FATAL MAULING: Trigger for attack possibly food - News

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Dec. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

FATAL MAULING: Trigger for attack possibly food

Boy entered dog's usual feeding area

By LAWRENCE MOWER
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Food might have been the trigger that caused a family dog to fatally maul a 2-year-old boy last week, Las Vegas police said Tuesday.

Alexander Adams' grandmother was walking with the dog's food bowl into a room where the dog, a pit bull or pit bull mix, was normally fed, officer Bill Cassell said.

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Alexander followed his grandmother into the room, and that is when the attack happened, he said.

Police might never know with certainty what triggered the attack, but Cassell said the food might have been the cause.

"While it's possible that the presence of food, combined with the young victim in the area where the dog was normally fed, triggered the attack, there is nothing definitive that can be determined," Cassell said.

The boy was dead by the time medical responders arrived. The grandmother, who was watching Alexander and his younger brother while their parents were away, suffered minor injuries.

Las Vegas Animal Control officers seized the dog and another pit bull at the home after the Nov. 26 attack, which happened in a single-story house on the 6200 block of Warm River Road, near Washington Avenue and Jones Boulevard.

Police have largely wrapped up their investigation and are submitting the results to the Clark County district attorney's office to see whether charges are warranted, Cassell said.

After the dogs no longer are needed by police as evidence, Cassell said, animal control officials will determine what to do with them.

Food often can trigger instinctual aggression in dogs, not just in pit bulls, experts said, but proper training can wean them of that instinct.

"You never put anybody between a dog and their food," said Dr. David Henderson, a veterinarian.

Animal behavioral specialist Dave Hauser, who has been training dogs for 33 years and runs the local company Caring Canine Communications, said wolves and other pack animals related to dogs are very aggressive with each other when it comes to food. Wild dogs have a social order whereby dogs lower on the social order are not allowed to feed until the alpha dogs have eaten.

"It's very, very common that food is a trigger for aggression," Hauser said.

Training the dogs and making them feel comfortable around people during eating is up to the owner, Hauser said.

Henderson, owner of Sunrise Veterinary Clinic, said most people do not understand what their dogs are capable of.

"It's pure instinct. They play by different rules than you and I," he said.

He added: "Anybody in the family is another dog in the pack. Take a look at wolves. They kill each other all the time."

It was not known whether animal control authorities had ever previously dealt with the dogs in this latest case. City of Las Vegas spokeswoman Diana Paul said animal control officials would not be answering any questions regarding the case, and she forwarded all questions to Las Vegas police.

Cassell said Las Vegas police had never been called out to the house before last week's mauling.

It was the second fatal mauling of a child by a pit bull in three months. In September, a 4-month-old girl was killed while being watched by her grandmother.

One of the family's two pit bulls opened a sliding glass door and attacked the baby while she was in a stroller, according to the district attorney's office.

The dogs were shot to death by North Las Vegas police. No charges were filed in the case.

Pit bulls aren't necessarily more aggressive than other dogs, Hauser and Henderson said. They just do a lot more damage than other dogs do when they attack.

"When they do go off and bite and attack, they don't stop," Henderson said. "They have the bite strength and the instincts to finish the job."

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Karen wrote on December 07, 2008 01:41 PM: From Tom regarding Dr Henderson: "Does he breed pit bulls? Does he work for pit bull breeders?" Dr Henderson is a fabulous vet and a wonderful, giving person. I've trusted him with my dogs for many years and will continue to do so. He doesn't have any connections to pit bulls other than his many services to animal rescue organizations. Does that answer your questions, Tom? Seddy wrote on December 04, 2008 02:56 PM: Watch this video of what pit bulls do to each other http://www.keprtv.com/news/35514139.html Why do you think they are such a problem with kids and other pets? Seddy wrote on December 04, 2008 02:53 PM: Pit bulls never were America's dog, never settled the frontier, never were nanny dogs (they kill children) and Petey bit the little Rascals. All those fairy tales are made up by PIT BULL BREEDERS making a lot of money off these dogs who want to fend off regulations. Pit bulls have always been bred as fighting dogs, and they still are. They need special care and handling. Pit bulls are NUMBER ONE on the list for killing people. Jacqueline wrote on December 03, 2008 11:46 PM: Ya'll need to watch some Cesar Millan on National Geographic Channel if you have a problem dog before anything escalates to this tragic level. So sad! Shirley wrote on December 03, 2008 11:12 PM: All of this breed specific braying is pure ignorance. Pit Bulls used to be America's dog. They settled the frontier. Ever see Little Rascals? Or any of the other gazillion shows and movies that featured bully breeds? Before Pits, it was Rotts. And before them, it was Dobermans. And before them, it was German Sheppards. The vast majority of dog bites and fatal dog attacks are not committed by Pits. Now continue braying like ignorant asses... Jacqueline wrote on December 03, 2008 11:12 PM: Tom you are wrong. I personally met the The Pitties at Best Friends. They are kept 3 to a cage. They get along with people and other dogs. The people at Best Friends do great work. End Game. wrote on December 03, 2008 10:54 PM: All of you who are defending these dogs and dog owners who put young children at risk, of a brutal death, are just worthless excuses of ...young babies are dead, 2 or 3 infant/toddlers are brutally killed, and adults in Reno, have been attacked in the last 4 months, alone. Get over yourselves. There is no argument. These dogs have BRUTALLY killed defenceless babies. The owners/parents should be prosecuted for voluntary manslaughter. Get real you morons...how would you like to die under the instance of these children...Why don't you stand up and take a bullet for this breed of dog. Maybe you won't be satisfied until your grandchild gets torn limb from limb. My heart and deep sympathy only goes out to the victims of these dogs. The adults who exposed their "loved" ones to the horrible consequences of owning these loser dogs only get my contempt. period. dosboot wrote on December 03, 2008 06:51 PM: Judy: A knife is an inanimate object, incapable of killing or maiming without intervention. As evidenced by the article, a dog does potentially pose a threat. The owners should be accountable for the actions of their dogs. Unfortunately, our criminal justice system in Vegas, is so inept and corrupt that I don't foresee anything changing. hahaha wrote on December 03, 2008 04:35 PM: I would recommend mental health services visit tw's home. tw wrote on December 03, 2008 03:32 PM: To Pit Bull Lover Based on your comments I would recommend that Child Protective Services visit your home ...you sound like a real a**hole Read All Comments