In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 523 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »
Statistical information gathered by DogsBite.org is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.1 Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research.
| 2011 fatal dog attacks by breed |
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In 2011, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from up to 4 different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 34 rather than 31. Up to seven dog breeds contributed to 1 death: Alaskan malamute, American bulldog, bulldog (American or English not specified), cane corso, doberman pinscher, German shepherd and Japanese akita.
Linda Leal, 51-years old, mauled to death by her pit bull-mix. Her husband, Enrique Leal, discovered her body shortly after 7:00 am in the couple's yard in the 100 block of Bridge Street. Colusa firefighters responded to the scene at about 7:20 am and found her deceased. Leal sustained extensive head and neck injuries "consistent with a dog attack," police said. One dog, with a history of violent behavior, was penned up the yard. The couple's other dog, a white pit bull-mix named "Toby," was loose in the yard and found with blood on it, interim Colusa Police Chief Ross Stark said. Leal was last seen alive around 7:00 pm the previous night when her husband went upstairs to bed, Stark said. Leal slept downstairs due to her health issues. The couple had been married for nine years. The Colusa County Coroner's Office confirmed Leal was alive when her own dog mauled her. "She was still alive during the mauling," sheriff's Lieutenant Shane Maxey said. The dog was taken into custody by Colusa County Animal Control and euthanized with Enrique's consent. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 4, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Makayla Woodard, 5-years old, was killed by two pit bulls in her front yard. The attack occurred around 11:00 at 324 Rehobeth Road, the Waxhaw Police Department said. Her grandmother, Nancy Presson, 67, was severely injured trying to protect her. Police shot and killed both dogs at the scene. Makayla, who was bitten over 200 times, and Presson were transported to Carolinas Medical Center-Union, where the girl died. "It’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine somebody being bit like that and having their throat ripped out," her uncle, Robert Frady said. Both pit bulls were owned by Michael Gordon, 23, a convicted felon, living next door. Neighbors said they had complained many times about Gordon's dogs running loose. Police said they warned Gordon at Christmas -- just a few weeks earlier -- to keep his dogs contained. At the time, Gordon admitted that his dogs, "Rebel" and "Daisy," often managed to hop the fence. Prosecutors charged Gordon with involuntary manslaughter. Gordon later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 to 24 months in prison. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Kristen Dutton, 9-years old, was killed by a 98-pound Japanese akita. The attack occurred at approximately 6:30 pm at her grandfather's home in the 100 block of Hood Drive, McCormick County Coroner Faye Puckett said. She was outside playing with the dog, which was fastened to a "runner," when the dog attacked, inflicting fatal injuries to her neck. About 15 minutes later, Kristen's younger brother saw her lying in the yard and notified the grandfather, telling him, "she looked dead," according to a McCormick County Sheriff's Office incident report. Kristen was transported to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Mickey Abercrombie had purchased the dog three weeks earlier for his grandchildren who lived at his Modoc home, along with their mother, Leah Abercrombie. Kristen was a fourth grader at Merriwether Elementary school and adored animals. She hoped to one day become a veterinarian, according to her grandmother Janice Abercrombie. The new Japanese akita was the first and last pet Kristen ever had. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 22, 2011 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Japanese akita | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Ronnie Waldo, 51-years old, was killed by his landlord's three pit bulls. The attack occurred at about 2:00 pm at 879 Topsy Road, the Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office said. Arriving deputies shot and killed two of the pit bulls. Waldo was pronounced dead at the scene. Waldo was renting a trailer home on the property of James Swanson, about 50 yards away from where his battered body was found. Just before the attack, Waldo and his friend Raymond Blansett had been trying to fix a hot water heater in Waldo's trailer; they needed a relay switch to complete the task. Waldo walked over to Swanson's house to see if he had one in his garage. When he did not return, Blansett went to find him. He found his friend on the ground with two pit bulls tearing at him. The third dog went after Blansett, who had to run up the road to escape. Deputies confiscated three adult pit bulls, while a half dozen puppies skittered around the yard. A special grand jury indicted James Casey Swanson, 30, with manslaughter. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to five years in prison. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 26, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Landlord |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Sirlinda Hayes, 66-years old, was killed by two loose rottweilers. The attack occurred around 2:00 pm at 1560 West Main Street, said Captain Cliff Arnette, spokesman for the Dillon County Sheriff's Office. Responding deputies shot and killed both dogs. Hays was gardening in the backyard of her one-story home when the rottweilers attacked her. The dogs were owned by her relative and neighbor, Shawn Samuel. When Samuel became aware of the attack, he rushed out to help Sirlinda. His own two dogs then turned on him, launching a second violent attack. Animal control later removed three additional rottweilers from Samuel's home. Samuel was rushed to McLeod Medical Center in Dillon, where doctors had to amputate one of his legs. The dogs had roamed loose many times before, but had not been a problem, according to family members. However, a female neighbor suspected the pair of dogs killed a dog earlier this week. Billy Odom, Sirlinda's nephew, said he believed "seeing the garden hoe" held by his aunt may have caused the dogs to attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 17, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Darius Tillman, 15-days old, was killed by a family pit bull. The attack occurred around 4:30 pm in the 400 block of Garfield Avenue, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said. At the time, the infant's mother, his 2-year old sibling and the 1-year old male pit bull, "Buster," were inside the home. The mother laid her infant down for a nap in a bassinet in a bedroom and fell asleep in another room. The pit bull pushed open the bedroom door, which did not latch, and mauled the baby, partially consuming it. The infant was dead when police arrived. Four months later, after the Kalamazoo Gazette gained the final incident report under the state Freedom of Information Act, it was learned that detectives had sought charges of involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to animals against the child's mother, Mallory Wildig, 25. Since the baby's birth, Wildig was staying at her grandmother's home and returned to the Garfield home once a day to feed the dog, which she confined to the basement. The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office declined to authorize charges. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 19, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Jennie Erquiaga, 47-years old, died after being attacked by her dog. On March 6th, 2011 police received a report of a dog attack at approximately 10:19 pm at a residence in the 200 block of West 16th Street, according to San Bernardino police Lieutenant Jarrod Burguan. Erquiaga's dog, a pit bull-mix, inflicted bite wounds on both of her arms, her left leg and shoulder. People in the house fought with the pit bull then locked it in a room, police said. Erquiaga was pronounced dead at the scene. Police suspected other medical issues besides the dog bite injuries may have led to the woman's death. "(The wounds) didn't appear to be so severe that they would have killed somebody," Burguan said. The dog was taken into custody by San Bernardino City Animal Control. In December 2011, nine months later, DogsBite.org requested Erquiaga's cause of death from the San Bernardino County Coroner's Department. The office confirmed that her death was due to "physiologic stress from multiple dog bites in a person with ASCVD and Methamphetamine toxicity." [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Vanessa Husmann, 3-years old, was killed by her grandfather's two rottweilers. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 200 block of Third Street Southeast at about 5:00 pm for a report of a girl being attacked by dogs. Vanessa was transported to Jones Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Prior to the attack, Vanessa had gone into the backyard to play, where the dogs were kept in a secure kennel. Her 18-year old half-brother, Brandon Marty, was babysitting her at the time, but it was Blake Muller, also 18, who was visiting his mother's home across the street, who witnessed the attack and ran to help. Police said the dogs were usually kept at the grandfather's home in Monticello where he breeds "family oriented" AKC registered champion rottweilers, according to his website. The child's mother, Rhonda Marty, said she did not know how the dogs escaped their secure kennel. One day after her girl's death, family members used a tractor to destroy and remove the kennel, leaving no way to make this determination. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Annabelle Mitchell, 7-months old, was killed by the family's rottweiler. The attack occurred in the 200 block of Town Hill Road between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. "The child’s mother called 911 saying the dog had attacked her daughter," said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Upon arrival, emergency responders found the baby stiff and purple, with scratches on her body. A Waldo County sheriff's deputy shot and killed the dog at the request of the baby's father, John Mitchell, McCausland said. At the time of the incident, Annabella was at home with her mother, her two-and-a-half-year old brother, and the family dog, "Hannibal." Her mother said she woke up from a nap at 7:00 pm and found her baby dead on the living room. On July 13, 2011 Maine State Police arrested the baby's mother, Katrina Mitchelle, 29, and charged her with endangering a child, a misdemeanor. The baby was mauled and killed while Mitchelle slept on the couch too intoxicated to hear her infant being attacked. Mitchelle pleaded guilty to the charge. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Virgil Cantrell, 50-years old, was killed by a familiar pit bull. The attack occurred in the first block of Peddy Street around 7:35 pm, Carter County Undersheriff Milton Anthony said. "When deputies arrived, they found the dog, still chained to the porch, but it had the victim on the ground and would not allow anyone near the victim," Anthony said. A deputy shot and killed the dog, he said. Cantrell died while en route to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. The pit bull, "Ike," along with four other pit bulls -- including at least two breeding females -- belonged to Rickey and Lisa Grant. When Cantrell stopped by their house, the two were not home. Cantrell waited on the porch where Ike was tethered, and the dog suddenly attacked him. Court documents indicate the dog "inflicted massive sharp force injuries" which included damaging arteries and veins as well as fracturing Cantrell’s right jaw and "the right side of the cervical vertebrae." The dog had a history of biting people. Prosecutors charged both Grants with felony ownership of a dangerous dog causing the death of a person. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 22, 2011 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Margaret Salcedo, 48-years old, was killed by four pit bulls while taking a walk on Easter Sunday. The attack occurred around 4:25 pm in the 1400 block of Nickel Street, the Truth or Consequences Police Department said. A passerby in a car opened his door to intervene, but he stayed in the vehicle after the pit bulls charged him. Neighbor Laura Russell, who called 911, witnessed the same horrible scene unfold. Police arrived in about three minutes, shooting one pit bull dead and scattering the others. She was transported to Sierra Vista Hospital, where she later died. The pit bulls belonged to John Hardiman, a former police officer, and his wife, Maria Hardiman, who live 100 yards away from the attack site. Neither were home at the time. According to Police Chief Patrick Gallagher, the Hardiman's yard was fenced, but officers found several areas where the dogs could have escaped. Prosecutors initially announced that no felony charges would be filed against the dogs' owners, but three weeks later, the Hardimans were charged with five felony counts each. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 24, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Jayelin Graham, 4-years old, was killed by a bull breed whose owner dubbed a "monster dog." The attack occurred around 9:15 pm in the 2100 block of Pacific Street in Brooklyn, police said. One witness heard Graham’s mother wailing, "Help! He ate my baby! He ate my baby!" At the time of the attack, Jayelin was alone in a bedroom with his two young brothers ages 2 and 5. The male dog, "Machete," attacked the child's head and throat while his siblings watched. The dog belonged to Damien "Dread" Jones, the boyfriend of Jayelin's mother. Jones brought the dog, described as a cane corso-mastiff mix, into the home a few months earlier. The family's first-floor home was "like a small zoo," neighbors said, with a cane corso, German shepherd-mix, rabbit, parrots, turtles and fish. The dogs had recently eaten the pet rabbit. The boy's mother, Saquina Jubeark, told police she only left the boys alone for few minutes. When she returned, she found Jayelin in the dog's jaws. Police released Jubeark after hours of questioning and ruled the boy's death an accident. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 27, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso-mastiff mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother's boyfriend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
David Haigler, 38-years old, was killed by his pit bull. Spotsylvania County sheriff's deputies were called to the 500 block of Olde Greenwich Circle around 6:00 pm for a report of a suspicions death. His 18-year old son found him dead on his living room floor with wounds to his arms, head and face. Authorities suspected that one of Haigler's two pit bulls killed him. The victim was "already under medical care for a dog bite" that happened a week ago, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Timm of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said. An autopsy confirmed that one of Haigler's pit bulls inflicted the fatal injuries. That pit bull was roaming free in the home; the other one was chained in another part of the house. Both pit bulls were 6-years old. A search affidavit stated that the living room was "in disarray and there was a wooden baseball bat on a sofa near the body." Court records also revealed that blood was on the floor, walls and furniture. The medical examiner's investigation showed that Haigler's fingers and hands suffered defensive wounds during the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 11, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Roy McSweeney, 74-years old, died after being mutilated by two pit bulls. The attack occurred on June 10 at about 11:00 am at 259 Old Hawthorne Road, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said. First responders found McSweeney in the front yard of his home -- his right arm was amputated, his left arm was partially amputated and he sustained severe facial injuries. He was taken to Shands Hospital in critical condition. Investigators determined the dogs involved belonged to the man's neighbor, Deanna Blitch, 51. Blitch told deputies that she no longer owned the dogs. But her son William Blitch, 25, said the dogs were inside the house. Officers confiscated the dogs. The same two pit bulls had attacked two other men in the past. One previous victim, Robert Floyd, retained a law firm. After McSweeney died of his injuries on June 15, his family retained the same law firm, who said that both victims were "completely failed" by police and laws meant to regulate dangerous dogs. A grand jury indicted Blitch and her son on multiple misdemeanor charges. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 15, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Salvador Cotto, 6-months old, was killed by a pit bull-mix while visiting the owner's home. The attack occurred around 1:40 pm in the 4600 block of Overridge Drive, the Chesterfield County police said. The baby was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he died. The mother and her baby were visiting relatives from Seattle. Adults were in the kitchen while the baby was in a nearby room when the dog picked up the baby by its head. Friends and neighbors described the dog, "Polar," as a deaf dogo Argentino. The dog turned out to be a female pit bull-American bulldog mix. Charles and Erin Teets adopted the dog several years earlier after it was rescued from an abusive home in Atlanta. Rescue dog activists minimized the fatal injuries inflicted by the dog and launched an online campaign to "Save Polar" from being euthanized. As soon as the medical examiner's office determined the cause of death was "cerebral edema due to a dog bite to the head," Chesterfield County police confirmed the dog was put down. His death was ruled accidental. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 29, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-American bulldog mix | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Michael Naglee, 11-months old, was killed by a family dog and three adults were injured. The attack occurred around 3:30 in the 15500 block of Liars Lair Road. Tillamook County sheriff's deputies raced to the scene. The boy was transported to Tillamook County General Hospital, where he died. The child's paternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Naglee, invited Michael's parents and his mother's family to spend the July 4 weekend at their home in Nehalem. Michael's parents brought along the family dog, which they adopted from a shelter four years earlier. Prior to the attack, Michael was sitting on his grandmother's lap when he got antsy, so she put him down, investigators said. "The American bulldog, whose name was "Duncan," was sitting about seven feet away and unprovoked, the dog grabbed the child. From there, there was a huge valiant attempt by both sets of grandparents and an uncle to free the child from the grasp of the dog," Sheriff Todd Anderson said. Deputies said the "dog was so agitated" after they arrived they were forced to shoot it. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 2, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Darla Napora, 32-years old, was killed by one of her two pit bulls. The attack occurred in the 500 block of Reina Del Mar Avenue prior to 12:15 pm. Her husband, Greg Napora, returned from work at lunchtime and found her body on the floor with the couple's 2-year old male pit bull, "Gunner," hovering over it. He called 911. "When they arrived, they found the victim laying in her own front living room; she was not breathing, unresponsive and had major trauma to her upper body," Pacifica police Captain Dave Bertini said. Police shot the dog three times, killing it. At the time attack, Darla was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Napora last saw her alive at 8:00 am. According to Napora, Darla was an avid fan of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls (BadRap). Less than 24 hours after her death, Napora told a media outlet that pit bulls are "the most loving animals" and his wife's death "was not the breed's fault," and, finally, "It was just a freak accident." Napora also said that he "plans to bury his spouse, Darla, with their pet's cremated remains in her casket." [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 11, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
James Dowling, 4-years old, was killed by a relative's rottweiler. The attack occurred around 12:18 pm in the 300 block of West Nickel Street. The boy, who was from Hot Springs, was visiting his grandfather, Ozark Police Chief Cory Tedford said. The boy was left with friends at the home while his grandfather was away at work. Prior to the attack, James was playing in the backyard when the rottweiler jumped out of its four-foot-high chain link pen and attacked, police said. The boy was barely breathing when first responders arrived. There were no witnesses to the attack, police said. James was taken to a local emergency room then airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. While in transit, the boy's condition worsened forcing the helicopter to land immediately at Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, where he was pronounced dead. The rottweiler was taken to the Franklin County Humane Society, where it was later euthanized. Chief Tedford said the case was forwarded to the prosecutor's office; but no charges were anticipated. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Michael Cook, 61-years old, was killed by his pet pit bull. The attack occurred on August 3 at about 6:00 pm in the 6700 block of South Paseo De Las Aguilas, the Pima County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies had to Tase the dog to stop the attack. Cook was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition. The attack began indoors when Cook tried break up a fight between his two dogs, and the larger one turned on him. He was able to make his way outside. Neighbors heard Cook screaming and rushed down the alley to help. "It literally looked like [the dog] was eating him," said Fernando Lozano. The dog, "Butch," was taken into custody by Pima County Animal Care Center. Cook underwent two surgeries and was administered 100 pints of blood. Less than two weeks later, doctors amputated both of Cook's arms. He also suffered from liver failure and kidney damage. On August 23, Cook died. Family members called the attack a "freak accident," said the dog "happened to flip at the wrong time" and blamed the attack on the dog being neutered earlier that day. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 23, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Addyson Camerino, 9-days old, was killed by his grandparent's dog pack. The attack occurred around 4:00 pm in the 10000 block of North College Street, the Bladen County Sheriff's Office said. The newborn was rushed to Bladen County Hospital in Elizabethtown, where she died. The boy's father, Charles Camerino, 21, was in jail at the time of the attack. Along with the boy's mother, Chelsea Brigman, the young couple was staying at the north Clarkton home of the newborn's grandparents, Nelson and Linda Camerino, where uncles and an upstairs tenant also lived. Authorities removed five dogs from the residence suspected in the attack, including a pit bull, bulldog, Alaskan malamute, German shepherd and German shepherd-bulldog mix. On September 16, a special session of the Bladen County grand jury was convened. Bladen County sheriff's deputies subsequently arrested Chelsea Lynn Brigman, 18, and the baby's grandfather, Nelson Ernest Camerino, 49, charging each with involuntary manslaughter. The charges were later dismissed after a hung jury. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (1) Bulldog (1) Alaskan malamute (1) German shepherd (2) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Carmen Ramos, 50-years old, was killed by her husband's pit bulls. Philadelphia police were dispatched to the 400 block of West Carey Street around 6:30 pm after a report of a dog attack. Police arrived to the bloody scene, where the victim was declared dead at 6:45 pm. Carmen's husband, Jose Alvarez, 55, told police he came home from work and found his wife being attacked by his dogs in their living room. Eleven days earlier, the dogs escaped his home and attacked two neighbors, Dolores Estrella, 51, and Gus Castro, 25. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSCPA), picked up the dogs only to return them to Alvarez three days later. Neighbors said Alvarez had at least three run-ins with the PSPCA -- who contracts animal control services with the city -- in the past, including the discovery of dead dogs in his basement last year and the removal of live dogs. The potential protocol violations by the PSPCA were so numerous that City Managing Director Brian Abernathy launched an internal investigation into the agency. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (5) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Husband |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Brayden McCollen, 2-weeks old, was killed by a family pit bull-mix. The attack occurred around 8:00 pm in the 16500 block of Cypress Bridge Drive. The baby was transported by LifeFlight to Memorial Herman Hospital, where he died five hours later, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland said. At the time of the attack, the infant was visiting his grandparent's home. The baby was in an infant carrier on the floor inside a room, when the 100-pound pit bull began sniffing the baby and then mauling him. The dog had been behind a pair of French doors, but pushed through them to reach the baby, Gilliland said. The adult in the home heard noises from the room and rushed to help, but it was too late. Three other children were also in the home. The baby's mother was outside on the phone at the time, watching the baby through a window, Gilliland said. A neighbor, who called 911, said the baby suffered severe bites to the stomach; the fragile infant was badly injured. The grandmother, who owned the dog, was hospitalized for shock after the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 4, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family members |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Donna Conrad, 71-years old, was killed by her guard dog. The attack occurred around 4:00 pm in the 500 block of Northshore Lane on the La Cantera Ranch Resort, the Cooke County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies discovered Conrad dead in her backyard with severe bite wounds. "It appears she was in the backyard watering and one of the pets -- a doberman pinscher -- is believed to have attacked her and, ultimately, killed her," Chief Deputy Jim Carter said. The canine was found with blood on its coat and the owner's hair on its teeth, police said. No one witnessed the attack. “There were a couple of other ladies in the house at the time but they weren’t aware what was going on in the backyard,” Carter said. Investigators believe the dog was imported from Hungary and had been trained to protect humans, Sheriff Mike Compton said. The woman’s injuries included deep head and throat wounds. "It was a brutal attack," he said. Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Jason Brinkley ordered an autopsy. The dog was quarantined and subsequently euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 16, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Doberman pinscher | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Nevaeh Bryant, 21-months old, was killed by her aunt's three pit bulls. West Haven police were called to 127 Leete Street around 6:13 pm for a report of a dog biting a child. The child was unconscious when paramedics arrived. She was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she was declared dead. The child was visiting her aunt, Erica Hobdy, who owns the dogs, when the attack occurred, police said. After Hodby put the child down for a nap in one room, she locked the dogs in her son's room then left for the store just before 6:00 pm. After realizing she left her pocketbook in the home, she sent her 10-year old son to fetch it. "He went into the room where his mother had put the pit bulls, but didn't shut the door behind him," said Dolores Leonard, the child's great grandmother. The dogs killed Nevaeh while her aunt was away. At the time, Hobdy was being sued by a postal worker for injuries inflicted by a different pit bull she owned in 2009. Hobdy was later charged with criminally negligent homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Aunt |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Mya Maeda, 11-days old, was killed by a family dog while sleeping. The attack occurred in the 1700 block of South Seminole Street. Amarillo police officers were dispatched to a local hospital at 3:20 am to investigate the report of an 11-day old baby bitten by a dog. The baby's mother, Monique Hernandez, 20, told police she was sleeping beside the bassinet on the couch, and the dog was sleeping at the foot of the couch. Sometime between 3:00 am and 3:30 am, the dog took the baby from the bassinet. Hernandez woke up around that time and began searching around in the dark for her baby. Her hands couldn't find the infant, but could feel "Rocky," the family's large pit bull-mastiff mix. She next felt the baby's head in the dog's mouth. Hernandez pried the dog's jaws open and pulled Mya out and began screaming for her mother. The newborn was pronounced dead at 9:20 am due to head trauma from the attack. The 9-year old dog, which had no history of aggression, was euthanized. "For 11 days, I was a great mom," Hernandez said. "I never intended for this to happen." [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 3, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mastiff mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family members |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Edna Dyson, 71-years old, died after being attacked by two pit bulls. On November 9, Dyson went to a South Houston rental property she owned in the 8200 block of Swiss Lane to tend to the yard. The neighbor's two pit bulls dug under the fence and attacked her. Dyson managed to crawl to her car and climb inside, but she remained undiscovered for two hours. "She fought very hard, she fought for her life, made it to the car, closed the door and waited for help," said Valarie Davis, one of Dyson's friends. She remained in critical care until she died on November 15. The cause of death was complications following "sharp and blunt" wounds due to dog bites. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to press charges against the dog's owner, Adrian Garcia, because the owner "put the dogs down" after the attack and the owner "was in the process" of putting in a fence. The decision riled Dyson's family, who called her death a "homicide." She had been a teacher for the Houston Independent School District for 33 years and was also a basketball coach. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 15, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Joseph Hines, 58-years old, was killed by his pit bull. On December 5, a family member discovered his body at a home on the family member's farm at 8082 North County Road 1400 East in Burnettsville, Indiana State Police said. Hines had been living on the property. He was last seen alive on December 2. An autopsy confirmed that Hines died after his dog bit into his jugular vein. Hines also had defensive bite wounds on his arms, indicating that he had tried to fend off the dog. White County Coroner Matt Westerhouse said Hines died of blood loss. Westerhouse estimated his death occurred on December 3. The victim's sister, Shirley Silkey, 60, was close to her brother. "He always loved his dogs," she said. "He found this dog and took care of it. I guess the dog just lost it." Silkes added that Hines had owned the male dog, "Honey," for about four or five years and that she wasn't aware if the dog had any aggression issues. One neighbor reported that he often saw Hines walking his pit bull and characterized the dog as "friendly." The dog was euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 5, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tonia Parks, 39-years old, was killed by one or both of her pit bulls. The attack occurred on November 18 around 10:33 am in the 3200 block of Collins Street, Rockford police said. Officers were dispatched to the home to assist Winnebago County Animal Control after it was learned the woman suffered critical injuries in the dog attack and was transported to a trauma center. Parks remained in critical care at Rockford Memorial Hospital until she died of her injuries on December 6. Park sustained injuries to her head and her jugular vein was bitten during the attack, Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said. No autopsy was planned, she said. A family member told investigators she ran out of the home that day in an attempt to find help for Parks after she suffered a medical crisis -- a seizure. When she returned, she found Parks being viciously attacked by one of her pit bulls. The second dog attacked the pit bull that was mauling Parks, according to Jennifer Stacey, deputy director of Winnebago County Animal Services. Both pit bulls were put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Misti Wyno, 40-years old, was killed by her neighbor's pit bull. The attack ensued around 12:30 pm at 4686 Mount Zion Road, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office said. Misti was a close friend of her neighbor Bobbi Joe Courson, who lived with the dog. Wyno was leaving Courson's home when the dog, "Grinder," broke free of a cable line attached to a runner and attacked her. She was severely bitten on her legs, arms and head and died as a result of her injuries. In December 2013, Misti's husband, Jason Wyno, filed a wrongful death suit against Lowndes County, Lowndes County Animal Control and the persons living at the home where the attack occurred: Jerrica Gonzalez, Dewayne Cole Warner, 20, and Bobbi Joe Courson, 41. The lawsuit revealed that Warner owned the 1-year old male pit bull, "Grinder." It also revealed that in July 2012, Southern District Attorney J. David Miller sought a grand jury indictment against Gonzalez, Warner and Courson on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, but a Lowndes County grand jury No Billed the indictment. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 8, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Emako Mendoza, 76-years old, died after being mauled by her neighbor's two pit bulls. The attack occurred on the morning of June 18 in the backyard of Emako's home in the 5800 block of Alleghany Street. The dogs broke through a gap in the fence and attacked her. Emako suffered a heart attack during the assault and afterward, the amputation of her lower left arm and left leg. Both dogs, 6-year old female pit bulls, were seized along with 11 puppies. The owners of the dogs, Alba Cornelio, 39, and her daughter Carla Cornelio, 19, were each charged with two felony counts for owning dogs that caused serious bodily injury. Prosecutors also received a no contact order barring the dogs' owners from having contact with the victim and her husband. Due to her traumatic injuries, in addition to the amputation of her right leg months after the attack, Emako died on Christmas Eve. After her death, prosecutors added new charges of involuntary manslaughter and death from a mischievous animal. Both were found guilty at trial. Alba died a week after Carla was sentenced. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 24, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Neighbors |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Mable McCallister, 84-years old, died after being attacked by her grandson's pit bull. The attack occurred on December 18, 2011 at 220 Polk County Avenue Northeast. "She was bit in her face and neck," Cleveland Police Officer Evie West said. The injuries caused her to be hospitalized in Erlanger Hospital's trauma unit for over four days, according to Bradley County Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffery Miller. Mable died on New Year's Eve in hospice care. The owner of the pit bull, Jerry Harrison, Jr., lived on his father's property where several other pit bulls were kept. No one from Harrison's family called police or animal control after the attack. "We became aware of the dog attack only after Ms. McCallister was brought to Erlanger," West said. The Harrisons also "home-quarantined" the dog after the incident; it's unknown if the dog was euthanized. The victim's great-granddaughter, Amanda, left a comment on a local news article: "Something needs to be done about the dog. A woman, an amazing woman dies from this dog and nothing is being done about it." [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 31, 2011 | Chained: | Unreleased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandson |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Deaths involving minor dog bite injury, dog-related caused injury (killed by a car while fleeing a dog) and cases that lacked a "reasonably clear" determination of death after dog bite injury are not included in our fatality statistical data. Deaths involving fatal non-bite injury (struck by dog death) or deaths due to untreated severe dog bites (sepsis) may be added to our statistical data at a future time.
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: An archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings from 1833 to December 2024, maintained by DogsBite.org.
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