Posted on August 18, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

After $2.2 Million Award, Dog Bite Victim Sue Gorman Says System is Still Flawed

Safety Issues Persist
Gig Harbor, WA - On August 21, 2007, two pit bulls entered a residential home through a side sliding door and attacked a disabled woman while she slept. The victim, 59-year-old Sue Gorman, suffered serious injuries to her face, forearms and hands. Prior to the incident, animal control had made over a dozen visits to the home of the dogs' owners due to complaints by area residents. Gorman alone had called 911 at least ten times leading up to the attack.

There were four specific times Pierce County officials could have declared the pit bulls "potentially dangerous." That never happened.

Victim Successfully Sues County

Last week, a Pierce County jury awarded Gorman $2.2 million in damages. Jurors assigned 52% of the blame to the dogs' owners and 42% to Pierce County, leaving the county on the hook for $924,000. Gorman's attorneys -- Michael McKasy and Shelly Speir -- successfully argued that county animal control was negligent for not taking action against the dogs' owners despite numerous complaints about their pit bulls "running loose and terrorizing people."

In the King 5 video,1 Gorman said she believes safety issues still persist in the county. She said the crux of the problem in her case was a failure of communication between the Pierce County Auditor, who handles animal control issues, but does not share these complaints with the Sheriff's Department (and vise versa). Four years after her ordeal, Gorman believes little has been done to change the system that allowed the dangerous dogs to nearly kill her.2

"It's just real scary that it could happen again to anyone in any neighborhood," Gorman said.

Gorman's victory against Pierce County is yet another victory won by a dog bite victim against a county. Local governments who continue to sweep dangerous dog complaints under the rug and/or fail to properly penalize owners of these dogs must take notice. As recently as June, a potential lawsuit against a Florida county arose after the fatal mauling of Roy McSweeney. In that case, the pit bulls had viciously attacked two people prior to killing McSweeney.

Reflections on the Sue Gorman Attack

In the founder's recent piece about her own attack, she mentions the Sue Gorman attack, "This horrifying attack rocked the Puget Sound and left me nearly fully debilitated for three days."3 Many community members and groups were also greatly affected by what happened and mobilized to help. One of these efforts was carried out by Need-A-Break Services, who did an "extreme make over" of Gorman's home before she returned home from the hospital.

View Sue Gorman Project Video

A special thanks goes out to the outstanding lawyering by Michael McKasy and Shelly Speir and to all community members and groups who helped Gorman in the weeks, months and years following the attack. Sue Gorman is an unforgettable pit bull attack survivor who also became a leader. DogsBite.org will always hold Sue Gorman's courage, perseverance and loveliness close to our hearts.1Note the computer generated graphics that show Gorman being attacked by the pit bulls in her bedroom -- highly effective materials to place in front of a jury.
2At the time of the attack, Gorman had a therapy dog, named Misty, and had been caring for a neighbor's Jack Russell. The Jack Russell was killed during the attack.
3In 2007, the founder of DogsBite.org was living in King County, adjacent to Pierce County. This website launched two months after the attack upon Sue Gorman.

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Pregnant Pacifica Woman Killed by Family Pit Bull

Darla Napora, 32-years old, and her unborn child were killed by her beloved pit bull.

Victim Bled to Death
UPDATE 08/15/11: According to a preliminary investigation by the San Mateo County coroner's office, Darla Napora died of blood loss and shock. Her husband Greg returned home at noon that day and found her unconscious with the couple's male pit bull, Gunner, standing over her body. Dog bite experts concluded that Gunner was the sole attacker. Presuming that a DNA test is not required for the female pit bull, Tazi, she will be returned home soon.

Comment Threads

Over the weekend, comment threads at the Mercury News, SFGate.com and a handful of other websites began spiraling downward. Pit bull advocates started spreading a rumor that Darla fell from a ladder and the dog was "trying to wake her up." This is true despite clearly communicated information by the Pacifica Police Department and major news publications that Darla and her unborn child were killed by her pet pit bull. One comment, left Friday, is notable:

Many citizens and dog owners might not appreciate its full meaning. Pit bull owners, however, do. The comment in part reflects the great amount of due diligence required to keep a pit bull from attacking another dog or person (crate-and-rotate routine). The comment sadly sums up Darla's death and offers insight into the lunacy of the Pit Nutter mindset. Pit bull owners accept the disturbing reality of this comment, whereas normal dog owners would never accept it.

A Class of His Own

Having researched several hundred fatal dog maulings, DogsBite has seen some of the most disingenuous statements imaginable from pit bull owners after a fatal attack. But Greg Napora's comments to the Mercury News on Friday -- just 24 hours after Darla's grisly death -- places Napora in a class of his own. The only thing he failed to add, where pit bull owner Wally Roberts did not, is: "I met with a priest. He told me to feel the pain but not the guilt."

A day after the family's pit bull fatally attacked his pregnant wife, Greg Napora said Friday he doesn't blame the dog. He even plans to bury his spouse, Darla, with their pet's cremated remains in her casket.

"They are the most loving animals I have ever had in my life. Whatever happened right now was not the breed's fault," said Napora, who found his wife dead when he returned to the couple's Pacifica home from his construction job with plans to take her to lunch Thursday. "It was just a freak accident." (Joshua Melvin and Lisa Fernandez, Mercury News)

What About Gunner?

Craven Desires blog offers compelling commentary about Gunner and how little the public knows about the dog. In paragraph three, the writer states: "If it were a person who killed this woman, by now we would know everything about them, even where they went to kindergarten. Reporters would be interviewing the murderer's parents and family. But because its a dog, the authorities are just sitting around, hoping to find out if the dog had rabies or a brain tumor."

08/13/11: Woman to be Buried with Dog's Ashes
Friends of DogsBite have been talking behind the scenes about where Greg Napora lies on the Pit Nutter scale. A piece from the Mercury News brings vivid clarification: "Greg Napora said Friday he doesn't blame the dog. He even plans to bury his spouse, Darla, with their pet's cremated remains in her casket." Napora added that the attack that killed his wife and unborn child is "not the breed's fault" and that it was a "freak accident."

According to Napora and Darla's mother, Sandy Robinson, Darla was an avid supporter of Bad Rap (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls). The group is best known for being a recipient of nearly a dozen Michael Vick dogs. Their website offers resources to help owners be more responsible and uses adorable titles such as: "Pit Bulls can be Butt Heads!" On the Tips for Being a Responsible Dog Owner, Bad Rap lists altering your dog as number two.

Both Napora and Robison are eager to get the surviving pit bull, Tazi, back home. We imagine Tazi will also be present at Darla's funeral.

08/11/11: Pet Pit Bull Kills Pregnant Woman
Pacifica, CA - A pregnant woman1 was killed Thursday by a family pit bull inside her Pacifica home. The victim, 32-year old Darla Napora, was discovered by her husband when he returned home from work about noon. Greg Napora told police that he arrived home to find "one of the couple's two pit bulls" standing over his wife's body. He got the dog into the backyard before police arrived, according to Capt. Dave Bertini of Pacifica Police Department.

Attempts to revive Darla were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead at the scene, along with her unborn child. While the investigation was still underway, the 2-year old, unaltered male pit bull got loose from the backyard -- police fired three shots at the dog killing it. The husband withstanding, this is the end of the Napora family who likely believed that if they raised their pit bulls properly, the dogs would serve as perfect Nanny dogs for their coming new child.

To help prevent horrific maulings by pit bulls, San Francisco enacted a mandatory pit bull sterilization law in 2005. Pacifica may soon follow suit as have other California municipalities.

Recent Californians Killed by Pit Bulls

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

1Does this count as one fatal dog mauling or two?

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: 4-Year Old Boy Killed by Grandfather's Rottweiler in Ozark

James Dowling, 4-years old of Hot Springs, was killed by his grandfather's rottweiler.

Funeral Planned
UPDATE 08/13/11: On Saturday, the family of the little boy killed by his grandfather's rottweiler planned a funeral in Hot Springs. James Dowling had been visiting his grandfather's home in Ozark when the attack occurred. Police said the boy was playing in the backyard of the home. The rottweiler was also in the yard, but separated by a four-foot-high chain link pen. The dog jumped out and brutally attacked the boy. When responders arrived, the child was barely breathing.

"We can't have dogs like this in our neighborhood. It's too dangerous. They get out and they attack like a wild animal" -- neighbor Ray Baugus.

Ozark Police Chief Cory Tedford said he does not foresee criminal charges.

08/12/11: Jumps 4-Foot Fence to Attack
Ozark, AR - In a developing story, a 4-year old boy was killed by a rottweiler on Friday. At the time of the attack, the boy had been visiting his grandfather's home in Ozark. Police say the boy was outside playing in a fenced backyard when the dog jumped out of its four-foot-high chain link pen and attacked. The boy was airlifted to a Little Rock hospital, but was diverted after his condition worsened. He died shortly after reaching Johnson Region Medical Center in Clarksville.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: U.S. Fatal Rottweiler Attacks By State

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull-Type Dog Kills 11-Month Old Child During July 4th Gathering

Michael Naglee, 11-months old, was killed by a family dog while visiting his grandparents.

New Information archived
UPDATE 07/06/11: Later this same day, another update was made to The Oregonian article. Just before the incident, the boy was being held by Louisa Farmer, Michael's maternal grandmother, while she sat on the couch. After Michael began squirming, she placed him on the floor. He then "ran across the room to Duncan," according to Michael Farmer. The dog responded by knocking the boy down and attacking him and three adults who intervened.

There are two issues about this update: 1.) An 11-12 month old child does not have the coordination to run as Michael Farmer's statement suggests. While it may have been an unintentional use of the word "run" on his part, instead of a more descriptive term, such as "he quickly staggered toward the animal," running directly toward a dog indicates provocation -- the child asked for it. 2.) The dog wasn't given away at Michael's birth, his parents were the only owners.

The ramifications of the latter are significant. Michael and the dog were not new to one another. The dog attacked and killed the boy in an off-property environment while his parents were absent and he was under the supervision of his grandparents. In the 6-year period from 2005 through 2010, 12% (22) of all fatal dog attacks (182) reflected a similar scenario. In contrast, 14% (25) involved chained dogs, which is commonly known as a high risk factor.

07/06/11: Who Owned the Dog?
KOIN reports in a follow up video that after Michael was born, his parents "gave the dog to his grandparents." The segment does not specify which set of grandparents -- maternal or paternal. Sheriff Anderson states in the video: "The grandparents and the parents and everybody who was there obviously did not believe this dog was of any threat to the child." Except that upon the boy's birth, the parents removed the 135 pound dog from their home?

Separately, Lynne Terry of The Oregonian updated her original story with new details and several statements from Portland-based Jacqui Neilson, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist. Echoing other science ethical sell-outs, Neilson states in the newer article that only 10 fatal dog attacks are reported annually in the United States. The twenty plus more people who are killed by dogs each year apparently never had real lives, families or memorials marking their deaths.

07/05/11: Victim: Michael Naglee archived
Nehalem, OR - On Saturday, another child's life came to an end due to a pit bull-type dog. Press members are now identifying the animal as an American bulldog even though its breed standard, Scott-type, is by definition a pit bull-mix. At the time of the attack, the boy was at the home of his paternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Naglee. When Michael tried to squirm out of Betty's arms, she placed him on the floor. As soon as she did, the dog attacked.

The toddler was rushed to Tillamook County General Hospital, where three of the adults were also treated for injuries. Michael's parents, James and Michelle Naglee, were not in the home at the time of the incident. According to Todd Anderson, Tillamook County Sheriff, the large pit bull-type dog belonged to the boy's parents. The couple got the animal at a shelter about four years ago. The dog, named Duncan, was shot dead on scene by responding deputies.

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