Two Local Banking Companies Shut Down
By: Kevin Character
Panama City Commissioners Veto Low Income Apartment Project
By: J. Michael Brown
Walton Commission Holds Executive Session
By: Allyson Walker
Florida Pulls Restrictions on Gulf Fishing
Source: Associated Press
Cyclists Bike 2500 Miles for Charity Project
By: Kevin Character
Head of Spill Response Visits Tyndall
By: Marc McAfee
Sallie Mae Employees to Possibly Work for BP
By: Nadeen Yanes
Elections Office Struggles to Slice Budget
By: Elizabeth Cate
Coastal Community Bank Taken Over by FDIC, Arkansas Bank
Source: FDIC
Panama City Police Searching for Burglary Suspects
Source: Panama City Police Department
For Additional Headlines - go to our News Section »
- Attorney General Investigating Panama City Oil Operations Contractors
made by oneredkitty - Locals Sound off on AZ Immigration Battle
made by Scavenger - Attorney General Investigating Panama City Oil Operations Contractors
made by COWGIRL - New Millage Plan Passes With School Board
made by Dewey712 - Attorney General Investigating Panama City Oil Operations Contractors
made by oneredkitty
04/08/09 - 10:22 AM
RSS Feed
Bay County, Fla:
The family of Valencia Newton says they’re upset about reports the child is back with a babysitter after being attacked while in the teen’s care.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on March 9, 2009, deputies responded to 4717 Colorado Street in Callaway, and found that a large male pit bull dog had attacked Valencia Newton, 2, while she was in the care of her babysitter. The dog was one of two pit bull mixes, a male and a female, owned by the babysitter, Kayla Diane Nowlin, 17, and her family.
Valencia’s mother, Lisa Newton, spoke with News 13 by phone today, after media reports that the child had been back in the care of Kayla as recently as Monday. Ms. Newton says this is absolutely not true, that she and Valencia are currently out of town and have been for several days. She says Valencia has not been watched by Kayla since the attack. Ms. Newton also expressed her frustration over the hearing about the fate of the dog, Dodge, saying she and her family were unable to attend the hearing because they were not told it had been scheduled.
The hearing, which was held this week before a Special Magistrate, comes after nearly a month of debate over euthanizing Dodge. According to a city ordinance in Callaway, Dodge meets the requirements to be considered “vicious”, meaning the dog is subject to being euthanized, but Dodge’s owners, Rebecca Mobbs and Elizabeth Roache, filed an appeal to save him.
As for reports that his owners have now agreed to have Dodge euthanized, Ms. Newton says she did not know if this was true. News 13 contacted Ms. Roache, who stated that the family had no comment on the matter. According to Bay County Animal Control, the owners can appeal the Special Magistrate’s decision. If there is no appeal, Dodge will be euthanized on April 21.
Both Rebecca Mobbs and Kayla Nowlin now face charges relating to the attack. The State Attorney’s Office notified the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday of the decision to charge Kayla with Child Neglect/ Causing Great Bodily Harm which is a felony charge. Ms. Mobbs was issued a notice to appear on charges of Disregard with Dog Known to Bite which is a misdemeanor charge.
Hi, Angie, there have been multiple articles about this attack. The dog has attacked twice before. According to all at the scene, the dog was completely unprovoked, and didn’t just bite the child once leaving puncture wounds—it mauled the child severely about the head and neck. It is fair to say this is a vicious dog.
Curious about this case, I was wondering how it was decided that this dog is deemed vicious? Has he bitten before? The family should not be charged with “dog known to bite” if he hasnt bitten before! Any dog is capable of biting and just because this dog is a pit bull he is automatically deemed vicious!! I dont agree!! As an owner of an almost 3 yr old pit bull myself and the mother of a 2 yr old I personally know that not all pits are vicious, as people seem to think! My two yr old can do whatever he wants to my dog and she has NEVER bitten him! If this toddler was tormenting the dog and the dog isnt used to having a child around all the time then that is why he bit! It is a reaction! We also have a lab/chow mix living with us, Uncles dog, and he is meaner then the pit bull! Although he has never bitten my son or i. I do not agree with uthanizing a dog bc it has bitten once! look into it! if the child was tormenting the dog it is no ones fault but the babysitters to not stop it b4!
WMBB.com requires that you be a registered site member to post comments and content.
First, we are not being sneaky and gathering your email or other information to sell to telemarketers or e-mail spam companies.
Registration on this site is required simply to allow us to keep people who would post discriminatory, threatening and harassing messages and comments from doing it again.
By having user registration, we hope to provide you with a better user experience. Please view WMBB.com's full Terms & Conditions
for one the dog was “provoked” before the attack him and the neighbors pittbull were fighting through the fence. Then when the child came over a few mintues later he most likely smelled her familys male dogs on her. As far as him biting someone in the past he did bite a child, not a bad bite, after the child kept raming his scooter into the fence provoking the dog. the other bite was accidental and was not this same dog but his mother. she attacked the neighbors dog and the lady got bit when she reached down to get her dog. neither dog has vicously attacked anyone before this and this time he was provoked once again.