# The dog-mauling verdicts are in. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418 "2002-03-21T21:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/21 "2002-03-22T18:19:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Also, why were these two trying to adopt the prisoner? What the hell was going on with that? \*\* Looks like some shenanigans were going on. > [@](#): > > Via my Court TV link above: > Three days after the attack of Diane Whipple, the lawyers adopted the 39-year-old inmate. ---
**Author:** ![Tortuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Tortuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tortuga)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/22 "2002-03-22T21:44:32Z")
From what I’ve read about these two, they’re experts at nonsensical legal maneuvring, just like their horrid lawyer. The kind of people who bury the court in motions, affadavits and outdated legal ferdiddlygoop. I think they were going to start working some “family” angle, but dropped it. I did hear, but could be mistaken, that the landlord was never actually complained to, that people were trying to avoid any friction with those hosebeasts… I’m not excusing the inaction, but I can understand it–would you really want to mess with people who bring such frivolous and expensive suits over nothing? Yes, everyone was afraid of the dogs, but I don’t think anyone could have really fathomed how horrible and evil these people are. I mean, you never really expect the worst to actually happen. Every time they flash a picture of Whipple or the dog in the holding cage it just makes me want to go away. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/23 "2002-03-22T23:35:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Three days after the attack of Diane Whipple, the lawyers adopted the 39-year-old inmate. I have to say, I regard this as a coincidence. The way I heard it, the adoption was _finalized_ three days after the attack – but these things have to be _initiated_ way in advance. The adoption is bizarre on its face, no doubt, but the timing, I think, was an accident. If anybody has better information, I’m all ears. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/24 "2002-03-23T00:30:46Z")
Okay, how the dickens can someone adopt an adult who’s in prison for life? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/25 "2002-03-23T03:13:04Z")
* * * ## ralph124c wrote: How on earth were the owners of the apartment building able to allow these very dangerous dogs to terrorize the tenants for years? I would think that the landlord would be every bit as liable as the two (demented) dog owners! I’m not sure what would give a landlord the right to control a tenant’s pet selection, unless this were in the lease agreement. I know that I would not be very interested in hearing my landlord’s views on pets I should or shouldn’t own. ---
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/26 "2002-03-23T05:08:03Z")
Yeah, the authorities, such as they are, should go after the landlord and maybe the police, or to whomever the other complaints were made. There is a case in a small town in Wisconsin where six–six!!–rotweillers, living in the same house, killed a young girl a couple of weeks ago. Not only should the owners feel the full brunt of the law, but so should the public authorities who allowed such scumfreaks to keep that many ridiculous animals in one house. People in the community knew; they were just too damn chickenshit to do anything about–what?–violating some outmoded notion of personal liberty or some such extreme libertarian or property-rights hogwash? Ooh, it burns me up. I do hope other freaks who feel the need to own such creatures get a message. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/27 "2002-03-23T15:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Okay, how the dickens can someone adopt an adult who’s in prison for life? \*\* Or rather why? What can be gained from this arrangement? The only thing I could think of might be that the 39 year old “child” may be in some sort of facility where he can only get visits from family…Anyone else have any theories or even _gulp_ facts? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418/28 "2002-03-24T04:36:39Z")
I _knew_ it was only a matter of time before Fred Phelps weighed in on this issue. According to a fax on his website the dog that killed Whipple was an agent of God, a “beast killing a beast” Aaaarrrggghhh!!! Just when I think I’ve heard it all I hear something even worse. When I go to confession next Saturday I think one of my main sins will be the anger I feel at that creep. God forgive me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dog-mauling-verdicts-are-in/99418.md?page=1)