Posted on January 4, 2012 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Woman Dies New Years Eve After Pit Bull Attack in Cleveland, Tennessee

One of several pit bulls belonging to the owner that killed Mable McCallister.

Mable McCallister
Cleveland, TN - WRCB reports that an 84-year old woman died New Years Eve after a pit bull owned by her grandson attacked her face and neck on December 18 in Cleveland. Mable Harrison McCallister was transported to Erlanger hospital's trauma unit, where she spent more than four days following the attack, according to Bradley County Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffery Miller. Privacy laws are preventing the news agency from learning more about the cause of McCallister's death.

Gamble says the dog in question belongs to Harrison's son, McCallister's grandson, Jerry Harrison, Jr.

"She was bit in her face and neck," Cleveland Police Ofc. Evie West says.
Privacy laws prevent Eyewitness News from examining the medical records to determine the extent of her injuries. But they were serious enough to put Ms. McCallister in Erlanger hospital's trauma unit for more than four days, according to Bradley County Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffrey Miller.

Those same privacy laws also are denying Eyewitness News access to records that could indicate why Ms. McCallister died in hospice care New Year's Eve. Did she succumb to complications that developed from the dog bites? Or from a previous medical condition?

"We became aware of the dog attack only after Ms. McCallister was brought to Erlanger," Ofc. West says. "Neither we nor Animal Control got a call when she was injured."

The dog has remained with the Harrisons since the attack.- WRCB-TV, January 3, 2012

The pit bull has remained in the home of Jerry Harrison, Sr., the dog owner's father, since the attack under a home quarantine. WRCB asked police officials about Tennessee law allowing for "house arrests" after a serious biting incident. Officer Evie West said, "If it complies with those plans and procedures [of a rabies quarantine], it can stay with the owner." WRCB asked, "Even if the bite was serious enough to put somebody in the hospital?" West said, "That's correct."

Welcome to the reality of home quarantines even after life-threatening dog attacks. Tennessee is not alone in allowing for such house arrests. Also, plans call for McCallister's body to be cremated, but the medical examiner "may hold off on signing the authorization" pending further review.

A person named Amanda, who purported to be Mable's great-granddaughter, left comments on the news article, including: "I am the great-granddaugter of Mabel McCallister. My grandmother died from the pit bull attack," and "Jerry is a cruel human being. He sets out to hurt others. He is always threatening to set that dog loose on people. Something needs to be done about the dog. A woman an amazing woman dies from this dog and nothing is being done about it," she wrote.

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

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Victim of Catastrophic Pit Bull Injury Dies on Christmas Eve

New Charges Filed
UPDATE 01/18/12: Authorities filed new charges against the owners of two pit bulls that savagely mauled a woman, who later died from her injuries. The new charges against Alba Cornelio and her daughter, Carla Cornelio, include involuntary manslaughter and death from a mischievous animal. Both pleaded not guilty. In a previous court hearing, their defense attorney, Donovan Dunnion, claimed that the dogs were "running away from a swarm of bees" at the time of the attack.

Alba Cornelio, 39, and her daughter, Carla Cornelio, 19, pleaded not guilty Thursday to new charges of involuntary manslaughter and death from a mischievous animal.

The mother and daughter were previously arraigned on multiple other criminal charges, including serious bodily injury from a mischievous animal, failure to provide public protection from dogs, owning or having custody of a dangerous animal/dog causing injury and failure to restrain a dog. - NBC San Diego

12/27/11: Suffers Another Amputation
New information about the death of Emako Mendoza has been reported. In the months following the June 18 mauling, Mendoza underwent eight surgeries after the two immediate amputations. Less than three weeks ago, her right leg was also amputated due infection within the bone. After months of attempted rehabilitation, Emako's heart stopped on Christmas Eve. Her husband James Mendoza said, "She was so tired ... she wanted to come home so bad. But she didn't make it."

Emako Mendoza was bitten at her home the morning of June 18 as she went outside to get a newspaper. Following the incident she suffered a heart attack, and her left arm and leg had to be amputated.

In the months that followed, Mendoza underwent eight surgeries. Less than three weeks ago, her right leg was also amputated because of infection within the bone.

After months of attempted rehabilitation, Mendoza’s heart stopped the day before Christmas. Her husband of 54 years, James, said Mendoza had been through a terrible ordeal.

"You wouldn’t imagine something like that would happen in your own private backyard," he said. "She thought she was safe." - NBC San Diego

12/27/11: Pit Bull Attack Victim Dies
San Diego, CA - 76-year old Emako Mendoza, who was nearly mauled to death by her neighbors two pit bulls in June, died on Christmas Eve, according to a family member. Mendoza was hospitalized in critical condition following the June 18 mauling and underwent the amputation of her left arm and left leg. It's unknown at this time if authorities will file new charges against the owners of the pit bulls, Alba Medina Cornelio, 39, and her daughter, Carla Ramirez Cornelio, 19.

Both are charged with felony counts of having a mischievous animal that causes serious bodily injury and six misdemeanor code violations, including failing to protect the public from a dog and owning a dangerous dog. They each face more than three years in prison if convicted.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, Emako Mendoza was attacked in her fenced-in yard right after she went outside to get the morning paper.

Witnesses testified that the pit bulls got through a gap in the fence, ripping a hole near a metal gate that the victim had installed to bridge the gap in the fence between the two properties.

Prosecutor Makenzie Harvey alleged the defendants knew they had dangerous dogs because the same two pit bulls escaped from their yard on Christmas Day 2010 and attacked a man who was walking his puppy. The puppy suffered a broken jaw and the man was bitten. - 10 News

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

Baseline reporting requirements:
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

Pit Bull Breeder Pushes ‘Pit to Home’

Chas. Werner, and his pit bull terrier, Brindle Breaker, The Dog Fancier, 1911

New Orleans, LA - In this 1911 Dog Fancier advertisement, pit bull breeder Chas. Werner reflects how Americans feel about the breed: "Our Ideal Dog the Outcast American" (note handwriting on dog photo). "Outcast" is intended as a pitying label and also represents two other issues. One, by 1911, pit bulls were feared by the public due to their dangerous fighting traits and two, Werner claims that fighting pit bulls play a dual role in the "pit" and "family home" environments.

In the one hundred years that have passed since 1911, DogsBite.org would like to announce that very little has changed concerning the pit bull terrier and how its extreme advocates distort the truth about the breed's purpose: to fight to the death in a pit. Also in this announcement is evidence that pit bull fanciers (dogfighters of that period) had to victimize the pit bull by associating it to outcasts by 1911 due to the breed's widely recognized reputation of being violent.

Werner's "Outcast American" label has its roots in that time period. In 1911, the groups now termed "underprivileged" and "disenfranchised" were called "social outcasts." Just like pro-pit bull groups do today, Werner attempts to depict the pit bull as an anthropomorphized victim in 1911.1 Modern victimizing terms include "misunderstood," the "most abused breed" and "pit bulls have a bad rap," of which BAD RAP, a recipient of the Michael Vick dogs, based their name on.2

A New Market for Pit Bull Terriers?

In the same 1911 Dog Fancier volume, Werner puts in a "good word for the pit dog" in a letter to the editor. It must be noted that Werner is a fighting dog breeder and understands that dogfighting as a legal activity has a limited future. To continue breeding pit bulls, there must be a new market for them, which according to Werner is inside the American home. Thus the name of his kennel, Pit to Home, and his attempt to alter the public's perception about this dangerous breed.

A Good Word for the Pit Dog
To the Editor of The Dog Fancier:

For the last ten years, continuously I have been the owner of Pit Bull Terriers and can truthfully say that I have, by practice, done what others advocate by preaching to the impart to the public in this city the fact that our noble dog does not need to be classified as a fighting dog pure and simple, useless for any practical purposes, but have tried to convince through my dogs and through those which I bred and sold that the much feared Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most intelligent as well as most loyal dogs that any man could ever own.

I pointed out, and that with considerable pride, that the gameness and fighting qualities of my own dogs always made them so much more valuable as protectors for my home and family during my absence and I have succeeded in overcoming prejudice of those who know me to be sincere in the argument that a real thorough bred Pit Bull Terrier was never known to be treacherous to those who treated him with kindness.
- Chas. Werner, New Orleans, La. (Dog Fancier, April 1911, Page 13).

The Much Feared Pit Bull Terrier

Why, by 1911, does the American public believe the pit bull terrier to be an outlaw dog breed and deservedly feared? From 1859 to 1911, nearly 30 people in the U.S. were mauled to death by pit bull type dogs (fatalpitbullattacks.com). This is what we know by searching newspaper archives today, including the Library of Congress. This number excludes deaths still undiscovered and the many destructive bulldog and bull terrier maulings that ended in lifelong devastating injury.

For over a century now, the public has distrusted the pit bull breed and for good reason: continuous maimings and fatal maulings.

In the June Dog Fancier issue, Werner further pleads his case that the "outlaw breed" ought to have a place in the American home. Werner tries to achieve this by twisting the recognized dangerous reputation of the breed into the "Standard Dog of America" that is suitable for all American homes. Thanks to Werner, we now know that the pit bull community has been distorting the truth about the pit bull breed for at least 100 years because there has been a dire need to.

The Standard Dog of America

The American dog we see as a domestic in many of our homes today and who's breeding shows him to be a pit bull terrier represents in true light the mission of the dead game breed, namely, to be of true benefit to all mankind. This, then, must be the most typical American dog for the American public, for if the American Domestic Pit Bull Terrier is judged by the American standard he most certainly will come up to all requirements as requested by the American at home.

He is known to be faithful and loyal, man's best friend and companion, and shows that indomitable courage, by virtue of game breeding from the gamest strains of fighting dogs which the grand old pit bull breed ever produced, namely, the American. The sacrifice, which this heroic breed suffered in the days when it fought for its existence in the pit, has not been in vain. Man has repented -- true sentiment of sympathy for a dog willing enough to do battle to death has naturally aroused his pride in the possession and in the savings of such a grand and noble breed for future generations. The future is not in the fighting game where its existence can not be maintained, but its the brightest in company with the fancier who realizes we are in an age of progress in dog fancy when only true idealism in fancyism will bring to the highest standard any living breed in great dogdom...

True dog lover's sentiment, practical application of broad human principals based on a sense of justice to eradicate the evil of prejudices caused by the impression that the pit bull terrier is a fighting dog only, must be held by those who have the interest of the pit bull dog at heart. Only those who believe that he should not be any longer the martyr, but place true value on his life, know the fine and noble traits of character of the "outlaw" in his last retreat with us as our ideal dog in the American home. Welcome "Outcast," from Pit to Home.
- Charles Werner, New Orleans, La. (Dog Fancier, June 1911, Page 15)

By 1911, pit bull breeder Chas. Werner and other fanciers like him (and before him) had already created the fairy tale pro-pit bull propaganda bible, whose pages are read from everyday by modern day pit bull breeders, advocates and humane organizations, both local and national. What startles us the most, however, is that Werner managed to pack in so many distortion keywords into just a few paragraphs. We address some of these distortions thematically below:

The title, "The Standard Dog of America," speaks for itself. Werner attempts to bring new meaning to the pit bull terrier by branding the breed something other than a fighting dog. Werner even takes this a step further by suggesting that the "dead game breed" be the standard against what all pet dogs should be measured. At this time, pit bulls have not even been admitted into the AKC.
Just as modern pit bull advocates do, Werner wraps the dog in the American flag to elevate its status by continuous uses of the words: American, mankind, noble, faithful, loyal, courage, heroic, pride, fought for its existence, battle to death and idealism. Werner also co-opts civil rights language. By 1911, the "evil of prejudices" had become a cornerstone of American beliefs. Modern co-opted civil rights terms include "canine racism" and "discriminatory legislation."
By 1911, fighting dog breeders such as Werner had polished the pro-pit bull rhetoric enough to be adoptable by humane groups of that time3 who were working to stop the cruel bloodsport. From "pit to home" likely would have been met with open arms by humane organizations, as well as his bold declaration that, "the future is not in the fighting game" and "man has repented."
But had man repented? Werner uses past tense in this case: "the days when it fought for its existence in a pit." The truth is, in 1911, dogfighting flourished across the Midwest and into parts of Colorado and California. Werner was actively breeding and selling fighting pit bulls for the purpose of dogfighting at the same time that he penned this piece as shown in his advertisements.4
Lastly, Werner intended to save "a grand and noble breed for future generations." Many modern pro-pit bull groups still use this theme today, such as BAD RAP, who declares on each web page: "Securing the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as a cherished family companion" and the Lone Star State APBT Club, "preserve the American Pit Bull Terrier for future generations."

Results of the Century Old Debate

There are two aspects that Werner had correct in 1911: Dogfighting would eventually meet an end and the only way to ensure the pit bull's survival was to "repackage" it with a purpose other than dogfighting. Werner and other pit bull fanciers needed to move fast too. Calls to banish the breed, believing it to be "more dangerous than a lion or tiger," were already occurring in America in 1911. By 1914, the City of Ogden, Utah has a pit bulldog ordinance in place.5

The same repackaging of the pit bull as the "Ideal American Dog" continues ad nauseam today, beefed up with slogans like, "It's all in how you raise 'em" and "It's the owner not the breed." Of the 29 fatal dog attacks so far this year, pit bulls contributed to 69% (20). Of these, 30% involved a pet pit bull killing its owner and 55% involved a pet pit bull killing a family member. Is the breed really the ideal dog as Darla Napora -- a BAD RAP devotee -- was led to believe?

1In the September issue, Werner adds, "elevation of the Pit Bull out of obscurity, from being the underdog in the dog world to the highest grade in classified dogology."
2Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls.
3Significant humane organizations began forming in the United States in the second half of the 18th century.
4Furthermore, as depicted in a 1911 letter to The Dog Fancier, Werner would offer a brief dogfight match (also called a "roll") when a buyer visited his kennels.
5In a 1913 San Francisco newspaper, the Kennel Department section comments on "Pit Bull Terrier Ads" and refers to The Dog Fancier publication as an "unfortunate fighting-dog paper."

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Lowndes County Woman Killed by Pit Bull

Misti Wyno, 40-years old, was attacked and killed by a pit bull in Valdosta, GA.

Neighbors Speak Out
UPDATE 12/09/11: WCTV reports that Misti and the neighbors who owned the pit bull were "close." Bobbie Joe Courson owns the pit bull that killed Misti, along with three other pit bulls. James Sharp, whose 5-year old son was bitten by one of Courson's pit bulls in September, said: "I've even told the district attorneys and everybody at the aggressive dog hearing, if these dogs get out somebody was going to get killed." That pit bull was later released back to Courson.

12/08/11: Woman Dies from Injuries
Valdosta, GA - In a developing story, a Lowndes County woman died this afternoon after being savagely attacked by a pit bull. Misti Wyno, 40-years old, was reportedly attacked as she walked to her neighbor's house to get some grits. A nearby male chained pit bull broke its chain and attacked. According to authorities, the dog repeatedly tore into the woman's legs and arms. The victim died about an hour later due to her injuries. Wyno's body is being sent for an autopsy.

Neighbor Jimmy Watkins told WALB, "I called animal control three times about this black dog, supposedly the one that attacked the lady, and they've been out here numerous times over the last three, four years about these pit bull dogs. There's three houses in a row, three of them have pit bull dogs." WALB knocked on the door at the property where the attack occurred, but no one answered. The sheriff's office did not return phone calls to WALB about the dog's owners.

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

DogsBite blog ::

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Woman Dies New Years Eve After Pit Bull Attack in Cleveland, Tennessee

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Victim of Catastrophic Pit Bull Injury Dies on Christmas Eve

1911 Pit Bull Terrier Depicted as ‘Outcast American’ to Victimize the Breed

Pit Bull Breeder Pushes ‘Pit to Home’

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Lowndes County Woman Killed by Pit Bull