Posted on March 12, 2019 by Colleen Lynn

Alex Geiger, 27, Faced Three Felony Counts After Vicious Attacks

From left, the victim David Fear, and former officer Alex Geiger in court proceeding.

The criminal trial has ended for former police officer Alex Geiger. In 2016, his "retired" attack-trained k-9 killed a man and injured a woman. Please see the complete timeline of events.

Acquitted on All Charges
On Friday, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all three counts after a former officer's "retired" attack-trained police K-9 chewed through its owner's wooden fence and attacked two people, killing one. The felony charges against Alex Geiger were straightforward and prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove each one. Geiger was charged with two counts of failing to maintain control of a dangerous animal and one felony count of involuntary manslaughter.

Due to this verdict, a "retired" police K-9 can now breakout of its property and savagely attack an innocent person without criminal culpability.

Geiger was fully aware of the propensities of his retired police K-9, named Neo, a dog dual-certified in detection and patrol work -- including obedience, search, apprehension and handler protection (bite work). 3.5 months before his dog killed David Fear, Geiger purchased K-9 Neo from the city of Exeter and signed a waiver freeing the city of any liability if the dog ever attacked under Geiger's "private" ownership. Thus, acknowledging the inherent dangerousness of K-9 Neo.

Also, 3.5 months before the dog broke through Geiger's fence and killed David Fear, Geiger began renting a house on Owen's Court, one block from the location of the deadly mauling. Prosecution presented evidence to jurors that upon renting the home, Geiger stated on the application for housing pets that Neo "will hopefully be a police dog again in the future." Just one month before the dog killed David Fear, Geiger was busy lobbying for a police K-9 program in Grover Beach.

On November 10, Geiger presented the police chief with a 140-page guide explaining how to form a K-9 unit in a small police department.

Neo was only 2.5 years old. This K-9 was not "retired" -- it was merely "between bites." On December 13, Geiger left Neo loose in his fenced backyard instead of securing the dog in the 5-sided kennel in his backyard, as K-9 policy teaches. Geiger returned home that morning and temporarily fixed a hole in his fence. By noon, Neo had chewed through the "fix" and menaced a mailman. By 1:15 pm, still loose in the neighborhood, Neo attacked David Fear and Betty Long.1

Geiger clearly failed to keep his attack-trained police K-9 "without ordinary care" (§ 399) -- the ordinary care required to secure a non-ordinary dog, one trained in apprehension and bite work. Geiger's actions were clearly "without due caution and circumspection," as well (Penal Code 192b). As dog bite attorney Ken Phillips states, pertaining to this verdict, "These are not ordinary dogs, not ordinary pets, and yet there are no standards for keeping them in our communities."

"The worst part about this "not guilty" verdict is the "get out of jail free" message. The defense was largely based on the absence of standard guidelines that would dictate how to protect the public from police dogs that are out of training. The defense used that argument to its advantage to get this particular defendant found not guilty, but the long term effect of the jury's decision will create the missing guideline. Freedom from criminal responsibility means less of a need to be vigilant. The guideline will admit more casual confinement of these dogs. Public safety will suffer." - Dog Bite Attorney Kenneth Phillips, DogBiteLaw.com

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said he was disappointed with the result but was thankful to the jury for hearing the case. "The facts of this case are tragic for all involved and the incident has greatly affected the families of the victims, Mr. David Fear and Ms. Betty Long. Our staff at the Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center will continue to provide available support to the victim’s families going forward," Dow said in a statement to KEYT.

A jury fully acquitted ex-@Grover_BeachPD officer for deadly K9 attack. Outside courtroom, a juror was heard telling defense that alleged victims’ families’ civil suit played a role in verdict. @SLOTribune https://t.co/GVkTTllNoV

— Matt Fountain (@MattFountain1) April 12, 2019

Editorial: Grover Beach Mauling Case Proves California Needs Tougher Laws on Attack Dogs

04/12/19: Closing Arguments
Closing arguments were heard Thursday in the criminal trial of former Grover Beach police officer Alex Geiger. In December 2016, his "retired" attack-trained police K-9, "Neo," escaped his property and attacked two people, killing one. Geiger faces three felony counts. Prosecutor Steve Wagner argued that Geiger was negligent in securing his backyard fencing and that Geiger knew the risks and liability of having a retired K-9 and was indifferent to the potential consequences.

The defense replayed videos of Neo playing with Geiger's other dog, a German shepherd. The defense strategy is to show that despite the dog's apprehension and bite work training, Neo was a "playful puppy" at home. Thus, Geiger had no way to foresee the brutal attack that left David Fear dead and Betty Long badly injured. During the trial, defense has also suggested that Neo attacked Fear because perhaps Fear held up a BB gun or garden tool, triggering the dog's attack training.

Another strategy advanced by the defense is that there is no uniform standard dictating how to house retired K-9s. "There's really not an industry standard. It's really what a particular city or jurisdiction wants," testified Ron Cloward, an expert witness for the defense. Cloward is testifying "free-of-charge" because he personally does not believe Geiger is guilty of a crime. A conviction, he believes, could have a chilling effect on police agencies using K-9s -- Cloward's line of work.

Overdue Wake Up Call

A retired attack-trained police K-9 means the canine is no longer active duty. Thus, a possible "chilling effect" on police K-9 agencies is doubtful. The way the police industry handles these dogs currently, at least in the instant case of Geiger, is through liability waivers. In August 2016, Geiger had to sign a waiver with the city of Exeter when he purchased Neo for $5,287, removing the city of any liability if the canine ever attacked someone while under Geiger's "private" ownership.

Developing safer policies is not a "chilling effect." They are a natural evolution in law enforcement and nearly all workplace environments.

The criminal trial of Geiger is a long overdue "wake up call" for the police industry. Officers with dogs trained in apprehension and bite work -- both active duty and retired -- are well aware of the capabilities of these dogs. As Judge Mullin stated during the preliminary hearing, "There is an inherent danger" with keeping retired police dogs. Mullin also stated that due to the absence of "standard procedures" for retired K-9s, maybe police agencies should do something about it.

03/30/19: Prosecution Rests
On Thursday, prosecution rested its case against former Grover Beach police officer Alex Geiger. In February 2017, Geiger was charged with multiple felony counts after his "retired" attack-trained police K-9, which he kept as a personal "pet" after leaving the Exeter K-9 unit four months earlier, killed 64-year old David Fear and seriously injured Betty Long, then 85. There have been few media updates since the trial began, possibly due to electronics being restricted in the courtroom.

After prosecution rested, Geiger's attorney, Melina S. Benninghoff, quickly filed a motion to dismiss the case citing "lack of evidence" during the trial. The motion to dismiss was denied by San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duffy. After a recess, Geiger took the stand and answered questions about his retired K-9's training and post active-duty behavior. Defense is trying to weave a narrative that Geiger had no instructions about how to keep his retired K-9.

On March 22, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported that defense pointed to the confusion over which agency was in charge of the investigation -- Grover Beach Police or San Luis Obispo County Animal Services? Director of Animal Services, Eric Anderson, said that after arriving on scene, his agency worked in a "support" role for police. While on the scene, Police Chief John Peters asked Anderson if his agency could take over because Geiger was a city employee.

Anderson, however, did not start conducting an investigation until two days after the attack. When questioned by defense under cross-examination, Anderson testified, "My assessment was we would assume responsibility once (Grover Beach police) gave us their reports. It seemed to be understood that Grover Beach had collected a lot of information at that point." Defense hopes to use this confusion to call into question evidence that was or was not collected at the scene.

At that same time, jurors also heard testimony from witness and survivor Betty Long and two San Luis ambulance paramedics, who were early arrivals at the scene. One of the paramedics, Nicolas Drake, testified about treating Fear. His arms were "mauled or destroyed" with much of his skin removed between the wrists and elbows, reports The Tribune. "It was the most horrific injury I've seen," Drake said. Among other atrocities, Neo severed the radial artery in one of Fear's arms.

The criminal trial of Alex Geiger is scheduled to resume April 8 after a one-week break. Geiger's testimony will resume at that time and cross-examination by the prosecution will take place.

retired police k9 alex geiger criminal trial

Judge Jacqueline Duffy denies motion to dismiss in fatal dog mauling trial of Alex Geiger.

03/12/19: Opening Arguments
Drama unleashed in opening statements Tuesday, including the defense attorney brandishing a BB gun in front of the jury. Defense strategy appears to be "this was an accident" and the case is only a civil lawsuit matter. Prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagner stated that "safety was a distant second" in Geiger's mind, who knew or should have known that his attack-trained police K-9 was dangerous. Former officer Alex Geiger faces up to four years in jail if convicted.

Wagner said he would show jurors Geiger’s property management company’s application for housing pets on which Geiger reportedly wrote that Neo "will hopefully be a police dog again in the future." - San Luis Obispo Tribune

Geiger's 2.5-year old Belgian malinios, Neo, was not "retired" in any traditional sense. "Alex Geiger had plans to engage Neo in active service at the Grover Beach Police Department," Wagner said during opening statements. "That becomes an important issue as it relates to the case of Neo." An hour before chewing through a wooden fence and killing David Fear and seriously injuring Betty Long, Geiger's dogs had chased a mailman, who is scheduled to testify.

Wagner also took aim at the Grover Beach Police Department, alleging that officers "did not actively engage in evidence collection" after the attack. A BB gun and long-sticked garden tool were found near the scene of the attack. Wagner said a district attorney's office investigator had both items tested at a forensics lab; there was no evidence that either were used in the incident. This is the same BB gun defense argues perhaps Fear pointed at the dogs, triggering the attack.

During the trial, jurors are expected to see Geiger's body cam footage of his arrival at the scene of the deadly dog attack as well as hearing the 911 call made by Betty Long. In another revelation of what is yet to come in the trial, the prosecution accused Geiger's brother of talking to one of the jurors during a break Tuesday, reports KSBY. Both Geiger's brother and the juror were questioned in a closed session. The judge had to "remind" everyone not to talk to jurors to ensure a fair trial.

Criminal Trial Begins

San Luis Obispo County, CA - Opening arguments begin Tuesday in the criminal trial of former Grover Beach police officer Alex Geiger. On December 13, 2016, Geiger's "retired" attack-trained police K-9, which he kept as a personal "pet" after leaving the Exeter K-9 unit four months earlier, chewed through a fence and mauled two people, killing one. Geiger faces two felony counts for failing to maintain control of a dangerous dog and one felony count of involuntary manslaughter.

The criminal trial comes nearly two years after a preliminary hearing was held in July 2017, when we last published about this case. Superior Court Judge Hugh Mullin III ruled there was enough evidence for Geiger to stand trial. David Fear, 64, died from complications of blood loss due to his bite injuries three days after the vicious attack. Betty Long, then 85, suffered bite injuries and broken bones from falling. She was not released from a rehabilitation center until March 2017.

In August 2016, Geiger had to sign a waiver with the city of Exeter when he purchased this dog, removing the city of any liability if it ever attacked someone under his "private" ownership. Geiger's police-trained K-9, "Neo," was not retired in the traditional sense. Neo was only 2.5 years old. A month before the fatal attack, Geiger had unsuccessfully lobbied Grover Breach to start a K-9 program. Four months earlier, Neo had been active duty with Geiger in the Exeter K-9 unit.

Preliminary Hearing

The preliminary hearing, along with Judge Mullin's ruling, focused on "retired" police dogs and the absence of "standard procedures" to follow for officers and other owners of these dogs. Mullin stated, "Maybe police departments should do something about it." Mullin also stated, "There is an inherent danger (with keeping retired police dogs) and I think Officer Geiger knew that." Just an hour before the fatal attack, Neo chewed through its wooden fence and chased a mailman.

The preliminary hearing also revealed the questionable investigation by the Grover Beach Police Department after the deadly mauling. Geiger was on duty at the time and arrived on scene shortly after the first officer. There were numerous protocol violations, including, but not limited to: failure to closely inspect Geiger's broken fence, failure to collect and preserve certain evidence, turning off a body cam too early, and euthanizing and cremating the dog without a body examination.

Prior to the attack, the K-9 was not locked in Geiger's 5-sided kennel in the backyard, as K-9 policy teaches, but left loose in a fenced backyard.

We expect that defense will use the shoddy investigation by Geiger's "employer" to help bolster their client's Not Guilty plea. However, what was clearly established during the preliminary hearing is that Geiger had knowledge of his dog's vicious propensities and he failed to properly secure it. On the day of the fatal attack, Geiger placed both Neo and his German shepherd in his fenced backyard, where he also had a 5-sided kennel. He did not secure either dog inside the kennel.

Case Background

On December 13, Geiger's Belgian malinios, Neo, a dual-certified police K-9 in detection and patrol work (bite work), escaped his property and attacked Betty Long and her neighbor David Fear who intervened to save her life. Fear suffered life-threatening injuries, including two arteries in his arms being severed. He died three days later while hospitalized. Long suffered serious bite injuries and broken bones from falling. Long was released from a rehabilitation center in March.

In September, Geiger was hired by Grover Beach, which has no K-9 unit. For weeks after the attack, the city would not release the officer's name or details about the dog's training. An expose by The Tribune, detailing Geiger's previous employment, showed that Neo was a dual-certified police K-9 and that a month after Geiger began working for the city -- and a month before his dog attacked Fear and Long -- Geiger unsuccessfully lobbied for a K-9 program in Grover Beach.

Prior to joining the city of Grover Beach, Geiger had worked at the Exeter Police Department in Tulare County with the last year spent as a K-9 patrol officer with Neo. Six months before Geiger moved to Grover Beach -- taking the dog with him as a "pet" -- Neo had bitten a trainer during a "bite suite exercise." The K-9 was not taken out of service afterward. When Geiger purchased the dog from Exeter for $5,287 in August, he signed a waiver relieving Exeter of any future liability.

Wooden fence that Alex Geiger's retired police K-9 chewed through to reach both victims.

1We initially stated the dog escaped "multiple" times because it was our understanding that after the mailman incident at noon, the two dogs were returned to the backyard fenced area then broke out again about an hour later. Instead, the dogs escaped once and remained loose until attacking Fear and Long at about 1:15 pm.

Review: Complete timeline of events | Review: Attack and complete case background

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Colleen Lynn

2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Rescue Dogs Kill Toddler, Leave Grandmother with Traumatic Injuries in Alachua County

Tanner Kinnamon, 2-years old, was killed by his aunt's rescue dogs in Alachua County.

Suspected Dogs
UPDATE 03/13/19: Media reports have not named the child, the babysitter or the owner of the six pit bull-type rescue dogs. On Tuesday, the dog owner's husband deactivated his Facebook page -- a primary source for the images of the dogs.1 Due to this and other removals, we are now providing screenshots of their public Facebook pages showing their full names. Also, we believe we pinpointed the two attacking dogs based upon their pairing in the multi-pit bull household.

The dogs' owner, Jessica Hoffner, privatized or deleted the "collage" photograph that shows her half dozen pit bull-type rescue dogs.

The grandmother and babysitter, Julie Davis, started a "New Job at Personal Assistant to 7 Fur Grandogs," states an October 1, 2018, post on her Facebook page.2 In the comments sections, Davis posted a photo of each of the dogs, along with their names. Each dog is photographed separately, except the last two, Riley and Tasha. The multi-pit bull household was under a crate-and-rotate routine. The dog crates were separated into "multiple rooms" stated authorities.

Two dogs were in the yard together at the time of the fatal attack. This pairing was very likely the red-coated male pit bull-mix, described in media reports as a "chocolate lab-mix" and a white and brown female pit bull-mix, described in media reports as an American Staffordshire-mix -- a substitute name often used for a pit bull -- or an American bulldog-mix. Alachua County Animal Services appears to be behind this mislabeling effort after the dogs destroyed a 2-year old boy.

Finally, the other "job" listed on Davis' Facebook page is the "personal assistant" to her two grandsons. Being the "personal assistant" to a half-dozen pit bull-type dogs requiring "crate-and-rotate" due to intolerable dog aggression, along with being a "personal assistant" to her two grandsons, did not work out. The two pit bull-mixes that could tolerate each other are the dogs that killed the child and attacked Davis, who tried to save the boy by beating the dogs with a shovel.

On March 10, a GoFundMe page was started to help the family with funeral expenses.

The two family "rescue" pit bull-mixes suspected in the fatal mauling of a 2-year old child.

03/09/19: All Six Dogs Were "Rescues"
Additional information has been released by Alachua County law enforcement, including clarification of family relationships, the routine nature of the child's grandmother caring for the six dogs, and that all of the dogs were "rescues." On Friday, about 10:30 am, two family dogs fatally attacked a 2-year old boy and left his grandmother with "traumatic" injuries at 20915 NW 210th Avenue, a mobile home property at the end of a dirt road off 210th Avenue near High Springs.

One of the grandmother's daughters lives at the home; the child was the son of a second daughter. The grandmother often tended to the dogs while her daughter was at work. Two of the dogs were let out into the yard. The child went out to play and the grandmother went inside. When she returned, "there were no dogs and no boy," Lt. Brett Rhodenizer said. She heard sounds from an outbuilding behind the home. This is where she found the two dogs attacking the toddler.

The dogs' owner told Ed Williams, director of Alachua County Animal Services, that she "adopted all of the dogs from rescue." He added, "They were all sterilized as best I could tell and were current with their vaccines." What Williams did not say is that all of her rescue dogs are pit bull-type dogs. The owner and her husband are pit bull "breed advocates" too, according to each of their Facebook pages. The attackers are described as a pit bull-mix and American bulldog-mix.3

One can only deduce the obvious from a montage image posted by the owner to her Facebook page in 2018: pit bulls, pit bull-mixes, a Dogo argentino-mix along with an American bulldog-mix, which can have docked tails. There are no "chocolate lab-mixes" in this collection, but there is a red-nosed pit bull-mix. The Gainesville Sun article describes very similar dogs as these, but no photographs of the dogs taken during the 10-day quarantine period have been released.

Finally, we address part of Williams' statement during the media briefing: "housed in large, clean crates in multiple rooms." This indicates a crate-and-rotate pit bull household, where the crated dogs cannot be kept in the same room. Thus, there were multiple dog-aggressive pit bulls in the home. The crate-and-rotate "system" reduces dog fights in a multi-pit bull household. Also note that only two dogs were let out in the yard at the same time, the very dogs that killed the boy.

03/08/19: Dogs Kill Toddler, Injure Adult
High Springs, FL - Two dogs attacked and killed a 2-year old boy and severely injured his grandmother, according to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. The vicious attack occurred about 10:30 am at a home on Northwest 210th Avenue, between High Springs and Interstate 75. The toddler died of his injuries at the scene. The woman was transported to a hospital with traumatic injuries. Neither of the victims lived at the property, according to Lieutenant Brett Rhodenizer.

Rhodenizer said the two victims had gone to the home to let the dogs out, as apparently, the dogs' owner was away. While the child played in the backyard, the grandmother stepped away, reports WCJB. When she heard noises outside, she found the dogs attacking the child. The grandmother tried to fight off the dogs, suffering serious injuries during her effort, but she could not save the toddler. Rhodenizer called the double mauling, "an incredible tragedy for the family involved."

"Our investigation will ultimately determine the facts that lead up to the attack, but no answers will ever make up for the loss of a child," he said.

A spokesman for Alachua County Animal Services gave a media briefing this afternoon. The property had six dogs, all housed in "large, clean crates in multiple rooms." Only two of the six dogs were in the fenced backyard when the attack occurred. The agency seized all six dogs. Two will be euthanized; the others will be held until the investigation is over. Conflicting media reports say the dogs are a pit bull-mix and a "chocolate lab-mix" or the latter, an American bulldog-mix.

The spokesperson said the home is owned by the child's aunt. The grandmother was there by herself taking care of the child and the dogs. According to the Sheriff's Office, the grandmother and her grandson go to the home every day to let the dogs out. On Friday, the child was in the backyard when two of the dogs "got out." The grandmother had gone inside to get food for the dogs. When she returned, she saw the dogs attacking her grandson and rushed to help him.

Partial Transcript of Media Briefing

"Alachua County Animal Services was notified of this morning's attack at approximately 10:36 am. We had an officer in Alachua working another case at the time. She was immediately diverted to this call. I was en route back to our shelter at the time and immediately diverted to this call. Arriving on scene around 11:05 to assist our officers. Upon arrival, I tried to ascertain the facts and make sure that all the dogs on scene were properly contained, so that no one was in immediate danger. Around the time of our arrival, first responders were already transporting the child's grandmother to the hospital. At the request of law enforcement, we awaited the arrival of ASO detectives and the forensics unit before attempting removal of the dogs. We removed a total of six dogs from the residence at 20915 NW 2010th Avenue in High Springs. They were housed in large, clean crates in multiple rooms and all appeared healthy and in good body condition. It was later reported to us that only two of the six dogs were in the fenced backyard when the attack occurred. The owner has surrendered those dogs -- those two dogs -- to animal services. They will be held for the standard 10-day rabies quarantine period and they will be euthanized. The remaining four dogs are being held until the completion of the investigation…"

"My understanding is the residence is owned by the child's aunt and the grandmother was there by herself taking care of the child and obviously the dogs…"

"The two [dogs] that were involved in the attack were surrendered to us. They will be held for 10-days rabies quarantine. That is for the safety and welfare of the grandmother, who was also attacked and injured in this incident. After the 10-days, they will be euthanized. The owner understood that when she surrendered them to us. She was very upset about it, as was she upset about what happened to the child as well. My understanding is the child was the homeowner's and dog owner's nephew." - Ed Williams, director of Alachua County Animal Services

Florida Children Killed by Dogs

This toddler's death comes after dogs killed four children in Florida last year. The death of 9-month old Liana Valino, killed by her father's pit bull while under the care of her grandmother in Miramar; the death of 6-year old Jaelah Smith, killed by a pit bull her family was dog sitting in Jacksonville; the death of 7-month old Khloe Williams, killed by a dog while in foster care in Clearwater; and the death of Cecileigh Garris, just 6-days old, killed by her grandparents' pit bull in Citrus County.

During the 911 call, the grandmother speaks to dispatch about the child's severe injuries.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Florida Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1By late Wednesday evening, he reactivated his Facebook page.
2Some time on or before March 17, the grandmother removed this post, "New Job at Personal Assistant to 7 Fur Grandogs," and deactivated her Facebook account. We replaced link with a screenshot.
3On Friday night, WCBJ reported, "All 6 dogs at the home have been taken into custody, the 2 dogs responsible for the attack have been confirmed by Animal Services as an American Staffordshire Terrier mix and an American Bulldog mix."

Baseline reporting requirements:
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.

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Colleen Lynn

2019 Dog Bite Fatality: Child Killed by Babysitter's Pit Bull-Mix in Salisbury, North Carolina

Jacari Long, 6-months old, was mauled to death by his babysitter's pit bull-boxer mix.

Police Investigate
UPDATE 03/06/19: Multiple news stations captured footage of the pit bull-boxer mix that killed baby Jacari while under the care of his babysitter on Tuesday. The dog is currently being held by Rowan County Animal Control. Shelter officials confirmed the dog has shown aggression toward people while being at the facility. The male dog is 4-years old, police said. Police continue to investigate to determine if the babysitter's dog had displayed aggressive behaviors in the past.

"It was very horrific. Especially for the first responders, the hospital staff involved yesterday, I know they took it hard." - Lt. Greg Beam with Salisbury Police

The WCNC report also states the babysitter left Jacari in a car seat inside the home while she went outside to clean the back of her car to make room for the baby. When she heard her mother screaming, she ran back inside and found her dog attacking the baby. The two women rushed Jacari to a hospital. He was then airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he died. Police were not called until after the baby was airlifted to the trauma center in Winston-Salem.

Fox 46 Charlotte reports that "King" has been euthanized. The news station also spoke to Denise Small on the phone, a friend the baby boy's family. Small said she is heartbroken over Jacari's mauling death. "He didn't even have the chance to live life or even have a chance to enjoy life," she said. Small also wants the owner held responsible. "Right is right and wrong is wrong. They have to take the responsibility of what they did by having that dog around that baby," she said.

Deaths by Babysitter's Dog

Last year, 28% (10) of dog bite fatalities involved a babysitting or dog sitting scenario. Nine of these victims were ages 0 to 6. Five of these deaths involved the child visiting the babysitter or dog owner's home at the time, including the traumatic deaths of Jaevon Torres, killed by three pit bulls while under the care of his godmother in Philadelphia and Liana Valino, killed by one of her father's three pit bulls while under the care of her paternal grandmother in Miramar, Florida.

Of these 10 deaths, 70% involved pit bulls. Recent criminal convictions involving babysitters after a baby's mauling death include Erica Jordan, 33, in connection to the mauling death of Loxli Chavez in Missouri in 2018 and Sandra Adams, 70, in connection to the mauling death of Paris Adams, her own grandson, in Georgia in 2017. Jordan began her 4-year prison term in January 2019. It is unknown if Jacari was related to the babysitter, who is reportedly the baby's godmother.

03/05/19: Babysitter's Dog Kills Child
Salisbury, NC - A baby boy is dead after being attacked by a dog belonging to his babysitter, Salisbury police said. Jacari Long, 6-months old, died of the injuries he sustained in the attack. The attack occurred at a home in the 700 block of Wilson Road, near Livingstone College. The baby was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he died. The dog is described as a boxer-pit bull mix.

Police were called to the scene about 2:30 pm and determined that Jacari was inside the babysitter's home when the deadly attack happened. Police said the babysitter sat the child in the living room of her home and walked outside to clean the back seat of her car so that she and the baby could leave. While outside, the babysitter heard her mother scream. She ran back inside and found her dog attacking the baby. Rowan County Animal Control confiscated the animal.

Police said that no additional details would be released tonight. In the livecast of Fox 46 Charlotte 10:00 pm news, they called the dog a "pit bull." The baby's father shared the last video he made with Jacari on his Facebook page. Family relatives also posted in memory of Jacari to Facebook.

The family has started a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs - Jacari Long Memorial Fund.

Salisbury Police News Release

On March 5, 2019 at 2:29 pm, Salisbury Police were notified of a child that was being airlifted to NC Baptist Hospital for treatment of a dog bite. Upon investigation, officers determined that the incident happened at the home of the child’s baby sitter at 716 Wilson Road in Salisbury.

The baby sitter had sat the child down in the living room of her residence and walked outside to clean the backseat of her car so that she and the child could leave. The babysitter heard her mother scream and ran back inside of the residence. There she found the child being attacked by her boxer/pit bull mix dog. The child was taken to Novant Rowan and then Airlifted to NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

Due to the extent of the dog bite, 6 month old Jacari Long of Lexington NC passed away from his injuries. Rowan County Animal Control responded to the residence and took custody of the dog. Salisbury Police are still investigating and no further information will be released at this time. - Salisbury Police, March 5, 2019

The babysitter's 4-year old male pit bull-mix, named King, that killed baby Jacari on Tuesday.

salisbury pit bull attack - Denise Small

Denise Small, a friend the baby boy's family, hopes the dog's owner is held responsible.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: North Carolina Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Colleen Lynn

Million Dollar Lawsuit: Mother of Child Mauled by an 'Emotional Support' Pit Bull at Portland Airport Sues

Facial injuries inflicted on Gabriella Gonzalez by an emotional support pit bull.

Million Dollar Lawsuit
Portland, OR - A civil lawsuit seeking $1.1 million in damages was filed last week by the mother of a 5-year old child who was mauled in the face by an unconfined emotional support pit bull at the Portland International Airport in 2017. The lawsuit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court and names multiple defendants, including the dog's owner, Michelle Brannan, who should have known that her pit bull "possessed vicious propensities," the Port of Portland and Alaska Airlines.

The lawsuit claims the Port of Portland is at fault for allowing a dangerous emotional support animal (ESA) into the airport and to pass through security without the dog being in a crate. The lawsuit also claims that Alaska Airlines is at fault for allowing Brannan to bring a dangerous ESA into the gate waiting area, where the attack happened, when the dog was not a trained service animal and was not crated, muzzled or otherwise restrained from attacking a person.

On or about December 18, 2017, Gabriella Gonzalez, age 5, was at Gate C7 of the Portland International Airport waiting for a flight with her family. Defendant Michelle Brannan came to the Portland International Airport with her pit bull. Ms. Brannan claimed the pit bull was an emotional support animal. She went through the ticketing process at Alaska Airlines without the pit bull being in a crate, kennel or other secure container. She then took the pit bull through Port of Portland security without the animal being in a crate, kennel or another secure container. Once inside the secure area of the airport, she went to gate C7 where her pit bull attacked Gabriella Gonzalez causing serious injuries as fully set forth below.

Download: Mirna Gonzalez v. Michelle Brannan, Alaska Airlines and Port of Portland

Gabriella suffered the economic damages of $100,000 and the non-economic damages of $1 million, which includes past and future pain and suffering, states the lawsuit. "Gabriella Gonzalez suffered injury to the muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and soft tissue of her face, eye, eyelid, tear duct and lip, as well as emotional trauma," states the lawsuit. All of the injuries and the "consequences of them, are permanent" and have caused her to suffer non-economic damages.

In Oregon, dog owners are only held strictly liable for the payment of "economic damages," such as medical bills. For full compensation, the victim has to prove "negligence, violation of an animal control law like a leash law, or that the dog was known to be vicious toward humans," states dogbitelaw.com. The lawsuit alleges that Brannan had "prior notice of the vicious propensities and disposition of her pit bull" and is strictly liable for the economic and non-economic damages.

The Port of Portland and Alaska Airlines are strictly liable for both types of damages due to negligence. The entities violated the Portland International Rules, which prohibit bringing an animal into the airport unless it is in a carrier or other approved container or is a trained service or law enforcement animal. Both also failed to "inspect the premises" to discover that passengers were bringing unsecured, untrained, dangerous animals into the airport, states the lawsuit.

All three defendants are strictly liable for both types of damages due to negligence; Brannan alone is accused of the "vicious propensities" claim.

Portland attorney Chad Stavely filed the lawsuit. He told The Oregonian that Gabriella and her family were waiting at gate C7 to board a plane to Texas for the Christmas holiday. The child's mother and her older sister stepped away to get coffee while Gabriella and her 13-year old brother waited at the gate. With Brannan’s consent, Gabriella started to pet the dog. The pit bull then attacked her face, puncturing her eyelid, severing her tear duct and inflicting other injuries.

The Oregonian also spoke to Kama Simonds, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland. Simonds said the port does distinguish between trained service animals and emotional support animals -- the latter must be in carriers while moving through the airport. If the animal is too large for a carrier, it must be on a leash within three feet of its owner. Port officials cited Brannan for failing to crate her pit bull, so officials must have believed the dog was not too large for a carrier.

Unlike in most aircraft cabins, where ESAs are allowed uncaged, the Port of Portland required them to be in carriers during the ticketing process, passing through security and moving through the airport. Six months after Gabriella was bitten, the Port of Portland updated their rules and posted signage in the terminal to inform owners of emotional support animals that they must be kept in a pet carrier. Only ESAs "too large" for a carrier can be "carried" or on a short leash.

Untrained, Uncaged Emotional Support Animals

In July 2017, we published a special report after an untrained, uncaged "support dog" repeatedly attacked a passenger in the face onboard a Delta aircraft in Atlanta. The report details the unprovoked attack, how passengers routinely "game the system" by buying fake service dog and ESA credentials online and argued that ESAs in the cabin should be limited in size. The 50-pound "support dog" had been sitting on its owner's lap when it attacked the passenger one seat over.

Our report was limited to inside an aircraft. The Portland case involves the broader experience of airline travel -- time spent traversing, waiting and interacting at an airport. There are numerous security protocols at airports to keep the public safe and to stop threats from boarding a plane. Yet in this case, Brannan waltzed through the security checkpoint with her support pit bull uncrated, while knowing of the dog's vicious propensities, and gave a young child consent to pet her dog.

We cannot emphasize enough the negligent actions of Brannan, given her alleged "prior notice of the vicious propensities" of her pit bull.

The definition of an ESA is that they do not require any training, much less any training for public access. The sole function of an ESA is to "provide comfort" to a person with disabilities. If the Port of Portland and Alaska Airlines had been enforcing the Portland International Rules, Brannan and her unsecured ESA would have been stopped at the Alaska Airline ticketing area or when reaching the airport's security checkpoint. Both entities failed to do so and a lawsuit has resulted.

The lawsuit also states the Port of Portland and Alaska Airlines are negligent for "failing to warn guests of the dangers of unsecured, untrained animals in the airport so that they could protect themselves." When Brannan's unsecured emotional support pit bull bit Gabriella in the face at gate C7, there was no notice to the public that ESAs by definition are untrained (as are fake service dogs) and can pose a danger when unsecured. Such notices are likely absent today too.

Tightening the Reins on Untrained ESAs

In January 2018, Delta Air Lines introduced "enhanced requirements" for service and emotional support animals, requiring proof of vaccinations and more. Many airlines followed, including Alaska Airlines, whose new policy came into effect in May 2018 -- just five months after Gabriella was bitten. Among Alaska's requirements are a Confirmation of Liability and Emotional Support Animal Behavior form and an Animal Health Advisory form -- no proof of vaccinations is required.

In June 2018, Delta Air Lines announced additional restrictions on service and support animals. The restrictions include limiting each passenger to one emotional support animal per flight and banning pit bull-type dogs as service or support animals. "These updates, which come as the peak summer travel season is underway, are the direct result of growing safety concerns following recent incidents in which several employees were bitten," states the Delta news release.

The Delta policy went into effect July 10, one day after public comments closed by the Department of Transportation to determine the "appropriate definition of a service animal" and ways to reduce the number of fake service and support animals. Nothing has resulted from the proposed rulemaking process thus far. Allegiant Air followed suit in December 2018, stating on their service animal and ESA forms, "Please note Allegiant does not transport pit bull or pit bull-type breeds."

That same month, Delta pushed even further by banning ESAs on long haul flights and banning all service and support animals under the age of four months. “We will continue to review and enhance our policies and procedures as health and safety are core values at Delta,” said John Laughter, Senior Vice President – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. Again, the rulemaking process can be arduous and Delta must only provide "reasonable accommodation."

Port Authorities and Airlines on Notice

The million dollar lawsuit filed by Gabriella's mother places all port authorities and airlines on notice. An airport is a "public access" space that is governed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The act does not afford ESAs access to public spaces. Only trained service animals have this authorization. Municipal port authorities with lax enforcement of their own rules or those that grant ESAs the same access privileges as service dogs may be at risk of a similar lawsuit.

Stavely told the Washington Post that he hopes the lawsuit will push port authorities and airlines to strictly enforce the strengthened polices around ESAs that were largely created in response to the severe facial attack inflicted by a "support dog" onboard a Delta aircraft in 2017.1 Stavely also said that he plans to investigate whether the pit bull that bit Gabriella was a legitimate emotional support dog. Brannan's ESA letter simply prescribed an "animal" for her, not even an animal type.

This $1.1 million lawsuit will indeed push the envelope on this competing public interests debate. The public and airlines like Delta exhibit far less tolerance today for people abusing the Air Carrier Access Act so their pets can fly free. The severe facial attack Gabriella suffered while waiting at gate C7 could have been averted. All three parties, the dog's owner, the Port of Portland and Alaska Air, are now being accused of fault. We hope this civil lawsuit is argued before a jury.

The Portland Law Office of Chad Stavley specializes in significant injury and wrongful death cases and has the "largest dog attack verdict in recent Oregon history," according to the firm's website.

emotional support pit bull - portland airport

On February 27, 2019, Michelle Kay Brannan removed the above Facebook profile image.

emotional support pit bull PDX facial attack

Reflects the Portland International Airport (PDX) rules six months after the attack (6/28/2018).

1Technically, the 50-pound dog that attacked Marlin Jackson in the face was a psychiatric service dog (PSA), according to comments by Delta Air Lines posted to the U.S. Department of Transportation website in July 2018. Most airlines treat these two types of dogs the same in flying requirements, despite one being a service dog under the ADA that "performs a task" and the other, which "provides comfort" to a person with a qualifying disability.

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