Posted on January 11, 2018 by Colleen Lynn

2018 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Pit Bull at Pet Boarding Facility in Louisiana

Laura Ray, 53, died after being attacked by a pit bull at the Happy Hound Hotel.

Dog Kills Woman
West Monroe, LA - The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that a woman died after being severely attacked by a dog at a pet boarding facility in West Monroe. On January 9, about 11:00 pm, deputies responded to the report of an injured person at The Happy Hound Hotel located at 517 Smith Street. Deputies found a female victim at the facility with severe injuries, apparently inflicted by a pit bull housed there. Ouachita Parish Animal Control took the dog into custody.

Her niece, Shena Molina Dedmon, posted to her Facebook page several hours ago: "My heart is so torn. My aunt passed away last night. A pit bull attacked her at her work place." Dedmon posted five photographs of Laura Williams Ray, describing her as not just my aunt, "she was my friend, that ride or die aunt that knew all my secrets and never judged" and "she was the most giving person I knew." She was asked to by friends to make her post public so it could be shared.

Charlotte Ann Gerhardt, a friend of of the victim, also posted to her Facebook page and provided more details about the deadly attack.1 "My dear friend Laura Williams (Ray) was mauled and killed by a pit bull last night," Gerhardt wrote. "She was cleaning a kennel where she was employed, when she was attacked. Laura didn't have much in this world, but what she had, she would give you if she thought you were in need." According to both posts, Laura is the mother of four children.

Evening Update and Clarifications

KNOE has updated their earlier report with new information. Laura worked at The Happy Hound Hotel. She was caring for the animals staying overnight when the 50-pound dog attacked her, investigators said. The hotel's owner said they were boarding the pit bull for the first time when it mauled her, but the pit bull's owner signed a form stating the dog was not aggressive. After the attack, the pit bull's owner told Happy Hound the dog had never done anything like this before.

Ouachita Parish Police Jury President, Scotty Robinson, confirmed the dog would be put down. "This situation is horrific and awful. That dog should and will be put down," he told KNOE. The name of the pit bull's owner has not been released, nor has the person agreed to talk to news media. The gender and spay and neuter status of the dog is unknown. The animal is now being quarantined at the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter. The investigation is ongoing, deputies said.

In December, a rescue dog at a pet boarding facility in Phoenix killed a woman. Carol Harris, 69-years old, was mauled to death at Canine Country Club and Feline Inn, a facility that works with rescue groups by providing housing at a greatly reduced cost for animals that are being prepared for adoption. At the time of her death, Harris was trying to "rehab an orphaned akita" in the hopes of making the animal "adoptable." Harris was a member of Akita Advocates, a rescue group.

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

1Gerhardt later removed the pit bull and kennel cleaning language on her Facebook post. So we are now linking to a screenshot of her original post.

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Colleen Lynn

2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman to Mauled to Death by Pack of Dogs in Modesto, California

Flowers mark where Deborah Onsurez, 56-years old, was killed by dogs in Modesto.

Suspected Pack Captured
UPDATE 01/03/18: Seven dogs believed to be involved in the mauling death of a woman have been captured. Authorities identified the dogs by using images from surveillance cameras on businesses near the attack site. On Saturday, Stanislaus Animal Services and Modesto Animal Control located five of the dogs, one was dead and another was injured, both believed to be hit by cars. The injured dog was put down. The remaining three dogs were brought to the shelter.

Two more dogs were captured in traps on Sunday and Monday. The five dogs were placed on a 72-hour hold. No owner is expected to reclaim them. "They are not adoptable; when the time comes all will be euthanized, "Animal Services Agency Executive Director Annette Patton said. "In the area of Crows Landing Road there are a lot of stray dogs. It is an ongoing battle for us and the community out there. We can easily round up 30 stray dogs ... in a half day," Patton explained.

They were very aggressive. I was here when they were brought in. One of them had to be chemically captured -- very aggressive dogs. You can tell they've been running as a pack." - Annette Patton, Stanislaus Animal Services

The captured dogs were a variety of mix-breeds, including: doberman pinscher, German shepherd, Queensland heeler, Labrador and pit bull. Six puppies believed to belong to one of the impounded dogs were also captured in a den area near the attack site. The puppies, despite being the prodigy of fatally attacking dogs, will be available for adoption in several days. Of the six puppies, all appeared to be German shepherd-mixes except for one black-and-white pit bull-mix.

12/30/17: Sheriff's Office Media Release
Modesto, CA - Authorities believe that loose dogs killed a woman Thursday morning in Modesto. Emergency responders were dispatched to the 500 block of Crows Landing Road about 7:50 am, states a release from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. When deputies arrived, they found the body of Deborah Onsurez, 56, in the driveway of a business. She was pronounced dead at the scene. It's unclear why there is a "stray dog" assumption this early in the investigation.

99% of all fatal dog maulings are inflicted by "owned" dogs -- not strays, which lack ownership. Deputies and Stanislaus County Animal Services can't find these alleged ownerless "stray" dogs either. Last year in nearby Fresno County, the at large dogs of Harold Matthews mauled to death Valente Lopez Aguirre, 58, and indirectly caused the death of Robert Simonian, 74, who drowned after trying to flee the same pack of dogs. The fatal attacks happened about 2.5 months apart.

Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department

Modesto, CA - On 12-28-2017 at about 7:50 a.m., deputies and emergency services personnel were dispatched to a 911 call of an unresponsive person in the 500 block of Crows Landing Road. When deputies arrived, they found the body of 56-year-old Deborah Onsurez of Modesto in the driveway of a residence. Onsurez had severe injuries to her body, and she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives were called out to assist with the investigation. The preliminary investigation led detectives to believe the decedent was killed by stray dogs. Deputies and Animal Control officers searched several businesses in the immediate area, and no stray dogs were found. Detectives do not have any information on the breed or ages of the dogs.

We are working together with Stanislaus County Animal Services and the City of Modesto Animal Control to find the dogs responsible for this needless death. Deputies and animal control officers will be in the area of the 500 Block of Crows Landing Road on 12/30/17 to search for the stray dogs.

The Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control are asking for residents in the area to be careful. If you see any stray, vicious or aggressive dogs in the area, please stay away from them and call Stanislaus County Animal Services at 558-7387, the City of Modesto Animal Control at 552-2470 or the Stanislaus County Dispatch at 552-2468.

If you have any tips, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.

Previous Modesto Dog Maulings

In 2014, four pit bulls residing at 828 Glenn Avenue in Modesto, which is about 2 miles from the 500 block of Crows Landing Road, escaped their property and savagely attacked two people killing one, 59-year old Juan Fernandez. “I’ve never seen anything like this in the history of my career -- four dogs simultaneously attacking and killing a human being,” said Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson back then. Now he's seen a fatal dog mauling twice in his career.

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

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 December 26, 2017 by Colleen Lynn

2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Attack Couple on Christmas Eve, Killing One, in Kentucky

Two pit bulls killed Lorraine Saylor and injured her husband on Christmas Eve.

Owner Pleads Guilty
UPDATE 01/03/18: The owner two pit bulls that killed a woman and injured a man on Christmas Eve has pleaded guilty to harboring a vicious animal. Lorraine Saylor, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene. Bell County Coroner Jay Steele said she suffered massive injuries on her neck, face and shoulder. Her husband, Johnny Saylor, suffered multiple serious bite injuries. On Wednesday, Johnny Dale Lankford, 42, was sentenced to one year at the Bell County Detention Center.

Johnny Saylor shot and killed one of the attacking dogs, the other fled. Deputies put the other dog down after capturing it the following day.

Lankford was being held at the detention facility on unrelated charges when his dogs savagely attacked Lorraine and her husband. On December 22, just two days before the deadly attack, Lankford was arrested and charged with 2nd degree domestic assault, a class C felony, 2nd degree unlawful imprisonment, a class A misdemeanor and a bench warrant. Today's guilty plea and sentencing for harboring a vicious dog appears to have been done in record-breaking time.

12/26/17: Christmas Eve Fatal Mauling
Arjay, KY – About 10:20 am on Christmas Eve, Bell County Dispatch received a call of a vicious dog attack on Highway 66 near Wiser Branch Road in Southern Kentucky. Arriving deputies found a woman and her husband had been “savagely attacked by two pit bulls.” The woman, identified as Lorraine Brock Saylor, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Johnny Saylor, suffered bite injuries to his head, arm and hand, as is expected to recover from his injuries.

James Saylor, the husband's brother who lives next door, said he was inside his home when he heard the attack. He rushed outside and saw the two dogs attacking his brother. He threw a doorstop at the dogs to distract the animals. This gave his brother time to run inside and grab a pistol. Johnny shot and killed one of the pit bulls and injured the other, but it fled. Then Johnny discovered his wife unresponsive on the ground with severe wounds in the front of his home.

Owner Already Behind Bars

The two pit bulls, both male, belong to neighbor Johnny Dale Lankford, 42, who has an extensive criminal record, including one or more felonies. On December 22, just two days before his pit bulls escaped his property and killed Lorraine and injured her husband, Lankford was booked into the Bell County Detention Center for assault, domestic violence, unlawful imprisonment and a bench warrant. It's unclear if anyone was designated to care for the dogs while Lankford was in jail.

Johny Dale Lankford now also faces charges of harboring vicious animals after his dogs killed a woman and badly injured her husband.

Bell County Coroner Jay Steele said Lorraine was out feeding the birds when she was viciously attacked by Lankford's pit bulls. "She loved animals and every morning she would go out and put wild bird seed out on a metal roof of a little work shed they had there and feed the birds," Steele said, who has known the couple for the last 30 years. "Johnny got a gun and shot both dogs, killing one of them instantly," Steele said. He managed to injure the other dog, which then fled.

Steel said Lorraine suffered massive injuries to her head, face and shoulder. Her husband was later admitted to the Pineville Community Hospital, but not before he had made arrangements to have his wife’s body taken care of. "The ambulance kept trying to get him to go to the hospital but he wouldn't leave until I took her into our care," Steele said. Authorities captured the second pit bull on Christmas Day after it returned to Lankford's home; the dog was subsequently put down.

Victim's Husband Mourns

"That was the last time I'd give her a kiss goodnight; that Saturday night," Johnny Saylor told LEX 18. When he got up that morning, he knew something was wrong when he could not immediately find her. As soon as he stepped outside, he was confronted by the two pit bulls. The dogs attacked him, inflicting 21 puncture wounds. "I'll never forget, as long as I live. I looked over toward the front porch where she was laying. I screamed, 'My baby, my baby, my baby," said her grieving husband.

LEX 18 also spoke to Lankford's family who said they did not see the dogs often. The last time they did, the dogs were chained up, just like Lankford's Facebook page shows. "I seen the dogs before. They always had bloody ears. About 6, about 4 months ago. They had bloody ears where they been fighting. There's a lot of dogs like that in these hollers," Lankford's uncle, Ulyess Lankford said. It's a tragedy that convicted felons like Lankford are allowed to own these dogs.

Recent Southern Fatalities

Since November 4, six people have been mauled to death by pit bulls in the United States, five of these dog bite fatalities occurred in the Southern United States, including the states of North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia and Kentucky. In July of this year, about 65 miles to the west of Arjay in McCreary County, 79-year old Vinson Tucker was killed by a pack of dogs involving pit bulls. This horrific mauling was captured on surveillance cameras belonging to the dogs' owner.

BELL COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE UPDATE:

(Arjay, KY) Monday December 25, 2017 – At approximately 2:00 this afternoon the Bell County Sheriff’s Department was notified that the second dog wounded by gunshot during the tragic and fatal attack on Lorraine Brock Saylor on Sunday December 24th returned to the residence.

The dog was put down by the Bell County Sheriff’s Department and Bell County Animal Shelter.

In addition to other charges already incurred, 42 year old Johnny Dale Lankford who was already lodged in the Bell County Detention Center has been charged with harboring a vicious animal.

BELL COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

(Arjay, KY) Sunday December 24, 2017
At approximately 10:20 this morning Deputy Robin Venable responded to a call of a dog attack in the Wieser Branch area of Arjay, Kentucky. Deputy Venable along with the Bell County EMS were the first to arrive on scene.

Deputy Venable was assisted by Bell County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Doug Jordan, Kentucky State Police Trooper Don Perry, and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Lt. Ray Lawson. Incident to Deputy Venable's investigation he determined the following:
Early this morning Johnny Saylor woke up at his home looking for his wife, Lorraine, who was normally awake before him. His search lead him outside to his porch where he was attacked by two dogs described as both being pit bulls. The dogs grabbed Johnny Saylor attempting to pull him to the ground by his arm.

Johnny Saylor's brother heard the commotion and came outside yelling at the dogs. They released Johnny and he went back into his home to get a .22 caliber pistol. He used the pistol to shoot one of the pit bulls in the chest as it lunged at him. After being shot, the dog ran from the scene in the direction of Country Lane.

Saylor then searched for his wife in the front of the house and discovered her lying on the ground. As he was checking on her, the second pit bull was standing a short distance away from him. Fearing for his life, Johnny Saylor shot the dog killing it.
Saylor sustained injuries to his arm and head in the incident and he was transported to the Pineville Community Hospital via Bell County EMS for treatment.

Lorraine Brock Saylor sustained severe and fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, by Bell County Coroner Jay Steele.
Also responding to the scene was Bell County Animal Control Officer Patsy Bracken who took charge of the deceased dog and is actively searching for the injured brown and white pit bull. Again, if you see this dangerous animal, do not engage it. Call Bell County Dispatch at 606-337-6174 or 911.

Upon further investigation Deputy Venable found that the dogs belonged to 42 year old Johnny Dale Lankford who was already lodged in the Bell County Detention Center on charges he acquired Friday afternoon December 22nd for assault 2nd degree – domestic violence, unlawful imprisonment – 2nd degree, and a bench warrant. After an interview at the detention center, Venable charged Lankford with harboring a vicious animal.

Lankford was already being held on bond of $25,000.00

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

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Colleen Lynn

2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Rescue Dog Kills Woman at Phoenix Boarding Facility

Carol Harris, 69-years old, was killed by this akita she was trying to rehab for adoption.

Clarifying Rumors
UPDATE 12/23/17: The rescue organization that Carol Harris worked with, Akita Advocates Relocation Team Arizona (AARTA), published a post clarifying Carol's role in the group. "Carol Harris was not simply a volunteer at AARTA as news media has portrayed. She was an officer and the backbone of the rescue as well as the current President of the local breed club." On December 20, Harris was killed by a rescue akita, named Izanaghi, while trying to rehab the dog for adoption.

AART claims Izanaghi was not surrendered as an aggressive dog, but that he "deteriorated in the kennel environment after living his first six years in a home." Normal dog breeds have forever deteriorated in this same environment, but do not attack and kill their handler. "Carol handled him countless times without incident" and "Izanaghi turned on Carol and no one will ever know why," states AART. Thus, the reality of "zero mistake" breeds; people pay with their lives and limbs.

12/21/17: Dog Mauling Victim Identified
A woman mauled to death while trying to "rehab an orphaned akita" has been identified as 69-year old Carol Harris. The 6-year old male dog is set to be euthanized Thursday then tested for rabies. On a Facebook post published by Akita Advocates Relocation Team Arizona (AARTA), Carol is described as a "big part of AARTA," as well as, a "champion for this noble breed" and a "true advocate for akitas." Grace Costa states, "So traumatic for everyone involved and for the breed."

AARTA states in the post, "With great sadness, we share the loss of our beloved Carol Harris. She passed away today while helping rehab an orphaned akita in the hopes of him becoming adoptable. She is missed by her husband, Ken, and all of us at AARTA. Please say a prayer for Carol’s family. Out of respect for Carol and her family please understand that we cannot answer questions at this time." Possibly they are referring to questions related to the dog's aggression.

AARTA has in the past adopted out akitas with a bite history, along with other dangerous characteristics, such as animal aggression, the latter being common in the breed. "Kovu is only 11 months old and a goofy, playful boy, but it's hard to capture that in still photos!" states AARTA. "He's looking for an adults only home where he doesn't have to interact with other animals. He has a bite history and needs alpha adults to train and guide him at this tender age," states AARTA.

Akita -- a fighting and hunting dog -- "is a large, powerful, fearless, game breed that can become a very useful man-stopping dog" - Carl Semencic

AZfamily.com spoke to her heartbroken husband. "She was a very giving, understanding, intelligent woman," Kenneth Harris said. "I’m going to miss everything." Harris said the couple has four foster akitas and two of their own; he lives in a six akita household. Harris plans to keep all of the dogs and does not want anyone to "blame the breed" for his wife's death. "They’re not aggressive. Just like pit bulls, people think that they’re all aggressive. They’re not," he said.

Such a black and white scenario is hardly the case. Pit bulls are inherently dangerous due to their selection for baiting, fighting and killing. Akitas are a fighting breed as well, and some akita rescue groups are honest about the breed's animal aggression and guarding behavior. No one has ever said that "all" pit bulls and akitas will show these traits, but when they do, the results are often disastrous. The question is how to protect children and the public from this disaster scenario.

Harris said his wife had volunteered with Akita Advocates for 12 years. She retired from her job at a bank three years ago then started her rescue work full-time. Harris said his wife did not know very much about the dog's history. This is why rescuing inherently dangerous breeds is often so hazardous. They already come with the heritage of fighting, baiting and/or guarding, protection. They already come with being unwanted by their previous owner too, thus the "orphaned akita."

12/20/17: Volunteer Killed by Rescue Dog
Phoenix, AZ - A woman is dead after being brutally attacked by a dog she was trying to socialize so that it could be rehomed. The attack occurred at Canine Country Club and Feline Inn on East Washington Street about 2:45 pm. The 69-year old woman suffered significant bite injuries, Phoenix police said. The woman volunteered at a rescue group called Akita Advocates, said Jose Santiago of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, who also responded to the scene.

"She was here potentially to socialize the animal to prepare it for adoption when the attack took place." - Jose Santiago, Animal Care and Control

An employee at the facility noticed the dog running free, covered in blood. The employee then discovered the woman severely injured in a dog exercise area, Santiago said. Workers were able to secure the dog and call 911. The victim was transported to a hospital with critical injuries, where she died. The dog is technically owned by Akita Advocates, he said. The group told county officials it intends to take possession of the dog Thursday and then put the animal down, Santiago said.

Santiago confirmed the dog involved in the attack is a male akita. Canine Country Club and Feline Inn is a large facility that works with rescue groups by providing housing at a greatly reduced cost for animals that are being prepared for adoption. Even Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) uses the facility at times to house animals, Santiago explained. According to their website, Akita Advocates started in late 2004 and has rehomed over 200 displaced akitas.

There are over 85 million dogs in this country. Imagine if every one in 200 of them killed a person? Rescuing aggressive dog breeds is dangerous.

The Japanese akita (or "akita") falls within a group of fighting breeds and is targeted under breed-specific legislation in various jurisdictions including entire countries, such as Spain. Akitas often appear on the "Most Dangerous Dog Breed" lists that circulate the news media. The last fatal dog attack involving an akita occurred in South Carolina in 2011 after 9-year old Kristen Dutton suffered fatal neck injuries by an akita her grandfather had purchased just three weeks earlier.

ABC 15 interviewed the owner of Canine Country Club, Greg Donahue, who said the victim was a volunteer and had been coming into the facility a few times a week for the past several years. "Unbelievable," Donahue said. "It's so tragic; a lot of tears today. A lot of upset people who have never seen anything like this, ever," he said. "We've never had more than a nip. This is unbelievable," he said. The dog is currently being held in a secure holding facility at MCACC.

Journalist: Can you tell us what you saw?
Donahue: Nobody saw what happened. We only saw the result of what happened. One of the rescue volunteers was walking her dog, to the best of our knowledge. And, it looks like the dog turned on her.
Journalist: How difficult has this been for you?
Donahue: Unbelievable. It's so tragic; a lot of tears today. A lot of upset people who have never seen anything like this, ever. We've never had more than a nip. This is unbelievable -- just unbelievable.
Journalist: What can you tell us about this volunteer?
Donahue: She volunteers regularly. Multiple times a week. Has been doing it for years. We've never experienced any issues. We've never seen her have any problems with her dogs.
Journalist: What about the dog? Has the dog been here a long time?
Donahue: I'm not sure how long that particular dog has been here.
Journalist: What is the relationship between Canine Country Club and Akita Advocates?
Donahue: We are a boarding facility. We provide boarding for a number of rescue groups at reduced rates to help them adopt out dogs. We have a very large facility. When they are trying to find homes for their dogs. We given them a greatly reduced price so that they can do that. So that they can make their dollars go as far as they can.

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