Dog that killed toddler is euthanized

www.tampabay.com

Monday, December 14, 2009
By Helen Anne Travis
Times Staff Writer

NEW PORT RICHEY —The dog that fatally attacked a 20-month-old boy Saturday night was euthanized, according to Pasco County Animal Services.

Willie, a 1-year-old Rottweiler mix, was put down shortly after midnight Sunday.

Earlier, Dallas Walters and his family were at his mother's great aunt's home at a birthday celebration.

Dallas' mother, Jessica Stafford, handed him a cookie. The toddler dropped the cookie and when he went to pick it up the Rottweiler attacked, deputies said.

Stafford and Andrew Walters, the boy's father, rushed Dallas to North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey, where he passed away.

Walters said the family is taking it "second by second."

He was outside Saturday just before the attack occurred. Walters said he walked in to find a younger family member playing with the dog, which he had never seen before that night.

"He was supposed to be chained up in the back yard, but he somehow got loose," Walters said.

Someone at the party told Walters the dog's food dish was out of its reach while it was in the back yard.

"The dog was deprived so my son is prey," he said.

Walters said he wants to press charges against the owners, Lisa and Preston Evans. He has not spoken to them since the attack.

"I can't. I don't trust my actions."

The dog's body will be tested for rabies. Results are expected Wednesday.

The dog was not registered with the county and officials said it was not neutered.

"We have no proof that this dog had a current rabies shot," said Denise Hilton, Animal Services manager. "That always raises the eyebrows. We want to be safe."

The owners told officials that they had Willie for two months before the attack, Hilton said. He was not known as an aggressive animal.

Dallas' family has set up an account at SunTrust Bank in the child's name to help pay for funeral arrangement.

 

Dog that mauled toddler
euthanized in Pasco County

www2.tbo.com

By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune
and YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8

Updated: 12/14/2009 03:32 pm

NEW PORT RICHEY —The dog that mauled to death a toddler Saturday night was immediately euthanized after being turned over to Pasco County Animal Services, said Manager Denise Hilton.

Twenty-month-old Dallas Lee Walters was killed by a relative's Rottweiler-Labrador mix during a birthday party at his great-aunt's house at 9615 Jerome Drive in Moon Lake.

It was Pasco's first reported fatal animal attack in at least 35 years, Hilton said.

"We've had some close calls. We've had some people whose lives have been in jeopardy… You never want this to happen."

Dallas' mom, Jessica Stafford, was feeding him potato salad just before he was attacked, she said today. He would take a bite, walk away and return for another bite. Stafford was watching him the entire time, she said. And then the dog charged at Dallas from behind the sofa, toppling the boy, according to Pasco Sheriff's Office officials.

Relatives say the 100-pound dog named Willie had been chained up outside but somehow got loose and went into the house. Earlier the dog had been playing with a teenage boy without problems, relatives said today.

While several family members tried to get the dog off the boy and away from anyone else, he bit or scratched Dallas' grandmother. While the injury wasn't serious, Animal Services officials have sent the dog's head out for rabies testing. They're awaiting the results.

A puppy of the same breed at the house also was relinquished to Animal Services. Hilton said Neva, the 3-month-old female, likely will be adopted.

Animal Services has never been called out to the Moon Lake home, Hilton said. The family just got the dog a couple of months ago after responding to an advertisement in a local newspaper, she added.

They were unaware of any behavioral problems prior, she said, but Animal Services officers are continuing their investigation and looking for the previous owners to get more information about the dog. The sheriff's office is still continuing its investigation, too.

So far, neither agency expects criminal charges to be filed in the attack. It just appears to be a "tragic accident," said sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll.

Dallas will be laid to rest Tuesday.

Visitation will be held for the boy at Dobies Funeral Home, 9944 Hudson Ave., Hudson, from noon until 1 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Grace Memorial Gardens, 17007 U.S. 19, Hudson.

He will be buried with his favorite purple blanket, a yellow teddy bear, and his dad's baseball cap which Dallas loved to play with and put back on his father's head.

Dallas' burial and services will cost the family $3,200 but they say they don't have the money.

The family's church has set up an account at SunTrust bank. Donations can be sent to any location. Checks should be written out to Oasis Christian Fellowship Church of New Port Richey. In the memo line write Dallas Walters and/or account 1000105208234.