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Girl, 3, mauled to death by dog
by Suevon Lee
Staff Writer
www.ocala.com
Published: Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 1:50 a.m.
One of the four dogs taken away from the Haaker family property outside Ocala is seen in a Marion County Animal Services van on Saturday. COURTESY MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Ocala, Florida ---- A 3-year-old girl was killed Saturday afternoon after she was attacked by a dog that was chained to a tree outside her home, Marion County sheriff's officials said.
The child was unresponsive when emergency personnel arrived at 5:15 p.m., officials said. The attack occurred at 6540 N.E. 25th Ave. in Oak at a property marked "Haaker's Dream Bulldog Ranch." Oak is just outside the Ocala city limits along County Road 200A.
According to Jennifer Fisher, public information officer for the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the child's mother — Lori Haaker, 47 — was cleaning the dog pen, and the 3-year-old was playing in the yard outside the pen. Haaker went inside the home to use the restroom, and the child entered the pen, where she became entangled in a chain restraining one of four dogs, Fisher said. A male dog then attacked the child.
Each of the American bulldogs was chained to a separate tree inside the pen, Fisher said. "It was a bad dog attack," she said.
It wasn't clear whether the door to the pen was unlatched, or how the child managed to get inside the area housing the dogs.
Haaker did not immediately see the child when she returned outside, officials said.
Haaker suffered a minor injury on one of her fingers when she entered the pen and neared the animal.
Marion County Animal Services took possession of all dogs, even though only one is believed to have been involved in the attack.
The dogs, white to beige in color, were taken from the property by Animal Services in two vans, each carrying two dogs in separate holding areas.
If the dog involved in the attack is deemed "vicious" following an investigation, it will be euthanized, said Elaine Deiorio, an Animal Services representative. A fifth animal, a puppy, was inside the home at the time and will not be taken into custody.
Officials are not releasing the child's name.
Another child, in his early teens, was inside the home during the attack, Fisher said. The father and three other children were not home.
The property is buffered by a large yard surrounded by a fence.
The parents breed and show dogs, according to Fisher. The Web site for Haaker's Dream Bulldog Ranch indicates the club raises and shows bulldogs.
Thomas Lamon, a neighbor, said he recalls the Haakers holding dog shows in their yard. He does not know the family personally, he said.
The Haakers' home, Lamon said, was occupied by former County Commissioner Randy Harris nearly a decade ago.
The major crimes unit of the Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into the child's death. An assistant medical examiner also was at the scene to determine the exact cause of death.
Family members and friends arrived on the property as darkness arrived. They hugged one another and declined to comment.
If the dog involved in the attack is deemed "vicious" following an investigation, it will be euthanized, said Elaine Deiorio, an Animal Services representative. A fifth animal, a puppy, was inside the home at the time and will not be taken into custody.
Officials are not releasing the child's name.
Another child, in his early teens, was inside the home during the attack, Fisher said. The father and three other children were not home.
The property is buffered by a large yard surrounded by a fence.
The parents breed and show dogs, according to Fisher. The Web site for Haaker's Dream Bulldog Ranch indicates the club raises and shows bulldogs.
Thomas Lamon, a neighbor, said he recalls the Haakers holding dog shows in their yard. He does not know the family personally, he said.
The Haakers' home, Lamon said, was occupied by former County Commissioner Randy Harris nearly a decade ago.
The major crimes unit of the Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation into the child's death. An assistant medical examiner also was at the scene to determine the exact cause of death.
Family members and friends arrived on the property as darkness arrived. They hugged one another and declined to comment.
| CONTACT: Tammy
Grimes |
No previous dog attacks reported at ranch
prior to girl’s death
by Joe Callahan
Staff Writer
www.ocala.com
Published: Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 4:03 p.m.
Ocala, Florida ---- County Administrator Lee Niblock said it appeared there hadn’t been any other dog attacks at Haaker’s Dream Bulldog Ranch, where a 3-year-old girl was killed Saturday by a family breeding dog.
Niblock said, however, it still was early in the investigation and that numerous agencies — including Marion County Animal Services, Department of Children and Families and law enforcement — still were investigating.
“The first indication is no,” Niblock said regarding any prior attacks at the American bulldog breeding center that is also the home of Lori J., 47, and Allen J. Haaker, 51, at 6540 N.E. 25th Ave.
Marion sheriff’s officials said Lori Haaker was cleaning the dog pen while her daughter was playing in the yard. Haaker went inside to use the restroom, and the child entered the pen, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
“The reportee advised that she forgot to close the gate where she had several American bulldogs housed,” according to a report filed by Marion Sheriff’s Deputy Gessica Gonzalez and released on Sunday.
That’s when the girl became entangled in a chain that was restraining one of four dogs. A male dog then attacked the child, said Jenifer Fisher, Marion sheriff’s spokeswoman.
When Lori Haaker walked back outside, she looked for her daughter in the yard and then in the pen, where each of the four American bulldogs was chained to a separate tree.
That’s when she realized the child was in the pen with the dogs, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
“(Lori Haaker) advised she saw one of the American bulldogs playing with what appeared to be the decedent,” the report stated, adding the mother immediately called 911.
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fisher said no new information would be released on Sunday. Family members could not be reached for comment.
“And we are still not releasing the child’s name,” she said.
Fisher said Department of Children and Families still is investigating. Sheriff’s investigators are awaiting autopsy results before making a ruling in the case. The Sheriff’s Office report refers to the case as an “accidental death.”
If the dog involved in the attack is deemed “vicious” by Marion County officials and by a new board, it will be euthanized, Elaine Deiorio, an Animal Services representative, said at the scene Saturday.
Marion County Animal Services took possession of all four dogs in the pen, even though only one is believed to have been involved in the attack.
A fifth animal, a puppy, was inside the home at the time and was not taken into custody.
Ken Griffin, assistant county administrator over public services, said Sunday that Animal Services is diligently investigating the case and also said it appears there have been no other attacks at
the home.
The attack came four days after Marion County commissioners delayed a finalized a Dog Classification Board, a critical component of the county’s revamped animal control ordinance.
Under a revised ordinance enacted two weeks ago, the board would be empowered to make a recommendation on whether a dog should be labeled a threat to public safety.
Griffin said this case will go before the Code Enforcement Board, which also will serve as a Dog Classification Board, and that’s when the fate of the dogs will be determined.
3-Year-Old Mauled To Death By Pit Bull
Family Kept 4 Pit Bulls Fenced In,
Tied To Tree In Back Yard
www.wesh.com
POSTED: 7:07 pm EST February 20, 2010
UPDATED: 11:12 am EST February 21, 2010
Ocala, Florida ---- Marion County police said a pit bull mauled to death a 3-year-old girl on Saturday.
The incident happened at 6540 NE 25th Ave. in Ocala at about 5:30
p.m.
Jenifer Fisher, of the Marion County Sheriff's Office, said breeder
Lori Haaker was in her yard with her daughter, cleaning out the pen
where the family keeps four American pit bulls chained to trees.
Haaker went into the house, police said, and when she returned
outside, she didn't see her daughter. She started searching the
property and found the girl had entered the pen and was being mauled
by one of the dogs.
Fisher said the mother had to wrestle the child away from the dog and
that it was difficult because the girl was wrapped in the dog's
chain.
Fire Rescue crews arrived but could not save the girl, who was
pronounced dead at the scene.
Animal Services was at the home Saturday night to seize the four dogs
from the pen. They believe only one dog was responsible for the
attack but took all of them as a precaution.
Animal Services will investigate to determine which of the dogs
should be deemed vicious.
An investigator was also questioning the mother and father, as well
as a renter who lives on the property. It's not clear whether the
parents of the girl will face any charges.
There are four other children who live at the home and the Department
of Children and Families was called in to investigate their welfare.
Haaker has a sign at the entrance to her ranch promoting her business
that reads: "Haaker's Dream Bulldog Ranch."
She reportedly breeds and raises American pit bulls for competition
in dog shows. Her Web site boasts that one of her dogs has won awards
at shows across the country.
Dog In Toddler Death Case Euthanized
www.wcfnews13.com
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:25:42 PM
The Marion County Sheriff's Office says the American bulldog believed to have killed a 3-year-old girl was euthanized Tuesday.
Deputies say the dog killed the child Saturday night.
Marion County's Animal Services seized the dog, along with three other dogs that had access to the girl at Haaker's Dream Bulldog Ranch.
All four dogs were chained to trees inside a pen, which the girl's mother says she wandered into.
All 4 Dogs In Toddler Death Case Euthanized
www.wcfnews13.com
Tuesday, February 25, 2010 5:32:18 AM
OCALA --A mother whose 3-year-old daughter was mauled and killed by a dog Saturday has surrendered custody of three more dogs.
Lori Haaker gave the dogs to the Marion County Animal Services Wednesday.
Marion County Sheriff's office said the American bulldog believed ot have killed the toddler was euthanized Tuesday.
Animal Services said because of the potential involvement of the other three dogs in the case, they were alos euthanized.
All four dogs were chained to trees inside a pen, which the girl's mother said she wandered into.