Posted on February 19, 2016 by Colleen Lynn

2015 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org

Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
DogsBite.org recorded 34 fatal dog attacks in 2015. Pit bulls contributed to 82% (28) of these deaths, the highest fatality count recorded for the breed and a 56% (18) rise from 2005. 82% also marks the highest percentage of deaths attributed to pit bulls in a single year in our 11-years of data collection (2005 to 2015). The last year the CDC collected "breed" data about fatal human dog attacks was 1998, 18-years ago. Since this time, pit bulls have killed 290 U.S. citizens.

34 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2015. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 82% (28) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6.6% of the total U.S. dog population.
Together, pit bulls (28) and rottweilers (3), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 91% of the total recorded deaths in 2015. This same combination also accounted for 76% of all fatal attacks during the 11-year period of 2005 to 2015.
The breakdown between these two breeds is substantial over this 11-year period. From 2005 to 2015, pit bulls killed 232 Americans, about one citizen every 17 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 41, about one citizen every 98 days.
See full report: 2015 U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Statistics - DogsBite.org
News release: DogsBite.org Releases 2015 Dog Bite Fatality Statistics; Percentage of Deaths Attributed to Pit Bulls Rises to 82% and Other Trends

This year's release includes statistics from our 11-year data set. From Jan. 1, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 64% (232) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls (232) and rottweilers (41) contributed to 76% of attacks resulting in death. Charts and graphics are available for download on the 2015 Dog Bite Fatalities page. In the discussion notes, we examine 2015 trends and a chart that breaks down the 11-years.

Discussion Notes

2015 marks the highest number of deaths attributed to pit bulls (28) in a single year. It also marks the highest percentage of deaths attributed to pit bulls, 82%, in our 11-years of data collection (2005 to 2015). To visualize the degree to which pit bulls dominate fatalities, we created a chart that maps each year of our data. In 2005, pit bulls were estimated to be 5% of the total U.S. dog population. Today it is 6.6%.1 As this population rises, deaths inflicted by pit bulls rises with it.

Included in the chart is the combination of pit bulls and rottweilers (orange line). It shows that these two dog breeds overwhelmingly dominate attacks resulting in death. In fact, if these two breeds were excluded, annual fatal dog attack statics would reflect about 8 deaths per year, close to the mid 1970s, when both breeds had scant population numbers. For the pre-pit bull, rottweiler years, view: Human Deaths Induced by Dog Bites, United States, 1974-75, by Winkler et al.

In the 40-years since that study, the total U.S. human population has increased by over 100 million and the estimated U.S. dog population by 20 million.2 Animal control programs, local ordinances and enforcement, spay and neuter rates and dog ownership education have improved vastly since. (See: 1975 Special Report on Controlling America's Pet Population, by the HSUS). Not to mention the exponential growth in child safety, safety education and protocols since 1975.

None of these societal advances, however, are enough to stop pit bulls and rottweilers from killing.

Pit Bulls Reverse Traditional Metric

In 2015, fatal attacks inflicted by non-family dogs rose to 59%, up from the 10-year average of 47% (2005 to 2014). This percentage has been steadily rising over the years, but 59% is the highest percentage in our 11-year data set. Non-family dogs include the victim having no previous relationship with the dog or a very limited one, but are also determined on a case-by-case basis. In 2015, this included a rottweiler that was adopted out and killed its new owner 3-hours later.

Of the 28 deaths inflicted by pit bulls in 2015, 61% were carried out by non-family pit bulls. This is up 30% from the breed's 10-year average of 47%; the same number as the "all breeds combined" non-family dog average. So in 2015, pit bulls were the chief factor in reversing the longstanding metric of family dogs being the majority offender in all fatal dog attacks. Many of the non-family pit bull fatalities in 2015 were victims who were visiting the dog owner's home or walking near it.

Adopted Dogs Kill Three People

In 2015, 9% (3) of all fatal attacks involved dangerous dog breeds that were adopted out by county shelter facilities or a rescue. In June, the Asheville Humane Society -- who contracts to operate the Buncombe County, NC shelter -- adopted out a pit bull after it passed a SAFER temperament test, which killed a little boy 3-weeks later. Modern "state-of-the-art" temperament assessment tests, while better than no evaluation test at all, still cannot measure unpredictable aggression.

In November, after a 3-day hold, Jackson-Madison County Rabies Control adopted out a rottweiler to 57-year old Anthony Riggs, an experienced dog handler, who was brutally killed by the animal 3-hours later. Stunningly, Rabies Control has no evaluation policy or assessment testing at all. In both cases, the dogs were picked up as strays with an unknown history. Both cases also reflect the "reality" of modern sheltering -- adopt out dogs at all costs to keep euthanasia rates low.

"At this stage, the public must consider the shelter adoption of a dangerous breed to be a 'life or death' decision." DogsBite.org, 11/18/15

5-months after 6-year old Joshua Strother was killed by a young pit bull that passed the ASPCA's SAFER test, the ASPCA ceased the certification process. Animals 24-7 commented then: "The abrupt end to certifying SAFER test-givers appears to be meant to reduce potential liability to the ASPCA, even as the ASPCA continues promoting the test itself and pushing adoptions of pit bulls." Since 2007, U.S. shelter dogs have killed at least 42 people, according to the group.

The ASPCA now also recommends against the "food guarding" portion of their own test, one of the most basic safety tests of all, to ensure that fewer dogs are euthanized. "Stop euthanizing food guarders," states their website, and instead, "send them home." Some of the commenters are unconvinced. "I would hesitate to drop it from the evaluations because I think it is an important piece for new adopters to know," writes Pam. An adopter with young children would surely agree.

Insufficient Reporting

In 2015, two cases involved unknown dog breeds. In 5 cases (15% of all fatalities), the breeds were misreported or unreported, requiring extensive research efforts by DogsBite.org to obtain this information. Each of these cases involved insufficient reporting by local law enforcement or the media. This does not even include the mauling death of 7-year old Gaege Ramirez in Texas, where the Comal County Sheriff's Office simply told the media, "none of the dogs were pit bulls."

Insufficient reporting by local law enforcement and media organizations is unacceptable today. Modern communication, technology and information is simply too easy and accessible. We understand the limitations on Indian Reservations and why some small jurisdictions limit the media after a devastating fatal dog mauling. Yet, dog attacks resulting in the death of a person are a community issue. The public deserves to know the basic details for health and safety reasons.

Summary and Call to Action

11 years of fatal dog bite statistics and data is enough to evaluate the "breed-specific" issue. Pit bulls dramatically dominate attacks resulting in death. With the addition of rottweilers, these two breeds accounted for 76% of these deaths. When mastiff-type guard dogs and war dogs are added -- the types used to create "baiting" bull breeds and fighting breeds3 -- this small group of breeds is responsible for 84% of all deaths. Breed-specific laws are more needed now than ever.

Instead, what is happening today is the reverse, as powerful lobbying groups continue to push preemption bills on a state level that prohibit municipalities from enacting and enforcing breed-specific laws. Mercifully, over the last two years legislatures in 10 different states have rejected these bills, 86% have failed to pass. Currently seven states face this type of legislation in 2016, including: Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Washington.4

Our call to action this year is to use our statistics in correspondence with local and state officials, especially the chart showing 11-years broken down by year that depicts how heavily two breeds, pit bulls and rottweilers, dominate fatal attacks. As the CDC study stated 16-years ago, back when the percentage of deaths inflicted by the two breeds was lower than today, "there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." Our data shows this remains true and has worsened.

"Despite these limitations and concerns, the data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." - AVMA/CDC 2000

Data Collection Method: How We Collect U.S. Dog Bite Fatality Data

1Most popular breed in U.S. ain’t nothing but a hound dog, by Merritt Clifton, Animals 24-7, July 20, 2015 (www.animals24-7.org).
2U.S. human population 1975, U.S. Census Bureau and the estimated dog population in the U.S. during the late 70s noted in: Traumatic Deaths from Dog Attacks In the United States, by Pickney LE. Kennedy LA, Pediatrics, 1982;691:193-196.
3This grouping includes: American bulldogs, mastiffs and bullmastiffs, presa canarios and cane corsos.
4Just prior to publishing we learned that Washington State Rep. Appleton's bill failed for the third year in a row.

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Colleen Lynn

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Killed by Pet Pit Bull in Perquimans County, NC

Suzanne Story, 36, was killed by a pit bull-mix given to her a few weeks earlier.

Newspaper Finds Owners
UPDATE 02/12/16: Yesterday, we learned from The Virginian-Pilot that the advertisement for the dog was actually placed in The Pilot. A stroke of good luck in the ability to track down the former owners of a pit bull-mix that was off-loaded to Suzanne Story then killed her a few weeks later. “There was blood everywhere,” her mother Debbie Brown said. “Her hair was just soaked -- solid blood -- just covered in blood.” The first edition article was later replaced by this evening update.

"Story had seen a classified ad in The Virginian-Pilot a couple weeks ago advertising Buddy as an easy-going dog that was good with kids. She called a Virginia Beach couple who delivered the dog to her home. When Story offered to pay, the couple just gave her the dog for free and took off." - The Virginian-Pilot, February 11, 2016, First Edition

The pit bull named "Buddy" was a 1.5-year old male pit bull-mix, not a female as previously reported. Story had been cleaning the dog's crate, when the animal suddenly attacked her, ripping open her throat. Her sister and roommate Robin Ross was in the house and heard her screams. She was able to pull the dog off Story -- amazingly -- and lock it in the bathroom. But the dog broke a hole through the bathroom door and continued attacking Story, executing the killing bite.

The Age of Sexual Maturity

We pause now to remind readers of the 1.5 to 2-year old rule about these dogs best expressed by former Lucas County, Ohio Dog Warden Tom Skeldon in 2008. This is the age that pit bulls reach sexual maturity. "[The owners] all think that these pit bulls are nice sweet animals and some of them are, but by the time they get to be a year and half or two years old," Skeldon said, "they're pretty intent on what they're bred to do and that’s grab ahold of things and shake it until it's dead."

This is well known amongst many animal control officers and humane groups, but a fact rarely shared with the public. It is hardly surprising that the most common age of unwanted pit bulls in open admission shelters is 1.5 to 2-years old.1 The aggression has shown up exactly as Skeldon described. The "lucky" owners have had close calls with their animals or children in the household. Then it is "off to the pound" for that pit bull -- or in this case offloaded to an uninformed innocent.

The Pilot Locates Owners

A day after the deadly attack, a reporter at The Pilot contacted the former owners of Buddy, Cheryl and Carl Davino, and told them about the gruesome attack. Cheryl Davino played dumb and guilt-free after driving across state lines and dumping the dog at Story's door. "I don’t know what the heck happened," Davino said. "He was a big baby," she said. Notably, 10 On Your Side stated yesterday that they called a phone number for the Davinos, "but it was a wrong number."2

The Pilot published the advertisement that Davino purchased. “Pitbull & Boxer Mix-Very good w/kids, people. Male. 1 yr. old on Sept. 13. $100.” Davino said she had intended to give the dog away for free, but was reminded by The Pilot that it was a bad idea. "A sales rep told her to put down a dollar amount to make sure people were serious and the dog would be taken care of," states The Pilot. After arriving at Story's house, they gave her the dog for free, as intended.

The Breeder of "Buddy"

After The Pilot published the story, a user with the alias Mike Brown left several comments. We have no idea if what he states is true and we have no sympathy or respect for alias Brown either. We have no sympathy or respect for ANYONE breeding pit bulls in an era when nearly a million3 unwanted pit bulls are systematically euthanized each year and countless others are pawned off to the uniformed then traded "like playing cards" to find a home where the dog won't kill something.

mike brown - "I agree. I bred this dog and am shocked but at the same time I'm not. He wasn't a toy. He was a living soul that couldn't talk. He probably was upset and wanted to go home. I'm just glad this story isn't about me or my family. I had offered to take him just 1 week ago."

mike brown - "I bred this dog. He was American bulldog/pittbull mix. I had just watched him for the owners over the holidays for 2 weeks. In that time he was not aggressive but it was clear he was not trained. I had told the owners 1 week ago if they were going to get rid of him I would like him back. They had wanted to get rid of him after he picked up there small dog and had the dog in his mouth. I only can say that his brothers and sisters are good dogs. His parents are also great. This dog should not have been bounced around. First to me for 2 weeks then only a few weeks later given away. Buddy just wanted to go home. He had just been abandoned 3-4 weeks prior. I'm sure that played a huge roll. I feel terrible about this. Another crazy coincidence is I believe she had a brother that works for me that is in jail rite now. They don't know each other but have the same dad. I can't confirm this but there last names are the same and the age is very close. If this is true then her brother at one point had the dogs sister from the same litter. Man this is sad sad news. I will answer any questions related to buddy."

mike brown - "How am I ignorant? I saw there was a problem and offered to take the dog back. The lady should have just given him back. I wasn't going to give him to someone else. Man if I woulda known this dog would have been bounced around like this she never would have gotten the puppy. Unfortunately you can't see the future. There are 6 more brothers and sisters of Buddy. Whoever bought a bully pit in the neighborhood of redwing off oceana and general booth around November 2014, you probably bought one of his siblings. Please be safe and call me if you need to find him a new home."

Despite alias Brown claiming Buddy's siblings are "good dogs," his brothers and sisters are now squarely in the 18-month old period too. Who knows what might happen? Remember what Skeldon said -- some will remain good and others will not. Shuffling a dog from home-to-home is a never a good idea for the animal, but its no excuse for unleashing a massive attack, killing its new owner either. "Please be safe and call me," Brown wrote, but he did not leave a phone number.

The photograph series taken by The Pilot of Story's family after her death is heartbreaking.

02/10/16: Advertised as "Pit Bull"
13News Now interviewed Suzanne Story's stepfather Randy Brown. He said that she saw a newspaper advertisement about a "female pit bull" that was placed by someone in Virginia. The "off-loaders," who offered the dog for free, drove to Story's home in Perquimans County and delivered the dog that would violently attack and kill her a week later. The off-loaders told her the dog was gentle and good with children. Brown thinks the people knew the dog was dangerous.

"I think they had a problem with the dog and didn't know how to handle it, and they were just trying to get rid of it, and they did." - Randy Brown

Story's neighbor, Jonathan Nash, told 13News Now he was concerned the first time he saw the dog. "I saw her walking the dog. The dog was really pulling her and she was struggling to maintain control from her driveway to her front door." He added, "I started to worry about my little one. If the dog gets out, what is he going to do?" Nash said. Family members say Story was cleaning the dog's crate when the animal attacked her. Story's sister was there, but could not stop the attack.

Brown vowed to find the off-loaders of the dog with the help of an attorney. Yet the whole situation is sketchy -- seems doubtful the previous owners will be easy to track down. However, they did place an advertisement, we hope in a paid newspaper, leaving a credit card trail. God help anyone who agrees to take a pit bull free of charge whose owners drive across state lines to dump the dog at your door. Story leaves behind two daughters ages 15 and 17-years old. We pray for them both.

02/10/16: Died While in Helicopter
Perquimans County, NC - A North Carolina woman is dead after being viciously attacked by her pet dog, described as a pit bull-type dog. Perquimans County Sheriff Eric Tilley said the attack occurred about 1:00 pm Wednesday in the 1200 block of Snug Harbor Road. Her injuries were so extreme, a helicopter from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia was sent to airlift her to the hospital. The victim, Suzanne Story, 36, died as the helicopter was landing, Sheriff Tilley said.

Only Had Dog for a Week

On the 13News Now Facebook page post, they state, "The woman's mother said her daughter got the dog about a week ago after seeing an ad in a newspaper that she was good around small children. We're working to get more information…" As far as the breed mixture goes 1.) It will be interesting to see what the newspaper ad said, and 2.) There certainly appears to be olde English bulldogge, pit bull and Johnson or Scotty-type American bulldog; all dangerous gripper breeds.

The victim's stepfather, Randy Brown also of Hertford, posted on his Facebook page about an hour ago, "MY stepdaughter got killed today by a pit. The people that raised this dog need to be held responsible, because they lied about the nature of this dog. I will pressure the issue. Randy Brown." Suzanne Story was the mother of two. Her Facebook photo album shows a variety of pet cats, dogs and other animals, as well as pit bull awareness memes. She was very animal friendly.

In 2012, a 10-month old boy was fatally attacked by a family pit bull-mix in Perquimans County.

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

1Obsessed about pit bulls? By Merritt Clifton, Animals 24-7, September 10, 2014 (www.animals24-7.org)
2They stated in the video, however, that they called the phone number in the advertisement and they were sent to an "unnamed voicemail." That's all we know.
3Oakland hires former SF animal control chief Rebecca Katz to face Nathan Winograd and pit bull advocates in their lair, by Merritt Clifton, November 1, 2014, Animals 24-7 (www.animals24-7.org)

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Colleen Lynn

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Newborn Dies After Being Bitten by Family Dog

Aiden Jonathon Grim, 3-days old, died after being bitten by a family dog.

No Criminal Charges
UPDATE 02/09/16: No criminal charges will be filed in connection to the death of a newborn that was bitten on the head by a family dog and died, according to Youngstown police. The decision comes after the Mahoning County Coroner's Office ruled the manner of death as accidental. Virtually all dog attacks resulting in death are ruled as accidental; that fact alone does not dismiss criminal charges. About 21% of all dog bite fatalities result in significant or felony criminal charges.

For instance, after four pit bulls disemboweled a 4-year old boy in Detroit, the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the manner of death as accidental. The owner of the pit bulls, Geneke Lyons, will soon stand trial for murder in the second-degree, involuntary manslaughter and possessing dangerous animals causing death. The manner of death identifies how the "non-natural" death arose. There are four types: accident, homicide, suicide and undetermined.

In the case of another baby's death, coincidentally also named Aiden (no relation), Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet ruled the manner of death a homicide. Nisbet said parental neglect contributed to the 2-month old's death. In that case, the father left the infant in the living room all by itself while the father slept in the bedroom. The family's newly adopted dog dismembered and killed the infant while his father slept. This is not what occurred in Youngstown this past Sunday.

Not even remotely close. Thus, no child neglect charges.

After the death of 3-day old Aiden Jonathon Grim, Dr. Joseph Ohr, a forensic pathologist with the Mahoning County Coroner's Office explained: "At three days old the child's skull is very fragile and the dog's jaw was able to penetrate the skull, causing injuries to the brain and ultimately the death." Essentially, the dog picked up the child by the head and its teeth punctured the infant's soft skull causing brain injuries and death. Dr. Ohr did not characterize the bite as a "mauling."

Compounding The Tragedy

In an earlier report by WFMJ today, the report stated, "the brother of the infant's mom is the owner of the dog and would like to have it returned." This was excluded in the afternoon update and restated as, the dog's "possible return remains uncertain and still under discussion." The fact that the brother wants the animal back compounds this tragedy much further. It also speaks volumes about the dysfunctional nature and people within that household. May Baby Aiden rest in peace.

02/08/16: Additional Information
In a heart wrenching evening update, the baby's mother, Kristy Grim, told WFMJ that she and the baby were sleeping in the living room that morning. The infant was lying on a blanket inside a plastic laundry basket that was on the floor. Grim was lying next to him sleeping on the couch when she woke up to the baby screaming and covered in blood. The 21-year old mother said she saw bite marks on the newborn's head and she knew the dog had bitten the helpless baby.

While it is jarring to learn the baby was sleeping in the laundry basket, it is more jarring and relevant that the dogs used these baskets as beds.

Grim said the dog "was never aggressive before; he never did anything like that." The dog that attacked the baby was described as a "mix-breed shepherd" and was one of five dogs in the house. Four of these dogs appear to be related in various Facebook photos, each being golden and brown mixed-breeds. Earlier, Grim said it was her brother's dog that attacked. Regardless, as stated already by one commenter: "Five dogs in a house and a newborn. What could go wrong?"

02/08/16: Newborn Dies After Dog Bite
Youngstown, OH - Police are investigating the death of a 3-day old baby boy that was bitten by a family dog. Officers were called to a home on the 3500 block of Valerie Drive early Sunday and found the infant on a bed with a head injury. The baby's 21-year old mother, Kristy Grim, was next to the baby and in tears. Grim's brother and grandmother where also home at the time of the attack, according to police. Emergency medical first responders determined the newborn had died.

“The baby was here in the basket, and I woke up, and it was horrifying. He was ... His head was just covered in blood.” - Baby's mother, Kristy Grim

Grim told 21 News that she left her baby on the floor and fell asleep on the couch. When she awoke, her baby was crying and his head was covered in blood. Grim said she wiped off the blood and called 911. The Mahoning County Dog Warden seized the dog described as a mixed-breed. Four other dogs remain in the home. Lt. Doug Bobovnyik of the Detective Bureau said the injury was not severe, but that it was a "noticeable injury." The coroner will determine the cause of death.

Additional Facebook Notes

Before Grim deactivated her Facebook page, several comments were captured. In one comment, she states the dog belonged to her brother. "Yes, he bit the baby, my brother's dog. And now they're putting it to sleep," Grim wrote. In another, Grim states the dog is not a pit bull. "I know people who have pit bulls around their newborns at least the dog wasn't a pit bull," she wrote. Grim also said that she was waiting on a crib. "I had everything for him besides a crib because a few months ago I was told I would receive a free crib so I did not bother buying one," Grim wrote.

Also, as usual, some people are attacking the young mother on Baby Aiden's GoFundMe page, blaming Grim for the baby's death. Another is calling her a "pos mother" because she had not yet gotten a car seat for the newborn. There is also focus on the makeshift crib the baby was laying in. It is being described as a small basket or laundry basket -- it is unknown which is true. Police must wait until the coroner determines the cause of death before deciding if charges are warranted.

Facebook photos do show the dogs (described as siblings) using the laundry baskets as beds.

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Colleen Lynn

2016 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull Kills Child, Injures Another in Lumberton, North Carolina

Talan West, 7, was killed by a pit bull, while two other dogs attacked his older brother.

Ordinance Passes
UPDATE 06/15/16: Five months after 7-year old Talan West was mauled to death by a neighbor's pit bull, the city of Lumberton passed a pit bull ordinance. The new ordinance, passed in a 5-3 vote, is based upon the ordinance in Edenton. Talan's mother, Jamie West, was a powerful force behind the passage of the new law, which declares pit bulls "potentially vicious." The ordinance bans the tethering of pit bulls, requires a secure pen with a concrete floor and liability insurance.

"My baby’s life counted. Other children’s lives count ... We’ve got to start somewhere and I promised my 8-year-old we would." - Jamie West

The three no votes came from council members who all own pit bulls. Since 2012, pit bulls have killed three people in Robeson County. No other dog breeds have inflicted a fatality in the county since 2005, as far back as our data set for all U.S. dog bite fatalities goes. Since 2005, canines have killed 20 people in North Carolina; 75% (15) of these attacks were carried out by pit bulls. This is a much higher rate than the national rate of 64% for pit bulls over the same period.

Jamie West is an amazing mother of five children today who has overcome extreme odds since the horrific death of her son Talan in January, including keeping her family together after his death when Robeson County officials wanted otherwise. Now Jamie has managed to help pass a pit bull ordinance in an area of the country and North Carolina that for so many years has desperately needed one. Jamie's persistent efforts will save the lives of future innocents in Lumberton.

03/05/16: Mother Regains Custody
We wanted to let readers know that on March 2, a Robeson County judge returned custody of her five children to Jamie West and allowed her family to return to their home. The custody battle between Robeson County social services and Jamie began at the end of January, just days after her 7-year old son, Talan West, was brutally killed by a neighbor's pit bull. Jamie initially fled the state of North Carolina with her children to stop social services from breaking up her family.

Jamie also started a petition on Change.org to Robeson County Commissioners to improve the county's dog ordinance. Currently, there is not even a leash law in the county. As for possible charges being filed against the owner of the dogs, it was reported on February 9 that detectives had nearly completed their investigation; the next step was to send the case to the district attorney's office for review. That was nearly a month ago now and the last news report available.

In memory of Talan West. Due to social services' fiasco, Jamie could not even attend his funeral.

01/29/16: Mother Flees State with Children
In a very heartbreaking development, the mother of a 7-year old boy killed by a pit bull, Jamie West, and her remaining five children will not attend Talan's visitation or funeral service. Talan West, her youngest son, was mauled to death by a neighbor's pit bull last Sunday. Jamie fled the state of North Carolina with her children to stop social services from taking them away from her. 5-years ago, her children were taken away for reasons unknown, but she won back custody.

"I can't bring back Talan, but I can hold onto my five." - Jamie West

In an interview with WRAL News, Jamie said that social workers told her, "I could go to the service with my children. They would not walk in there to get them during the service, but pretty much after it was over and we left, we could discretely, I could hand them over," she said. All of her children are currently with her and are holding up as well as they can, she said. "I have prepared all of them, that if something happens and they have to leave, I will be back to get them," Jamie said.

People on social media have been cruel to the boy's family and are also harassing the GoFundMe page for the boy's burial costs. The person running the page is a close friend of Jamie, who at this stage has no way to run the page herself. It is very common for close friends and family members to manage these donation pages. The situation on the page began with a nasty comment left by a person with the Facebook name of "Fa Kyu" several days ago and it has only deteriorated since.

Several days before Jamie fled the state with her children, the boy's father Steven West posted to his Facebook page, "This dog didn't just bite him, he butchered him." He describes his son's injuries as being ripped 15 to 20 times. Including the neck injuries -- the pit bull latched onto his neck and broke it -- the dog tore into his face, ripped into his midsection and tore out his calf muscle completely. All of the injuries described are common fatal injuries inflicted by pit bulls.

01/26/16: Victims' Family Speaks Out
The mother of 7-year old Talan West spoke to the media Monday about the devastation she is suffering after Talan was mauled to death by two pit bulls. His 8-year old brother Jaylan West witnessed the attack and was also injured by the dogs. The two brothers were among four children chased and attacked by a group of dogs on Sunday. Talan died of his injuries; Jaylan suffered bites to his lower leg requiring stitches. Jaylan was treated and released from the hospital.

Talan and his three siblings were playing in a field behind their home, when three dogs began running after them. Jaylan said he jumped onto a car, but Talan could not get away. “One [dog] was on that leg, one [dog] was on that leg – the big one just all over his face biting him up,” Jaylan told WNCN. One of the dogs, a pit bull, attacked Talan. “[The pit bull] broke his neck, but it took pretty much the entire back of his neck off and that’s when he died,” said his mother Jamie West.1

While county authorities investigate, Talan's parents were told by social services they cannot have any unsupervised visits with their children.

ABC 11 interviewed the boy's father, Steven West. According to Steven's account, only Talan and Jaylan were involved -- the other two siblings were not. Steven witnessed an unnamed woman attempting to give CPR to Talan. "I saw the lady trying to do all she could on my son to keep him alive and my heart goes out to her," Steven said. He also said the tool Jaylan grabbed to fight the dogs off was a pair of pruning shears, not a machete or hatchet as reported in other stories.

Dog Ownership Information

WRAL.com reports that the dogs belong to Afreda Locklear. Her brother, Spencer Oxendine, said that one of the dogs recently had a litter of puppies. The Fayetteville Observer reports that the property where the attack occurred is owned by Alfredia O. and Jack D. Locklear, according to Robeson County tax records. Finally, the attacking pit bull died on scene, but had no visible injuries, The Robesonian reports. A veterinarian is examining the dog, the sheriff's office said.

WBTW Update Adds Details

On Tuesday, WBTW updated their earlier article. It now includes information from Sheriff Kenneth Sealey. There were three dogs involved in the fatal attack. They were taken by animal control and have been euthanized. Sealey described the other dogs as mixed-breeds. Puppies parented by the pit bull and one of the mixed-breeds were taken to an unnamed rescue in Robeson County. We hope the rescue is forced by law to tell any adopters that the parent dogs killed a child.

Melissa Locklear, a cousin of Talan, is also interviewed in the piece. It is unclear if Locklear is related to the owner of the dogs. Locklear believes the owners should be held responsible. "They should be held responsible because, like I said, pit bulls already have a bad reputation," she said. "Everyone knows they’re naturally aggressive," Locklear explained. If you're going to have pit bulls, she said, one must be extra vigilant in understanding its temperament and keeping it secure.

01/24/16: Pit Bull Kills Child Injures Another
Lumberton, NC - Two children, ages 7 and 8, were attacked by a pit bull at a home on the 2400 block of Odum Road in Lumberton Sunday morning, according to the Robeson County Sheriff's Office. Authorities identified the 7-year old as Talan Nathan West. Deputies and EMS responded to a 911 call that was placed about 11:30 am. Talan was found unresponsive with severe injuries. Both children where transported to Southeastern Regional Medical Center, where Talan died.

Talan suffered "severe puncture wounds" in unspecified areas and 8-year old Jaylan Ray West suffered bites in the lower part of the body, states the release. Jaylan has been treated and released, according to the sheriff's office. Both children lived on the 2600 block of Odum Road. “At this time the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division and the Juvenile Division are doing an investigation on the child’s death to determine the cause," states the news release.

Third Fatal Pit Bull Attack Since 2012

The death of Talan marks the third fatal pit bull attack in Robeson County since 2012. In October 2012, Mary Jo Hunt, 53-years old, was struck down by her seven rescue pit bulls in Pembroke. At the time of the attack, Hunt worked for Robeson County Claws and Paws Rescue. In November 2014, Alemeaner Dial, 83-years old, was mutilated and killed by her granddaughter's four pit bulls in Rowland. The granddaughter and her pit bulls had moved in with Dial about 5-months earlier.

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

1WNCN also reported -- possibly in error, we will be tracking this information down -- that there were 5 fatal pit bull attacks in the county in the last 5 years, two more than what we have recorded for the county during this period.

DogsBite blog ::

Discussion Notes

Pit Bulls Reverse Traditional Metric