across. Prayers to the family and the little boy!

  12. When will these dogs be banned? The entire reason they were created was to kill. Or at least only allow dog trainers to own them. They are to unpredictable. I’ll never allow one in my home or around my child.

    My dogs been attacked three times by pit bulls three different times my dog was on his leash theirs were not. So sad.

    • And these dogs being off leash was their fault?

      I’ll never own an SUV…they should be banned!

      I’ll never own a tuxedo…they should be banned!

      Get a grip and recognize that your preferences do not really merit being imposed on everyone else.

      • Hi Chris,

        That’s a really great and uplifting comment. Your insight into “how to appear smart” is astute. Your comprehension ability is fantastic. BTW, just for tips (yes, tips) and giggles, avoid poking fun at people, when you, yourself, cannot comprehend basic rules of grammar. Have a fun day.

    • I think it is the owners who make a dog “Bad”…We had a neighbor whose Pitbull terrorized all our neighbors. The landlord blew off the complaints about the dog until it bit him.Needless to say, they ended up getting evicted because they would not get rid of the dog. Our other neighbors have a young female Pitbull, she is the sweetest loving dog! They have a new born and this little dog has become the baby’s protector. Then of course there is the pack of Pitbulls down the road who ripped apart a woman who was just out for her walk…She died because their owner did not keep them in his yard or train them…Their owner is now in jail….

      • I bought my pit from Petsmart, she was skittish at first, but now is such a GREAT dog! I’ve never “loved” an animal, like I love her. She’s so good with my daughter too

    • I’m with you. I suspect it’s a combination of a breed that needs a strong, skilled owner and a breed that attracts unskilled and weak owners which leads to this kind of stuff. It doesn’t help that they cause so much damage when they do bite.

    • They are not all bad. People do horrendous crimes, does that mean every single person is bad? No! Very uneducated comment.

      • Dee, you obviously did not take the time to even read my comment where I said my neighbor’s Pittbull is her new born babies protector…Some folks like to just spout off, if you are so educated, why don’t you take the time to actually read the entire comment…

    • Actually pits were originally “nanny” dogs. Look it up. There is no “bad” breed of dogs, just bad owners.

    • I must say, that was an ignorant comment. Even though I don’t trust pitbulls like I used to because more ignorant people have made them into the most hated dog breed in America, but they used to be bred back in victorian times as protectors for children. It’s the people that are at fault, not the dog breed.

      • Many of these pure breeds have been too inbred as well, so their temperaments can be unpredicatible.

        • PURE IGNORANCE! Keep your ignorant media informed opinion to yourself until you are a parent to one. I have 2 and guess what? I don’t fight them, I go to work everyday, I pay my bills, I own my house and to top it off I DO NOT have a criminal record, Imagine that. Now get informed:

          The “Pit Bull” isn’t an actual breed at all, but a slang term that current american culture uses to describe any dog that has a big head, cropped ears, brindle coat or eye patch usually a large/stocky dog. The true breeds most commonly labeled as Pit Bulls are: American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Unfortunately the Pit Bull has become popular with the gang-subculture who have exploited this breed by forcing them into dog fighting rings, and breeding and training them to be aggressive. Today, many people automatically associate the Pit Bull with crime, gangs, and poverty when, in fact, most Pit Bulls are owned by your average upstanding citizens. With the explosion of Pit Bull breeders, thousands of Pit Bulls are ending up in shelters across the country, topping the list of the most euthanized pet. The fact is, millions of Pit Bulls are living peacefully in homes throughout the country.

          PITBULL FACTS AND FICTION:

          Pit Bulls have locking jaws – FICTION. Pit Bulls can’t lock their jaws. Their jaws are constructed just like any other dog. In fact if you take the x-ray of a Chihuahua and compare it to that of a Pit Bull, you will see that they are both the same except for the size difference.

          Pit Bulls are unpredictable and more likely to bite than other dogs – FICTION. Pit Bulls are no more vicious than Golden Retrievers, Beagles or other popular dogs! In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That’s as good or better than Beagles … 78.2%, and Golden Retrievers … 83.2%. How did your favorite breed do? See for yourself – go to: http://www.ATTS.org

          Pit Bulls are good with children – FACT. Pit Bulls always test high as one of the most stable breeds of dogs in the country. These statistics can be found with the American Temperament Test Society of the United States, where they always fall as one of the top five most stable dogs. Because of this, they are extremely patient and tolerant of children.

          All Pit Bulls will “snap” and attack a person sooner or later – FICTION. Pit Bulls are a very popular breed and rarely attack. Pit Bulls are very powerful animals, so when something does go wrong, it usually makes the news. Almost all Pit Bull attacks have involved unaltered Pit Bulls, so it is very important to have your Pit Bull spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Additionally, serious Pit Bull attacks rarely involve spayed/neutered Pit Bulls who have received proper training and socialization.

          Pit Bulls are good dogs for apt./condo living – FACT. Though Pit Bulls are athletic and love to get out and play, if they had their druthers, they would be sleeping on the couch, 24/7. They are short coated dogs and do not do well outside in the cold weather or very hot weather. They don’t shed too much and are easily groomed, thus making them the ultimate indoor dog.

          “Red nose” Pit Bulls are more aggressive – FICTION. Are blondes dumb? Do redheads have a quicker temper? Of course not. “Red nose” is simply a color/style. They have a lighter pigment such as a pinkish nose with yellow/green eyes. They act no different than black, brindle, or white Pit Bulls.
          Pit Bulls are easy to train – FACT. Extremely easy to train. All they want to do is please you. As they are so sensitive to your feelings, verbal training comes easily with this breed.
          Pit Bulls cannot be with other dogs and/or cats – FICTION. This is probably the biggest misconception and biggest misunderstanding when it comes to this breed. With proper training and handling, your Pit Bull can learn to live peacefully in the company of other dogs and often cats as well.