Frederick Co. Man Eugene Smith Mauled to Death by Family Pit Bull
NBC Washington Channel 4 – 1/8/15
Police say an 87-year-old Maryland man was mauled to death by his family pit bull while taking down his Christmas tree.
The attack was reported just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eugene W. Smith’s home on Stonehouse Road in Frederick. Deputies say Smith was in the pricess of taking down a Christmas tree when his family’s 84-pound pit bull attacked him.
Smith was seriously injured in the mauling and hospitalized. He later succumbed to his injuries.
87-year-old Frederick man dies after being attacked by family’s pit bull
By Paige Jones News-Post Staff – 1/8/15
When sheriff’s deputies, Frederick police officers and Frederick County Animal Control arrived at the Stonehouse Road residence, the dog was still attacking Smith. Animal Control officers put a lead on the dog and contained it, Hatcher said.
85-year-old still delivering milk in 18-wheel trailer
By Ike Wilson News-Post Staff – 1/28/15
At 85, Eugene “Smitty” Smith still drives an 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck, picking up milk from area farms and delivering to creameries for Clouse Co. in Frederick.
He has been driving for 56 years, and intends to continue as long as he has good health.
“I do it because I like the exercise, and I like to get out and socialize with the farmers,” Smitty said.
Smitty began delivering milk when it was transported in cans. The farmers would fill the cans with milk and he would haul them to the dairy, unload them and bring the cans back the next day.
Today, farmers use pipelines to dump the milk into trucks, and several farmers use robots to milk cows, Smitty said.
The job has taken him to a lot of places, including Wisconsin, North Carolina and Ohio, and he has clocked at least 1 1/2 million miles on the truck he’s driving, Smitty said.
“There’s many a night I haven’t been home,” Smitty said, tearing up as he recalled not seeing his two sons, Rick and Jeff, often enough. They were asleep when he came home late at night and asleep when he left early the next day.
“I tell you the truth, it’s a rough life hauling milk,” Smitty said. “You leave in the morning, and you never know if you’ll break down.”
Some routes are easier than others. You make eight or 10 stops on some routes, others require only one or two, and it’s in all kinds of weather, he said. Combine that with inconsiderate motorists who cut you off without warning, driving a big truck can be challenging, Smitty said.
“He’s still a better driver than most people I know,” Clouse Co.’s terminal manager Kimberly Young said.
“He’s always had that kind of work ethic, working seven days a week, and he handles that truck just as good today as he did many years.
“But he can be a handful. He’s not afraid to speak his mind.”
Md. dog attack victim loved animals
Eugene “Smittie” Smith told co-workers at Clouse trucking that he often slept with the 84-lb neutered male pit bull that ended up mauling him to death Wednesday in his home while he an his son’s fiance were taking down Christmas ornaments.
PREVIOUS: Frederick man fatally attacked by pit bull
Shocked co-workers said Smith was known for always having a pocketful of treats for any animal he met.
The four-year old dog was adopted by Smith and his son from a rescue organization in May. Officials are still looking into the dog’s background. The animal was euthanized after the deadly attack.
Officials have no history of complaints about the dog from neighbors.
2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Maryland Man Mauled to Death by Family Pit Bull
Attacked While Taking Down His Christmas Tree
DogsBite.org 1/8/15
Officials Describe Dog Attack in Video
The Frederick News-Post published a video today as well with Deputy First Class Amanda Hatcher detailing the dog attack and police response. Hatcher states that when police and animal control officers arrived on scene — they arrived at the same time — the dog was still attacking Smith inside the home. Officers were able to disengage the dog from Smith and quickly contain the animal. Smith was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital with severe injuries where he died.
The News-Post has a recent history of being “extremely” pit bull apologetic. The News-Post, however, is hardly alone in Maryland. Many other state media outlets also swooned, cooed and knelt down for “pit bull kisses” after the landmark 2012 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling, Tracey v. Solesky, that declared pit bulls “inherently dangerous.” The News-Post called the Court’s ruling “narrow-minded” and “shortsighted” and “an ill-thought-out precedent” among other falsehoods.
Now an animal loving elderly man is dead, horrifically mauled to death in an unprovoked attack by an adopted pit bull rescue that formerly slept in his bed. The failure of the News-Post, who never bothered to interview the Solesky family or their attorney or to grasp the depth of the Court’s ruling pertaining to actual Maryland “precedent,” is now party to this man’s preventable death. Smith clearly believed the false mantra that only “mistreatment or intentional training” creates a killer.1
Read more: https://blog.dogsbite.org/2015/01/2015-dog-bite-fatality-maryland-man-killed-by-family-pit-bull.html
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a history and bloodline deep rooted in the blood sports of animal baiting and dogfighting. As with all breeds, they retain their original traits. They often to do not accept other animals, especially dogs, and can be extremely aggressive towards them. They may accept animals they are raised with, but have been known to kill other family pets even after years of living together happily.
Most APBT puppies get along fantastically with other animals, including dogs. Puppies often love to play with and have companionship with other animals. This often gives owners a false sense of security. As the APBT matures, their relationship with other animals can change drastically. Often dog aggression issues emerge from 1-3 years in age, but some dog’s exhibit aggression as early as 6 months of age. They often will actively seek out other dogs to engage in fighting with and have broken their collars, crashed through windows, and torn through fences to do so, and one recently leaped from an apartment 2nd story balcony, to get to a dog. They can get along with other dogs at times, but things can escalate quickly and they can attack suddenly and for no apparent reason. They often redirect onto humans who try to break up the fight14. Extreme caution should be used with all animal interactions and owners should never be completely comfortable. They can be unpredictable and a dog that plays nicely with dogs for years can suddenly change. Many owners have been shocked to see their beloved pet’s fighting instincts suddenly surface. It is highly recommended that the APBT is separated from other animals in the household when they cannot be supervised15. This is not a breed that is suitable for interactions at off leash dog parks16.
It is recommended that American Pit Bull Terrier owners have and carry a break stick17. A break stick is a device designed to open a Pit Bull type dog’s mouth while it is engaged in fighting. Pit Bull type breeds have a very distinctive fighting style and often will latch on their opponent and not let go. They usually will shake the other animal violently when they are latched on. This can cause horrific damage quickly. The break stick was designed by dog fighters to be inserted into the Pit Bull’s mouth and release his grip. The original purpose was to safely end a dog fight. The break stick often is the ONLY thing that will release the dog’s grip. People have been known to hit Pit Bulls with objects such as a bat or even shoot them and the dog still will not let go. Bully Breed owners should always have one handy in cause of an emergency. The break stick is not safe to use on other breeds of dogs and is only recommended for dogs in the Pit Bull family that were once used for dog fighting purposes.