Posted on November 7, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Spanaway Woman Attacked by Pit Bulls Dies from Injuries

Nga Woodhead, 65-years old, died after being attacked by two pit bulls in Spanaway.

Family Wins Judgment
In June 2014, the family of a woman who died of injuries after a vicious pit bull attack won a victory in court. Superior Court Judge Stan Rumbaugh ruled that Santiago Quezada, who owned the two pit bulls linked to the attack, owed Nga Woodhead’s family $1.12 million. Attorney Jason Whalen, who represented Charles Woodhead, Nga’s husband, said the family probably won’t be able to collect the debt. At least, however, the verdict becomes part of an official record, he said.

Attorney Jason Whalen represented Charles Woodhead, Nga’s husband. Whalen noted that the family probably won’t be able to collect the debt. He said it becomes part of an official record and sends a message to owners of dangerous dogs who do not take proper steps to restrain them.

“We’re ensuring that some sense of justice was done for an owner of vicious dogs that failed to take responsibility,” Whalen said. “Knowing this would be an uncollectable judgment, we’ve still established that those who own dogs that cause damage to another within a public right of way are liable for the harm.”

Quezada appeared in court without an attorney. He was never charged with a crime. The Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the dog attack caused Woodhead’s death. Prosecutors reviewed the case for three months, but could not build sufficient evidence to support a criminal charge; it was too difficult to prove Quezada knew his dogs were dangerous before they escaped. - Tacoma Tribune, June 6, 2014

11/07/13: Cause of Death Released
The Seattle Times reported earlier today that the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office said 65-year old Nga Woodhead died of a heart attack brought on by "extremity contusions, lacerations and fractures due to dog bites." The Pierce County Sheriff's Department plans to recommend to prosecutors to file criminal charges against the owner of the pit bulls, Santiago Quecada. "They were his dogs," sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said, "They should have been locked up."

On October 30, Nga was on her daily walk, about a mile from her Spanaway home, when the two pit bulls began attacking, her husband Charles Woodhead said. "She didn’t see the dogs coming. They ran up behind her and attacked," he said. Charles was with his wife in her hospital room on Tuesday when her heart stopped. The couple had been married for 41-years. Their 42nd wedding anniversary was Wednesday; the day the medical examiner's office released her cause of death.

"I’m sad and mad. I’m mad at an owner who has two pit bulls who should have known better." - Charles Woodhead

While under attack by the dogs, Nga was able to call her husband from her cellphone, but she could not tell him where she was. It was a passerby who tried to help Nga that got on the line and gave Charles their location. He arrived on scene minutes after the attack as medics were loading her into an ambulance. Her right arm was shredded and bruises covered her body, he said. The couple met in 1970 when he was stationed in the Air Force in South Vietnam during the war.

Nga Woodhead, 65, is the 375th American killed by pit bulls since we began the Archival Record.

11/06/13: Autopsy Underway
Spanaway, WA - A 65-year old woman attacked by two pit bulls on October 30 has died of her injuries, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Nga Woodhead of Spanaway was attacked by two loose pit bulls as she walked down Pacific Avenue South. The animals jumped on her, knocked her into a ditch and began to horribly maul her. A 52-year old man who tried to save her was also badly bitten. Another passerby shot and hit one of the pit bulls causing it to run away.

After the vicious attack, the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office began looking into charges against the dogs' owner, Santiago Quezada who lives just down the street from where the incident occurred. Quezada said he didn't know how the dogs got out of his fenced yard and claimed then, "They're really nice dogs. They were raised with a family, with kids." Quezada also tellingly said, "I just want to say I feel really sorry about the people. And we're going to fix things, you know."

According to the victim's husband Chuck Woodhead, his wife died suddenly at the hospital where she was taken after the severe attack. He said he was in her room getting ready to be released from the hospital Tuesday when she lost consciousness. Doctors tried to revive her, but were unsuccessful. An autopsy is currently underway. Her husband also told KOMO News that he was told by animal control that Pierce County will pursue criminal charges against the dogs' owner.

One of the brave men that came to Nga's rescue left a comment on the KOMO News article.

Driving southbound on SR7 from the American Lake VA Hospital I saw a middle aged heavy set woman jumping and screaming for help on the other side and then I saw two dogs mauling something in the ditch. Assuming the worst, her child I veered to the center land, hit the hazards and jumping out bounding across two lanes of heavy traffic at 0900 on October 30th to find two pit bulls mauled a senior Asian woman. This woman was clearly severely injured and unable to defend herself as the two dog had her quartered and ripping arm and leg. Her clothes were already half ripped off and deep lacerations were clearly evident. I immediately start growing, yelling and punching the larger male pit bull in the nose as both dog turned their attack to me. Punching both dogs to lured them into oncoming traffic, I focused my attack on the alpha male and kicked at the female dog to insure both pursued me into traffic to use the passing vehicles as weapons since I was unarmed due to visiting the VA and passing through Joint Base Lewis McChord, Russian Roulette being better than certain death. Unfortunately a white sedan missed me and stopped short of hitting the larger male pit bull. I advanced on the animal taking control pounding its head into the road as the small female got my left upper thigh. Once that female dog locked on my thigh I tried to through the larger male pit bull into the next lane of traffic as a desperate act but the collar broke. I knew I had to stop traffic to get help. When that collar broke I turned my blows to the female's nose to break her locked jaw on my thigh. With success I immediate lunged on to the white sedan that was blocking one lane of traffic to catch my breath and access the situation. The male pit bull got my leather sneaker and was trying to pull me from the hood on the car. I saw cars stopping and a truck driving up the side walk to the woman location and the female dog was back at the old woman again as I kicked the male in the nose. I jumped and run to the ditch for the female dog to get it off the woman again as the male dog pursued me. I laid into the female dog punching and two men approached from different direction to the woman and the truck that came up the side walk. The three men were able to distract the male pit bull as I attacked the female pit again to get it off the victim. The female dog pursue me back into the street as I continued punching hoping the two men and truck driver would be able to keep the larger male dog off me. I shouted orders to the truck driver to run that dog down and kill it while the two men kept it off as I fought the female back into the street. One man was bit by the male dog while I was fighting the female in the middle of the street. Bystanders were approaching and some woman actually screamed at me to leave that dog alone!!!! I was slowing with exhaustion and the male pit bull left the man, truck and victim and came to the female pit bulls aide. In total exhaustion and was unable to counter the attack and the male dog locked onto my right forearm and latched cracking bones and ripping flesh. The cracking of bone was an instant shock and an eternity of hesitation. I punched it nose and pulled to prevent my arm from elbow or shoulder damage as I was taken down. The female bit my left punching fist so I used her head to hit the male dog and break it hold. Only with God's help it worked and I crawled to the hood of the white sedan again with female dog pulling at my feet. Unable to continue severely injured myself, I scrambled to the roof of the car. The pickup driver on the sidewalk in his truck next to the victim fired a personal sidearm as the male pit bull return to the two men and victim. I thank the off duty soldier and promised to bear witness. The inured male dog fled. With the knowledge of backup I scrambled to the victim to access and triage but the female dog returned to me and the victim. I gave orders of assessment to a new male bystander for the triage of the victim as I had to fight the female dog again. Due to shock, injury and exhaustion the female dog was able to easy lock onto my injured right forearm and able to crack bone again. With a punch to the nose I was able to return to the victim and make a visual of the injuries, Deep laceration to the all extremities with bicep hanging. I order the victim covered from the cold until professional help arrived. I scampered to my vehicle to call Brenda Roman to get the kids to school and come to my location and help me back to the hospital. As police approached I directed and order them to kill female pit bull as I limped back toward the animal that the men were keeping abbey from me and the victim. Three Sheriffs isolated the dog as I directed paramedics to the victim not me. Once the police finally shot the last dog and I was answering the medic’s questions I provided the police with ID and initial brief. Medics recommend I go with them, but I choose to return to my clinic where I knew everyone. Injured soldier that helped offered ride to nearby Madigan Army Hospital. Again I declined choosing to return to my Urgent Care at American Lake VA Hospital where I know everyone. - Ranger Rob

Santiago Quezada, who owned the two pit bulls, is seen talking to a KOMO News reporter.

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

Photo: Komonews.com

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Kernersville Woman, 25, Killed by Her Boyfriend's Two Pit Bulls

"Terrible Tragedy"
UPDATE 11/05/13: WFMY News reports that 25-year old Katherine Atkins of Kernersville was lying dead in the backyard near the enclosure of her boyfriend's two pit bulls (it was reported earlier that she was in the enclosure). The two pit bulls were running loose, according to investigators. A man who lives at the home, a roommate of the victim's boyfriend, found her body. The two dogs, a male and female, were taken into custody by animal control and euthanized.

Katherine Atkins, 25, is the 374th American killed by pit bulls since we began the Archival Record.

11/05/13: Woman Killed by Pit Bulls
Kernersville, NC - A woman was mauled to death by her boyfriend's two pit bulls on Monday night. According to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Captain Millard Shepherd, Katherine Atkins, 25-years old, was feeding the dogs at a home on Stable Hill Trail when they attacked. Her lifeless body was discovered inside of a dog enclosure. Investigators said Atkins had been around the two pit bulls since they were puppies and there was "no history of problems or aggression" with the animals.

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

Recent North Carolina fatalities:
12/12/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Yadkin County Infant Mauled to Death by Family Dog
10/04/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Pembroke 'Dog Rescuer' Killed by Own Dogs
09/14/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: 10-Month Old Hertford Boy Killed by Pit Bull
08/16/12: 2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Person County Authorities Charge Pit Bull Owner

Photos: WFMY-TV

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

2013 Dog Bite Fatality: Baltimore Woman, 56, Killed by Her Pet Pit Bull

Terry Douglass and Boosie, the 4-year old male pit bull that killed her.

Policy Problems
UPDATE 11/04/13: On Monday, CBS Baltimore aired a headine segment asking questions about why a pit bull with a history of two attacks was returned to its wheelchair-bound owner. The animal's third attack killed its owner. Reporter Rochelle Ritchie states in the onset of the segment, "Advocates say it should not have happened. In fact, the woman had a huge gash on her face from when the dog had attacked before." Victims' advocate Tony Solesky is featured in the piece.

Tony Solesky is the father of a young pit bull mauling victim at the center of Tracey v. Solesky, an appellate court decision that declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous" in the State of Maryland. The high court decision attached strict liability when the breed attacks; this liability extends to landlords when a tenant's pit bull attacks. The Court issued the ruling in April 2012. The decision has been the subject of much controversy across Maryland and the Northeast ever since.

Ritchie summarizes in the segment, "Why the dog was returned to Douglass after it attacked remains a huge question that is unanswered. We tried to speak with health officials here at the health department. They would not go on camera." Solesky adds, "This is a problem of policy, and it's a problem they're aware of. The only time it gets addressed is when we have these horrific incidents." Solesky will continue to push Baltimore City Health Department officials to learn more.

View Related video

11/03/13: Health Department on Defense
The Baltimore Sun released an update on Sunday showing the failure and bias of the Baltimore City Health Department, which oversees animal control. The article states that animal control officers seized Boosie in April of this year after a biting incident involving two people, but returned the animal because they "did not feel the dog was a threat to the public." The department denied responsibility further by stating that Douglass was "adamant in getting the dog back" afterward.

No mention was made by the Baltimore City Health Department about the first attack, which left wheelchair-bound Douglass with a disfigured face 2-years ago. No mention was made about the landmark Maryland Court of Appeals ruling in 2012 that declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous" in Maryland either. Yet, plenty of mention was made about the pro-pit bull bias of the health department, instead of their central mission, which is to protect the health and welfare of people.

[Health department] officials said they do not have special rules for pit bulls, noting that any breed has potential to bite.

"Baltimore City Animal Control supports responsible pet ownership and not laws that single out a specific breed," a statement read. "According to the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Dog attacks often result from multiple factors; it is not necessarily the breeds themselves that are dangerous."

Predictably, both the Baltimore City Health Department and Jennifer Brause, the executive director of BARCS, obfuscated this horrific life-taking attack of which there are only about 32 fatalities per year, by citing irrelevant CDC "dog bite" data that does not address dog bite injury severity and "any animal can bite" propaganda, which also does not address dog bite injury severity, and finally, Brause states, "We don't want people to look at [pit bulls] and say they bite." (Heaven forbid!)1

Article Updated 7:11 pm (EST)

Minutes after posting the above portion, "Health Department on Defense," The Sun article updated with new and noteworthy information. According to the victim's daughter, Tamathia Davis, "To get her mother to give up the dog, Davis said she wouldn't let her 1-year-old son visit from their home in Pennsylvania. She also said she asked the landlord to ban the dog," states the piece. Davis admits in the update that she too owns and loves a pet pit bull that she raised from a puppy.

The victim's nephew, Torian Wellsey, is included in the Sunday evening update as well. Wellsey was attacked by the dog along with Douglass in April (not her son as stated in previous news reports). Wellsey told The Sun, "The dog was a vicious dog. She thought she could control it and she couldn't." Wellsey said his aunt tried to stand from her wheelchair to reach for a glass of water, but fell onto the ground when her pet pit bull attacked. "He ripped her apart," Wellsey said.

The update also shows how BARCS and city animal control are distinguishing themselves. "Boosie was housed at BARCS' facilities during the quarantine period, but the city's animal control department made the decision to return the dog," states the piece. New readers may be confused about this kind of intertwining co-dependent relationship. One entity "confiscates" dogs and the other "cares for, temperament tests and adopts" them out; the former is like a tow truck service.

Apparently, it was the tow truck service2 that sent the two-time attacker back to its crippled owner.

11/03/13: Attacked Victim Twice Before
Late Saturday night, The Baltimore Sun published a disturbing update to the nation's most recent fatal pit bull attack. Terry Douglass, 56, died after "Boosie," her 4-year old male pit bull she had raised since a puppy, attacked her for a third time. Her daughter, Tamathia Davis, said the dog had attacked her wheelchair-bound mother twice before. The attacks began about 2-years ago, around the same time Douglass began using the wheelchair due to suffering from cerebral palsy.

"She loved that dog unconditionally," said Davis.

Davis describes the first attack as occurring about 2-years ago. The animal bit Douglass in the face so horribly that "whenever my mom would open her mouth, her cheek would open with it," Davis said. The second attack occurred last year when Boosie bit Douglass and one of her sons. A city shelter placed the dog in quarantine after the last attack Davis said, but allowed the dog to be returned home to Douglass even though Davis and other relatives pleaded with them not to.

Why Was No Pause Given?

The city shelter (BARCS presumably) placed a two-time attacker back into the home of a wheelchair-bound owner who had no means to control this animal and had already suffered two previous attacks by the dog.
The city shelter (BARCS presumably) placed a two-time attacker back into
the home of a wheelchair-bound owner who had no means to control this
animal and had a disfigured face due to one of these previous attacks.
The city shelter (BARCS presumably) placed a two-time attacker back into the home of a wheelchair-bound owner who had no means to control this animal and resided in a high-density neighborhood; the third attack could have victimized any visiting or neighborhood child.
The city shelter (BARCS presumably) placed a two-time attacker back into the home of a wheelchair-bound owner who had no means to control this animal and whose family members had pleaded with them not to.
Finally, the city shelter (BARCS presumably) did all of this despite being "painfully" aware of the 2012 high court ruling that declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous" in the State of Maryland from a liability perspective.

Pause certainly should have been given by the city shelter due these overwhelming issues.

Recent Pit Bull Owner Deaths

Terry Douglass now joins a growing number of pit bull owners who suffered a violent death by the jaws of their own dogs. Some of these victims include; Clifford Wright, 74-years old, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Rebecca Cary, 23-years old of Decatur, Georgia; Deborah Roberts, 45-years old, of Jefferson County, Arkansas; Mary Jo Hunt, 53-years old, of Pembroke, North Carolina; Michael Cook, 61-years old of Tucson, Arizona and Darla Napora, 38-years old of Pacifica, California.

11/02/13: Woman Killed by Pet Pit Bull
Baltimore, MD - In a developing story, a 56-year old woman died Friday after being attacked by her pet pit bull. Police officers responded to a call of a "dog bite" to a home in the 2000 block of East 30th Street about 12:45 am,3 according to police spokesperson Detective Jeremy Silbert. Officers discovered the injured woman in the Coldstream Homestead Montebello neighborhood home. She was taken to the hospital where she died. We anticipate more information shortly.4

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

1The earlier Sunday article is time stamped at 4:41 pm EST.
2We don't believe the tow truck service made this decision independently of BARCS. Further, clearly it is BARCS that is steering the city's public policy on the "pit bull" issue.
3This attack only first came to light nearly 24-hours later. The time stamp on The Sun article is 11:16 pm Friday.
4As of 11:30 pm Saturday (EST), there has been no new information, 46-hours after first responders arrived. Given the endless press about the Solesky ruling -- much of it in defense of pit bulls -- it is reasonable to question why the City of Baltimore and local media are responding to this woman's death in this "tight lipped" way. The last Maryland dog bite fatality occurred in May 2006. Raymond Tomco, 78, was mauled to death by his daughter's pit bulls.

Photo: Baltimore Sun

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Colleen Lynn

Dog Bite Victim Advocates Speak At High Risk Dog Ordinance Hearing in Watertown

August 20, 2013 Hearing
Watertown, WI - Back in August, dog bite victim activists geared up for the first reading of the proposed High Risk Dog ordinance. The Watertown Safety and Welfare Committee had been working on the ordinance since February and a considerable amount of public input had already been given. In mid August, the revised ordinance was introduced to city council and contained two tracks 1.) High Risk Dogs (pit bulls) and 2.) Vicious Dogs (pertaining to all dog breeds).

The High Risk Dog portion included an anti-tethering restriction for pit bulls and their mixes, confinement restrictions, mandatory warning signage on the dog owner's property, mandatory sterilization, mandatory registration and a liability insurance policy of $100,000. The breed-specific portion also banned pit bulls and dogs declared "vicious" from visiting or living in a multiple living unit dwelling or building (a triplex or larger, affecting all high density renting environments).

See: Proposed Watertown Dog Ordinance

DogsBite.org edited the August 20 Watertown public hearing video to show a variety of supporters of the proposed ordinance so that readers can see what happens during public comments period of a city council meeting. Many readers will recognize two speakers, Jeff Borchardt, whose son was killed by two pit bulls in March while under the care of his babysitter, and Susan Iwicki, the babysitter and owner of the two pit bulls. A lifelong friend and supporter of Jeff also spoke.

If you want to be a part of something that helps saves somebody, helps save a life, a face, a limb? Start with this bill. - Phil Hughes

Speakers were limited to 3-minutes, a standard time period in public comments. Watertown Mayor John David presided over the hearing and on several occasions reprimanded insolent pit bull advocates in attendance. Those in opposition to the pit bull portion of the ordinance were cut from this 16-minute video segment because our goal was to show the powerful voices in support of adopting a preventative ordinance that would literally help "save a life, a face or a limb."

On August 20, the proposed ordinance narrowly passed. The amendment to remove the "breed-specific language" -- the High Risk Dog portion -- was defeated in a 5 to 4 vote. On September 3, during the second and final reading of the bill, the High Risk Dog portion was stripped. The amendment to remove the breed-specific portion succeeded 6 to 3. Aldermen Robert Stocks and Augie Tietz flipped, bowing to local and out of jurisdiction pit bull advocates and animal groups.1

Upon learning of the September 3 vote, which we only learned just after midnight that night, Jeff Borchardt was deeply saddened. He also appeared at the second reading and spoke, which he described as lengthily and highly contentious. As he previously stated during the August 20 hearing, Jeff reiterated, "If this ordinance would have been in place on March 6, my son would still be alive today." He added in an email to us, "God help them if something happens in that town."

Conclusion

All of the speakers in support of the High Risk Dog ordinance were courageous with compelling arguments. Their viewpoints were vastly more powerful than those voiced by pit bull advocates, who told typical anecdotal stories ("But my pit bull is good!") and pushed propaganda points ("It is impossible identify a pit bull!"). The key to the defeat of the High Risk Dog portion lies in the weak-kneed aldermen who conceded to pressures of local and out of state animal groups.

The upshot is that all of the contention focused on the first track of the proposed ordinance, High Risk Dogs, and ignored the second track, Vicious Dogs, which did pass and is a sizeable improvement over the previous Watertown dog ordinance. We suspect that a number of careless pit bull owners will get nailed under the new definition of a Vicious Dog, which includes "attempt to attack … or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domesticated animals."

See: Finalized Watertown Dog Ordinance

Portions of Video Transcript

Watertown resident

Most of you know I drive a school bus ...

I had my hand on the handle, I saw the dad carry the little boy out to the bus, pit bull like a frozen rope2 headed for the door of the bus. I just barely got the door closed; dog hit that door three or four times, before the dad was able to restrain it ...

This was a Head Start bus. These are 3 and 4-year old kids on that bus who are restrained in 4 point harnesses.

I gotta believe that dog would have gotten through me if it had gotten on the bus. I can't imagine the mayhem that could have been committed.

The headline would not have said, "Irresponsible dog owner let's dog torment bus riders." It would have said, "Children and bus driver maimed when driver does not get door closed."

Watertown resident

Even pit bull breeders themselves recommend that a responsible pit bull owner carry a "break stick" -- I'm going, "What is a break stick?"

I'm reading a break stick is something you should carry if your dog does bite something, you need to pry it in to open their mouths to get them to release.

That made me really think, there is something inherently wrong with that.

Jeff Borchardt

My son, 14-months old, was killed by two pit bulls on March 6, 2013.

His attack lasted for 15-minutes. They attacked the babysitter who was watching him at that time … she did everything she could to save my son's life…

I'm in support of this bill. I have read it in its entirety. If this bill would have been in place in Williams Bay at the time, my son would still be with us today.
I have had nothing but time to do the research on this. I don't have a son to take care of any more. He was our only son...

Phil Hughes

We're talking about lives here. We're talking about human beings.

If you want to be a part of something that helps saves somebody, to help save a life, a face, a limb? Start with this bill...

If you want to stand in office and say, "I passed something that saved a life," that saved a child from having to live a life of being maimed and disfigured … If you want to be part of something that saves a child's life...

Susan Iwiki

I was Dax's babysitter on March 6th of 2013. When my own pit bulls attacked me while I was holding Dax in my arms. They attacked me first, viciously holding onto my arm, and the other one went at my leg, making it impossible for me to keep Dax in my arms.

We were outside at this time and I had to quickly put my entire body over Dax ... I will never forget every second of that day.

I am here to stand up and say: I was a responsible pit bull owner...

1During the August 20 hearing, Sean Van Derel, a board member of the Watertown Humane Society, threatens city council members saying that if the city passes the proposed ordinance, "our service contract with the city is going to go up" (scare tactic). He also played the DNA "scare" card, claiming that DNA tests would be required because humane professionals are unable to identify pit bulls, despite the fact that on any given day in the United States at least dozens (if not hundreds) of humane groups operate "pit bull specific" programs, for example, the Michigan Humane Society (No DNA test required!):

"However, their pet must meet the program’s breed criteria. Dogs covered under this program must be a Pit Bull-type dog, which include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Cane Corso and Presa Canario. If visual verification cannot be made by the individual issuing the certificate, the final decision of breed approval will be determined by the MHS veterinarian or veterinary technician at the time of the sterilization appointment."

Van Derel also flat out lies when claiming that the city would be responsible for the costs of these "supposed" DNA tests. No city should ever entrust public policy decisions concerning the health and safety of human beings to people like Van Derel or animal groups like the Watertown Humane Society.
2"Like a frozen rope" is a very telling description as it represents a "B line" attack, the most dangerous of all attacks (See a video of this type of attack). There is no question of the dog's intention, which is to inflict maximum harm.

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