Golden Retriever euthanized after killing owner

Golden retriever in Friendswood mauling to be put down
08:35 AM CDT on Thursday, March 29, 2007
By Ben Tinsley / Galveston County Daily News

FRIENDSWOOD — A golden retriever, one of two dogs seized by authorities after the March 17 mauling death of owner Pamela Rushing, must be put to death — probably today, according to a settlement agreement reached Wednesday evening between Rushings family and the city.
The other dog, an Australian shepherd, will be designated a dangerous animal and must be registered with the city, segregated, neutered, placed in a florescent collar or harness, be covered by $100,000 public liability insurance and always have a dangerous dog sign posted nearby, the agreement states.
The shepherd should be released to Bendel Rushing, the victims husband, within the next 48 hours, an official said.
The two dogs were present when a third dog — an American bulldog-Catahoula mix — attacked Pamela Rushing.
The bulldog was shot and killed when it tried to attack a police officer at the scene, police reports show.
The Australian shepherd, about 10 years old, escaped the fenced back yard in the 300 block of Meadow Trail Court and was at large in the neighborhood for 30 minutes before police were forced to subdue it with a Taser.
The dogs were seized for the Wednesday disposition hearing before Friendswood Municipal Court Judge James Woltz.
But before the hearing began, Bendel Rushing opted to settle with the city in a meeting.
He was not immediately available for comment.
Friendswood Police Chief Robert Wieners said the family has been very cooperative in the investigation.
I think they are still grieving and are really shocked by the incident, the chief said.
Pamela Rushing, 50, was found mauled to death in her backyard in the Forest of Friendswood subdivision.
She died of multiple dog bites, according to a medical examiners report.
Wieners said police believe Rushing was killed when she tried to intervene in a dogfight, although it is unclear which dog turned on her first, the chief said.
At least one of the bites found on her body matched the teeth pattern of the retriever, reports show.
Rushing died from multiple dog bites — primarily those of the bulldog, the chief said.
Rushing had been dead for about four hours when police arrived.
Landscape workers who were there to mow a yard found her body.
After spotting the body, the landscape workers could not enter the backyard or approach the woman because the three dogs aggressively kept them behind a gate, fearing for their own safety.
A neighbor called 911.
Three Friendswood police officers arrived less than a minute after being dispatched about 5:45 p.m., police said.

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[lucamansan]

Trying to compare golden retrievers and pit-bulls, what nonsense, why don't you just start comparing dogs and cats.

[FUzupf]

@lucamansan What hypocrisy!!! Everyone that hates pit bulls ALWAYS compare GRs and Pit Bulls. They always make the statement:

"You never see GRs attacking and killing people as much as pit bulls."

OR...

"when was the last time you heard a GR maul a child?"

Well, here ya go.

[lambchopclmt]

Thats not a golden retriever, thats a pitbull.

Dont you know that?Only pitbulls attack people.

*sarcasm*

[lovemypitty4lyfe]

Well I'll be darn...all you GR owners are starting to sound like us ;) but that's why many pit lovers are screaming "ban the deed not the breed". Y should a few bad doggies decide the fate of all doggies.

[JessyCrystalxx]

@JessyCrystalxx And yeah, i just compared people who don't believe in ghosts to people who hate pits, deal with it, haha. Only difference is- they can't kill ghosts, they can kill pit bulls though. I just don't see why an entire group of dogs has to die for being "vicious" when something like this PROVES other popular breeds can be just as bad if not worse.

[JessyCrystalxx]

@FUzupf Aww, their just mad because NOW there's PROOF that other dogs, popular FAMILY dogs, can be bad and vicious and its not JUST pit bulls. Personally, I don't see how comparing two DOG breeds is similar to comparing to species. Pit Bulls do above average with temperament testing and have proved time and time again they're good family dogs. but Pit haters are like ghost skeptics-no proof is proof enough.

[MissEmmaKelly1001]

ANY DOG is capable of attacking....at the end of the day its how you raise and train the dog...dogs wont attack or be vicious unless thats how they have been raised or told to do on command....

[TemperMoves]

There is a reason Goldens are on the Dangerous Dog list, duh, for those of you saying ''they aren't like that''... YES THEY ARE, you might be one of the people that got a ''good egg'', and YOU"RE dog isn't... but they are assholes, trust me, I've been working with dogs professionally for three years, and have always been an animal lover, they can be and are people/animal aggressive. If you want to say pitbulls are dangerous (which they are NOT) stop and take a look at your own DANGEROUS breed

[Murphygrif]

@1987bugsy How about the pit bull in S. GA who pulled a toddler away from a venomous snake, then attacked the snake? Then there's the pit bull in CA who woke up an entire family & helped them get out of a burning house - except for 1 daughter, who couldn't get out, so the dog laid on her to protect her from the flames. The dog had some serious burns, but the girl was OK. Just 2 of MANY examples...

[Murphygrif]

@BakedMrPotato Pit bulls scored higher than Goldens on independent temperament tests. Any dog of any breed can attack; it's all in the training & care that the dog gets, as well as its breeding (Goldens are very popular, so very well could be inbred, which can make them unstable).

[Murphygrif]

@tabbycat41187 ANY dog can be a "very nice doggie." Did you know that Pits are also used as drug detection dogs? And as Search & Rescue dogs? Any dog can be good - or bad. Its breed has nothing to do with it...