Cane Corso Mastif Mauls 4-Year-Old Boy In Brooklyn

A Brooklyn boy was fatally mauled by a family dog Friday in a split-second attack that may have been prevented.

Jayelin Graham, a 4-year-old boy, was killed when the dog, a Cane Corso Mastif, erupted in a violent rage, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. No one seems to know what set off the dog, but apparently the animal was already a known menace in the neighborhood.

"Within a split second it happened," Calandra Jubeark, the boy's aunt, told WABC-TV. e "[Saquina Jubeark, the boy's mother] said, 'The dog wouldn't let go.' It's painful."

The dog's owners maintain the dog did not have a vicious nature, but neighbors seem to disagree, accoridng to ABC.

A man who tried to save the boy from the dog said as soon as the dog had the child in his jaws, there was no hope.

"He was trained to kill," the man told the Daily News. "He had the boy by his throat. The dog was shaking him. He had no chance."

According to ABC News the dog apparently belonged to the boy's mother's boyfriend.

Jayelin's other siblings have since been removed from the apartment, though the dog was tranquilized and taken away following the attack.

Charges are yet to have been filed.

Click here for more on the story and video from ABC News/Good Morning America.

Comments

[Rick Amaro]

02:22 PM on 06/21/2011

non-responsible pet owners are the worst kind. Apparently this dog had a problem past according to people in the neighborhood. Being a k-9 trainer and evaluator i can say these dogs are NOT man killers they are like ANY big dog they need to be obedience trained and socialized at a young age.
The Pit bull craze is starting to die out and what we are starting to see now is these imported protection dogs that make Pit bulls and Rottweilers look like lap dogs, the problem is young guys are buying them thinking it make s them look cool to have the big "bad dog" on the block. These dogs need a huge amount of training for the owner to maintain control and most of the owners are incapable of providing it ( a lot of the Mastiff-like breeds are over 130lbs.) if they are not under control and want something a person is going to stop them from getting it.
I have worked with with a male Cane Corso and was amazed by how strong they are I would recommend them to be owned by experienced handlers Only.

[Sandra Fackler]

04:34 PM on 06/23/2011

I totally agree, Rick. One only has to look at the collar on that dog to know what the macho man who owned him taught him.... To be an aggressive killer. The poor boy didn't have a chance and neither did the dog. It's insane to keep and train that kind of dog as a family pet.
The boy died a terrible death and the mother and boyfriend should be held responsible in a court of law and pay the price. They should not have custody of the other children because they have no idea how to care for and protect children..

[Rick Amaro]

08:34 PM on 06/23/2011

Thank you Sandra. All dogs need to be obedience trained and have their temperament evaluated before they are allowed to come into a home. still children should never be left alone with them. Rescued shelter dogs need this done especially because of situation that might have happened in their past that certain events might trigger an aggressive response . The bottom line is dogs are meant to serve and to protect man, it is unfortunate that man has messed it all up

[scoop411]

03:49 PM on 06/15/2011

really sad about about the little boy,who surrounded by stupid people.

[Arizona Darkblade]

06:22 PM on 06/12/2011

It's a bit sick for this website to list puppies for sale right underneath a tragic story like this. How incredibly tactless.

[edmond dantes]

02:14 PM on 06/10/2011

Cane Corsos were bred to be attack dogs. Pretty much any person who would want such a dog as a pet likely has some issues. It is tragic that this boy died because of an irresponsible pet owner having a dangerous dog.

[Roberta Waker]

11:33 AM on 06/09/2011

My sympathy goes out to the family of this little boy. How tragic that he died because of stupidity on the part of the people that were supposed to protect him. Young children should NEVER be left alone with any animal and if this dog already had a bad reputation; the owner should be prosecuted. Dogs can be trained to do almost anything for humans and it is our responsibility to see that they, too, are productive members of society. If you raise a dog for illegal fighting; you should rot in jail.

[Larry Gibby]

04:28 PM on 06/04/2011

Look at the names for a clue.

[BreezyinVA]

05:39 PM on 06/03/2011

Nanny Dogs:

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/pit-bulls-surprising-past-nanny-dogs-195612543.html

[Mechelle Gray]

01:52 PM on 06/03/2011

Live-in boyfriend brings this type of DOG into an APARTMENT? I have a Rott/Chow Mix and an Akita/Chow mix ... they say they are two of the MEANEST dogs as well.

However, they are TRAINED. They have been brought up AROUND CHILDREN ... even when my grandson was born, I kept him AWAY from the two dogs. Now that he is older (3), you can't even raise your VOICE without the dogs, giving you a piece of their mind.

If the neighbors complained about his dog, TRUST he was a MENACE. Rip Baby Boy.

[Lucille]

02:08 PM on 06/02/2011

I don't give a rat’s ssa about that dog and a pox on all of you more concerned about the dog than the boy he killed. Whatever the training the dog lived with the boy and knew him well, yet waited until the mother left the room and killed him on purpose. Jayelin Graham was just 4 years old and summer is just starting and he so much to look forward to, instead he died a horrible death because of that dog, which should be put down immediately.

I can't find anything regarding the Jayelin Graham’s funeral anywhere; all I read about is this vicious dog.

[ruskie44]

09:19 AM on 06/03/2011

"the dog lived with the boy and knew him well, yet waited until the mother left the room and killed him on purpose."
do you have idea how foolish this sounds? dogs do not premeditate murder. dogs are not humans with thoughts of revenge. this dog didn't "wait till the mother was gone" so he could make his move and get away with murder. that is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. i honestly expect more from huffpost commenters than this insanity that i keep reading. whatever happened to logic???

[Dan Hartman]

03:54 PM on 06/03/2011

It's true that dogs do not premeditate murder, and some of the verbiage in Lucille's post is a little over the top. But the sentiment that people should care more about the boy than the dog couldn't be more correct. And, you say that the dog didn't wait around until the mother was gone to "make his move." I agree that obviously an animal doesn't understand the concept of murder. But, animals certainly do know when their owners are watching them. I have a cat and a potted plant in my living room. If I am in the room the cat doesn't even look at the plant. If I am not in the room the cat will just tear it up. I've hidden and watched the cat do this, then revealed myself and it ran away horrified. Just saying, it is in no way ridiculous to say animals behave one way around their owners and another way when they are by themselves.

[Rick Amaro]

02:29 PM on 06/21/2011

@ruskie44 agreed with you 100% on your reply. This person is talking like the dog had human emotions, this is where the problem is, most people do not understand a dogs physiology. They signs where there with this dog, but the owners choose to ignore it

[bcmom]

01:12 AM on 06/04/2011

This dog was a weapon and his owner should be charged with murder. Knowing the boy had nothing to do with this little boy's killing. Dogs do not kill on purpose -- they are dogs. The mom is also responsible for having ths "trained" dog around her children. I do not think people are concerned about the dog - he will be euthanized. I think most of the discussions have been on the idiot who trained this dog to bite and fight. Dogs are animals first and are instinctual. This little boy died because the boyfriend did not have the brains to realize what he was doing. He was creating an out of control weapon. My deepest sympathies go out to his family.

[Lucille]

07:11 PM on 06/04/2011

At least you have offered your condolences which are more than many of these other people have done in their efforts to defend the dog, while ignoring the beautiful dead child it killed.

[Sylvie7]

06:31 PM on 06/05/2011

bcmom: You are absolutely right. The so called adults in this story are responsible because they did not understand or care for the potential danger.
A dog that obviously was obtained to enhance the boyfriend's feelings of machismo should not been allowed to live freely around an innocent little kid. A heart breaking death that should never have happened.

[kadellagroove]

03:02 AM on 06/02/2011

I'v said it a million times before, and I"ll say it again, and I'm sure I will get the same tired criticism I always get but PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE A TEST BEFORE HAVING CHILDREN.

[dabronxprincess]

08:15 PM on 06/02/2011

that is so true . i feel so bad for that lil baby

[Larry Motuz]

08:12 PM on 06/19/2011

Maybe...but would you sterilize those who failed?

[LoyalBob]

09:32 PM on 06/01/2011

This story is way too familiar. Neighbors complain about a menace dog. Live-in boyfriend denies dog is bad. Mother of brood would rather have dead-beat boyfriend than look out for the welfare of her children. Kid ends up maimed or killed. I've read about it before.

Put the boyfriend AND mother in jail for neglect. Or at least stop them from procreating.

[straightuptalker]

01:03 PM on 06/29/2011

Yes, how pitiful that these babies' mommas always end up with boy toys that eventually kill their children. I'm sick of reading how the child was left with the boyfriend who, in a fit of rage, slammed or shook the infant until it's brains were damaged, resulting in death. Not to mention how they all manage to live off our taxpayer's dime, but manage to add pets to their already strained family situation. And, it's obvious these macho honchos need vicious breeds to boost their ego and protect their so-called "manlihood".

[ruskie44]

07:23 PM on 06/01/2011

please, i implore you to educate yourself about dogs. if you believe the "hype" about pits and mastiffs you have been duped by the media. think for yourself. do some reading and some researching before you spout of nonsense that is dangerous and ignorant. you not only sound foolish but you are doing a disservice to animals everywhere. dogs are some of our most loyal companions. they add so much joy to our lives- if you have ever owned a dog, i simply cannot imagine you'd be writing these blanket statements about pits. if you are a dog lover, you probably know better. here is link- please read it. thank you.
http://www.kitsap-humane.org/truth-about-pit-bulls

[Bluebird88]

01:01 AM on 06/03/2011

Ruskie, if the throat that pits rip out was their owners, I'd be fine with any idiot choosing one as a pet. But that isn't what happens, is it? They always go for small children or women. And the people who own them know this. The owner isn't afraid of his sweet doggie bkz he's comfortable with the fact that when the dog goes off, it'll be on someone else. This is evil. Your incessant insults toward anybody who tries to inject sanity into this discussion reveals that you have a huge blind spot toward our responsibility to put children b4 animals. How can that be? You must be a breeder - concerned about losing money.

[ruskie44]

08:26 AM on 06/03/2011

1st of all.. no, i am not a breeder. i have never even owned a pit or a mastiff. i am a former teacher but now stay at home to be with my baby. i love and want to protect children above all else. i have volunteered hundreds of hours of my time to abused children and babies of teen mothers and i have taught children as an art teacher, a waldorf teacher, a preschool teacher and a tutor for almost ten years. i do put children above all else but you and others are missing the point here. you cannot blame an animal when that animal is the responsibility of a human. the human that decided to take on the animal needs to take all the necessary precautions to prevent ANYONE from being hurt. by blaming the breed and not the owner YOU are perpetuating the problem! do you not see that? every time someone comments on here about the "evil" breed, it takes the responsibility off of the owner and puts it on an animal. how is that going to help?

[ruskie44]

08:33 AM on 06/03/2011

cont- all animals have the potential to attack. do a google search right now of almost any breed and you will find attacks on babies and children. i posted some links of lab attacks below, i think. my point in doing so, is to show that we cannot blame an ENTIRE breed for a few of the ones that were taught to be attack dogs. please read my link about pits. there is so much misinformation about them. and the result of that misinformation is: 1.) people continuing to be irresponsible owners bc they can just put the blame on the "bad" breed, 2.) people continuing to exploit this dogs for fighting, which leaves many of them permanently scarred or dead, 3.) leaves thousands of a kind and loving dogs left to die in shelters bc people believe the hype and won't take them home. which results in them only being wanted by those that want to make money off them and leave them to die.
it is a terrible, terrible tragedy and you are ignorant if you cannot recognize this. NO ONE and NOTHING is helped by perpetuating the myth that they are "bad" dogs.

[musomesa]

06:56 AM on 06/03/2011

@ruskie, nonsense, you say. There is a little boy's remains to prove you innacurate.

[ruskie44]

09:01 AM on 06/03/2011

i wrote a comment to you but unfortunately it did not post.
please, use your own brain and do not let the media think for you. you are taking all the responsibility off of the owner and putting it on a dog. huh? the owner should not have had a big dog like that pent up in a tiny apartment with small children. the owner should not have taught and encouraged the dog to be an attack dog. period. the owner should not have had a dog that he had no idea how to properly train or care for. the owner should be held legally and criminally responsible. there should be stricter rules about who is allowed to own dogs this powerful. a dog does not premeditate. without realizing it, you and others are actually defending the owner bc you claim it is just the "nature" of the breed and could not be prevented. how foolish!! do not let the incredibly irresponsible actions of this "man" go unpunished bc you believe hype and choose to blame the dog- who is a victim in all of this as well.

[ThinkGlobal]

04:57 PM on 06/01/2011

Anyone who owns a pit or mastif is as much a menace to society as these blood thirsty dogs are.

[capercaper]

05:21 PM on 06/01/2011

Educate yourself. From ruskie44's link, posted below (thanks, ruskie!)

Since 1992, the breed most involved in fatal attacks has been the
Rottweiler [which is neither a pit nor a mastiff], not the pit bull.

... pit bulls are estimated to comprise some 30-40% of the dog population, making it a very popular breed. Considering that there were an estimated 53,000,000 dogs in the
U.S., and assuming that pit bulls make up 10% of that population, there
would be approximately 5.3 million pit bulls in our society. In 2000, 13 pit
bulls were involved in 8 fatal attacks. That is roughly ONE dog out of
204,000 - or .000385 percent of the pit bull population.

From the NationalSafetyCouncil: Numbers of Deaths Due to Injury,
US in 2000:

Bitten or struck by dog (all breeds), 26
Bitten or struck by other mammals, 65
Bitten or stung by nonvenomous insect and other arthropods, 9
Bitten or crushed by other reptiles, 31
Drowning and submersion while in or falling into bath-tub, 341
Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming-pool,
567
Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, 327
Ignition or melting of nightwear, 9
Contact with hot tap-water, 55
Contact with venomous snakes and lizards, 12
Contact with venomous spiders, 5
Contact with hornets, wasps and bees, 54
Contact with other and unspecified venomous animal or plant, 9
Nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics, 176
Alcohol, 302
Legal intervention involving firearm discharge, 270
Legal execution, 80

[ThinkGlobal]

05:34 PM on 06/01/2011

You are correct I should have added Rottweiler to the menace to society list.

[capercaper]

06:17 PM on 06/01/2011

Yeah, like these folks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vcq5PrlWI

[time2impeach]

02:30 PM on 06/01/2011

HuffPo: It is really annoying and irresponsible that you use a stock photo of a pit-bull in this story.

[kadellagroove]

02:54 AM on 06/02/2011

I was thinking the same thing

[Cole Daniel Forbes]

06:18 PM on 06/23/2011

Im sorry I had to comment the picture is not of a pitbull, it is in fact a cane corso. Also the attack is very out of character for the breed so the blame should be all on the owner. I own a 1.5 year old Corso and he is the nicest, loving, and compassionate dog you could meet. Just a big baby.

[ruskie44]

01:38 PM on 06/01/2011

a little perspective...

http://www.realpitbull.com/perspective.html

[Tom Mc Laughlin]

02:23 PM on 06/01/2011

Regardless from the breed, I think the point is that these dogs should not be in neighborhoods where there is even the possibility this could happen. The fact that dogs are even pets living in neighborhoods is wrong. Animals should have places to roam and be themselves. We cannot blame the dogs, but we have to blame those who choose to bring a dog into a settings that are less than conducive to their lifestyle. Hell, some neighborhoods are barely conducive to the humans.

Do a search on Jack Russel Terrier or Dachshund fatalities...how many will you find. A LOT less than 8. 8 is still to much.

These dogs should not be domesticated.

[time2impeach]

02:43 PM on 06/01/2011

Mr. McLaughlin: Are you really suggesting that dogs of any sort should not be living among us (as your syntax would seem to imply,) or are you suggesting that there are certain breeds which you would limit?

In either case, you are sadly misguided; as much, I'd suggest, as the people who abuse these animals breeding hyper-aggressive specimens. If you know anything about selective breeding, you would know that I could breed a killer Jack Russell, starting with two breeding pairs and going through about 10-14 breeding cycles. Its been proven: Google "Belyaev" and you'll learn about how selective breeding works.

[IrieMoon]

03:27 PM on 06/01/2011

We as humans have a responsibility to keep dogs domesticated. We started domesticating them too long ago to just be able to allow them to roam the world free without any negative impact on all animals on the planet including the entire dog species.