A 9-year old boy was killed by a dog pack on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
News Release from Tribe
Eagle Butte, SD - On Sunday, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe issued a statement about a boy found dead on the reservation Saturday near his bike with injuries that may have contributed to his death. His death is being investigated by the Cheyenne River Tribal Police. "Officials have yet to determine the exact cause" of death. "There is a possibility it may have been the result of a feral canine attack, but the results will not be determined until the autopsy is conducted," states the news release.
In order to reduce the feral dog population in the Eagle Butte area, animal control officers began patrolling the region, picking up roaming dogs. If the dog is wearing a collar, it will be held for 72 hours at the Wakpa Waste Animal Shelter, states the release. Ordinances require dogs to be tied up, leashed, or fenced. The shelter's Facebook page indicates that a rescue group transports unwanted/stray dogs off the reservation. A reservation-wide "Gathering of the Dogs" event occurs once or twice a year.
Relatives. it is with a heavy heart I relay this message to the Oyate. Yesterday, on abnormally tragic incident occurred here in Eagle Butte that is still being investigated by the Cheyenne River Tribal Police. A deceased child was found near a bike with injuries that may have contributed to his death, but officials have yet to determine the exact cause. The family has been notified, and we send them our love, prayers, and condolences during this difficult time.
There is a possibility it may have been the result of a feral canine attack, but the results will not be determined until the autopsy is conducted. To ensure the safety of the community, today, Animal Control and other support programs will be patrolling and picking up animals not tied up, leashed, or in a fence as stated in the ordinance. If it has a collar, the animal will be held for 72 hours at Wakpa Waste Animal Shelter for its owner to claim, register, and pay the associated fines as stated in the law. - Ryman LeBeau, The Office of Chairman Le Beau
Dog Attack Death Confirmed
The West River Eagle identified the child as 9-year old Lester Peneaux. His mother died in 2021. Lester is part of the Iron Lighting family, under the guardianship of Dale Iron Lighting. On Tuesday, "Iron Lighting confirmed the results of an autopsy and investigation by the FBI concluded there was no foul play, and the death was the result of an attack by a pack of dogs." Concern about the number of loose dogs has grown over the last few years. Unofficial estimates go as high as 1,000 loose dogs.
The article confirms there were two "Gathering of the Dogs" events in 2022. The May event rounded up 41 dogs in Eagle Butte. Dogs not retrieved by their owners in 48 hours, were transported off the reservation to rescue organizations in conjunction with the Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAV) and the HSUS. Details about the animal shelter include that it was built in 2016, has room for 6-14 dogs and facilities for a veterinary office and surgery, but there is no full-time veterinarian in Eagle Butte.
The River Eagle also published relevant parts of the tribe's animal control ordinance. An interesting section pertains to liability when two or more dogs are acting together. "Section 12-1-7 states that owners are liable for the actions of two or more dogs acting together. 'Where any injury has been caused by two or more dogs acting together and such dogs are owned or kept by different persons, all such persons may be joined or kept by defendants in the same action to recover damages.'"
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe animal control code also has a provision for pit bulls. Section 12-1-8 Dangerous Animals states that pit bulls must always wear an adequate harness, owners must post a notice that a dangerous animal is kept on the premises, the dog must be microchipped, and confined in a secure enclosure. The owner must obtain $50,000 in liability insurance, and the dog must be registered with an annual payment of $100, along with providing two color photographs of the dog.
On Wednesday, KELO reported that tribal animal control officers collected 30 dogs during the first 24 hours of patrolling for loose dogs. Officials did not say if any of the dogs collected were involved in the fatal attack. Also on Wednesday, USA Today reported that Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe police Chief Charles L. Red Crow said that four dogs were involved. "We discovered that there were four dogs that attacked and killed him," Crow said. Tribal police have categorized the involved dogs as "feral."
South Dakota Reservations
From 2014 to 2015, there were two dog bite fatalities on the southern South Dakota reservations. Jayla Rodriguez, 8-years old, was killed by one or more loose dogs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in November 2014. Four months later, Julia Charging Whirlwind, 49-years old, was killed by one or more loose dogs on the Rose Bud Indian Reservation. The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation is one of three northern South Dakota reservations. The population in the Eagle Butte area is approximately 1,239.
State map showing the Cheyenne River Reservation where a boy was killed by a dog pack.
Lester Peneaux, 9-years old, was killed by a dog pack on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Fatal Dog Attacks on American Indian Reservations.Learn about breed-specific laws on Indian reservations in our Breed Safety Laws section.
Related articles:
01/02/24: 2024 Dog Bite Fatality: Teenager, 19, Killed by Dogs on Fort Hall Reservation
01/24/23: 2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy Killed, Mother Injured by Four Dogs on Fort Hall Reservation
05/29/22: Escalating Fatal Dog Maulings on Tribal Lands - Suspected Fatal Dog Attack...
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
I would like to believe that all Native Americans take great care of their dogs. However, too many people in general don’t care much for their pets. There are always some cute free puppies available.
If the current dog is a nuisance, get a new one. Has everyone heard of euthanasia by car? That service is free.
This child should be happy and healthy today. Allowing any dogs to form packs is very dangerous. Breed often does not matter. Hungry packs of dogs kill people. Control of roaming dogs is essential.
The surrounding area dumps dogs on the rez and now the rez rounds up the dogs and sends them to shelters in the surrounding area.
It’s the circle of life and sadly sometimes death.
I wonder how many trips some dogs have made?
Shoving your problem off on someone else rarely solves the problem.
If the rez has the manpower to enforce their pit regulations they will help a lot.
$100 a head plus insurance should discourage people from running back yard feed lot operations.
I would be shocked if the rules are enforced.
I suspect even on the rez that animal control officers want to be doggie social workers.
There are other reasons outside the scope of this blog that make me doubt the laws are being enforced.
Let’s just say public sympathies tend to be with the law breaker now rather than the members of the community that suffer because of the lawbreaker’s actions.