Monthly Archives: May 2013

DogsBite.org Featured as Guest Columnist in Support of Pit Bull Bans -- Orlando Sentinel

DogsBite.org - On May 7, The Orlando Sentinel contacted DogsBite.org to contribute to a regular feature called The Front Burner, a pro-con editorial segment. The topic matter was whether to ban pit bulls. DogsBite.org submitted our 630 word piece in support of banning pit bulls on May 15. The Sentinel published the piece on May 24. We are republishing the article in full on the DogsBite.org Blog one week later to include the associated source citations, 13 in total.Banning P… [Read full blog post]

DogsBite.org Launches Campaign: Pledge to Become Informed

Fatal Pit Bull Attacks Sharply Rise in 2013DogsBite.org - Today we launched an urgent pledge campaign on Causes.com to inform more Americans about the escalation of fatal pit bull attacks this year. In the first 5 months of 2013, pit bulls inflicted 13 of the 14 attacks that resulted in human death -- 93%. This is well above the average of 60% over the combined 8-year period of 2005 to 2012. If the current rate of fatalities inflicted by pit bulls continues, 33 Americans will lose… [Read full blog post]

DogsBite.org Publishes Rebuttal Letter in Defense of Texas Medical Study

Mortality, Mauling and Maiming by Vicious DogsDogsBite.org - In April 2011, the Annals of Surgery published a study about severe and fatal injuries inflicted by pit bulls, Mortality, Mauling and Maiming by Vicious Dogs, produced by Texas doctors. The study concluded: "Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantial… [Read full blog post]

National Dog Bite Prevention Week (May 19-25, 2013)

Dog Bite Injury Severity and Bowl-A-Thon Event DogsBite.org - In an ongoing tradition, we comment during National Dog Bite Prevention Week that there is no National Dog Mauling Prevention Week, a far more serious health and safety issue. The distinction between preventing dog "bites" and preventing dog "maulings" -- injuries involving maiming, loss of limbs and death -- is urgent. Over 600 jurisdictions in the U.S. regulate dangerous dog breeds, primarily pit bulls, to… [Read full blog post]

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Paralyzed Man Pulled from Wheelchair Dies After Dog Attack

Carlton Freeman, 80-years old, was killed by four dogs in Harleyville. No Criminal Charges UPDATE 05/21/13: The Dorchester County Sheriff's announced today that no charges would be filed in the death of Carlton Freeman, a double amputee who died after being mauled by four dogs described as pit bulls. The decision comes after an investigation was carried out by multiple county agencies. Though the dogs were initially thought to belong to a neighbor, authorities later dete… [Read full blog post]

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Owner Convicted of Second-Degree Murder After Dogs Kill Antelope Valley Woman

Sentenced to 15-Years UPDATE 10/03/14: On Friday, Alex Donald Jackson was sentenced to 15-years in state prison for the murder of Pamela Marie Devitt -- the 63-year old woman was mauled to death by four of Jackson's loose pit bulls on May 9, 2013. Devitt suffered catastrophic injuries in the violent attack; she died while being transported to the hospital. In August of this year, a jury found Jackson guilty of second-degree murder in connection to her death and guilty of multi… [Read full blog post]