Posted on January 23, 2015 by Colleen Lynn

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: 18-Month Old Boy Killed by Family Dogs in Brooksville, Florida

Declan Moss, 18-months old, was killed by his grandfather's two pit bull-mixes.

Images Released
UPDATE 01/23/15: The Hernando County Sheriff's Office released still images of both fatally attacking dogs to their Facebook page yesterday along with a message to so-called "animal lovers" who are upset that the sheriff's office also allowed the media to capture video footage of the dogs. Max and Thumper, both male pit bull-mixes, attacked and killed 18-month old Declan Moss on Monday. Quickly afterward, his mother Sheila Moss defended the breed of the dog.

We greatly thank the sheriff's office for releasing the images. Doing so provides an excellent public service. Also, to clarify the "animal lover" language, the vast majority of Facebook users complaining to the sheriff's office were pit bull advocates, upset that images identifying the breed of dog were released to the public at all. They do not want another damning fatal attack stacked onto the breed's horrific track record, which kills more people than all dog breeds combined.

There has been a lot of discussion about our recent Facebook posting that included the video of the dog(s) involved in the fatal attack on Declan Moss. The posting came after several members of the media requested to obtain still and video images of the dogs for their continuing coverage of this terribly tragic event. Our intent was not to offend animal lovers. We, on the contrary, have a long history of supporting the appropriate adoption and treatment of domestic animals. We did feel, however, that including the video on our Facebook page would be an opportunity to provide a public service. We all like to think that something like this could never happen in our home. We believe that we can pick out a vicious dog when we see one. Unfortunately, as you can see from the videos, it would be impossible to predict a tragic attack like this based solely on the temperament or demeanor of the dog, especially when interacting with adults under normal circumstances. It is for this reason that we want every parent and guardian to be aware that medium and large size dogs can be unpredictable around young children and can inflict considerable damage in a short period of time. Whether a dog attack is motivated by jealousy, frustration, a pack mentality or a “killer instinct,” doesn’t matter after an event like this. The only option is for parents and guardians to be hypervigilant in keeping small children out of harms way. - Hernando County Sheriff's Office

01/19/15: Pit Bulls; Mother Defends Breed
A hot tipper just sent in a YouTube video link that captures Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis speaking with Fox 13. We believe this clarifies the breed of the attacking dogs, as well as the mother of the dead child's position on this matter. Nienhuis said, "I did unfortunately get to talk with the mother earlier and she was obviously devastated -- she was not here when it occurred. But she was even talking about 'defending the dogs' and 'it's not necessarily the breed of the dog.'

Watch Nienhuis closely. He appears to be "struggling" as he speaks those underlined statements. Why is that? Because it is outrageous that a devastated young mother would ever say these things -- rushing to defend the breed of dog and piling on pro-pit bull propaganda -- in the immediate wake of her own child's vicious dog mauling death. How will the veterinarian rule on the breed of the dogs? Perhaps an Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog or other known pit bull mislabel?

In a separate video, neighbor Charles Shorey breaks down on camera. "He was a beautiful kid. I feel sorry for the mother. She's single. She's fighting and struggling," Shorey said. It is unclear if it was Shorey or another neighbor who told News Channel 8 the dogs were pit bulls and had killed smaller dogs in the past. The grandfather was babysitting when he saw his grandson was in trouble, the segment states, "but he couldn't get the dogs off the baby and off of each other."

01/19/15: Family Dogs Kill Toddler
Brooksville, FL - Two family dogs attacked and killed an 18-month old boy on Monday. When authorities arrived at the home at 16251 Cherokee Road, they found Declan Moss1 deceased from injuries inflicted by the dogs. Michael Terry, spokesman for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, said that Declan had been playing on the home's porch while his grandfather, Gregory Moss, 51, watched him. The grandfather was home alone with the child and witnessed the attack, Terry said.

"Our technicians are out here interviewing the grandfather and trying to get the details from him, but he's obviously pretty shaken up." - Michael Terry

The Sheriff's Office is unsure of the breeds of the two attacking dogs, calling the animals "mix-breeds" temporarily as they await additional information from a veterinarian (The Daily Mail reports that neighbors described the two dogs as pit bulls.). The attacking dogs, ages 2 and 6, were seized and removed from the home. Two other dogs owned by the family were not involved in the attack and were left at the family's home. Detectives are still on scene investigating.

Last year, Florida had five fatal dog attacks. The only state to outnumber it was Texas with seven.

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

1Early news reports misspelled his name as "Declin" Moss.

Photos: Facebook.com, Hernando County Sheriff's Office and WTSP.com

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Colleen Lynn

Attacked While Taking Down His Christmas Tree

Adopted from Rescue
UPDATE 01/08/15: New information has been released about an elderly man mauled to death by his pet pit bull while taking down his Christmas tree. The fatally attacking dog was a 4-year old neutered male pit bull that Eugene Smith and his son adopted from an unnamed rescue organization in May. The pit bull was not a stray as earlier reports claimed. Police officials continue to look into the dog's background. Animal control euthanized the pit bull after the deadly attack.

WUSA 9 interviewed Smith's co-workers at Clouse trucking in Frederick. At the age of 87-years old, Smith still drove an 18-wheel tanker truck hauling milk for the company. His co-workers said Smith was an animal lover who adored his adopted rescue pit bull. "The dog would at times climb up in bed with him and sleep with him at night," said one female co-worker who was not named. "This is not anything we ever would have expected," she continued, "not ever in a million years."

Officials Describe Dog Attack in Video

The Frederick News-Post published a video today as well with Deputy First Class Amanda Hatcher detailing the dog attack and police response. Hatcher states that when police and animal control officers arrived on scene -- they arrived at the same time -- the dog was still attacking Smith inside the home. Officers were able to disengage the dog from Smith and quickly contain the animal. Smith was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital with severe injuries where he died.

The News-Post has a recent history of being "extremely" pit bull apologetic. The News-Post, however, is hardly alone in Maryland. Many other state media outlets also swooned, cooed and knelt down for "pit bull kisses" after the landmark 2012 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling, Tracey v. Solesky, that declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous." The News-Post called the Court's ruling "narrow-minded" and "shortsighted" and "an ill-thought-out precedent" among other falsehoods.

Now an animal loving elderly man is dead, horrifically mauled to death in an unprovoked attack by an adopted pit bull rescue that formerly slept in his bed. The failure of the News-Post, who never bothered to interview the Solesky family or their attorney or to grasp the depth of the Court's ruling pertaining to actual Maryland "precedent," is now party to this man's preventable death. Smith clearly believed the false mantra that only "mistreatment or intentional training" creates a killer.1

View Related video

01/07/15: Family Pit Bull Kills Owner
Frederick, MD - In a developing story, an 87-year old man is dead after being critically mauled by his family's pit bull while taking down his Christmas tree. The attack occurred on Wednesday at about 2:30 pm at his home on Stonehouse Road in Frederick. According to deputies, Eugene W. Smith was in the process of taking down his Christmas tree when his family's large pit bull viciously attacked him. Smith was transported to a local hospital and later died of his injuries.

Smith lived in the Stonehouse Road home with his son and his son's fiancée. Deputies say the family had taken in the pit bull as a stray last May.2 Frederick County Animal Control euthanized the animal. In a separate holiday-related tragedy, 40-year old Edward Cahill was mauled to death by his pet pit bull of eight years on Christmas Day in Portage, Indiana. That fatal dog attack was "so obvious," according to Porter County Corner Chuck Harris, that an autopsy was not required.

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

1Smith and his son literally adopted this dog one month after Governor Martin O'Malley signed Senate Bill 247 into law muting the Court of Appeals of Maryland's decision in Solesky.
2Other news outlets report the dog was a pit bull rescue, which usually means the family adopted the dog from a rescue or shelter. If true, this is quite a different scenario than "taking in a stray."

Photos: WUSA9

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Colleen Lynn

Most of the Expected, Longtime Killing Culprits

Photographs of six fatally attacking dogs in 2014 obtained from multiple sources.

Jump down to view all 2014 breed identification photographs or read our analysis first.

DogsBite.org - Last year we began the tradition of publishing breed identification photographs of fatally attacking dogs when available through news reports, owner supplied or social media websites. Of the 42 total recorded deaths last year, 24 fatalities, 57%, had breed identification photographs.1 Take a good look at these dogs, as they dominate attacks resulting in human fatalities and include the predictable culprits: pit bulls, rottweilers, mastiff-types and their mixes.2

Of all dog bite fatalities with identification photographs, 58% (14) were provided by the news media, 46% (11) were located on social media websites of the dog's owner or family members and 8% (2) were supplied by the dog's owner. Three attacks also had photographs in two categories (news media and social media).3 Florida had the most photographs (4) followed by North Carolina, Ohio and Texas, each with three -- the same four states that overshadowed all fatalities in 2014.

Are All "Large Breeds" Equal Killing Machines?

Not all large dog breeds are equally as likely to kill, which is why Labradors, Standard Poodles and 50 plus others are not represented below. Dog breeds that disproportionately kill people in the U.S. and across the world are medium to large-sized molosser dogs -- mastiff-type guard dogs and war dogs, the types that were used to create "baiting" bull breeds and fighting breeds. Form follows function, thus the group shares visual similarities in their weighty jaws and head shape.

We point out the "large breed" issue after KIII-TV failed the citizens of Texas and the American public by refusing to name the dog breed(s) involved in the death of Rita Woodard who was fostering 17 dogs on her property when she was attacked. Woodard's extensive Facebook page showed that 90% of the dogs she fostered were pit bulls. Failure to report dog breed in cases of human fatality, or hedging it under the "large breed" scenario, is dangerous and incompetent.4

2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Christina Bell, 43-years old of Houston, Texas, was brutally killed by two loose pit bulls on January 5, 2014. Seven months later, Harris County prosecutors charged two of the dogs' owners under the Texas state felony dog attack law.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Kara Hartrich, 4-years old of Bloomington, Illinois, was savagely killed by at least two of her family's pit bulls on January 17, 2014, her 4th birthday. Her mother, Roxanne Miller Hartrich, later gave a heartfelt interview about that horrific day.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Klonda Richey, 57-years old of Dayton, Ohio, was brutally killed and stripped naked by her neighbor's two mastiff-mixes in front of her own home. Prior to her death she had made numerous complaints to city agencies about these vicious dogs.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Braelynn Coulter, 3-years old of Highpoint, North Carolina, was killed by one of her family's two pit bulls on February 24, 2014. Just a few months earlier, both pit bulls had broken through a fence and attacked a dog being walked by its owner.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Kenneth Santillan, 13-years old of Paterson, New Jersey, was killed by a bullmastiff that leaped over its owner's fence and attacked on February 28, 2014. At the time of the incident, he had been walking home from school with his best friend.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Raymane Robinson, Jr., 2-years old of Killeen, Texas, was killed by a bullmastiff while walking home from a playground with an adult and 8-year old girl. The animal charged out its owner's garage, attacked the 8-year girl and killed Raymane.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Mia DeRouen, 4-years old of Houma, Louisiana, was killed by her family's 130 pound pit bull on March 25, 2014. Police categorized the dog as a "monster" and were forced to gun down the aggressive animal by firing 13 shots into it.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Christopher Malone, 3-years old of Holmes County, Mississippi, was mauled to death by two pit bulls owned by family members. The dogs had been secured in a chain-linked pen, but somehow escaped and fatally attacked the boy.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Dorothy Hamilton, 85-years old of Kaufman, Texas, was killed by her son's two pit bulls that he kept inside the home they shared. Her son usually kept them locked in a room, but the dogs broke through the door and fatally attacked his mother.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Jessica Norman, 33-years old, was discovered dead with her clothes stripped away in a ditch on her property in Sebring, Florida. Canine bites were a contributory cause of death. Police concluded that her neighbor's pit bulls inflicted them.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Katie Morrison, 20-years old of Smiths Station, Alabama, was viciously attacked by three pit bulls on April 28, 2014 while visiting the home of the dogs' owner. The dogs ripped off her whole scalp in the attack. She died of her injuries on May 3.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Nyhiem Wilfong, 1-year old of Caldwell County, North Carolina, was brutally killed by a chained rottweiler in front of his 5-year old cousin while visiting his grandfather's home. His grandfather had only had the rottweiler for three weeks.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Kasii Haith, 4-years old of Kent County, Delaware, was mauled to death by three pit bulls while visiting a friend with his mother on May 7, 2014. The boy had been around the dogs "numerous times in the past" without incident, police said.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Rita Pepe, 93-years old of Branford, Connecticut was viciously attacked by a loose pit bull-mix while walking near her home on April 13, 2014. The Branford Animal Shelter had recently adopted the dog out. Rita died 6-weeks after the attack.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Johnathan Quarles, Jr., 7-months old, was mauled to death by his babysitter's pit bull while visiting Dayton, Ohio with his family on July 20, 2014. The dog had previously attacked a neighborhood dog and charged a letter carrier.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Craig Sytsma, 46-years old, was brutally attacked and killed by two loose cane corsos while jogging down a rural Metamora Township road. Prosecutors subsequently charged the dogs' owners, a husband and wife, with second-degree murder.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Cindy Whisman, 59-years old of Middletown, Ohio, was brutally killed by her daughter's pit bull while babysitting her 2-year old grandson. Her daughter, grandson and the male pit bull had moved into Cindy's home two months earlier.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Joel Chirieleison, 6-years old, was killed by two pit bulls while visiting his aunt's home in Fanning Springs, Florida on August 7, 2014. The babysitting arrangement with his aunt had been in place for weeks and Joel was familiar with the dogs.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Javon Dade Jr., 4-years old, was killed by up to six family dogs -- one pit bull and five pit bull-mixes -- while visiting his father's home in Goulds, Florida. Miami-Dade authorities later charged his father and his father's girlfriend with manslaughter.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Logan Meyer, 7-years old was killed by a protection-trained rottweiler belonging to his parents in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The boy's stepfather had formerly been a trainer at a celebrity kennel for police dogs, Vohne Liche Kennels.

See: Summary | Full blog post |

Alemeaner Dial, 83-years old of Rowland, North Carolina, was attacked and killed by her granddaughter's four pit bulls. Other family members had repeatedly called authorities about the dogs concerned about the elderly woman's safety.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Stella Antanaitis, 91-years old of Stratford, Connecticut, was viciously attacked by her own dog. Both of her arms were mutilated in the attack, according to news reports. She died four days after being transported to the hospital with critical injuries.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Christopher Camejo Jr., 2-years old, was mauled to death by up to four of his grandfather's rottweilers while staying at his home. Citrus County authorities later arrested the boy's parents and charged them both with manslaughter and child neglect.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Edward Cahill, 40-years old of Portage, Indiana, was attacked and killed by his pet pit bull of 8-years named FatBoi on Christmas Day. The Porter County coroner said the canine attack was "so obvious" that an autopsy was not required.

Post Publication Identification Photographs

Breed identification photographs discovered after the publication of this post on January 7, 2015. These photographs are not included in our overall analysis; they were unavailable at that time.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Jose Robles, 62-years old, was killed by up to 15 dogs belonging to Daniel McCollum while walking down McCollum Road. The dog pack included: 3 blue and red heelers (Australian cattle dogs), 6 Australian shepherds and 6 hounds.

See: Summary | Full blog post | Rita Ross-Woodard, 64-years old of Corpus Christi, died after being attacked by four pit bull-mixes she was fostering on December 15, 2014. The Nueces County Medical Examiner's office said multiple dog bites contributed to her death.

1Of the 43% (18) without photographs, at least 28% (5) were shot dead by police on scene and 22% (4) continue to be unknown breeds at the time of the publication of this post.
2Wolf-like northern breeds, predominantly huskies, were notably missing this year.
3The three photographs falling in two categories produces a total of 112% instead of 100%.
4KIII-TV was on scene when the dogs were confiscated. They also stated, "There was at least one animal that came out with blood it. We chose not to show the video of it because of its graphic nature." That is understandable, but does not remove the reality that they witnessed the dogs being seized, mainly shot footage of pit bulls being seized, yet still failed to state any breed name in all of their coverage. KIII-TV "should" be aware that Texas leads all states in fatal dog attacks and has for over a decade. KIII-TV "should" be aware that Texas has a much higher rate of pit bull fatalities than most other states and the national average. KIII-TV "should" be aware that Texas doctors now lead the nation in medical research about fatal pit bull attacks. Finally, KIII-TV "should" be aware that accurate reporting -- not hedging or withholding information -- will help save Texan lives and elevate this issue statewide.

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Colleen Lynn

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Portage Man Mauled to Death by Pet Pit Bull on Christmas Day

Edward Cahill, 40-years old, was mauled to death by his pet pit bull on Christmas Day.

Coroner: "So Obvious"
UPDATE 12/30/14: As noted earlier in footnotes, it is unusual for a coroner to forego an autopsy after a fatal dog attack. Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris listed the cause of death as exsanguination, massive blood loss. "This is so clear cut," Harris explained. "There’s no reason for me to spend $2,500 of the taxpayers’ money on something so obvious." Edward Cahill, 40, was brutally killed by his pet pit bull on Christmas Day. He had owned the male dog for 8-years.

Animal control officer Bill Garner said his department handled a call "years ago" about one of the two pit bulls at the residence running at large, but received no other complaints about the animals before the Christmas Day fatal attack. It is unknown what the family will do with the second pit bull that was uninvolved in the deadly attack. Cahill's wife, Blanca Rodriguez, discovered her husband unresponsive on the floor covered in dog bites when she arrived home after visiting relatives.

12/26/14: Pit bull Owner Found Dead
Portage, IN - A man was found dead in his home on Christmas night after being mauled to death by his pet pit bull. Edward Cahill, 40-years old, suffered massive blood loss from bite injuries to his arms and face by his pit bull, according to Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris. Cahill was pronounced dead at his home at 5586 Tulip Avenue; Harris ruled his death a dog mauling. Cahill's girlfriend arrived home about 8:00 pm and found him on the floor unresponsive, Harris said.

Two pit bulls were in the home when police arrived. Harris confirmed that Cahill's pit bull, named FatBoi,1 was responsible for the deadly attack. The other pit bull, named Keylo, did not have access to the victim. "It was the only dog that was able to get to the individual," Harris said. "It was very obvious." FatBoi was taken to the Humane Society of Hobart and euthanized on Friday. At the time of the fatal mauling, FatBoi was depicted as the victim's Facebook cover image.

Cahill's girlfriend, Blanca Rodriguez, (also called his wife in another news article) told police officers she and Cahill owned two pit bulls and they gave them each large bones on Christmas Eve, according to police reports. The girlfriend told police that FatBoi was extremely aggressive and protective of his bone.2 Additionally, she had warned Cahill to euthanize FatBoi in the past because the dog was "extremely aggressive and unpredictable," according to police reports.

Police reports state that Rodriguez was living at the residence with Cahill, but had been visiting family since about 2:00 pm that day. She reportedly spoke to Cahill on the phone about 5:00 pm and "everything was fine." Rodriguez arrived home about 8:00 pm and found him dead. No one witnessed the attack, according to Harris. The coroner's office took possession of the body, but no autopsy is planned.3 Police had to run "multiple" Taser cycles on FatBoi to subdue the animal.

According to police reports, animal control was not able to get the trap line around the dog's neck prior to the end of the 5-second Taser cycle, so he allowed the Taser to cycle through until they could gain control of the dog.
Once they managed to place the trap line around the pit bull's neck, he was removed from the residence and taken to an animal control van, according to police reports. Police reported that Fat Boy bit the trap line in such a manner that he caused his mouth to bleed until he was secured in the van. - Sara Gollner, nwitimes.com, December 26, 2014

Wife of Victim Backtracks Earlier Statements

The couple had owned both of their 8-year old pit bulls since they were puppies. After the initial news reports, which released the coroner and police report details and Rodriguez's statements to police about FatBoi's previous aggression, Rodriguez backtracked from her statements saying the couple had never had any problems with FatBoi in the past and, "I don’t want people to think bad of pit bulls," Rodriguez told WGNtv. "It was a freak accident. He loved our dogs," she said.

As in the case of Darla Napora and many other fatal attacks inflicted by a family pit bull, Rodriguez then began calling the deadly attack a "freak accident." Also like the Napora case, whose husband buried her and her unborn child with the male pit bull who killed them both, Rodriguez appeared to state a similar burial arrangement. Just after the dog was euthanized, she told WGNtv, "He's going to go with his Dad to his resting place. He will be cremated and he will be buried with his father."4

Christmas Eve Bones -- Zero Margin of Error

Rodriguez also told WGNtv, "Maybe he might have been playing keep-away (with the bone) because we would do that." Despite this unwise alleged activity with a pit bull -- no one alive witnessed the attack -- and that Eddie Cahill commented on his Facebook page as recently as December 10 about the aggression FatBoi displayed when interfering with his bone, none of this should have resulted in a ghastly attack that left Cahill mangled, drained of blood and dead.

Unlike nearly all other dog breeds, the "zero margin of error rule" applies to pit bull owners. This rule is discussed at length in Beyond the Interview - Essay of a Fatal Pit Bull Mauling. In a nutshell, despite 8-years of caring for the dog with countless walks, play sessions and sleeping with the dog, and even seeing aggression in the context of "keep-away," only pit bull owners have to be concerned that death can result at slight or modest errors -- the zero margin of error rule.

More images of FatBoi from Edward Cahill's Facebook photo album, click to view larger image.

Fatally attacking pet pit bull, FatBoi, depicted as Facebook cover photo when dog attacked.

1Spelled "Fat Boy" in the police report and "FatBoi" by the victim. FatBoi is a famous hip hop producer.
2In a December 10 Facebook post, the victim comments on touching FatBoi's bone in a before and after photo.
3No autopsy in a fatal dog attack is extremely unusual. Talk about "evidence beyond a doubt" the dog was the killer.
4We reviewed the WGNtv interview again on the 28th. Was Rodriguez referring to Cahill being buried with his father or was she referring to FatBoi being buried with Cahill (his master, father)? It's actually a tough call -- both are believable, and, visuals and audio before and after her burial arrangement statement, sandwiching it, focus on saying goodbye to FatBoi and the dog's euthanasia. If the former is the case, the video edits make this murky.

DogsBite blog ::

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: 18-Month Old Boy Killed by Family Dogs in Brooksville, Florida

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Maryland Man Mauled to Death by Adopted Rescue Pit Bull

Attacked While Taking Down His Christmas Tree

2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

Most of the Expected, Longtime Killing Culprits

2014 Fatal Dog Attack Breed Identification Photographs

Post Publication Identification Photographs

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Portage Man Mauled to Death by Pet Pit Bull on Christmas Day