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]]>Watch Extended Video
Fort Dodge, IA - Last fall, police shot and killed three pit bulls to stop them from killing Brittany Skoland. A YouTuber recently obtained the police bodycam footage. At about 11:25 am, an officer responded to a home in the 800 block of South 16th Street after reports of a person screaming. Upon arrival, the officer found the dogs attacking a woman in the front yard. He shot and killed the dogs, ending the attack. Skoland was rushed to a hospital then airlifted to Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
Rosemary Possehn, a neighbor, told KCCI, "I was sitting in my living room, and I was just sitting in there and all of a sudden I heard bang bang bang, and I come to the door and I seen all the cops, well there was only one at the time, and I seen the lady laying on the ground and the dogs going at her and the cops shot them. And it was quite a few rounds of ammunition to get them down." A GoFundMe was started for Skoland. Family members said, "She will lose both her feet, due to this attack."
A December update to the fundraiser described her injuries further. "She has had both legs amputated to her knees," the organizer wrote. "Brittany did not need surgery on her hands as we had originally thought. However, she is going to need facial reconstruction surgery, she also has serious head trauma and much more." The fund raised over $35,000. Part of the funds were designated for widening doorways, "to accommodate a wheelchair and a ramp" to allow her to go in and out of the house."
Skoland had been visiting the home on South 16th Street where the dogs lived, authorities said. "These dogs attacked the victim while she was inside the home of the dog owner, alone with the animals," according to a statement issued by Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll. Skoland had visited the home in the past and was familiar with the dogs. The Webster County attorney determined that no criminal acts took place. The owner of the dogs was not publicly identified by police.
"The law enforcement investigation into the dog attack in Fort Dodge on November 24 has been completed. These dogs attacked the victim while she was inside the home of the dog owner, alone with the animals. Law enforcement responding to the scene shot and killed all three dogs involved in the attack. There was nothing revealed during the investigation to indicate that any criminal act occurred. This is a shocking tragedy and we wish the victim strength as she recuperates from her injuries." - Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll
On December 5, KCCI published parts of the police bodycam video. "I put three dogs down, she's in bad shape," states the officer. The officer shot the dogs within 30 seconds of arriving. If he had not, Skoland may not have survived. Skoland had gone to the home to visit the dogs' owner, who turned out not to be home. The dogs were properly secured inside the home when Skoland arrived. The attack began inside the home then moved to the front yard, where police shot and killed the dogs.
Extended Bodycam Footage
The YouTuber shows the extended footage with his annotations. After the officer shoots the dogs, police at the scene say, "This woman is tore to shit by these three. Badly, like, you can see her bones." Another officer says, "Pieces of her everywhere. They were eating her. I bet if they did autopsies, she's in their guts." Immediately, police observed how the pit bulls consumed parts of the victim. We've noted this same behavior in multiple other pit bull attacks -- even attacks involving a single pit bull.
Notably -- not shown in the KCCI bodycam footage -- is that one of the three pit bulls did not immediately die after being shot by a police firearm. As responders begin to move the victim, police must shoot that dog again. Thus, Possehn's statement, "It was quite a few rounds of ammunition to get them down," takes on more accuracy. Turns out, there were more pit bulls inside the home too. Police must enter the "foreboding residence" to make sure there are no other victims inside.
Police also talk to neighbors about who lives at the home. One states, "They have like six dogs." So, there are two or three more dogs in the house. Another neighbor states, "We have complained about these dogs for years." But police are continually drawn back to the attack scene. As the video's narrator states, "The responding officers cannot stop describing the extent of the woman's injuries, relating horrifying details again and again, perhaps in an effort to come to terms with it themselves."
While at the scene, the officer that shot the dogs "did a recount." He fired 12 bullets. "I'm pretty confident that I hit every single shot that I took," he said.
More police and animal control officers arrive at the scene. One grabs a shovel, "to keep in front of me" as they prepare to go into the home. Then she uses a small table as a shield instead. The AC officers find an emaciated female pit bull in the kitchen, who might have recently had puppies. The conditions inside the home are dismal. Meanwhile, the victim's cellphone has been ringing. Police finally answer it. The caller is one of Skoland's daughters screaming, "Where is my mom?" Police have to tell her.
After a second female pit bull is removed from the home, an officer observed, "So all of the males were out here attacking and all the females were inside?" Most dog bite statistics we have reviewed over the last 17 years show a significant male dominance -- most recently 72% male to 28% female. Neutered or not isn't as relevant. The chief statistic is male vs. female. In fatal dog attacks, when gender is known, and when only counting attacks involving 1 dog, males dominate 84% to 16%.1
Summary
Overall, police made excellent assessments. The first being the speed and accuracy of the officer's shooting. The officer entered a high-stress, high-risk situation and within 30 seconds had shot all three dogs, stopping the attack. "I'm pretty confident that I hit every single shot that I took," he said after firing 12 times. We believe him. The same officer was also the first to spot that one of the shot pit bulls was still alive and a threat. Pit bulls routinely survive single and even multiple gunshots.
Another observation by police -- the pit bulls actually consumed parts of the victim (pack attack involving human predation) -- was also accurate. "They were eating her. I bet if they did autopsies, she's in their guts," one officer said. It's unknown if necropsies were performed on the dogs. Police also observed that only the male dogs were involved in the attack. "So all of the males were out here attacking and all the females were inside?" the officer asked. We are not surprised by this.
The female AC officer used a table as a shield to enter the home. It was such a simple self-defense action. Recall that a dozen responders, including armed officers, stood outside a home for 37 minutes while Jacqueline Durand was being mauled by two dogs. None of them thought to grab a shield and "GO IN" to rescue her. Finally, the ringing phone. Police do not answer Skoland's phone until the dogs have been removed. The officer that answered that call may have had the most difficult job of all.
Related articles:
04/13/21: Animal Advocate Posts Video After Adopted Pit Bull-Mix Viciously Attacked Carriage Horse
01/16/17: Bodycam Video Shows First 3 Minutes After Pit Bull Attack; Police Officer Rescues Victim
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]]>The post Review: Five Dog Bite Fatalities Between 2017-2022 in the United States Unreported by Media appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>DogsBite.org - We summarize five cases of adults killed by dogs between 2017 and 2022, where no media reports or police press releases were published. Our discovery of each death came from different sources, including a FOIA to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office, where three of these deaths were located. All five deaths involved bull breeds: pit bull (3 deaths), American bulldog (1), and presa canario (1). All five victims were 40-years and older, and most were men (3/5).
Since 2011, we have obtained verification for 31 non-media reported dog bite fatalities. 55% of these deaths occurred after the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, when media reports and police press releases of fatal dog attacks decreased, but the attacks were rising. Of the 31 deaths, 77% involved a family dog killing a household member; 71% involved one or more pit bulls; and 97% (30/31) involved pit bulls, "baiting" bull breeds, and mastiff-type guarding breeds used to create fighting breeds.1
Of the 31 recorded deaths, pit bulls were involved in 22 deaths, American bulldog (5); bull terrier (1)2; French mastiff (1), and presa canario (1).3
In our last published combined year dog bite fatality report (2005-2019), the combination of pit bulls, rottweilers and this small group of mastiff-type guarding breeds comprised 84% of all deaths. Since 2011, we have not discovered a single non-media reported rottweiler death, even though they are the second top killing dog breed. Instead, we see that non-media reported cases have an even higher percentage of pit bulls, "baiting" bull breeds and fighting breeds, even when rottweilers are absent.
When we compare the 31 non-media reported deaths to the 524 deaths in the 15-year baseline period (2005 to 2019),4 other differences stand out too. Attacks inflicted by family dogs are 42% higher in non-media reported deaths; adult victims ≥40 years old are 65% higher; and a single or pair of "family" pit bulls killing a household member ≥40 years old is 102% higher. Also, of the 31 non-media reported deaths, 23% occurred during June, which is 211% higher than the baseline period for this month.
67-years old
Miami, Florida
March 17, 2017
Summary: Nancy Mira, 67-years old, died one month after being bitten on the neck by a family dog. According to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office, the attack occurred on February 21 at approximately 11:48 am in the 19200 block of SW 128 Court. Mira was at her home "when she became belligerent and attempted to strike her son. The son's American bulldog bit the deceased on her neck," states the report. She was transported to Jackson South Community Hospital where she underwent multiple procedures. "Her condition deteriorated, and she was placed in Vitas Hospice at University of Miami Hospital" where she died on March 17, states the report. The cause of death was ruled "complications of dog bite on neck." The Miami-Dade Police Department was the investigating agency. In December 2010, her son's partner shared a "Got a Pet" announcement on Facebook. "Got our crazy American bulldog Duley," she wrote. There were no media reports about this fatal attack.
87-years old
Miami Gardens, Florida
January 20, 2019
Summary: Moise Maddox, 87-years old, died while hospitalized after being mauled by a dog. On December 31, 2018, Miami Gardens police officers were dispatched to a home in the 2100 block of NW 153rd Street at about 10:19 am. "The victim was in the rear yard when the family pet, a presa canario, attacked the victim," states a report from the Miami Gardens Police Department. Maddox sustained severe injuries to both lower legs. He was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami for advanced medical treatment. Miami-Dade Animal Control took possession of the dog; it was later euthanized. "Maddox had both of his legs amputated below his knees" due to the severe damage, states the report. His left arm was going to be amputated, due to a developing infection, when he succumbed to cardiac arrest on January 20, 2019. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death was "complications of canine mauling." There were no media reports about this attack.
"Information obtained on scene from officers revealed the victim was in the rear yard when the family pet, a Presa Canario attacked the victim. It could not be determined why the dog attacked the victim ... G. Maddox was the owner of the dog and indicated that he was in the front yard when he heard the victim screaming and ran to the rear yard and observed his dog attacking his brother and was able to separate the dog from his brother ... The report further indicated that the dog was surrendered to Animal Services and was euthanized." - Miami Gardens Police Department
73-years old
Homestead, Florida
September 28, 2021
Summary: Josefa Suarez, 73-years old, was killed by a relative's adopted dog. According to Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS) records, at about 12:00 pm, "the victim was in the backyard cleaning and the dog just went up to her, jumped on her, and began attacking, biting her on her left arm." Her nephew came out to help get the dog off her, "but the dog wiggled off and grabbed a hold of her right arm." By the time he could remove the dog, she was unresponsive. Upon arrival, fire and rescue observed "multiple opened wounds" on her body. She was transported to Jackson South Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The dog's owner, L. Ramirez, was out of town at the time. Ramirez adopted the male neutered pit bull-mix "Clyde" on January 14, 2019 from MDAS. The dog had been taken in as a stray five days earlier, MDAS records show. According to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's report, Suarez had recently moved into the family home. The medical examiner determined her cause of death was "dog bites." There were no media reports about this attack.
Additional Details
MDAS estimated Clyde was 3-years old at the time of adoption. Making the dog nearly 6-years old when it violently attacked the woman. It is noted in the adoption records that "Josefa A Suarez, may also pick up pet," on the day of the adoption, January 14, 2019. So, despite Suarez only recently moving into the family home, she was familiar with the dog. She also took the dog to the MDAS Wellness Clinic for a license and vaccination service on March 26, 2021, 6-months before the attack.
Clyde killed a person within a 3-year period of being adopted from a tax-funded shelter, therefore this attack qualifies for our list. Miami-Dade Animal Services now joins 16 tax-funded shelters in the United States since 2014 that have adopted out or transferred a dog to a rescue that subsequently killed a person. This is the second occurrence for MDAS in a 13-month period. On August 28, 2020 Carolyn Varanese was killed by a dog that had recently been pulled from MDAS by Mastiff Recue of Florida Inc.
Shelter Dog-Inflicted Deaths (Tax-Funded)
Shelter Dog-Inflicted Deaths (Private-Funded)
Underreported Shelter Dog-Inflicted Deaths
In the 15-year baseline period (2005-2019), rescue and rehomed dogs account for 8.6% of dog bite fatalities. In the 31 non-media reported deaths, they account for 16.1%, which is over 85% higher. This begs the question of how many more non-media reported fatal attacks involving shelter dogs have occurred? It's hardly a matter a county, such as Miami-Dade, would want to publicize -- the second dog they adopted out in a 13-month period that killed a person, both during the Covid pandemic.
Clyde was not a "pandemic puppy" that went on a rampage 2.5 years after being adopted in 2019. Clyde was a 3-year old pit bull-mix with no known history prior to adoption. In our last series of non-media reported fatal dog attacks, we wrote about Ronald Adams, 79, who was killed by two adult pit bulls shortly after he adopted them from the Humane Society of Highlands County in August 2022. Media attributing the sharp rise of US "fatal" dog attacks to "pandemic puppies" alone is unproven.
We believe shelter dog-inflicted deaths are underreported and that "adoption source" information is omitted in certain media-reported cases.5
"Pandemic puppy" is a poor term that implies "breeder purchased," obfuscating the 6.2 million shelter dogs that were adopted during the pandemic (2020-2022), of which upwards of 70% were adult dogs, according to data at Shelter Animals Count. Many of these adult dogs have unknown histories. Further, there are clear motivations to withhold "adoption source" information after a fatal attack. As Adams' partner stated, "Highlands kept the death quiet cuz they did NOT want people to stop adopting dogs."
41 years old
Austin, Texas
May 14, 2022
Summary: John Doe, 41-years old, who was experiencing homelessness, was killed by multiple unrestrained dogs. First responders were dispatched to the 4600 block of East Ben White Boulevard around 1:50 am. Few details of his death were released by police. Through a FOIA, our nonprofit obtained records of the Severe Bite Investigation (SBI) conducted by Austin Animal Services. The dogs' owner lived in an "encampment in the woods with his six pit bulls," states the report. The owner had left the camp with his dogs "tied up." When he returned, he found his dogs had "broke loose from their makeshift leash." He discovered the man's body near a creek bed. The owner believed his dogs had killed the man; he found blood on two of his dogs. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The location of the bite injuries is listed as "head." Authorities seized all six pit bulls. A court ordered all six dogs "destroyed due to the severity of injuries" that "ultimately led to his death." The victim had been familiar with dogs. There were no follow-up media reports about this attack.
Additional Details
This case did have a "media alert" (a brief mention) on May 14, 2022. It said "a dog attacked and killed" a homeless man. No dog breed information was released. In February 2024, while reviewing data showing a 198% rise of severe dog bites in Austin from 2018 to 2023, we also obtained animal control records for this man's death. To know that six bulls were involved in a fatal mauling at a homeless encampment in 2022 and that local media did not investigate or prioritize this case is alarming.6
In contrast, media and law enforcement in Bend, Oregon elevated the death of Joseph Keeton, who had been living at an encampment known as "Dirt World," into the public eye after he was killed by three pit bull-mixes with a bite history belonging to one of his campmates. There was discussion at a county commissioner meeting too. Vicious dogs and dog bite injuries are a reality at homeless encampments. The dogs' owner later pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection to his death.
58-years old
Maricopa County, Arizona
May 5, 2022
Summary: Dwayne Kessler, 58-years old, was killed by his son's pit bull, according to a pair of fundraisers created by his partner and his best friend after his death. An autopsy report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office provided a narrative. "According to the investigative report, the decedent was reportedly at a storage facility with his significant other, a family member, and their pet dog (reportedly a pit bull)," states the report. "The decedent and his significant other reportedly became engaged in a verbal argument," triggering the dog to attack. "The decedent reportedly fell to the ground while the dog continued to maul him. The decedent's family member reportedly stabbed the dog multiple times in an attempt to stop the attack." The cause of death was "mixed modality blunt force and penetrating trauma." The injury occurred by a "canine attack followed by human inflicted sharp force injuries sustained during attempted canine neutralization," states the report. The manner of death was ruled an accident. There were no media reports about this attack.
"Multiple knives were reportedly recovered at the scene by law enforcement officials ... He was transported to the hospital where death was pronounced in the emergency department. Traumatic injuries including abrasions, lacerations, puncture wounds, and sharp force injuries were noted by medical personnel. Verbal conversation with law enforcement personnel at the time of postmortem examination revealed that the decedent's family member may have injured the decedent inadvertently with a knife while the family member was attempting to subdue the dog. Law enforcement officials stated that foul play was not suspected." - Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office
Additional Details
According to the autopsy, the dog latched onto his right wrist, fracturing bones and damaging the ulnar artery. "It is likely that the canine bit the decedent's right wrist causing crush type fracture of the distal ulna and transection of the right ulnar artery." The right radial artery injury was human-inflicted during the "canine neutralization attempt." The result of these injuries was "severe hemorrhage and blood loss," states the report. Methamphetamine and heart disease also contributed to his death.
Kessler and his partner received an eviction judgment against them a month-and-a-half before the fatal attack, according to court records. This may be why they were at the storage facility. Prior to receiving the autopsy report on March 25, 2024, confirming his cause of death, we sent FOIAs to agencies in Glendale and Phoenix, based on the eviction location and other indicators. Both came back empty. This fatal dog attack occurred off the owner's property at a storage facility in nearby Peoria.
Summary
In this report, we summarized five cases of adults killed by dogs between 2017 and 2022, where media reports or police press releases were absent or insufficient. All five victims were 40-years and older, and most were men (3/5). Three of these deaths occurred in Miami-Dade County, of which two died while hospitalized 20-24 days after the attack. All five deaths involved bull breeds: pit bull terrier (3 deaths), American bulldog (1), and presa canario (1). Family dogs inflicted 80% of these deaths.
The majority of dog bite fatalities that are unreported by media involve family dogs (77%); adult victims ≥40 years old (74%); and pit bulls (71%).
We also reviewed 31 non-media reported deaths collected since 2011, which have a higher percentage of pit bulls, "baiting" bull breeds, and fighting breeds than the 15-year baseline period (97% v. 74%) and are absent of rottweiler deaths. Adult victims ≥40 years old comprised 74% of deaths (23/31). Among these adults, a single or pair of pit bulls inflicted 70% (16/23) of deaths and a single or pair of "family" pit bulls inflicted 57% (13/23) of deaths. Most non-media reported deaths occurred in June.
Related articles:
01/25/24: Review: Three Dog Bite Fatalities Between 2022-2023 in the US Unreported by Media
04/18/23: Macro-Level Forces Report: Covid Impacts of 2021 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Capture Rate...
09/23/22: Macro-Level Forces Report: Covid Impacts of 2020 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Capture Rate...
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Baby Attacked, Killed by Family Dog While on Trampoline with Mother in East Hartford, Connecticut appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>Baby Killed by Dog
East Hartford, CT - A baby is dead after being bitten multiple times by a dog. The attack occurred at about 3:10 pm at a home in the 100 block of Fuller Avenue. The attack occurred in the backyard, reports WFSB. The 1-year old child was transported to a hospital in critical condition, where the baby died. Authorities seized two dogs from the residence, but apparently only one dog was involved. According to Catiria Delgado, a neighbor familiar with the dogs, both are dalmatian-pit bull crosses.
According to the East Hartford Police Department (EHPD), the 1-year old boy was bitten "several times by a dog." EHPD issued a statement to Patch, "Despite the valiant efforts of medical professionals, the child succumbed to his injuries." EHPD said they will not be releasing the baby's identity. "Out of respect for the family's privacy and in consideration of the sensitivity of this matter, we are not releasing the child’s name," they wrote. EHPD offered their "thoughts and prayers" to the family.
EHPD clarified Thursday that one of the two dogs removed from the residence, the larger of the two, was the primary aggressor. Both dogs are being held in quarantine. Police described the attacker as a "mixed-breed." WFSB confirmed the dog(s) are a dalmatian-pit bull cross, just how the baby's father described them on his Facebook page several times, "dalmatian mix with pit." The larger of the two adult dogs is presumably the male. A GoFundMe created for the family has raised over $21,000.
EHPD also confirmed to the Journal Inquirer the attack that killed the 1-year old boy and injured his mother occurred on a trampoline. "Mom and the child were on a trampoline when a larger, mixed-breed dog attacked the child," EHPD spokesperson Marc Caruso said. "The mother also sustained minor dog bite injuries and was transported to the hospital." The fundraiser notes that on the day of the attack, the family had planned to go to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate the baby's first birthday.
Family Speaks Out
The child's father, Ricky Rohena, told NBC Connecticut the dog that killed baby Lennox had not behaved aggressively before. “If the dog would have been aggressive or anything like that, trust and believe he wouldn’t have been around the baby,” Rohena said. Neighbor Rohan Green, who heard screams when the dog attacked, ran across the street to help. "I tried to fight off two pit bulls and help the baby as much as I could," Green said. "One minute seemed like forever. [It was] a long battle."
Rohena was not home at the time. "I just didn’t get the chance to hold my baby at all. I didn’t get the chance to see him," Rohena said. "I was working. I wasn’t here. I came home, took the dogs out. I wasn’t expecting this to happen. I left the dogs outside. I should have never left them outside." Lennox's mother, Keyshla Torres, who is pregnant, was also injured in the attack. "I witnessed it," she told NBC Connecticut. "[The dog] got onto the trampoline, then he grabbed the baby," she said.
Male Child Deaths
This baby's death comes after five young male children were killed by dogs. Last month, an infant boy was killed by a family husky in Milford, Connecticut. Just days ago, and infant boy was killed by a family pit bull in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Mark Partain, 2-years old, and Beau Clark, 4-years old, were killed by dogs belonging to a neighbor in Alabama four days apart. In Illinois, a 4-year old boy was killed by a family great dane -- his family bred and sold great danes in a rural part of Ogle County.
This string of child deaths began on February 16, and it's only March 13. Six child deaths in less than 30 days, all male victims. In fact, of the 12 dog bite fatalities we have recorded so far this year, 92% of the victims are male (11/12). That is unusual too. There are also 3 male victims in the 19-35 year old age group. Fatal dog attacks are uncommon in this age group for either sex. The lone female victim was 72-years old. She was a catahoula leopard dog breeder, who was killed by one of her dogs.
Related articles:
03/11/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Infant Killed, Mother Injured in Multi-Victim 'Family' Dog Attack...
02/29/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Newborn Dies After Being 'Bit by a Dog' and 'Head Injury'...
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Infant Killed, Mother Seriously Injured in Multi-Victim 'Family' Dog Attack in Woodbridge, New Jersey appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>Pit Bull Confirmed
UPDATE 03/11/24: On Monday, the prosecutor's office confirmed with News 12 New Jersey and WKXW that the dog involved in the deadly attack was a family pit bull. On Saturday, the dog attacked a 3-month old baby boy, killing him, and attacked his mother at their home on Mereline Avenue. The pit bull has been euthanized. The baby's mother has been released from the hospital. Middlesex County prosecutors said the family's name is not being released. No criminal charges will be filed.
Also, CBS News anchor Carissa Lawson, who formerly worked for News 12 New Jersey for over a decade, posted to Facebook that "a couple at my church knows the family and told us the entire story." The baby was not left alone with the dog, she wrote. "The dog went into baby’s room while everyone was asleep. The mother heard the baby screaming and went in to try to save her baby and that’s when the dog tried to kill her, too." Her LinkedIn page states she left News 12 in June 2023.
"The coincidence now is that I found out this morning that a couple at my church knows the family and told us the entire story. We were all crying. The baby was not left alone with the dog. The dog went into baby’s room while everyone was asleep. The mother heard the baby screaming and went in to try to save her baby and that’s when the dog tried to kill her, too. The father, who owned the dog prior, was able to stop the attack, but he was injured, too. The dog was not treated poorly. The dog was dearly loved. And yes -- the dog was a pit bull." - CBS News anchor Carissa Lawson
03/10/24: Baby Killed, Mother Injured
Woodbridge, NJ - An infant is dead and his mother seriously injured after a multi-victim "family" dog attack Saturday morning. Authorities were dispatched to a home on Mereline Avenue in Woodbridge Township at about 6:17 am in response to a 911 call that reported a baby had been attacked by a dog. Upon arrival, police found the baby and the mother had sustained serious injuries. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother was taken to a hospital, where the father joined her.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone issued a statement to media notifying them of the attack, but it did not include the baby's age or identify the family. No dog breed information was provided either. Ciccone is memorable, as it was her office that did not pursue charges after a pair of pit bulls breached a fence-line in 2021 and killed 3-year old Aziz Ahmed and critically injured his mother while they were inside their own yard. The boy suffered "total evisceration" injuries.
We had no kind words for her then about how she issued her prosecution decision: "Ciccone, however, never contacted Aziz's family before issuing her decision in emails to private citizens on March 23. Lacking in courage and courtesy, Ciccone also did not hold a press conference about her decision, which would have forced her to face media and public scrutiny," we wrote. "Ciccone's actions are so sheepish and cowardly, they are literally 'beyond the pale.' Our hearts go out to Aziz's family."
Multi-Victim Fatal Dog Attacks
Now Ciccone faces another multi-victim dog attack involving a dead child and critically injured mother. This time, however, the "family" dog was the perpetrator. It was also a "single family" dog that instigated the attack not a "pair" of unfamiliar pit bulls. What types of dog breeds inflict multi-victim attacks resulting in death? During the pre/post Covid 4-year period of 2020 to 2023, multi-victim attacks involved 15% of all dog bite fatalities (33/215). 73% (24) were carried out by pit bulls.
Eight dog breeds were involved in 1 death. Only pit bulls (24 deaths), rottweilers (2 deaths) and American bulldogs (2 deaths) were involved in multiple deaths. While multi-victim attacks resulting in at least 1 human death can be a "rampage" attack, like when two family pit bulls killed two children in Tennessee and critically injured their mother, we only require that the injury sustained by the other victim(s) was consequential, requiring treatment by a professional at the scene or at a hospital.
We also looked at multi-victim attacks resulting in death inflicted by a family dog during this period, and within this subset, a single family dog being the perpetrator. Of the 33 multi-victim attacks involving at least 1 human death, over half, 55% (18) involved family dogs as perpetrators. 72% (13/18) were inflicted by family pit bulls. Of the 18 multi-victim attacks involving family dogs, 56% (10) were carried about by a single family dog. 70% of these attacks were inflicted by a single family pit bull.
Related articles:
10/11/22: 2022 Double Dog Bite Fatality: Pair of Family XL Pit Bulls Kill Two Children, Injure...
03/30/21: 2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy Killed, Mother Severely Injured in Violent Pit Bull Attack...
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: 2-Year Old Killed by Dog in North Alabama Marking Second Child 'Death by Dog' in Region in 4 Days appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>Toddler Killed by Dog
New Hope, AL - A 2-year old boy is dead after being attacked by a dog in New Hope Friday evening. The city is 40 mile east of Hartselle, where 4-year old Beau Clark was brutally killed by an Olde English bulldog on Monday. Beau was buried earlier today; over a thousand people attended his funeral. On Friday, at about 5:21 pm, Huntsville Emergency Medical Services Inc., (HEMSI) responded to a residence in the 200 block of T R Christian Road after a report of a toddler being bitten by a dog.
HEMSI spokesman Don Webster said that multiple agencies responded, including, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Owens Cross Road Police Department, and New Hope Police Department. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, Webster said. Madison County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Brent Patterson said the child was at a neighbor's home when he was attacked by a neighbor's dog. Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill said an autopsy will be performed on the child this week.
WAFF spoke to Rickey Clark, the owner of the dogs (no relationship to Beau Clark). He said that one of his dogs, a husky, was responsible for the attack. Both of his dogs were seized by animal control. WAFF captured footage of the dogs being confiscated. A husky is seen and a shepherd-type dog. Clark said the toddler got into his backyard by "opening the gate himself." The gate was latched but not locked. Clark said his dogs had never harmed anyone before. He even showed WFF his gate.
Child & Breeds Identified
The boy's mother has publicly identified him as Mark Alan. "Last night our world was completely shattered. I lost my youngest child, my mini me, my Mark Alan," Kayla Hughey wrote. "The hurt is unreal. I don’t even feel like I’m living in reality. My children’s hearts are so broken." Hughey stated that she has "spoken with all of the police and investigators" and that "it looks as if this was just a very tragic accident with no one to be held at fault." Hughey thanked the many first responders.
The two dog breeds involved have been confirmed as a husky and a German shepherd-golden retriever mix. The sex and spay/neuter status were not released. The ages of the dogs were not released. Despite the importance of all three in fatal dog maulings, this "basic" data is rarely released. This type of fatality was much more common pre-2010 -- "male child entered into dog pen." We know in the 2021 New Mexico case that the adults present in the home were prosecuted afterward.
Third Dog Possibly Involved
According to Clark, a third dog was possibly involved. Clark was alerted to the attack after hearing frantic screams from the boy's father. "He was banging on the door real hard and he said, 'It's my son, it's my son, I think he might be dead,'" Clark said. He rushed outside to see what was wrong and saw the toddler laying on the ground, unresponsive, in front of the dog pens and the gate was open. There was also a brown bulldog "running around in the yard," Clark said, whose owner is unknown.
"When I got my dogs put up, I saw her [the bulldog] running out of the yard, and I don't know if she had anything to do with it." Clark said that seeing the brown bulldog, which he described as female, running loose isn't unusual. WAAY-TV reached out to the Madison County's Sheriff's Office (MCSO) to learn more. Three dogs were placed into quarantine that are believed to have been involved, MCSO said. But animal control did not confirm knowledge of a third dog. The investigation is ongoing.
Related articles:
02/27/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Dies After Bull Breed Mauling in North Alabama
02/24/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Newborn Dies After Bite to the Head by Pet Husky
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Young Boy Mauled, Killed by Dog in Rural Monroe Center, Ogle County Illinois appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>Child Killed by Dog
Ogle County, IL - A 4-year old boy is dead after being mauled by a dog, according to the Ogle County Sheriff's Office. The attack occurred on February 29, 2024. At approximately 4:40 pm, the Ogle County 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call about a child mauled by a dog in rural Monroe Center, which is located 16 miles away from Rockford, and that CPR was in progress. The child was transported to a hospital in Rockford, where he died of his injuries. The investigation into his death is ongoing.
According to audio dispatch log files from Ogle County Fire on Broadcastify.com, at 4:42 pm the agency was dispatched to a home in the 8900 block of North Limestone Road. CPR was immediately underway. The attack occurred in the backyard. The dispatcher states, "The boy is not responsive. He's in the backyard on the side." Moments later, she states, "CPR is in progress. They are in the backyard. The dog is kenneled." The dog, of an unknown breed, was secured prior to EMS arrival.
Earlier today, Limestone Sphynx and LFD Great Danes, located in Monroe Center, published on their Facebook page, "Due to a loss in our immediate family we've decided that we will no longer be raising great danes. Anyone with deposits in will be refunded. We are also going to be rehoming a number of our adults." One commenter stated, "Just saw the news that is so heartbreaking." The local school published a post, "The Meridian CUSD 223 mourns the unexpected loss of one of our students."
Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle told Shaw Media the dog involved was a "mixed breed." It was euthanized Friday afternoon. That seems unusual, given the family breeds AKC registered great danes -- purebred dogs -- but there may have been other dogs on the property. Shaw Media also quoted Ogle County Animal Control administrator Dr. Thomas Champley. “This is the first time we’ve had a fatality,” he said. This is breaking news. As the news unfolds, more clarity will become available.
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02/16/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Killed by Pack of Breeding Pit Bulls in Compton, California
02/07/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Breeder Killed, Husband Injured After Attack by Catahoula...
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: East Texas Dog Owner Charged after Man Found Dead with Wounds Consistent with Dog Bites appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>This video is from February 1, after a man was found dead with wounds consistent with dog bites.
Criminal Charges Filed
Longview, TX - A man with a lengthy criminal history has been arrested in connection to a man found dead with wounds consistent with dog bites on February 1, according to police. Martin Gilbert Rodriguez, 56, of Longview, was charged with attack by dog causing death under the Texas felony dog attack law. The 46-year old victim has been identified as Kenneth Pierson. The arrest follows an autopsy report from the Forensic Medical Management Services that was returned to police.
Rodriguez remains in the Gregg County Jail; bond has not yet been set. He has been in jail since February 1 for multiple animal-related offenses and other charges, including: 28 counts of animal at large, 2 counts of animal unvaccinated, 5 counts of failure to maintain financial responsibility, 4 counts of no driver’s license, speeding, and animal illegally kept in a parked or standing vehicle. Rodriguez lives close to where Pierson was found dead in a roadway with wounds consistent with dog bites.
The Fatal Dog Biting Incident
At about 3:00 am, Longview police officers responded to a call for a bicycle in the roadway in the 2500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Arriving officers found the bicycle and then discovered the deceased man with dog bite wounds. Animal control officers and police confiscated multiple dogs from a nearby residence, as an investigation into his death got underway. Residents complained then that the dogs had been an issue for some time, wondering, "Why wasn’t something done sooner?"
Longview NAACP former president and community member Branden Johnson told CBS 19 that police had been contacted about the dogs at least six times and that two of his friends were attacked by the dogs. Johnson said that more needed to be done to protect everyone in the community. "At least if not fairly and equally, with equity. And when there’s something going on, everybody gets treated how they’re supposed to be treated. And there’s no difference, or indifference," Johnson said.
Habitual Animal Violations Offender
In 2019, Rodriguez faced similar charges: 3 counts of animal at large and 3 counts of animal unvaccinated. In 2021, charges escalated to the felony statute. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to 1 count of attack by dog causing serious bodily injury. The sentence was suspended 5 years and the remainder was probated. In early February, city officials said that animal control officers had issued almost 50 citations since 2019 in cases directly related to the dogs seized from the property on February 1.
Now that Rodriguez has used up the Court's leniency after the 2021 serious bodily injury case, he faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted under the state statute. It is troubling that he continued being a reckless dog owner after the 2019 and 2021 charges. The worst possible outcome of his behavior occurred on February 1 when his dogs killed a man. Certainly, the city should be considering a habitual offender ordinance that prohibits people like Rodriguez from owning any animals.
Related articles:
06/21/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Walking Down Road in Rockport, Texas Brutally Killed by Dogs
08/26/23: 2022 Dog Bite Fatality: Dogs Suspected in Man's Death in Channelview, Harris County
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]]>The post 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Dies After Violent Bull Breed Mauling in Morgan County, Alabama appeared first on DogsBite Blog.
]]>Beau Clark, 4-years old, died after a violent bull breed mauling in Morgan County, Alabama.
No Criminal Charges
UPDATE 02/29/24: On Thursday, Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett issued a release, stating that no charges are expected in the death of 4-year old Beau Clark. Investigators determined the dog was "securely maintained on its own property" and had "no history of violent or aggressive behavior." The child was riding his bike, but for "unknown reasons entered the yard he had been in numerous times." The "child was familiar" with the dog and had been around it "numerous times in the past."
Sheriff Puckett added, "the families are friends and have routinely shared many life events together" and that "this is an incredible tragedy in the truest sense of the word." We know from our own 19-years of data (2005 to present day) that fatal dog maulings resulting in criminal charges compromise 20% or less of all fatal attacks. Seldom is someone to blame when a pit bull "explodes" -- attacking and killing a child and severely injuring an able-bodied adult male, who intervened to save his son's life.
Details from Earlier Reporting
We retrieved the article from Daily Decatur, which had previously been behind a paywall, because it contains additional details. Morgan County Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Swafford said the call initially indicated the child had been hit by a car. Deputies were unprepared for the horrific scene that awaited them. “Once they arrived on scene, one of our deputies was helping the father with the child, and the other deputy was able to locate the lost dog, which was still aggressive,” Swafford said.
The article also delves into the similar breed history and functionality of the Olde English bulldog (a modern "revived" bull baiting breed) and pit bull terriers -- both engineered to excel in bloodsports and are descendants of fighting and baiting dogs. Morgan County Animal Shelter Director Darren Tucker, "whose department collected the dog’s body and sent off specimens for analysis, said the animal appeared to be a pit bull-mix weighing between 40 and 60 pounds," reports Daily Decatur.
We were unable to obtain a photograph of the dog involved. Director Tucker, however, who collected the animal, believes it is predominantly pit bull.
Tucker said the dog's owners called about getting the dog's remains. The health department "would not allow it," he said. "The dog has to be sent in because of the severity of the incident.” He added that "97% of the calls that Animal Control responds to for aggressive animals end up being pit bull related." His shelter relies heavily on rescue groups to adopt out dogs. But at least two of those groups "will not take pit bulls at all because the breed’s 'trigger' is unpredictable," Tucker told Daily Decatur.
Tucker also made a statement that victims' advocates say. "It’s in that dog to not let go. If it had been a golden retriever, a cocker spaniel, an Irish setter -- it would have probably bit and have been done, and that child could be alive today," he said. Similar to the view of advocates: "If these pit bulls were a beagle, or I could name almost 300 dog breeds, this child would be alive to today." Tucker urged people to carefully investigate breeds and temperament when adopting dogs, reports Daily Decatur.
02/27/24: Child Killed by Bull Breed
Hartselle, AL - Last night, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office published an update about a violent bull breed mauling involving a 4-year old boy. It began with, "A dog bit a child. Child in critical condition. Deputies had to put down dog." The next update, shortly thereafter, states, "The child has passed away." At about 6:00 pm, deputies were dispatched to a home on Ramblewood Private Drive off Vaughn Bridge Road. The dog involved belonged to the child's neighbor, the sheriff's office said.
That same night, the sheriff's office posted another update: "Please pray for the family of the child who was killed by a dog tonight in our community, as well as our Deputies, EMS, Coroner, VFD and Dispatchers that handled this call or responded to the scene. Tonight is hard." The word "dog" was later changed to "Olde English Bulldog." The audio dispatch logs from Decatur and Morgan County Public Safety became difficult to listen to when we heard the ETA of the Air Evac was 20 minutes.
The boy's father sustained serious injuries trying to save his son; he was treated and released from the hospital. Both families involved are friends.
"4-year old male. Attacked by a canine," the dispatcher states. "He's covered in blood. CPR is in progress. Child has bite wounds to the neck." A few seconds later, he states, "Advise that the canine is in the neighbor's yard." Then the ETA is announced. "Survival flight 20 is in route. It has an ETA of 20 minutes," the dispatcher states. The segment ends with details about the landing zone. The sheriff's office warned people to stay away from the area, "Use caution. Large police and EMS presence."
The Olde English bulldog is not recognized by the AKC or the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI). It's yet another "revived" bull breed "created for the English sport of bull baiting, practiced from approximately 1100 until 1835," states the UKC. This "revived" bull breed was created in a 1971 breeding program that "began using a linebreeding scheme" to rapidly achieve a dog that matched the look "of the bull baiting dog of the early 1800s." The UKC did not recognize the breed until 2014.
According to working bulldog breeders, "the foundation crosses consisted of English bulldog, and bullmastiff, American pit bull terrier, and American bulldog." The Olde English bulldog (also spelled, Olde English Bulldogge) is one of the breeds used in the creation of the American XL bully, the largest of four sizes of the American bully breed, which was recently banned in the United Kingdom. The dog that killed this little boy was first identified as a pit bull likely because it looked and acted like one.
A GoFundMe created for the boy's family has raised over $30,000 in only 5 hours. "Kevin and Hailey Clark are beloved members of the Hartselle, AL community," states Emily Reeves, who organized the fundraiser. "Tragically, they lost their 4 year old son, Beau, on February 26, 2024. Please donate to help support them and their family during this difficult time." Our hearts go out to the Clark family and to all of the medical and law enforcement responders who worked so hard to save his life.
Mother is a Teacher
The Decatur Daily, which is behind a paywall, states the victim is the "son of a beloved Hartselle High School English teacher. Hailey Clark, Beau's mother, previously taught at Hartselle Junior High before transferring to the high school, according to Principal Brad Cooper." The photograph on the high school's website is the same one used in the GoFundMe. Brian Clayton, the superintendent of Hartselle City Schools, confirmed Beau was a student who attended Crestline Elementary.
Morgan County Coroner Jeff Chunn commented on Facebook about the support the family has received: "I have been in public service going on 43 years and never seen so many people come together as one, as they did [last night]. There were so many, from the dispatchers, police officers, Fire, EMS, hospital staff and even the bystanders were kneeling in prayer. It makes you proud to live in a community and be a part of a first responder family like this. Please continue to pray..."
Related articles:
12/01/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Infant Killed by Pet Wolf-Dog Hybrid in Alabama
11/13/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Birmingham Woman Killed by Dogs Coroner Says
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