In the 15-year period of 2005 through 2019, canines killed 521 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (346) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »
Francis Cavanaugh, 6-years old, was mauled to death by a dog on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
Boy Killed by Dog
Fort Totten, ND - A 6-year old boy is dead after being attacked by at least one dog on the Spirit Lake Reservation, according to investigators. The attack occurred on Sunday, March 27, at a housing development off of Highway 57 in Fort Totten, reports InForum. The FBI is investigating, but declined to release any details. It's unclear if the owner of the dog has been identified at this time. Like many reservations, Spirit Lake has been plagued with roaming dogs for years.
At least 700 dogs found roaming the reservation were taken in last year, according to Tribal Chairman Douglas Yankton. That did not even "dent" the problem, he said. There are so many dogs on the reservation, Yankton added, that it would be impossible to establish a registration system. The boy's dog mauling death occurred one day before a young woman was fatally attacked by a large pack of dogs on the Meskwaki Nation Settlement in Tama County, Iowa.
In December, Duke Little Whirlwind, 58, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. In May, Lyssa Upshaw, 13, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. Since 2010, there have been at least 14 fatal dog maulings on Indian reservations nationwide. The persistency of the number of roaming dogs on reservations -- many of which are owned, but un-collared and unchecked, or abandoned -- has deadly ramifications.
Native American reservations often have seriously underfunded animal control resources or lack them all together. The Spirit Lake Reservation only has one animal control employee. Like other tribes across the country, Spirit Lake also has a breed-specific ordinance that bans pit bulls and rottweilers, at least from their housing program. Yankton said that enforcement, however, is problematic. Owners become confrontational and evicting just increases the homeless situation.
Family Speaks to Media
In a video report, iNews TV identified the boy as Francis Cavanaugh. The group spoke to Fallon Greywater, the sister of Francis' biological mother. Fallon and her husband Keith have been the boy's parents since birth. Fallon said Francis was attacked by one dog, which was taken into custody (an unusual scenario, reservation attacks are nearly always pack attacks). Francis was outside with his older brother when the dog attacked. He had played with this dog in the past.
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.
Chaille Morgan, 27-years old, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Meskwaki Settlement.
Woman Killed by Dogs
Tama County, IA - On Monday, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department published a post on Facebook alerting citizens to a fatal dog attack. In "all kaps," the notice states, "There was a vicious dog attack this afternoon by a large pack of dogs that resulted in the death of a young adult female community member. The attack took place in the area of Springs Road. Due to the sensitivity of the situation, MNPD will not be releasing any additional information until a later date."
All of the dogs involved in the vicious attack "have now been terminated," MNPD stated. The location of the fatal dog attack is on the Meskwaki Settlement, close to the Meskwaki Tribal Center, and a mile southeast of the Meskwaki Casino, off of U.S. Highway 30. The settlement is an unincorporated community in Tama County, Iowa, which includes more than 8,000 acres, according to its Wikipedia entry. There are about 800 individuals living on the settlement.
One commenter on the MNPD page, Ray YoungBear, indicates this dog pack was a cause for concern for community members. "I was so afraid of this," he wrote. "Three large-headed ones in the hills" had recently been dispatched too. The term "large-headed" dogs is nearly exclusively used for bully breeds -- pit bull and mastiff-type dogs. Rottweilers could be indicated as well. There are few, if any, functional Rez type dogs today that meet the parameters of being "large-headed."
In December 2021, Duke Little Whirlwind, 58-years old, was killed by a pack of dogs on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana. He was found dead, lying face down on a dirt road stripped naked -- the dogs had ripped off all of his clothing. In May of 2021, Lyssa Upshaw, 13-years old, was killed by a pack of vicious dogs on the Navajo Nation in Fort Defiance, Arizona. "Her clothes and pieces of flesh were scattered around," media reports stated.
Mauling Victim Identified
On Friday, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department identified the victim as 27-year old Chaille Morgan, of Tama. The Meskwaki Nation Police Chief also said there were no pit bulls among the pack of mixed-breed dogs that fatally attacked Morgan. The attack happened Monday near the Tribal Center in the area of Springs Road. Her obituary states that she attended South Tama Schools. The large pack of dogs involved in the attack has since been identified and terminated.
Google Maps shows area of the Meskwaki Settlement where the fatal pack attack occurred.
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.
Kyleen Waltman, 38, was viciously attacked by three dogs in Abbeville County.
Victim Sues County UPDATE 03/08/24: In February, Kyleen Waltman's attorneys filed a civil lawsuit against Abbeville County for failure to enforce their dangerous dog ordinance. The Complaint alleges the county failed to investigate a violent attack by Justin Minor’s dogs three months before his dogs attacked Waltman. The county's duty to investigate the first attack was mandatory, not "discretional." Waltman argues that the language in the county's dangerous dogs ordinance created a "special duty of care."
"Sec. 6-72. Procedures for investigation and classification of dangerous dogs: (a) An animal control officer, or any law enforcement agency, shall investigate any report of a dangerous dog, upon receipt of a written complaint from an individual or any reported incident." (Pg. 6-7)
--snip--
"These laws and regulations and the fact that Abbeville County Animal Services administers them, serves to provide a sense of safety to the citizens of Abbeville County. These laws contemplate a particular class of potential victims and identify a particular kind of harm which created a special duty of care underRayfield v. S.C. Dept. of Corrections" (Pg. 7)
The laundry list of allegations in the Complaint about Abbeville County's failures includes: failing to properly investigate the prior complaints made about Justin Minor’s vicious dogs; failing to properly train its employees on how to properly investigate reports of vicious dogs; failing to follow state law and county ordinances regarding dangerous dogs; and failing to otherwise use due care in protecting the Plaintiff and those in the Ball Road area from the vicious dogs owned by Justin Minor.
Waltman sustained horrifying, life-long injuries on March 21, 2022 from Minor's three vicious dogs -- two pit bulls and a mixed-breed. A neighbor saw the dogs attack her and called 911. Police and emergency responders found Waltman severely injured "lying in a muddy ditch." Both of her arms had to be amputated up to the shoulder. Her GoFundMe also stated, "she had to have her colon removed and now her esophagus may have to be removed." Her fundraiser raised just over $360,000.
Due to "governmental immunity," which shields cities and counties (political subdivisions) from being sued for certain actions or inactions that cause harm to people, it can be difficult to sue a county. However, this immunity is not absolute. It can be pierced if one can show the government had a "special duty." According to this law journal article, a "special duty" can be formed "by a statute that was enacted for the benefit of a particular class of persons of which the plaintiff is a member."
Note: The previous trafficking charge against Waltman ended in a "Nolle Prosequi," which is a legal notice or entry of record that the prosecutor or plaintiff has decided to abandon the prosecution.
10/26/22: Victim Facing Charge
Last night we learned that Kyleen Waltman was being held in the Abbeville County detention center. We learned today that she is facing a drug trafficking charge. WYFF footage shows Waltman wearing prison orange, frequently conferring with her attorney. She was released on a personal recognizance bond. On March 21, 2022 Kyleen suffered catastrophic injuries in a dog attack. Doctors were forced to amputate both of her arms up to the shoulder. Doctors also had to remove her colon.
The attack and her horrific injuries were widely reported by local, regional and national media outlets. Her GoFundMe raised over $300,000.
The arrest occurred on Monday, when Abbeville County deputies pulled over a car on Keowee Road. Waltman and Jeffery Wayne Bond were inside. Bond had active warrants. When police arrested Bond, he told them he had methamphetamine in his pocket. Deputies then searched the car. A purse belonging to Waltman was found. Inside was 8.3 grams of methamphetamine. Deputies found more once Waltman was arrested; she had a total of 15.5 grams, which is considered trafficking weight.
The last update on Waltman's GoFundMe states that she was "really depressed" that her insurance company is not going to help pay for a recent "surgery or her arms" (prosthetics). Her mother wrote, "I have helped her out for over six months, I am wore out. She cries a lot and we don't know what to do anymore." As recently as six days ago, her GoFundMe supporters said they were, "Praying for you and your family." Thus far, her family has not commented on the drug trafficking charge and arrest.
According to court records, this is a 1st offense for Waltman. She is due back in court on January 13, 2023. A commenter on a recent Daily Mail article states, "If ANYONE deserves to live high it's this poor woman. Her arms ripped off by pit bulls...she needs more drugs not less. Hope the judge is compassionate." Meanwhile, the multiple charges filed back in April against the owner of the attacking dogs, Justin Minor, remain pending, according to the Abbeville County Public Index.
Waltman also suffered hearing loss from the attack. This is why she leans in closely to hear her attorney. When the judge tries to address her, people in the courtroom say, "She can't hear you."
03/24/22: Dog Owner Arrested
Abbeville County, SC - On March 22, we were alerted to the GoFundMe for Kyleen Waltman. She suffered catastrophic injuries by three dogs on March 21. Doctors had to amputate both of her arms up to the shoulder. "She had to have her colon removed and now her esophagus may have to be removed" as well, states the fundraiser. News reports quickly emerged. Her sister, Amy Wynne, who organized the fundraiser for Waltman, told WYFF, "This is the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen."
The attack occurred at about 10:30 am Monday, while Waltman was walking home on Ball Road in Honea Path. Waltman's other sister, Sheena Green, said a man found Waltman in a ditch still being attacked by the dogs. Green said the man had to fire a gun in the air to get the dogs off Waltman. She was airlifted to a trauma center in Greenville. The dogs have since been identified as two pit bulls and a mixed-breed. Abbeville County Animal Control took possession of the attacking dogs.
"Now she is fighting for her life at the hospital. They had to take both of her arms off. She was about dead when they found her. She'd [done] bled out. She died three times before … They were going to take her leg off. They took her colon out. She's still undergoing surgery right now." - Sheena Green
By Tuesday evening, Tanya Gilmer, Waltman’s best friend, said that Waltman remained in critical condition, but was stable. "[The dogs] pretty much ripped all the meat from her arms, and she has a hole in the back of her head. She has lost her colon. She’s lost both of her arms. She’s going to have to lose her esophagus, and they did save her legs,” Gilmer told WRBL. Gilmer said that she and Waltman have been close friends for 30 years. "I love Kyleen like she is my sister," she said.
By Wednesday, authorities had arrested the dogs' owner, Justin L Minor. He was charged with three counts of owning a dangerous animal that attacks and injures a human; failure to vaccinate for rabies and unrestrained dangerous animals. Abbeville County's online court records show that Minor has a number of traffic violations and a pending case involving the possession of narcotics. Wynne said, due to the damaging injuries her sister suffered, Minor's charges don't seem strong enough.
Minor bonded out on Thursday. As of Wednesday night, Waltman remained in a coma, but doctors plan to take her out of sedation Thursday. Waltman is a mother of three and a grandmother to one. She is being treated at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial. Wynne said doesn't believe Kyleen would want to live under these conditions. "Knowing Kyleen, she’s not going to want to live," Wynne said. "She’s not going to want to live like this. She’s got too much pride to rely on someone else."
Kyleen Waltman, 38, seen hospitalized after a violent dog attack in Abbeville County.
A black dog and Beware of Dog sign seen on the property of the dogs' owner on Ball Road.
One or two pit bulls and a white-and-black mixed-breed dog posted to Justin Minor's Facebook page in 2019. The mixed-breed dog was also seen in WYFF's early footage.
Great-Grandmother Charged with Second-Degree Murder
Serenity Garnett was killed by a dog while under the care of her great-grandmother.
Sentenced for Baby's Death UPDATE 04/27/23: The great-grandmother of a baby girl killed by a large, muscular family dog in March of 2022 was sentenced to serve six years in jail and four years of probation. In total, Migdelia Guadalupe received 10 years on the charge of contributing to the dependency of a minor and three years on one count of possession of methamphetamine. Guadalupe had initially been charged with second-degree murder, but the grand jury did not indict her on that charge.
Guadalupe appeared by video at her sentencing. A trial was averted because she took full responsibility for her actions, which included delaying a call to 911 for 20 minutes after the child was brutally attacked by "Blade," an American bulldog with a history of aggression. When the dog attacked the baby, Guadalupe and an unidentified male were high. The male left after the attack. Guadalupe, who has a history of drug use, waited 20 minutes before seeking help for the child.
WRDW was in the courtroom filming during the sentencing hearing. The prosecutor explains the state's case and the events that occurred that day at 5:00. The family of baby Serenity gives emotional testimony at 20:01. Senerity's mother did not appear, but supplied a letter instead. The mother urged the court to sentence Guadalupe to the maximum amount with no possibility of parole. "I hope she sits in her decision to choose drugs over my baby girl's life," she wrote.
03/25/22: Great-Grandmother Charged
The great-grandmother of a baby girl killed by a large, muscular family dog earlier this week has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to her death. Migdelia Guadalupe, 56, who suffered lacerations and puncture wounds during the attack, was released from the hospital today and promptly arrested by police. Guadalupe was charged with second-degree murder and possession of methamphetamine, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
"There are additional details that led to these charges that will not be released at this time," the sheriff’s agency said in a statement.
No bond was granted to Guadalupe. Second-degree murder charges indicate prosecutors believe Guadalupe had knowledge of the dog's vicious propensities. In Georgia, the charge specifically relates to children too. "Murder in the second degree involves the death of a person while committing the offense of cruelty to children in the second degree," states the Black Law Offices website. The Georgia penal code states this offense is "irrespective of malice" as well.
Guadalupe was renting the property, according to authorities, and was the only renter living at the home. The dog belongs to Donna Marie Mills, 58, who co-owns the property with her brother, Danny Mills, 55. Donna is incarcerated, and Danny Mills does not live at the home, authorities said. Online court records for Columbia County indicate that a warrant for Donna's arrest was issued on January 11, 2022. It's unclear how long Guadalupe had been living at the residence.
The WRDW article also confirms that "Blade," as seen on Donna's Facebook page before she deactivated it, is the offending dog. Previous incidents causing animal control officers to visit the home include: Blade being attacked by another dog in 2017 and first responders being kept from providing medical care to the owner due to the dog's guarding, also in 2017. Apparently, authorities were not notified after Blade killed a previous renter's small dog several years ago.
03/24/22: Clarifications, Previous Attack
News reports clarified that the child was under the care of her great-grandmother, not her grandmother, at the time of the fatal attack. The great-grandmother, 56-years old, suffered lacerations and puncture wounds in the attack. Her injuries were not life-threatening. The child was not breathing when deputies arrived. The great-grandmother was renting the property. The attacking dog belongs to a 58-year old woman who co-owns the property with her brother.
That woman, the owner of the dog, is currently incarcerated, but her brother "responded to the scene and was advised of the situation," states the police incident report. The child's mother arrived at the scene before the ambulance's departure and followed the girl to Augusta University Health, where her baby was declared dead. The great-grandmother continues to recover at the hospital. At this stage, investigators still do not know what led to the multi-victim dog attack.
WRDW had previously spoken to Tim Jardine, who lives just down the street. He's lived in the Columbia Drive neighborhood all his life. Jardine recalled a past incident when the dog's owner had a seizure. "My friend and I had to occupy the dog for them to get in there and get the woman to the hospital," he said, referring to the paramedics. His sister-in-law, Amanda Jardine, agreed. "It won’t let anyone come near anybody," she said. The canine remains in a 10-day quarantine.
The child's grandmother, Rosalie Rivera, told WJBF that she was the first person to learn about the attack. "I did not think it was this serious," she said. She thought Serenity was just bitten by a dog. "I wouldn’t wish this pain on anybody. I know she was my granddaughter, but she was my favorite girl," she said. "I can’t imagine my life without her, and she’s only been in it for 7 months." The GoFundMe for Serenity, to help pay for her funeral costs, has raised over $13,000 so far.
Previously Killed Dog
After a flurry of horrific dog attacks reported this week in US and UK media, a commenter shared that another account was published about this attack. A woman who formerly rented and lived at 3701 Columbia Drive, said the same dog that killed Serenity, also killed her pet chihuahua and injured her. "It killed my dog, and it maimed my hands," she said. The woman chose to remain anonymous -- after all, the owner of the attacking dog, Donna Mills, is currently incarcerated.
The former roommate who is speaking out lived at Mills' home a little over three years ago. "She stumbled when she went to go feed the dog. The dog jumped this big, old board they had set up so he couldn’t get out or couldn’t come in the house, came straight down the hallway and snatched my dog. Banged her against the walls, broke her neck, broke her back. It was horrible,” she said. She described the attacking dog, who we suspect is "Blade," as a "huge dog."
"Blade," the offending large, muscular dog, seen on the dog owner's Facebook page in 2017.
Police first called this dog a pit bull then classified it an "American Bulldog-Great pyrenees mix."
03/22/22: Child Killed by Large Dog
Martinez, GA - A 7-month old girl is dead and her grandmother hospitalized after being attacked by a large family dog. The attack occurred at 3701 Columbia Drive at about 12:30 pm Tuesday. The baby, Serenity Garnett, was visiting her grandmother's home and under her care when the multi-victim attack occurred. The grandmother owns the animal. Both Serenity and her grandmother were transported to Augusta University Health for medical treatment, where the baby later died.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office described the dog as an American bulldog-Great pyrenees mix. Neighbor Steven Fox said the male dog "had muscles coming out the wazoo" and that the grandmother "didn't have the strength to deal with that dog." When he got out occasionally, it was very hard to get back," Fox said. At least two "Beware of the Dog" signs hung on a fence at the home. Thus far, no photograph of the dog, initially described as a pit bull, has been released.
Endless, Reoccurring Scenario
Followers of this blog know that this type of preventable fatal dog mauling to a child is an "endless, reoccurring scenario." A grandparent with one or more powerful dogs, most commonly pit bulls or rottweilers, that kills a visiting baby or toddler while under their watch. Steven Fox described the grandmother's relationship with her dog aptly. She "didn't have the strength to deal with that dog." Yet, she still kept the powerful animal and allowed it to be in contact with a defenseless baby.
(Just after 11:00 pm Central Time, we discovered that Augusta Crime had located the baby's GoFundMe page and clarified that the child was under the care of her "great-grandmother.")
At least two "Beware of the Dog" signs hung on the fence of the dog owner's home in Martinez.
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.
View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Fatal Dog Attacks on American Indian Reservations.
