DogsBite Blog

Pit Bull Seized After North Carolina Man Found Dead

2012-05-28T19:34:00.000-05:00

Pit Bull Seized
Roxboro, NC - In a developing story, Person County animal control officers seized an 8-year old male pit bull suspected in the death of a 65-year old man over the weekend. Deputies found the body of Eugene Cameron under a carport in west Roxboro late Saturday. Family members said he was checking in on the house while his friend was out of town. Witnesses said he was found naked with his "clothes balled up" beside him1 and bloody dog paw prints surrounding him.

According to a warrant, the victim had a severe injury to his right arm that may have caused him to bleed out, and the injury was consistent with a dog bite. Cameron's body was sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill for an autopsy. Samples from the pit bull, owned by next-door neighbor Antonio Ford, will be checked to determine if that animal is responsible. Ford denies his pit bull was involved, but does not deny that his dog "fights other dogs."

Related video

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: North Carolina Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1It has been documented in a number of fatal dog attacks that the victim was stripped naked by the dog(s), as recently as today in the death of 2-year old Ja'Marre Tiller. The part about the clothes being "balled up" -- as opposed to being scattered about -- certainly seems as if human intervention was involved.

Related articles:
11/17/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Houston Woman Dies from Injuries After Pit Bull Mauling

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 2-Year Old Killed by Dogs in Charleston County

2012-05-28T12:46:00.001-05:00

Image of dog attack victim, Ja'Marr Tiller.

Partly Inconclusive
UPDATE 05/28/12: An autopsy of a boy killed by at least one dog outside his home has proved partly inconclusive. Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said the boy died from blunt and sharp trauma injuries. To determine which of the two dogs or if both (or if neither) were involved, authorities will call in animal-bite specialists. The latest article also reveals that the two suspected dogs were not family dogs, but the victim's uncle had been feeding them for years.

Sheriff Al Cannon said it's possible that another dog may have been involved. Deputies were called to the home several years ago for another dog attack, according to Cannon, but he did not provide additional details. Investigators do not know how the child was able to leave his room and get out of the house Cannon said, and noted that there were five people inside of the home at the time of the fatal mauling. The investigation is ongoing; no charges have been filed.

Related video | 911 Call

South Carolina Fatal Dog Attacks 2005 to Present

Since 2005, DogsBite.org has recorded 11 fatal dog attacks in South Carolina. The combination of pit bulls (6) and rottweilers (2) accounted for 73% (8) of these deaths. A different dog breed was attributed to each of the other three deaths with one breed(s) pending. Notably, 45% of these incidents involved charges being brought, with again, one pending. This rate of filing charges is far higher than the national level of 22% based upon the 7-year period of 2005 to 2011.

05/02/05: Asia Michelle Turner, 4-years old (Spartanburg, Spartanburg Co.)
11/03/06: John Matthew Davis, 10-years old (Dillon, Dillon Co.)
11/04/06: Allen Young, 22-months old (Bamberg, Bamberg Co.)
04/27/07: Brian Palmer, 1-year old (Charleston, Dorchester Co.)
12/13/07: Holden Jernigan, 2-years old (Summerville, Dorchester Co.)
03/04/10: Ethel Horton, 65-years old (Lucknow, Lee Co.)
11/16/10: Justin Lane, 25-years old (Latta, Dillon Co.)
01/22/11: Kristen Dutton, 9-years old (Modoc, McCormick, Co.)
02/17/11: Sirlinda Hayes, 66-years old (Dillon Co.)
04/20/12: Aiden McGrew, 2-months old (Ridgeville, Dorchester Co.)
05/27/12: Ja'Marr Tiller, 2-years old (Charleston Co.)

05/28/12: Young Boy Killed by Dogs
Mt. Pleasant, SC - A two-year old boy died Sunday night after being attacked by dogs. The victim's aunt, Octavia Johnson, said that Ja'Marr Tiller had been put to bed for the night when he wandered outside and was attacked by at least one of two dogs described as female labrador-shepherd mix dogs. The boy's mother was not home at the time of the incident but came home and discovered her son's body. Other family members were in the home at the time of the attack.

Johnson also said that the boy was afraid of the dogs and never played with them. The two dogs belonged to another family that lives next door. Johnson said the dogs had been around for over four years and had never acted violently toward people before. The Charleston County Coroner's Office is performing an autopsy Monday morning and is expected to officially identify the boy this afternoon. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office will hold a press conference at 2 p.m.

Related articles:
05/02/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 2-Month Old Child Killed by Family Dog
03/09/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Rottweiler Kills 17-Month Old Boy in Jacksonville

Photo: abcnews4.com

National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 20-26, 2012)

2012-05-22T00:13:00.000-05:00

The Good, The Perverse and The Uplifting

DogsBite.org - Last year during National Dog Bite Prevention Week, we noted that there is no National Dog Mauling Prevention Week, an even weightier public health matter than dog bites. The tips and tricks offered up during this national week to prevent a dog bite hardly address horrific dog maulings, mainly inflicted by pit bulls, which will attack indiscriminately and continue attacking until shot to death or nonlethal human intervention succeeds in stopping the assault.

Neighborhood Safety Campaign

On April 25, DogsBite.org announced a neighborhood safety campaign with a new brochure in preparation for this year's National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The safety brochure, How to Keep Your Family Safe from Dangerous Dogs, contains 5 panels of important information, including images of dangerous dog breeds and the back reserved for U.S. postal mailing. The brochure was designed for parents, community activists and persons who work with children.

The response so far from activists has been powerful, one recently wrote:

"This is FANTASTIC. I am so excited about these. I can't wait to start campaigning in my neighborhood. This is a very powerful tool. Thank you for putting this in our hands."

Order your 30-pack today and become part of this educational campaign!

In addition to the neighborhood safety brochure, DogsBite.org released a series of safety flyers that directly address the top two killing dog breeds in the United States: pit bulls and rottweilers. Each safety flyer contains photographs to help people identify these dangerous dog breeds, as well as national statistical data from DogsBite.org. The safety flyers are "print-ready" and free for download and distribution. We encourage readers to download and distribute them widely.

Download Safety Flyers

A Time of Victory and Perversion

On April 26, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a pivotal ruling in Tracey v. Solesky. The case involves the parents of a young boy seeking damages for injuries inflicted by a pit bull owned by a landlord's tenant. The Court adopted strict liability in respect to attacks on humans by pit bulls and their crosses, holding pit bull owners and landlords financially responsible for injuries. DogsBite.org submitted an amicus brief in support of the young mauling victim.

As news of the ruling fell upon pit bull advocates and national humane groups, each began to raise their zealous voices. Betsy McFarland of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) called the Court's decision a "seismic shift in Maryland law" and suggested that the Court did not make a "measured, non-emotional" decision.1 McFarland promised to help create a "rational" policy that stops victims of violent pit bull maulings from having a civil remedy.

The poster boy zealot turned out to be Michael Markarian, Chief Program and Policy Officer at the HSUS and President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund (the lobbying affiliate of the HSUS.) On May 2, Markarian painted a picture of dark horror claiming the Court's ruling could create "packs of free-roaming pit bulls roaming Maryland neighborhoods" and "municipal agencies will bear the financial burden" of addressing this grave public health and safety problem.2

The amount of pro-pit bull propaganda in Markarian's post is tongue-tying. Loaded with words like "canine profiling" and distortions about the reliability of doggie DNA testing -- the top canine DNA lab in the country, Mars Veterinary states on their FAQ: "we cannot build a DNA profile for the Pit-bull." Markarian added that the Court's decision is not "anti-pit bull" but is "anti-dog," hoping to fire up other dog breed advocates, despite their being unaffected by the ruling.

Markarian topped off his post with an image of a pit bull licking a baby.

What to Remember About the HSUS

The HSUS does not stand behind pit bull owners being held financially responsible when their dog attacks.
The HSUS does not blame pit bull owners who surrender their dog due to the ruling, but instead blames the Court and victims.
The HSUS and their lobbying affiliate, HSLF, are committed to overturning the high court of Maryland's decision.
The second in command at HSUS and president of HSLF believes it is appropriate to publicize imagery of a pit bull licking a baby.

Meanwhile, as the HSUS and other pit bull zealots clamored over the Maryland ruling, two persons were mauled to death by pet pit bulls in New Mexico. The first victim, Clifford Wright, 74-years old, was a long time advocate of the breed. "He wouldn’t want a lot of biased stereotypes about the dog," Gavin told the ABQJournal Online, referring to the beloved pit bull that killed his father. The second victim, killed by her father's pet pit bull, was 15-month old Jazilyn Mesa.

A Time of the "Usual" and Pandering

Upon the approach of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, as usual, the media released stories containing dog bite statistics and yearly data from the III. What was unusual this year, is that State Farm released parts of its national claim data. Blogger Pit Bull Attacks and Dogfighting in Illinois talks about this more, and notes that although basic data was given, such as, the number of claims filed in Illinois, State Farm "did not release bite counts or payouts ranked by breed."3

State Farm also made a point to pander to pit bull advocates during this national data release by stating, "it’s not about the breed, it’s the bite." The Illinois blog then points to a comment left at a recent Illinois pit bull attack news article: "I review homeowner liability claims and I can tell you OVERWHELMINGLY most bites to humans and other animals comes from pits ... Almost every day I pay claims to people injured or had their pets injured by pits," wrote Looselips.

Separately, one insurance group is facing a lawsuit this month over a dog bite. Ohio father Nelson Cope, whose 12-year old daughter was permanently injured in a dog attack, sued State Auto Insurance, attorney David Herrington and the Law Office of Kerns and Proe. The claim alleges that after gaining approval from State Auto Insurance, Herrington and Kerns and Proe hired a private investigator to pose as a "friend" on his daughter's private Facebook account to snoop.4

Cope alleges that between February and March 2011 the investigator viewed his daughter's private Facebook page, "[and] accessed at least 221 pictures of Cope and her other minor friends ... [and] accessed at least 1,000 posted messages between Cope and her other minor friends." Cope and his daughter seek compensatory and punitive damages for violations of the Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. § 2701), civil conspiracy and more (See: Full complaint filed).

Insurance groups and attorneys already have a bad reputation for online deceptive investigatory tactics -- something to keep in mind dog bite victims!

Lastly, involving more pandering to pit bull owners by major corporations, United Airlines recently lifted a ban on the transportation of pit bulls and other large dog breeds. There is a reason why pit bulls are banned by some airlines. Pike's Peak Flyer, out of Colorado Springs, shows photos of the damage done in 2002 to an American Airlines jet by a pit bull during a cross-county flight. The pit bull chewed through a fiberglass bulkhead and wires in an electronics compartment.5

A Time of Irony and More Maulings

The signaling of National Dog Bite Prevention Week also brings other developments to the State of Ohio. Back in February, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, another zealous pro-pit bull group, helped push through legislation to repeal the longstanding state law that declared pit bulls "vicious" and required owners to carry $100,000 in liability insurance. Fatefully, as this week unfolds, most new Ohio pit bull attack victims will no longer have this legal remedy.

As noted in this Columbus Dispatch article, the passage of the new state law does not affect any city that is a charter city (under home rule) in Ohio. For instance, Bexely, which bans the breed, can continue doing so. The City of Lakewood also announced that their pit bull ban would continue. "There’s a home rule issue here," Councilman Brian Powers said. "We can have laws as a municipality. I don’t know of anyone on council who wants to change that law."

On the morning of May 18, as pit bull advocates in Ohio awaited a Saturday celebration sponsored by Best Friends marking the adoption of the new state law, news broke that a 3-day old infant was killed by a pet pit bull in Monroe Township, Ohio. Given the loss of the state's pit bull law, even if some municipalities continue to retain their existing pit bull ordinances, the face of the Ohio Fatal Pit Bull Attack State Map is expected to become dotted with many new red balloons.

Finally, Something More Uplifting

Going back in the Internet Archive to November 2007, one can see the then small website named DogsBite.org. Take a close look at the Links page back then and note how few dog bite victim websites existed. This is untrue today. Three recent website additions, Sitting Bull, which addresses its Australia audience, Confessions of Pit Bull Victims and Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls - Tucson, especially mark increased activism on behalf of this very important cause.

The Sitting Bull website's purpose is to educate and inform the public of the current dangers Pitbulls present to a Civilised Society. The problem is a silent epidemic and more is needed to help prevent "future" attacks on unsuspecting citizens. The Ultimate Aim of this site is to see Pitbull Attacks on both animals and humans minimised or eliminated entirely. A further aim is to help provide support and comfort for the current Victims of Serious Dog Attacks. The author of this website is convinced Pitbulls are dangerous and the withholding of this information is anti-social, unethical and continues putting many lives at risk. - Sitting Bull

This blog has been created to allow a safe site for victims of pit bull attacks to express their feelings and thoughts about their incident. This site will be heavily moderated to protect those who wish to voice themselves, and not need to fear being attacked by the owners of these animals who have unfortunately worked their ways in to their lives. There is no place here for anyone who wishes to defend the breed or their owners. We are victims of this breed and understand the pain and suffering. - Confessions of Pit Bull Victims

Please come and join us, and show your support by walking for the VICTIMS of pit bull and other dangerous dog attacks. Most often when these dogs attack, maul or kill children, adults or family pets, the support seems to be misplaced onto the attacking dog/s to be euthanized, rather than where it should be...on the VICTIM. It is time that the voice of the VICTIMS and their families be heard to promote public awareness and help reduce the number of these attacks. - Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls

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1The Court did not make a "measured, non-emotional" decision? That's quite a claim to make against a high court!
2United States citizens have already been living this "dark horror" depicted by Markarian for over 30-years, paying with permanent scaring injuries and the loss of limbs and lives. The number one reason why we have been is due to national humane groups, like the HSUS, that refuse to stand behind even the most modest pit bull laws, such as mandatory sterilization, which directly targets the source of the pit bull shelter overpopulation problem: Those who are breeding them. The founder of DogsBite.org sounds off on this issue in a May 4, 2012 Gazette.net article.
3Apparently, State Farm wanted more PR bang for the buck this year during National Dog Bite Prevention Week by releasing state data. Newspapers from many states ran stories featuring State Farm's "name" and data.
4Herrington, a licensed attorney, was employed by the Law Offices of Kerns and Proe during all times relevant to the allegations in the complaint. Kerns and Proe is described as "a captive firm controlled wholly by State Auto."
5The revised United Airline container requirements for shipping pit bulls. Interestingly, this web page does not seem to exist on the United Airlines website. It's unknown what type of container these two pit bulls busted out of to attack each other at a Dulles Airport cargo facility. Police shot and killed both dogs.

04/30/12: Maryland Court of Appeals Holds Pit Bull Owners and Landlords Accountable
04/25/12: DogsBite.org Announces Neighborhood Safety Campaign
03/12/12: Pit Bulls Lead 'Bite' Counts Across U.S. Cities and Counties
05/21/11: Texas Doctors Produce Study: Mortality, Mauling and Maiming by Vicious Dogs
05/15/11: National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 15-21, 2011)

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Ohio Newborn Killed by Family Pit Bull-Mix

2012-05-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

"Makayla Darnell"
UPDATE 05/21/12: If one does a search on Google News for "Makayla Darnell," guess what article is listed as "highly cited?" The trouble is, that article was removed.1 News began breaking over the weekend about Tuesday, May 22, the day the State of Ohio loses its 25-year old pit bull law, which ominously falls on day three of National Dog Bite Prevention Week this year. We expect much more news about this to follow and the death of Makayla Darnell to quickly be forgotten.

05/19/12: The Blade Removes Story
As noted in an earlier footnote, the Yellow or Biased Toldeo Blade, as DogsBite.org refers to this organization, has a long history of not just pushing the pro-pit bull cause, but was instrumental in bringing down former Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon and ensuring the passage of legislation that repealed Ohio's longstanding pit bull law. After less than 24 hours, the Blade removed its story about an Ohio baby killed by a dog identified as a pit bull-mix.

05/18/12: Autopsy: Death by Dog Bite
Lucas County Coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser said Friday that the baby died from blunt force injury to the head. Dr. Beisser said it was consistent with a "dog biting down on the head." Apparently the baby's mother and grandmother were just a few feet away preparing food when the attack occurred. The offending dog remains in custody while the investigation continues. Dog Warden Julie Shellhammer confirmed that the dog was a male pit bull-mix about 4 years old.

Related video

05/18/12: Infant Killed by Family Dog2
Monroe Township, OH - In a developing story, a 3-day old baby girl died late Thursday night after being attacked by the family pit bull-mix. Makayla Darnell was sitting in her swing in the living room and her parents were in the kitchen of their northern Allen County home at the time of the attack. The baby's parents, Audrianna Myers and Jared Darnell, drove the injured infant to Blanchard Valley Hospital where it was airlifted to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.

The infant was pronounced dead just after 11 pm. An autopsy is expected to be done this morning.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Ohio Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1The live Google News results link won't last long, which is why we also provided a screenshot. Commenters have begun leaving suggestions about why the Blade removed the piece. It is true that multiple versions of stories are often posted by news agencies and are later combined into an updated version. Very seldom do we run across actual take downs of these previous versions.
2Oh the history of the Yellow Toldeo Blade. A user noted that in an earlier article today, the Blade left the breed out. One can only imagine the editorial meeting debating if they should or should not reveal the dog breed.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Woman Dies After October Pit Bull Attack

2012-05-18T09:37:00.001-05:00

Numerous Surgeries
Surprise, AZ - An elderly woman badly mauled by two pit bulls last year has died. Maryann Hanula, then 72-years old, was in her front yard on October 10, when the attack occurred. The two pit bulls, a male and female, escaped a gated yard on the same street. When neighbors tried to rescue Maryann, the dogs turned on them. Another neighbor -- an off-duty Phoenix police officer -- shot and killed both dogs. Most of the woman's right foot was gone before medics arrived.

After the October attack, friends say Maryann underwent 13 surgeries and suffered multiple infections, spending most of the last seven months in the hospital. The dogs' owner, Cynthia Montoya had only lived on the street for about three weeks prior to the attack. After the incident, Montoya said she was "surprised" by the dogs' behavior. Unsurprisingly, the Montoyas moved away about six weeks later and could not be reached for comment about Maryann's death.

Related articles:
01/18/12: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Victim of Catastrophic Pit Bull Injury Dies on Christmas Eve
01/03/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies New Years Eve After Pit Bull Biting Incident
08/23/11: 2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Tucson Man Succumbs to Injuries After Attack by Pet Pit Bull
08/30/09: 2009 Dog Bite Fatality: Phoenix Woman Dies After Complications of Dog Bite

Photo: ABC15.com

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 1-Year Old Henderson Boy Killed by Family Dog

2012-05-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

The offending dog depicted with the victim, Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan.

Saving Killer Dogs?
UPDATE 05/13/12: The Las Vegas Review-Journal published a follow up piece about animal activists who intervene to "save dogs" that have bitten and killed. The article refers to the February death of a 2-day old baby who was killed by his family's adopted Husky, named Nikko.1 On April 27, a Pennsylvania judge allowed Nikko to be sent to an out-of-state "sanctuary" instead of being put down. This is the same day that Onion viciously attacked Jeremiah, notes the article.

Even though a Las Vegas judge frustrated an intervention attempt by the Lexus Project on Friday to save Onion -- offering a similar out-of-state "sanctuary" arrangement -- the group says it will appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court. Henderson officials have remained resolute throughout the Onion Ordeal calling it a public safety issue. Besides killing Jeremiah, officials said the dog attacked its kennel when a veterinarian tried to examine it at the city shelter.

05/11/12: Euthanization to Proceed
Clark County District Judge Joanna Kishner ruled on Friday that a New York-based group has no legal standing to intervene on behalf of a dog that killed a child and stop Henderson animal control officials from putting the dog down. The scheduled euthanization of Onion was halted earlier this week by a court challenge filed by the Lexus Project headed by attorney Richard Rosenthal, who claimed, among other things, "There is nothing vicious about the attack."

Related video2

04/30/12: Death Ruled Accidental
Having not seen the deceased boy's mother in any news stories, DogsBite.org was deeply concerned about yet another deadly "visiting child" scenario. Indeed, the two adults shared custody of the young boy. The particulars of this arrangement are unknown, but certainly the child was only living part-time with his father. In a devastating3 recent statement by the child's grandmother and owner of the dog, she sent "a message to Jeremiah's mother" in a news story:

"I am so sorry. If I had ever known that this would happen I would have gotten rid of Onion, even though I loved him very much," Keller said.

04/30/12: Insights from Behaviorists
Unenthusiastic, if not alarmed, by the imagery of the gentle giant coupled with an infant provided by the father, DogsBite.org reached out to animal behaviorists Gary Wilkes and Alexandra Semyonova about this fatal dog attack. As Semyonova highlights, this fatality is the result of a serious act of aggression. There are appropriate and inappropriate dog breeds to bring into a household with very young children. This child's parent and many others learn this the hard way.

Gary Wilkes
The disparity in size and potential for damage is so great between a toddler and a large dog that it is plainly dangerous and ultimately a questionable decision. It is no different than having haphazardly stacked crates in your house that could fall and crush the child, uncovered electrical outlets or unfenced swimming pools. It is ironic that they show the child in a car seat designed to make the child's life safer. The dog was obviously the more serious threat.

Gary Wilkes is an internationally acclaimed animal behaviorist, trainer, author, columnist and lecturer. View additional posts by Gary.

Alexandra Semyonova
Mastiff / Rhodesian Ridgeback mix kills one year old boy
Before the usual crowd gets into slandering the domestic dog as a species, let's be very clear about the truth on this: The behavior this Power Dog mix showed is completely and utterly abnormal in the domestic dog. Startled in its sleep, a normal dog might lash out. This might include a grab less inhibited than by full wakefulness. This might cause a more serious wound in an infant than it would in an adult – but that's not the same as a dog taking a child's head in its mouth, crushing the infant's face, shaking to kill, and not allowing its owner to make it release the child [see the video here].
What this incident does show is the result of breeding for both impulsive aggression and exaggerated body size. It shows the result of ignoring real information about the breed or type of dog you bring into your home. Some breeds / types of dogs do simply for real have much higher statistical records of mauling or killing than other breeds or types. Some have a statistical record of being particularly dangerous around infants (besides the pit-bull types, this includes the husky types).
Before the usual crowd starts quoting a certain dog hairdresser that appears often on television, let's be clear about the truth on this too: Dominance or some kind of imaginary ‘ranking order' has nothing to do with what happened. Dogs don't live in hierarchies, nor are relations influenced by who gets to sleep higher or share your spot. I often sit reading with three dogs on my lap, sleep with three or four on my bed. It would be sad if we allowed the weapon dog fashion to ruin this pleasure we share with our normal dogs.
What this incident does show is the result of allowing that kind of physical closeness with a dog that has an aggression problem. ‘Dogs with aggression problems' means not only dogs that have overtly shown touchiness, but also any dog of a breed or type that has impulsive aggression in its breed history. This means most of all the pit-bull types and the mastiff types, but also the others in which this trait has surfaced (even if it's a rare anomaly in those breeds).
When we talk about rational safety measures while guarding the interactions of dogs and children, we are – in normal cases – talking about preventing at most minor wounds, a child scared out of its wits but otherwise not damaged. We are also – in normal cases – talking about being on guard that a child doesn't inadvertently corner a dog such that the dog does feel like it needs to defend its very life and limb. But even then, a normal dog will use exactly as much aggression as it needs to open up a flight route, not a bit more, upon which it will flee.
It's a great tragedy that we are breeding dogs for impulsive aggression coupled with huge body mass, and at the same time hearing so much propaganda from pit fans, humane societies and various ‘experts' that love and a good upbringing will cure these. Neither love, dominance nor (thank you Jean Donaldson!) clicker training will cure the defective genes. They also won't reduce the body mass that makes a dog unstoppable when it – suddenly and impulsively – decides it's hell-bent on killing.
This doesn't mean we don't have to take rational safety measures everywhere children interact with dogs. It does mean that one of those safety measures is to reject the idea of bringing one of these ‘Power Breeds' into our homes.

Alexandra Semyonova is an internationally acclaimed animal behaviorist, behavioral biologist, anthropologist and author. View additional posts by Alexandra.

04/29/12: Baby's Father Speaks Out
Holding back tears, the boy's father describes the horrific scene. "He used the dog's fur to pull himself up on his feet because he wanted to walk," he said. "The dog turned around and grabbed his head ... it took me about 20 seconds to run downstairs and I got the dog off of the baby," he said. "The baby's face was torn off." The father added, "Now I don't have a baby and now I don't have a dog." The 120lb mastiff-Rhodesian mix, named Onion, is scheduled to be euthanized.

Red Flag Photos

The boy's family continues to provide disturbing red flag photos to the media to apparently show how gentle the dog was prior to killing the child. It seems the family is clueless to the fact that the images instead show: "What to never do with a baby and a dog." To make this very clear to our readers, we've marked the images as "100% unsafe." The person taking the boy's death the worst is the grandmother, seen in the photograph with the 120lb dog lying on top of her.

Related video

04/28/12: Birthday Ends in Tragedy
Henderson, NV - In a developing story, a 1-year old boy died early Saturday morning after being attacked by his family's dog while celebrating his first birthday. The boy was at his grandmother's home when he crawled over to pet the dog. The animal, described as a 120lb mastiff-Rhodesian mix, latched onto the boy's head and began shaking him, according to police. Henderson rescue workers rushed the boy to a local hospital where he was airlifted to UMC's Trauma Unit.

The young boy died from his injuries about 1:45 am. The boy's family, which owned the 6-year old dog since it was a puppy, voluntarily relinquished ownership to animal control officials. According to police, the boy had been around the dog since he was born. There were no signs of neglect and no previous calls reported about the dog in the past. Police continue to investigate why the dog attacked the boy. 8newsnow.com reports that the victim's name is Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan.

1Nikko's name was changed to Helo just days after being confiscated then inappropriately adopted out to William Uhring. This is exactly what happens when rescue groups "save" dangerous dogs. The dog's name is changed, shipped across county or state lines, and all records of previous biting incidents are erased. There is very little, if any, oversight of these groups.
2Ktnv.com captured the infamous "dog taco" sign.
3As in devastatingly inappropriate.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 15-Month Old Girl Killed by Family Pit Bull

2012-05-11T13:05:00.000-05:00

Family Speaks Out
UPDATE 05/11/12: New information from KVIA.com reveals that Jazilyn Mesa was killed by her father's pet pit bull. Art Mesa, the baby's grandfather, said that Jazilyn was never allowed to be alone with the dog. Jazilyn had wanted to play outside and the grandmother was in the process of putting the dog in the kennel when it attacked. The grandmother tried to stop the attack, but the pit bull would not let the baby loose and drug her underneath the ground-level trampoline.

Mesa says his wife jumped on Jazilyn to cover her but the dog would not let the baby loose. He says the dog then took the baby underneath a trampoline in the backyard. Mesa says his wife, Letitia Mesa, grabbed rocks and was hitting the dog with them.

The pit bull turned its attention upon neighbor Barry Sander after he arrived with a handgun, according to Mesa. Snyder fired multiple shots at the dog, hitting it six times. One shot also hit the grandmother, Letitia Mesa, by accident. Both the baby and the grandmother were rushed to area hospitals. Jazilyn did not survive her injuries. Letitia has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. There is no confirmation at this time of negligent charges being filed.

Fatal Dog Attacks in New Mexico

Since 2005, DogsBite.org has recorded 5 fatal dog attacks in the State of New Mexico. 80% of these deaths are attributed to pit bulls. 80% of all victims have also been adults. Only one case resulted in criminal charges, the owners of the pit bulls that struck down Margaret Salcedo on Easter Sunday. The 2006 death of Juan Garcia was only located as recently as 2011. It is possible that there are additional unidentified fatal dog maulings between the years of 2007 to 2010.

2006: Juan Garcia, 53-years old (Gallina, Rio Arriba Co.)
2010: Larry Armstrong, 55-years old (McKinley Co.)
2011: Margaret Salcedo, 48-years old (Truth or Consequences, Sierra Co.)
2012: Clifford Wright, 74-years old (Santa Fe, Santa Fe Co.)
2012: Jazilyn Mesa, 15-months old (Las Cruces, Dona Ana Co.)

05/09/12: Child Victim Identified
Police continue to investigate the most recent New Mexico fatal pit bull mauling. The deceased child has been identified as Jazilyn Mesa and was determined to be 15-months old. The incident also resulted in the accidental shooting of the child's paternal grandmother, Leticia Mesa, 52, who was shot by a well-intentioned neighbor who intervened with a firearm to stop the family pit bull from killing the child. Police said the woman's injuries are not life threatening.

Authorities say it is unlikely that the shooter, Barry Snyder, 69, will face any charges.

Related video

05/08/12: Child Killed by Pit Bull
Las Cruces, NM - In a developing story, there has been another fatal pit bull mauling in the State of New Mexico in less than one week. At the time of the incident, the child was in the backyard of her grandparent's home. The girl's 52-year old grandmother was accidentally shot in the leg after one neighbor intervened with a firearm to stop the pit bull attacking the girl. Both victims were transported to El Paso hospital. The child did not survive the injuries inflicted by the family pit bull.

A different neighbor, Chris Wollard, who heard the gunshots from about 100 yards away, also ran to the home to help. He looked into the backyard where he found the grandmother and child hiding underneath a trampoline.1 Wollard, a respiratory therapist, took the child and began giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived. He told the Las Cruces Sun-News that the child was in "pretty bad shape." Police officials are continuing their investigation.

Related video

1It is unknown if the child was playing on the trampoline prior to the attack. What is known is that incidents of pit bulls attacking children playing on trampolines occurs far too often.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Pet Pit Bull Kills 74-Year Old Santa Fe Man

2012-05-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

Dog Euthanized
UPDATE 05/08/12: In the continuing saga of Gavin Wright, who initially hoped to spare family the pit bull after it brutally killed his father,1 allowed authorities to euthanize the dog today. On Monday, KOB.com released parts of the 911 call that offers more insight into Gavin: "Don't make me (expletive) repeat myself again ... My dog got a hold of him somehow." It is possible that yesterday's airing of the segment "inspired" Gavin to allow for the humane euthanization of the dog.

Related video

05/03/12: Death by Dog Confirmed
On Thursday, the state Office of the Medical Investigator released an initial cause of death that found that 74-year old Clifford Wright died as a result of a dog attack, not of any other health issues. According to the Santa Fe Police Department, Wright also had a history of dog attack reports at his home. In 2005, police responded to Wright's home after reports he was bitten by a different family pit bull. In 2011, police responded to his home after reports of a loose pit bull.

Several hours after the initial KOB.com news article was posted, a video was added that included more information. The victim's son, former Santa Fe High football player Gavin Wright, who made the 911 call, lived with his father along with four dogs, three of which were pit bulls. Gavin reportedly does not believe that the family pit bull, named Achilles, struck down his father in a life ending mauling, despite the Santa Fe Police Department confirming that the animal did.2

Related video

05/02/12: Pit Bull Suspected in Death
Santa Fe, NM - In a developing story, Santa Fe police are investigating the death of a 74-year old man. Clifford Wright was discovered by his 27-year old son, Gavin Wright, dead in the front yard on Wednesday. Police responded to an emergency medical call from the son, who said "his father had been attacked by an animal at their house." According to a longtime neighbor, the unaltered male pit bull belonged to the son and was a recent addition to the family's household.

Related video

1Note the title on this May 4th article by the ABQJournal Online, "Pit Bull Advocate Fatally Mauled By Beloved Pet."
2The victim's family, his son(s), are not willingly surrendering the dog to be euthanized, forcing authorities to ask a judge for this permission.

DogsBite.org Founder Responds to Maryland Ruling on CBS This Morning

2012-05-03T11:33:00.000-05:00

View the related CBS This Morning news article.

Related articles:
04/30/12: Maryland Court of Appeals Holds Pit Bull Owners and Landlords Accountable
06/20/11: Founder Colleen Lynn Reflects Upon Four Year Anniversary of Her Attack

Donate to DogsBite.org Today, Help Keep Our Mission of Prevention Alive

2012-05-03T06:15:00.000-05:00

DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Our website, DogsBite.org, is a public education website about dangerous dogs -- primarily pit bull type dogs. We are the only website in the United States dedicated to putting the safety of humans before dogs, as we are the only source of information on this topic that is not owned, controlled, or funded by pit bull breeders, owners or local or national veterinarian or animal welfare groups.

Learn what people say about DogsBite.org and founder Colleen Lynn.

DogsBite.org is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity organization. Please make a contribution today to help prevent a life-altering dog mauling.

Donation checks should be made out to DogsBite.org Incorporated and sent to P.O. Box 12443, Austin, TX 78711. Matching corporate donations, incremental giving, or multiple donations, are welcomed throughout the year.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 2-Month Old Child Killed by Family Dog

2012-05-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

The family's recently adopted golden retriever-mix.

Father Charged
UPDATE 05/02/12: The infant's father, Quintin H. McGrew, has been charged with unlawful neglect of a child. An affidavit accompanying his arrest warrant stated that McGrew "placed a 2-month-old infant at unreasonable risk by placing the infant in the living room by himself while the defendant slept in the bedroom. The infant was left in the separate room with a dog that was new to the residence for over an hour resulting in the disembowelment and death of the minor child."

04/24/12: 911 Call Released
A description of the 911 call made Friday morning offers new details about the tragic death of 2-month old Aiden McGrew. In the call, the baby's mother, Chantel McGrew, told the operator, "I believe my 2 and 1/2 year old got the baby out of the swing. I believe the dog went after my son, because the dog has blood all over him." She added about the attacking dog: "He's put in the bedroom away from the baby because he tried to go after the baby again when I got home."1

Related video

04/23/12: Death Ruled Homicide
Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet ruled the death of 2-month old Aiden McGrew a homicide. He announced Monday that the child died from blood loss after being severely mauled by the family's dog. Nisbet said parental neglect contributed to the boy's death. Aiden was discovered Friday morning after being badly bitten and dismembered by his family's newly adopted dog. At the time of the incident, his father was sleeping in an adjoining room.

04/21/12: Killed While Father Slept
News agencies report that the family had two dogs. One was apparently asleep with the father at the time of the attack. The offending golden retriever-mix, named Lucky, had recently been adopted by the family. The dog's previous owner was not named. The deceased boy's parents, Quintin and Chantel McGrew were questioned Friday. The couple's other children, ages 7 and 3, were taken into protective custody by the state Department of Social Services.

Knight said Quintin McGrew was sleeping in a bed with the 3-year-old child and the family's other dog, and Chantel McGrew was taking the 7-year-old to a doctor's visit, when Aiden was attacked.
"The child was in a small swing and was asleep,” Knight said. "I'm not sure who put the child in the swing."
Knight said the family adopted Lucky a few weeks ago, but their other dog has been with them for years. He said the McGrews "dog sat" for Lucky previously and decided to keep the dog when its previous owners wanted to give it up.

The Death of Zane Alen Earles

In 2008, the mauling death of 2-month old Zane Alen Earles by the family's Labrador puppy horrified the American public. The boy's mother found him dead in an infant swing about 10:30 am that morning. Up until that point, she had been sleeping. The nature of the baby's injuries were "so sensitive" that Tulsa police did not release any details other than that the infant had been bitten to death. Months later, a police affidavit stated that the dog "ate the two-month-old victim."

Authorities charged the baby's mother with second-degree manslaughter.

Related video

04/20/12: Infant Killed by Family Dog
Ridgeville, SC - In a developing story, Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nesbit stated in a news release that a 2-month old child was bitten numerous times and dismembered by a dog in his family's home about 11 am Friday. Aiden McGrew's father was asleep at the time of the attack and his mother was not home. Two other children in the home were unharmed. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday to determine if the boy was dead prior to the dog dismembering him.

The Daily Mail reports that the dog was a recently rescued retriever.

1Apparently, "Lucky" is the name of the family's other dog, not the offending animal.

Related articles:
11/04/08: 2008 Dog Bite Fatality: Tulsa Infant Killed by Labrador Puppy

Photo: The Republic

Maryland Court of Appeals Holds Pit Bull Owners and Landlords Accountable After an Attack

2012-04-30T16:38:00.002-05:00

Tracey v. Soleksy
Baltimore, MD - In January, DogsBite.org announced our filing of an amicus brief in a landmark Maryland appeals case, Tracey v. Solesky, in hopes of expanding more liability out to landlords when a tenant's pit bull attacks. The case involves the parents of a young boy seeking damages for injuries inflicted by a pit bull owned by a landlord's tenant. Also at issue is the "dangerousness" of pit bulls being "well-recognized," as determined in the 1998 case, Matthews v. Amberwood.

Read: The DogsBite.org amicus brief | Watch: Oral arguments 01-09-12

In Matthews, the Court of Appeals of Maryland ruled in a 4-3 vote that the landlord could have taken steps to abate the danger of a pit bull kept by a tenant when the landlord knew of the dog's presence and was aware of the dog's dangerousness. It was our hope that the Solesky opinion would expand Matthews further. On April 26, 2012, the Court of Appeals, in another 4-3 vote, did expand it and with great clarity by attaching strict liability when a pit bull or pit bull-cross attacks.

Tracey v. Solesky
No. 53, September Term 2012, Opinion by Cathell, J.
STRICT LIABILITY ADOPTED IN RESPECT TO ATTACKS ON HUMANS BY PIT BULL DOGS AND CROSS-BRED PIT BULL DOGS.
Upon a plaintiff's sufficient proof that a dog involved in an attack is a pit bull or a pit bull cross, and that the owner, or other person(s) who has the right to control the pit bull's presence on the subject premises (including a landlord who has a right to prohibit such dogs on leased premises) knows, or has reason to know, that the dog is a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull, that person is liable for the damages caused to a plaintiff who is attacked by the dog on or from the owner's or lessor's premises. In that case a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of negligence. When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous.

Upon receiving the Court's opinion, attorney Kevin A. Dunne, a principal at the law firm Ober Kaler, who represented the Solesky family, told the Baltimore Sun, "the Court of Appeals decision will likely to cause there to be fewer pit bull maulings of the citizens of the State of Maryland." Dunne said the high court's decision "didn't say pit bulls are banned. It makes the owner of the dog financially responsible for the injuries caused. It affects you if your dog hurts somebody else."

Video: Victim's family reacts

The Opinion Broken Down

The Court's opinion opens with the 1916 mauling of a young child by a pit bull, demonstrating just how long this dog breed has been attacking Maryland children. Furthermore, the attack on 10-year old John L. Clark illustrates the manner in which pit bulls attack resulting in many high courts determining that pit bull-type dogs pose a grave danger to the public: "The pit bull refused to release the boy until a witness picked up a 'scantling' and struck the dog, killing it."

The writer of the Court's opinion, Judge Dale R. Cathell, then states:

Over the last thirteen years, there have been no less than seven instances of serious maulings by pit bulls upon Maryland residents resulting in either serious injuries or death that have reached the appellate courts of this State, including the two boys attacked by the pit bull in the present case. Five of the pit bull attacks in Maryland have been brought to the attention of this Court, and two have reached the Court of Special Appeals.

The Court next spells out the details of these cases, which combined led to the Solesky opinion. The most simple explanation of the Solesky opinion is located on page 8:

We are modifying the Maryland common law of liability as it relates to attacks by pit bull and cross-bred pit bull dogs against humans. With the standard we establish today (which is to be applied in this case on remand), when an owner or a landlord is proven to have knowledge of the presence of a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull (as both the owner and landlord did in this case) or should have had such knowledge, a prima facie case is established. It is not necessary that the landlord (or the pit bull's owner) have actual knowledge that the specific pit bull involved is dangerous. Because of its aggressive and vicious nature and its capability to inflict serious and sometimes fatal injuries, pit bulls and cross-bred pit bulls are inherently dangerous.

Further into the opinion, the Court addresses Matthews in more detail and how the Court "began our modification of the old common-law rule with respect to dog attack cases with our strong dicta in Matthews, supra, highlighting the particular characteristics of pit bulls and cross-bred pit bulls." And, "the language of that case clearly forecasted the direction the Court might take in the proper case. This is that case," the Court wrote, referring to Solesky. In Matthews, the Court stated:

The extreme dangerousness of this breed, as it has evolved today, is well recognized. "Pit bulls as a breed are known to be extremely aggressive and have been bred as attack animals." Giaculli v. Bright, 584 So.2d 187, 189 (Fla.App. 1991). Indeed, it has been judicially noted that pit bulls "bit[e] to kill without signal" (Starkey v. Township of Chester, 628 F. Supp. 196, 197 (E.D. Pa. 1986)), are selectively bred to have very powerful jaws, high insensitivity to pain, extreme aggressiveness, a natural tendency to refuse to terminate an attack, and a greater propensity to bite humans than other breeds ... ("pit bull dogs represent a unique public health hazard ... [possessing] both the capacity for extraordinarily savage behavior ... [a] capacity for uniquely vicious attacks ... coupled with an unpredictable nature" and that "[o]f the 32 known human deaths in the United States due to dog attacks ... [in the period between July 1983 and April 1989], 23 were caused by attacks by pit bull dogs"). Pit bull dogs have even been considered weapons.

The Court next compiles evidence of the breed's dangerousness, starting with the "special report" issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000, and the recent medical injury study, "Mortality, Mauling, and Maiming by Vicious Dogs," published in 2011. The Court points out that although the CDC did not recommend breed-specific regulation, it did state: "...laws for regulating dangerous or vicious dogs should be promulgated and enforced vigorously."

Assembling more evidence of the breed's dangerousness, the Court draws upon cases from other jurisdictions that address the inherent viciousness of pit bulls, including the high court rulings of City of Toledo v. Tellings, Bess v. Bracken County Fiscal Court, The Florida Bar v. Pape, McNeely v. United States and finally, The Colorado Dog Fanciers v. The City and County of Denver. Many portions cited in the opinion can be found on the Appellate Court Decisions page.

Concerning arguments raised by pit bull owners in Colorado Dog Fanciers, the Court provides the following footnote: "Some are similar to the arguments made in the appellant or amicus' briefs filed in the present case by supporters of pit bulls. In light of Maryland's situation, we find those particular arguments unpersuasive. (Notably, in Solesky, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wrote the brief in opposition of the young boy nearly killed by a pit bull.)

In this same footnote, the Court adds that the opposition to breed-specific laws has been present for years. But that the Court's opinion "does not ban pit bulls, but puts a greater responsibility for vicious dogs where pit bull advocates have long argued it should be - with the owners and others who have the power of control over such dogs. Our opinion imposes greater duties by reducing the standards necessary to hold owners and others liable for the attacks of their pit bulls."

Discussion

Given the misleading slogan of "punish the deed" by pit bull owners, advocates and national animal groups -- misleading in the fact that victims often cannot pursue civil claims after a violent attack unless the owner knew the dog had the "propensity to be dangerous" and/or, as in the case of Solesky, the pit bull owner defaulted in bankruptcy -- one can only imagine how many Maryland pit bull owners and landlords are extremely alarmed by the Court's recent opinion.

The fact is, "It's the owner not the breed," is a theme perpetuated by the owners of dangerous dog breeds, primarily pit bulls, to help maintain the existence of arcane "one free bite" rules and other obscene loopholes that often free these owners of any civil or criminal liability after their dog attacks once and even a second time! In a nutshell, such dog owners do not want their dogs blamed nor do they want to be on the hook from a financial or criminal liability standpoint.

Reading the Court's footnote in regards to this brings to mind two phrases, "Be careful what you ask for" and "payback is hell." Pit bull owners and "others who have the power of control over such dogs" (specifically landlords) in the State of Maryland are indeed going to be paying back to victims of violent pit bull maulings due to this opinion, which explicitly modified Maryland common law of liability as it relates to attacks by pit bulls and pit bull-crosses against humans.

The Dissent

There really is only one part of the dissent worth discussing, as parts about the "hysteria regarding pit bulls" and the "media has demonized pit bulls" are on par with the invalidity of the Nanny dog myth. That part is called judicial activism or as the author of the dissent, Judge Clayton Greene, Jr. wrote, "legislating from the bench." The Solesky opinion, however, was not shaped out of thin air. It was developed over many rulings and was specifically "forecasted" in Matthews.

We do expect national animal groups, particularly the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, to bring their pro-pit bull propaganda to the Maryland General Assembly during its next session in an effort to derail the Solesky ruling. Yet, this effort may prove difficult. Their fight will not be to derail a statewide pit bull law, such as Ohio's former law, their fight will be to derail a liability law that holds the owners of pit bulls and landlords financially responsible after an attack.

Getting these votes is going to be a lot tougher than it was in Ohio. For instance, "Dear Maryland State Representative, it is cruel and unusual punishment that pit bull owners are automatically held financially responsible after their dog mauls a person causing permanent disfiguring injuries and sometimes even death. This type of singling out of pit bulls is discriminatory legislation similar to racial profiling. My pit bull would never snap, but even if it did, I should not be held liable."

Background:
The case of Matthews v. Amberwood involved a 2-year old boy and his mother, Shanita Matthews, visiting the leased apartment of Shelly Morton. Morton took care of her boyfriend's pit bull, named Rampage. Numerous complaints of the dog acting aggressively had been reported to Morton's landlord who took no action. The complex also had a "no pet" policy. While Matthews was visiting Morton inside her dwelling in February of 1994, Rampage savagely attacked her son, Tevin Williams. He later died at a hospital. Though the attack occurred inside Morton's unit -- not in a "common" area -- the Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's ruling and held the landlord liable. The Court wrote: "Under the present circumstances, however, where a landlord retained control over the matter of animals in the tenant's apartment, coupled with the knowledge of past vicious behavior by the animal, the extremely dangerous nature of pit bull dogs, and the foreseeability of harm to persons and property in the apartment complex, the jury was justified in finding that the landlord had a duty to the plaintiffs and that the duty was breached."
Judge Cathell, who wrote the Solesky opinion, dissented in Matthews. In the Matthews opinion, the Court of Appeals did not hold Morton, the dog's keeper, or the child's mother, Shanita Matthews, negligent. Specifically, the dissent states: "Thus, the negligence of the tenant Morton, and any possible negligence on the part of Matthews, were simply concurrent causes of the injuries and death of Tevin. They were not superseding causes." The dissenters in Matthews disagreed with the majority, which held that the superseding cause for the child's injuries and death was the landlord. Additionally, the dissent believed that Morton had sole control over the premise where the injury occurred (a private dwelling, as opposed to a "common" area) and sole control over the dog, not the landlord.
So, how did Judge Cathell go from a dissent 14 years ago to a majority on this legal issue today? This is what is so beautiful about the development of the law. Sometimes one never knows. We would like to think that the continued carnage wrought by pit bulls over the past 14 years has something to do with it.

DogsBite.org Announces Neighborhood Safety Campaign and New Brochure, 'How to Keep Your Family Safe from Dangerous Dogs'

2012-04-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Purchase a 30-pack of the DogsBite.org neighborhood safety brochure in preparation for National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 20-26, 2012

Austin, TX April 25, 2012 -- DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, announces a neighborhood safety campaign with a new brochure in preparation for National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 20-26, 2012. The safety brochure, How to Keep Your Family Safe from Dangerous Dogs, contains 5 panels of important information, including images of dangerous dog breeds, and the back reserved for U.S. postal mailing.

The DogsBite.org safety brochure offers a 3-step guide to help protect individuals, their family members and cherished pets from potentially dangerous dogs that may be located in their immediate neighborhood. The steps include: How to identify dangerous dogs and the person(s) responsible for them, how to report violations, what types of violations to report, tips about collecting evidence and descriptions of the most dangerous scenarios to always avoid.

See: Full news release.

Donations to DogsBite.org are tax-deductible
Help keep our mission of prevention alive by contributing today

Trinidad Proclaims Dangerous Dogs Act; Comes into Force August 1, 2012

2012-04-20T13:45:00.006-05:00

Act Proclaimed
Trinidad - It was announced this week by the government of Trinidad and Tobago that the Dangerous Dogs Act will be proclaimed on August 1, 2012. The Act originally passed in June 2000, but was never proclaimed.1 The Dangerous Dogs Act requires owners of dangerous dogs to be at least 18 years old, carry $250,000 of insurance, adhere to special containment requirements, sterilization and registration, and to apply for and obtain a $500 annual license per dog.

"I am happy to see the VICTIMS being finally considered as no one stands up for them." - Comment sent to DogsBite.org from Trinidad and Tobago activist Teseek.

The Act prima facially declares three fighting breeds as dangerous, including: pit bull terriers, fila brasileiros and Japanese tosas (similar to the United Kingdom Dangerous Dogs Act). Any dogs bred from these breeds are also deemed dangerous. The purpose of the Act is to prohibit the importation and breeding of dangerous dogs and to regulate the manner in which these dogs are maintained by their owner to ensure the safety of Trinidad and Tobago citizens.

"Today, the Government has noted with great concern the recent and growing attacks on law-abiding citizens by pitbulls," the Ministry said in a faxed media release. "The facts show that often these dangerous dogs are not properly trained or secured. In recent times, dangerous dogs have been allowed to escape onto the road and attack persons, causing severe injuries and, in some cases, death."
"The Government is of the view that the proclamation of the Act is critical because of the great harm and injury being caused daily to law-abiding citizens when these dogs are not properly secured and controlled." (Ministry of the Attorney General, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17, 2012)

DogsBite.org began following fatal pit bull maulings in Trinidad last May after 46-year old Denise Rackal was mauled to death by a pack of pit bulls belonging to Chaguanas police officer Daryl La Pierre. According to neighbors, the same dogs killed 15 dogs in the year prior to the death of Rackal and attacked two other people. Animal behaviorist Alexandra Semyonova also provided feedback in the wake of Rackal's death to help explain several misleading responses to it.

Trinidad activist Teseek is worried that animal advocacy groups will interfere with the recent proclamation -- already delayed 12-years, resulting in new victims permanently disfigured and, in some cases, killed by violent pit bulls. The Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) is "concerned" that the Act could lead to many pit bulls being abandoned due to irresponsible pit bull owners being unable to comply with the proclamation.

It is a catch-22 position for the TTSPCA isn't it? To demand "responsible ownership" and then to claim that penalizing irresponsible owners leads to inhumane results?

Today's pit bull "mess" in the United States and across the world is directly due to animal groups like the TTSPCA whose solution to the pit bull problem is to 1.) "Educate" irresponsible owners, most of whom do not want to be educated, without laws that strongly penalize these owners for failure to comply and to 2.) "Equalize" the breed-specific pit bull problem across all dog breeds even though no other dog breeds are commiting a similar number of maulings and deaths.2

Partial List of Deaths by Pit Bulls

2011: Jesse Dillion Boise, 9-years old, killed by his brother's pit bull (Trinidad); 2011: Denise Rackal, 46-years old, killed by pack of pit bulls (Trinidad); 2004: Chandrawattie Beera, 77-years old, killed by two pit bulls (Trinidad); 1999: Norris Young, 72-years old, killed by a pit bull (Trinidad); 1998: Kimmoi Wong Won, 71-years old, killed by her son’s four pit bulls (Trinidad); 1998: Christopher Charles, adult, killed by political financier Steve Furgeson’s pit bulls (Trinidad).

1The Dangerous Dogs Act was originally inspired by former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
2When and if other dog breeds, particularly of the fighting class, do start committing maulings and deaths in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry can expand the number of dog breeds included in the Act.

Tipper Sends in Pit Bull Image from Kid's Temporary Tattoo Machine

2012-04-19T15:00:00.003-05:00

"Killer" the Pit Bull

DogsBite.org - A hot tipper sent in imagery from a kid's temporary tattoo machine last night. The image depicts a muscular chained pit bull with the name "Killer" spelled out on the animal's dog house. Given how many children suffer horrific maulings1 and deaths by chained pit bulls, it is hardly appropriate imagery to be coming out of a children's tattoo "safety" machine. The related website is tattoosafety.net, copyrighted by Flatline Corp. and printed in the U.S.A.

Front:

Back:

The back of the tattoo reads: "This product complies with the appropriate requirements of ASTM F 963-96A Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety of USA and mechanical Hazard requirements of 16CFR 1500, and Heavy Metals content requirements of ASTM F963, Section 4.3.5." Despite pit bulls killing 187 U.S. citizens since the last CDC report on fatal dog attacks by breed was issued in 2000, the U.S. government has no warning requirements for pit bulls.

1DogsBite.org recently ran across a follow up video of Lexi. Sure enough, her mother is a full-fledged Nutter.

Malden Councillor Clarifies Pit Bull Ordinance and Confirms 'Rational Fear'

2012-04-13T11:14:00.004-05:00

Answers Critics
Malden, MA - Last week we reported on a pit bull ordinance passed by Malden City Council. Part of the blog post addressed Dr. Amy Marder who claimed that "a leash will prevent dog bites as well as a muzzle" when being quizzed by Councillor Neil C. Kinnon. The post also noted that the "hollering pit bull owners" attending the meeting failed to grasp the language of the ordinance, which grandfathered in existing pit bull owners if they registered their dog prior to May 1.

On Wednesday, Councillor Kinnon answered critics of the pit bull ordinance in a letter to the editor of the Malden Advocate. It is a fantastic letter that clarifies the pit bull ordinance, offers city dog bite statistical data, zings the "good Doctor" further by stating that her "evidence lacked credibility, as no scientist would ever claim a sample size of ten" and concludes with a statistical comparison that powerfully confirms the rational fear persons maintain about the pit bull breed.

Dear Editor, Malden Advocate, and Malden’s Citizens:
This past week the City Council passed a Pit Bull Ordinance which will take effect on May 1, 2012 (provided the Mayor signs it). It will exempt current pit bulls which are licensed by that time with some reasonable stipulations. Hopefully this letter might clarify what is in the Pit Bull Ordinance, the reasons for it and why some of the information opponents are spinning is simply misinformation or untrue.

Snippets taken by DogsBite.org:
"According to Animal Control fifty-seven dog bites were recorded from 2009-2011. Eighteen of the bites were committed by pit bulls. The next closest breeds that bit were German Shepherds, Bull Mastiffs and Dobermans, which recorded only two bites each. The data broken down in its simplest terms means pit bulls account for approximately 6.7% of our registered dogs and committed 31.6% of the dog bites."
"The ordinance requires pit bulls to be spayed or neutered in order to get an exemption from the muzzling law. The advocates who spoke to the Council also advocate spaying and neutering of pit bulls as part of any plan."
"The ordinance the Council passed requires a fence if one wishes to let their dog out in the yard without a muzzle. PittBullLovers.com states for those looking to own a pit bull "you should have a six foot privacy fence"
"The ordinance passed by the City Council will guarantee high license compliance for pit bulls, which all advocates say is needed, as it exempts, from the muzzle ordinance, all current pit bull owners who reside in Malden as long as they come in to register for a license and provide the proper spay and neutering documentation."
"The pit bull advocates continue to claim that BSL (breed specific legislation) does not work and yet over 600 communities in America have adopted it. The Marine Corps and the Army have gone so far as to adopt total bans of pit bulls and their close relatives on all their bases in the last few years."1
"When the Doctor was asked how many dogs were in her study and how many had some American Staffordshire, her answer was her study included ten dogs and she didn’t know how many included some American Staffordshire. Her evidence lacked credibility, as no scientist would ever claim a sample size of ten was a real study and after stating that DNA didn’t contain Staffordshire in many instances, she didn’t know how many contained some Staffordshire in the sample."2
"The pit bull advocates continue to state it will be impossible to enforce a muzzle law and that we should instead focus on licensing and strong leash law enforcement of all dogs. One can only conclude from all actual evidence that it would be just as easy for an animal control officer or other law enforcement officer to enforce a muzzle law as it is to enforce a leash law. Is it harder for a dog officer to see if a dog is on a four foot leash or muzzle?"

Councillor Kinnon saved the whopper comparison for his conclusion that illustrates just how dangerous pit bulls are and that fears about the breed are rational:

If there were as many pit bulls in Malden as people, and bite incidents were classified as aggravated assaults, the average rate of aggravated assault by pit bulls in the last three years would have been over 1,500 per year. If one calculated the same math on all other dogs, during that span, the average aggravated assault level each year would have been approximately 220. In the last three years the actual average number of aggravated assaults in Malden, by humans, has been 169. Therefore pit bulls per capita commit almost 10 times the aggravated assaults as do humans. The person who discriminates when seeing a pit bull walking down the street does not do so out of an irrational fear but does so because they are 10 times as likely to be attacked by the pit bull. (Neil Kinnon, Ward Six City Councillor, Malden Advocate, April 11, 2012)

Kudos Councillor Neil Kinnon!

1Underline and bold emphasis by Councilor Kinnon.
2Kinnon is presumably referring to a study by Dr. Amy Marder. Initially, we had thought Dr. Voith's study (Comparison of Adoption Agency Breed Identification and DNA Breed Identification of Dogs) to be the culprit, but it uses a sample pool of 20. We then found a short piece by Marder and Voith that references an "unnamed" study by Marder, "In a separate study, Amy Marder and colleagues analyzed DNA samples from dogs visually identified as "pit bull mixes." (The American Shelter Dog: Identification of Dogs By Personality). Marder's "unnamed" study is also referenced in a March 2009 blog post.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Oklahoma Man Killed by Two Pit Bulls

2012-04-10T01:08:00.018-05:00

From left: First responders to dog attack, Judy Boone, Kenneth Golden and Ryan Matlock.

Killed in His Front yard
Mead, OK - In a developing story, a Bryan County man was mauled to death by two pit bulls in his front yard. James Hurst, 92-years old, was discovered badly mauled and bleeding on his property Monday afternoon. Neighbors say the same dogs had been aggressive in the past. Bryan County Undersheriff Kenneth Golden said Hurst was working in his yard when he was attacked by the dogs. Golden says of all the dog attacks he has seen, he has never witnessed one this bad.

"It appears he was chewed and drug around the yard. It wasn't very pretty," he said.

The victim suffered "extensive injuries to his feet" -- both may have been torn off -- and was taken to a Durant hospital where he later died. Neighbor Judy Boone told reporters, "It's terrifying to know that you can't come out on your own front porch or stand in your own yard without being mauled and attacked." Neighbor Ryan Matlock, 11-years old, said that he had an encounter with one of these pit bulls -- "It crawled through a hole in the fence and got a hold of my leg."1

Related video

1A subsequent news article indicates that Ryan's bite was not reported.

Week of Escalating Violent Attacks by Rescued and Adopted Pit Bulls

2012-04-06T13:40:00.009-05:00

Back-to-Back Rescue Attacks

Earlier this week, two pit bull "rescue" attacks made headlines. The first came out of the Detroit area, which is the U.S. capital of dogfighting and the last place anyone ought to be rescuing a pit bull. The dog badly bit a 6-year old girl in the face. Police said she was "conscious and breathing, but bleeding severely when emergency crews arrived." Oakland County Animal Control removed the dog from the home. The owner of the pit bull was not named nor was the rescue.

The second story, from Elizabeth, New Jersey, was even more dramatic. The pit bull "rescue" violently attacked its 18-year old owner, biting her more than 20 times. According to Sgt. Stephen Negrey, an Elizabeth Police Department spokesman, "She was in her bedroom when the dog went crazy and started attacking her." As she fought her way outside, the dog continued its assault. An off-duty detective responded to the scene and found the dog attacking her in the front yard.

The detective shot and killed the pit bull.

This 18-year old woman, who was left with no feeling in her right arm and the inability to move one of her fingers, was most likely an avid supporter of the breed. An internal study done at DogsBite.org showed that of the pit bull owners who send in email, 75% are females between the ages of 18 to 24. It's an age group highly susceptible to buying into the 30-year old garbage perpetuated by local and national animal advocacy groups and pit bull breeders and owners.

Back-to-Back Adoption Attacks

On the heels of this, the first pit bull "adoption" attack developed out of Penn Township, Pennsylvania. The mauling occurred just outside of Wendy Tshudy's home, the owner of the newly adopted pit bull. The dog reportedly bolted out of Tshudy's home and attacked a neighborhood 7-year old boy.1 A man and an 11-year old boy struggled to pull the dog off the child. After they succeeded, the dog broke free and attacked the 7-year old again -- classic pit bull attack behavior.

Tshudy adopted the dog from the Humane League of Lancaster County on February 11, according to Mary Wallick, director of marketing at the League. The dog's original owner surrendered the dog to the group five days before Tshudy adopted it. Kennel technicians conducted a "seven-step assessment test" to determine if the dog could be safely put up for adoption. The dog passed. (See: Aggressive Behavior in Adopted Dogs that Passed a Temperament Test).

Currently, the Humane League of Lancaster County is running a web page promotion asking the public to vote to help them get into the 2012 ASPCA $100k Rachel Ray Challenge -- Vote Early. Vote Often. April 5 to April 16. The challenge involves "innovative ways" to adopt out at least 300 more dogs and cats within a 3-month period than were adopted during the same period the year prior. During our viewing of the group's home page, the animal featured was a pit bull.

This life-altering, disfiguring week involving saved pit bulls "going pit bull" peaked Thursday with an incident involving the airlifting of a 3-year old Baxter County, Arkansas boy. According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, Ryland Moody suffered severe trauma and bite wounds around his face and head inflicted by the family's newly adopted pit bull. The boy's mother, Amber Moody, adopted the 9-month old pit bull on March 7 from the Baxter County Humane Society.

Humane Society manager Shawn McCormick said the organization has weight and age restrictions when adopting animals to families. The boy's mother, however, lied on the adoption form, placing "none" in the section on the form asking about children. Regardless of the Society's adoption process, it still fails to address an obvious reality: What neighborhood is child-free? Tshudy's temperament tested pit bull bolted out of her house just to attack a neighborhood child.

The Misled Public Pays the Cost

The overwhelming problem running concurrent across nearly all U.S. open admission shelters is an over population of unwanted pit bulls with uncertain backgrounds. The pressure is on for these shelters ($100k Rachel Ray Challenge and other funding opportunities) to substantially reduce overall euthanizations, which cannot be accomplished without placing a chunk of these potentially dangerous pit bulls back into communities, temperament tested, age-restricted or otherwise.

"There may now be more organizations focused on pit bull rescue and advocacy than rescue and advocate for all other specific breeds combined."
Animal People, November 2011

The public is paying for this "humane mess" with their livelihoods. A large portion of the blame falls onto the shoulders of national animal groups, particularly Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, who spread egregious distortions about the breed, such as "all dogs are individuals" and pit bulls are "Nanny dogs" in order to soften the breed's reputation and increase pit bull adoptions. Best Friends is the only national group that zealously advocates "rescuing fighting dogs" as well.

Is There a Solution to the Mess?

DogsBite.org strongly urges municipalities to adopt pit bull sterilization laws to substantially reduce the number of unwanted pit bulls flooding shelters. Despite this breed-specific problem causing a "humane mess" and the creation of an unprecedented number of pit bull rescue groups, nearly all pit bull proponents strongly oppose this humane solution. The second part of the solution is to stop donating to any animal advocacy or rescue groups that push pit bull propaganda garbage.

1A Friday article identified the victim as Bryce Houser. His condition has been upgraded from critical to good, but doctors are unsure if he will ever regain full mobility of his left arm. The boy's family has two pit bulls of their own.

Pit Bull Ordinance Passes in Malden City, Massachusetts

2012-04-04T13:32:00.013-05:00

Pit Bull Muzzle Law
Malden, MA - On Tuesday, Malden City Council approved a measure requiring pit bull-type dogs to wear a muzzle in public. The city now joins a growing number of municipalities in Massachusetts to place restrictions on the notorious breed, including: Boston, Lowell, Lynn, Worcester and others (See: Full list). The 7-4 vote follows three years of discussion and debate and represents a legislative victory for Councillor Neil C. Kinnon who has fought for the pit bull muzzle law.

At one point during Tuesday's meeting -- packed with hollering pit bull fans -- Kinnon questioned three "animal experts" who advocate against breed-specific laws. Science whore Dr. Amy Marder,1 director of the center for behavior and training at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said: "A leash will prevent dog bites as well as a muzzle." Obviously that is entirely untrue. Who knows? Perhaps Kinnon even read the anniversary post written by the founder of DogsBite.org?

Notably, the new muzzle law will not effect existing pit bull owners who register their dog before May 1. The ordinance only applies to pit bulls obtained or brought into the city after this date and to current owners who fail to register their dog. The question is, how many so-called responsible pit bull owners in Malden City will follow through with registration by May 1? This overly generous grandfather clause was apparently missed by the hollering pit bull owners Tuesday night.

1Amy Marder is an "adviser" to the Jane Berkey owned pro-pit bull propaganda machine. Also, the "enforcement of leash laws" as the solution to preventing dog bites is the default position of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Victoria Boy, 4, Mauled to Death by Pit Bull

2012-03-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Kylar Johnson, 4-years old, fatal pit bull attack victim #329.

News Conference
UPDATE: 03/28/12: The Victoria Advocate released the 30-minute news conference given by Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O'Conner. In summary, investigators do have answers to many questions, but are not releasing them yet. The time of the boy's death has yet to be determined by the medical examiner's office. O'Conner does address many aspects of Kylar's death including that many "conspiracy theories" were formed and launched in social media channels.1

Related video

03/27/12: Preliminary Autopsy Results
Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Kylar Johnson was mauled to death by a single pit bull. Manuel (Manny) Garcia found Kylar's body in his backyard Monday morning near one of 10 pit bulls that he keeps chained up in his yard. Officials said Garcia's dogs were used for hog hunting. Investigators speculate that the boy may have been hiding from searchers on purpose, playing a type of game. The Click2Houston update did not reveal the time of the boy's death.2

03/27/12: Mauling Death Confirmed
KHOU.com reports that, "Evidence shows the child was mauled to death by a pit bull kept chained in the neighbor's yard. The Victoria County sheriff believes Kylar wondered into the mostly-fenced yard about half a mile from his home." The neighbor and owner of the pit bull, who joined in the search effort, has so far not been named and owns as many as 10 pit bulls. A new Victoria Advocate article says that preliminary autopsy results should be available by Tuesday.

Related video3

03/26/12: Boy Discovered Monday
Victoria, TX - In a developing story, the body of a missing 4-year old boy was discovered today and was reportedly mauled to death by pit bulls. The boy, Kylar Johnson, disappeared about 8 pm Sunday night. A neighbor found the boy about 10:30 am this morning. A family friend, Ken Hutchins, told The Victoria Advocate the boy was mauled to death by pit bulls kept in a neighbor's enclosure near his home. Police, however, have not yet confirmed the cause of death.

An extensive search was carried out over Sunday night and into the morning by police search teams, K-9 units, and family members, but it was hampered by tall grass and fog. The fog finally lifted about 10:30 am. The boy's body was found near Village Lane several hundred yards from his home. Cole Johnson, the boy's father, had been cleaning his car on Sunday with Kylar playing nearby. He looked up and Kylar was gone. The boy's family will speak to the media soon.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Texas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

Pit Bulls Lead 'Bite' Counts Across U.S. Cities and Counties

2012-03-21T07:30:00.001-05:00

Dog Biting Incidents: 2008 to 2012

DogsBite.org - Animal control departments in at least 25 U.S. states report that pit bulls are biting more than all other dog breeds. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The oft-quoted myth by pro-pit bull groups that pit bulls "do not bite more than other breeds" is categorically false. In addition to leading bite counts, the pit bull bite is also the most damaging, inflicting permanent and disfiguring injury.

Roanoke, Virginia
In May 2012, Roanoke Valley SPCA confirmed that the number one breed brought into the regional animal control center is pit bulls -- a situation mirrored by nearly all open admission shelters in the country. Wsls.com stressed that a single breed, pit bulls, have been "taxing resources for both the Roanoke city animal control and adoption services" for some time. Roanoke police provided statistics showing that between May 2011 and April 2012, 41% (397 of 978) of all dogs brought into the center were pit bulls. During this same time period there were 169 biting incidents in Roanoke. Pit bulls were responsible for 38% (57).1

Scott Leamon, "Pit bulls are number one breed coming into Roanoke's dog pound," Wsls.com, May 25, 2012 (www.wsls.com)
URL:http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/may/25/pit-bulls-are-number-one-breed-coming-roanokes-dog-ar-1943547/. Accessed: 2012-05-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67wAVCThJ)
1Though technically the article did not show that pit bulls led all biting incidents, 38% is a very high percentage. It also must be noted that the dog population (by breed) of unwanted dogs in open admission shelters in no way reflects the dog population (by breed) in the community as a whole.

Malden, Massachusetts
In April 2012, after Malden City Council passed an ordinance requiring unregistered and new pit bulls to wear a muzzle when in public, Councillor Neil Kinnon cited city dog bite data in a clarifying article: "According to Animal Control fifty-seven dog bites were recorded from 2009-2011. Eighteen of the bites were committed by pit bulls. The next closest breeds that bit were German Shepherds, Bull Mastiffs and Dobermans, which recorded only two bites each. The data broken down in its simplest terms means pit bulls account for approximately 6.7% of our registered dogs and committed 31.6% of the dog bites."1

"Councillor Kinnon answers critics of Pit Bull ordinance," The Malden Advocate, April 11, 2012 (www.malden.advocatenews.net)
URL:http://malden.advocatenews.net/councillor-kinnon-answers-critics-of-pit-bull-ordinance/. Accessed: 2012-05-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67wAx4MSs)
1Under pressure from pit bull advocates, who didn't even understand the ordinance, Mayor Gary Christenson vetoed the measure, placing the "Maul" back into Malden.

Victoria, Texas
Also in April, after 3 pit bull attacks in 3 days, the Victoria Advocate reported that so far in 2012, data from Victoria Animal Control showed that of the dogs quarantined for biting incidents, pit bulls made up 28%, twice as many as any other dog breed. Pit bulls were responsible for 10 biting incidents, followed by Labs and chow-mixes each with 5. Of the pit bull incidents, one involved the death of young boy killed by a chained pit bull on March 25. Just prior to the boy's death, the Advocate upset the pit bull advocacy community by publishing this photo and a story concerning 3 pit bull incidents in one week in mid-March.

Sonny Long, "Victoria animal control responds to 3 pit bull attacks in 3 days," Victoria Advocate, April 30, 2012 (www.victoriaadvocate.com)
URL:http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2012/apr/30/sl_pit_bull_attack_050112_175007/?news. Accessed: 2012-05-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/67wCsFnZf)

Chicago, Illinois
In March 2012, Redeye Chicago published dog bite statistical data recorded by the city's Commission on Animal Care and Control during 2011. Strangely, the department separates "Pit bull/Pit bull mixed" and "American pit bull terrier" into two categories -- notably not done for any other dog breed.1 Alone, the first category, "Pit bull/Pit bull mixed," topped the list with 26.43% of all biting incidents. When combined with the second category, pit bulls and their mixes accounted for nearly 40% (39.81%) of all dog bites. Data from the City Clerks office shows that pit bulls and their mixes make up 4.5% of the registered dogs in the city.2

Mick Sawsko, "When animals attack," Redeye Chicago, March 21, 2012 (www.redeyechicago.com)
URL:http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-animal-bite-data-20120321,0,2905321.story. Accessed: 2012-03-25. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/66QwHCYBf)
1It appears that pure bred American pit bull terriers have their own distinct classification. Failure to combine them into the overall "Pit bull/Pit bull Mixed" category creates misleading data.
2Though ranking well below pit bulls in biting incidents, German shepherds were the most popular AKC registered dog in Chicago for 20111.

Las Vegas, Nevada
Also in March, KTNV.com investigated whether or not pit bulls were "dangerous or docile?" The investigation came after a series of pit bull attacks in Las Vegas, Nevada. One victim, Sarah Chatley told the news group: "They went from tails wagging, to jaws clamping, in a split second ... I was down on the ground trying to protect my dog, and they were just ripping her apart. It was just so violent." Within the article, KTNV.com exposed the 2011 dog bite statistic data for the City of Las Vegas: "There were 364 reports of bites by pit bulls. That was the most of any breed. Next on the list were Chihuahuas with 122 bite reports."

Katie Crowther, "The debate over pit bulls: dangerous or docile?" KTNV.com, March 1, 2012 (www.ktnv.com)
URL:http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/141147063.html. Accessed: 2012-03-02. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/65s33himX)

Multiple Counties, North Carolina
In February 2012, WITN.com investigated the "pit bull debate" and discovered that pit bulls led bite counts in at least 4 North Carolina counties. The group then back peddled by buying into the myth that pit bulls make up a large part of the dog population (pit bulls make up less than 5% of the total U.S. dog population). The article states, "In 2011 in Pitt County there were around 250 dog bites. Pit Bulls had the most with 41. In Onslow County there were 334 dog bites. Pit Bulls lead the way with 55. Craven County had 211 dog bites. Pit Bulls had the most with 37. Lenoir County reported 69 dog bites involving people. Leading the way was Pit Bulls with 14."

"The Pit Bull Debate, Part 2," WITN.com, February 9, 2012 (www.witn.com)
URL:http://www.witn.com/news/headlines/The_Pit_Bull_Debate_Part_2_139067094.html. Accessed: 2012-03-02. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/65s4T6cgd)

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
In January 2012, when Fond du Lac City Councilman Rob Vande Zande proposed an ordinance that would prohibit new pit bulls, Zande provided research of the number of reported dog bites in the city over the past 5 years: "The percentage that is attributable to pit bull breeds has increased from 10.7 percent of the bites in 2007 to 33.3 percent of the bites in 2011." Zande also noted that he knows a resident who sustained a severe pit bull bite while delivering papers. The man incurred about $100,00 in medical bills related to his injury. Shortly after Zande's proposal, pit bull advocates bombarded Zande and he folded.

Laurie Ritger, "Fond du Lac considers ban on pit bulls," fdlreporter.com, January 21, 2012 (www.fdlreporter.com)
A free reference to this article is located at the Wisconsin law firm website Miller & Ogorchock.

Pima County, Arizona
In November 2011, KGUN9-TV aired a segment titled, "What's the truth about pit bulls?" The show followed the grisly mauling of Michael Cook, a Tucson man who was attacked by his pet pit bull in August and subsequently died. Before his death, doctors were forced to amputate both of his arms and infuse the victim with over 100 pints of blood. Dog bite statistics from Pima County Animal Control over the last four years were also featured on the episode, and once again, pit bulls led all biting incidents with 848 bites, followed by German shepherds with 633, Labs with 496, Chihuahuas with 361 and Chows inflicting 231 bites.

Tammy Vo, "What's the truth about pit bulls?" KGUN9-TV, November 2, 2011 (www.kgun9.com)
URL:http://www.kgun9.com/news/133124728.html?mid=51. Accessed: 2011-11-03. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/62vPt8mLm)

New York, New York
Also in November, the New York Post published updated dog bite statistical data from the city's health department. In February, the data showed that pit bulls were responsible for nearly 25% of all dog bites, now the data shows 28% -- over six times more than the second "toothiest" breed. Pit bulls and their mixes totaled 833 bites by November, compared to the next top biter, chihuahuas, with 128 "incisor incidents." City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. said, "People refuse to admit that pit bulls are bred to fight, they have higher pain tolerance, stronger jaws, and they do not have the instinct to back down -- they refuse to submit."

Gary Buiso, "Leash the hounds," New York Post, November 27, 2011 (www.nypost.com)
URL:http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/leash_the_hounds_zcdXCksvDbuIWD8utn6f9L#ixzz1ezn3icLb. Accessed: 2011-11-30. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/63b8brmTh)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Also in November, after a pet pit bull, named Prince, nearly killed its 52-year old caretaker, Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Comission (MADACC) released dog bite statistical data showing that pit bulls inflicted over four times more bites than the next closest breed. From 2008 to 2011, pit bulls were responsible for 302 biting incidents followed by German shepherds with 68 and Labs with 40. TODAY'S TMJ4 -- who set out to "find the truth" about pit bulls -- takes a nose dive into decades old erroneous territory by comparing "shelter intake" dog breed data to bite data instead of "registered" dog breed data to bite data.1

Lindsay Morone, "Expert: Pit Bull attacks are quite rare," TODAY'S TMJ4, November 22, 2011 (www.todaystmj4.com)
URL:http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/specialassignment/134371313.html. Accessed: 2011-11-27. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/63WJokEDA)
1Dogs that end up in open admission shelters are loose, unwanted or have bitten or displayed aggression and often times all three. Thus, shelter intake does not accurately reflect dog breed populations within a community. Pit bulls shoring up 40% occupancy at MADACC -- and open admission shelters across the U.S. -- is standard today; this in no way reflects the actual population of pit bulls, which makes up less than 5% of the total U.S. dog population. (See: ANIMAL PEOPLE Editor Responds to Fact Cooker Article by Mark Robison)

State of Delaware
In October 2011, The News Journal reported on the City of Wilmington's pit bull problem and its renewed effort to enforce their pit bull ordinance, which includes: registration, sterilization, a lease allowing a pit bull to be housed there, muzzled while in parks and owners must be 21-years old. The article also lists state dog bite statistics. According to the Delaware Division of Public Health, from January 2008 to October 2011 there were 5,156 biting incidents (See: Data chart). Pit bulls lead with 1,003 bites followed by "unknown"1 with 884 bites, Labs with 479 bites -- less then half of pit bull bites -- and German shepherds with 401 bites.

Esteban Parra, "Wilmington cracks down on illegal pit bulls," The News Journal, October 30, 2011 (www.delawareonline.com)
URL:http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20111030/NEWS01/110300326/Wilmington-cracks-down-illegal-pit-bulls. Accessed: 2011-11-13. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/63AdyEM01)
1The "unknown" factor may be the result of some counties not tracking dog bites by breed.

Amarillo, Texas
Also in October, after an infant was killed by a family pit bull-mix, Amarillo Animal Control statistics showed that pit bull bites were three times higher than those of any other single dog breed in the city. According to Shannon Barlow, assistant director of Animal Control, pit bulls accounted for 123 reported bites in Amarillo in 2009-10, the latest period for which city data was available. The breeds with the next-highest reports of bites were Labs and German shepherds, each with about 40 biting incidents, followed by boxers with 16 and rottweilers with 15. About 550 total dog bites are reported to officials each year, Barlow said.

Yann Ranaivo, "Animal Control: Pit bulls responsible for most bites," Amarillo Globe News, October 4, 2011 (www.amarillo.com)
URL:http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-10-04/animal-control-pit-bulls-responsible-most-bites#.TqSA93HEVV8. Accessed: 2011-10-23. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/62eqp7QTG)

San Diego County, California
In July 2011, after 75-year old Emako Mendoza was brutally attacked by her neighbor's two pit bulls, San Diego County Animal Services released data showing that pit bulls are the most prolific biters in the county. Of the 2,699 recorded dog bites in the past fiscal year, pit bulls were responsible for 389, nearly 15% (see graphic chart). Next in line, with almost half that number, were Labs with 199 bites and Chihuahuas with 174. To show how rare citations are issued after a biting incident, SignOnSanDiego.com pointed out that only 290 citations were issued during this same period even though almost 10 times as many incidents were reported.

John Wilkens, "What's being done about dog bites," SignOnSanDiego.com, July 16, 2011 (www.signonsandiego.com)
URL:http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/16/grappling-with-dog-bites/?ap. Accessed: 2011-07-29. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/60YHTSlbi)

Muskegon County, Michigan
Also in July, records from the Muskegon County Health Department showed that pit bulls were responsible for more biting incidents than any other dog breed for the past three years. In 2009, pit bulls produced 59 bites, in 2010, 75 bites, and in the first six months of 2011 already produced 41 bites. After two pit bulls brutally attacked a 60-year old Wyoming man, city lawmakers began discussing different pit bull regulations, including a breed ban for the City of Wyoming. The article also mentions a bill introduced by State Representative Timothy Bledsoe in June that would eventually ban the breed from the State of Michigan.

Bob Brenzing, "Lawmakers looking at pit bull bans," WZZM 13, July 27, 2011 (www.wzzm13.com)
URL: http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/173107/2/Lawmakers-looking-at-pit-bull-bans. Accessed: 2011-10-23. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/62eq5bubt)

Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio
In June 2011, the Public Health Department of Dayton and Montgomery County posted animal bite statistics of the last fiscal year -- June 28, 2010 to June 28, 2011. Of the 736 total reported dog biting incidents, pit bulls were far and away the leaders, responsible for 16% (117 bites). The next closest breed, "mix," was responsible for 64 bites and Lab-mixes with 46. The department also posted statistics from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. Of the 693 total reported incidents, pit bulls were responsible for 14% (95 bites), again, nearly twice the number of the next closest breed, Labs with 58 bites, followed by "mixed" with 56.

Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County Animal Bite Report, 2010-2011 (www.phdmc.org) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Also in June 2011, Severna Park Patch reported that from 2009 to 2010, there were 233 incidents involving pit bull attacks against people and dogs in Anne Arundel County. In that same period, the next closest breeds, German shepherds and Labs, caused just 93 incidents combined. Lt. Glenn Shanahan of Anne Arundel County Animal Control said that pit bulls lead all other breeds by at least two to one when it comes to attacks over the last five years. "The numbers say what they say. We're not making it up," Shanahan said. "It's demonstrably overwhelming." Officials said that pit bulls are also more frequently labeled "dangerous."

Jonathan Moynihan, "Pit Bull Incidents Outnumber Other Dog Attacks 2 to 1," SevernaParkPatch, June 20, 2011 (severnapark.patch.com)
URL:http://severnapark.patch.com/articles/pit-bull-incidents-outnumber-other-dog-attacks-2-to-1-2. Accessed: 2011-06-20. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5zb4vWWCd)

Ventura County, California
In May 2011, the Ventura County Star reported that in the fiscal year 2008-09 -- the latest that statistics were available -- 1,617 animal bites were reported to the Ventura County Animal Regulation Department. Of these, dogs accounted for 78%. Pit bulls had more recorded biting incidents than any other breed (121) followed by chihuahuas (119). Monica Nolan, the department's director, said, "Pit bulls are a terrier breed, and they are built to grab prey and hold on to prey." Chihuahua bites "are quick bites," she said. To help soften the damaging news, Noland also said that pit bulls are among "some of the gentlest dogs I have ever seen."1

John Scheibe, "Pit bull dogs seen as both vicious and very gentle," Ventura County Star, May 13, 2011 (www.vstar.com)
URL:http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/13/pit-bull-dogs-seen-as-both-vicious-and-very/. Accessed: 2011-05-14. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5ygVbUh3V)
1During this same year, a Ventura County pit bull savagely mauled to death 5-year old Katya Todesco. This incident was recorded as "one dog bite."

Maricopa County, Arizona
In March 2011, field manager Al Aguinaga of Maricopa County Animal Care told KPHO that pit bulls are the number one biting breed in the county -- inflicting 12% of all reported dog bites -- followed by German shepherds and chihuahuas. When asked if pit bulls are "truly more aggressive than other dogs, or are they simply getting a bad rap?" Aguinaga said, "Typically bites are more severe" and "people go to hospitals" and "animals are attacked or killed." Aguinaga also called out the pit bull’s physical strength. Referring to a recent pit bull berserking incident, he said, "It took five officers, a whole squad, to chase that [pit bull] down" Tuesday.

Steve Stout, “Pit Bulls No. 1 In County For Reported Bites,” KPHO Phoenix, March 23, 2011 (www.kpho.com)
URL:http://www.kpho.com/news/27294714/detail.html. Accessed: 2011-03-24. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5xQl2w7Bf)

New York City, New York
In February 2011, the New York Post published a tongue-and-cheek article about "pint-sized" chihuahuas and shih tzus, breeds among the top five biters in 2010, according to the city's Health Department. What's not so tongue-and-cheek is that pit bulls led biting incidents with 815, nearly 25% of all biting incidents recorded in the city. Rottweilers followed in second position. One hardly needs to state the difference between a pit bull or rottweiler bite and the bite from a pint-sized fashion accessory. Furthermore, it is irrational to assume that pit bulls and rottweilers make up anywhere near the majority of household dogs in New York City.

Lorena Mongelli and Kevin Fasick, "Tiny dogs major culprits behind record number of bites," New York Post, February 18, 2011 (www.nypost.com)
URL:http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/li_yippers_big_nippers_EsuEAx5j7TkzZArVFttI0J. Accessed: 2011-02-18. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5wauUbpOR)

Sacramento, California
In January 2011, The Sacramento Bee published a story about Poppy Watson, who was bitten in the face by a pit bull in November. The article helped promote a fundraiser on her behalf, Popfest 2011. Restaurateurs organized the event to help Watson pay for reconstructive surgeries. Watson told the Bee that her face looked like "it went through a windshield" after the attack. The male pit bull, which had formerly slept with its owners, was put down after the incident. The Bee also noted that Sacramento Animal Care Services investigated 165 incidents of animal attacks and bites in 2010. "The vast majority of those cases involved pit bulls."

Chris Macias, "Sacramento restaurateurs organize auction to help dog-bite victim," The Sacramento Bee, January 19, 2011 (www.sacbee.com)
URL:http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/19/3334152/sacramento-restaurateurs-organize.html#mi_rss=Our%20Region. Accessed: 2011-01-30. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5w8Nj49bx)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
In October 2010, Pittsburgh Animal Control records showed that pit bulls comprise 5.2% of the registered dogs. Yet of the 133 biting incidents reported so far in 2010, pit bulls made up 40%. Animal Control Supervisor Gerald Akrie -- a shameless pit bull apologist -- tried to blame the disproportionate numbers on "knucklehead" dog owners. Back in April, Pittsburgh police officer Christine Luffey and her daughter were attacked by three pit bulls that jumped a fence. Akrie minimized that incident by calling it an "accident," requiring DogsBite.org to fire off an email to Public Safety Director Mike Huss. Yet Akrie is up to his pit bull distortions again.

"Official Discusses Concern After Latest Dog Attack," KDKA.com, October 11, 2010 (www.kdka.com)
URL:http://kdka.com/local/pit.bull.attack.2.1956958.html. Accessed: 2010-10-11. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5tPjF8cbI)

Memphis, Tennessee
Also in October, City of Memphis records showed that there were 388 biting incidents in 2009. Of those, nearly half were inflicted by pit bulls. Other biters included German shepherds and Chows. The My Fox Memphis news article notes that based on DogBiteLaw.com -- and other groups that track national fatal dog attack data, including DogsBite.org -- pit bulls also cause over half of the attacks that result in death. The article comes several months after the deadly attack of William Parker who suffered a heart attack after being severely mauled by two loose pit bulls. Four other people were bitten and hospitalized in the July 20 rampage.

Jill Monier, "Dog Attacks Growing Problem," My Fox Memphis, October 19, 2010 (www.myfoxmemphis.com)
URL:http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/101910-dog-attacks-growing-problem. Accessed: 2010-11-20. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5uNv8BOdY)

Lynn, Massachusetts
In August 2010, when the City of Lynn was discussing the adoption of a pit bull ordinance, Police Chief Kevin Coppinger said that 51 biting incidents were reported in the city last year -- 29 involving pit bulls (57%). Coppinger added that there had been at least four pit bull attacks since July 10. The ordinance discussed defined pit bulls as "dangerous animals" with "powerful instincts for dominance" and "unyielding aggressiveness." The ordinance would require pit bull owners to register their dog; pay a $50 licensing fee; if a renter, to notify the landlord that a pit bull was on the premises and to muzzle the dog when off property.

Thor Jourgensen, "Kennedy to sign or reject pit bull ordinance by Friday," The Daily Item, August 19, 2010 (www.thedailyitemoflynn.com) URL:http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2010/08/19/news/news01.txt. Accessed: 2010-09-11. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sfjVnuJj)

Worcester, Massachusetts
In July 2010, City Manager Michael O'Brien recommended to City Council an ordinance intended to deal with rising public safety concerns about pit bulls. Councilor William Eddy, who has championed the city's adoption of a pit bull law, said that over the past three years, pit bulls caused 25% of all biting incidents even though pit bulls only comprise 2% of the dogs licensed by the city. The new ordinance would require pit bull owners to abide by supplemental licensing and registration rules, ensure their dog is leashed and muzzled when off owner's property, obtain landlord consent (if a renter), and post a warning sign on the property.

Nick Kotsopoulos, "Proposed rule would restrict pit bulls," News Telegram, July 19, 2010 (www.telegram.com) URL:http://www.telegram.com/article/20100719/NEWS/7190355. Accessed: 2010-08-31. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sPSDGuuY)

San Bernardino County, California
In June 2010, after two deadly pit bull attacks, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved a measure requiring all pit bull owners to spay or neuter their animals. Brian Cronin, Chief of County Animal Care and Control, said, "This year alone, we've had two human deaths, and four deaths1 in five years, because of pit bull attacks. No other death has been attributable to any other breed." He said that of the 686 reported biting incidents in the county in the 2008-09 fiscal year, 137 involved pit bulls (20%). He added that because pit bulls are the least likely to be adopted, the county must already euthanize about 1,300 annually.

Phil Willon, "San Bernardino County to require spaying or neutering of pit bulls," Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2010 (www.latimes.com) URL:http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/23/local/la-me-pit-bulls-20100623. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sPSHTfT8)
1Omar Martinez, Nathan Aguirre, Kellie Chapman and Shaun Lee McCafferty.

Clark County, Nevada
In May 2010, Clark County biting statistics were brought to our attention. Clark County publishes these statistics online. Biting incidents by breed during the 7-year period from 2003 to 2009 show that of the 6,798 reported incidents, pit bulls were responsible for 1,474 (22%). The next closest breed was the German shepherd with 671 (10%) incidents. In 2008, pit bulls out bit shepherds by more than three times -- 234 pit bull bites versus 77 shepherd bites. The same was nearly true in 2009, 215 and 88 respectively. Essentially, the Clark County pit bull community sold dogs that produced over 200% more bites than the shepherd community.

Clark County Animal Control: Dog Bites by Breed With Percentage (2008 to 2009); Clark County Animal Control: Dog Bites by Breed With Percentage (2003 to 2007) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Franklin County, Ohio
In April 2010, Bryan Wagner, Chief Environmental Specialist for the Franklin County Environmental Court, testified in opposition to HB 79, a bill that seeks to repeal the Ohio law that requires pit bull owners to securely confine and leash their dog and carry $100,000 in liability insurance. Wagner said statistics show more bites are attributed to pit bulls than other dog breed. In Franklin County, 126 of the 333 dog bites (38%) reported last year were attributed to a pit bull. Wagner added, "I believe that pit bull dogs represent a substantial and real threat to the citizens of a crowded, urban environment such as Franklin County."

Statehouse Report by County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO), April 16, 2010 (www.ccao.org) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Toledo, Ohio
In December 2009, Toledo Lucas County Health Department data showed that pit bulls led the number of biting incidents from January 1 to November 8. Of the 380 total biting incidents, 65 were attributed to pit bulls. This accounts for 17% of all bites, despite pit bulls accounting for less than 5% of the county's dog population. Though pit bulls are regulated under Ohio and Toledo laws, the breed still led biting incidents. The Lucas County Dog Warden's office keeps track of serious bite injuries. Of the 150 bites listed as "serious" this year, pit bulls and their mixes accounted for 42 (28%). In 18 of the cases, the victims were under 18 years of age.

Lou Herbert, "Pit bulls bite most in Lucas County," WNWO NBC24, December 22, 2009 (www.toledoonthemove.com) URL:http://www.toledoonthemove.com/community/story.aspx?id=393495. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQBt1Tgy)

Bakersfield, California
In September 2009, it was reported that more than 2,400 dog bites had been recorded by animal control services in Bakersfield and areas of unincorporated Kern County since January 2007. "By a wide margin," the breed that bites most often is the pit bull, according to records compiled by the county. The city does not track bites by breed, which is an indicator that the city's animal service opposes BSL. The article also notes the questionable "mixed-breed" category: "Since 2007, pit bulls have bitten 389 victims in Kern. Mixed-breed dogs hold a dubious second place with 254 bites, and German shepherds are third with 140 bites."

Steven Mayer, "Neighborhood safety going to the dogs," Bakersfield.com, September 19, 2009 (www.bakersfield.com) URL:http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x746310435/Neighborhood-safety-going-to-the-dogs. Accessed: 2010-09-06. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sY4kfQvD)

Royal Oaks, Michigan
Also in September, another Detroit suburb discussed pit bull legislation (view related map). According to a report provided by City Manager Don Johnson on the 5,311 licensed dogs in Royal Oak, "Pit bulls account for only 1.7% of licensed dogs in Royal Oak but were responsible for about 35% of reported dog bite incidents this year." It is important to point out that Detroit is known as the "dogfighting capital" of the U.S., thus an area rich with the breeding and ownership of pit bulls with explosive aggression. The Detroit area is also the center of U.S. medical research regarding pit bull injury to humans1. This is not a coincidence.

"Local news: Dangerous dogs on agenda in Royal Oak," Freep.com, September 21, 2009 (www.freep.com) (Archive unavailable)
1Pitbull Mauling Deaths in Detroit (case report) and A Ten-Year, Two-Institution Review of Pediatric Dog Attacks (study)

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
In August 2009, it was reported that pit bull bites were up 20% in Mecklenburg County. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, pit bulls represented 208 bites. Labs were second with 152, followed by German shepherds and Chows. The news article followed the July pit bull attack involving 9-year old Jisseth Moquete. The girl's neighbor, Jonathan Hall, had been "showing" the pit bull to her family in hopes they would buy the dog. As Moquete was petting the pit bull, the dog latched onto her face. A stranger had given the dog to Hall "for free" one day earlier.

Lisa Miller, "Pit Bull bites up 20% in Mecklenburg County," WFAE 90.7 FM, August 13, 2009 (www.wfae.org) URL:http://www.wfae.org/wfae/1_87_316.cfm?action=display&id=5340. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQC21Bo0)

Springdale, Arkansas
Also in August, the mayor of Springdale, Doug Sprouse, said that over half of the bites reported over the last 2 years have been by pit bulls. That can be a little misleading, he said, "but that's still a hefty number." City officials agreed that they wanted to "prevent bites before they happen," particularly by pit bulls, yet were hesitant about targeting a specific breed in the ordinance. The nearby city of Siloam Springs declares pit bulls "vicious" (Sec: 10-101) and requires owners to adhere to restraint requirements, attain liability insurance and to muzzle their dog when off property. The law specifically targets pit bulls to prevent future pit bull bites.

"City To Crack Down On Dangerous Dogs," KHBS NW Arkansas, August 12, 2009 (www.4029tv.com) URL:http://www.4029tv.com/news/20376223/detail.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQC5K66q)

Hamilton, Ohio
In July 2009, after a pit bull named "Monster" escaped its pen and attacked its owner's young daughter, the Hamilton Health Department released dog bite statistics. From 2001 to July 2009, pit bulls lead with 157 biting incidents, representing 19% of all dog bites. Despite the fact that Ohio declares pit bulls "vicious" and requires special restraint measures (955.22) and liability coverage, pit bulls were still the top biters. The closest follower was "mixed," with 133 incidents (16%). Yet this category is questionable given that U.S. dogs are rarely sold or adopted under the generalized name "mixed." Labs followed with 65 incidents (8%).

Richard Wilson, "Pit bull owner stands by the breed," The Oxford Press, July 19, 2009 (www.oxfordpress.com) URL:http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/oxford-news/pit-bull-owner-stands-by-the-breed-211115.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCCHBNK)

Hillsborough County, Florida
Also in July, the Tampa Tribune requested data on dog bites from the Hillsborough Department of Animal Services regarding the 2,400 cases recorded in the last 18 months. The data shows that 103 different dog breeds were responsible for the bites. Pit bulls topped the chart with 371 incidents, 15% of all bites during the period. Labs followed with less than half of this amount with 151 incidents (6%). German shepherds ranked 3rd with 105 incidents (4%) and Chows ranked 4th with 80 (3%). As depicted on the chart, the Tribune seemed to think it was no big deal that one dog breed accounted for such a large percentage of bites.

Dennis Joyce, "Dog bite data doesn’t add up for lovers of Labradors," Tampa Tribune, July 29, 2009 (www.tboblogs.com) URL:http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/dog-bite-data-doesnt-add-up-for-lab-lovers/#. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCIDRlV)

Ventura County, California
Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation released it annual data (July 2008 to June 2009) this month too. The report showed that pit bulls ranked 9th in licensing, down from 8th in the previous year, but were still the top biter producing 121 biting incidents, up from 117 in the previous year. Often cited by pro-pit bull groups as the leading biter, Cocker spaniels ranked 7th in licensing, but 9th in bite numbers producing only 19 incidents. Pit bulls also topped impounds with 1,399, up from 1,260 in the previous year. By comparison, Labs who rank 1st in licensing and are the most popular dog breed, had 580 impounds and 74 biting incidents.

Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation FY 2008-2009 Statistical Report (www.countyofventura.org) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Woonsocket, Rhode Island
In June 2009, Capt. Kenneth Paulhus of the Woonsocket Police Department issued a 3-year report concerning the alarming pit bull trend. "In 2006, pit bulls accounted for 32 percent of all the dog bite cases in Woonsocket," Paulhus says in the report. "The number increased to 37 percent in 2007. The year 2008 reflected half of all dog bites in the city were attributed to pit bulls." He added that "many were serious." Animal Control Officer Doris Kay1 says in the report that she used to think all dogs were created equal. But she says she's learned that, "In Woonsocket pit bulls bite more often, and cause more injury, than any other breed."

Russ Olivo, "Police push pit bull law," The Call, June 14, 2009 (www.woonsocketcall.com) URL:http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/90556. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCMBxfQ)
1Nine months later, Officer Kay is attacked and seriously injured by a pit bull while in the line of duty.

Lincoln, Nebraska
Also in June, after a pit bull attacked 10-year old Baylee Harris, Lincoln Animal Control officials said that pit bulls are the leading breed in reported attacks. Since September of 2008, there have been 38 pit bull bites in the city followed by Labs with 27. The Lincoln County Animal Control 2008 Annual Report (truncated) shows that in 2008, a licensed population of 858 pit bulls and their mixes produced 60 biting incidents. The city's population of Labs and Lab-mixes, 5448 dogs, produced 39 bites in the same period. The data shows that 1 out of every 14 pit bulls in Lincoln is a biter, while its takes over 142 Labs to produce a bite.

Jason Volentine, "Updated Lincoln Boy Recovering After Pit Bull Attack," KOLNKGIN, June 3, 2009 (www.kolnkgin.com) URL:http://www.1011now.com/news/headlines/46865322.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCQJnGG)

Richmond County, Georgia
In the same month, it was reported that Richmond County had 139 complaints of animal bites so far this year, 26 of them involving pit bulls. This is about 19-percent and the most of all dog breeds, according to the article. Diane Downs, the Director of Richmond County Animal Control, said that pit bulls "tend to get the most exposure because unfortunately they do the most damage." The news article came in response to a pit bull attack that left an Augusta man hospitalized. As we see in so many of these cases, the pit bulls escaped owner property (through a gap in the fence) "just to attack" a man who had been walking down the street.

Samantha Andre, "Pit bull attack sends man to hospital," WRDW.com, June 23, 2009 (www.wrdw.com) URL:http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/48927862.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCTcTGV)

Syracuse, New York
In May 2009, it was reported that the Syracuse dog control department had responded to 19 pit bull bites since the start of the year. According to the article, this is nearly double the amount during all of last year. "It's the beginning of dog control officer Jason Driscoll's shift," the article states, "and already he's responding to a pit bull call." In this instance, the two pit bulls (with a history of bad behavior) had also escaped owner property. Last year one of the same dog's bit a young girl. Dog control officers told WSYR TV that they run into trouble with other dog breeds as well, but pit bulls make up the "majority of reported attacks."

"Pit bull attacks in Syracuse on the rise," NewsChannel 9 WSYR, May 29, 2009 (9wsyr.com)URL:http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Pit-bull-attacks-in-Syracuse-on-the-rise/YFsGie2yNUCHPyNdFkG6SQ.cspx. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCXO6Dy)

Dyersburg, Tennessee
In April 2009, after a 16-year old girl was attacked by loose pit bulls while walking down a street, the Dyersburg Police Department reported there were 21 "dog bite" reports written in 2008. The figures show that nearly half of those bites (10) were from pit bulls. In the first four months of 2009, three of the five police reports written on dog bites involved pit bulls. The article also includes information from the Dyersburg City Attorney's office. City records show there were 35 court cases involving dogs within the last year. Of the 35 cases, 29 of them involved pit bulls. There were also six dog bite cases and all of those were from pit bulls.

"Pit bull attack causes injury and outrage," State Gazette, April 4, 2009 (stategazette.com) URL:http://www.stategazette.com/story/1527994.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCalTPh)

Ogden, Utah
In March 2009, the City of Ogden considered a new ordinance that would toughen requirements for pit bull owners including carrying liability insurance. Bob Geier, director of the Ogden Animal Shelter, was in support of this new ordinance. Based on the APPA national survey statistics, Geier estimated that there are about 16,000 dogs in Ogden, including 3,200 pit bulls. During the last two years, pit bulls have accounted for about 20 percent of the dog population at the city animal shelter. During that same period, according to Geier, pit bulls and their mixes have been responsible for about 40 percent of reported dog bites in the city.

Scott Schwebke, "Tougher rules for pit bulls," Standard-Examiner, March 29, 2009 (www.standard.net) (Archive unavailable)

Lake County, Florida
Also reported in March, Marjorie Boyd, the director of Lake County Animal Services, said, "Pit bulls lead all breeds of dogs and cats in bite incidents the county has investigated in the past two years." According to Boyd, pit bulls represented 12.7 percent of bite cases in 2007, 12.5 percent in 2008 and 18 percent of cases thus far this year. The article came in response to the mauling of 22-year old Tracy Lindsey. At the time, Lindsey had been jogging down Getford Road when two pit bulls escaped their property and attacked her. Lindsay was airlifted by a Life Flight helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center and rushed into surgery.

Benjamin Roode, "Pit bulls maul jogger," The Daily Commercial, March 31, 2009 (www.dailycommercial.com) URL:http://www.dailycommercial.com/PrinterFriendly/033109dogbite. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQChYkZA)

Broward County, Florida
South of Lake County, the Broward County Dog Bite Database depicts a vivid picture of the "top biter." During the years of 2005 to 2008, Labs produced 151 biting incidents with 98 inflicted on humans and 53 on animals, while Cocker spaniels produced 16 biting incidents with 15 on humans and 1 to an animal. In the same period, the pit bull/American Staffordshire terrier community produced a whopping 618 biting incidents with 323 inflicted on humans and 296 on the county's pet and livestock population. The data shows that human-aggression is just as prevalent as animal-aggression in pit bulls produced by local breeders.

"Search Broward County animal bite reports" South Florida Sun Sentinel, 2009 (www.sun-sentinel.com) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Pinellas County, Florida
According to a 2009 Florida Senate Interim Report by the Committee on Community Affairs, Pinellas County had a total of 122,225 licensed dogs in 2007 and a total of 1,233 dog bites. For a county in which less than 3% of the dog population (3,666) is made up of pit bulls, they accounted for over 19% of the bites (235). The registered population of pit bulls produced 1 bite incident per every 15.6 pit bulls. The next highest number of bites was attributed to Labs, which represent 9% of the dog population (11,000) and accounted for 11.5% of the bites (142). The registered population of Labs only produced 1 bite incident per every 77.5 Labs.

"Review of the Viability of City or County Pre-emption of Banning Certain Dog Breeds By Ordinance," Committee on Community Affairs, Florida Senate Interim Report 2009-102. (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona city records showed in March that of the 5,056 dogs licensed in 2008, 162 (3%) of them were pit bulls or their mixes. City dog law officer, John Iorio, handled 178 biting incidents in 2008. Of these incidents, 110 (61%) involved pit bulls. Iorio believes the actual number of pit bulls in the city to be 400 (8%), but this hardly reduces the alarming number of bites attributed to them. In July 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDF) records showed that 112 dogs in a 5-county region were declared legally "dangerous." Pit bulls accounted for 42 (38%) of these dogs. No Cocker spaniels or Labs appeared on the list.

William Kibler, "Dog attack highlights city's problem with pit bulls," The Altoona Mirror, March 8, 2009 (www.altoonamirror.com) URL:http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/516815.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCr2Nh9)

Indianapolis, Indiana
In February 2009, The Indianapolis Star reported that pit bull bites were at a record high -- 282 in 2008, an increase of 33 percent from the previous year and about three times the total from 2006. The Marion County Dog Bite Database shows that pit bulls produced 490 biting incidents while Labs produced 152 and Cocker spaniels only produced 27. The Star also reported that out of 3,000 pit bulls in animal care last year, nearly 2,500 were euthanized. Despite these statistics, the active pit bull community and the Indianapolis Humane Society, managed to "table" a new dog ordinance designed to reduce pit bull bites and deaths.

Heather Gillers, "Can pit bulls be saved?" The Indianapolis Star, February 1, 2009 (www.indystar.com) URL:http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009302010002. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQCwtExS)

Wichita, Kansas
In January 2009, the Wichita Department of Environmental Services released a number of pit bull statistics. The figures are based upon the Wichita Animal Control department's investigation of 733 dog bites in 2008. Included in the data are pit bulls encountered by the Wichita Police Department. In the 1-year period, 95% of police encounters with aggressive dogs were pit bulls. The report also showed that the percentage of pit bull encounters had increased from 66% in 2004 to 95% in 2008. Subsequently, four months after the release of this data, the City of Wichita enacted a mandatory pit bull sterilization law.

55% of all dogs deemed dangerous were pit bulls (41 pit bull dogs deemed dangerous).
34% of attacks and bites involved pit bull dogs (246 pit bull attacks/bites).
28% of dogs found running at large were pit bulls (1,279 pit bulls found running loose).
25% of dogs impounded were pit bulls dogs (1,575 pit bulls impounded).
37% of all dogs euthanized were pit bull dogs (1,255 pit bulls euthanized).
23% of dog complaints involved pit bull dogs (2,523 complaints involved pit bull dogs).

"Wichita Pit Bull Dogs in 2008," Wichita Department of Environmental Services, January 2009 (www.wichitagov.org) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

Canton, Ohio
In September 2008, when the City of Canton was in the process of adding American bulldogs to their existing pit bull ordinance (pit bulls are deemed "vicious" under Ohio state law), the Canton Repository published dog bite statistics from the Canton Health Department. From January 1, 2005 to September 2008, pit bulls led biting incidents with 89 bites. German shepherds (including police dogs) followed with 68, mutts with 50 and rottweilers with 33. It must be noted that under a 1991 Supreme Court of Ohio ruling, the court validated that "dogs commonly known as a pit bull dog" includes close breeds such as American bulldogs.

Ed Balint, "Canton may designate American bulldogs as vicious animals," The Canton Repository, September 14, 2008 (www.cantonrep.com) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

North Texas Cities
In August 2008, The Dallas Morning News reported that one third (33%) of all dog bite incidents from July 2007 to July 2008 in Duncanville, Cedar Hill and Mesquite involved pit bulls. Each of these cities passed resolutions urging the state Legislature to allow breed-specific laws, as lawmakers were hoodwinked by the dog lobby in 1991 and passed a preemptive state-wide anti-BSL measure (822.047). The next closest breeds were German shepherds (9.6%) followed by Labs (9%). While breed population data was not available in this article, it's presumable that the pit bull population is lower than the other two breeds.

Jon Nielsen, "North Texas cities seek breed-specific regulations as statistics show pit bulls lead in bite incidents," Dallas Morning News, August 22, 2008 (www.dallasnews.com) URL:http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-dogbites_22met.ART.North.Edition1.4d8610c.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQD4jKDt)

Ventura County, California
In July 2008, Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation released a 1-year statistical report (July 2007 to June 2008). The report showed that pit bulls ranked 8th in licensing, but were still the top biter producing 117 biting incidents in this period. Often cited by pro-pit bull groups as the leading biter, Cocker spaniels ranked 6th in licensing, but 8th in bite numbers with only 28 incidents. In September 2008, 5-year old Katya Todesco of Simi Valley suffered catastrophic face and neck injury after she reportedly "bumped into" a pit bull. She died 6 days later. The pit bull mauling death of Katya was recorded as "one biting incident."

Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation FY 2007-2008 Statistical Report (www.countyofventura.org) (Archived by DogsBite.org)

El Paso County, Colorado
In May 2008, after a pit bull burrowed under a fence and attacked a 5-year old boy, Ann Davenport of the Pikes Peak Region Humane Society said, "Pit bulls and pit bull mixes have accounted for more dog bites than any other breed in El Paso County this year. They were involved in 216 bites, about 18% of the 1,381 attacks reported. Labrador retrievers were second on the list, with 157 attacks, and German shepherds were third, with 93 bites." The attack occurred in Cimarron Hills, just east of Colorado Springs. The child received 2,000 stitches and underwent two immediate surgeries with many future facial surgeries expected.

Lance Benzel, "Pit bull mauls a 5-year-old boy," Colorado Springs Gazette, May 30, 2008 (www.gazette.com) URL:http://www.gazette.com/articles/bit-36793-dog-old.html. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQDBTlcn)

Lubbock, Texas
In February 2008, the City and County of Lubbock experienced a "pit bull epidemic," which by March ended in the deaths of 23 animals due to loose pit bulls. The February article provided 2007 Lubbock Animal Services data regarding dog incidents. Of the 247 dog bites, pit bulls accounted for 75 incidents (30%). Labs followed with just 17 incidents (7%) and German shepherds with 15 (6%). Unfortunately, the writers of the article were hoodwinked into the myth that pit bulls are one of the "most popular" dog breeds in the nation. 2009 U.S shelter data shows that the total U.S. pit bull population is no greater than 5% of all dogs.

Joshua Hull and Robin Pyle, "Dog attack concerns growing in Lubbock," Lubbock Online, February 24, 2008 (www.lubbockonline.com) URL:http://lubbockonline.com/stories/022408/loc_250419027.shtml. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQDHOKSV)

San Francisco, California
In July 2005, about 6 months prior to San Francisco enacting a pit bull sterilization law, the San Francisco Chronicle reviewed hundreds of dog bites logged by the city. According to Animal Care and Control department records, pit bulls and their mixes accounted for 27% of reported dog bites since 2003, even though they accounted for only 6% of licensed dogs. Of the 900 bite incidents recorded in this period, 626 traced to a specific dog. Of those, 169 bites were attributed to pit bulls. As the Chronicle writer points out, "that's more than the number of bites by German shepherds (69), Labradors (58) and rottweilers (34) combined."

Todd Wallack, "Dog bite reports show pit bulls likeliest culprits," San Francisco Chronicle, July 11, 2005 (www.sfgate.com) URL:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/11/BAG5UDLOAC1.DTL. Accessed: 2010-09-01. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5sQDKVdte)

Fatal Rottweiler Attacks - The Archival Record

2012-03-19T00:01:00.013-05:00

DogsBite.org - Combining DogsBite.org dog bite fatality statistics with research provided by a volunteer produced a significant archival collection of fatal rottweiler attacks dating back to 1978. Of the 91 victims located thus far, 85% (77) where children ages 11-years and younger. 68% (52) of these children were ages 4-years and younger. California produced the most fatal rottweiler attacks (11), followed by Texas (7) and Georgia, Illinois and Florida (each with 6).1

Together, the Fatal Rottweiler Attacks and Fatal Pit Bull Attacks archives show 74% (157) of all U.S. dog bite-related fatalities (213) during the 7-year period from 2005 to 2011.

03/09/12: Dylan Andres, 17-months old (Jacksonsville, FL)
Killed by neighbor's chained rottweiler
08/12/11: James Dowling, 4-years old (Ozark, AR)
Killed by grandfather's pet rottweiler
04/12/11: Annabella Mitchell, 7-months old (Frankfort, ME)
Killed by family rottweiler
03/06/11: Vanessa Husmann, 3-years old (Hopkinton, IA)
Killed by grandfather's AKC champion breeding rottweilers
02/17/11: Sirlinda Hayes, 66-years old (Dillon County, SC)
Killed by cousin's two rottweilers; cousin suffered leg amputation
12/19/10: Jeannette Vaughn, 3-months old (Harris County, TX)
Killed by family rottweiler that broke into house
03/08/10: Justin Lopez, 9-months old (Tribal Land, OK)
Killed by newly adopted rottweilers
02/28/10: Ashlynn Anderson, 4-years old (Svensen, OR)
Killed by stepfather's female rottweiler
12/12/09: Dallas Lee Walters, 20-months old (New Port Richey, FL)
Killed by great-aunt's rottweiler at Birthday party
01/19/09: Brianna Shanor, 8-years old (Hanover Township, PA)
Killed by guardian's chained rottweiler
01/15/09: Brooklyn Grace Milburn, 3-years old (Fort Worth, TX)
Killed by neighbor's 17-year old rottweiler
01/11/09: Alex Angulo, 4-years old, (Chicago, IL)
Killed by foster family's rottweiler
09/12/07: Kylie Cox, 4-months old (Warren, MI)
Killed by rottweiler while visiting a home
07/12/07: Tiffany Pauley, 5-years old (Carrolton GA)
Killed by neighbor's chained rottweiler
01/28/07: Taylor Kitlica, 18-months old (Brewton, AL)
Killed by chained rottweiler
01/24/07: Matthew Logan Johnson, 6-years old (Richmond, VA)
Killed by newly adopted rottweiler
11/13/06: James Eisaman, 40-years old (Akron, OH)
Killed by girlfriend's two rottweilers
11/06/06: Luis Romero Jr., 2-years old (Drexel Heights, AZ)
Killed by family's two rottweilers
11/03/06: Ariel Pogue, 2-years old (Camp Hill, AL)
Killed by family rottweiler
10/03/06: Julius Graham, 2-years old (Snowhill, NC)
Killed by neighbor's rottweiler
06/22/06: Gemma Liliana Carlos, 2-years old (Horizon, TX)
Killed by neighbor's rottweiler
03/20/06: Quillan Cottrell, 3-years old (Jameson, MO)
Killed by step-uncle's rottweiler
02/24/06: Dominic Giordano, 4-years old (Ulm, MT)
Killed by relative's rottweiler
01/09/06: Ashton Scott, 11-months old (Childress, TX)
Killed by family rottweiler
10/15/05: Sydney Akin, 6-years old (Rochelle, GA)
Killed by rottweiler while visiting horse farm
08/02/05: Cassandra Garcia, 16-months old (Glendale, CA)
Killed by grandparent's rottweiler
05/02/05: Asia Turner, 4-years old (Spartanburg, SC)
Killed by two newly acquired rottweilers
03/15/05: Sandra Sanchez, 32-years old (Harris County, TX)
Killed by landlord's two rottweilers
03/10/05: Robert Schafer, 4-years old (Orange County, VA)
Killed by family rottweiler-mix
03/30/04: Leta Ward, 65-years old (Bakersfield, CA)
Killed by own pet rottweiler
03/30/04: Samuel James Truck, 2-years old (Munford, TN)
Killed by family's two rottweiler-mixes
03/16/03: Lily Krajewski, 2-years old (Clarion, PA)
Killed by two rottweilers while visiting grandmother's home
08/03/03: Samantha Grace Bauld, 3-years old (Saronville, NE)
Killed by aunt and uncle's rottweiler
03/07/03: Jennifer Nicole Davis, 7-years old (Joshua Tree, CA)
Killed by two rottweilers while entering yard
10/10/02: Jane Doe, 23-months old (Cobb County, GA)
Killed by family's two rottweilers
04/19/02: Victoria Morales, 5-years old (Monterrey County, CA)
Killed by grandmother's "prize-winning" rottweiler
03/27/02: John Doe Swindler, 3-years old (Callaway County, MO)
Killed by family rottweiler
02/14/02: Alicia Lynn Clark, 10-years old (Elroy, WI)
Killed by six rottweilers belonging to her best friend's family
02/07/02: Genoe Novak, 6-years old (Tehama County, CA)
Killed by neighbor's rottweilers
12/01/01: Tristan Gambrel, 3-years old (Birmingham, AL)
Killed by three rottweilers while visiting a home
10/29/01: Kristin Jolley, 1-year old (Lovell, WY)
Killed by neighbor's chained rottweiler
08/21/01: Sierra Clayton, 3-years old (Englewood, IL)
Killed by rottweiler in front of her siblings and mother
06/09/01: Kyle Anthony Ross, 5-years old (Springfield, MA)
Killed by foster-mother's rottweiler
04/30/01: Javonna King, 1-month old (Chicago, IL)
Killed by family rottweiler
03/06/01: Joshua Brown, 3-years old (Whitley County, KY)
Killed by family rottweiler
02/03/00: Justin Tabner, 5-years old (Barrow County, GA)
Killed by chained rottweiler
11/04/99: Jessica Bice, 3-years old (Crittenden County, AR)
Killed by house-mate's rottweiler2
09/20/99: Michael Lewis, 10-years old (Baton Rouge, LA)
Killed by family's two rottweilers
08/07/99: Nicolas Bildeau, 6-years old (Siren, WI)
Killed by family rottweiler
03/27/99: Darrel Roberson, 42-years old (Tulsa, OK)
Killed by two loose rottweilers
01/02/99: Alexander Samon, 8-years old (Decatur, IL)
Killed by two rottweilers
10/18/98: Hope Moore, 2-years old (Lowndes County, GA)
Killed by loose rottweiler while walking with her grandmother
09/16/98: Susan Meller, 75-years old (San Marcos, CA)
Killed by own guard dog trained rottweilers
08/17/98: Kimela Foster, 38-years old (Columbus, OH)
Killed by car while fleeing two loose rottweilers
06/13/98: Austin Cussins, 1-year old (Lakewood, CO)
Killed by family rottweiler-mix
12/26/97: Dakota "Cody" Randolph, 3-years old (Tunnel Hill, GA)
Killed by two rottweilers belonging to mother's boyfriend
12/25/97: April Edwards, 5-years old (Attalla, AL)
Killed by family's three rottweilers on Christmas morning
09/12/97: Kristine Castillo, 8-months old (Lakewood, CA)
Killed by rottweiler while visiting aunt's home
07/10/97: Melba Adams, 87-years old (Visalia, CA)
Killed by neighbor's rottweiler
04/24/97: Christopher Wilson, 11-years old (Geary County, KS)
Killed by three loose rottweilers while waiting for school bus
04/11/97: Corey McLaughlin, 4-years old (Fayetteville, NC)
Killed by grandfather's rottweiler
01/02/97: Andre Theriault, 3-months old (Livermore, CA)
Killed by babysitter's rottweiler
10/31/96: Corey Hines, 10-years old (Lake Wales, FL)
Killed by neighbor's six loose rottweilers
07/19/96: John D. Young, 8-years old (Oakland, CA)
Killed by two neighborhood rottweilers
07/10/96: Kasandra E. Duval, 21-months old (Springfield, MO)
Killed by neighbor's rottweiler
07/04/96: Matthew Pedercini, 1-year old (Orange, MA)
Killed by rottweiler white attending Fourth of July cookout
02/06/96: Anthony Hunt, 4-years old (Jacksonville, FL)
Killed by family rottweiler and German shepherd
11/19/95: Alec Balbachan, 5-years old (Hartford, CT)
Killed by uncle’s two rottweilers
10/10/95: Melton Earl Smith, 60-years old (Greene County, NC)
Killed by three rottweilers
05/24/95: Kirby Wayne Lawrence, 2-years old (Ocala, Fl)
Killed by chained rottweiler
05/19/95: Robert Thorpe, 11-years old (Connellsville, PA)
Killed by pack of dogs led by a rottweiler3
04/18/95: Lindsay Shanaman, 2-years old (Canon City, CO)
Killed by grandmother's rottweiler while visiting for Easter
10/23/94: Kayla Marie Lee, 5-years old (Northglenn, CO)
Killed by rottweiler "on loan" for protection
03/07/94: Heide Dohrn-Cribb, 5-years old (Renton, WA)
Killed by neighbor's two female rottweilers
02/04/94: Martha Pope, 75-years old (Chicago, IL)
Killed by son-in-law's two rottweilers
01/08/94: Amarillys Torres, 2-months old (Tampa, FL)
Killed by family rottweiler
12/15/93: Ursula Petzinger, 53-years old (Elizabethtown, KY)
Killed saving grandson from family rottweilers
11/27/93: Dusty Patterson, 5-years old (Desoto, TX)
Killed by family rottweiler kept for breeding purposes
11/08/93: Sasha Brown, 4-months old (Chicago, IL)
Killed by a new rottweiler purchased for "protection"
08/11/93: Reggie Miller, 6-years old (Kansas City, KS)
Killed by two rottweilers while riding toy tractor
07/23/93: Louise Cooper Gantt, 65-years old (Richland County, SC)
Killed by own rottweiler purchased for protection
05/14/93: Billy Sheppard Jr., 3-years old (Long Island, NY)
Killed by rottweiler where mother was babysitting
06/20/92: Daniel Worley, 6-years old (Fairview, NC)
Killed by family rottweiler
02/23/92: Jonathon Williams, 7-years old (Mauldin, SC)
Killed by rottweiler while searching for its owner
11/06/91: Raymond Gosh, 86-years old (Chester County, SC)
Killed by loose dogs including rottweilers
10/20/89: Hoke Lane Prevette Jr., 20-years old (Winston Salem, NC)
Killed by two rottweilers while jogging
05/02/88: Melissa Boyse, 16-months old (Kent, WA)
Killed by family rottweiler
09/27/87: Shannon Tucker, 2-years old (Columbus, OH)
Killed by rottweiler and pit bull
10/31/85: Santina Saba, 1-month old (Suffolk County, MA)
Killed by three family rottweilers
09/03/83: Cara Rognaldson, 1-month old (Dallas, TX)
Killed by family rottweiler
01/24/78: Vincent Madrigal, 1-year old (St. Helena, CA)
Killed by two rottweilers known to him

2This post will be periodically updated to reflect new rottweiler fatalities.
2Sheriff's investigator Jason Oliver, angry over the child's grisly death, said that rottweilers and children don't mix and that people living with vicious dogs and children "need to use that lump 3 feet above their ass."
3In revenge, the boy's father and two cousins set the dog owner's mobile home on fire. After igniting gasoline soaked cloths inside the home, exploding ammunition "sounded like a war zone." The two cousins barely escaped with their lives.

Fort Wayne Citizen Witnesses The Extreme Violence of a Pit Bull Attack

2012-03-13T20:50:00.006-05:00

Extremely Dangerous
Fort Wayne, IN - Earlier today, The News-Sentinel published an article in the community section by resident Bob Rinearson (Once again, pit bulls are to blame for extreme violence against people). Rinearson describes in vivid detail arriving on scene where an 11-year old boy and a man had just been brutalized by two pit bulls. It is a powerful piece that captures the extreme violence of a pit bull attack. Prior to this incident, the same dogs had mauled an elderly woman.1

I had not seen such violence committed against a human being in some time, let alone a child. The boy, just a short time before, had stepped off his school bus ... When I stepped out of my vehicle, the boy was sitting up and alert, but blood was pouring out of his ripped pant leg ... the boy asked, "Am I bleeding out?" ... the same dogs before coming onto the boy had just attacked an elderly woman ... The dogs, if not for the efforts of the daughter coming out to her mother's rescue, might have actually severed the woman's foot, according to an EMT ... The boy had suffered multiple deep bites on his left leg. What I saw was more than disturbing. They reminded me of seeing shark bites on victims while watching a special on the National Geographic Channel.

Two pit bulls, three human victims and gunfire (police officers shot and killed both dogs) -- This is a classic pit bull attack. When city and county officials consider adopting a pit bull law, this is exactly the type of life-threatening and injurious scenario that should be considered. Arguing the granular points of "dog bite data" or engaging in the 30-year old debate, "It's the owner not the breed" is unnecessary. Just one point is needed in the consideration of a pit bull law:

Should our citizens be subjected to a classic pit bull attack that involves extreme violence and often produces more than one human victim?2

The dogs' owner in this brutal multiple attack has not yet been identified. At least two victims will undergo substantial reconstructive surgeries.3 Even if the dogs' owner is identified, that person will not be able pay the sizable costs of the emergency and follow up surgical treatments these victims will require. It is a "total loss" scenario for the victims in this case, and thus far, "free walking papers" for the dogs' owner, who will likely acquire new pit bulls within a few weeks.

1The woman had been sitting on an outdoor bench at the time.
2Not to mention the many animals victimized by pit bulls. In these scenarios, a pet dog is seriously injured or killed and its owner is bitten trying to stop the attack.
3The man who saved the boy's life did not escape without serious injury either. Rinearson describes his injuries as one pit bull biting "extensively into flesh and muscle" of the man's leg.

Attempt to Overturn Miami-Dade Pit Bull Ban Advances: 'Don't They Know?'

2012-03-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Bill Fails
UPDATE 03/12/12: The Miami Herald released a list Sunday of the 2012 Florida legislative session -- all bills that passed and failed. Rep. Carlos Trujillo's bill to repeal the Miami-Dade pit bull ban (HB 997) failed as did its Senate counterpart (SB 1322). This might in part be due to historic victims Pilar Garcia and her daughter, Melissa Moreira, speaking out, as well as editorials written that clarified the history of the ban and why Miami-Dade County officials adopted it in 1989.

02/28/12: Historic Victim Speaks Out
Miami, FL - Like much of the garbage regurgitated onto the public by pit bull advocates and apologists, opponents of the Miami-Dade pit bull ban would have Florida legislators and the public believe that the 1989 ban was implemented after a 7-year old girl named Melissa Moreira was viciously savaged by a pit bull in February of that year. The dog tore off parts of her face and then attacked her mother and grandmother before a neighbor shot it four times in the head.

In fact, there were years of publicized violent pit maulings in South Florida prior to Miami-Dade enacting its ban, starting as early as 1945, after the brutal killing of Doretta Zinke by a pack of pit bulls owned by Joe Munn. Other stories include the horrible 1979 mauling of 6-year old Michael "Frankie" Scarbrough. Doctors back then predicted it would take 15 years to rebuild his face. The 1980 mauling of Ethel Tiggs, by her own two pet pit bulls, captured headlines as well.

In 1984, Daniel Lloyd Smith, 9-weeks old, died at Miami Children's Hospital after a pit bull jumped into his crib, piling up more headlines. The savage pit bull attacks on Letter Carriers Jean Zambory in 1983 and Louise Johnson in 1985 built upon the growing number of violent pit bull attacks in the area. There were enough vivid attacks in the region by 1980 (alone) that the City of Hollywood, located in a county adjacent to Miami-Dade, enacted the first modern pit bull law.

Today's Legislative Battle in Florida

Currently, the Florida legislature, spearheaded by Rep. Carlos Trujillo of Miami, is pushing a bill through that will repeal Miami-Dade's pit bull ban. Columnist Fred Grimm of The Miami Herald has responded to Trujillo's efforts by telling the real story behind the ban. Earlier in February, Grimm wrote about the history of the Miami-Dade ban. "The ban was born out of real public revulsion, after one terrible attack after another had been attributed to the breed," writes Grimm.

Grimm adds, "It might be worth remembering that the county politicians, who enacted the ban 23 years ago, reacted to public pressure and gut-wrenching testimony." One of the persons who testified to county officials back then was Pilar Moreira, Melissa's mother. Yesterday, Grimm released a new editorial, "Wounds still fresh for mom of pit bull attack victim," that revisits her daughter's 1989 attack. Pilar (now Pilar Garcia) still gasps 23-years later as she tells her story.

She knows when she sees the animal that one of his fighting dogs1 escaped its backyard pen. Without warning, it attacks Melissa.
"It goes right for her face," she says. The dog knocks the girl over and rips at her head. Pilar screams and tries, futilely to pull it away. The pit bull momentarily turns on Pilar, slashing her left arm. Amada Pozo, her mother-in-law, rushes out of the house and tries to help. The dog goes after Pozo’s face, severing her nose...
Nothing deters the dog until Pilar throws a canvas car cover over the frenzied animal. Then a neighbor, running up with a pistol, shoots the dog four times before killing it.

When Pilar learned of Trujillo's "meddling in local government," she tells Grimm, "When I heard this I was very, very angry. Don’t they know how dangerous these dogs are? What kind of damage they can do?" Grimm then repeats portions of the Miami-Dade pit bull ordinance that spells out exactly how dangerous pit bulls are, the same ordinance that Trujillo is now working to overturn with legislators in Tallahassee, nearly 500 miles away from Miami-Dade County.

"Whereas, to increase its effectiveness as a fighter, certain pit bull traits have been selected and maximized by controlled breeding, including 1) a set of powerful jaws with an exceptional ability to grip, lock and tear when the dog bites; 2) a unique insensitivity to pain that causes pit bulls to be exceedingly tenacious in the attack; 3) an unusually aggressive temperament towards human beings and animals; and 4) an extraordinary directness in their method of attack that does not include the common warning signs such as barking or growling displayed by other breeds." (Miami-Dade pit bull ordinance)

Melissa required 8 surgeries to reconstruct her face. Her scars remain today. Pilar and her mother-in-law had to undergo surgical procedures as well. In 1989, the hospital bills exceeded $50,000. Similar procedures today would elevate those costs to at least $300,000 (one pit bull producing three victims, requiring 10+ surgeries). Pilar tells Grimm that her daughter is now a hospital administrator in Miami and that, at least psychologically, has recovered better than she.

Lastly, Grimm hammers in on another type of garbage regurgitated by pit bull owners and advocates onto the public, who claim that pit bulls are not a breed and cannot be identified, despite numerous appellate court decisions that state otherwise.

Pit bulls are not a mystery designation. Nor are their dangers attributes a fictional invention. And when they attack children or pets after Tallahassee lifts the ban, Rep. Trujillo should get all the credit.
"Before we had this ban, people had to pay so much, financially, emotionally, psychologically, because of these dogs," said Pilar Garcia. "Don't they know?"

Florida Citizens Killed by Pit Bulls

According to the Fatal Pit Bull Attacks website, 17 Florida citizens have been mauled to death by pit bulls since the 1989 Miami-Dade pit bull ban was enacted. None of these deaths occurred in Miami-Dade County. The website only tracks pit bull attacks that end in human death, not the thousands of annual pit bull maulings that leave children and adults with lifelong disfigurement, nor does the website track the obscene number of pets that pit bulls maim and kill annually.

June 2011, Putnam County - Roy McSweeney, 74-years old
October 2010, Duval County - Justin Valentin, less than 1-years old
April 2010, Pasco County - Thomas James Carter Jr., less than 1-years old
October 2007, Clay County - Tina Marie Canterbury, 42-years old
June 2007, Volusia County - Mary Diana Bernal, 62-years old
May 2007, Collier County - Carshena Benjamin, 71-years old
July 2006, Osceola County - John Brannaman, 81-years old
December 2004, Orange County - Myles Leakes, 4-years old
October 2004, Hillsborough County - Anton Brown, 8-years old
December 2003, Marion County - Alice Broom, 82-years old
February 2003, Hernando County - Alfred Makuc, 72-years old
May 2000, Alachua County - Quentin Wright, less than 2-years old
March 2000, Clay County - Dallas Isham, less than 2-years old
July 1999, Citrus County - Melissa Hunt, 5-years old
August 1997, Washington County - Jonathan Langford, 7-years old
May 1992, Orange County - Randall Ayers, 2-years old
October 1989, Duval County - Frances Fletcher, 73-years old

It's hard to know what, if anything, can stop Trujillo's onslaught. It is also important to point out that after the Miami-Dade pit bull ban, the AKC successfully pushed through a statewide anti-BSL law to stop other Florida municipalities from adopting a similar law. In short order, the only remaining Florida municipality with a pit bull law, Miami-Dade County, will be out of luck. Pit bull attacks in the region will spike, human deaths will occur and the breeding of new pit bulls will explode.

"Freshman" Carlos Trujillo2 will leave a deplorable legacy in his county and state.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Florida Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1Yet another fighting dog that attacks a human being, in contrast to the garbage perpetuated by pit bull advocates that fighting dogs never attack humans and biters were always "culled." It's unclear when that piece of garbage was born. In 1984, the Humane Society of the United States blamed the serious and fatal maulings inflicted by pit bulls in the area on Florida fighting dog breeder Pete Sparks.
2In 1991, then "newbie" Senator Rodney Ellis (Harris County, TX), sponsored the successful Texas state anti-BSL law and more recently, "newbie" Rep. Barbara Sears (Lucas County, OH) sponsored the legislation that overturned the Ohio state pit bull law. In later years, after recognizing the volume of new pit bull victims in Harris County, Ellis attempts to pass a law repealing the statewide measure; his attempt fails.

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Rottweiler Kills 17-Month Old Boy in Jacksonville

2012-03-09T15:11:00.007-06:00

Bitten Repeatedly
Jacksonville, FL - A 17-month old boy died today after being mauled to death by a rottweiler. The attack ending Dylan Andres' life occurred in the 1000 block of Maynard Street just before noon. According to Chief of Detectives Tom Hackney, the boy left his mother when she was unpacking groceries from her car and walked into a neighbor's yard across the street and was attacked by the dog, which was chained to a pole. Hackney said the dog bit the child repeatedly.

Neighbor Jessica Golden said that she had just been to the store with Dylan and his mother, Destiny Kieszler, and was inside her home when she heard Kieszler's screams. She ran outside and saw Dylan's father trying to pull him away from the dog. "The dog had the baby in its mouth," Golden said. Hackney said the owner of the rottweiler was not home at the time of the incident. Family members wept near the horrific scene as they spoke about their nephew to reporters.

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