Posted on July 20, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bulls Kill Homeless Man at "Dirt World," a Transient Camp in Central Oregon

Bend Dog Owner Pleads Guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide

"Dirt World," a transient camp near Bend, where three pit bulls killed a homeless man.

Dog Owner Sentenced
UPDATE 12/29/23: Last week, Jessica Rae "Charity" McCleery, plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide and maintaining a dangerous dog in connection to the dog mauling death of 56-year old Joseph Keeton back in July. On Friday, McCleery was sentenced to an expected 3-year prison term. In exchange for the plea agreement, the second-degree manslaughter charge was dismissed. Had a plea agreement not been reached, an 8-day criminal trial was scheduled to begin on January 9, 2024.

McCleery admitted to leaving her three pit bull-mastiff mix dogs unattended and unleashed on the night of July 19 at the homeless encampment. She did this knowing her dogs had killed other animals and bitten three people so badly that they required hospitalization. One of Keeton's daughters, Kansas, said in a statement, "Our dad suffered far worse than Jessica’s punishment will be, and we feel that it is just." The three dogs involved, "D.J., Littlez and Precious," remain at BrightSide Animal Center.

09/16/23: Multiple Felony Charges
A Bend woman has been indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, both Class B felonies, in connection to the dog mauling death of 56-year old Joseph Keeton. Jessica Rae "Charity" McCleery, 38-years old, is accused of being reckless and criminally negligent after her three pit bull-mastiff mix dogs attacked Keeton "for a prolonged period of time," killing him, at a homeless encampment in the Juniper Ridge area near Bend on July 19, 2023.

A Deschutes County grand jury returned the indictment Friday morning, and a warrant was issued for McCleery's arrest that afternoon, reports the Bend Bulletin. Her bail has been proposed at $100,000, according to the warrant. As of Friday afternoon, McCleery was not listed in the Deschutes County Jail. Initially, police stated that McCleery could face a lower charge, a Class C felony under Oregon's dangerous dog attack statue. The charges on the indictment, however, are more serious.

07/28/23: Fundraiser for Burial
On Friday, KTVZ reported that family members of Joseph Taylor Keeton started a GoFundMe to help pay expenses for his funeral arrangements. "We will be using the funds to bury him, along with the ashes of his mother, in a very simple pine casket where he can be given back to Mother Earth," the fund organizer states. Keeton was mauled to death by up to three pit bull-mixes at a homeless encampment last week on the outskirts of Bend. So far, the fund has raised just over $10,000.

"In the early hours of July 19, 2023, our father was violently killed in a dog attack in a homeless encampment in Bend, Oregon. The savage nature of his death highlights the vulnerabilities that homeless people face, the inevitable fate of those that society has discarded as hopeless and incurable. What we fail to consider beyond our myopic lens is that these human beings are people, people with stories, families, and depth. Here is Joe Keeton’s story." - GoFundMe.com

The fund proceeds to tell Keeton's story, including that he was "a deeply creative artist, a cinephile, and a spiritual man." Joe was "charismatic, loved animals (the irony is not lost on us), and he could be incredibly empathetic and compassionate," states the fund. "He was also a fox, very good-looking, and almost pursued a modeling career." After struggling with drug abuse at an early age, he began attending church, where he met his future wife. They had three girls together.

In subsequent years, he injured his back and was prescribed Oxycontin. "He naturally became addicted, and within a year or two, he had abandoned his family in search of the relief that only opiates could provide," states the fund. That led to his Methamphetamine use. "He became a bottomless pit of pain for his father and mother, the latter of whom spent countless dollars on rehab centers that Joe weaved in and out of, and which we believe sent her to an early grave."

Despite his circumstances, Keeton was gracious, generous and enthusiastic. He also "held profound conversations and changed the minds of many people about homelessness," states the fund. "He gave people the clothes off his back, and shared what little food he had with others who were also hungry." His daughters describe him as a "problematic teenager, then a devoted father and husband and churchgoer, then a grad student making films, and finally, a wanderer."

They said the vicious dog attack is unforgivable, that he suffered gravely and that he was failed by societal systems. "The fact that our father met his end by the vicious attack of three pit bulls is unforgivable. He was mauled for a prolonged period of time. He suffered greatly. He was failed by so many systems (please take a moment to educate yourselves on the truth about pit bull breeding and ownership, mental illness, and drug addiction), as most homeless people are."

Later today, KTVZ will speak with his children and provide an update on his death investigation. We hope the justice system will not fail Keeton too. However, as followers of DogsBite know, only 20% of fatal dog maulings result in criminal charges. In 2021, after a cane corso breeder's dogs killed two homeless people 3.5 months apart, Cocke County sheriff's officials abandoned the case. The dogs' owner, Charles Owensby, had previously ordered one of his dogs to attack a man too.

07/20/23: Man Killed by Pit Bulls
Bend, OR - On Wednesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Joseph Taylor Keeton, 56-years old of Bend, sustained serious injuries in a dog attack and died. At about 1:15 am, deputies were dispatched to an "unknown problem" in a Juniper Ridge area known as “Dirt World.” Upon arrival, deputies discovered Keeton, who had lost a substantial amount of blood, had been attacked by animals. Deputies applied a tourniquet and began life-saving measures.

Bend Fire arrived at the scene and transported Keeton to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, where he later died. The initial investigation determined that up to three pit bull-mastiff mixes belonging to Jessica Rae "Charity" McCleery, 38-years old of Bend, inflicted the deadly attack. McCleery assisted officers in crating the offending dogs and is cooperating with the investigation. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office detectives also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
Male Succumbs to Injuries as a Result of Dog Attack in Transient Camp
Release Date: July 19, 2023
Victim: Joseph Taylor Keeton, 56-year-old male, Bend
Dog Owner: Jessica Rae Charity, 38-year-old female, Bend

On July 19, 2023, at approximately 1:15 am, deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an unknown problem in the area commonly referred to as “Dirt World”.

Upon arrival deputies discovered a male subject that appeared to have been attacked by an animal or animals. The male, later identified as Joseph Taylor Keeton, had lost a substantial amount of blood, deputies applied a tourniquet and began life saving measures employing CPR, and applying an AED.

Bend Fire/Paramedics arrived and transported Keeton to St. Charles, Bend.

During the course of the initial investigation, it was determined up to three Pitbull/Bull Mastiff mix dogs may have been responsible for the life-threatening injuries sustained by Keeton.

The owner of the three dogs, Jessica Rae Charity, assisted in crating the offending dogs and is cooperating with the investigation.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Investigators were notified Keeton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Photographs on Charity's Facebook page show multiple large pit bull-mixes. "Diesel," a male, is seen strengthening it jaws by hanging from a tree in "Dirt World" in 2020. "Confucius," a red nosed female went missing at the same time. "D.J.," a male, is seen in a video in March 2021, which depicts the dog inside of a car ready to attack a "statue" of a deer as Charity drives through the Sugarloaf Mt. Motel parking lot off Highway 97 in Bend. Charity states on the post, "What a statue will do to my dog!"

Authorities said Charity could face a charge of maintaining a dangerous dog (§ 609.098), a charge we have not previously seen used in the state of Oregon. If a dog kills a person under the statute, it is a Class C felony. A "dangerous dog" means, "without provocation and in an aggressive manner inflicts serious physical injury on a person or kills a person," and/or the keeper of a dog "with criminal negligence, fails to prevent the dog from engaging in an act described in subsection (1)."

609.098 Maintaining dangerous dog. (1) As used in this section, “dangerous dog” means a dog that:

(a) Without provocation and in an aggressive manner inflicts serious physical injury, as defined in ORS 161.015, on a person or kills a person;

(b) Acts as a potentially dangerous dog, as defined in ORS 609.035, after having previously committed an act as a potentially dangerous dog that resulted in the keeper being found to have violated ORS 609.095; or

(c) Is used as a weapon in the commission of a crime.

(2) A person commits the crime of maintaining a dangerous dog if the person is the keeper of a dog and the person, with criminal negligence, fails to prevent the dog from engaging in an act described in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Maintaining a dangerous dog is punishable as described in ORS 609.990. [2005 c.840 §2]

Note: 609.098 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 609 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

The Bend Bulletin obtained more information about the attack from Deschutes County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Jason Wall. Keeton had been mauled for “a prolonged period of time,” Wall said. “This isn’t the case of five bites or 10 bites,” Wall said. “It’s bad.” The dogs “were not restrained in any way shape or form,” Wall said. “It’s horrible. I’ve been here over 16 years, and I cannot recall a dog attack that resulted in the death of an individual," Sgt. Wall told The Bulletin on Wednesday.

The Bulletin also discusses potential liability the county could face if it creates an authorized camping site in the Juniper Ridge area, or if it continues the status quo. Both scenarios pose "some level of risk and liability," Deschutes County Legal Counsel Dave Doyle said. In California, Sonoma County and Caltrans were recently ordered to pay nearly $1 million in damages to a Santa Rosa woman who was attacked by a serial pit bull biter on Caltrans property near a homeless encampment in 2019.

While a number of fatal dog mauling victims have been people experiencing homelessness, it is less common when these attack occur within an encampment area. Last year, a homeless man was killed by a dog near an encampment in South Austin. In 2019, Lasaro Macedo was killed by multiple pit bulls in a riverbed homeless community in Madera, California. The dogs owner, Heather Anglin, also a transient, was later charged with manslaughter in connection to his dog mauling death.

pit bulls kill homeless man at dirt world

Photographs of three adult pit bull-mixes at "Dirt World," a transient camp, on the dog owner's Facebook page in 2020. From left: Confucius (female), D.J. (male) and Diesel (male).

Charity's Facebook page shows that the victim, Joe Keeton, was one of her Facebook friends.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Oregon 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 July 13, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

Rescue Rottweiler Leaves Victim with "Uncontrollable Bleeding;" Police Lockdown Town's Recreation Center

Rosendale Police rescue victim with "uncontrollable bleeding" after rottweiler attack.

Rescue Rottweiler Attacks
Rosendale, NY - On Tuesday, the Rosendale Police Department responded to a life-threatening dog attack on Madeline Lane, where a caller reported the dog was "ripping the arm off" the victim. "As a result of the nature of the attack and the proximity to the Rosendale Recreation Center, a lockdown of the Rec Center, including the summer camp was conducted," states the release. Responding officers were able to remove the rottweiler from the victim and secure the animal.

Rosendale Police Department

On July 11, 2023 the Rosendale Police Department responded to a reported serious dog attack on Madeline Lane in Rosendale, in which it was reported the dog was "ripping the arm off." As a result of the nature of the attack and the proximity to the Rosendale Recreation Center, a lockdown of the Rec Center, including the summer camp was conducted. Responding officers were able to separate the rottweiler dog from the victim and safely secure the animal. The victim received severe injuries and had uncontrollable bleeding at the time, which resulted in tourniquets being applied to prevent death. The victim was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.

The Ulster County SPCA took custody of the dog and after an investigation including a review of past incidents involving the dog, the animal was euthanized. The dog had previously been a rescue animal.

The Town of Rosendale Police Department was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Ulster County SPCA, Ulster County Sheriff's Office, and Mobile Life Support Services.

The Ulster County SPCA, which acts as the Dog Control Officer (DCO) for the Town of Rosendale, took custody of the rottweiler. The SPCA left a comment on the Rosendale Police Department's press release stating that the "rescue" rottweiler was not adopted from their shelter. The SPCA designated the bite as a Level 5 Bite on the Ian Dunbar Scale -- a Level 6 Bite is death. A Level 5 Bite is "extremely dangerous and mutilates." The SPCA euthanized the "rescue" rottweiler.

However, the SPCA also claimed that "the origin of this dog (rescue/shelter) is not relevant to the behavior or the outcome, as each dog is an individual, and behavior is determined and expressed by a variety of influencing factors." Since the Ulster County SPCA did not assess this dog prior to its adoption, how could the SPCA verify any aspect of their claim? We predict that a civil lawsuit could result from this attack because actions of the origin rescue/shelter may indeed be relevant.

Ulster County SPCA -- Dog Control Officer

Although the Ulster County SPCA serves as the only Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) agency in the County, our response to this incident was in our capacity as the Dog Control Officer (DCO) for the Town of Rosendale. This dog had not been adopted from our shelter, but as the DCO, the dog was impounded to our custody and transported to our shelter. In accordance with the Dunbar Dog Bite Assessment, this was a Level 5 bite incident, defined as "multiple bites at Level 4 or above. A concerted, repeated attack." This level of bite additionally categorizes a dog as "unhealthy and untreatable," as this behavior is neither rehabilitative nor manageable. The resulting outcome is euthanasia. It is important that the public understands the objective methods used in determining euthanasia decisions. The origin of this dog (rescue/shelter) is not relevant to the behavior or the outcome, as each dog is an individual, and behavior is determined and expressed by a variety of influencing factors. These situations are emotional and difficult for all involved and, especially with social media, it can be easy to make assumptions and lay blame. We ask for compassion and thoughtfulness for those involved in this tragic incident. Thank you.

The age and gender of the victim were not disclosed. "Uncontrollable bleeding" and "ripping the arm off" of a victim can have different implications for a 35-year old male, versus and 65-year old male or female. Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie is a Level II trauma center. Victims with these types of injuries are typically taken to the nearest Level I trauma center or transported to a Level II and upon "being stabilized," the victim is flown to a Level I trauma center.

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

Rational Voice Emerges in the UK as Violence by the XL Bully Surges - Dr. Lawrence Newport

Dr. Newport explains the rising violence of the XL bully in the UK and why breed matters.

London, UK - Dr. Lawrence Newport, a law and criminology lecturer at Royal Holloway University, recently published a video about the growing violence of the XL bully in the UK. Last year, we issued a special report calling on the UK to define a status dog phenotype, because too many pit bull-type dogs are evading the "banned breeds" in the Dangerous Dog Act. The Act bans American pit bull terriers but does not restrict "designer" pit bull breeds, such as the XL pit bull or XL bully.

Dr. Newport takes viewers on a historical journey that most readers of this website already know: the history of the pit bull breed and why breed matters. "So why is it so controversial to say that a breed is more violent than any other?" he asks. "After all we know that different dog breeds have different traits." Newport then uses the exceptionally apt comparison of racing dogs, who endure horrific lives of confinement and abuse, but have never been implicated in a fatal dog mauling.1

After eight fatal dog maulings over a 4-week period in the U.S., of which 88% (7/8) involved pit bulls and the other involved a large bull terrier and cane corso, we wanted to share Dr. Newport's research in this area. "Whilst not all dogs of a breed will show these characteristics, breed matters. To say it doesn't ignores thousands of years of history," he states. We add that denying breed matters also ignores thousands of years of human observation and selection for specific traits.

Dr. Newport explains the rising violence of the XL bully in the UK and why breed matters.

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Colleen Lynn

2023 Dog Bite Fatality: Boy Dies After Severe Injuries Inflicted by Family Pit Bull on July Fourth in North Port, Florida

A North Port child violently attacked by a family pit bull on the Fourth of July has died.

Boy Dies After Dog Attack
North Port, FL - A 6-year old boy is dead after sustaining "severe injuries" from a family dog on the Fourth of July. The North Port Police Department (NPPD) responded to a home in the 2700 block of Badger Lane at about 10:30 am on the holiday. The boy was airlifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, a Level II trauma center, then transferred to Tampa General Hospital, a Level I trauma center. By 3:15 pm Wednesday, the boy had died due to injuries suffered to "the upper torso."

As first responders were en route, audio dispatch log files from Sarasota County Fire state, "6-year old male was bitten in the throat." North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison stated in a press release, "Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine. We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is precious.”

The dog involved, a 3-year old pit bull-mix, was taken into custody by Sarasota County Animal Services, and remains in their custody. At this stage, NPPD officials said investigators are not aware of any previous incidents involving the dog's behavior. Officials also confirmed that the dog lived in the same home as the child since it was a puppy. The case remains "active and ongoing" as of Wednesday afternoon, according to North Port Police spokesperson Josh Taylor.

At least eight Americans have been killed by dogs in the last four weeks. 63% of these deaths involved a pet dog killing a family member. Each of these deaths involved a pit bull or bull breed. The North Port attack appears to have been savage. It was clearly a disproportionate response to whatever event, if any, precipitated the violent attack. This "family pet" repeatedly attacked the child in the stomach, upper torso and neck, if one combines the different media reports.

North Port Police Department

UPDATE: The North Port Police Department continues to investigate the dog bite incident involving a 6-year-old child Tuesday. The boy passed away at Tampa General Hospital as a result of the severe injuries sustained. They included trauma to the upper torso area.

Initially, life-saving measures were performed and the child was flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with extensive traumatic injuries. Once the child was stabilized, he was later flown to Tampa General for additional procedures.

This is an active and ongoing case. At this time, no charges have been filed. The animal involved was taken from the home by Sarasota County Animal Services, where it remains. The 3-year-old dog’s breed is considered a pit bull mix. NPPD is not aware of any previous incidents involving the animal’s behavior.

“Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine,” said North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison. “We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is precious.”

The North Port Police Department will continue to provide support to those impacted by this case. As this is an active and ongoing case, no further details will be released at this time.

EARLIER: The North Port Police Department responded to the 2700 block of Badger Lane in reference to a dog bite involving a 6-year-old child around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. The child was flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a trauma alert. Both the child and the animal reside at the home.

Sarasota County Animal Services has also responded to assist in the handling of the animal.

No further details will be released at this time. More information will be provided when appropriate.

Child is Identified

Late Wednesday, local news outlets began identifying the child as Daylan Guillen. NBC 2 News spoke to people who knew Guillen at the North Port Area Little League. Guillen loved to play baseball. He never wanted to leave the field. “He was just a really sweet, happy-go-lucky kid. Loved to play baseball," said Nicole O’Brien, a secretary for the league. The league has organized a GoFundMe to help the boy's family pay for his extensive medical costs and funeral costs.

The fundraiser states that Guillen was also an organ donor. Doctors "were able to save his kidneys and they will be donated to two other little kids in need," states the fundraiser. "He was flown twice to two different hospitals by helicopter. They did so many procedures to try to save sweet Daylan’s life. The hospitals and doctors were amazing and did the best they could and everything they could to save him but unfortunately there wasn’t anything left to do to save him."

NBC 2 News also captured part of a Ring video that shows people rushing to help the boy moments after the attack. NPPD Spokesperson Josh Taylor added more details too. “The dog was in a bedroom, the child walked into the bedroom to get something," Taylor said. "Next thing you know, people heard screaming and jumped into action.” Some commenters have speculated that the sound of firecrackers triggered the dog, but the attack occurred at 10:30 in the morning.

Daylan Guillen, 6-years old, died after sustaining traumatic injuries from a family pit bull-mix.

The middle pit bull, "Theo" came into the home in November 2019. He is currently 3 years old (the suspect). Left, "Decklyn" is 5 years old. Right, "Carter" is 4 years old and a different breed.

child killed by family pit bull on badger lane

Badger Lane neighborhood where a family pit bull-mix attacked a child on the Fourth of July.

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

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Bend Dog Owner Pleads Guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide