2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Bristol-Kendall Fire Department Firefighter Killed by New Dog

Dog New to Home UPDATE 11/14/12: Police Lt. Pat Gengler said that an autopsy found that Brown died from dog bites to her neck from a 140 pound mastiff. She was discovered by her husband at the bottom of the basement stairs in their home. Gengler said the couple took in the mastiff about a week ago from a family member.1 He added that four animal control handlers were needed to contain the animal. The couple's two other dogs, a boxer and pit bull-mix were uninvolved in the attack. Bris… [Read full blog post]

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Chicago Man Killed by Pit Bull(s) in His Home

Conflicting Stories UPDATE 08/17/12: Relatives of Charles Hagerman told news sources that the dogs belonged to his girlfriend's son. The victim's mother, Salithia Maybell, said, "I can't see my baby. My baby's ate up. I can't see him. Okay, I've got to have a closed casket." She added that the pit bulls, "were vicious dogs," had previously killed a dog and that, "they've attacked before." Relatives also said that Hagerman was afraid of the two pit bulls, that were usually kep… [Read full blog post]

2011 Dog Bite Fatality: Woman Dies Following Attack by Pet Pit Bull Last Month

Tonia Parks, 39-years old, died after being attacked by one of her pit bulls. Pit Bull Blamed UPDATE 12/07/11: The Star updated the original article clarifying several details. Tonia Parks was mauled to death by one of her two pit bulls, each 8-years old, as she underwent a seizure in her home November 18. Parks remained in critical care until she was pronounced dead Tuesday at Rockford Memorial Hospital. The other dog attacked the pit bull that was mauling Parks. Both dogs are… [Read full blog post]

The DNA Paradox: Hired Gun Ledy VanKavage Flip-Flops Position on Pit Bull DNA

Dogfighting DNA Database San Francisco, CA - In September, the San Francisco affiliate of NPR, KQED, ran a segment about the Canine Combined DNA Index System, a DNA database of pit bulls seized in dogfighting raids. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) helped establish the database, which they dubbed the "Canine CODIS,"1 and hopes that it will help authorities connect dogfighting investigations across the country by creating multi-juri… [Read full blog post]