Posted on May 11, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Newborn Baby Killed by Family Pit Bull-Mix in Norwich; Arson in New London May be Connected

Infant Carter Settles was fatally attacked by a family pit bull in Norwich, Connecticut.

Infant Identified
UPDATE 05/11/21: Police have identified an infant killed by a family dog on Monday as Carter Settles. The baby was being held by a family member when "the dog jumped up on the adult family member and began biting Carter," Norwich police Lt. John Perry said. Hours after the baby's death, police said the boy's father, Timothy Settles, was the last person seen before a fire damaged a New London home. Settles is currently a person of interest in the early morning arson.

Norwich police said the family dog was a male pit bull-mix. "At this time in the investigation, we are unable to determine how long the family had the dog and how old the dog is," Perry said. The infant suffered multiple traumatic injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time of the attack, the baby was in the home with his mother and paternal grandmother. His father was not present. Police have not indicated any possible motives behind the New London blaze.

Earlier, we reported that in September 2020, Timothy Settles was charged with multiple crimes while residing on McKinley Avenue. The Day examined those charges today. Settles was arrested in an assault on a pregnant woman living there. The victim told police that Settles had lured her home from work by falsely claiming their apartment was on fire. Settles pleaded guilty to assault and interfering with police. Last night, Settles' son was killed by a dog at the McKinley location.

The report said police responded to a call about a disturbance in the back of Settles’ residence on Sept. 19. The pregnant victim told police that Settles had lured her home from work by falsely claiming their apartment was on fire.

The woman said their argument turned physical, when he began hitting her on the head and scratching her neck, according to the report. Police identified bruising to the woman’s forehead and a laceration to the back of her neck.

Police said Settles resisted when officers tried to put him in handcuffs. It took three officers to handcuff his hands in front of his body, as he was on the ground on his back, the report said. He was unable to be processed due to his "irate behavior" and was placed in a holding cell at Norwich Police Department. He was read his rights, fingerprinted and photographed the next day. - The Day, May 11, 2021

Settles no longer resides at the apartment on McKinley Avenue. It has not been established if Settles had connections to the property on Rosemary Street, where he was seen just before a fire broke out at 4:00 am Tuesday morning. Settles remains at large following the New London fire. New London officials still have not released details about how the fire was started, only that the fire is being investigated as arson and that they are seeking Settles as a person of interest.

Watch: Norwich Police Department give update on deadly dog attack

05/11/21: Infant Killed by Family Dog
Norwich, CT - A 1-month old baby has died after being attacked by a family dog. Officers were dispatched to a multifamily residence in the 100 block of McKinley Avenue about 8:40 pm for a report of a dog attack. Arriving officers found the newborn baby injured by the dog. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene. Police described the dog as a pit bull-mix. Police have been providing support and counseling to the family and the officers who responded to the scene.

Last year, a number of infants were killed by family dogs. Eight infants, ages 4 weeks to 7 months old, died after being attacked by a dog. Family pit bulls were responsible for half of these deaths. Three breeds were responsible for 3 deaths, American bulldog-mix (1), Belgian malinois (1) and German shepherd-mix (1), and one death that occurred in military housing did not release breed data. One parent was criminally charged and pleaded guilty to one count of felony neglect.

No fatal dog attacks have been reported in the state of Connecticut since 2019, when a rescue pit bull belonging to Annie Hornish, the Connecticut senior state director of the Human Society of the United States, killed a 95-year old woman by inflicting a Level 6 bite. After the attack, Hornish falsely claimed the elderly victim, Janet D'Aleo, had died due to "falling." In January 2021, the estate of D'Aleo reached a $2 million dollar settlement against Hornish and her husband.

Mid Morning Updates

Fox 61 reports that a fire at a New London home Tuesday morning that sent one person to the hospital with injuries may be linked to the newborn's mauling death. New London Fire responded to a 2-alarm fire on Rosemary Street at about 4:00 am Tuesday. A woman was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. New London police say they are looking for 32-year old Timothy Settles as a person of interest to be questioned with respect to the arson investigation.

Watch: New London Fire and Police press conference about arson investigation

Settles is the father of the infant who was killed by the dog, according to New London Police Chief Peter Reichard. WFSB is is at the scene of the New London house fire. The fire was started on the front porch. Persons living on the first floor were not home at the time. All persons living upstairs were able to exit the home. Fire "opened up the roof" of the home to put out the fire. Settles was the last person seen at the home before the fire was started. No warrants have been issued.

According to The Day, Timothy Settles, 32, of 36 McKinley Avenue, Norwich was charged with disorderly conduct, third degree assault and interfering with police back in September 2020. 36 McKinley Avenue is the location of the fatal dog mauling Monday night. On Tuesday, a dog trained in detecting accelerants was called to the scene of the arson. The two-story home appears to have suffered significant damage. Multiple windows were blown out and extensive charring was seen.

The Courant provided an update on the dog attack. "We don’t have any information to let us know why the dog did what he did," Norwich Lt. Anthony Gomes said. "It was reported to be without warning." Two adults witnessed the attack, he said. It wasn’t clear if Settles was one of them. "Unfortunately, because of the nature of the incident we haven’t been able to talk to the mother. She is distraught," Gomes said Tuesday. Meanwhile, New London police are looking for Settles.

An arson at a New London home maybe connected to a dog attack that killed an infant boy.

A black pit bull seen on the mother's Facebook page -- a neighbor said the pit bull was black.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Connecticut 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 May 10, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Man Dies of Injuries After Pit Bull Owner Plays 'Victimhood' and Asks, 'But What About Me?'

Dustin Vincent, 27-years old, died of his injuries after a violent pit bull attack on May 6.

Dustin Gained His Wings
UPDATE 05/11/21: According to a spokesperson for Dustin's family, he gained his wings at 3:20 pm today. Dustin Vincent, 27, was horribly mauled by a pack of pit bulls belonging to Brandi Cormier on May 6 while he visited her home. He suffered extreme injuries to his head and skull. He was airlifted to a Lafayette hospital in critical condition. Yesterday, the mother of his children said that Dustin had a Code Blue. A balloon release and vigil is planned for tonight at 7:00 pm.

Vigil attendees wore "Vincent Strong" tee-shirts and released balloons.

KPLC-TV attended the vigil. They spoke to Tonya Laughlin. "This isn’t something like a normal dog bite," she said. "This was three animals tearing a piece of meat apart. This isn’t the first time. This is the second time these dogs have attacked somebody." His mother, Michelle LeJeune, said he was looking for Brandon. When he realized he wasn't there, he started to leave. "That is when I heard the dogs attacked him," LeJeune said. They had bitten someone two days earlier, she said.

Please help: Dustin's family is raising funds on Facebook to help pay for his funeral costs.

05/10/21: Code Blue - Pray for Dustin
Sulphur, LA - Last week, a devastating pit bull attack occurred in Louisiana. Dustin Vincent, 27-years old, has been fighting for his life in a hospital ever since. Hours ago, a woman who is pregnant with his baby released a video to Facebook. Through tears and agony, Jeni said that Dustin had a Code Blue last night. "Now they are saying that he doesn't have any brain activity." Jeni is asking people for prayers. Pray for Dustin. "Dustin please pull through baby," she said.

A medical fund started for Dustin now also says they are raising money for funeral expenses. Previously, it stated that he was in critical condition. "He's having lots of surgery done and is not out of the woods. Yesterday at 12 in the afternoon he was attacked by dogs ... He could be [at the hospital] for up to 3 months or more." Today the fund states, "He’s coded and his kidneys are failing," and "Please help this family with funeral expenses and his children's need and care."

On May 6, Sulphur police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of Platt Street. They arrived to find a man on the ground inside a fence-in yard being actively attacked by three pit bulls. Officers Tased one of the dogs, causing the other dogs to move away. Dustin was airlifted from the scene to Lafayette hospital in critical condition. At the time of the attack, Dustin was visiting the residence on Platt Street to see a family member, but that relative was not home.

Dustin suffered severe facial and skull damage, along with severe wounds to his legs, police said. Animal control impounded four pit bulls at the home. KPLC spoke to the owner of the dogs, Brandi Cormier, who victim-blamed then wallowed in "victimhood" on camera. “I’m so sorry for his family,” Cormier said. "This has scarred me for the rest of my life. Everybody says pray for his family. But what about me? I tried to save him. I tried to make him get out," Cormier softly pleaded.

Cormier claimed her pit bulls had never been aggressive before, even though she clearly used them to guard her notorious home on Platt Street. She also claimed one of the dogs was a "$10,000 dollar breed dog," (an entertaining illusion like Dogecoin). "I’m gonna have them spayed and neutered and one of them is a 10,000 dollar breed dog,” Cormier said. "So that takes income away from my house." Predictably, Cormier was also running a backyard breeding operation.

Home in the 900 block of Platt Street where a violent pit bull mauling occurred on May 6, 2021.

Pit bulls belonging to Brandi Cormier, who played "victimhood" after her dogs attacked a man.

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

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

European Study of Dog Bite Fatalities Suggests Rise in Deaths Could be Due to Increasing Number of Dangerous Breeds

European study of dog bite fatalities, data from 30 countries over 22-year period.

Open Access Study
Sweden - In January 2021, the first study examining dog bite fatalities in 30 European countries was published. The cause of death data was collected from Eurostat, similar to how CDC collects this data for all 50 states. In 2011, reporting data to Eurostat became mandatory under EU Commission regulations. The study found that the number of European fatalities due to dog attacks increased "significantly at a rate of several percent per year" over the period studied.

The number of European fatalities due to dog attacks increased significantly at a rate of several percent per year. This increase could not be explained by increases in the human or the dog populations…

We detected a strong increase in number of fatal dog attacks over time, which of course is of concern. This increase could be seen both over a shorter (6 yr) and a longer (20 yr) time frame, and it matches a similar increase in the USA. The increase in fatalities could not be explained as a simple function of there being more dogs, because the increase was more rapid than the increase in the dog population. - (Sarenbo et al., 2021)

This is a study involving small death numbers accrued over a 22-year period. Countries with the highest number of dog bite bite fatalities between 1995 and 2016 include: Hungary (94), France (79), Romania (67), United Kingdom (56) and Poland (49). Overall, 599 deaths were coded as W54 deaths, "bitten or struck by dog," the same ICD-10 code that US hospitals use (The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision).

Due to some countries not reporting data to Eurostat prior to 2011, the study estimated the actual number of deaths to be closer to 827. "The true number of Europeans killed by being bitten or struck by dogs during these 22 years should therefore lie somewhere between 599 and 827, but considering the large amount of unreported years (26%), it may be closer to the latter," states the study. Eurostat may also underreport small death numbers, just as CDC Wonder is presumed to.1

"Dog Attack Iceberg"

Common criticisms by pit bull factions is that fatal dog attacks are rare; therefore fatality statistics are irrelevant. Now we see the first dog bite fatality study encompassing 30 European countries. The authors state, "The numbers of fatalities are indeed a very small tip of the 'dog attack iceberg', and the number of dog attacks that lead to hospitalizations of the victim outnumber fatalities by several orders of magnitude." The tip of the "dog attack iceberg" indicates a much larger problem.

Given that this study is open access, we will only address a few key parts in various sections. In the introduction, we were struck by the bold language in the second paragraph that describes the injuries victims sustain in severe and fatal dog attacks. A face being "ripped off" and "decapitation has been reported" are not phrases we see in US peer-review. The two decapitations involved an attack by a pit bull and a "large male mixed-breed terrier." Both victims were male infants.2,3

Attacks that cause severe injury or death in a human victim are relatively rare, but when they do occur, the dogs tend to drag their preys down or bite the limbs in order to disable the victim, and then continue biting. Dogs in fatal attacks have often targeted the "throat, neck, or cranium, and if the attack continues, death will finally result from asphyxiation, exsanguination, or a fractured cranium and its complications". The neck is the most common area for fatal attacks by predatory wild canids, presumably because this site is the most vulnerable. The victim’s scalp and/or face can be severely damaged and even ripped off, with exsanguination as on consequence. Also decapitation has been reported. Severe dog attacks are characterized by repeated, focused biting and shaking until the victim is no longer moving, and that the victim or any person intervening having extreme difficulties ending the attack. - (Sarenbo et al., 2021)

In the discussion section, the authors suggest explanations for the rising number of fatalities. One being the increasing popularity of dog breeds that have the potential to kill adult humans. Since W54 does not track breed of dog involved, the authors point to breeds that are "recurrently identified as perpetrators in literature concerning fatal dog attacks" as "indirect evidence" that an increasing number of dangerous breeds can partly explain the observed increase in fatalities.

One explanation for the increase in number of fatalities could be that people have changed in the way they train, keep and interact with dogs. Another potential explanation is the increasing popularity of dog breeds that have the potential to kill also adult humans. These types of explanations needs to be investigated using other methods than ICD data. However, some indirect evidence already exist that an increasing number of dangerous breeds can partly explain the observed increase in fatalities. The following dog types (purebred or not, and according to the FCI classification of dog breeds) are recurrently identified as perpetrators in literature concerning fatal dog attacks: Bull type terriers (FCI Group 3.), Mastiff type (FCI Group 2.), Nordic Sledge dogs and Asian Spitz and related breeds (FCI Group 5), and Sheepdogs originating from Germany in FCI Group 1. - (Sarenbo et al., 2021)

In the FCI classification, bull type terriers include: bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier and American Staffordshire terrier. Mastiff type (Molossoid) include: mastiff, bullmastiff, rottweiler, presa canario and others. Nordic Sledge dogs include: Alaskan malamute and Siberian husky. The Asian Spitz and related breeds include: akitas and chow chows. "Sheepdogs originating from Germany" are simply German shepherds. The same top-killing dog breeds in the US.

The next paragraph is purely European. It perhaps never would be found in US peer-review. The authors want to discuss the "breeding, marketing and selling" of "high-risk breeds" and the liability of these breeders. They also want to know if there were other offspring made from the same parental material as the fatally attacking dog. The current lack of "breeder traceability" is a "potential source of risk to the health of not only the animals but also the public," states the study.

In the US, there is rarely an effort by police to find the source of the fatally attacking dog (parental material) or the dog's siblings that came from the same litter. In the US, after a dog kills a person, officials quickly adopt out any puppies the dog may have had. The scientific "heritability of behavior," particularly aggressive behavior, is rarely researched in the US. When realized, heritability of abnormal aggression destroys the false claim, "It's all how you raise them."4

Breeding, marketing and selling "high-risk breeds" and the liability of breeders needs to be discussed in connection with fatal dog attacks. Important information includes who bred and raised the dog in question, if there were more litters from same parental material, the criteria the breeders used when selecting the breeding stock and to whom is the breeder sells the puppies. However, the traceability of dogs to their breeder is typically not possible in Europe because only one EU member state, Belgium, registers hobby breeders. The lack of breeder traceability has been described as "a potential source of risk to the health of not only the animals but also the public". - (Sarenbo et al., 2021)

The authors also comment on the dangerous false claims made by kennel clubs, regarding pit bulls and children. These false claims in the UKC, AKC and KC breed standards for pit bull breeds are responsible for children being killed by these dogs every year. The authors comment on the Nanny Dog myth invented by a Staffordshire bull terrier fancier as well. "The marketing of dog breeds as 'nanny dogs' should be prohibited because there is no evidence that such dogs exist."5

Breeds such as Pit Bull terrier and Staffordshire Bull terrier are described in Breed Standards as "excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children" or "Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children" despite their history as fighting dogs, their weight and strength. Their specific style of biting, "hold and tear", can cause fatal injuries in minutes, and the biting combined with violent shaking exacerbates the injuries. Additionally, bull breeds are known to be aggressive to other dogs, which indirectly increases the risk of injuries to humans who may try to protect their own dogs from the attacking dog…

Second, the marketing of dog breeds as "nanny dogs" should be prohibited because there is no evidence that such dogs exist. Third, we believe that all dogs should be traceable to their breeder, that dogs belonging to high-risk breeds should wear a muzzle when visiting public areas, and never left under supervision of inexperienced temporary keepers. - (Sarenbo et al., 2021)

We could not agree more that fatally attacking dogs should be traceable to their breeder and that high-risk dog breeds should be muzzled when in public areas and never left under supervision of inexperienced or temporary keepers. A number of US fatal dog attacks have occurred under both scenarios. Legislating that would prove difficult in the US, but certainly parts of Europe have tried. Many European countries are light years ahead of the US regarding dangerous dog breeds.6

Age and Gender Differences

The age and gender differences between the European study and the US are startling. Recall that 30 different countries make up the European study. Infant and child fatalities are much less frequent in Europe than in the US (infants comprised 3% of Euro deaths vs. 12% of US deaths and children ≤ 9 comprised 16% of Euro deaths vs. 45% of US deaths, according to our data). In the European study, each of the ≥ 50 age groups had more deaths than children 1-9 age group.

The gender differences between Europe and the US are interesting too. In the European study, males dominated the 30-69 age groups and with statistical significance in the 40-59 age groups. In CDC Wonder data, males led 40-69 age groups, but not with significance. In DogsBite.org data, females led every age group 30 and older. In the 70 and older age groups, females predictably dominated all 3 data sets (Euro, CDC and DogsBite), as women tend to live longer than men.

View: Comparison Chart: US vs. European Age and Genders in Fatal Dog Maulings

No Competing Interests

Both study authors are faculty members of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Science at Linnaeus University in Sweden. The authors report no declarations of competing interests -- this neutrality clearly shows in the study. Disinterest, however, is not always true in peer-review. For a decade, studies produced by the US Pit Bull Lobby contained hidden conflicts of interest. Perhaps unknown to these authors, they cited one (Patronek et al., 2013).

In 2020, American researchers finally exposed these hidden conflicts of interest -- we first documented this fact in 2016. For a decade, the peer-review community has been influenced and misled by this literature authored and funded by undisclosed pit bull advocacy groups. Every study with deliberately hidden conflicts of interest is intended to show that pit bulls are unidentifiable, pit bulls do not kill more people than other dog breeds and that breed-specific laws are ineffective.7

Summary

Fatal attacks inflicted by dogs are increasing in Europe. This increase in deaths outpaces growth in human and canine populations. One possibility for this increase is that people have changed the way they train, keep and interact with dogs. Another possibility is the "increasing popularity of dog breeds that have the potential to kill also adult humans," states the study. This cannot be determined by using Eurostat or CDC Wonder data, which excludes breed and narrative data.

The Swedish authors are a fresh and much-welcomed new voice for victims of serious and fatal dog maulings. Phrases like, fatalities are just a "small tip of the dog attack iceberg" illustrate how large this problem is in Europe and the US. Phrases like, "decapitation has been reported" and that exsanguination resulted from a face or scalp being "ripped off" are vivid descriptors of the severe damage victims sustain in violent dog attacks that we do not see in US peer-review.

Finally, calling out the false claims in kennel club breed standards, stating that pit bulls/Staffies "have always been noted for their love of children" and are "highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children," despite their history as fighting dogs, is long overdue. These US and UK kennel clubs deliberately lie to the public. The European study also states that marketing dog breeds as "nanny dogs" should be prohibited because there is no evidence that such dogs exist.

30 countries = 27 member states of the European Union, plus UK, Switzerland and Norway.

Editorial note: On May 9, 2021, we updated the age group and gender data comparison charts to include comparisons between Eurostat data, CDC Wonder data and DogsBite.org data.

1Human Fatalities Resulting From Dog Attacks in the United States, 1979–2005, by Ricky L. Langley, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, April, 2009 ;20(1):19-25.
2Pitbull Mauling Deaths in Detroit, by Loewe CL, Diaz FJ and Bechinski J, Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2007 Dec;28(4):356-60.
3Extensive and Mutilating Craniofacial Trauma Involving Defleshing and Decapitation: Unusual Features of Fatal Dog Attacks in the Young, by Tsokos, M, Byard, R, and Puschel, K, Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2007;28: 131-136.
4One open access study was recently published, Highly heritable and functionally relevant breed differences in dog behavior, in a UK journal, The Royal Society.
5United Kennel Club, American Pit Bull Terrier Breed Standard - "APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children." (ukcdogs.com); United Kennel Club, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard - "high intelligence and tenacity. Coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular." (ukcdogs.com); American Kennel Club, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard - "indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular" (akc.org); The Kennel Club, Staffordshire Bull Terrier - "Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children." (thekennelclub.org.uk)
6Spain requires owners of high-risk breeds (pit bulls, rottweilers, dogo Argentinos, fila Brasileiros, tosa inus and akitas) to be of legal age, take a physical capacity test and have a physical aptitude certificate (as vehicle drivers are required to), have an absence of criminal records and dogs must be microchipped, insured (120,000 euros) and leashed and muzzled when in public places.
7Four peer-reviewed items authored or co-authored by the American pit bull lobby that failed to disclose conflicts of interest, funding sources, a declaration of "pit bull advocacy" or all three:

Patronek GJ, Sacks JJ, Delise KM, Cleary DV, Marder AR. Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013;243:1726–1736.
Patronek GJ, Slater M, Marder A. Use of a number-needed-to-ban calculation to illustrate limitations of breed-specific legislation in decreasing the risk of dog bite-related injury. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2010;237(7):788-92.
Voith VL, Trevejo R, Dowling-Guyer S, Chadik C, Marder A, Johnson V, Irizarry K. Comparison of Visual and DNA Breed Identification of Dogs and Inter-Observer Reliability. American Journal of Sociological Research. 2013;3(2):17-29.
Delise K. Imprudent use of Unreliable Dog Bit Tabulations and Unpublished Sources. Ann Surg. 2012;255(5):e11-2.

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Colleen Lynn

2021 Dog Bite Fatality: Family Dog Fatally Mauls 4-Year Girl in Fort Worth, Texas

Elayah Brown, 4-years old, died after being attacked by a family dog in Fort Worth.

Dog Kills Child
Fort Worth, TX - On Friday, a 4-year old girl was attacked by a dog at a South Fort Worth home. The attack occurred in the 1400 block of Oak Grove Road just after 5:00 pm. Arriving officers found the child seriously injured by the dog in the backyard. She was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center in critical condition, where she later died. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified her as Elayah Brown. Fort Worth animal care and control took custody of the dog.

"The sole dog responsible for this incident has been identified and is in the custody of Fort Worth animal care and control," police said in a news release Friday. Crimes Against Children Unit detectives are also investigating. "Anytime there is a loss of life, it’s a tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and all first responders that responded to this call," Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said. The circumstances of the deadly attack were not released.

Fox 4 News captured footage of a fawn colored dog with blood on its coat being led to an animal control vehicle by a catch pole. The male, unaltered dog, is clearly a pit bull-mix -- see additional screenshots. The wide skull, head shape and ears are predominantly pit bull; the tail and fur are a mixture of another breed. There were two dogs in the family's household, reports Fox 4 News, one of the dogs was not responsible for the attack and was not taken into custody by animal control.

Weekend Updates

The family started a GoFundMe to help pay for the child's funeral costs. Police released no additional information. A spokeswoman for the city, Diane Covey, made a peculiar statement to the Star-Telegram, indicating that she couldn't name any predominant breeds. Currently the city's shelters are holding 355 dogs. Zero of these dogs are listed solely as "mixed breeds." 100% of these dogs have a predominant breed listed and many also have a secondary breed listed.

Churro is a good example of a pit bull's wide skull, head shape and ears, where the tail and fur are a mixture of another breed. Churro is listed as a pit bull-mix. Furthermore, the idea that breed is solely determined by physical appearance is invalid. Appellate courts have long ruled, "Pit bull dogs possess unique and readily identifiable physical and behavioral traits which are capable of recognition both by dog owners of ordinary intelligence and by enforcement personnel."

The dog owner of ordinary intelligence, when determining whether he or she owns a pit bull dog, need not rely solely on the dog's physical traits. Rather, the pit bull possesses certain distinctive behavioral features which differentiate it from other dog breeds…the trait of unusual relentless ferocity or the extreme concentration on fighting and attacking…the quality of gameness, which it described as "the propensity to catch and maul an attacked victim unrelentingly until death occurs"…When these behavioral traits are taken together with the physical characteristics described above, a fairly clear picture of a dog "commonly known as a pit bull dog" begins to emerge…Pit bull dogs possess unique and readily identifiable physical and behavioral traits which are capable of recognition both by dog owners of ordinary intelligence and by enforcement personnel... - Ohio v. Anderson, Supreme Court of Ohio (1991)

Images of the male family dog with blood on its fur being taken into custody by animal control.

View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Texas Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

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