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Boy attacked by pit bulls in good condition
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| Dogs matching descriptions provided by residents were taken in by Animal Control officers Wednesday afternoon after an 8-year-old boy was attacked by two pit bulls in the Willis-area subdivision of Royal Forest. |
By T.L. Hamilton
NORTHEAST COUNTY – An 8-year-old Willis-area boy who was attacked by pit bull dogs on Wednesday is in good condition, according to Lisa Lagrone, operations administrator with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston.
Justin Bowers was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to the hospital after the two dogs attacked him while he rode his bike on Royal Shores Drive in the Royal Forest Subdivision, said Mark Coley, a neighbor and friend of the family.
The subdivision is in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County east of the city of Willis.
The two pit bulls officials suspect attacked the boy have been taken in by Montgomery County Animal Control. County law states that when a dog has bitten a human, it is placed in quarantine apart from other animals.
EMS personnel responded to the scene and called LifeFlight when they saw how serious the boy’s injuries were.
Coley said the boy suffered injuries to his shin, calf and underarm and had to undergo at least two surgeries.
“It’s unbelievable what dogs can do to a human and how quickly it all happened,” Coley said.
Since the family does not have insurance to cover medical bills, Coley and other friends of the family have set up a fund at Washington Mutual Bank, with the proceeds to go to the Bowers family.
Coley said donors can ask bank tellers to apply their donations to the “Justin Bowers Fund.”
“He’s a good little kid,” Coley said. “He was just riding his bike and they attacked him. If his dad, Lester, wouldn’t have been there, I don’t know what would have happened. His dad said he couldn’t run fast enough to get there. They really tore (Justin) up.”
Bernard Belvin, president of the subdivision’s homeowners association, said he’s tired of residents disobeying the county’s leash laws, which apply to the neighborhood.
County law states that all dogs and cats shall be kept under restraint. The animal must be either on a leash, in an enclosed vehicle, on the premises of its owner, within a fenced area or under physical control of its owner.
The law also states that owners are responsible for their animal’s behavior.
Cindy Longoria, who lives down the street from where the attack occurred, said she often sees packs of dogs roaming the streets. The day after the attack at least four unleashed dogs were seen on nearby streets.
“We’re getting desperate with this dog situation,” Belvin said. “It’s getting to where people think they’re immune to the law, and unfortunately we do not have the type of police presence in the subdivision to enforce it.”
Belvin said the subdivision hired a constable specifically to patrol the subdivision due to the lack of police presence.
“He’s doing a great job, but he can only do so much,” Belvin said. “We have a lot of people who disobey but we have a lot of wonderful people out here too, and those are the ones I’m trying to protect.”
After the attack occurred, Lester Bowers described the dogs he saw attacking his son to the authorities, and Animal Control employees picked up two pit bulls they believe are responsible in addition to others from the neighborhood that bore a resemblance to Bowers’ descriptions, said Lajeane Thompson, administrative manager for Montgomery County Animal Control.
The two dogs Animal Control officers suspect are both pit bulls, one with brindle, or tiger-like, stripes and another with brown and white coloring.
The other dogs will likely be returned to their owners, Thompson said.
Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office could not be reached for comment.
Under state law, a justice court can set a hearing to determine whether or not a dog is responsible of causing serious injury to a person. Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty said the case will likely come before him, but he had not received it yet as of Friday morning.
If the dog is found responsible, the court may order the dog destroyed. If the dog was unsecured and made an unprovoked attack on a person outside of its owner’s property, the owner is subject to prosecution under state law.
Information on possible charges was unavailable Friday as The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The 2006 Clifton Study of U.S. dog-attack deaths and maimings states that children are normally at greatest risk from dog bites because they “play with dogs more often, have less experience in reading dog behavior, are more likely to engage in activity that alarms or stimulates a dog, and are less able to defend themselves when a dog becomes aggressive.”
A 2002 report by the Texas Department of Health stated children younger than 11 years were 3.2 times more likely than the remainder of the population to be a victim of a severe animal attack.
The Clifton study shows that 50 percent of 2,209 dog attacks recorded in the study were by pit bulls.
Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67 percent of human dog bite-related fatalities in the United States between 1997 and 1998, according to the CDC.
Justin Bowers was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to the hospital after the two dogs attacked him while he rode his bike on Royal Shores Drive in the Royal Forest Subdivision, said Mark Coley, a neighbor and friend of the family.
The subdivision is in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County east of the city of Willis.
The two pit bulls officials suspect attacked the boy have been taken in by Montgomery County Animal Control. County law states that when a dog has bitten a human, it is placed in quarantine apart from other animals.
EMS personnel responded to the scene and called LifeFlight when they saw how serious the boy’s injuries were.
Coley said the boy suffered injuries to his shin, calf and underarm and had to undergo at least two surgeries.
“It’s unbelievable what dogs can do to a human and how quickly it all happened,” Coley said.
Since the family does not have insurance to cover medical bills, Coley and other friends of the family have set up a fund at Washington Mutual Bank, with the proceeds to go to the Bowers family.
Coley said donors can ask bank tellers to apply their donations to the “Justin Bowers Fund.”
“He’s a good little kid,” Coley said. “He was just riding his bike and they attacked him. If his dad, Lester, wouldn’t have been there, I don’t know what would have happened. His dad said he couldn’t run fast enough to get there. They really tore (Justin) up.”
Bernard Belvin, president of the subdivision’s homeowners association, said he’s tired of residents disobeying the county’s leash laws, which apply to the neighborhood.
County law states that all dogs and cats shall be kept under restraint. The animal must be either on a leash, in an enclosed vehicle, on the premises of its owner, within a fenced area or under physical control of its owner.
The law also states that owners are responsible for their animal’s behavior.
Cindy Longoria, who lives down the street from where the attack occurred, said she often sees packs of dogs roaming the streets. The day after the attack at least four unleashed dogs were seen on nearby streets.
“We’re getting desperate with this dog situation,” Belvin said. “It’s getting to where people think they’re immune to the law, and unfortunately we do not have the type of police presence in the subdivision to enforce it.”
Belvin said the subdivision hired a constable specifically to patrol the subdivision due to the lack of police presence.
“He’s doing a great job, but he can only do so much,” Belvin said. “We have a lot of people who disobey but we have a lot of wonderful people out here too, and those are the ones I’m trying to protect.”
After the attack occurred, Lester Bowers described the dogs he saw attacking his son to the authorities, and Animal Control employees picked up two pit bulls they believe are responsible in addition to others from the neighborhood that bore a resemblance to Bowers’ descriptions, said Lajeane Thompson, administrative manager for Montgomery County Animal Control.
The two dogs Animal Control officers suspect are both pit bulls, one with brindle, or tiger-like, stripes and another with brown and white coloring.
The other dogs will likely be returned to their owners, Thompson said.
Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office could not be reached for comment.
Under state law, a justice court can set a hearing to determine whether or not a dog is responsible of causing serious injury to a person. Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Lanny Moriarty said the case will likely come before him, but he had not received it yet as of Friday morning.
If the dog is found responsible, the court may order the dog destroyed. If the dog was unsecured and made an unprovoked attack on a person outside of its owner’s property, the owner is subject to prosecution under state law.
Information on possible charges was unavailable Friday as The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The 2006 Clifton Study of U.S. dog-attack deaths and maimings states that children are normally at greatest risk from dog bites because they “play with dogs more often, have less experience in reading dog behavior, are more likely to engage in activity that alarms or stimulates a dog, and are less able to defend themselves when a dog becomes aggressive.”
A 2002 report by the Texas Department of Health stated children younger than 11 years were 3.2 times more likely than the remainder of the population to be a victim of a severe animal attack.
The Clifton study shows that 50 percent of 2,209 dog attacks recorded in the study were by pit bulls.
Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67 percent of human dog bite-related fatalities in the United States between 1997 and 1998, according to the CDC.
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Reader Comments
onedayatatime wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:01 AM:
" It's not the dog, it's the owner. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Global warming? It's freezing outside. Shock and Awe/Collateral Damage. That Corporation is too big to fail/Bailout. Illegal immigrants/What illegal immigrants? The Fellowship of the Woodlands/The Kerry Shook and Family Show. Anyone named Bush can and should be President. We live in a heck of a world, so Christmas shopping trampling doesn't surprise me one bit, you? "
Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 29, 2008 12:26 PM:
" It IS the dog (breed).
True, "guns don't kill people..people kill people"
However you can't say "Pits don't maul/kill people..people maul/kill people"
There is absolutely no valid reason for owning a Pit Bull Terrier - none, zero
The owners of these mauling/maiming/killing dogs should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law - as tho they did the deed themselves "
True, "guns don't kill people..people kill people"
However you can't say "Pits don't maul/kill people..people maul/kill people"
There is absolutely no valid reason for owning a Pit Bull Terrier - none, zero
The owners of these mauling/maiming/killing dogs should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law - as tho they did the deed themselves "
Boadicea wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:36 PM:
" onedayatatime wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:01 AM:
"The Fellowship of the Woodlands/The Kerry Shook and Family Show."
LMAO! "
"The Fellowship of the Woodlands/The Kerry Shook and Family Show."
LMAO! "
mrs. do gooder wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:51 PM:
" I am desperate for Montgomery County to do something about my neighbors dangerous dogs. The Honorable Judge T. Spikes deemed these dogs dangerous, and they have been given approximately 15 citations. But these people STILL let their dangerous dogs run.
I am angered even more reading this article, as I reported it over and over again to protect the children and people in my community. I told the judge I had a moral and legal obligation to do what is right and report it. (Despite the neighbor retaliating, which we have 20 documented incidences of harassment, damages, and retaliation to our property to the sum of $7,000. It got so bad, the judge ordered the neighbor to stop harassing and stop retaliating against us.)
I am angry as the judge also ordered me NOT to call animal control any more, when I see these dangerous dogs out again. (As he does not want to euthanize the dogs). So the neighbor knowing I obey the law, lets the dogs run as she see's fit.
In the last 60 days, I have had 3 incidences where 3 different neighbors came angrily at me thinking the dangerous dogs were ours. They complained to me with angry words and flying fists, saying the dogs were dangerous and they were afraid they were going to be bit. I agreed with them.
Still the dogs run. What will it look like when a story in the paper comes out after these dogs bite, saying I warned the judge, who ORDERED me NOT to report them out any more? (My photos never lie, I GOT new ones for evidence. Including one of his deputies watching the dogs chase. This Lieutenant said he wanted to be subpoenaed as a witness. But animal control does not return my calls. 3rd time. The deputy never spoke to the judge, and the dogs still run.)
So am I to go to jail or fined by following the law reporting my neighbors dangerous dogs still out, even if it means I anger a judge who ordered me not to tell?? I certainly do not mean it to be a measure of disrespect to the court, but a measure of safety to the community.
When others complain but their complaints mysteriously do not exist with animal control, who is to blame? The neighbor, the judge, animal control, the deputy who said he was going to come forward? I can be held blameless, at least in the eyes of God who will be my final judge. After all, it is a crime against Texas State law NOT to report dangerous dogs chasing in the community. Especially when they have been a year earlier deemed dangerous dogs by a judge in Montgomery County, "
I am angered even more reading this article, as I reported it over and over again to protect the children and people in my community. I told the judge I had a moral and legal obligation to do what is right and report it. (Despite the neighbor retaliating, which we have 20 documented incidences of harassment, damages, and retaliation to our property to the sum of $7,000. It got so bad, the judge ordered the neighbor to stop harassing and stop retaliating against us.)
I am angry as the judge also ordered me NOT to call animal control any more, when I see these dangerous dogs out again. (As he does not want to euthanize the dogs). So the neighbor knowing I obey the law, lets the dogs run as she see's fit.
In the last 60 days, I have had 3 incidences where 3 different neighbors came angrily at me thinking the dangerous dogs were ours. They complained to me with angry words and flying fists, saying the dogs were dangerous and they were afraid they were going to be bit. I agreed with them.
Still the dogs run. What will it look like when a story in the paper comes out after these dogs bite, saying I warned the judge, who ORDERED me NOT to report them out any more? (My photos never lie, I GOT new ones for evidence. Including one of his deputies watching the dogs chase. This Lieutenant said he wanted to be subpoenaed as a witness. But animal control does not return my calls. 3rd time. The deputy never spoke to the judge, and the dogs still run.)
So am I to go to jail or fined by following the law reporting my neighbors dangerous dogs still out, even if it means I anger a judge who ordered me not to tell?? I certainly do not mean it to be a measure of disrespect to the court, but a measure of safety to the community.
When others complain but their complaints mysteriously do not exist with animal control, who is to blame? The neighbor, the judge, animal control, the deputy who said he was going to come forward? I can be held blameless, at least in the eyes of God who will be my final judge. After all, it is a crime against Texas State law NOT to report dangerous dogs chasing in the community. Especially when they have been a year earlier deemed dangerous dogs by a judge in Montgomery County, "
pprwrtr wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:54 PM:
" Years ago when my daughter was in first grade, the kids couldn't go outside and play. The whole block was complaining and the animal control in Conroe told us we had to get pictures of the dog (Doberman) out of its yard before they could do anything. If the laws are that biased for the dog owner without a fence or a leash, they should be changed. There is absolutely no reason someone should be able to own a dog--any kind--unless it is leashed or contained (in a fence). If anyone can get this law passed, it would save much heartache. The dog mauls someone, they kill the dog, and the owner just gets another dog and won't be responsible for it. It happens all the time. "
Boadicea wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:34 AM:
" onedayatatime wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:04 PM:
" Boadicea, But it is so true. Ain't it.
Yep! Kinda makes you wonder if they "charge" people to sit in the front rows like Lakewood Church does. "
" Boadicea, But it is so true. Ain't it.
Yep! Kinda makes you wonder if they "charge" people to sit in the front rows like Lakewood Church does. "
drivermom wrote on Nov 30, 2008 8:58 AM:
" Sadly, there is a law on the books. In the state of Texas every dog is given one free bite! "
drivermom wrote on Nov 30, 2008 9:00 AM:
" I would hope that the Courts will deem the dogs dangerous and put them down. The owners need to be put down as well. "
onedayatatime wrote on Nov 30, 2008 12:16 PM:
" Bodecia, I attend the FOTW and I can assure you they don't sell tickets for the front row. However, it has sickened me that the Shooks have taken the millions of dollars in tithes and used it to promote their family. The concept of the FOTW is great....everyone is welcome, dress anyway you like, they have great entertainment and sometimes food. They offer entertainment for children and teens alike. It is more like a concert really, until the Shooks take the stage with their simplistic messages. The FOTW has funded ministries around the world from Malaysia, to Mexico, to Sweden and New York City. Of course the entire Shook family must travel to the locations to spread the gospel, and conveniently they travel to the New York City ministry during the Christmas season. Oh, they don't go alone, sometimes they take a film crew, audio crew and their associate ministers. Rick Warren started this style of church with Saddleback in California and it has worked very well. I do agree that the more people who hear the message, the better the world would be....however, the door is wide open for abuse. When the pastor becomes bigger than the word, the whole concept falls off course. When the tithes that are given to spread the word are used to spread the fame and grow the personal wealth of the pastor, then maybe we should all step back and start over again. When politics and the pastor personal views intertwine I know something has gone astray. I love Jesus and I love God, and I believe they will take care of business. Many of the members love Jesus and love God, and have the faith. Hopefully, the number of attendees with that awful gut feeling that something isn't right in the church (like me) are but a few. Hey come enjoy the show. It is great family entertainment. Get there early and you can get a front row seat. "
pprwrtr wrote on Nov 30, 2008 1:12 PM:
" Boadicea and onedayatatime--
Too many people hide behind religion and church to further their own agenda. I have worked with people who are the most "unholy" people I have ever known--out for themselves at all costs and never caring about anyone else, unless it furthers their agenda--yet loudly Bible-beating and telling you how holy they are! (What you do speaks so loudly that I can't hear what you say)! I have worked out the question of spiritual education because I did not get it in my many years "churchifying." I don't know anything about the FOTW because I stay away from churches. I hear they have good "shows." It is disheartening when people are considered inferior because they don't adhere to all the beliefs of the church and ask too many questions. Somehow this threatens the church leaders. Very interesting! How can leaders of the churches preach the beliefs of the founders of their religions and still hoard all the money they can/ be filthy rich? Have you seen some of the churches in Montgomery County? Think how many people could be helped with this money! "
Too many people hide behind religion and church to further their own agenda. I have worked with people who are the most "unholy" people I have ever known--out for themselves at all costs and never caring about anyone else, unless it furthers their agenda--yet loudly Bible-beating and telling you how holy they are! (What you do speaks so loudly that I can't hear what you say)! I have worked out the question of spiritual education because I did not get it in my many years "churchifying." I don't know anything about the FOTW because I stay away from churches. I hear they have good "shows." It is disheartening when people are considered inferior because they don't adhere to all the beliefs of the church and ask too many questions. Somehow this threatens the church leaders. Very interesting! How can leaders of the churches preach the beliefs of the founders of their religions and still hoard all the money they can/ be filthy rich? Have you seen some of the churches in Montgomery County? Think how many people could be helped with this money! "
Boadicea wrote on Nov 30, 2008 1:56 PM:
" pprwrtr....
I know exactly where you are coming from...believe me. "
I know exactly where you are coming from...believe me. "
mrs. do gooder wrote on Nov 30, 2008 6:05 PM:
" drivermom: the dog law as I understand it is, a dog is allowed one "free" bite, as long as it has not bitten anyone already, nor if it has not been deemed a dangerous dog by animal control prior. In my case, my neighbors dangers dogs were deemed dangerous over a year ago, but allowed to run free despite my complaints to the court and animal control.
To those of you arguing religion on the dangerous dog topic, I don't get it?! This story is about a poor little boy which was bit by a dangerous dog. I feel for him and his pain, and that of his family at this time. It is sad to see so many children get hurt by neighbors who refuse to follow the law like my neighbor. My neighbor has no respect for the law or the court. She threatened to slit a man's throat, club the judge in the head, then do something to me, all while we were sitting in court. Unfortunately the judge and bailiff was out of the room. It takes a special someone to stand up against the law after receiving 15 citations like my neighbor. She recently brought home 2 horses, and left them unattended in a trailer for 40 hours. I feel sad for any pet that goes to live at that address.
This forum is not the appropriate place to argue church doctrine. Dangerous dogs is a serious topic. A young boy was hurt because their owners could care less. The laws have not caught up with all situations, and have room and need to change. But it would help if the authorities would ENFORCE the dangerous dog laws we already have on the books. While there is a need to change, there is a need to clean house at Montgomery County, Texas. So many are either lazy, underfunded, overworked, or could not give a care to avoid potentially dangerous and deadly bites to small defenseless children and adults. "
To those of you arguing religion on the dangerous dog topic, I don't get it?! This story is about a poor little boy which was bit by a dangerous dog. I feel for him and his pain, and that of his family at this time. It is sad to see so many children get hurt by neighbors who refuse to follow the law like my neighbor. My neighbor has no respect for the law or the court. She threatened to slit a man's throat, club the judge in the head, then do something to me, all while we were sitting in court. Unfortunately the judge and bailiff was out of the room. It takes a special someone to stand up against the law after receiving 15 citations like my neighbor. She recently brought home 2 horses, and left them unattended in a trailer for 40 hours. I feel sad for any pet that goes to live at that address.
This forum is not the appropriate place to argue church doctrine. Dangerous dogs is a serious topic. A young boy was hurt because their owners could care less. The laws have not caught up with all situations, and have room and need to change. But it would help if the authorities would ENFORCE the dangerous dog laws we already have on the books. While there is a need to change, there is a need to clean house at Montgomery County, Texas. So many are either lazy, underfunded, overworked, or could not give a care to avoid potentially dangerous and deadly bites to small defenseless children and adults. "
pprwrtr wrote on Nov 30, 2008 6:24 PM:
" mrs. do gooder
Didn't mean to offend you by posting on a different subject. Someone brought it up the religion subject and some of us answered because we had something to say. We had already posted on the subject of the poor child who was hurt. Our posting this other subject doesn't make him hurt any worse. He has our sympathy. Did you read our postings about the child? We are angry and frustrated that the laws are such that sometimes nothing is done to the owner. We wish the laws would get stricter. "
Didn't mean to offend you by posting on a different subject. Someone brought it up the religion subject and some of us answered because we had something to say. We had already posted on the subject of the poor child who was hurt. Our posting this other subject doesn't make him hurt any worse. He has our sympathy. Did you read our postings about the child? We are angry and frustrated that the laws are such that sometimes nothing is done to the owner. We wish the laws would get stricter. "
MCO Resident wrote on Nov 30, 2008 6:43 PM:
" Confused? How did the comments relating to the topic of this article evolve to issues concerning the FOTW and the Shooks? Someone please explain or define the relationship between pit bull terrier attacks and the FOTW/Shooks.
mrs. do gooder ; T Spikes is not the same judge as his father was , he was elected based solely on his use of his father's name and his father's outstanding devotion to the citizens and love of Montgomery County. T Spikes' job prior to taking advantage of his father's fantastic legacy was a for hire DJ at private dances, parties, etc. What did you expect him to do, act like his father and do something? "
mrs. do gooder ; T Spikes is not the same judge as his father was , he was elected based solely on his use of his father's name and his father's outstanding devotion to the citizens and love of Montgomery County. T Spikes' job prior to taking advantage of his father's fantastic legacy was a for hire DJ at private dances, parties, etc. What did you expect him to do, act like his father and do something? "
Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:59 AM: