Posted on August 26, 2022 by Colleen Lynn

Mini Horse Needs Your Help After Vicious Dog Attack in Bethune, South Carolina; One Mini Has Already Died

While Preparing this Post, We were Informed that Rebel Died

The pregnant mini horse, Chocolate, seen from one side of her stall after the dog attack.

Chocolate Died
UPDATE 08/27/22: We were informed on Saturday, August 27, that Chocolate, who was pregnant, was found dead in the family's pasture at about 5:00 pm. Both of the family's mini horses died due to injuries from the vicious dog attack on August 5. "Chocolate is dead, she was just found dead. Both of our horses are dead just thought I would inform you," Hinson wrote in. Rebel, the male mini, was discovered dead on August 26 after suffering extreme injuries to his genital area.

"Another Painful update, Chocolate, our sweet girl has passed away one day after Rebel. Both of my children’s pets were killed by this vicious pitbull attack any further funds received will be strictly for horse replacement or legal advice fees. Thank you all." - Erica Hinson, GoFundMe, August 27, 2022

pit bull attacks mini horses in bethune south carolina

Chocolate, who survived nearly a month after a vicious dog attack, was found dead August 27.

08/26/22: GoFundMe for the Mini Horses
Bethune, SC - On August 20, Erica Hinson, the organizer of a fund supporting two mini horses attacked by a pit bull along with two other dogs, sent an email into our Press Alerts. The injuries inflicted by the dogs truly are "like something from a horror film." Rebel's mutilation injuries are shown in one photograph. Chocolate, who is pregnant and fighting for her life, suffered multiple deep lacerations to both sides of her neck, torn tendons and gashes to her abdomen and legs.

"On Friday, August 5, 2022, my Father’s miniature horses were viciously attacked by a neighbor’s pit bull along with their two other dogs. The injuries were like something from a horror film. The male stud, who’s name is Rebel, was mutilated in his genital area resulting in an emergency at home vet visit where he tragically lost a testicle. He is torn from where his leg meets his stomach all the way down to his private area, he has flesh tears to the neck, legs and nose as well. The female, named Chocolate, is pregnant & fighting for her life. She has a foot long, two inch deep laceration to her neck with torn tendons on one side of her neck on the other side she has two 6 inch long slashes to the neck along with gashes to the abdomen and legs, she is retaining fluid..." - GoFundMe/Erica Hinson

We asked Hinson several more questions and she responded. The vicious attack occurred in Bethune, a small town of less than 500 people in Kershaw County, South Carolina. Hinson's father is disabled. The primary attacker was a pit bull; two other dogs belonging to the same owner were also involved. The owner was fined $400 for owning a vicious animal, made to pay the emergency veterinary bill of roughly $720 and was ordered to rehome all three of the dogs in 30 days.

Hinson provided a detailed update about the condition of her mini horses. Both continue to suffer gravely from their injuries. Many more veterinary visits are expected. "Daily treatment consists of 15 minute wound wash per wound, followed by antibiotic spray. The vet did no stitching as the wounds are so open and missing meat in several areas," she wrote. "Antibiotics are administered by mouth daily along with pain medication, all these cost fall on my family," Hinson wrote.

On August 26, just before we published this post, Hinson told us, "Rebel was so strong but he was found dead this morning around 8:30 am."

Hinson's family also has to face the cold, hard reality of a civil case, which often requires waiting until all of the injuries have stabilized or healed before filing a lawsuit, "so that we could have an accurate number to present to the court system." In the meanwhile, her father and family have to pay all of the veterinary medical costs. "I don’t understand how so much of this is falling on my father while the dog owner is given a petty fine and only one emergency vet bill," Hinson wrote.

There were no media reports about this attack. Hinson hopes to spread the word of her GoFundMe on different social media platforms. She mentions Reddit, which is an excellent choice. We encourage readers to share Hinson's GoFundMe on your favorite social media platforms, especially with groups that are horse-related. Making a donation, however small, ensures that you will receive updates about Rebel and Chocolate, as well as developments in the civil case.

"Daily treatment consists of 15 minute wound wash per wound, followed by antibiotic spray. The vet did no stitching as the wounds are so open and missing meat in several areas. I will attach photos, they are graphic though I must warn you. The incident happened in Bethune, SC and the police agency in charge was Kershaw county law enforcement along with Kershaw county code enforcement. A citation was made to the dog owner and a hasty trial was held at the trial the dog owner was only fined 400 dollar for owning a vicious animal, made to pay the first vet bill which was roughly $720 dollars and told the dog must be rehomed within 30 days. My family was shocked as many more vet visits will be necessary, our stud lost a restocked and is in high risk of losing the second one as well, all it would take would be for him to brush across something in that area and the other would fall out of the sack holding it, we are trying our best to prevent this from happening. The female is pregnant and severely mauled in her neck area (both sides), abdomen and knees, she is swollen (the vet says it is from air entering her body through the large lacerations). Antibiotics are administered by mouth daily along with pain medication, all these cost fall on my family. The judge said we would have to sue at a later time in civil court which would be months away, as we cannot pursue a civil case until all vet care, medication cost, the cost of a farm hand when needed is accumulated and that would be after the horses are healed at least to a point that the daily regimen of cleansing and care and healing has taken place so that we could have an accurate number to present to the court system. I don’t understand how so much of this is falling on my father while the dog owner is given a petty fine and only one emergency vet bill. There has been no media attention just word of mouth in a small town of a population less than 500. I'm trying my best to spread the word on GoFundMe I’ve never used the platform before, someone suggested posting to Reddit and I have gotten around $400 worth of support which I am grateful for but I just don’t know how long we can go on like this, the cost and care are draining and our beloved horses never saw this coming and they will never be the same. Thank you for the email, I appreciate your concern and taking time from your day to ask about our minis." - GoFundMe/Erica Hinson

These poor little minis have a long road ahead of them, assuming they both survive. Their injuries are savage. When Hinson writes, "I just don’t know how long we can go on like this," it makes our heart break. All of it is heartbreaking; the attack, the injuries and what will be a prolonged aftermath. If Rebel and Chocolate do survive, "they will never be the same," she writes. Horses are known to carry traumatic experiences with them for many years, a form of equine PTSD.

The vicious dog attack inflicted mutilation injuries to the genital region of Rebel, the male mini.

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Colleen Lynn

2022 Dog Bite Fatality: Rural Postal Carrier Dies After Vicious Attack by Pack of Dogs in Putnam County, Florida

Pam Rock, 61, a rural postal carrier, was killed by a pack of dogs in Interlachen, Florida.

No Charges After Mauling
UPDATE 03/03/23: The State Attorney’s Office is not filing charges against the owner of a dog pack that killed a rural postal carrier last year in Putnam County. U.S. Postal Service employee Pam Rock, 61, was on her mail route in Interlachen on August 21 when her vehicle broke down. Upon exiting the truck, she was attacked by five large dogs belonging to Edgar Jowers. Deputies applied multiple tourniquets to control the bleeding, but she died of her injuries the next day.

Jowers' dogs routinely escaped his property and roamed the area, neighbors said. Putnam County animal control had been called to the area four times in the past. At least three calls were to Jowers’ home about his dogs. What we did not know last August is that Jowers had tried to surrender his dogs to animal control twice because he could no longer care for them; each request was ignored or denied. He also tried to fortify his “wire” fence to keep the dogs from escaping.

The Palatka Daily News obtained the 101 page investigation carried out by the State Attorney’s Office through a public records request. State officials summarized in their findings that given Jowers' actions --- his attempts to surrender the dogs and his attempts to fortify his fence -- they found “insufficient evidence" to prove the dogs’ owner “demonstrated a willful or wanton reckless disregard under the circumstances beyond and to the exclusion of a reasonable doubt.”

According to the filing, Putnam County Animal Control was first contacted about the dogs on September 15, 2021 because they needed to be fed. At that time, Jowers was incarcerated for a family felony offense. He was not released until October 5, 2021, which is why someone else was given the task of feeding his dogs. That person, who ended up contacting animal control, could not enter the property “because one of the dogs was too aggressive,” according to the State's filing.

The first time Jowers reached out to the county agency to surrender his dogs was on February 4, 2022. The call had been left on the agency’s answering machine. Due to a lack of resources, that call was never returned. No one from animal control spoke to Jowers. One week later, his dogs escaped again and attacked a man walking by Jowers’ property. The severity of his injuries required treatment at a hospital. Deputies told Jowers to home quarantine the dogs for 10 days.

The dogs attacked a second time too. On August 10, a woman filed a complaint that these dogs had escaped and attacked her vehicle. Animal control contacted Jowers and ensured that he made an effort to fortify his “wire” fence once again. During this meeting, Jowers tried to surrender his dogs again, but his request was denied. Eleven days later, the dogs escaped the fencing again and brutally attacked Rock after she exited her truck that had stalled close to Jowers’ property.

According to the State's filing, at no point did animal control attempt to classify the dogs as dangerous. Apparently, due to the county’s “no-kill” policies they do not accept owner surrenders, unless the intake situation is “dire.” At this very same time, the Putnam County shelter was over capacity due to its no-kill policies, which places the 90% “save rate” priority over public safety. The agency continues to beg for a newer and bigger shelter too, so they can warehouse more dogs.

Limited Intake Policies

We have seen multiple fatal dog attacks due to limited intake policies. On February 25, 2019, four of Courtney White’s pit bulls viciously attacked a man and killed a dog. At that time, White called Lubbock Animal Services to surrender the dogs, stating he could no longer keep them secure -- part of his backyard fence had blown down. The alleged “open admission” shelter told him he needed to “make an appointment” to drop off the dogs and the earliest timeslot was March 1.

On February 27, all six of White’s pit bulls escaped and fatally attacked Johnnie Mae Garner, 88. After the dogs killed Garner, animal control seized all six pit bulls -- no “waiting period” was required. During this same year, Johana Villafane, 33, was forced to board her two biting pit bulls at a private veterinary facility because the bite quarantine block at the Irving Animal Shelter was “at capacity.” While visiting her dogs at the veterinary facility, they attacked and killed her.

For inexplicable reasons last year, after a pack of dogs belonging to Brandy Dowdy viciously attacked Michele Sheeks, who had to be airlifted to a trauma unit, Franklin County Animal Control did not seize Dowdy’s vicious dogs. The very next day, Jaqueline Summer Beard, an Alabama Department of Health employee, went to Dowdy’s home under the impression they had been seized. She was wrong -- the dogs attacked and killed her. Her estate is now suing the county.

Three of these cases involve a “pack” of large dogs known to be dangerous due to previous attacks within a few days of the fatal attack. White had six pit bulls, a blown down fence and two previous victims. Would that qualify as a “dire” situation for intake? Jowers could not keep his pack of large, powerful dogs inside a flimsy “wire” fence held down by cinderblocks and rocks. Shouldn’t a “pack” of large dogs with a history of escaping and biting qualify as a “dire” situation for intake?

An Intake and Disposition Report from Putnam County Animal Control from August 10, 2022 to August 23, 2022 is filled with zeros. There were 0 intakes, 0 adoptions, 0 dogs being quarantined, 0 euthanasia, 0 escaped or stolen, 0 service calls and most importantly, there were 0 bites.

08/24/22: Dogs Escaped Enclosure
On Tuesday, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office held a press conference regarding the death of Pamela Rock, 61, a rural postal carrier, who died one day after being viciously attacked by five dogs while working her route in Interlachen. Deputies found Rock lying in the street with "heavy trauma." They applied multiple tourniquets to control the bleeding, Col. Joseph Wells said. The dogs were initially behind a wire fence, but were able to escape underneath it, Wells said.

There was no evidence of a breeding operation at the site. The owner of the dogs is cooperating, Wells said. We are treating this as a criminal investigation, he said. Sheriff's deputies and animal control officers had responded to this area four times in the past three years for animal-related calls, Wells said. At least two of those previous calls were related to the same address. It is not confirmed if those calls involved one or more of the same dogs that attacked Rock, he said.

Several neighbors, including the dogs' owner, rushed to pull the dogs off Rock. "One of the neighbors even brought his firearm along and fired several shots into the air and to the ground in an attempt to disrupt the attack," Wells said. "The investigation is still very active," Wells said. His office is in communication with the state attorney's office. However, in the state of Florida, a felony offense is only possible if one of the attacking dogs had previously been declared dangerous.

The New York Times spoke to a Ms. Campell, who lives near the dogs' owner and saw the ambulance and deputies drive down the dirt road and park beside the house where the five dogs resided. "They’re all aggressive," Campbell said, referring to the dogs. Those dogs "jumped the fence all the time," she said, causing problems in the neighborhood. Tyler Neelon, 24-years old, who lives next door to the dogs' owner, said the dogs once got loose and killed a chihuahua.

"They did not just attack her. They were ripping her apart." - Kaydee Richley

WTLV spoke to Rock's niece, Kaydee Richley, who described some of Rock's injuries. "She had one arm amputated before she passed and they had her other limbs in slings trying to save them," Richley said. "Her heart stopped twice and her blood pressure was all over the place," she said. Devasted, Richely wonders how this happened. "How did it get so far? Why was there just so many dogs just able to get to her? Where were the owners? Why were they not locked up?"

postal carrier attacked by dogs putnam county, florida

Putnam County Sheriff's Office press conference after a rural postal carrier was killed by dogs.

08/23/22: Dogs Kill Rural Postal Carrier
Putnam County, FL - On August 21, a 61-year old postal carrier was attacked by a pack of dogs in the Interlachen Lake Estates area after her vehicle was reported to have broken down, states a media release from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Putnam County deputies found the woman on the ground bleeding severely. Five dogs were nearby inside a fence at a residence in the 2000 block of Walker Drive. An unconfirmed social media post states the victim died late Monday.

On Tuesday, the victim was identified as 61-year old Pam Rock. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also confirmed that she died.

Witnesses told deputies they saw the woman on the ground with five dogs attacking her. Several neighbors rushed to her aid, trying to pull the dogs off the woman. One neighbor shot a rifle into the ground to scare the dogs off. Arriving deputies began first aid, including applying tourniquets until rescue units arrived. The woman was taken to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital by ambulance then airlifted to a trauma center in Gainesville where she remained in critical condition Monday.

WJXT spoke to the man who shot the rifle. He said that helping the woman, "was the right thing to do," and that, "I would want someone to do it for me." She was a sweet lady who left "apples in the mailbox for the horse, and little notes here and there," he said. "She would ask about your kid, how your kid was doing." She was "a really nice lady," he said. Neighbors said the dogs involved were "bulldog-mixes," which in this part of the country means pit bull or American bulldog-mixes.

"Three of the four dogs suspected in the mauling death of a 62-year old doctor have been captured and are being held as evidence by police ... The dogs are reportedly "bulldog-mixes," which is a generic term in much of the south, including Georgia and Florida, that refers to both American bulldogs and fighting bulldogs -- pit bull terriers." - DogsBite.org, death of Dr. Nancy Shaw in Georgia, 2020

Another neighbor interviewed said the dogs have been a problem for a long time. The dogs routinely roamed the rural area, characterized by dirt roads, in a pack without collars or tags. "The dogs have been a nuisance for a long time," said the neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous. "They get into my garbage three or four days a week. When I try to shoo them away, they bark and growl and snarl at me." Animal control seized five dogs identified by witnesses in the attack.

POSTAL CARRIER ATTACKED BY DOGS SUNDAY IN INTERLACHEN

August 22, 2022 - A 61-year-old rural postal carrier was attacked by several dogs yesterday afternoon in the Interlachen Lake Estates area after her vehicle was reported to have broken down. Deputies responded found a woman on the ground with severe bleeding. Five dogs were nearby inside a fence at a residence in the 2000 block of Walker Drive.

Witnesses told deputies they heard a woman scream for help and when they went outside they saw her on the ground with five dogs attacking. Witnesses said several neighbors rushed to help by attempting to pull the dogs off and one neighbor shot a rifle into the ground to scare the animals. Deputies arriving on scene and started first aid assistance including applying tourniquets until rescue units arrived. The woman was transported to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital by ambulance and then flown to a trauma center in Gainesville where she remains in critical condition.

Animal Control arrived at scene and took custody of the five dogs identified by witnesses in the attack.

“Our hearts are with the victim and her family as they navigate through this tragic event,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said. “It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility in keeping their animals in a secured location for their safety and those around.”

This is an ongoing investigation. There is no further information available at this time. Additional information will be released when it becomes available. - Putnam County Sheriff's Office

The pit bull-mixes, American bulldog-mixes that killed USPS employee Pamela Jane Rock.

Google Street View captured an image of a dog running in the dog owner's yard in 2019.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Florida 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 August 23, 2022 by Colleen Lynn

2022 Dog Bite Fatality: Holmes County Woman, 69, Killed by Dogs, Over 100 Bites Inflicted; No Charges

Shirley Johnson, 69, was found dead a day after being attacked by dogs in Holmes County.

Woman Killed by Dogs
Holmes County, FL - A woman was found dead after being attacked by dogs, according to the Holmes County Sheriff's Office. The attack occurred on August 13, but was not reported by media outlets until August 19. The victim was identified as 69-year old Shirley Johnson, who was walking home from her son’s house that night on Bonifay Gritney Road when three dogs attacked her, Holmes County Sheriff John Tate said. She was found dead by a passerby on August 14.

The Holmes County Sheriff's Office did not release dog breed information.

The medical examiner confirmed Johnson died from more than 100 dog bites. Deputies canvassed the area, searching for the dogs involved. Deputies located a home with three dogs that neighbors knew to be aggressive toward passersby. The dogs' owner voluntarily put down two of the dogs, the third dog was also surrendered to authorities. No charges are pending in the case due to lack of physical evidence linking the suspected dogs to Johnson’s death, Tate said.

Florida has a strong public records act; DogsBite.org will FOIA dog breed information in this case.

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Colleen Lynn

2022 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman, 43, Killed by Her Pack of Great Danes in Rural Clay County, Iowa

Mindy Kiepe, 43, was mauled and killed by her pack of great danes in Rossie, Iowa.

Dogs Kill Owner
Rossie, IA - A woman found dead in a ditch on Monday was killed by her own dogs, authorities determined. Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a 911 call around 1:50 pm about a woman lying in a ditch near the intersection of 450th Street and 200th Avenue, who was believed to have been involved in a motorcycle accident. The caller could not get close to her body due to several large dogs next to her. The woman was identified at Mindy Kiepe, 43, of Rossie, Iowa.

Her body was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The State Medical Examiner determined that Kiepe’s death was due to multiple dog bite injures and not a motorcycle crash. Investigators further determined that five great danes owned by Kiepe had caused her death. All five dogs were humanely euthanized. The fatal dog mauling occurred near Kiepe's farm residence driveway, according to a release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Multiple people have already left comments on a March 2020 Facebook post by the victim, showing 11 great dane puppies. A Harley Davidson motorcycle is seen as her Facebook cover photograph. Kiepe also appears to have owned multiple horses in the past and had been active in equestrian events. A memorial fund, organized by Jessica Bailey, states that Mindy was a "great mother, grandmother, and friend." The fund hopes to cover her medical and funeral expenses.

The last fatal attack inflicted by great danes occurred in Warren County, Ohio in November 2019. Mary Matthews, 49-years old, was found lying on the bathroom floor unresponsive, covered in blood and bite marks, when police arrived. Her two great danes -- both rescues -- were found on an enclosed deck outside. At least one of the dogs was known to be aggressive and had bitten people in the past, according to the chief investigator for the Warren County Coroner’s Office.

Pack of Great Danes in Rural Clay County

Photographs of Mindy Kiepe's great danes posted to her Facebook page in 2019 and 2020.

DogsBite blog ::

While Preparing this Post, We were Informed that Rebel Died