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Bee Attack Proves Fatal For Pit Bull In Largo

Photo by by EAMON KNEESHAW

Medics rush Mimi to a veterinary clinic Monday afternoon, where she died.

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By RAY REYES of The Tampa Tribune and CHRIS TAYLOR of TBO.com

Published: July 28, 2008

Updated: 07/28/2008 11:07 pm

LARGO - A swarm of bees attacked and killed an 18-month-old pit bull mix on Monday minutes after its owner had let the dog outside her Largo home.

The dog was stung more than 1,000 times.

Lisa Pham said she let her dog, Mimi, outside her home at 7501 142nd Ave. N. shortly before 1 p.m. and heard yelping minutes later. The dog was rolling around in the grass and bees were buzzing around, said Pham's 12-year-old daughter, Ashlee.

"I couldn't get to her without being attacked," Lisa Pham said.

She sprayed the insects with water, but some of the bees flew toward her and stung her. She ran inside and called 911.

The Largo Fire Department responded and also sprayed Mimi with water to drive the bees away, police dispatchers said. Several firefighters were chased by bees but not stung, dispatchers said.

Mimi was taken to a local veterinarian clinic, where she died.

"She was covered in bee stings," Pham said. "Her eyes were swollen shut."

The hive is under the mobile home next door, Pham said, and the chain used to keep Mimi in the yard is not long enough to reach the home.

"She was a really friendly dog," said Pham, whose family moved to Largo two years ago after their home in Mississippi was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. "She's a member of the family. It's been a shock."

Beekeeper Jim Forholt, who visited the home Monday night, said the bees were Italian honey bees, not the more aggressive Africanized honey bees the family and rescuers initially suspected. Bees can become agitated during overcast conditions, as it was Monday afternoon when Mimi was attacked, he said.

But it was not known what provoked the attack. Italian honey bees are common to the area.

Forholt worked into the night to round up the bees. Residents were told to keep their porch lights off because the bees may be attracted to the illumination, Pham said.

Mimi was brought home Christmas Day 2006 as a gift from her father, Ashlee said. The dog was three weeks old and had to be fed from a baby bottle until she was old enough to eat on her own.

The family plans to cremate the dog's remains and place the ashes in a vase that they will keep in their home.

"It's really tragic," Ashlee said. "She was everything to us. I loved her so much."

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com. Continuous News Desk editor Chris Taylor can be reached at (813) 221-5741 or ctaylor@wfla.com.

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