Woman Mauled by Pit Bull Cross She Adopted From Shelter

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture of the victim courtesy of Komchadluek

 

A 40-year-old woman has been seriously injured after being viciously attacked by a pit bull cross she had adopted from a local animal shelter. The incident occurred near Wat Kai Tia temple in Wang Yang subdistrict, Si Prachan district of Suphan Buri province at around 10:30 on 17 April.

 

Rescue services from the Sameu Kan Foundation rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call reporting a dog attack. The woman, Ms. Sutharat, was found lying in a pool of blood behind the abbot’s quarters at the temple. She had sustained deep lacerations to both arms and hands, with some wounds exposing bone.

 

She was given first aid at the scene before being transferred to Sri Prachan Hospital and later referred to Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital due to the severity of her injuries.

 

Investigators found that the dog, a male pit bull and American bully cross named “Copper,” had been kept in a converted storage room behind the abbot’s quarters. Blood-stained dog toys were found scattered around the improvised kennel. The dog was sedated and temporarily removed by livestock officials following the attack.

 

Mr. Anan, the victim’s father, explained that his daughter, an avid dog lover, had adopted the dog from a shelter. Copper had originally been rehomed to someone in Samut Prakan province, but was returned due to aggressive behaviour and size. Ms. Sutharat, sympathising with the animal, took him back into her care.

 

“She regularly took him for exercise and was putting him back in his enclosure when the attack happened,” Mr. Anan said. “She loved that dog, but now I don’t think I can let her care for aggressive breeds anymore.”

 

Phra Khru Sukitjanurak, the abbot of Wat Kai Tia and local ecclesiastical head of Wang Yang subdistrict, revealed that the same dog had bitten him less than three weeks earlier, breaking his arm and requiring nine stitches.

 

“She found the dog at the shelter and took pity on it,” the abbot said. “I warned her that it was a large and potentially dangerous breed. After my own injury, I suggested she find someone else to adopt it.”

 

He recounted the moment of the latest attack: “I heard screaming and saw the dog biting her arms, trying to reach her neck. I shouted for her to stay calm and then banged on metal sheeting to scare the dog off. It finally stopped, and we called for help.”

 

The abbot issued a warning to the public about adopting stray or rescued dogs. “We may love and feel compassion for them, but if we haven’t raised them from a young age, they can be unpredictable. The risk is real.”

 

Authorities are now assessing Copper’s future, while the incident has reignited debates over the safety of adopting mixed-breed or powerful dogs from shelters.

 

-- 2025-04-17

 

[Gecko123]

27 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

“She found the dog at the shelter and took pity on it,” the abbot said. “I warned her that it was a large and potentially dangerous breed. After my own injury, I suggested she find someone else to adopt it.”

 

God bless that woman for having tried to give the dog a good home, but don't see how it would not be irresponsible to allow someone else to adopt the dog at this point, and can't imagine who would want to, given its history. Putting the dog down is understandably probably not an option an abbot would want to consider, but the danger this dog presents to the community is real.

[steven100]

i bet the dogs original name was fluffy  

 

 

thai's won't learn anything.

[roo860]

now on the news, just mop the blood up and carry on, Amazing Thailand 

 

[JimHuaHin]

When will people learn, pit bulls are dangerous and unpredictable.

 

"Once bitten, twice shy" does not apply to stupidity.

[MalcolmB]

No such thing as a bad dog breed, just bad dog owners.

Nice looking dog, pity it wasnt raised properly.

[PomPolo]

Moral of the story is don't adopt dangerous dogs from a shelter when there is a reason that nobody wanted them in the first place

[save the frogs]

wipe out all pitbulls off the planet

useless creatures

 

 

[hotsun]

15 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

wipe out all pitbulls off the planet

useless creatures

 

 

Human lives in thailand seem to be valued about the same

[Hanaguma]

40 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

No such thing as a bad dog breed, just bad dog owners.

Nice looking dog, pity it wasnt raised properly.

Perhaps, perhaps not. 

 

But some breeds ARE more dangerous, due to their size and strength. There is a reason they are called "pit" bulls- they are bred to fight in pits.   Not too many people are killed by vicious chiuahuas biting them to the bone.

[JonnyF]

Shame the dog wasn't raised properly. Probably grew up on a chain and disciplined with a stick. Sounds like he's being kept in a storage room most of the day and didn't want to be put back in there after a brief outing. 

 

Too late now though, with his history he needs to be put down although it can be difficult to find a vet prepared to do that in Thailand. 

[Tropicalevo]

12 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Too late now though, with his history he needs to be put down although it can be difficult to find a vet prepared to do that in Thailand.

 

The problem for the vets is the paperwork on obtaining the correct drugs.

I, and some close friends, have all had dogs.

Sadly, there comes a time when it is more humane to let them go.

None of us have had a problem with the vet doing this.

He even arranges for them to be cremated.

The difference is that we have all taken the dogs to the vet for their regular check ups and vaccinations.

There is a medical history card for each of them.

This, officially recorded history, makes it easy for the vet to obtain the drugs.

(I am hoping to sign up with the vet as a dog )

 

having said that, there may be some vets with strong belief's against euthanising dogs.

However, most vets understand that it is better for the poor things when the time comes.

Not sure of the rules when it comes to dangerous dogs.

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

a male pit bull and American bully cross named “Copper,”

 

the same dog had bitten him less than three weeks earlier, breaking his arm and requiring nine stitches.

 

This animal should never have existed in the first place, let alone being rehomed after the first attack.

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

The problem for the vets is the paperwork on obtaining the correct drugs.

I, and some close friends, have all had dogs.

Sadly, there comes a time when it is more humane to let them go.

None of us have had a problem with the vet doing this.

He even arranges for them to be cremated.

The difference is that we have all taken the dogs to the vet for their regular check ups and vaccinations.

There is a medical history card for each of them.

This, officially recorded history, makes it easy for the vet to obtain the drugs.

(I am hoping to sign up with the vet as a dog )

 

having said that, there may be some vets with strong belief's against euthanising dogs.

However, most vets understand that it is better for the poor things when the time comes.

Not sure of the rules when it comes to dangerous dogs.

 

That's good to know. Not all mine have the medical card/history since we inherited some of them with the house/land and they won't even get in a car let alone get on a vet's table. 

 

But I think it probably depends on the area as well. 

 

In Bangkok and bigger cities it's more like our home countries, but in deepest darkest Issan things can get a bit weird. I've had a local vet refuse to even treat one of my dogs who was extremely ill because he "looks mean". This is a normal Thai dog by the way (although I guess some might think he looks less than angelic), not a Bull breed. I ended up having to take him to Korat. 

 

Like many things in Thailand, I think it depends a lot area to area, day to day, person to person. I think you'd find it easier finding someone to put down a very sick dog than a healthy one that bit someone. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

This animal should never have existed in the first place,

 

Why not?

 

Great dogs when raised properly. 

 

2 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

 

let alone being rehomed after the first attack.

 

Yes it's too late now. 

[safarimike11]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture of the victim courtesy of Komchadluek

 

A 40-year-old woman has been seriously injured after being viciously attacked by a pit bull cross she had adopted from a local animal shelter. The incident occurred near Wat Kai Tia temple in Wang Yang subdistrict, Si Prachan district of Suphan Buri province at around 10:30 on 17 April.

 

Rescue services from the Sameu Kan Foundation rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call reporting a dog attack. The woman, Ms. Sutharat, was found lying in a pool of blood behind the abbot’s quarters at the temple. She had sustained deep lacerations to both arms and hands, with some wounds exposing bone.

 

 

She was given first aid at the scene before being transferred to Sri Prachan Hospital and later referred to Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital due to the severity of her injuries.

 

Investigators found that the dog, a male pit bull and American bully cross named “Copper,” had been kept in a converted storage room behind the abbot’s quarters. Blood-stained dog toys were found scattered around the improvised kennel. The dog was sedated and temporarily removed by livestock officials following the attack.

 

Mr. Anan, the victim’s father, explained that his daughter, an avid dog lover, had adopted the dog from a shelter. Copper had originally been rehomed to someone in Samut Prakan province, but was returned due to aggressive behaviour and size. Ms. Sutharat, sympathising with the animal, took him back into her care.

 

“She regularly took him for exercise and was putting him back in his enclosure when the attack happened,” Mr. Anan said. “She loved that dog, but now I don’t think I can let her care for aggressive breeds anymore.”

 

Phra Khru Sukitjanurak, the abbot of Wat Kai Tia and local ecclesiastical head of Wang Yang subdistrict, revealed that the same dog had bitten him less than three weeks earlier, breaking his arm and requiring nine stitches.

 

“She found the dog at the shelter and took pity on it,” the abbot said. “I warned her that it was a large and potentially dangerous breed. After my own injury, I suggested she find someone else to adopt it.”

 

He recounted the moment of the latest attack: “I heard screaming and saw the dog biting her arms, trying to reach her neck. I shouted for her to stay calm and then banged on metal sheeting to scare the dog off. It finally stopped, and we called for help.”

 

The abbot issued a warning to the public about adopting stray or rescued dogs. “We may love and feel compassion for them, but if we haven’t raised them from a young age, they can be unpredictable. The risk is real.”

 

Authorities are now assessing Copper’s future, while the incident has reignited debates over the safety of adopting mixed-breed or powerful dogs from shelters.

 

-- 2025-04-17

 

Those stupid sunglasses probably set him off.

[Hanaguma]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Why not?

 

Great dogs when raised properly. 

 

 

Yes it's too late now. 

Perhaps yes, great dogs IF raised properly.  IF.   But, especially in Thailand, how many ARE raised properly? Raised to be comfortable around people, not to react to stimuli, etc.  And how many are literally ticking time bombs, ready to explode at any moment of stress or frustration?

 

Again, the training isnt the problem. The potential for death/injury of innocent people IS.  At least require owners to have licensing and liability insurance.  

[Mason45]

3 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

God bless that woman for having tried to give the dog a good home, but don't see how it would not be irresponsible to allow someone else to adopt the dog at this point, and can't imagine who would want to, given its history. Putting the dog down is understandably probably not an option an abbot would want to consider, but the danger this dog presents to the community is real.

It should've been euthanised when it entered the pet shelter. It's about time the Government banned pit bulls and made it a serious offense to own one.

[Nickcage49]

Sad. Pits are lovely dogs if raised right. But the dog obviously had been abused when it was young. That's why these things usually happen.

 

As a dog lover I understand.

 

But we adopt all of our dogs as pups. Then we don't have this kind of issue.

[NorthernRyland]

5 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

Sad. Pits are lovely dogs if raised right. But the dog obviously had been abused when it was young. That's why these things usually happen.

 

As a dog lover I understand.

 

But we adopt all of our dogs as pups. Then we don't have this kind of issue.

 

So many other dog breeds to chose from so why even <deleted> around and find out with this breed?

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, safarimike11 said:

Those stupid sunglasses probably set him off.

 

It's probably thinking "I swear to God lady if you put these on me one more time...."

 

[bbbbooboo]

hmmm… says it all doesn’t  if ?

 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A 40-year-old woman has been seriously injured after being viciously attacked by a pit bull cross she had adopted from a local animal shelter.

If you don't know what you're doing don't have pets, especially ones that can maul you.

[shackleton]

Keep reading articles on these dogs causing problems but nothing seems to be happening taking action on them like banning them from the Country 

Or stiffer penalties on the owners 

No will be reading of other attacks in the future and the same replies of no action 

[connda]

Doesn't surprise me at all.  If I wanted a dog like a pit bull or Doberman, I'd get it as a pup and I'd have it trained by a professional trainer.  Other than that, I would never have one.  Especially one from a shelter.  To respect you, those aggressive types need bonds formed from the time they are pups.  Pick one up at a shelter or adopt one, you're asking for problems unless you yourself are a profession dog trainer.  I wouldn't risk it.  Anyway, all the dogs I have are Heinz-57 Thai dogs which I homed as pups.  Are any aggressive?  Yep.  They are home security.  Can I control them?  Yep.  100%.  If I hadn't raised them from pups, then I might not be so sure.  But I raised them all from pups.  They know their place in the pack structure, and I am the Pack Leader.

[watchcat]

5 hours ago, roo860 said:

now on the news, just mop the blood up and carry on, Amazing Thailand 

 

Next attack means she'll be aeten alive, Kill the dog I say.

[spidermike007]

Any dog who bites any human being in a serious manner should be put down within 24 hours no questions asked and no appeals possible. Dogs should never be given priority over humans and doing so is a sign of a broken society. Not only that but the owner should face a massive fine. There's just no excuse to have a poorly behaved dog who's aggressive toward others, especially defenseless children. 

 

[watchcat]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Are any aggressive?  Yep.  They are home security. 

 

We use guns for the idiot that try his luck. Home security sounds like an insueance company, avoid?

[watchcat]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Any dog who bites any human being in a serious manner should be put down within 24 hours no questions asked

 

Correct but, in this case the owner is a lady do you really think she got the courage to put such abeast down I don't.

[black tabby12345]

Do-gooder and a disaster.

2nd chance giver nearly got killed by the animal she adopted.

Exercising Good Nature Theory often comes with high risks.