Opinion Texas Man Mauled to Death by His Own Dogs as Neighbor Tried to Save Him

Should we let a breed like the pit bull just die out and not have any more of them?

  • Yes

    Votes: 38 59.4%
  • No

    Votes: 21 32.8%
  • Dont know

    Votes: 5 7.8%

  • Total voters
    64

Cajun

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Baycliff, Texas
A Texas man was fatally mauled by his own dogs Sunday evening as a neighbor fought desperately to save him, according to authorities and multiple local outlets.

Deputies with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office responded around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 to reports of a dog attack in unincorporated Bacliff, the agency shared in a press release. Witnesses told deputies that two pit bull–type dogs belonging to the victim were actively attacking him in his yard.

When deputies arrived, one of the dogs was still latched onto the man’s arm. “In an effort to stop the attack and protect the victim, a deputy discharged his firearm, striking the dog in the center mass,” the sheriff’s office said in the release. The animal released the victim and retreated to a corner of the yard.

The victim — identified by KHOU 11, WCNC, and The Galveston County Daily News as Jose “Eddie” Castillo, 45 — was transported to HCA Houston Clear Lake and was later pronounced dead.

“It was just a horrific experience for sure,” Jesus Excontitta, Castillo’s neighbor, told KHOU 11. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

Excontitta broke a machete while trying to intervene, per KHOU 11, ABC13 Houston and WCNC, before grabbing a butcher knife and continuing to stab one of the animals in an effort to stop the attack.

“He was crying, pleading, and I’m just, ‘Sorry, Eddie,’ and stabbing the dog and poking and poking and poking,” Excontitta said.

“My brother had stabbed it several times with the machete and then with the butcher knife and it wouldn’t stop,” Shaine Starrett, Excontitta’s sister, told KHOU 11, adding that she called 911 as the attack continued.

The sheriff's office said Galveston County Animal Control took custody of both dogs, which were later euthanized because of the extent of their injuries.

Officials added in the release that deputies “never want to harm an animal, but in this case, immediate action was necessary in an attempt to protect the victim’s life.”

This was right down the road from me. I've always said these dogs are very quirky. But dont see too many breeds that will kill the owner. Should we sterilize the breed and outlaw breeding new ones? Im not saying euthanize any existing but just let them die out? I have known some sweet pits but if the breed went away I wouldn't much care either.
 
In Texas and no firearms available before the police arrived?

Huh.
No doubt. But even with a machete you wouldn't hack the dogs to pieces? Instead try and stick them with the machete and it broke? This dude couldnt save anybody and probably better he doesnt have a gun. He would likely have shot the dude.
 
I vote no. I have Dobermans, they won't stop at pitbulls
Grew up with dobermans and def my favorite large breed. Slippery slope eh? Thats always possible with laws. But you have to admit, it is a uniquely quirky breed.
 
Half the country refuses to define what a woman is and you expect anyone to accept what makes a dog a pitbull? This discussion has further reaching ramifications then intended. If you believe that a specific kind of dog is inherently violent........
 
'pit-bull type' covers a wiiiiiiide spectrum nowadays, though? i have seen dogs that were actually to my eyes bully/XL bullies, and 'bandogs' with probably much more mastiff than any part pitbull, but still described as 'pitbull type breeds'.

AFAIK there isn't a specific problem with American Bulldogs (as distinct from Old English, or Bullies) biting people, but given that the OG dog-fighting men mostly simply refer to their (pitbull) dogs as 'bulldogs', i think there is pretty wide scope for confusion and mis-labelling.

apart from anything else a lot of the dogs i see being described as 'pitbulls' are much too big and heavy.
 
Grew up with dobermans and def my favorite large breed. Slippery slope eh? Thats always possible with laws. But you have to admit, it is a uniquely quirky breed.
I won't have a pitbull period. But I don't like the law involved in these parts of my life. I refuse to register my dogs and cats, and I don't think it's anyone's business my dog's are cropped and docked and dew claws removed, although I do recognize the merits of the argument.
Half the law makers in this country are ancient and probably think they remember the doberman gang as real news. This discussion is a microcosm of society in many ways and yes there is always that slippery slope to consider
 
I had pit bulls loved them very much , I won’t ever be convinced of any kind of banning. Better dog owners , absolutely. More people die of drug overdoses, car crashes ect. Need more resources to go helping those fatalities
 
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