These were villas. People who have dogs like villas so they can let the dogs out in he backyard. We were thinking maybe a neighbor just got terribly angry at a barking dog, snapped, and took matters into his hands. Any further ideas unil it is brought out in the news?

After more facts have emerged, I was thinking the same thing.

It wouldn't surprise me at all, to find out it was a neighbor who had enough of a neighbors dog.

Because I am a dog owner (rescue "Mutt") and see all the posts from those who dislike dogs (poop, barking, visiting the squares, etc.). Dogs are loyal companions and virtually all are friendly. They also can alert you and your neighbors to the presence of strangers. In this case the poor pup distracted or irritated the intruder possibly saving the victim from personal harm. Hopefully the invader receives significant punishment, not "probation".

Again, Good thing she had a dog. Everyone should have one.

Please read this web site:

U.S. Dog Bite Statistics - DogsBite.org

Please accept the fact that some of us have had very bad experiences with dogs and do not like dogs.

Not a peep yet from the online news. I hope if someone did harm a dog that they will be arrested for animal cruelty.

I find it odd that there's not more information available . Even if the person was known to the homeowner, the online newspaper usually doesn't hesitate to put names, pictures, etc. of the perpetrators.

It concerns me, because it could be a safety issue for the rest of us. I would just like to know what we are dealing with here. Very strange that it is all being kept very quiet, compared to usual.

I'm glad that you clarified your post. Depending on how you read it, you can come away with two different feelings.

I hope the woman is OK and more details will emerge. Anything else is just speculation.

A side note: It's funny how concealed carry seems to make its way into every thread these days. I have nothing against it, but does it have to be thrown into every situation.

But I guess we all have some sort of hobby or sport or activity that consumes us.

It never occurred to me to defend this development as to its, friendliest, healthiest ,securest, wonderment, as it is by some because these descriptions are simply a state of mind and marketing terms.

I always speak well of my neighbors. I compliment many village employees for their accommodations and I appreciate the courtesy given by many residents.

TVLSI spends millions on advertising and does nicely on their own for its promotion. I take no credit or blame for TV's accomplishments or faux pas because all I did was pay to live here. I appreciate many things here but then I had in every other town I lived in past years.

Perhaps before this post appears the news media will publish the rest of this story and then we will all have the truth

There you have it.......................

Some posters apparently did not get this memo.:wave:

Very good reminder.

Do you remember all that brouhaha about the "incident" at the sports pool shower room? I do. It ended up being a tempest in a teapot.

I think something happened here because a very reliable poster reported it and it was touched on in the news.

Maybe we will find out more and maybe we won't. We do now know, if we didn't before, who likes dogs, who loves them, who doesn't, who carries firearms, who doesn't care if they do and who thinks we live in a relatively safe community and who thinks we have our heads in the sand.

So...carry on y'all. And thank you Bogie. You are right.

From page C6 in the paper:

"Sumter County sheriff's detectives on Friday were still investigating a possible burglary/battery incident that occurred in Harlow Villas in the Village of LaBelle.

The villas were closed for a time Thursday, the day of the incident. Sumter Capt. Chris Haworth described the investigation as a burgulary with a battery that included an animal cruelty case.

The animal was the dog of a 64-year-old woman, who reported the incident. The dog was found dead at the house. No people were badly injured, Haworth said."

But when you read that report, pay close attention to the statistics. 86% of those bites were infliced by pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers, and their mixes and only comprise 9.2% of the dog population. How many of those breeds do you see in your neighborhood? Maybe some boxers.

I would like to see a further statistic: how many of those 9.2 percent are kept as watchdogs in neighborhoods of high crime and have actually been trained as watchdogs? I suspect a high percentage.

So... are you going to malign 90.8% of the dog population because of less than 10%, and of a percentage much higher than what you are going to find in The Villages?

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a dog and can understand your wariness. I've had a bad experience with a person, but I don't dislike all people.

I think you can pretty much tell right away what dogs to stay away from. (People, not so much.)

[QUOTE=CFrance;1271055]But when you read that report, pay close attention to the statistics. 86% of those bites were infliced by pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers, and their mixes and only comprise 9.2% of the dog population. How many of those breeds do you see in your neighborhood? Maybe some boxers.

I would like to see a further statistic: how many of those 9.2 percent are kept as watchdogs in neighborhoods of high crime and have actually been trained as watchdogs? I suspect a high percentage.

So... are you going to malign 90.8% of the dog population because of less than 10%, and of a percentage much higher than what you are going to find in The Villages?

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a dog and can understand your wariness. I've had a bad experience with a person, but I don't dislike all people.

I think you can pretty much tell right away what dogs to stay away from. (People, not so much.)[/QUOTE]
___________________________________________
They know which people too. (from an earlier post)

"We have observed several thug-looking groups hanging out in the parking lots at SS. Over near the veterans monument, we saw a young guy trying to make a serious phone call (drug deal?) while his trashy-looking girlfriend was hanging all over him. Maybe that happens more in the parking lots near to 441."

Now we know more and sadly the OP appears to be right about the dog. Betty Crocked, a poster who we don't see often anymore, pointed out that a burglary was when people were not present and a robbery was when people had items taken and the robber and the people were both present... This was described by Law Enforcement as a Burglary...So maybe this poor soul came home to find things gone and her pup beaten to death? I would like to harm those people myself.

I think I saw those same two youngins hanging all over each other. It wasn't a drug deal it was a stock tip. Can you really tell a drug deal by where the phone call is made? That's now my neighborhood and don't like the inference that was suggested. We live here together. If it was a drug deal. See something...Say something...ring any bells?

People made innocent comments in the last year about train noises, different unidentifiable odors and it turned me off before I ever saw the village they were referring to. I would be grateful to live anywhere that's here and I would never mention those villages specifically or the main road near them.

:agree:

As Sargent Joe Friday used to say, "just the facts, mame".

As usual, the speculation runs rampant.

It pays to be careful as there is some crime. I never open my door unless I know who it is. I had a peephole installed in my door, to see, who is at my door.

I hope they catch this person, as he was a savage in beating a dog, to it's death. Very sad. :(

I will pay the first hundred dollars to get his/her ugly mug on a billboard! Sorry a$$ garbage.

Great idea. I so agree.

I looked in the online newspaper today for a report on this incident.
It was first reported on this thread as a "home invasion" with the owner home.
Apparently the Daily Sun is reporting it as a burglary/battery.
The online newspaper is usually the first to report "breaking crime news". Perhaps I missed it.
The circumstances are still very murky.

I don't doubt this incident happened. And it's natural for us all to be concerned about violent crime in TV.
The Daily Sun apparently reported a dead dog had been found in the Villa, a disgusting crime.
I hope the owner is OK.

You may have missed this post, Bare.
 

Here is a quote from the Sun. Nothing in online news so far.

Seems like the Daily Sun scooped, the online news. :D

Or for some reason, the online newspaper is reticent about reporting the incident. Very strange.

It wouldn't be a first. I'm thinking she did it herself or is protecting someone. Before you all start doubting look up the Charles Stewart case in Boston.

I'm still kinda stuck on Fruitland Park & Wildwood having the biggest drug gangs. Can this be true??I would think Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, maybe even Orlando would be more like it. Am I wrong to doubt the massage therapist? Anybody else ever hear this?

We moved here from Polk county
We were told that it was/ is the capital of meth houses in FL
I don't think Wildwood has a very big population to be a center for gang activity.
I'm sure they exist, but hopefully not to that extent.

Drugs
 

I believe that there are drugs in those two cities but I have my doubts they come anywhere close to the drug activity in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area.

I keep looking for the "facts" from some source regarding this bizarre incident. I could give an opinion but it would just be speculation. Apparently this is still under investigation. Just glad the woman was not seriously injured and very sorry she lost her dog. BTY, this is our Village but we don't live anywhere close to the Harlow Villa complex, however, my neighborhood is very concerned.

It said in the Sun's article that no person was injured. But of course someone's pet was killed so her heart was broken. Again burglary means theft with no victim present. I would like to do some vengeful awful thing to this perp.

As a general rule, and I'm certain there are exceptions, people working in a service industry love to pass on unsubstantiated rumors. So I wouldn't take any information to the bank that you hear from a massage therapist.

a person is robbed while a house is burglarized (break and entry)

So sorry! I didn't see the actual report of the incident when I posted this. WE must have been typing at the same time. (?) I thought the story was still unsubstantiated and now I feel awful. Poor puppy, and poor owner, who must feel heartbroken. I'd much rather have my "stuff" taken, than my pet hurt! :cry:

No more than the waiter, bartender, lawn service guy, Comcast Tech, clerk at the gas station, and on & on...................

Source??

:thumbup: so true...:)

I think the online news tends to stay away from a lot of crime type stories, such as this one, that in the aggregate can present a negative image of TV.

Perhaps law enforcement is withholding details of the crime so they can trap a suspect into revealing something only the criminal would know

I received a PM from someone who owns property in Harlow Villas, and is retired LEO. He says it isn't as bad as reported. Most of the speculation is unfounded.

I also got a PM from someone who knows someone who lives in Harlow Villas and she says it happened in much the way of speculation..

I am praying for the dog not to be harmed and that the burglars didn't find much they wanted. I fiercely hope all concerned are o.k.

Best to wait for a reliable source about this. Even then they might get it wrong.

From the online news:

"The death of a dog in the Harlow Villas in the Village of LaBelle is being investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred Thursday afternoon and prompted a temporary security restriction of the villas.

A 64-year-old woman made a 911 call prompting the arrival of law enforcement.

The investigation is ongoing."