In the 3-year period from 2006 to 2008, pit bull type dogs killed 52 Americans and accounted for 59% of all fatal attacks. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 73% of these deaths. | More »
2008 Fatality: Pit Bulls Fatally Maul 4-Month Old in Las Vegas
No Charges Filed UPDATE 10/22/08: Clark County District Attorney David Roger said his office couldn't find that the family members of the child had intentionally placed her in harm's way. "There were no significant prior actions of the dogs that would suggest that these dogs would be dangerous to human beings," Rogers said.
09/18/08: 911 Call Released The 911 call between the grandmother and the dispatcher has been released. Baby Cenedi was ripped from her stroller and killed by a pit bull. The two pit bulls belonged to the boyfriend of Cenedi's mom. DogsBite.org consistently runs across this scenario: Women and their children victimized by the "boyfriend's" pit bull. In this horrifying instance, the baby was killed.
09/15/08: Victim Named: Cenedi Kia Carey The 4-month-old girl mauled to death by two pit bulls has been identified as Cenedi Kia Carey of Las Vegas by the Clark County coroner's office. Responders found the infant laying on a bedroom floor. Paramedics pronounced the baby dead from the attack. The parents and grandmother still remain unidentified.
Residents Jason Howell said that the shots prompted him to run to his neighbor's house to see if he could help. He says that what he saw will haunt him. "There are some peculiars I don't even want to discuss," said Howell. Different theories are coming to light about what may have prompted the attack, including that the dogs had grown more aggressive after the child was born. Yet the horror is best described by Howell:
"You have an aggressive breed dog, a Pit Bull and a child in the house. They ripped it to shreds," Howell said. What could the child possibly have done to instigate that? I have a daughter who is 18 months old. And the look on the father's face is something I'll never forget, ever. That's all I have to say."
09/13/08: Dogs Force Way into House to Attack New information about the North Las Vegas fatality has been released. Chief Joseph Forti said the dogs were in the backyard of the home prior to the attack. The dogs managed to enter the home, possibly by bursting through a screen door, and began attacking the baby as she lay in a stroller, he said. "They just went right for the little girl."
The grandmother took the baby and tried to escape into a room of the house. She tried to close the door behind her, but one of the dogs forced its way into the room, Forti said, followed by the other. The dogs began attacking the girl again, and the grandmother called police. When officers arrived, they found the two dogs with blood on their fur "acting very aggressively" toward the officers. Police shot and killed the dogs.
Officers found the baby lying on the floor of a bedroom, dead from her injuries. "This is about as severe an attack as I've seen in my 18 years in North Las Vegas," Animal Control officer Dale Smock said. Forti said he was told by officers the girl had suffered "very severe bite and head wounds." As mentioned previously, officers and medical personnel who responded to the incident are being offered counseling.
09/12/08: Deadly Family Dog Attack Las Vegas, NV - In a developing story, a 4-month old girl was killed today by her family's two pit bulls. According to Capt. Cedric Williams, the grandmother who was babysitting the child was also bitten when she tried to save her. "Somehow the dogs got inside the house," Williams said. He added that the dogs "were the family pets."
Williams said that when police arrived, in an effort to save the victims, they had to kill the two dogs. Williams did not release the name of the child or the grandmother. He said that rescue personnel who went to the scene are being offered counseling. This marks the 6th fatality this year -- of 17 total -- when a baby, 12-months old and younger, was killed by the family dog.
Felony Charges: Owners of Pit Bulls that Killed Kelly Caldwell Arrested
Authorities Seeking Help Yermo, CA - Last year, on Christmas day, Kelly Caldwell was savagely attacked and killed by several pit bulls. Her daughter, Rhonda Dugger said that pieces of her body were scattered around the scene and that it looked like her legs had been run over by a car. In August, DNA identified the offending dogs. The dog owners have now been arrested.
Jeffrey Dwayne King, Jr., 23, and John Allan Peterson, 23, of Yermo were arrested in Barstow on September 17 and booked in the Barstow Jail on suspicion of failure to control a mischievous animal, resulting in death, a felony. The pit bull owners are scheduled for an arraignment Friday. Authorities are still seeking information about the fatal attack. Please contact the Barstow sheriff's station if you have any information:
To report information relating to the incident, call the Barstow sheriff’s station at 760-256-4838. To remain anonymous, call WE-TIP at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information on the WeTip Web site at www.wetip.com.
2008 Fatality: Cancer Patient, 55, Mauled by Dogs Dies
Man Died of Natural Causes UPDATE 10/04/08: Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell has determined that Michael Warner, a terminally ill cancer patient who was mauled by dogs in his Parkland home in August, died from natural causes related to his cancer and not from the injuries sustained from the dog mauling. Stockwell said that the ruling was made after a forensic pathologist performed an autopsy on Warner's body.
09/15/08: Autopsy Planned for Cancer Patient Officials are conducting an autopsy to determine the degree to which the dog attack contributed to Warner's death. The victim not only suffered from severe neglect, but also allegations of abuse. Prior to the dog attack, Michael had told his brother and sisters that his daughter slapped him and pushed him out of his wheelchair. She also withheld his medication, he had told them.
Michael had been incoherent at the hospital for a time and died before the sheriff's detective had a chance to talk with him about the alleged abuse. The family fears the absence of Michael's words will put the case in jeopardy. The prosecutor is still reviewing the case and charges could still be filed in the case, be it for neglect or for owning dangerous dogs.
It's unclear how puppies can be declared "dangerous" dogs. But we hope Bell and Markwith are charged with all that is possible under the law.
09/13/08: Gross Neglect; Hungry Pit Bull Pups Shelton, WA - Back in August, a disturbing discovery was made. A wheelchair bound cancer patient was severely mauled by unfed pit-bull puppies after being abandoned by his caretakers. Investigators found over 20 dogs of various ages and breeds inside the home. Today, it is reported that 55-year old Michael Warner succumbed to his injuries and died in a Shelton nursing home.
Investigators said Warner's daughter and her friend, both unlicensed caretakers, grossly neglected him. Warner was attacked after he was left lying on the floor of his home. Though 20 plus dogs where found in the home, the pit bull puppies were deemed the culprits. Warner, who was battling advanced cancer, was unable to care for or defend himself due to his medical condition.
"We believe some animals were left behind that were not fed and some of the puppies got to him," said Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer. "Not intentionally attacked him, but used him as a food source. There's just not a nicer way to say it."
The 20 plus dogs were found in the home after Warner's daughter, Yvonne Bell, took him to the hospital. As the quote above states, not all of the dogs may have been in the home during the "time period of neglect" which lead to the mauling. Both Bell and her friend Jennifer Markwith were arrested and stand accused of failing to take care of Warner. No charges have been filed.
2008 Fatality: Alexis Hennessy, 6-Days Old, Killed By Family Dog
Newborn Attacked in Crib Hopatcong, NJ - Over the weekend, it was reported that a newborn baby was bitten by the family dog. By Sunday night, it was reported that the baby had died. 6-day-old Alexis Hennessy was attacked in her crib by the family's 3-year old husky. The infant was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she died. Sussex County Prosecutor David Weaver said the girl's parents were home at the time of the attack.
This marks the 5th fatality this year -- of 16 total -- when a baby, 12-months old and younger, was killed by the family dog.
Blue Eyes Euthanized, Constroversy Still Swells In Mississippi
Pit Bull Owner Blames Dog Jackson, MS - It took officials one month to euthanize Blue Eyes. On July 22nd, little Tony Evans Jr. was killed after he wandered into the dog's area. The chained pit bull clamped down on his neck, drug him into his dog house and killed him. The owner of the dog, Shannon Reason, recently said he only wishes the dog could have been killed sooner. "All I've been saying is kill that dog."
He said one media outlet wanted to "fly me and my wife to New York so we can defend the pit bull breed. I don't want to have anything to do with that." Too bad Reason did not name the source. Such a brilliant idea: Get the owner of a chained pit bull that killed a toddler to defend the breed. Whoever Reason is referring to, let's be clear on the power of the pit bull propaganda machine.
It's like the power of a black hole; even light can't escape.
Controversy continues to surround the tragedy of Tony Evans Jr. His mother, Chassidy Vardaman tells police that she had asked Reason to watch Tony because she was caring for her other small son in her home. Reason has repeatedly disputed her statement. Vardaman could not be reached to comment in this particular article. A knock on her door went unanswered.
In what can only be described as ironic, Reason says things have gotten really bad in the community. He says he has been threatened by people on the street and has gotten several threatening phone calls. He even carries a gun now. Reason said his family is looking for a new home outside of Mississippi. "I know it is what it is," he said, "but I did not kill that baby -- my pit bull did."
Typically, the scenario is reversed.
Victims and family's of victims are frequently harassed by pit bull owners after a serious attack. Not only do these individuals suffer the physical and emotional injuries of the attack and bear the medical cost burden, they have to deal with intimidating dog owners, who in many instances are their next-door neighbors. Due to this, victims frequently relocate to a new home.
Video: Isis Krieger, 6-Years Old, Killed by the Family Pit Bull
Isis Krieger, 6-Years Old Anchorage, AK - DogsBite.org has created a tribute video for Isis Krieger. There was only one photo that we found online of little Isis. We did what we could with the limited materials that we had. It is our hope that a family member or friend will find this video. Perhaps they can supply us with more photos and insight into her life and we can make a better one.
Tanner Joshua Monk's Funeral Tanner Joshua Monk was killed by two pit bulls on May 18th on the road outside of his house. The owners of the pit bulls, his next door neighbors, were arrested and charged with second degree felony. Tanner was buried in a closed casket on May 22nd, 2008. His aunt has created a collection of YouTube videos as a tribute to his life. There were many flowers at Tanner's funeral...and people...and photographs of Tanner.
2008 Fatality: Isis Krieger, 6-Years Old, Killed by Family Pit Bull
Father Arrived from Iraq UPDATE 08/19/08: Clarifications around Isis's death have been revealed. Medical officials declared her legally dead Thursday morning, August 14th, after undergoing surgery. Isis was then placed on life support machines while the family awaited for Isis's father, deployed to Iraq, to return to the country. Upon his return she was taken off the machines and died.
08/18/08: Isis Krieger Has Died Anchorage, AK - 6-Year old Isis Krieger did not survive the severe injury she endured after being attacked by her family's pit bull last week in Anchorage, Alaska. Police now report that she died Thursday morning, August 14th, after undergoing emergency treatment at Alaska Native Medical Center. There are no words to describe this type of tragedy. There are only the memories of Isis that her family and friends can try to keep clasped in their hands.
People across the United States and world have been moved by Isis and her story. We have been moved by the efforts of two men, Troy Danforth and Specialist 4th Class Kyle Mayeaux of the U.S. Army Alaska, who tried to preserve her life and by the efforts of the Anchorage Police Department, the paramedics team and the emergency doctors who also tried to keep her small heart beating. Her tragedy and violent death has shaken us all.
2008 Fatality: Detroit Man Killed by Stray Pit Bull Attacking Dog
Victim Tried to Help Detroit, MI - A Detroit man died1 Thursday after he was bitten by a fighting pit bull on Mack Avenue and Lakepointe Street. Police said a woman came out of her home when she saw a stray pit bull attacking her dogs. When the woman tried to stop the attack, the pit bull started coming toward her. Robert Howard came out of his house to help the woman, when the pit bull turned on him and fatally bit him in the calf. According to Howard's friend, Isaiah Brown:
"The dog had tore into his calf and when he let go, he just snatched and pulled all the arteries out. He was lying on the steps, and when I checked his vital signs he was already dead then."
Witnesses interviewed by WDIV Detroit said that loose fighting dogs (pit bulls) are a problem in the neighborhood and believe this pit bull to be one. Yet according to the ASPCA and pit bull advocates, fighting dogs do not attack humans. Dogfighters supposedly "culled man-biters" from their bloodlines, despite the fact that famous fighting bloodlines such as, Bolio, Chinaman, Zebo and others are widely known to encompass man-biters and man-eaters.
1Pit bull advocates often say that fatal pit bull attacks are reported more than any other fatal dog attack. This is entirely untrue. The story of Robert Howard was reported by a single media outlet. What is true is that pit bulls fatally attack more humans than any other dog breed.
2006 Fatality: Dogsitter Killed By Pit Bull in New York
Jeannine Fusco, 44 Years Old Airmont, NY - It was reported on October 8, 2006 that a Rockland County woman was killed after being bitten in the head and throat by a pit bull she and her sister were watching for a friend. Police said the dog violently attacked 44-year-old Jeannine Fusco in the garage of her home. The victim suffered severe bites to her throat, head and neck.
By the time officers arrived, Jeannine was already dead, and the dog had disappeared. Her sister, Valerie Wall, 43, was bitten on the leg and hand and taken to a local hospital. Police officers later found the dog in the home's backyard and killed it. Two dogs owned by the sisters, which were not involved in the attacks, were taken to the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona, N.Y.
The two sisters lived in a split-level home and mostly kept to themselves, neighbors said. They often took in the dogs of friends or other people who could no longer care for the animals. At the mouth of their driveway was a hand painted sign reading, "Dogs at play." A coworker said that he had seen Jeannine the night before at a wedding. He described her as "incredibly dedicated, smart and lots of fun."
2008 Fatality: Video of Millcreek Attack; English Sheepdog Statistics
Millcreek Township, PN - Police still do no know what caused the family dog (English sheepdog-mix) to attack little Addison. Her mother, Kari Sonney, was also injured in the attack. The toddler was airlifted to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburg where she later died. The death has been ruled as accidental. After the attack, the dog escaped the home. The slide show depicts officers capturing and killing the offending dog.
Occurrence of English Sheepdog Fatalities In the dog attack statistical report compiled by Merritt Clifton, the editor of Animal People News, no fatalities by English sheepdogs and their mixes were recorded between the years of 1982 to 2007. The statistics also reveal that the combination of pit bulls and rottweilers accounted for 66% percent of fatalities. The report, Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, is issued each year.
Combining the two studies suggests that in the past 20 years, the occurrence of an English sheepdog mix attacking and killing a human being in the U.S. or Canada is zero, until the tragic death of Addison Sonney.
2008 Fatality: 1-Year Old Erie Girl Killed by Family Dog
Addison Sonney, 1-Year Old Erie, PA - A 1-year-old girl has died after being attacked by her family dog in a cemetery caretaker's cottage near Erie. The Allegheny County medical examiner said Addison Sonney died yesterday afternoon at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The girl's mother, Kari Sonney, was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered trying to protect Addison in the attack.
Police followed the dog into a nearby neighborhood and killed it. Authorities said the attack happened yesterday morning at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Millcreek. The child's father is the cemetery caretaker. Police said the state Agriculture Department is testing the remains of the English sheepdog mix for rabies.
Mississippi Boy's Mother Discusses Fatal Dog Attack
Tony Evans Jr., 3-Years Old Jackson, MS - On July 22nd, Chassidy Vardaman went to her front porch and called the children home. But when they came, one was missing. The family quickly began searching the neighborhood. Tony was last seen playing with some children across the street at the home of Shannon Reason. They knocked on his door to ask if he'd seen the toddler.
He hadn't, but a while later Reason walked under his carport and made a terrible discovery. He found Tony's lifeless body next to his white male pit bull. The search ended in screams for help. Vardaman tried to fight back tears as she recalled the moments before she learned her son's fate. "He was just over there playing," she sobbed. "He just wanted to play with that dog."
For most of the afternoon, neighbors strolled in and out of Reason's yard. Meanwhile, 10 children, including Tony, played out front. Vardaman said she left Tony with the other children because she had to take care of her infant son, Antonio. But she said she walked outside often to make sure Tony was OK. The last time she checked, the little boy was playing with some girls.
No one heard the attack or saw the boy being dragged into the doghouse.
Reason said he begged officers that night to kill the animal. "Kill it. Just kill it," he said. Reason doesn't want a dog anymore. He feels sympathy for the child's family, but is also upset over the way police and the media reported the attack. He said there was "no party" at his house that day and that the child wandered over to his yard when no one was watching him.
Reason said he got his dog named Blue Eyes as a guard dog. The dog was always chained and never allowed to roam, he said. "Believe me, this was no pet," he said. "I've had more stuff stolen from this driveway. You wouldn't believe it." On the front of Reason's house hangs a "Beware Of Dog" sign. He said the dog worked because it "scared people away."
Across the street, the Vardaman home is in mourning.
2008 Fatality: Mississippi 3-Year Old Boy Killed by Pit Bull
Child Identified as Tony Evans Jr. UPDATE 07/23/08: The 3-year old boy has been identified as Tony Evans Jr. The attack occurred as Tony was playing with friends across the street from his home. Because the pit bull was on-property and restrained (chained) during the attack, the dog owner faces no penalties. Blue Eyes is free to return home after the 10-day observation so that it can attack and kill again.
07/23/08: Homeowners Being Questioned Police are questioning Shannon and Shaunda Reason, the owners of the home and dog named Blue Eyes. The attack occurred when the boy wandered from the front yard into the carport. As the child made the corner toward the back of the house, he met the dog face-to-face. The 2 1/2-year-old pit bull bit into the boy's neck and upper torso and dragged him inside its doghouse where he died.
Down the street, Isaac Stuckley said he heard the attack and thought someone had been shot or stabbed. He said the Reasons keep three pit bulls. Stuckley said there had been a large gathering in front of the home before the attack. Stuckley owns a pit bull as well, but he says it's for safety reasons. "That child didn't even have a chance," he said. "The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach."
07/23/08: Details Remain Sparse Jackson, MS - In a developing story, a 3-year-old boy was killed Tuesday night in south Jackson after he was grabbed and mauled by a chained pit bull. The boy, whom police are not identifying, was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. No one else was injured. Police spokesman Sgt. Jeffery Scott said police had to open fire on the animal because it charged animal control officers.
Police are still investigating -- no charges have been filed.
Just a few days ago in Mississippi, a woman received 1,600 stitches after a pit bull snapped its chain and bit into her leg. The incident occurred in Itta Bena. Becky Lee Grimes was attacked as she was walking through a frequently used shortcut. It took first responders three hours to catch the dog; a fireman was also bitten in the process. The case is still under investigation...
Man Killed by Penned Male Boxer Miami Dade, Fl - On August 30th 2006, South Florida reported it's second fatal dog attack just a few weeks apart. 56-year-old Pablo Rudolfo Fleites was found dead in the pen of a 5-year-old male boxer. The dog had the man's blood all over its body when police found the victim. The incident happened in Southwest Miami-Dade. Animal services euthanized the dog after the attack.
Police tried to learn what may have provoked the attack and why Fleites was in the dog's pen. Fleites lived on a shed on the property, which is a three-acre farm. A second dog, a 6-month-old female boxer, also was in the pen but was not believed to have been involved in the attack. Officers did not take the female dog away. Earlier in the month, a woman was killed while trying to bath her dog, a 120lb presa canario.
2006 Fatality: Shawna Willey, 30, of Coral Springs, Florida
Mauled by Family Presa Canario Coral Springs, FL - On August 18th, 2006, a woman was attacked and killed by her presa canario while trying to give the dog a bath. Her daughter witnessed the brutal attack by the 120-pound dog and alerted a neighbor who called authorities. It was not clear what made the dog attack, according to Coral Springs Police spokesman Rich Nicorvo.
When police arrived at the house, the officers saw the dog standing over the woman's body in the backyard near the swimming pool. The dog made aggressive movements toward the officers when they entered the yard, so they shot and killed it. According to court records, Willey had been cited in Hillsborough County several years prior for having dangerous dogs.
In 2001, a San Francisco woman, Diane Whipple, was fatally mauled by two 100-pound-plus Presa Canarios outside her apartment.
DogsBite.org - At the half year mark of 2008, 7 fatal dog attacks have occurred in the United States. The final results in the recent attack involving Lorraine May are not due for another 12 weeks and are not included in these results.
57% (4) of the fatalities are due to pit bulls. Each other dog breed (1)
57% (4) involved a family dog, of these attacks, 0% were chained
14% (1) of all fatalities so far in 2008 involved a chained dog
29% (2) fatalities stem from Texas, both dogs being pit bulls
71% (5) fatalities involved children ages 5 and below
2008 Fatality: Great-Grandmother Killed by Family Dogs
Lorraine May, 74-Years Old Titusville, FL - In a developing story, a 74-year old woman was killed by her dogs. The woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and many bites. Police think May was breaking up a fight between the dogs. The animals, which she had owned since puppies, had a history of fighting with each other, and were reportedly mother-and-son.
The 11-year-old female golden-retriever mix is named Sammy, and the 6-year-old male Australian-shepherd mix is called Seth. The dogs are currently being held in separate cages at Brevard County Animal Services while the investigation continues. Animal Services had received no prior complaints about the dogs.
Autopsy results revealed Friday that May died of multiple "blunt-force trauma" caused by the dogs. A final report will not be available for about 12 weeks. May is described as a quiet lady and a fastidious dog owner who took good care of her pets. "She loved her dogs from ear to ear," said one neighbor. "You could tell the dogs brought her a lot of joy."
Pit Bull Owners Released from Jail After Fatal Attack
Bail Lowered; Owners Go Home Breckenridge, TX - Bail for two Breckenridge residents arrested in connection with the dog-mauling death of Tanner Monk was reduced, and both have been released. Jack Smith, 45, and Crystal Watson, 27, were arrested in connection with the death of Tanner. Bail for each person was initially set at $250,000 each but was reduced to $10,000 each.
Smith and Watson live next door to the Monk family and are now headed home.
Two pit bulls attacked Monk, who was found dead on the road outside of his home. The dogs were shot after they became aggressive toward authorities. Two other dogs belonging to Smith and Watson were ordered destroyed later. Both Smith and Watson are charged with a dog attack resulting in death, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
90th District Judge Stephen Crawford issued a gag order in the case June 16th, forbidding the discussion of case details.
Pit Bull Owners Arrested in Death of Tanner Joshua Monk
Owners Identified and Charged Breckenridge, TX - Jack Smith, 45, and Crystal Watson, 27, have been arrested in connection with the death of Tanner Joshua Monk. Both have been charged with a dog attack resulting in death, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 - AKA Lillian's Law.
On May 18th, Tanner Monk, 7, was found dead about 100 yards west of his family's house and about 50 to 70 yards west of the home where the pit bulls were kept. This information is vital -- the strict penalties of Lillian's Law only apply if the attack occurred off owner property, as it did in this case.
The owners of the dogs -- Jack Smith and Crystal Watson -- had at least 4 pit bulls in their care, but only two were apparently involved in the attack. Animal Services confiscated all dogs from their property after the fatal attack. Yesterday, a grand jury met to consider the case and returned sealed indictments. Bail for each person was set at $250,000 each and both remain in custody.
2008 Fatality: Video Tribute to Tanner Joshua Monk
Breckenridge, TX - Tanner Joshua Monk was buried after church services on May 22nd, 2008 at the Breckenridge Cemetery. A family member created a wonderful video tribute to Tanner's life. Once your tears start to flow, we promise they will not stop.
DogsBite.org, and all of our readers, send the Monk family and the Breckenridge and Abilene communities our most profound sympathy. We are doing everything that we can to prevent future tragedies just like this.
2008 Fatality: Boy Killed by Pit Bulls in Breckenridge, Texas
Tanner Joshua Monk, 7-Years Old Breckenridge, TX - A female driver saw Tanner Joshua Monk lying beside a road with two dogs nearby. She got out of the car to help him, but the dogs became aggressive so she called 911. Two sheriff's deputies responded and shot the two dogs to death after they continued to show aggression. The deputies then discovered that Tanner was dead.
Stephens County Sheriff Jim Reeves said that Tanner was found alone about 150 yards from his house and 50 to 75 yards from a neighbor's house where he had been playing with friends. The two pit bulls, along with two others seized, belonged to those neighbors. Reeves said evidence will likley be presented to a grand jury following an autopsy on the boy and tests on the dogs that were killed.
No one saw what happened, but Tanner was found off the owner's property, which may signal use of Lillian's Law.
Lillian's Law can put the dog owner away for 20-years in the event of a fatality. Child Protective Services has also been alerted. Spokesman Paul Zimmerman said they are investigating the boy's family for possible neglectful supervision. He added that the family had no prior history with the agency, which is required to investigate all child deaths.
In 2007, Texas led the nation with 7 dog bite fatalities -- 6 of these deaths were caused by pit bull type dogs.
Tanner's death is the second serious pit bull attack on a child in four days in Texas. Last week in Fort Worth, a woman's two pit bulls attacked her 2-year-old niece as she was preparing to give the child a bath. Last month, 3 family pit bulls attacked a 6-year old boy in Tivoli. One of the dogs was so aggressive that animal control had to shoot it full tranquilizers three times to get it to calm down.
2006 Fatality: Second Trial Begins for Pit Bull Owner in Kansas City
Sentenced: 4 Years in Prison UPDATE 05/16/08: Today Lee was sentenced to four years in prison plus two years probation for a fatal pit bull attack on Jimmie Mae McConnell. The pit bull jumped Lee's fence and attacked and killed Jimmie as she gardened in her backyard. DogsBite.org hopes the McConnel family can heal now. A Victory of this kind is far better than no victory at all.
04/02/08: Derick D. Lee Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter Jurors found Derick D. Lee guilty of involuntary manslaughter after his pit bull attacked and killed Jimmie Mae McConnell in 2006. Wyandotte County Attorney Jerome A. Gorman said that Lee should be held accountable because pit bulls had been banned by a local ordinance for years. The jury agreed.
Lee’s mother, Terri Lee, said her family is very sorry for what happened to McConnell. But she believes Wyandotte County’s Unified Government is trying to make an example out of her son. She said the government is negligent for failing to enforce its ordinance.
04/01/08: Derick D. Lee Charged for Manslaughter After Dogs Kill Neighbor Kansas City, KA - On July 27th, 2006, Jimmie Mae McConnell, 71, was mauled to death in her garden by a pair of dogs; the dogs jumped her fence to attack her. The pit bull was still on her when firefighters and paramedics arrived. They used an axe and a pole, items usually used to pull down ceilings, to remove the dog. At the time of the attack, pit bulls were banned in Kansas City
The owner of the dogs, Derick D. Lee, 34, is now on trial for the second time and faces involuntary manslaughter charges. The first trial ended in a hung jury.
The official cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrhythmia brought on by the trauma of the attack. In the first trial, Lee's defense claimed, "the dog was not his and that it was a stray." Defense said that McConnell had such severe heart disease that using a tiller in the garden could have caused her death. Defense also said there could have been other dogs responsible for the attack.
District Attorney Jerome Gorman announced after the trial that he would try the case again. Gorman said he found after speaking with jurors in the first trial that the majority had favored a guilty verdict. His decision brought relief to McConnell's family members, who have attended every hearing and were adamant that another trial be held.
Family members said that Jimmie had been afraid of the neighbor's dogs for nearly a year before the attack. The dogs had menaced her from behind the fence, growling and barking aggressively as she gardened. She once told her son, Chris McConnell that, "One day, one of those dogs are going to get me." They finally did. Her death left behind 6 children and a husband.
2008 Fatality: Abraham Jonathan Tackett, Killed by Chained Dog
2-Year Old Alaskan Toddler Killed by Husky-Mix Breed Fort Yukon, AK - A toddler was killed in Fort Yukon this week when he wandered into a neighbor's yard and was attacked by a chained dog. The boy, identified by his grandmother as Abraham Jonathan Tackett, was pronounced dead on arrival at the village clinic following the attack.
Abraham would have been 2 years old on May 19, said his grandmother, Mary Beth Solomon. The boy got his middle name from his great-grandfather, Jonathan Solomon, a prominent Fort Yukon orator and traditional Gwich'in chief. "I don't think he realized the danger," she said. "He was a real friendly kid."
The attack took place about 3 p.m., when the boy and his father were preparing to run some errands. They stepped outside into the front yard, and the father put the child down while he ran back inside for a moment. In this time, the boy wandered into the neighbor's back yard about 50 yards away.
There were a number of chained dogs in the neighbor's yard that had recently been fed and were still eating. According to the police, the child approached a 3-year-old husky mixed breed and the dog attacked, apparently protecting its food. The father found the child while he was still under attack, but could not save him.
The fatal attack is the second in the last dozen years in Fort Yukon, a village of about 600 some 145 miles northeast of Fairbanks. In 1996, a 4-year-old boy was killed by a previously nonviolent malamute-husky mix in a sled dog lot behind the village store, according to news reports at the time.
This dog also had no history of aggressive behavior, but police shot it Monday night in the interest of public safety. The family doesn't blame the dog's owners. They didn't know the people well, but they always kept their dogs chained and there hadn't been any problems with them in the past.
2007 Fatality: Rosalie Bivins Killed While Getting Her Mail
65-Year Old Woman Killed by Pack of Pit Bulls ADA, OK - On October 16, 2007, a 65-year-old Pontotoc County woman was mauled to death by a pack of pit bull-mix dogs. Two others who came to her aid were also attacked, according to sheriff Joe Glover. He said Rosalie Bivins was checking her mail in front of her residence on County Road 1480 when five to seven dogs began their vicious attack.
A rural mail carrier that happened on the scene found Bivins lying in road yelling for help. When the postal worker exited his vehicle, the dogs turned the attack on him and he was forced to re-enter his vehicle. The postal worker then drove to a neighbor’s house to ask for help. The neighbor, Dearl Newby, grabbed a gun and the two good Samaritans rushed to the scene.
When they arrived, another man, who had fought with the dogs, had bite marks on his arm and leg. After Newby fired his shotgun and killed one of the attacking dogs, the rest fled. Bivins died before emergency personnel arrived on the scene. Some of the dogs were later shot and their bodies will be forwarded to the state Health Department to be examined for rabies.
Neighbor's Talk About the Attack
Dearl Newby can't can't forget the image of his neighbor Rosalie Bivins lying in the middle of the gravel road in front of her mailbox, being mauled by a pack of six dogs. He said, "I used to drive trucks, and I've run up on a lot of wrecks. This right here, to look at, was the worst. She was just white as a sheet."
Newby was one of three neighbors who came to Bivins' aid after a mail carrier came upon the grisly scene. Bivins was still alive when the mail carrier found her and she asked him for help. When the mail carrier arrived at Newby's house breathless and rattled, Newby grabbed a shotgun and headed for his truck.
After Newby ended the attack on Bivins with a shotgun blast, Bivins' son-in-law, Bruce Hatton, shot and killed the remaining five dogs as they fled into the wooded areas that surround the home. A sixth dog was shot and killed by a neighbor the next day. All six dogs tested negative for rabies.
Most of Newby's neighbors know him as the guy who tools around his place in a white golf cart. But Newby is more on guard than ever now -- a shotgun is strapped to the golf cart, and a leather belt and a gun holster keep a pistol handy. Between the threat of wild hogs and attacking dogs, Newby is taking few chances.
Who owned the dogs is still at question. Hatton, says he occasionally fed them, but did not own them. Neighbors in the area say the dogs belonged to Hatton, who used them to hunt feral hogs.
Hog hunters often use pit bull terriers because they aren't deterred by the hogs' size and are strong enough to hold the hog until their masters can shoot it.
Another neighbor, Kirby Tilley, had known Bivins for 30 years. The attack that led to her death hit him hard. Tilley also intervened during the attack and tried to get the dogs off of Bivins. "It's a hard time for my wife,” Tilley said. "It's a hard time for me. I keep wondering if I might could have saved her."
The Tilleys invited Bivins up for lunch the day she was mauled by dogs at her mailbox. Bivins, also known as "Grannie Rose,” declined the invitation. Tilley was on his way to Bivins house to pick up something to take to town when he came upon her body surrounded by dogs.
"I thought it was a mannequin. You know how people put those out for Halloween," Tilley said. He tried hollering and kicking at the dogs, but I thought if he fell down, he'd be in the same position as Rosie. Rosalie Bivins died in the middle of the road. There was no mail in the mailbox she was checking.
Her family has not talked publicly about her death.
Boy, 10, Mauled by Rottweilers Remains in Intensive Care
Davie, Florida boy Mauled by Two Rottweilers Broward County, FL - 10-year old, Christian Franco, was violently attacked by two rottweilers when he entered a neighbor's backyard to retrieve an errant ball on Friday. Neighbor George Evans, 54, who heard the boy's shrieks across the street in the Shenandoah community and ran to his aid.
"He was covered in blood," said Evans. "You couldn't even see his face. He was bitten all over."
Christian underwent about seven hours of surgery Saturday. He had a grapefruit-size gouge on the lower back quarter of his scalp, gashes on his forehead and right thigh, a puncture wound on his right cheek, numerous bites on his hip and back and a left eye swollen shut.
Doctors at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale told family after surgery that the boy would remain in intensive care for several days while he is watched closely for internal bleeding and infections. His eye probably will heal, but he will undergo a skin graft to restore his scalp, said Benjamin Mendez, the boy's grandfather.
The dogs -- 2-year-old male rottweilers named Buddy and Bear -- were quarantined briefly Friday evening before police determined the attack was an accident, said Davie police spokesman Lt. Bill Coyne. Mayor Tom Truex said Davie does not have a dangerous dog law.
State Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, is leading an effort in the Legislature to allow municipalities to tighten controls on dangerous dog breeds.
Broward Animal Care and Regulation officials cited the owner, Victor Cantelmo (who also has a knee-high statue of a black rottweiler by his front door), for not having his pets licensed or vaccinated. According to a Broward County Animal Care database, Cantelmo has four dogs whose registrations expired in 2005.
Rottweilers are known as calm, strong, agile, guard dogs, according to the American Kennel Club. Neighbors say that Cantelmo moved to the neighborhood with his wife and two teenage daughters about four years ago. Cantelmo is a retired New York City firefighter.
Too bad Cantelmo failed to review dog bite fatality statistics for the last 20 years. Had he done so, he would have learned that rottweilers are second only to pit bulls in their violence, particularly toward children.
2007 Fatality: Carshena Benjamin's Death Remains Unsolved
Community Demands Tougher Dangerous Dog Laws Collier County, FL - Residents say dangerous dogs are terrorizing neighborhoods in the area and people living in Golden Gate Estates claim the problem is getting worse. County commissioners plan to stiffen penalties for dog owners. When this happens is another matter, officials have yet to resolve a fatality from 2007 that occurred in the same area.
Sharon Lennon keeps a closer than normal eye on her two young daughters, Bailey and Riley, as they play outside. She’s concerned because she sees large, potentially dangerous dogs roaming her Golden Gate Estates neighborhood. The concern has become so great, she even carries mace and a golf club with her when walking up and down the neighborhood streets.
Rene Oliver lives nearby and says since September, at least five goats and a potbellied pig have been killed by vicious dogs on the loose. Stray dogs also mauled Golden Gate Estates resident Carshena Benjamin to death last May. The dogs have been on a killing spree, said Oliver. He recently asked Collier County commissioners to enforce stricter dangerous dog laws, especially for repeat offenders.
"My point is, if they weren't taking care of their dogs before Domestic Animal Services picked them up, why should they even have gotten the dogs back?" asked Oliver.
The majority of county commissioners agree that tougher penalties need to be in place. "Obviously we have to try harder. We have to try to evolve citizens to be more responsible as far as taking care of their animals," said Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta. Coletta says that could include thousands of dollars in fines, felony charges, or even jail time.
In another century, perhaps, Collier County officials will take meaningful action.
Father Tried for Manslaughter After Pit Bull Kills Son
Father Found Not Guilty UPDATE 04/11/08: A judge has ruled that a Minneapolis father is not guilty for the death of his son who was mauled by a family dog. Zachary King Senior was found not guilty of a second degree manslaughter charge. The ruling came in Friday around 10:30 a.m.
03/20/08: Zachary King Sr, Tears Up In a Hennepin County courtroom, Zachary King Senior described how the family dog mauled his son to death. King broke down in tears several times, and at one point he buried his face in a tissue and cried as he explained what happened the day of the tragedy.
King's defense lawyer, Craig Cascarano, chimed in: "His position was made perfectly clear in his testimony that this was an accident, only an accident ... it could never have been predicted," said Craig Cascarano, defense attorney.
Mike Freeman, Hennepin Co. Attorney countered by saying, "It was well known that this dog was dangerous ... it had bitten seven people previously, including Zach Junior."
King waived his right to a jury trial. So a judge will issue a verdict in a few weeks. If convicted, King faces probation -- not jail time.
03/17/08: Zachary King Jr, Fatally Attacked by Family Pit Bull Minneapolis, MN - Zachary King Jr. was killed by his family's pit bull last year. The elder King is being tried on charges of second-degree manslaughter in his death. Prosecutors say the dog had bitten people seven times previously and that King knew it had a propensity for vicious behavior. Prosecution's opening statements were chilling:
Zachary King Sr. kept a pit bull named Face as a "wild animal being confined in this basement in the worst of conditions." When King's 7-year-old son, Zachary King Jr., went down into the basement Aug. 16, he was subjected to a "violent, vicious, brutal attack."
Assistant Hennepin County Prosecutor, Amy Sweasy, said King kept the dog muzzled or tied up when strangers were at the house, but it was allowed to run free among family members. The fatal attack was "totally, completely avoidable and preventable," she said.
Sweasy said witnesses would testify that in the 17 hours before the attack, the dog was treated inhumanely, leashed to a pole in the basement of the family home and deprived of food, exercise, water or a chance to relieve itself outdoors. Police and animal control officers found the dog, still tethered by its leash to a pipe in the basement, dead, surrounded by a pool of blood and feces.
King had shot the dog after his son was attacked. Nearby was a hole in a Sheetrock wall with blood smears around it. Minneapolis homicide Sgt. Nancy Dunlap said she thought the hole was caused by "Zach Jr.'s head." The final coroner report found that the boy died of blood loss and asphyxia associated with puncture wounds and lacerations on his neck.
King's attorney, Craig Cascarano, said Zachary's death was "a terrible, terrible accident," but not a crime. He said the fatal attack was an unpredictable bite by the family dog. The dog may have bitten folks before, but never like this. He added that when the family got the dog as a puppy about three years before the attack, little Zach adopted that dog as his dog.
"This is a family dog," he told the judge. "This is a family dog that protected the home. This is a family that could never anticipate a thing like this."
Finland Ranks Last in Intelligence on Dangerous Dogs Finland - Finland’s dog enthusiasts are baffled by Sunday's incident, in which a rottweiler mauled to death a ten-year-old boy in the family’s yard. Local rottweiler breeders deny allegations that the breed would be more dangerous than any other breed of dog.
To the educated world's shock, Finland dog enthusiasts seem to know little about rottweilers, a breed that ranks second in fatalities (behind pit bull type dogs) in the US, the UK and likely many other countries.
The incident took place in the municipality of Elimäki, where at least one of a family’s two full-grown male Rottweilers attacked the boy . A municipal veterinarian, Markku Hämäläinen, who has dealt with the dogs in question before, said the boy was a relatively new member to the family. "This may have had an effect on the animals’ pack behavior."
Enough effect to attack and kill the child? Earth to Finland! Do your research and stop blaming the victim. In the US in 2007, the combination of pit bulls and rottweilers made up 79% of fatalities.
According to chairman Jouni Nummela of the Finnish Rottweiler Association -- who could not possibly be perceived as being biased -- said that it is extremely rare that a rottweiler should attack a human being. "I cannot say that a rottweiler would be any more difficult to raise than any other dog."
Rottweilers may not be more difficult to raise than another large dog, but they do have a nasty tendency of mauling and killing children without provocation; unlike 95% of other dog breeds.
Previously dogs have killed three people in Finland, including a Bullmastiff, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and a mixed-breed. Last summer, a seven-year-old girl was severely hurt by a friend’s rottweiler. In the past ten years, at least four children have been mauled to death by a rottweiler in Europe and the United States.
At least 4 children in 10 years in the Europe and the United States combined? Last year in the US alone, rottweiler dogs viciously killed 4 children. Between 1993-1997 rottweilers killed more human beings in the US than pit bulls -- gasp!
DogsBite.org urges Finland public policy makers to pick up the phone. Contact public safety members in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, the UAE, Canada and the US.
Test Results Still Pending Placer County, CA - Pathology results are still pending in the case of Cora Lee Suehead who was found fatally mauled about 100 yards from her home December 4, 2007. Until results can be finalized, officials can't contribute her death to the four pit bull dogs they removed from her property after her body was discovered.
Lt. Jeff Ausnow said that detectives have conducted a thorough investigation and there’s nothing to indicate that the dogs were known to be vicious -- the element needed in order to file criminal charges. The case will now be turned over to animal control; it will be their duty to determine the fate of the dogs.
2006 Fatality: Dog Owner Pleads Guilty in Charles Dalton Fatality
Guilty of Manslaughter Mocksville, NC - The owner of two pit bulls that mauled a man to death almost two years ago pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jimmy Ray "J.J." Cowan III, 52, was sentenced to serve 20 to 24 months in jail for the fatal mauling of Charles Gilbert Dalton. It was reported that the dogs often ran loose and that Dalton and other neighbors were afraid of the animals.
The body of Dalton, a Davie County native, was found about 160 feet from a house on Vircassdell Lane, east of Mocksville, on March 14, 2006. A preliminary autopsy showed that Dalton bled to death from multiple dog bites. He had severe wounds on his face, scalp and right hand. Cowan, a relative of Dalton, was indicted on Nov. 27, 2006, for involuntary manslaughter.
The dogs were seized on the night Dalton’s body was found. The male dog, Rocky, later died from parvovirus, a canine disease. The female dog, Infinity, was euthanized under a court order.
2008 Fatality: Kelli Chapman Killed by Two Pit Bulls
Police Shot Dog at Home in Past UPDATE 1/23/08: Police reports show this wasn't the first time officers were forced to shoot a dog at the Chapman's home. In October 2006, the narcotics task force and SWAT team raided the house, where they found methamphetamine and other drug items. Both Kelli and Jason were arrested. During the raid, one of the couple's pit bulls bit an officer and tried to attack a second officer. The dog was shot and killed.
1/23/08: Authorities Reveal Defensive Wounds Preliminary autopsy results show Kelli Chapman, 24, died of bite trauma and blood loss. According to Chief Deputy Robert McCullough, she had injuries to her forearms as well, indicating possible defensive wounds. He said, "There was other damage to furniture and stuff in the bedroom, where the attack occurred, so it is possible that she was defending herself."
1/22/08: Dogs Maul, Kill Owner Longville, LA - 24 year old Kelli Chapman was killed by her two pit bulls while sleeping in her home. Relatives of the woman say they think they know why the dogs mauled her. Apparently, Kelli suffered from seizures. They think she may have had a seizure while sleeping and the dogs reacted to it by killing her. Dr. Ted Hoerner, a local veterinarian talks about pit bulls:
"There's a certain small percentage of aggressiveness in any breed, whether it's a Chihuahua, a Rottweiler or a Pit Bull. The difference is the degree of damage that a certain animal can inflict. Pit bulls are huge, they're strong, their musculature is such they can inflict deadly damage. Unfortunately, that's what we've seen happen."
Prior to the attack, Kelli and her husband Jason let the pit bulls stay in their home and sometimes sleep in their bed. One has to wonder if a spaniel or other breed would have reacted similarly in these circumstances. Furthermore, many dog breeds help seizure victims; they do not kill them. As one commenter points out, "Did the seizure cause the attack or did the attack cause the seizure?"
2008 Fatality: Justin Mozer Killed by Jack Russell Terrier
Infant Died of Suffocation, Blood Loss UPDATE 1/20/08: Jeff Mozer, the uncle of the baby that was killed by the Jack Russell, said the dog was a longtime family pet, trusted around his own baby and other babies in the family. "This is the most freakish accident. It was a dog you would never think would harm anyone at all. And my brother was just really proud of the baby, it was his first," he said.
The former president of The Lane neighborhood association, Pete Hagan, said that in September 2007, the association sent a letter to the baby's father, Justin Mozer, complaining about the behavior of pit bulls kept in the back yard. But Hagan said he had no problems with the Jack Russell terrier, and had noticed no problems with the pit bulls since November either.
Lexington, KT - A family dog mauled a 6-week old baby to death yesterday. Witnesses told police that Justin Mozer was sleeping in a bedroom when the family's Jack Russell terrier attacked him. Officials have not released whether the baby was sleeping in a crib. The family also owns a pit bull. Fayette County Animal Control removed both dogs by request of the owner.
According to a 25-year analysis, life threatening attacks by Jack Russell terriers are rare. In a study by Animal People, Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada 1982-2007, only two attacks stemmed from Jack Russells. One of those attacks led to a death, but only because the dog-bite wound became infected.
2007 Fatality: Kelly Caldwell Killed by Loose Pit Bulls in California
Pit Bull Owners Arrested UPDATE 09/18/08: The owners of pit bulls that mauled Kelly Caldwell to death on Christmas Day have been arrested. Both Jeffrey Dwayne King, Jr., 23, and John Allan Peterson, 23, of Yermo were arrested in Barstow on September 17 and booked in the Barstow Jail on suspicion of failure to control a mischievous animal, resulting in death, a felony.
08/10/08: DNA Confirms Pit Bulls in Deadly Attack Test results confirmed that blood found on the dogs matched DNA from the victim, 45-year-old Kelly Caldwell. The district attorney’s office will decide whether to file criminal charges against the dogs' owners, John Peterson and Jeff King. Caldwell’s mother, Carol Tanner, is relieved that after the seven months the case is moving forward.
12/30/07: Events Don't Add Up; Family in Shock Events of this Christmas day tragedy still do not make sense to family members. The victim's daughter, Rhonda Dugger, who lived with Caldwell in Yermo and spent Christmas morning with her mother, does not understand why Caldwell was walking alone near Yermo Road and Second Street the night several dogs attacked and killed her.
Despite a medical condition that left Caldwell with weak lungs and forced her to always walk with a companion, her sister, Theresa Davies, said Caldwell was a tough woman who had a bit of a rough side. Both Davies and Dugger said sometimes Caldwell rubbed people the wrong way and she had enemies in Yermo but both still loved her.
Both Dugger and Davies said Caldwell’s body was badly damaged by the attack. Dugger said it looked like Caldwell’s legs had been run over by a car. Pieces of her body were scattered around the scene. Davies said she had skin nowhere else on her body but her face. "I can’t fathom it. I can’t believe an animal could do that," she said.
12/26/07: Yermo Woman Mauled to Death by Pit Bulls So far in 2007, dogs have killed 35 people. Of these deaths, 21 are attributed to pit bull type dogs (60% percent). The nearest rival breed is the rottweiler at 11% percent. Given that pit bulls only make up 4-9% of U.S. household dogs, there is a clearly a breed disproportionate problem in dog attacks that end in fatality.
In the instance of 45-year old Kelly Caldwell, she was attacked and killed by several loose pit bulls late Christmas day. Authorities are taking DNA samples from the dogs to determine which ones are responsible. During the investigation, two dogs were shot as officials attempted to secure the crime scene and gather evidence.
At this time, officials do no know how the dogs escaped their enclosure and what, if any, charges the owner of these animals might face.
2007 Fatality: Pit Bull Attacks and Kills Toddler in South Carolina
2-Year Old boy Mauled to Death by Pit Bull Charelston, SC - In today's tragedy, the grandmother had been babysitting two-year old Holden Jernigan when he wondered outside unnoticed. The family's 40lb pit bull bit the boy's head and neck, killing him before rescuers arrived. It is unclear if the dog was chained or not.
This is the second fatal pit bull attack in Dorchester County this year. Back in April, 1-year old Brian Palmer was killed by the family's pit bull. The dog had gotten out of the laundry room. Brian was found in an upstairs room fatally mauled. There were no adults present at the time of the attack. The mother was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child.
After Brian Palmer was killed, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had asked the Dorchester County Council to ban or restrict new ownership of pit bulls. PETA wasn't successful because state law doesn't allow the county to declare a "breed" of dog dangerous. The same type of state law exists in Colorado and cities effectively pass pit bull bans anyway.
So far in 2007, pit bull types are responsible for 19 of the 33 dog bite fatalities, 58% percent. The nearest rival is the rottweiler at 12% percent. Given that pit bulls make up about 5-9% percent of US household dogs, there is a clear disproportionate relationship to the number of pit bulls and the amount of killing done by them.
2007 Fatality: Tori Whitehurst, Killed by Family's American Bulldog
4-year Old Mauled and Killed by Family Pet Phoenix, AZ - 4-year-old Tori Whitehurst was playing in her backyard when the family's American bulldog, Kane, suddenly attacked killed her. The attack occurred at the family's rural home near Happy Valley Road. Authorities say the dog grabbed the girl's arm first then bit her neck. Tori died in a medical helicopter en route to the hospital.
Both parents were at work at the time of the attack. A 59-year-old, live-in nanny was watching Tori and her older sister. Dani During, a family friend, says the nanny went inside for a couple of minutes when the dog attacked. The nanny tried to break up the attack by stabbing the dog with scissors and hitting him with a pool cue. Neither worked.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says deputies arrived approximately 10 minutes after the 911 call. They saw the dog lying next to the fatally wounded child. When the dog became aggressive toward the deputies, the sheriff says they tased the animal, which did nothing. So they shot it seven times, which finally killed it.
Kane was surrendered to the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) in March of 2007 and adopted to an unnamed person the next month. This person allegedly gave the dog to the Whitehurst's in June. The AHS does not know how Kane ended up with Tori's family. They report that when Kane left their facility, "he was fully evaluated by three behaviorists and showed no sign of aggression."
Somehow, in a period of 6 months, the dog went clinically insane.
2007 Fatality: Tina Marie Canterbury Killed by Her Two Red Nosed Pit Bulls
Middleburg Woman Killed Middleburg, FL - A 42-year-old woman was fatally mauled by her two pit bulls, which also attacked the victim's son and a sheriff's deputy before both dogs were shot and killed, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Tina Marie Canterbury was dead when deputies arrived at the scene. During the attack the other brother called 911 -- the dogs could be heard in the background.
"We have two full-blooded red-nosed pits and they just attacked our mom. We can't get to my mom and my brother just went out there and they attacked him too. They don't need to get out of the ambulance or the dogs will try to get them, too."
A family friend, who was at the home at the time, shot at the dogs with a 9mm handgun, but they were still alive and one of them lunged at an arriving deputy before it was shot and killed. The remaining dog got loose. The sheriff's office issued a dangerous dog alert while animal control officers tracked the animal down. The dog was later found in a wooded area and shot and killed.
Authorities said they did not know what circumstances caused the dogs to attack Canterbury. Animal Crimes Detective Annie Henderson said, "This was a responsible owner. These animals never had any history of any type of aggression." The dogs were behind a fence that had a beware-of-dogs sign and the county had never had an animal complaint at the home.
The dogs were two years old and had been raised since puppies by Canterbury.
The 100 Silliest Things People Say About Dogs
In this ground-breaking and sometimes controversial book, Alexandra Semyonova explodes the 100 most common myths about dogs, their nature, their behavior and how to treat them.
DogsBite.org is a national dog bite victims' group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. Through our work, we hope to protect both people and pets from future attacks.
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