Dr. Nancy Shaw, 62-years old, was killed by roaming dogs in Lyons, Georgia.
Dog Owner Charged
UPDATE 08/25/21: Over one year after a 62-year old doctor was mauled to death by four pit bull-mixes, a man has been arrested and charged in connection to her death. Gregory Van Mosley, 65, of Lyons has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after evidence recently obtained from the State Crime Lab allowed authorities to pursue prosecution in the case, according to Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker. Dr. Nancy Shaw was found dead in a ditch on May 7, 2020.
Three of the four dogs believed to be responsible were located shortly after her body was discovered. Two of the dogs were wearing collars with their owner's name. The fourth dog was shot and killed by a resident after it attempted to break into a man's chicken pen. All three dogs are still being held at the Lyons Animal Shelter and are considered evidence in the case. Mosley was taken to the Toombs County Jail for processing, where he posted a $5,000 property bond.
10/23/20: The Suspected Dogs
On October 23, 2020 our nonprofit obtained confirmation about the dog breeds involved in the death of Dr. Nancy Shaw from a records request from the Lyons Police Department. The three dogs, which are still being held by police, are described in records as one brown and white pit bull-mix and two black pit bull-mixes. All of the dogs belong to the same owner. We also obtained three photographs of the dogs. The outcome of the dogs has not been determined at this time.
Two of the three pit bull-mixes being held by Lyons Police after the mauling death of Dr. Shaw.
05/10/20: Suspected Dogs Captured
Three of the four dogs suspected in the mauling death of a 62-year old doctor have been captured and are being held as evidence by police, Southeast Georgia Today reports. A fourth dog was shot and killed by a Lyons resident after it attempted to break into a man's chicken pen. The dogs are reportedly "bulldog-mixes," which is a generic term in much of the south, including Georgia and Florida, that refers to both American bulldogs and fighting bulldogs -- pit bull terriers.
A perfect example of this lies in an adoption listing for a Savannah "bulldog mix." That dog is as far removed from an English bulldog as imaginable. A generic "bulldog" in Georgia is a phenotype, perfectly represented by the adoption listing. In 2017, there was a large fight bust in Polk County, Georgia. 150 dogs were seized, "pit bull-based or bulldog-based breeds." All of these dogs are generic Georgia "bulldog-mixes." But what about Uga, the famous Georgia Bulldog mascot?
In 1894, a solid white female bull terrier, named Trilby, became the very first dog mascot for the college. During that time period, the names "bull terriers, pit dogs and pit bulls" were synonymous. In 1898, Chauncey Z. Bennett founded the United Kennel Club to bring formal recognition to the pit bull breed, under the official name, "American pit bull terrier." At that time, Bennett also drew up rules and regulations for dogfighting to bring "organization" to the now illegal blood sport.1
Dog Owner Located
The update from Southeast Georgia Today also reports that police have located the owner of the four loose dogs suspected in killing Dr. Nancy Shaw. Possible criminal charges depend upon the results of the investigation. Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker speculated that Dr. Shaw may have seen the dogs by the road and stopped to feed them when a fight broke out between the dogs. However, it will never be known why Dr. Shaw suddenly stopped and got out of her vehicle.
The remaining dogs are currently being held at the Lyons Animal Shelter. Earlier today, the city of Lyons issued a press release about Dr. Shaw's death. The most important part is that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also involved in the multi-agency investigation. The city reminded residents that "the City has an adequate animal control ordinance and a competent Animal Control Division" and that they rely on "community policing to enforce its running at large regulations."
The City of Lyons Georgia
Press Release - May 12, 2020The Mayor and City Council is saddened by the events that ultimately led to the Death of Dr. Nancy Shaw. Dr. Shaw was a friend to the City, Lyons Police department, and Lyons Animal shelter. The Lyons Police Department assisted by the Lyons Animal Control Division, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Lyons Public Works Department actively searched for the dogs responsible for the incident.
On May 8, 2020, The Lyons Police identified and seized the dogs allegedly involved in the Thursday Morning death of Dr. Shaw. The incident is still under investigation. At this time, charges have not been brought on the owner of the dogs.
The City would like to assure the Citizens of Lyons that the City has an adequate animal control ordinance and a competent Animal Control Division. The City uses community policing to enforce its running at large regulations, and when compliance is not achieved, prosecutes offenders regularly. The Lyons Animal Control Division encourages Citizens to abide by the Cities leash law and keep your pets under the level of control required by the law.
05/10/20: Dogs Kill Local Doctor
Lyons, GA - A women was discovered dead in a ditch early Thursday morning. An autopsy later confirmed that Dr. Nancy Shaw, 62-years old, died from an animal attack. Police spotted her car on Skyline Boulevard about 3:00 am, pulled over on the wrong side of the road, car running and the door open. "Got out of the patrol car to investigate and found a female that was deceased in the ditch," Lyons Police Chief Wesley Walker said. Police suspect roaming dogs are the culprits.
Dr. Shaw lived on Skyline Boulevard under a half mile from where she was found. Depending upon how quiet the neighborhood was, her car could have been idling for hours. The estimated time of the attack was not released. Dr. Shaw practiced internal medicine at Meadows Regional Medical Center. She would often stop by the police station to check on the well-being of officers. “She was a friend of ours," Chief Walker said. "When I realized who it was, it was devastating."
The term "wild dogs" is often a product of the media. We have defined owned roaming dogs (that may or may not be collared), stray dogs, feral dogs and wild dogs in the past. Owned roaming dogs are virtually always the culprits in fatal attacks. On Thursday, Southeast Georgia Radio reported more details, including that police believe a couple of the suspected dogs were collared. "We feel like they did belong to someone, but haven’t had any luck yet," Chief Walker explained.
“Around 3 a.m. one of my officers was on routine patrol in the north end of town and came across a vehicle that was parked close to the shoulder of the road, running, with the door open. He got out to investigate and found a female in the ditch that was deceased. We identified that female as Dr. Nancy A. Shaw, 62 years of age with a Skyline Boulevard address,” said Walker.
Walker said, “The investigation is continuing but it appears from preliminary investigations that she was possibly attacked by an animal, probably some dogs that were seen in the area and caused the death of Dr. Shaw from those injuries.”
Walker added, “We are actively trying to locate some dogs that were seen running loose in the area around this same time to see if there is any evidence of that. We do believe that a couple of the dogs do have collars on so we feel like they did belong to someone but haven’t had any luck yet.” - Southeast Georgia Radio
Friends of Dr. Shaw began posting about her death on May 7. One of her co-workers, Brenda Moody, said she "was one of the kindest people I have ever met. She always trusted my judgment and never failed to tell me what a good job I was doing as Med-Surg charge nurse. She had a kind word for everyone and loved her cats. She was loved by all of us that worked night shift." This indicates Dr. Shaw had a routine of driving home late, even into the early morning hours.
Another friend stated that she "loved her cats beyond words." Friends speculated that Dr. Shaw might have gotten out of her car to help a cat. She "wouldn't have hesitated to stop and help," Moody said in a comment. Dr. Shaw is yet another victim of a violent dog mauling "found dead in a ditch" afterward. We had this discussion in December, commenting then, "It is a moral and societal failure" and a "collective lack of enforcement." Reckless dog owners are certainly to blame as well.
Despite being "devastated" over her death, Lyons Police did not post anything to their Facebook page about the death investigation. Instead, they posted twice about dogs. One post promoted Dog Food Distribution and the other promoted the Lyons Animal Shelter.2 "We are coming for shots, toys and free dog food... what are you waiting for?" The timing of this is unfortunate. This beloved, hardworking doctor was "found dead in a ditch" after being mauled by roaming dogs.
Dr. Nancy Shaw was mauled to death by suspected roaming dogs on Skyline Boulevard.
Friends and co-workers say that Dr. Nancy Shaw had a gentle soul and a heart of gold.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Georgia Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.2According to the Lyons Animal Shelter, as of April 30, the shelter was still not fully operational due to Covid-19. Who knows if any entity is responding to calls of roaming dogs? Further, in early April (while most of the country was sheltering-in-place) the city passed an anti-chaining ordinance. While no one wants to see dogs chained, that was a terrible time to pass this ordinance. Requiring irresponsible dog owners to suddenly have to build a fence during Covid-19 is plain stupid. One commenter stated: "So I just let them outside now without any restrains."
Related articles:
03/10/20: 2020 Dog Bite Fatality: Suspected Fatal Pit Bull Mauling in Crawford County, Georgia
12/27/19: 2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies After Vicious Dog Attack in Dacula, Georgia
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.
Another poor soul falls prey to the culture of keeping dangerous dogs as pets (then letting them loose to roam because their owners are not afraid for their own dog’s safety).
99% of “stray” or “roaming” dogs are owned by someone. Only 1% of loose dogs are unowned. People who hate their neighbor will select dangerous canines as pets, and then allow them to hunt down people and instantly cut down people. People who love their neighbor do neither. Some people think that canines are domesticated animals, but they are no less dangerous and no less unpredictable than wild animals, because scientifically they are wild animals. Just because canines are officially declared to be not wild animals does not make that a physical fact in the real world. The only reason why Dr. Shaw suffered an excruciating death is because her neighbors hated her, because they are evil people. Evil people are as evil people do.
I don’t think people turn their dogs loose to kill people. I think they turn their dogs loose because they are too lazy to walk their dogs and don’t have a fence. Maybe they cannot afford a fence. Maybe they don’t want a fence. Maybe their dogs cannot be contained by a fence.
My thoughts are: If you can’t afford a fence then you can’t afford a dog. If your dogs cannot be contained by a fence, get a taller/stronger/deeper-dug fence or don’t have dogs. There is no excuse for not containing your dogs. I do understand that at times, they can get out but this should be a rare exception. If someone is going to own pits, then they are accepting a 0% margin of error with this breed. No less is expected of people who own big cats. You want a tiger, well then, it can NEVER get out. Pits should be treated the same.
Another Georgia death. My heart goes out to her family and her patients. Awaiting more info on dogs responsible. Have not heard either of the latest fatalities from any other source.
As far as I’m concerned it should be legal to shoot free roaming dogs on sight. There is simply no excuse for free roaming dogs.
Good point. In many states (PA), you can shoot a coyote 7 days a week, year-round. The case should be the same for roaming dogs, especially in rural areas. About once a year, I drive to the south. Every single one-way trip, I see between 1-3 pit bulls running along the side of roads and highways. I have never seen any other breed dumped like this, just pits. I assume one of two things about the pit, 1. it was a fighting dog owned by an amateur (not a pit bull farm) that was not the best fighter, so it was dumped, or 2. it was a family pit bull that began to get aggressive, so it was dumped. Dr. Shaw was a cat lover but this also means that she was an animal lover. There is a chance, she saw a loose dog and was trying to get it in her car to take them to a shelter. Several years ago, a middle-aged woman in my area did this exact thing, being a good Samaritan picked up a highway pit bull. She had it in her possession for 2 days over a weekend. While taking it for a walk in a wooded park, it attacked her and covered her entire body with upwards of 70 bites. She somehow survived this. A friend of mine picked up a road pit bull and took it to a shelter that she has had a long relationship with. The next week, she called to find out how it was doing and she was told that it was very aggressive, bit a staff member, and that they had to put it down. I begged her never to pick up a roadside pit bull again because it could have attacked her in her car.
It shouldn’t just be legal it should be encouraged. Animal control need to be packing carbines anyway. anytime reports of stray packs of dogs come in they should go out and do what needs to be done. Animal control in most areas has forgotten their primary job. That is to be dog police not dog social workers.
I am just assuming that the attacking dogs that killed this poor woman were not chihuahuas, labs, retrievers, spaniels, etc. So many people underestimate the danger of a “pack” of dogs….does not have to be many, just large and aggressive dogs. Are there any reports of the breed of dogs that killed this woman?
There is a possibility that she saw the pack of dangerous breed dogs while driving in her car, and then exited her vehicle to feed them? Really? An infinitely More Reasonable possibility is that she was driving her vehicle and decided to exit her vehicle for Any Other Possible reason, and then she was murdered by someones dangerous canines.
I think a more likely scenario is that, being a cat lover, she may have seen a cat either being chased or attacked by the pack, and attempted to intervene. Maybe she yelled at the dogs to distract them or get them away from the cat. The pack may have redirected their aggression to her. That makes more sense to me than her getting out of her car to feed the beasts at 3 am.
That was my thought too. She saw the pack of pits eviscerating a cat or some other creature. I don’t think she would have lived to be her age if she got out and tried to feed every at large pit she came across in Georgia.
Colleen, I read the post about little Damon Koehn being mauled by loose dogs. It breaks my heart, especially how his older brother was so hurt that Damon’s death seemed to be forgotten. He had hoped that Damon’s death would maybe be a reason for changes to dog bite laws and require greater responsibility for dog owners. Here we are, 24 years later, and dog bite/mauling victims are no better off. It’s sickening. Damon would be 28 years old now if he hadn’t been killed by vicious loose dogs. Dr. Shaw would be here today if she weren’t killed by vicious loose dogs.
I’ve mentioned the Ghandi quote before “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
How about the way the victims of animals are treated? Pretty pathetic in this country from what I’ve seen. Victims and their families are no better off than when poor sweet Damon was mauled to death 24 years ago.
People fall all over themselves to “save them all” and write laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect, but laws protecting humans from dangerous animals and dangerous animal owners are either pathetic or non-existent. It’s maddening.
(Sorry for the rant. This kind of thing just blows my mind and makes me so angry.)
Bottom line here is whether she needed to fix something on her car, wanted to have a vape/smoke outside her car, stopped to stretch her legs, was rescuing a cat, whatever…
She was murdered by a bunch of furred maniacs at the side of the road.
Nobody gives a crap what the excuse of a bunch of highway robbers is, when they murder their victim.
Yet somehow, there needs to be a reason “why”, when it comes to pitbull slaughter?
Has anyone posted lately on the Sheriff’s page? What happened to the dogs and was the owner charged?
Good work DBO!
Great work Colleen! Once again you’ve managed to track down photos of killer dogs which offer undeniable proof of breed.
Every time I come to this site and see this lady’s photo my heart just sort of clenches in thinking about her last moments. She looks very similar to a dear old friend of mine. But my friend got to die peacefully in her bed and not alone in a ditch being torn apart by someone’s pets. Can’t believe these dogs are still alive all these months later. Hoping there’s a purpose to that madness and that charges will come soon!
I would like to see justice for Dr. Nancy Shaw. The owner should be charged with manslaughter or something reflecting the fact that it’s their fault that a valuable member of society lost her life. Why is the dog owner’s identity being protected? Guess they must be an even closer friend of the police than Nancy was.