In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »
It often takes several weeks to identify fatal dog attack parameters.1 This is why recent dog bite fatalities may not appear on this page. In the interim, please visit Recent Fatalities on our blog.
John Doe, 70-years old, died after suffering dog bite injuries that became infected. On November 26, 2020, Thanksgiving Day, a pit bull belonging to Rise Jo Morrow, inflicted a vicious multi-victim attack. The first victim, an adult female, was badly bitten and required long-term hospitalization, according to an affidavit. Another woman, who tried to help the first victim, suffered bites to her thigh and breast. The first victim's husband also intervened; he suffered multiple bites to his stomach and thighs. In early January, the husband returned to the hospital for his dog bite injuries that became infected. He died on January 12. The autopsy report said that sepsis and wounds contributed to his death. On March 25, 2022, Rise Jo Morrow was charged with second-degree manslaughter, "Owner of a Dog that Kills," in connection to his death. Prior to the November 2020 attack, Morrow's dog had attacked at least two people in separate attacks, causing serious bite injuries. Both victims had come to visit Morrow's home. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 12, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Cameron Hatfield, 6-years old, was mauled to death by a recently abandoned pit bull his mother was trying to rehome on Facebook. Deputies from the Hampton County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a home on Mullins Ford Road in response to a child being attacked by a dog. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the 6-year old child, who was deceased. Hampton County Animal Control officers also responded to the scene. The pit bull was apprehended by officers and later euthanized. The case was turned over to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Five days before the deadly attack, his mother posted a photo of the pit bull, stating, the dog is "great with other dogs, big and small, children, big and small, and my cat!" After her son's death, she live streamed an emotional video on Facebook, stating, "I was an advocate, supporter for pit bulls. What happened, happened so fast that there was nothing that anybody could do." Cameron was in kindergarten at Fennell Elementary School. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 20, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Keeper of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Infant Jane Doe, 4-weeks old, was attacked and killed by a family dog in the middle of the night. A Good Samaritan ambulance was dispatched to a home in the 500 block of West 14th Street for an infant not breathing at about 3:00 am, police said. Kearney Police officers were first to arrive on scene and discovered the newborn dead. A preliminary autopsy performed on February 11 confirmed the infant died as a result of "blunt force and cranial trauma caused by an American bulldog that resided with the family," according to a press release by Buffalo County Attorney Shawn Eatherton. A subsequent investigation into the history of the dog revealed no prior known aggressive behavior, states the release. The cause of death was ruled accidental. The dog was euthanized later the same day. Officials did not release the name of the baby or her family. A GoFundMe organized for funeral costs, said the baby was born on January 10, 2021 and died on February 10, 2021. Her parents have six other children. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 10, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Deann Stephenson, 59-years old, was killed by a pack of vicious dogs as she walked to a corner store about a mile away from her home. Neighbors found Stephenson "lying in a roadside ditch with severe injuries." It appeared the dogs were "chewing" on her, according to media reports. The attack occurred in the 24800 block of Cunningham Drive. Arriving deputies discovered the victim had sustained multiple severe injuries after being attacked by a pack of mixed-breed dogs. She was transported to Kingwood Medical Center in critical condition with bites to her face, legs, arms, back, and neck. She died that same day at the hospital. Montgomery County Animal Control took possession of four dogs, which were described as a mixture of hound, shepherd and black mouth cur breeds. The dogs' owner was issued several citations. Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office are investigating to determine if any criminal charges will be filed against the owner of the animals. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 15, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed (4) | 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: | Pending |
Infant John Doe, 8-months old, was killed by a family dog. Southern New Hampshire Counties Fire dispatch received a call at 1:03 pm about an 8-month old with a dog bite, "delta-level," at 130 Old Town Road Ext. Property records identified the couple who lives at the home and social media pages showed they had a 8-month old baby and an intact American bulldog. The dog was purchased from Northern Woods American Bulldogs in 2016 from the "Grizzy and Joanna litter." On February 21, the Concord Monitor reported that emergency crews responded to the home for an "accidental incident" between a child and a dog. No "bite" details were released by Epsom Police Chief Wayne Preve. A neighbor reported that a fire truck and "two ambulances" were seen outside the home. Notably, the audio logs from fire also stated they were "working on a second" victim at the scene. On February 24, Chief Preve told The Monitor, "There will not be a statement, there will not be a press release" about this incident. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 20, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Father |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Aziz Ahmed, 3-years old, was killed and his mother critically injured when a pair of pit bulls breached a fence-line and attacked them. Authorities responded to a home in the 100 block of East Laurel Street about 4:30 pm. The boy suffered "total evisceration" injuries. He was airlifted to a trauma center, where he later died. The mother was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Arriving police officers shot and killed both dogs. The dogs had escaped their home on Birch Street, one street over. Relatives said the dogs "dug their way" into the backyard of the Ahmed home. The same pit bulls were picked up by police for running at large on October 23, 2020. The "Found Animals of Carteret" Facebook page described the dogs as "2 loveable guys." Police returned the unregistered dogs to their owner. Neighbors said the pair of pit bulls routinely ran loose. Relatives said the boy's mother had informed the dogs' owner twice about her concerns, but the owner "laughed it off." No criminal charges were filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 16, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
A'Myrikal Hull, 1-year old, was fatally bitten on the head by a pocket bully, a designer pit bull hybrid breed. The attack occurred at a home in the 800 block of Indiana Avenue. EMS transported the baby to HSHS St. John's Hospital Emergency Room, where she was later pronounced dead, according to a news release by the Sangamon County Coroner's Office. The baby lived with her grandmother, Bobbie Jo Stengel, who is also her guardian. Stengel is engaged to a man who is affiliated with a local pocket bully breeder. Cory Painter, a close friend of the family, told media outlets that when the baby got too close to the dog's food bowl, the dog latched onto her head. The baby's two teenage uncles had to pry the dog off of her. Painter said the dog's actions were out of character that day. The dog had never been violent with people or other animals before. The family owned the female dog for at least four years. Sangamon County Animal Control took custody of the dog. No criminal charges are anticipated. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-American bully-mix (Pocket) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Tony Ahrens, 52-years old, was found dead near 522 Carnation Way by the homeowner, Charles Owensby. An autopsy cited "multiple animal-induced injuries" as the reason for his death. "Scene investigation revealed scattered clothing, paw marks on the soft dirt, and scattered blood on the ground, which are consistent with an animal attack," states the report. Methamphetamine may have been a contributing factor. The autopsy could not determine if the attack was from multiple animals nor what type of animal did it. No dogs were investigated or seized after Ahrens' death initially. In mid-July, at the same location, witnesses found Amber Miller injured with three large dogs nearby.2 After Miller's death, Owensby became a person of interest in both deaths. The sheriff's office executed a search warrant on Owensby's property and his ex-wife Cecilia McCarter's home. One aggressive cane corso was taken into custody and DNA was collected from two other dogs that were not Owensby's, but lived on the property. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 1, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pending | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Pending | Owner of dog: | Homeowner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Pending | Multiple dogs: | Pending |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Pending |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Jayden Henderson, 7-years old, was killed by her neighbor's two pit bulls her family had been caring for while their owners were out of town. The attack occurred just after 6:00 pm in the backyard of the owners' home on Roan Drive. Jayden and her mother suffered severe injuries in the attack; both were transported to WakeMed Health for emergency care. Jayden did not survive her injuries. WRAL-TV, who reported the attack, said that her mother, Heather Trevaskis, had been working at the news station for eight years as the master control operator. At WRAL-TV, Jayden was known for playing hide-and-seek among the desks in the newsroom. Prior to the multi-victim attack, the owners of the pit bulls had created Instagram pages for their dogs, Athena and Blizten. Athena was adopted from the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) in December 2019, according to Instagram posts. WCAC now joins 14 other tax-funded shelters in the United States that have adopted out dogs that subsequently killed a person. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 27, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Elayah Brown, 4-years old, was mauled to death by a family dog. Police officers were dispatched to a home in the 1400 block of Oak Grove Road just after 5:00 pm, where the attack had been reported in a backyard. Officers found the 4-year old girl unresponsive and seriously injured by the dog. She was transported to Cook Children’s Medical Center in critical condition. She died just after 9:00 pm. Fort Worth animal care and control took custody of the dog, an unneutered male pit bull-mix. The family owned another pit bull that was not involved in the attack. Authorities left that pit bull at the home. "The sole dog responsible for this incident has been identified and is in the custody of Fort Worth animal care and control," police stated in a news release. Police Chief Neil Noakes called the deadly attack "a tragic incident" in a statement, adding that, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and all first responders that responded to this call." The attacking dog was quickly euthanized. No charges were filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 30, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Elliot Sherwin, 4-years old, was killed by his grandparents two rottweilers. The attack occurred inside his grandparent's home on Cedar Hill Road, shortly before 6:00 pm on May 9. "There was an ambulance called there from Jefferson Valley EMS, Life Flight was called and the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene," Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle said. The boy left his grandparents outside to go inside the home. After 45 minutes, the grandparents went to check on him. They found him badly injured and began CPR. "The cause of death is numerous puncture wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs, torso area," Doolittle said. The manner of death was rule accidental. The grandparents had gained custody of the boy and had recently moved to the area from Washington state. The boy had grown up with the dogs since they were puppies. There were no indications or reports the dogs had been vicious in the past. Both dogs were euthanized by a veterinarian. No charges are expected to be filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 9, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Carter Settles, 1-month old, was mauled to death by a family dog. Officers were dispatched to 36 McKinley Avenue about 8:40 pm for a report of a dog attack. Arriving officers found the infant with traumatic injuries. The baby was being held by a family member when "the dog jumped up on the adult family member and began biting Carter," Norwich police Lt. John Perry said. "The infant sustained multiple traumatic injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police described the dog as a male pit bull-mix. Hours later, the baby's father, Timothy Settles, became a "person of interest" in an arson investigation. New London firefighters were dispatched to a 2-alarm fire on Rosemary Street about 4:00 am. Settles was the last person seen outside of the home before the fire. Fire crews boarded up the damaged home and placed "condemned" signs along the exterior. Six months later, Settles was charged with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 10, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | 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 |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Dustin Vincent, 27-years old, died five days after being attacked by up to four pit bulls. Sulphur police officer were dispatched to a home in the 900 block of Platt Street around 10:30 am on May 6, 2021. They arrived to find a man on the ground inside a fence-in yard being actively attacked by three pit bulls. Officers Tased one of the dogs, causing the dogs to stop their attack. The victim was airlifted from the scene to a Lafayette hospital in critical condition. At the time of the attack, Vincent had gone to the residence to see a family member, but that relative was not home. The victim suffered severe facial and skull damage, along with severe wounds to his legs, police said. Animal control impounded four pit bulls at the home. A television crew interviewed the owner of the dogs, Brandi Cormier, afterward. "Everybody says pray for his family. But what about me?" Cormier asked. Family members began sharing on Facebook on May 11 that "Dustin gained his wings." A vigil in his memory was held that evening. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 11, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Property owner |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
John Henry, 46-years old, died after being viciously attacked by a pit bull. Big Spring police officers responded to the 1100 block of East 13th Street about 6:00 am due to an unknown disturbance. Arriving officers observed a dog attacking a man outside and two other individuals trying to intervene to stop the attack, one of whom was also bitten by the dog. Officers fired in the direction of the dog, scaring it away. Henry was transported to Scenic Mountain Medical Center, where he died. The preliminary autopsy results showed the cause of death was a heart attack that was brought about by the dog attack. Traci Myrick, who witnessed the attack, called 911. "They had sticks, they had a tire even, all throwing it at the dog," Myrick said. "The dog would stop a little bit and then go back to the man." Myrick is a former dispatch worker and owns multiple large dogs; she identified the attacking dog as a pit bull. Police had been called to the home four times in the last three weeks, according to Myrick. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 11, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Renter/Squatter |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Lyssa Rose Upshaw, 13-years old, was discovered dead on the Navajo Nation near a pack of vicious dogs. Her mother, Marissa Jones, had grown concerned after Lyssa had not returned from a walk by dinnertime. Jones sent her son to look for her. When Jones received a call from her son saying, "Mom, you need to get over here," she knew something was wrong. As Jones and family members approached the location of her body, the dogs began snapping at their legs and arms. They found Lyssa curled up in a fetal position, "her clothes and pieces of flesh scattered around," reported the Navajo Times. When police arrived at the scene, the dogs charged them too. By the time animal control arrived, the owners had hidden the dogs. Eventually, 12 dogs were found in a locked building on the property and were taken into custody by animal control for evidence. Her body was sent to Flagstaff for an autopsy. On May 27, 2021, the Navajo Nation Council confirmed that Lyssa was killed by a pack of dogs. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 16, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Unreleased | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Jose Ortega, 53-years old, was killed by four dogs belonging to Dominic Ribera. A Socorro County deputy and an animal control officer were called to a home on Lorrella Court. When they arrived, they discovered a man dead with torn clothing and bite marks throughout his body. Ribera had discovered the victim at 11:00 am, but waited nearly three hours before contacting law enforcement, according to the criminal complaint. One of the dogs taken into custody had recently bitten a neighbor. Another of Ribera's dogs had to be killed by a neighbor after it attacked his animals. It is believed the dogs were escaping through a hole in Ribera's fence. Officers seized four adult pit bull-mixes from Ribera's property, including one that a deputy shot and killed after arriving at the scene. Six pit bull-mix puppies were also seized. Ribera was charged with felony possession of a dangerous dog and the death of a person, felony tampering with evidence at the scene, and a misdemeanor for failure to report a violent death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 24, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Malia Winberry, 10-months old, was killed by a pair of family rottweilers. Johnston County deputies responded to a home on Riparian Court about 8:00 pm. When deputies arrived, the baby's father was rendering aid to her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation determined the father had briefly left the baby unattended in the home to go outside and move a sprinkler in the yard and to speak to a neighbor. He heard a commotion and when he went back inside, the girl had been attacked by the dogs, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said. The father is a law enforcement officer in Wake County and the baby's mother works for Johnston County’s EMS, Bizzell said. Investigators declared the child's death "a tragic accident." Johnston County Animal Services took custody of the two rottweilers, a male and female. Both were fixed, according to a Facebook post by the child's mother. Both dogs were declared dangerous by the county. Authorities said they were not aware of any prior issues with the dogs. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 25, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Child John Doe, 3-years old, fell out of a rear second-story window of his home and was attacked by dogs in the backyard, resulting in his death, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo said. Elizabeth police officers were dispatched to a multi-family home in the 400 block of South 5th Street shortly after 5:25 pm. When officers and EMS arrived at the scene, they found a severely injured 3-year old lying on the ground bleeding heavily. The child was transported to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he died shortly thereafter. An investigation revealed the dogs, two pit bulls, belonged to the boy's family and were in the family's fenced-in backyard at the time of the attack. Residents told media outlets the dogs were always aggressive, and the cluttered yard where the vicious attack happened is full of feces, motorcycles, powertools and debris. Both dogs were taken into custody by a local animal control organization. As of June 23, 2021, no criminal charges in connection to the boy's death have been filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 9, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Pending |
Shamar Jackson, 7-years old, was killed by up to five dogs. The attack occurred near the intersection of Wilbur and Cleo Roads just after 10:00 pm. The child's father, Carnell Jackson, had prayed that his son would live. "I was just like, 'Lord just let him live, breathe into his lungs, but he had lost a lot of blood," Carnell said. Shamar and his two older brothers had gone outside to search for their pet chihuahua when five dogs confronted them. One of his brothers escaped by jumping a fence. Shamar climbed the fence too, but fell backward. One of the dogs "just dragged him back. And ripped all of his clothes off of his body. You know, mauled him," Carnell said. Marion County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at a home on Cleo Road and confiscated five adult dogs and one puppy of mixed breeds. On June 28, authorities arrested and charged Lorenzo Cardenas, 41, with involuntary manslaughter and owning a dangerous animal that injures a human. In December, a judge dismissed those charges. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 13, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed (5) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Rebecca McCurdy, 28-years old, was mauled to death by two pit bulls while she was house sitting for the dogs' owner. Osage County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address west of Skiatook. They were carrying out a welfare check on an individual identified as Rebecca McCurdy, 28. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found McCurdy deceased in the garage. Evidence observed at the scene "indicates Rebecca was the victim of a dog attack," the Osage County Sheriff's Office stated in a news release. "The homeowner claimed he raised pit bull dogs for hobby/sale," the sheriff's office said. "There were several pit bull dogs caged in the garage. One of the dog cages was toppled over and there were many signs of a dog attack visible." Deputies said the evidence suggests two pit bulls attacked and killed her. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed her death was due to a dog attack. The owner signed the dogs over to be destroyed. No criminal charges are expected. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 19, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Homeowner/Breeder |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Adult John Doe, 39-years old, was found dead with bite injuries all over his body in his trailer home on Dumont Avenue in The Hole, a low-lying neighborhood on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. The bite injuries were inflicted by at least two family pit bulls, according to police. Both of his ears had been "ripped off" and he suffered laceration and puncture wounds. Police tranquilized the pit bulls and transferred them to Animal Care and Control, according to neighbor Stephen Newell. The victim had been living in the trailer for four years with a couple, Cindy and Angel, who took care of him, Newell said. The trio had three pit bulls under the age of 5 -- Max, Ezra and America. Ezra was locked away in a backroom at the time and did not appear to be involved, Newell said. Angel and Cindy were outside for a brief time when the man was mauled. When Cindy went back inside, "it was already over with," Newell said. As of July 20, 2021, the city's medical examiner's office has not released the cause of death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 22, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Roommate |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
George Martin, 41-years old, was found dead in a ditch after being attacked by a dog, according to police. On June 25, a person contacted police after discovering his body. Police Chief David Abbott said the body was located about 20 feet inside city limits in front of 100 Lindsay Lane. Multiple bite wounds were found on his body and pieces of his clothing were found outside of city limits, indicating that he ran towards the city after being attacked, police said. McDonald County Coroner William B.J. Goodwin said the bite injuries were deep, but were not fatal. Goodman said the size of the bite marks indicate it was a large dog. The exact cause of death is still being investigated. Results from a toxicology report are not expected for weeks. The victim's brother, Joseph Martin, said that he's not convinced the dog did not kill him. "The coroner's report said it was clearly a dog attack that ultimately caused his death," he said. As of early-July, investigators have no conclusive evidence about what dog inflicted the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 25, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Unreleased | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Unreleased |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Unreleased |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Cartyr Clinger, 8-months old, was killed by a family pit bull. The attack occurred at a home in the 11000 block of Hardpan Lane at about 9:05 pm. "The child sustained head injuries as a result of being attacked by a canine at the residence," according to a statement from the Shasta County Counsel's office. "Witnesses reported that the canine, a 9-year old tan pit bull, had not attacked anyone before, but it had been aggressive to other canines." The baby was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The child's mother, who corresponded with DogsBite.org, said the dog was unneutered and belonged to the child's grandmother, whose home they were visiting at the time. The family often visited the home on Hardpan Lane, and the baby was familiar with the dog. After the baby's death, her mother began a charity group on Facebook, "Because She Was," whose mission is to help parents navigate the sudden death of a child. There were no media reports of this fatal dog attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 27, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-boxer mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Maria Ruiz, 77-years old, was killed by a pack of at large dogs while she was sitting on her front porch. Police were dispatched to the area of 6th Street and Broadway Road just after 7:00 am for reports of a woman being attacked by dogs. When police arrived, they found Ruiz suffering from multiple critical injuries. She was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Maricopa Animal Care and Control (MCACC) seized four pit bull-mixes belonging to 33-year old Alejandro Hernandez. MCACC had been called out to his home on two previous occasions, once in 2020 and 2021, both times involving Hernandez' dogs being at large. MCACC had instructed Hernandez at least once to repair a gate to keep his dogs secure. Hernandez also admitted to detectives during an interview that his dogs had escaped multiple times in the past and had bitten neighbors. Hernandez was arrested and booked into jail on one count of negligent homicide, a Class 4 felony. All four dogs were euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 6, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix (4) | 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 |
Adult Jane Doe, 59-years old, was killed by a pair of pit bulls at her Westside El Paso home, according to police. Patrol officers responded to a call of a death of a woman at about 6:00 pm at a home in the 7200 block of Royal Arms Drive, police said. "A woman having just arrived home discovered the body of her mother being mauled by the family dogs," police wrote in an incident report released after her death. "The investigation is ongoing, but all indications are that the two pit bull dogs killed the woman." The death is under investigation by detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit. It is unknown what might have provoked the attack. According to detectives, the dogs -- one being a black, intact male -- appeared to have been well cared for and had plenty of food and water in their bowls. There were no signs of neglect. Animal Control officers impounded both pit bulls. Police did not release the identity of the victim. As of July 20, 2021, no other information has been released by police. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family |
| Spay/Neuter: | No/Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Emily Kahl, 31-years old, was fatally bitten in the neck by a pit bull inside her home. The attack occurred in the 600 block of Hamilton Street. A spokesman for the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department confirmed a medical crew was dispatched to the home after a call at 7:45 pm for an unconscious person. The victim was declared dead at the scene. She was identified by the Lucas County Coroner's Office several days later. "The cause of the death of Emily Kahl, 31-years old, is bite trauma to the neck, caused by a dog," the office stated. The manner of death was an accident. The owner the pit bull, Thomas Holloway, who also lives at the Hamilton Street home, surrendered his pit bull named "Romeo" to be euthanized. Holloway was not home when the attack occurred. He claimed that someone else was in the home with Holloway and the dogs were only "trying to save her." The circumstances leading up to the attack are unknown. There were no records of previous aggression by Romeo at the county shelter. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Roommate |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Amber Miller, 29 years old, died six days after being mauled by dogs near 522 Carnation Way. Witnesses found her injured with three large dogs nearby, a cane corso, mastiff and a "shepherd/pit bull-mix," according to Cocke County Sheriff's Office Detective Daniel Smith. The Knox County Regional Forensic Center confirmed that Miller died from complications of multiple organ system failure following a "vicious dog attack." Three months earlier, Tony Ahrens, 52, was found dead in the same area in what the Cocke County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) stated was a "previous attack of similar nature." Charles Owensby, the man who discovered Ahrens' body and who resides at 522 Carnation Way, has a history of assault charges, including ordering one of his canines to attack a man. CCSO executed a search warrant on Owensby's property and his ex-wife Cecilia McCarter's home. One aggressive cane corso was taken into custody and DNA was collected from two other dogs that were not Owensby's, but lived on the property. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso (1) Mastiff (1) Mixed-breed (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Homeowner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Pending |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Adult John Doe, 66-years old, was apparently attacked and killed by a pit bull after he climbed through a window to enter a home, according to police. The attacked occurred at a home in the 8700 block of South Claiborne Avenue on Sunday, July 18 around 6:40 pm. Police suspect the man was attacked by a dog inside the home, a pit bull, which appeared to have blood on its body. Residents of the home discovered the man's body. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a coroner. New Orleans Police Department spokesman Juan Barnes said the man had wounds on both arms. Police said the man was a relative of the people who lived in the home and was authorized to be there. The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confiscated the pit bull. As of July 22, 2021, the man's cause of death remains under investigation. This man's death marks the fourth fatal dog mauling in the United States on July 18, 2021. The other fatal dog maulings on this day occurred in Texas, Ohio and Tennessee. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Rhoda Wagner, 60-years old, was discovered dead in the front yard of her home after being attacked, mauled and partially eaten by three pit bulls. According to Pennsylvania State Police, Wagner was caring for her roommate’s pit bulls when they attacked her for an "unknown reason." Investigators said Wagner was alone at the time, but had been caring for the dogs in her residence for over a month. Wagner also owned at least two pit bulls, one was inside the home at the time and was not involved in the attack. "When emergency medical personnel and state troopers arrived on scene, it was apparent that the woman was deceased. The three dogs, all pit bull terriers, were subsequently captured and secured with the assistance of the Perry County Animal Response Team," state police said in a statement. All three dogs were euthanized with the consent of the owner. Wagner’s best friend, Carla Mae Snow, said that Wagner was an advocate for pit bulls and loved her own pit bulls immensely. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 28, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Roommate |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Ryan Foster, 19-months old, was savagely killed by a rottweiler while left unattended at his grandparent’s home. The child's father left the baby with his two brothers, ages 9 and 11, in the home with the dog when he went to work a night shift. The attack occurred about 10:45 pm in a first-floor apartment in the 300 block of East 17th Street. Officers arrived to find the baby "bleeding heavily" in the lobby of the building with his brothers. The baby was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center, but did not survive. Police said the baby's 11-year old brother was previously bitten by the rottweiler. The apartment and dog belonged to the children's paternal grandparents, who were out of the country at the time. The grandparents had the dog "for security" because they had been burglarized in the past. 30-year old Vernon Foster had picked up his kids from their mother's home for visitation a day earlier. Police later charged Foster with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and acting in a manner injurious to a child. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 10, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Javon Stokes, 26-years old, was killed after being bitten in the neck by a pit bull while suffering a seizure. Police responded to a home in the 500 block of Potter Street at about 9:45 am. Stokes was transported to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center where he was declared dead at 10:24 am. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled the death an accident following an autopsy. Amanda Knezevich, who co-owns the dog involved with Austin Dotson, said that no one witnessed Stokes having a seizure. Lucas County Canine Care and Control responded to the scene and took custody of the dog, a pit bull named "Jackson." Less than two weeks earlier, on August 2, Jackson had bolted from the Potter Street home's front porch and bit a neighbor on the hand. At that time, Knezevich told canine control officers that Jackson had only been in the home for about two weeks after it was acquired from a relative. She was cited for a dog running at large and "warned" for failing to license and vaccinate her new dog. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 12, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Mildred Vaughan, 89-years old, died while hospitalized after being attacked by three pit bulls. The attack occurred on August 21 in the 200 block of Mahaffey Lane as Vaughan walked to her mailbox, according to Wilkes County Animal Control Director Steve Rhoades. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene at about 2:20 pm. Vaughan was airlifted to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where she was listed in critical condition. Officers impounded three dogs belonging to a neighbor after the attack, a female pit bull and her two offspring, not yet full-grown pit bull-mixes, Rhoades said. The dogs were later determined to be dangerous and were euthanized. The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation, but no charges were filed. Vaughan's obituary states that she "was a very independent and active woman who was full of life. She had a passion for gardening and loved her pets. Mildred was happy and proud of the home she made in Union Grove." [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 30, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Sally Rogers, 91-years old, was killed by a pet rottweiler. Emergency crews responded to a home in the 2000 block of Berry Drive at about 6:30 pm after a report of a dog attack. They found Rogers with severe bite injuries. She "appeared to have been mauled." She was unresponsive and suffering from "significant injuries," Bloomfield Township Police Captain James Gallagher said. Rogers was taken to St. Joseph-Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, where she died of her injuries. According to family members, one of her daughters acquired the male rottweiler, "Ben," in March 2021, when the dog was just over a year old. Two months later, family members suspected that Ben attacked Rodgers' small dog, a shih tzu, which had to be put down due to his injuries. Ben had also shown dominant behaviors towards the other male dog in the family's household. A female rottweiler, "Wren," one of Ben's litter mates, was also in the home at the time of the fatal attack and could not be excluded. Both dogs were put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 2, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Daughter |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Dolores Oskins, 85-years old, died while hospitalized after being attacked by multiple dogs. She was searching for her own lost dog when at least three neighboring dogs viciously attacked her. The attack occurred on August 14 at about 5:43 pm in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision on 12th Avenue. Oskins sustained critical injuries. She was "bitten about the head, neck, and arms, receiving multiple puncture wounds and lacerations," Hawaii Police Department Captain Scott Amaral said. Two men, her 89-year old husband and an 88-year old family member, were also bitten multiple times trying to stop the attack. All three victims were transported to Hilo Medical Center, where the male victims were treated and released. Oskins remained in the intensive care unit until her death on September 5. The dogs were impounded and subsequently euthanized. Police did not initially release dog breed information, but a civil lawsuit filed against the dogs' owners in 2022 identified the three dogs as pit bulls and bulldog-mix dogs. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 5, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) Bulldog-mix (1) |
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 |
Loretta Moore, 84-years old, was killed by a pack of dogs belonging to her son. On September 14, James Moore left the home he shared with his mother on Elizabeth Drive to go to work. He found her body when he returned that day, according to police. Part of her arm was missing and has never been found. Boone County Coroner Justin Sparks said an autopsy determined her cause of death to be mutilation by dogs. All five dogs -- a pit bull, two huskies and two others -- had apparent blood stains around their mouths, according to the county’s petition to destroy the dogs. James wanted the five dogs returned to him after they killed his mother. Inadequate city, county and state laws prevented authorities from euthanizing the dogs because the attack occurred at the owner's home. County officials agreed to return the pit bull, which James had been fostering for about a month, to Lucci's House Bully Rescue under the condition the dog never return to the county. The other four dogs were returned to James. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 14, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (1) Husky (2) Unreleased (2) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Son |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Frank Cobb, 70-years old, died after being severely mauled by a pit bull. Phenix City police were dispatched at 2:00 am to the 100 block of 17th Avenue on a report of a dog bite. Arriving officers found Cobb lying on a dirt driveway suffering from serious injuries. Cobb was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in West Georgia then transferred to Grady Health in Atlanta, where family members said doctors "tried to re-attach his limbs." Cobb died in the intensive care unit at Grady Health. Kenny Bo, who witnessed part of the attack, said it was gruesome. There "was blood everywhere," Bo said. "I tried to help Red. I grabbed the dog by its neck and by his nose and I took off running down the street so he could chase me." Officers engaged in a search for the dog, but initially could not locate it. A pit bull matching the description of the attacking dog was later discovered dead on nearby U.S. Route 431 after being struck by a vehicle, police said. Police believe the dog was a stray. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 21, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Stray |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Alex Abraha, 21-years old, was discovered dead in the front yard of a home on Walt Sanders Road on September 24. Deputies were called to the scene at about 10:30 am after the homeowner returned and found a man's body on his front porch. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office launched a death investigation with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). On September 29, authorities identified the victim as Alex Abraha of Atlanta. The GBI medical examiner ruled the cause of death to be a dog mauling. Evidence indicated that Abraha had made entry into the home, where he encountered multiple pit bulls, but died outside the home. Investigators said it was unknown how Abraha arrived at the location, miles away from his home in Atlanta. No vehicle was located. At least two adult pit bulls were seized by the county's Department of Corrections, which manages animal control. Family members of Abraha disagreed with the police findings and started a petition, Justice for Alex Binyam Abraha. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 24, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Homeowner |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Patti Webb, 65-years old, was discovered dead at her home on September 24, according to Capt. Thomas See of the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Detectives believe Webb was breaking up a fight between dogs when at least one of them attacked her. Deputies removed 17 dogs from her home. Two dogs belonging to a neighbor were also suspected in the attack. The medical examiner determined Webb's death was the result of being mauled by dogs. DNA samples were taken from each of the dogs and sent to the Arkansas Crime Laboratory. On October 16, Ozark Freedom Drivers announced they were transporting "more than a dozen" of Webb's dogs to a no-kill shelter in Illinois. A local rescuer, Ken Garner, was trying to place four of Webb's dogs, accounting for Webb's remaining dogs. By November 11, the only suspect dogs left are two neutered pit bulls, still under home quarantine, that belong to renters on Webb's property, according to Garner. As of December 2, 2021, no other information is known. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 24, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bulls (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Tenant |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Pending |
Amber LaBelle, 42-years old, was killed by a large pit bull-mix she was dog sitting. The attack occurred at about 10:00 am at 1740 Spruce Street. An arriving police officer found LaBelle with life-threatening injuries. The officer shot and killed the dog when it tried to attack him as he performed first aid on LaBelle. She was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where she died the next morning. In July, the same dog attacked two children in Springfield, over a hundred miles away. The dog was owned by Sara Nicholes of Springfield, who left her dog in the care of Jeremy Robertson. Before the attack, Robertson had spent the night at LaBelle's home with the dog. He left the next morning, leaving the dog at her home. LaBelle secured the dog in a bedroom before her two children arrived for visitation. When LaBelle later opened the bedroom door, she was viciously attacked by the dog. Both of her daughters, ages 5 and 8, witnessed the violent attack. Robertson was later convicted of criminally negligent homicide. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 25, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-American bulldog mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Boyfriend |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Ka'Vay Louis-Calderon, 16-months old, was killed by one or both family pit bulls while visiting her uncle's home. The attack occurred in the 300 block of Westmoreland Street after a fight broke out between her 20-year old uncle and a female, also aged 20, on the enclosed front porch of the home. The dogs attacked the child inside the home, where she had been left alone with the dogs. Police believe the domestic altercation between the two adults "agitated" the pit bulls causing at least one to attack the child. The child sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Akron Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. In July, one of the pit bulls attacked a letter carrier, causing mail to the home to be suspended. No citations were given to the dog's owner at that time. In March, a person living at the home was also bitten by one of the dogs. Despite the dogs' bite histories, the child's parents never worried about her safety with the two pit bulls. She had grown up around the dogs, according to family members. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 3, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Uncle |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Bentley Parker, 7-months old, was killed by a large dog while visiting his grandmother's home. Emergency responders were dispatched to a residence on Apache Lane at approximately 6:15 pm for a report of an infant not breathing after a dog attack. When first responders arrived, they found the infant dead and the child's grandmother with injuries sustained from trying to protect the baby during the dog attack. The dog became aggressive toward emergency responders and was dispatched at the scene. The baby's mother, Tiffany Parker, said she dropped off Bentley at his grandmother's home to run an errand and was gone for about two hours. The dog, a Saint Bernard, typically stayed outside when the baby was visiting, Parker said. "I made sure the dog was locked outside. How he got inside, I don’t know," Parker said. The dog had previously shown aggression toward Bentley, but never to this level, she said. "There was just so much blood on my mom" that it looked like "something from like a haunted house," Parker said. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 17, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Saint bernard | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Kathleen Bertram, 69-years old, was fatally bitten in the throat by a family pit bull. The Grant County Sheriff Department and Matthews Police Department were dispatched to a home in the 300 block of High Street at about 2:12 pm for reports of a dog attack on its owner. "Subject has been bitten in the throat by a dog. Bleeding excessively at this time," according to audio dispatch logs from Broadcastify.com. Matthews Police Marshal Chet Johnson said that Bertram sat down on an "uneven" chair and fell to the floor. Her 3-year old granddaughter started crying. At that moment, the dog burst into the living room and attacked Bertram as she laid on the floor, "biting down on her neck," according to the Grant County Coroner's Office. The child's mother was in the room at the time of the attack. She called for her brother and husband to help, Johnson said. The pit bull was still actively aggressive at the scene after the attack. Marion Animal Control had to tranquilize the dog in order to remove it from the residence. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 18, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
James McNeelis, 7-years old, was killed by a stray dog his grandmother had taken in three weeks earlier. The Creek County Sheriff's Office received a call of a missing child in the 5000 block of West 171st Street South at about 7:20 pm. Shortly after deputies arrived, the boy's father found him dead in the backyard of their home south of Kiefer. The boy had been playing outside with the dog when it attacked him. The dog had not shown aggression previously, family members said. The boy's family described the dog as a "sheep dog-type breed." The sheriff's office did not release breed information, nor did they confirm the family's description. No information was released about the boy's bite injuries. The dog was taken into custody and held at an animal control facility. The boy's mother, Hannah Markley, said the family had three dogs, but only one was involved in the attack. The boy's father, Michael McNeelis, shared his heartbreak in a post on Facebook. "Everything just hurts without my little boy here," he wrote. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 20, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Mixed-breed3 | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Grandmother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Infant John Doe, 8-days old, was mauled to death a rehomed pit bull. Police and emergency responders were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of North Church Street just after 5:00 am. Arriving officers discovered that a male infant had been attacked inside the home by a female pit bull. Chief of Police Josh Gibson said the death was accidental. The owners surrendered the dog to be euthanized. Johnston County Animal Services took the dog into custody. Chief Gibson initially said the pit bull had been taken in as a stray by the family just a few days prior to the attack. "The dog was a stray that showed up to their house and they allowed the dog to be in there for a few days," Chief Gibson said. However, detective Ryan Biggs later clarified the dog had been rehomed. "The dog was rehomed, and the family was familiar with the dog from previous encounters." Fire department personnel, paramedics, police and the 911 dispatchers who responded to the scene were offered counseling services in the wake of the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 10, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tiffany Frangione, 48-years old, was found dead in the backyard of her home on Rockampton Drive. "She had suffered puncture wounds to her neck," states a press release from the city of Houston. "A preliminary investigation indicated Frangione let her dogs out into the backyard and they fought with the neighbor’s dogs through the fence. It is believed Frangione attempted to intervene and was possibly attacked by her own dogs," states the release. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled her death accidental and listed the cause as "blunt force trauma of the neck with penetrating injuries and mechanical asphyxia." Both dogs involved had Instagram pages. "Rachirius," a male pit bull-cane corso mix, was also described as a "bandog" by Frangione. "Masha," a female mixed-breed, was described as an "Alaskan husky-mix" (a working sled dog type) and a "husky-golden retriever mix." On November 19, police told Inside Edition that the case is now closed and is no longer an active investigation. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 19, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-cane corso mix (1) Shepherd-mix (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Avery Jackson-Dunphy, 6-years old, was killed by one or more dogs while visiting his grandparents' home in Mesilla Park. Doña Ana County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of Fort Fillmore Road. When they arrived, they found the boy with severe injuries from the dogs. The child had gotten inside of a caged area housing six dogs on the property. The boy was airlifted to Children's Hospital in El Paso, where he died. According to a police report, the boy and his grandfather were playing outside when the grandfather stepped away to check on workers repairing his house, when the boy got into the dogs' pen. Deputies said at least two dogs, both described as large, had blood on their heads. Doña Ana County Animal Control euthanized all six dogs that day, two adults and four puppies. Three of the dogs, all mixed-breeds, were foster dogs from the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley. In August 2022, three family members were charged with felony offenses in connection to his death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 22, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Shepherd-mix Border collie-mix Mixed-breed (3) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Grandfather/Animal agency |
| Spay/Neuter: | No/Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Leann Gratzer, 61-years old, was mauled to death by three dogs. Franklin County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a female found deceased in the 2400 block of Highway TT. Gratzer had walked to her daughter's home, who lives next door to her, and as she approached the house, the group of dogs attacked her. The dogs were in a yard that had an underground invisible electric fence. Gratzer suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. "She'd been around the dogs numerous times. I don't have an answer as to why the dogs attacked her," Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said. The three dogs were surrendered to the sheriff’s department. Two of the dogs were identified as male pit bulls. The third dog was identified as a female "mixed breed," even though the owner, the victim's daughter, identified the female dog as a "red/brown pit" in September after "her baby" girl bolted off the property because she was not wearing her invisible fence collar. All three dogs were euthanized. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 6, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) Pit bull-mix (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Daughter |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Lori Martin, 60-years old, was mauled to death by a family dog pack while visiting a relative's home in the 4100 block of South Lake Cherryvale Drive. Martin was visiting from Alaska when four large dogs in the home got into a fight. Investigators said Martin had multiple cuts on her body consistent with dog bites and claw scratches. The dogs also had cuts that are believed to be dog bites and scratches. Martin was found unresponsive by a family member before noon, which investigators believe was not long after the attack. "We have not seen anything of this nature in a very long time and this is such a tragic thing to take place just before the holidays," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a statement. Four dogs were seized from the home -- three boxer dogs and one pit bull. All were suspected to have been involved in the attack. There were two other dogs at the home that were not seized. Sheriff Dennis said the dogs' owner did not have a criminal record and there had been no prior calls for service at the home. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 9, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Boxer (3) Pit bull (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Duke Little Whirlwind, 58-years old, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. His niece, Avalee Little Whirlwind, said her uncle had gone out around 11:00 am to pick up a bicycle. He was found dead by a neighbor shortly after. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) confirmed Duke was killed by dogs. "Following a preliminary autopsy, it was determined the cause of death was an attack by canines, with drugs and alcohol as contributing factors," the BIA said in a press release. "To date, no dogs have been located or captured." Avalee, who arrived at the scene armed with .22 caliber rifle, prepared to shoot the dogs that killed her uncle, disagreed. "[The dogs] were running around us with blood on them," she said, and the "BIA officers were just standing there." The next day, the dogs’ owners took four of the dogs out of town and shot them. She photographed the dogs' bodies. A female pit bull, which had recently had puppies, was the instigator in the attack, Avalee said. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 12, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (1) Unreleased (3) |
Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female/Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Unreleased |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Heather Pingel, 35-years old, died after a vicious attack by a family pit bull. The attack occurred on December 8 at the family's home in Bowler. Pingel suffered injuries so severe that doctors had to amputate both of her arms. The dog first attacked her 4-year old son Damion, who suffered 70 stitches to his leg. It is believed Pingel intervened to save her son by pulling the dog into a bathroom to get him away from her son. When Damion's father, Shane Bernarde, returned home that afternoon, the dog was still attacking Pingel in the bathroom, according to a sheriff's report. Shane told officers he grabbed the dog, dragged it outside, and shot it with a pistol -- getting bit himself in the process. When police arrived, they found Pingel on the bathroom floor, barely able to breath; Damion in a living room chair with severe injury to his leg; and the dog dead. All three victims were taken to a hospital, where Pingel died of her injuries on December 16. The dog had a history of aggression, according to a sheriff's report. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 16, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Fiancé |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Karen Rosa-Madrid, 26-years old, was killed by her family's four dogs while trying to get into a backyard window of her home in the unincorporated East Valinda area of the San Gabriel Valley. Her 6-year old son suffered minor bite injuries. Rosa-Madrid, who resided at the home with her sister-in-law, had forgotten her key that day, sheriff’s Lt. David Petrocelli said. No one was at the home in the 18000 block of Elizondo Street during the attack. "The dogs were familiar with the child, but not with the mother," Petrocelli said. Deputies located her son at a neighbor's house. Firefighters had to use their hoses to get the dogs away from Rosa-Madrid, who suffered major injuries to her head and arm. She was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where she died. Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control seized the canines. "The dogs are under quarantine at one of our animal-care centers," spokesperson Don Belton said. Records obtained by DogsBite.org revealed the dogs involved were cane corsos. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 28, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Mixed | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
| Breed ID image: | 2021 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs | ||
Adult John Doe, 34-years old, was discovered dead after being mauled by dogs inside a home on the Far South Side. Police were called to a residence in the 300 block of West 108th Place in the Roseland neighborhood around 11:30 pm. Police found the man in a living room with "visible dog bites" about the body, police said. An autopsy determined the man died of multiple injuries from a dog mauling, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The manner of death was an accident. Three dogs were found inside the man's home -- two pit bulls and one American bully, a designer pit bull hybrid breed. Between 2010 and December 30, 2021, at least six other people have been killed by pit bulls in an 8.3 mile radius of the 300 block of West 108th Place on Chicago's Far South Side, including 56-year old Johnny Wilson (2010), 44-year old Charles Hagerman (2012), 2-year old Jah'Niyah White (2013), 5-year old James Nevils III (2015), 77-year old Dorothy Ford (2017) and 57-year old Karen Brown (2018). [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 30, 2021 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) American bully (1) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| 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 data at a future time.
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: A growing archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings dating back to 1833. Maintained by DogsBite.org.
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