As I process this case, I’m struck once again at how predictable it is and how the factors are easily identified. These fatalities are 100% preventable. They are connected to cycles of abuse and personality disorders as clear as day. Our society has no excuse at all for the continued carnage in the dog attack topic.
Here we have a pitmommy, Heather Rodriguez, 36, of Bexar County, Texas maintaining a predictably disgusting home. We see this regularly when pit trolls comment on our social media with public photos. Their homes often show signs of domestic violence, child neglect, hoarding, substance abuse, etc.
Heather is providing in-home babysitting, a common fallback for parents in communities lacking safe childcare options. Little one year old Jiryiah was supposed to be under Heather’s supervision, but she allegedly received a call from her other job so she left the baby in the care of her 13 year old daughter.
The teen and baby were barricaded into a small bedroom using only a baby gate and closed door. This of course didn’t stop the pitbull from trying to fulfill its genetics. In fact, it probably enticed it to try harder. Heather’s pit chewed the door apart, literally, until it gained access to the bedroom. According to reports, at least 3 dogs lived at the residence and at least 2 of them attacked.
The 13 year old bravely tried to save the baby, but the dogs attacked her as well. She managed to call 911 during the attack. Javier Salazar, a Bexar County Sheriff, reported that the baby was sent to San Antonio Medical Military Center. Due to the severity of injuries, he was then transferred to University Hospital in critical condition, coding and being resuscitated. Unfortunately, despite the hospital workers’ efforts, Jiryiah succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, after Heather threw a fit to try to keep her dogs, Bexar County Sheriffs Office arrested her and charged her with Serious Bodily Injury to a Child by Omission. It’s a 1st degree felony. Animal Control had to involuntarily remove the dogs.
More history has since been revealed, showing that Heather was previously cited for owning aggressive dogs. Animal Control did not take the dogs at that time.
So as usual, every player in this case and every factor leading up to Jiryiah’s death is predictable.
🚩Bloodsport dog with a violent past
🚩Animal Control refusing to take action after violent incidents
🚩Pitmommy keeping a violent dog in a disgusting home
🚩Child neglect
🚩Low income babysitting
The 13 year old tried so hard to change the odds for this baby. And little Jiryiah fought in the hospital. The team of first responders and medical staff tried with all their might to stop him from being another statistic.
But the nanny dog legacy won again.
Mother Erika Castro shared her anguish:
“I’ve been shaking, I’ve been having panic attacks. I wish she’d had stayed like she said she would’ve, instead of going into work like she got called into work.” -Jiryiah’s mother
RIP 🪦 Little Jiryiah. When the headlines fade away, we will refuse to forget you. We will share your memory so that it outlasts the victim blaming and the pitbull defenders online. You deserved a safe, caring babysitter, not a horrendous death.
Until every child is safe,
-JL DBA Editor©️
News article:
Parents for Dog Bite Awareness 
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