2014 Dog Bite Fatality: 91-Year Old Woman Dies After Vicious Attack by Own Dog

Victim Seldom Seen
UPDATE 11/19/14: According to the most recent CTPost.com news report, neighbors rarely saw Stella Antanaitis or her dog outside of her home. "I've been here 27 years, and I never saw her walk that dog," said Olga Figel, who lives two houses away. "I never saw anybody walk that dog," she said. Also, notably, "reports in the Stratford Star that the woman tried to intervene during a fight between her dog and her cat could not be confirmed by police Tuesday," states the article.

Two purebred keeshond breeders are interviewed in the news report. One of them, Heather Myers of Killingworth, was shocked to learn the dog turned on its owner of 8-years. Myers also wondered whether it was a rescue dog or whether it is a true Keeshound. "A lot of times our dogs get confused with elkhounds, Siberian huskies and chows," she explained. Myers will likely be speechless to see a photo of the dog taken by News 12 Connecticut at Stratford Animal Control.1

11/18/14: Elderly Woman Killed By Dog
Stamford, CT - Late last night it was reported that a 91-year woman, who was attacked by her own dog on Friday, was fighting for her life. Stella Antanaitis of Stratford was taken to Bridgeport Hospital after her dog of 8-years, a black-and-white keeshond-mix, viciously attacked her, inflicting horrific bite injuries on her arms. Police described the scene as very violent.2 NBC Connecticut and others are now reporting that the woman has died, according to Bridgeport Hospital officials.

The attacked occurred in the victim's kitchen, according to police. Her daughter said her mother had owned the dog since it was a puppy and never had any problems with it. Her daughter feared she was dying while in critical condition and dealing with skin grafts and kidney failure. Neighbors were shocked by the attack. "To think a dog could just turn on you and attack you like that," said Amy Garrison, of Stratford. "I really have no idea, because you think you know your own dog."

"Both arms, badly mutilated, that is crazy. It seems unreal to happen around here." - Amy Garrison

The Stratford Star provided several more details. Stratford Police Capt. Paul DosSantos said that when Antanaitis intervened in a fight between her keeshond-mix and her cat, the dog starting attacking her. Emergency personnel arrived to a 91-year old woman with severe injuries to her upper extremities. She was transported to Bridgeport Hospital. The dog is currently impounded at Stratford Animal Control. It will be tested for rabies and likely euthanized, according to DosSantos.

1Parts of the 911 call are played in this video. We are forced to link to it because it also has a photograph of the dog. We caution readers that listening to a 91-year woman essentially utter her last words is terribly disturbing and painful. Usually, 911 calls of serious and fatal dog attacks (that are posted to the web) are not made by the victim.
2The 911 call from the victim is available online, we greatly hesitate posting it to this website.

Photo: NBC Connecticut

13 thoughts on “2014 Dog Bite Fatality: 91-Year Old Woman Dies After Vicious Attack by Own Dog”

Yes, what do we know about this particular ac unit? Stratford? who is running it? Not buying the keeshond mix story either. They are timid dogs. if true, that must have been one heck of a pit it was mixed with.

MIX? With what? A mountain lion?
Nah, just a pit.

Sorry, but given the amount of mislabeling and lies that go on at humane societies, I am sure it is part pit. I cannot see an elderly women adopting a pit, I bet she was tricked to.

Oh, so it's another one of those MIXES. Yeah, right. It's probably a pit bull and the local animal uncontrol agency doesn't want to admit that.

Whoops, I was confusing a Keeshound with something else. I would think if it was mixed w pit it would be obvious.
I guess this could be the 1 Keeshound killing ever?

mary conner on February 7, 2016 at 8:35 am said:

I think you are probably right.

That was my first thought YQN – it doesn't really matter what they call it, since there is such a degree of corruption in AC, with so much lying and deliberate breed mis-identification going on that one can't really take any of the crap they spout at face value, but have to try and read between the lines.

What would actually be informative and helpful would be footage of the actual animal in question.

Will we just have to take the word of animal un-control, or will we see a picture of this dog? Will this fall into the category of Holden William Garrison? "He had to pry the jaws off the child. It's a catahoula leopard dog. You don't need to see a picture. You can trust us."

It's likely a mix kinda like the pitsky:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/p/pitsky.htm

Some images here:

https://www.google.nl/search?rlz=1C1CHNV_nlNL356NL357&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&q=pitskie&nfpr=1&sa=X&ei=uRhsVMb-DoXtO4jsgdgD&ved=0CB8QvgUoAQ

Considering what ACs and shelters label 'pointer', 'border collie', etc, my guess is that it's an pit bull mix they're consciously choosing to call something else. There's a reason they aren't publishing a photo.

It would indeed be the first keeshond ever to maul anyone, let alone kill. 2175

For those of you saying that they will not publish a photo, the photo is in this video. And no it is not a pit mix, looks more like a retriever of some sort. But of course you will still all swear up and down that it is pit…

https://www.google.nl/search?rlz=1C1CHNV_nlNL356NL357&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&q=pitskie&nfpr=1&sa=X&ei=uRhsVMb-DoXtO4jsgdgD&ved=0CB8QvgUoAQ

I'm wondering if the dog was perhaps a husky. Many people get those spitz-type, furry dogs confused, and huskies have been responsible for a small number of human deaths.

Also, I do hope that Dogsbite will be responding to the ridiculous pit bull fluff piece that appeared in the USA Today, to speak for the victims.

The 91-year-old widow preferred life inside with her pets. One of them, purported to be a keeshond mix, is responsible for the woman's death … "I've been here 27 years, and I never saw her walk that dog," said Olga Figel, who lives two houses away. "I never saw anybody walk that dog. I never saw anybody visit her." … "A lot of times our dogs get confused with elkhounds, Siberian huskies and chows," she said.
—
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Elderly-woman-dies-after-her-dog-attacks-her-5902694.php

That's a weird looking dog. It doesn't look anything like the photos of the keeshond. Like the baby-killing "Pomeranian" that didn't look like a Pomeranian, this dog seems to be a mutt of indeterminate lineage.

I am not seeing the keeshond here either. The first thought that crossed my mind was this looks like a lurcher, which can be a mix of many different breed dogs, but what they do have in common is a propensity for sneakiness and killing, usually animals – rats, birds, rabbits, cats – pretty much anything that moves in your garden.

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Anita on November 19, 2014 at 1:53 am said:

Yes, what do we know about this particular ac unit? Stratford? who is running it? Not buying the keeshond mix story either. They are timid dogs. if true, that must have been one heck of a pit it was mixed with.
Staceyjwsolar on November 19, 2014 at 2:56 am said:

MIX? With what? A mountain lion?
Nah, just a pit.

Sorry, but given the amount of mislabeling and lies that go on at humane societies, I am sure it is part pit. I cannot see an elderly women adopting a pit, I bet she was tricked to.
Your Quiet Neighbor on November 18, 2014 at 10:00 pm said:

Oh, so it's another one of those MIXES. Yeah, right. It's probably a pit bull and the local animal uncontrol agency doesn't want to admit that.
Staceyjwsolar on November 19, 2014 at 3:03 am said:

Whoops, I was confusing a Keeshound with something else. I would think if it was mixed w pit it would be obvious.
I guess this could be the 1 Keeshound killing ever?
- mary conner on February 7, 2016 at 8:35 am said:
  
  I think you are probably right.
herzeleid on November 18, 2014 at 10:12 pm said:

That was my first thought YQN – it doesn't really matter what they call it, since there is such a degree of corruption in AC, with so much lying and deliberate breed mis-identification going on that one can't really take any of the crap they spout at face value, but have to try and read between the lines.

What would actually be informative and helpful would be footage of the actual animal in question.
Jeff Borchardt on November 18, 2014 at 10:28 pm said:

Will we just have to take the word of animal un-control, or will we see a picture of this dog? Will this fall into the category of Holden William Garrison? "He had to pry the jaws off the child. It's a catahoula leopard dog. You don't need to see a picture. You can trust us."
Sputnik on November 19, 2014 at 4:19 am said:

It's likely a mix kinda like the pitsky:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/p/pitsky.htm

Some images here:

https://www.google.nl/search?rlz=1C1CHNV_nlNL356NL357&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&q=pitskie&nfpr=1&sa=X&ei=uRhsVMb-DoXtO4jsgdgD&ved=0CB8QvgUoAQ

Considering what ACs and shelters label 'pointer', 'border collie', etc, my guess is that it's an pit bull mix they're consciously choosing to call something else. There's a reason they aren't publishing a photo.

It would indeed be the first keeshond ever to maul anyone, let alone kill. 2175
Katie on November 19, 2014 at 4:34 am said:

For those of you saying that they will not publish a photo, the photo is in this video. And no it is not a pit mix, looks more like a retriever of some sort. But of course you will still all swear up and down that it is pit…

https://www.google.nl/search?rlz=1C1CHNV_nlNL356NL357&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&q=pitskie&nfpr=1&sa=X&ei=uRhsVMb-DoXtO4jsgdgD&ved=0CB8QvgUoAQ
Packhorse on November 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm said:

I'm wondering if the dog was perhaps a husky. Many people get those spitz-type, furry dogs confused, and huskies have been responsible for a small number of human deaths.

Also, I do hope that Dogsbite will be responding to the ridiculous pit bull fluff piece that appeared in the USA Today, to speak for the victims.
maultalk on November 19, 2014 at 3:26 pm said:

The 91-year-old widow preferred life inside with her pets. One of them, purported to be a keeshond mix, is responsible for the woman's death … "I've been here 27 years, and I never saw her walk that dog," said Olga Figel, who lives two houses away. "I never saw anybody walk that dog. I never saw anybody visit her." … "A lot of times our dogs get confused with elkhounds, Siberian huskies and chows," she said.
—
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Elderly-woman-dies-after-her-dog-attacks-her-5902694.php
Packhorse on November 19, 2014 at 4:10 pm said:

That's a weird looking dog. It doesn't look anything like the photos of the keeshond. Like the baby-killing "Pomeranian" that didn't look like a Pomeranian, this dog seems to be a mutt of indeterminate lineage.
Anita on January 7, 2015 at 3:54 pm said:

I am not seeing the keeshond here either. The first thought that crossed my mind was this looks like a lurcher, which can be a mix of many different breed dogs, but what they do have in common is a propensity for sneakiness and killing, usually animals – rats, birds, rabbits, cats – pretty much anything that moves in your garden.