Category Archives: Dog Bite Fatalities

A collection of posts from the DogsBite.org Blog documenting U.S. dog bite fatalities in real time, beginning in 2007. Tags separate specific years.

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2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Pet Pit Bull Mauls to Death 74-Year Old Owner in Santa Fe

Clifford Wright seen with his son Gavin in a November 27, 2002 photo. Dog Euthanized UPDATE 05/08/12: In the continuing saga of Gavin Wright, who initially hoped to spare family the pit bull after it brutally killed his father, allowed authorities to euthanize the dog today. On Monday, KOB.com released parts of the 911 call that offers more insight into Gavin. "Don't make me (expletive) repeat myself again ... My dog got a hold of him somehow," he said. It is possible that yeste… [Read full blog post]
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2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 15-Month Old Girl Killed by Family Pit Bull in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Inconsistent Statements UPDATE 09/12/12: KVIA.com reports that statements made by the grandmother, Leticia Mesa, about events leading up to the savage attack were inconsistent, as was her knowledge of the dog's previous aggressive acts. The autopsy report shows the child was alone with the dog when she was attacked. "There's a difference between a crime and an accident," District Attorney Amy Orlando told KVIA.com. The Mesa family is responsible for the death of Jazily… [Read full blog post]

Maryland Court of Appeals Holds Pit Bull Owners and Landlords Accountable After an Attack

Maryland's highest court declares pit bulls "inherently dangerous" in landmark ruling. On April 8, 2014 the governor signed a bill abrogating this Court of Appeals decision. On August 21, 2012 the high court narrowed this decision by excluding cross-bred pit bulls. Tracey v. Solesky Baltimore, MD - In January, DogsBite.org announced our filing of an amicus brief in a landmark Maryland appeals case, Tracey v. Solesky, in hopes of expanding more liability out to landlords… [Read full blog post]

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 1-Year Old Henderson Boy Killed by Family Dog

Fatally attacking dog depicted with the victim, Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan. Saving Killer Dogs? UPDATE 05/13/12: The Las Vegas Review-Journal published a follow up piece about animal activists who intervene to "save dogs" that have bitten and killed. The article refers to the February death of a 2-day old baby who was killed by his family's adopted Husky, named Nikko.1 On April 27, a Pennsylvania judge allowed Nikko to be sent to an out-of-state "sanctuary" instead of being pu… [Read full blog post]