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.

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

Attack Date: June 17, 2007

DogsBite.org - It's not easy to write about your own violent dog attack. Who could know this better than I do, the voice of DogsBite.org? Usually, I write in third person, but not today. Four years ago today, an event forever altered my life, including all of the environments, activities and personal and business relationships within it. The event was an unprovoked assault by a leashed pit bull on a public street. At the time, I was just a few blocks away from my home.

I've chosen to share several passages from a piece that I wrote in the summer of 2009 on behalf of my dog bite claim. It was the hardest material I have ever had to write. Not only did it require that I relive every moment of the attack, but that I relive the many painful experiences that occurred in the weeks, months and years following it. Most dog bite victims must complete a similar claim document, assuming that a path of civil recourse is available to them.

My attorney, Paul Ayan of Ayan Law Office, hinted for weeks at my necessity to complete the piece. Still though, I put it off as long as possible. Then one day, it erupted onto 18 pages. My core themes included the loss of identity and trust. In one section I write, "It struck me that I will never be able to reach the former Colleen, she will always be just beyond my reach and at times, turning to peer at me." Other dog bite victims have shared similar reflections with me.

We all miss the person we were prior to the attack.1

The trauma of a violent dog attack, along with the subsequent minimization of it by social forces, forever removes parts of a person. These missing parts are often aspects of an individual's identity and trust systems. The process of rebuilding them takes time. Four years later, I think I am about half way there. A settlement agreement was reached shortly after I completed the claim document. I share some of its portions with DogsBite readers today.

Portions of the Claim Document

On June 17, 2007, I was attacked by a leashed pit bull named "Bull." At the time, I had been jogging down 15th Avenue in my Beacon Hill neighborhood. The day of the attack is Father's Day. My father was not a happy father on this day. My Birthday is June 16th. Do you know how many times you are asked your Birthday while being treated in a trauma facility? About a dozen times per hour if not more. Each time I was asked this question, the emergency worker said, "Happy Birthday!"

There are two phrases I hope to never hear again, one, "Happy Birthday," and the other, "Are you right handed?"

* * *

On March 2, 2009, I moved over 1,000 miles away from the City of Seattle. The day I drove into this tiny town (population 8,000), its newspaper reported that a pit bull had attacked and killed a goat. In May of 2009, two pit bulls severely mauled a woman who had gone to visit a friend's home. A deputy shot one of the pit bulls, but the bullet bounced off the dog's head. The attack occurred on Road 29, I live on Road 23. Earlier that same day, I had ridden my bike out to Road 28. This was the second outing I had taken on a bike since the attack, the first being the day before. Why I thought a country road would be safe from a pit bull is beyond me.

There is no escaping the pit bull problem.

* * *

By June 17, the day of the attack, my life was truly at an illuminating peak. I had developed a massive commitment to social activism and was about to meet for the first time, a favorite person who I had been closely corresponding with for months. There was the added urgency that I may not meet Jonathan as well. For each day, while traveling the deadly Iraqi roads, he stood the risk of being maimed or killed and forever lost to me.

As I wrote earlier, by the time we do meet, I am a different Colleen. We do spend two weeks together, but I am in frozen "shock" so to speak from the attack. It will be after Jonathan leaves in early September that I am finally confronted by the reality of the attack. Once confronted, I realize that I must start DogsBite.org.

* * *

This is the same realization I have while being attacked by the pit bull. I believe I am being "eaten" by the jaws of a large wild animal. It was not a dog clamped onto my arm, dragging me across the cement; it was an untamed, ferocious beast and I was its prey. Just inches from my face, I could see my forearm inside the jaws of the pit bull. Its teeth were coming in and out of my skin as he chomped and shook his jaws, like he was trying to tear off a hunk of meat, stubbornly attached to bone.

After I manage to escape and sprint down the street, I hold that part of my arm with my left hand tightly. I scream, "CALL 911!" repeatedly, and as loudly as possible, so that every person living on the block will come outside. I see one man running toward me, he is saying something as I continue to shout, "CALL 911!"

"I am an ER doctor," He said. "It's okay, I am an ER doctor."

He approaches me with his hands out in front of him, like the gesture, "I am not going to hurt you."

"I need to see your arm," He said. "You need to let go of your arm so that I can examine it."

"NO!" I shout at him. "NOOOOOOOO!"

At this time, I am terrified of releasing my hand that is covering the wound. I fear that I will see bones and ligaments popping out. Worse, I fear that the ONLY thing that is keeping my right forearm connected to my body is my left hand. To let go would force me to see that the dog had actually bitten my arm into two pieces.

* * *

On August 21, the terrifying attack on Sue Gorman occurs in a neighboring county. The woman had been sleeping in her own bed when two pit bulls snuck into her home and attacked her and her two dogs. This horrifying attack rocked the Puget Sound and left me nearly fully debilitated for three days. This is the first time that I will wholly relive my attack and all of the emotions that come with it. At this time, DogsBite.org is still several months away from launching. After it does launch, I will have several other experiences that match this one.

* * *

Within days of launching DogsBite.org, pit bull lobbying groups (some of which I believe are fronts for dogfighters and breeders of fighting dogs) had me pegged. These groups immediately threatened me with lawsuits. They turned my name into the FBI as a domestic terrorist as well. The onslaught of destroying Colleen's personal and professional reputation began. In fact, it was due to one of these groups that my identity as the author of DogsBite.org was exposed at all. An attorney who worked for one of these lobbying groups wrote to me as a personal injury lawyer asking, "Who is behind this website?" I fired back:

"Given that you are a personal injury lawyer, we presume you are on the side of the victim?
Given that we receive death threats and mountains of hate mail, you can understand why we do not place our names on this website -- each of us after all are victims of dog attacks.
Victims once, not victims twice, particularly from zealous, hate mongering pit bull advocates.
We get lots of emails like yours as well. Emails that appear legitimate but are in fact not."

After I wrote this, I verified that his law firm was real through Google searches. At that time, I was desperate for help, trusted that he was a victim's advocate and felt remorse about my initial reply. I wrote him back and apologized and also provided him with my personal and business contact information. He did not write back.
Two days later, most of the information from that email was cross-posted to many pit bull forum boards. Prior to my telling this attorney my real name on January 15, 2008, no one knew who was behind DogsBite.org except close friends.
Sure enough, after doing deeper Google searches, I learned that he was an attorney for one the most aggressive pit bull lobbying groups of all.2

* * *

After reading this document, now you know why there was no website prior to DogsBite.org. The harassment factor is too high. Victims give up and move on. In my case though, the harassment made building out the website even more important. Owners of aggressive dogs and lobbying groups for these breeds have been harassing victims of attacks for decades. Someone needs to stand up for these victims. That someone is me, through the website DogsBite.org.

I did not ask for this job. But once exposed to these injustices, I also could not turn away. When you get emails like the below, how could anyone turn away?

"Each time I receive your emails I am amazed at how clearly you are able to communicate the reality of the problem Pit Bulls are in our society. I really believe that you have been chosen by God to bring this problem to light and make a difference..."

For the purposes of this blog post, one segment of the claim document was slightly modified for clarification. Names of persons and organizations were also changed and/or removed. Originally published, June 17, 2011.

1No amount of money can ever compensate a person for this "loss of self."
2I submitted a formal complaint to the State Bar of Texas about this attorney. The Bar quickly denied it.

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Colleen Lynn

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: 74-Year Old Man Dies After Catastrophic Pit Bull Injury

Roy McSweeney, 74, died after being attacked by pit bulls belonging to Deanna Blitch.

Victim Dies of Injuries
UPDATE 06/15/11: Multiple news groups reported this evening that Roy McSweeney succumbed to the catastrophic injuries inflicted by his neighbor's pit bulls and died Wednesday afternoon. McSweeney's family has retained the Gainesville law firm of Avera & Smith, which is also representing Robert Floyd, who was attacked by the same dogs last year. Meanwhile, Putnam County authorities are working hard to "bring this matter to a logical conclusion."1

06/15/11: Authorities Investigate
The Palatka Daily News reports that the same dogs that nearly killed Roy McSweeney were involved in both previous biting incidents. Major Dwight Parker of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said his office is working closely with the state attorney's office. "We are evaluating this to determine what, if any, charges can be brought," he said. Regrettably, it appears that neither previous incident qualified as "severe," thus hindering a dangerous dog designation.

This is the third time dogs from Blitch's residence have attacked a person, according to reports from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

On Jan. 13, 2010, two pit bulls ran from Blitch's yard and attacked a caretaker, Robert Floyd, at McSweeney's residence, reports stated.

Floyd was hospitalized with injuries to his mouth, left leg and stomach.

Court records show that Floyd has filed a civil suit against Blitch and Scurrey for negligence and premises liability.

Two dogs bit another man, Edward Cormier, on the arms when he entered the back door of Blitch's home on May 13.

Cormier told detectives that he was a friend of Blitch's son and the family had given him permission to come over and left the door unlocked for him.

According to Blitch, Cormier entered the house uninvited, reports stated.

The same two dogs were involved in all three attacks, Greenwood said.
- Julie Martin, Palatka Daily News

06/12/11: Previous Biting Incidents
Jacksonville.com reports that pit bulls from the Blitch home previously mauled two other men prior to nearly killing a 74-year old man on Friday. In both cases, the dogs were returned to their owners after a 10-day quarantine. It's unclear if these attacks were inflicted by the same pit bulls that left Roy McSweeney on life support. Police reports show that those pit bulls were involved in at least one previous biting incident documented by county police authorities.

After the attack on McSweeny, Blitch initially told deputies she no longer owned the pit bulls after "getting rid of them due to a previous attack." But Blitch's son, William, told deputies that the dogs were in the home and they were brought outside for authorities. William was the first to discover McSweeney after taking a different household dog outside to urinate. He said he found one of the pit bulls near the back door and the other in its kennel with an open door.2

06/12/11: Victim's Survival in Doubt
News4Jax.com reports that family members gathered Sunday at Shands Hospital in Gainesville where Roy McSweeney is struggling to survive. On Friday, two pit bulls owned by Deanna Blitch attacked McSweeney causing catastrophic injury, including the loss of one arm, partial loss of the other and severe facial injuries. Family friends told reporters that McSweeney is on life support. His family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Like other victims of savage and fatal pit bull maulings who have survived tours of war, such as Jerry Yates of Mountain Ranch, California and Henry Piotrowski, of Staten Island, New York, McSweeney is a veteran. Though war survivors, each victim in his later years faced an enemy as lethal as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while performing everyday tasks on his own property -- neighborhood pit bulls. Our hearts go out to McSweeney and his family.

06/11/11: Victim Faces Critical Hours
In a Saturday update, WTEV Action News spoke to the victim's daughter. She said the next 48 hours are critical. Other details emerged too, such as the dogs' owner, Deanna Blitch, is now claiming that the dogs "belong to a friend." Through Roderick Flynn, Chief of the West Putnam Volunteer Fire Department, we learn that McSweeney was a disabled veteran who often used a scooter and that animal control had been called multiple times about these dogs.

McSweeney's daughter told Action News Saturday night that doctors said his arm looked like a bomb went off next to it. He remains in a coma-like state, according to his daughter in an exclusive interview by phone. McSweeney is getting a large amount of blood. Doctors on Monday will decide if more surgery is necessary. According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the dogs belonged to McSweeney's next-door neighbor who surrendered the animals to authorities.

That homeowner told Action News the dogs belong to a friend. She said she was not home at the time of the attack, and was not sure how the dogs escaped the kennel they are kept in.

06/10/11: Dogs Described as Pit Bulls
Gainesville.com has released an update. According to Sheriff's Capt. Johnny Greenwood, Roy McSweeney was in his yard doing yard work when the dogs jumped over the fence and attacked. The dogs are owned by Deanna Blitch, of 261 Old Hawthorne Road, and described as pit bulls or their mixes by Greenwood, a neighbor and Blitch's brother, Dan Dickerson. Blitch -- who lawyered up quick -- said she was advised by her attorney not to comment.

06/10/11: Victim: Roy McSweeney
Hawthorn, FL - Earlier today, the Putnam County Florida Sheriff's Office issued a news release about a life-threatening dog attack. The victim, 74-year old Roy McSweeney, is currently undergoing surgery at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Additional information about his condition is not available. News4Jax.com reports that the attacking dogs were pit bulls. Both animals have been euthanized. Deputies are investigating. No further details were released.

2011-06-10 by: Captain Johnny Greenwood

On June 10, 2011, at approximately 11:00 a.m., deputies, rescue personnel, and animal control officers were summoned to 259 Old Hawthorne Road, in Hawthorne, regarding an individual who had been attacked by dogs.

When rescue personnel arrived on scene, they located 74 year-old, Roy McSweeney, who was suffering from severe injuries from the dog attack. The victim's right arm had been amputated; his left arm was partially amputated, and he was suffering from severe facial injuries. The victim was transported by rescue to Shand's Hospital in Gainesville for medical treatment. He is currently in surgery, and his condition is not available.

Due to the severity of the victim's injuries, Sheriff Hardy assigned Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit to the investigation. Investigators determined that the two dogs responsible for the attack belonged to McSweeney's neighbor, who resides at 261 Old Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne.

The owner of the two dogs subsequently relinquished both dogs to authorities. The dogs have been humanely euthanized and delivered to the Putnam County Health Department to be tested for rabies.

Due to the investigation being in its early stages, no further details can be released at this time. Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

1A "logical conclusion" likely means an At Large Dog ticket. Thumbs down to Putnam County authorities!
2With the help of Craven Desires, we were able to better analyze the June 12 Jacksonville.com article. We believe that Edward Cormier II was attacked last month by the same pit bulls as McSweeney.

DogsBite blog ::

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

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

Founder Colleen Lynn Reflects Upon Four Year Anniversary of Her Attack

Attack Date: June 17, 2007

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: 74-Year Old Man Dies After Catastrophic Pit Bull Injury