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.

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: 'Loving Dog' Kills Visiting Baby in Chesterfield County

Meet Polar, the deaf pit bull-American bulldog mix baby killer.1

No Charges
UPDATE 07/13/11: Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that charges will not be sought following the death of Salvador Cotto. Chesterfield County Police Department issued a news release today stating that a "thorough police investigation" and discussions with prosecutors led to the decision. After the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of the boy's death, "cerebral edema due to a dog bite to the head," the dog was euthanized, according to the release.
Salvador Miguel Cotto was born January 10, 2011.

Separately, Polar fan club members along with some media members are still having trouble understanding the examiner's ruling. For instance, Donna Solinger writes: "Did they purposely leave out the part that the bite was ruled "accidental?" and Richmond.com writes: "Polar has been euthanized, on July 13, despite the medical examiner's office ruling the death of an infant as accidental." The ruling pertained only to the criminal culpability of a human being.

07/12/11: Cause of Death Announced
Richmond.com reports that a forensic pathologist announced today that the toddler's death was accidental, meaning that there was no human criminal responsibility.2 Chesterfield County Police continue to investigate the case. Police spokesperson Elizabeth Caroon, who provided no new updates, said only that the investigation is "still ongoing." The infant died of cerebral edema due to a dog bite to the head. Polar remains at the Chesterfield County Animal Shelter.

07/08/11: Sources: Cerebral Edema
Unnamed sources tell WTVR.com that the baby died from cerebral edema as a result of a dog bite to the head. Cerebral edema is the swelling of the brain and in this case was likely caused by traumatic brain injury. Donna Armstrong, who organized Friday's dozen person denialist event televised by WTVR.com, said that Polar was acting like any animal when it picked the child up "by the neck [scruff]."3 The so-called "vigil" greatly marginalized the toddler's death.

WTVR.com was also quick to point out via unnamed sources that the child's death was ruled an accident, "not a vicious attack." Readers should note the definition of Traumatic Brain Injury and the genetic bite style of pit bulls and other gripper breeds: hold and shake (Shaken Baby Syndrome may be a possibility here too). At the very least, the new information provides clues into why the police investigation continues. Death by cerebral edema is not always immediate.

Causes of brain swelling:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI is also called a head injury, brain injury, or acquired brain injury. In TBI, a sudden event damages the brain. Both the physical contact itself and the quick acceleration and deceleration of the head can cause the injury. The most common causes of TBI include falls, vehicle crashes, being hit with or crashing into an object, and assaults. The initial injury can cause brain tissue to swell. In addition, broken pieces of bone can rupture blood vessels in any part of the head. The body's response to the injury may also increase swelling. Too much swelling may prevent fluids from leaving the brain.

07/08/11: "Save Polar" Cause Begins
It comes as no surprise that pit bull and animal rights activists have begun an effort to "Save Polar" from being euthanized. On June 29, Polar, a pit bull-American bulldog mix, killed a baby in Chesterfield. On the Save Polar Facebook page, Arlene Esan writes, "I was told there was nothing the governor could do when I called." In contrast to the story's headline, "Hundreds pray for dog that killed a child," only a dozen bizarre persons turned out for the actual event.

07/07/11: Breed Mislabeling Effort
While it is unclear who conceived the "dogo" story, news reports now say that the offending dog is a pit bull-American bulldog mix, not a dogo Argentino, which weighs up to 100 pounds and more. The dogo story might have stemmed from neighbor Geoff Rundless, who told the Richmond Times-Dispatch, "[The dog owners] are a loving family, and Polar is a loving dog." Or, neighbor J.C. Thompson who said, "Something must have triggered the dog."

The dogo story also might have originated from the dog's owners, Charles and Erin Teets, who left their home as soon as media members began appearing in the neighborhood. Chesterfield Animal Control might have been the culprit as well. According to Thompson, the "loving dog" was deaf, but was quick to obey commands and hand signals from family members. This same "loving dog" was also quick to kill a visiting baby, a human life now forever gone.

Surprisingly, Sochitl Rodriquez, the animal rescue worker who provided Polar to the Teets family, stepped forward yesterday and corrected the false dogo story. She said the animal is not a dogo Argentino as described by neighbors, but far smaller, weighing only 50 pounds. Rodriquez confirmed that the dog is deaf and was originally from Atlanta. Its previous owners used rubber bands to cut off circulation to the dog's ears to crop them (aka Poor Man's Crop).

Rodriquez added that Polar was "always a sweet dog no matter what situation you put her in." She too wonders if Polar was trying to help the child in some way (by killing it). Rodriquez does not want the dog euthanized, she might even want it back. Prior to placing Polar with the Teets, she fostered the dog for 6-months. If readers have not come to this conclusion already, this is a clear case of persons who value the life of a rescued dog over the life of a human being.

06/30/11: Dog Kills Visiting Infant
Chesterfield County, VA - In a developing story, Chesterfield County police say that a baby is dead after suffering a dog bite Wednesday afternoon from a relative's dog. The mother and her infant had been visiting relatives at a home on Overridge Drive at the time of the incident. The animal, a dogo Argentino4 -- a fighting and hunting dog breed and cousin to the pit bull -- apparently did not have a history of being aggressive, according to Lt. Randy Horowitz.5

1We removed the younger depiction of Polar supplied to WTVR by denialists to portray a more accurate image of how the dog looks today.
2It is important to point out that the cause of death ruling does not mean that the dog did not kill the baby on purpose. Polar's fan club, including WTVR.com, however, would have you believe otherwise.
3Even the unnamed source said this baby died due to a bite injury inflicted on the head, not to the neck [scruff].
4The dog is also being called a pit bull-American bulldog mix and an American bulldog-mix.
5To say that a dogo Argentino doesn't have a history of being aggressive is somewhat like saying a tank hasn't been deployed yet. It may not have ever seen combat, but it is still a tank, not a passenger car or delivery truck.

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

1999 Dog Bite Fatality: Savannah Boy Killed by Pit Bull; Father Reflects Upon Attack

Roger Dukes, 6-years old, was mauled to death by a pit bull named "Crush" in 1999.

Roger Eugene Dukes archived
Savannah, GA - In the aftermath of a pit bull mauling that left 7-year old Javon Roberson with permanent disfiguring injuries and potentially life long facial paralysis, the father of a child killed by a pit bull twelve years ago from the same area emerged. Roger Eugene Quarterman spoke frankly with Savannah Morning News this past weekend and offered vivid details about the attack that took his son's life in February of 1999. "He would have been 18 now," Quarterman began.

"I've been carrying this burden ever since then. Every time I see a little boy, I think of my son," Quarterman said.

According to the article, 6-year old Roger Eugene Dukes was at home with his mother that Sunday. Euland Joby Powell, the boyfriend of Roger's mother, Mona Lisa Dukes, kept several dogs at the address, including a pit bull named Crush. Later that afternoon, "Powell told Roger that one of the dogs had gotten out of the yard, and to put it back inside."1 As the boy tried to do so, Crush attacked, biting Roger multiple times in the head and neck. He died shortly thereafter.

Quarterman and Dukes had two children. Ebony, 7-years old, tried to rescue her brother by hitting Crush on the head with a baseball bat. This did not prompt the pit bull to let go. Her father said that Ebony still bears scars from that day. While speaking at a public meeting following the fatal attack, Ebony said, "Crush bit his head. He bit his neck, bit his face and spun him around in a circle." Quarterman said that witnessing her little brother die that way has taken its toll.

Quarterman was away at the time of the deadly attack. On that day he had driven to Rome where he was attending school. Upon arrival, school personnel told him the news. Too upset to drive, he took a bus back to Savannah. "It would be his first ride on what is now a 12-year-long emotional roller coaster," states the Morning News. After the funeral, Quarterman fell into depression and dropped out of school. "I just completely lost focus," Quarterman told the newspaper.

Powell was issued "tickets" after Roger's death for failing to have licenses and shots for his seven dogs. Powell was not charged in connection to his death. Like most victims following a brutal pit bull attack, Quarterman wonders how the city can be in this situation again. "I don't think pit bulls should be allowed in the city limits," he said. "They're dangerous, and you don't know what they're going to do." We'll add that when pit bulls do attack, they may be virtually impossible to stop.

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

1We've highlighted portions to show two important points. One, the number of occurrences in which a child is severely or fatally mauled by a pit bull or other dangerous dog breed and the animal belonged to a "boyfriend," are too numerous to count. Two, the "boyfriend" dog owner, Powell, directed the child to his horrific death by instructing him to take actions that Powell should have taken himself.

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