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 »
Statistical information gathered by DogsBite.org is verifiable through news reports and other criteria.1 Our Fatality Citations section documents sources used in our dog bite fatality research.
| 2011 fatal dog attacks by breed |
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In 2011, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from up to 4 different breeds, thus producing a death count total of 34 rather than 31. Up to seven dog breeds contributed to 1 death: Alaskan malamute, American bulldog, bulldog (American or English not specified), cane corso, doberman pinscher, German shepherd and Japanese akita.
Linda Leal, 51-years old, was mauled to death by her pit bull-mix. Her husband, Enrique Leal, discovered her shortly after 7 am in the couple's backyard. One pit bull, with a history of violent behavior, was penned up the yard. The couple's other dog, a pit bull-mix, was loose and found with blood on it. Arriving firefighters found extensive head and neck injuries "consistent with a dog attack." An autopsy determined that Leal was alive during the mauling. As of January 7, officials did not know the time of death and are awaiting a toxicology report. Sheriff's Lt. Shane Maxey said the tests were needed to ensure that she "didn't have something in her system that put her in that position." Yet, police also said that there was no indication of foul play or a sign of struggle at the scene. Leal had been battling liver cancer at the time of her death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 4, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Makayla Woodard, 5-years old, was killed by two pit bulls while in her front yard. Her grandmother, Nancy Presson, was severely injured trying to protect her. Michael Gordon, a convicted felon, owned both pit bulls. Neighbors said they had complained many times about Gordon's dogs running loose. Police said they warned Gordon at Christmas -- just a few weeks earlier -- to keep his dogs contained. At the time, Gordon admitted that his dogs, Rebel and Daisy, often managed to "hop the fence." Residents of Waxhaw were devastated by the incident. Hundreds attended Makayla's funeral, which began with the little girl's body carried in a horse drawn cart. After the funeral, town commissioners set up a panel to study the existing dog control law and to determine how to better handle potentially dangerous dogs. On January 26, Gordon turned himself into police after being charged with involuntary manslaughter. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Kristen Dutton, 9-years old, was fatally attacked by a 98-pound Japanese akita. Her grandfather, Mickey Abercrombie, had purchased the dog three weeks earlier for his grandchildren who lived at his Modoc home. The seller of the dog was not named, nor did any discussion arise in the media about why Abercrombie purchased an akita for his grandchildren; a breed with a well known heritage of dogfighting and guarding. Earlier in the day, Kristen had taken the dog for a walk by herself. Later, while playing with the dog near its kennel, the dog suddenly attacked, inflicting fatal injuries to her neck. During the attack, the dog was fastened to a runner. Kristen was transported to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Kristen was a fourth grader at Merriwether Elementary school and adored animals. She hoped to one day become a veterinarian, according to her grandmother Janice Abercrombie. The new akita was the first and last pet Kristen ever had. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 22, 2011 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Japanese akita | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Ronnie Waldo, 51-years old, was killed by three pit bulls owned by his landlord and neighbor, James Swanson. Waldo had been renting a nearby property from Swanson and was discovered by a friend in Swanson's front yard. Police shot and killed two of the pit bulls on the scene. Just before the attack, Waldo and his friend Raymond Blansett had been trying to fix a hot water heater in Waldo's trailer; they needed a relay switch to complete the task. Waldo walked over to Swanson's house to see if he had one in his garage. When he did not return, Blansett went to find him. He found his friend on the ground with two pit bulls tearing at him. The third dog went after Blansett, who had to run up the road to escape. Pontotoc County has neither a leash law nor a vicious dog ordinance and the attack occurred on the dog owner's property. Despite these circumstances, a special grand jury later charged Swanson with manslaughter. [source citations]
| Date of death: | January 26, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Landlord |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Sirlinda Hayes, 66-years old, was gardening just outside her one-story home when two loose rottweilers viciously attacked her. The dogs, owned by her cousin and neighbor Shawn Samuel, had roamed loose many times before, but had not been a problem, according to family members. Yet on February 17, the two dogs launched a brutal attack upon Sirlinda killing her. When the dogs' owner learned what happened, he rushed out to help Sirlinda. His own two dogs then turned on him, launching a second violent attack. When emergency responders arrived, the dogs would not let them near the victims. Deputies shot and killed both animals. Animal control later removed three additional rottweilers from Samuel's home. Badly injured, Samuel was rushed to McLeod Medical Center in Dillon. In addition to suffering many bite wounds, doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs. Billy Odom, Sirlinda's nephew, said he believed "seeing the garden hoe" held by his aunt may have caused the dogs to attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 17, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Cousin |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Darius Tillman, 15-days old, was mauled to death by the family pit bull. At the time of the attack, the victim's mother, his 2-year old sibling and the young male pit bull, Buster, were at the home. Police reported that the mother laid her infant down for a nap in a bassinet and fell asleep in another room. The family pit bull pushed open the bedroom door and horrifically attacked the baby, partially consuming it. A neighbor said the family had two pit bulls, but nothing else was ever confirmed about a second dog. Four months later, after the Kalamazoo Gazette gained the final incident report under the state Freedom of Information Act, it was learned that detectives had sought charges of involuntary manslaughter against the child's mother, Mallory Wildig, 25. The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office, however, declined to authorize charges. [source citations]
| Date of death: | February 19, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Vanessa Husmann, 3-years old, was brutally mauled to death by her grandfather's two rottweilers that were being kept at her home for a period of time. Just before the attack, Vanessa had gone into the backyard to play, where the dogs were kept separated in a secure kennel. Her 18-year old half brother was babysitting her at the time, but it was Blake Muller, also 18, who was visiting his mother's home across the street, who witnessed the attack and ran to help. The victim's mother, Rhonda Marty, later told reporters that she did not know how the dogs escaped their kennel (she issued a statement on TV that the gate was "still locked" after the incident too). But on Sunday, a day after the little girl's death, family members used a large tractor to destroy and remove the kennel, leaving no future way to make this determination. Police said the dogs were usually kept in Monticello at the grandfather's home where he breeds "family oriented" AKC registered champion rottweilers, according to his website. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler (2) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Jennie Erquiaga, 47-years old, died at her home in the 200 block of West 16th Street on March 6th after being attacked by her dog. Police received a report of the dog attack at 10:19 pm, according to San Bernardino police Lt. Jarrod Burguan. The victim's dog, a pit bull-mix, inflicted bite wounds on both of Jennie's arms, her left leg and shoulder. People in the house fought with the pit bull then locked it in a room. Police suspected other medical issues besides the bite injuries may have led to her death. In December 2011, DogsBite.org requested Jennie's cause of death from the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office. The office confirmed that her death was due to "physiologic stress from multiple dog bites" in addition to underlying medical issues. [source citations]
| Date of death: | March 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Annabelle Mitchell, 7-months old, was mauled to death by the family's pet rottweiler, named Hannibal. At the time of the incident, Annabella was at home with her mother and two-and-a-half-year old brother. The little girl's mother, Katrina Mitchell, said she found her baby being attacked in the living room of her home. Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, confirmed that the child's mother called 911 saying, "the dog had attacked her daughter." Emergency responders found the baby dead when they arrived at the residence. The dog was later shot and killed by a Waldo County deputy at the request of the baby's father, John Mitchell. A team of state police spent the night inside the Mitchell home gathering evidence and conducting interviews. On July 13, 2011 Maine State Police arrested 29-year old Katrina Mitchelle and charged her with endangering a child. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Virgil Cantrell, 50-years old, was fatally attacked by a pit bull he had visited on previous occasions. The pit bull, named Ike, along with four other pit bulls -- including at least two breeding females -- belonged to Rickey and Lisa Grant. When Cantrell stopped by their house on April 22, the two were not home. Cantrell waited on the porch where the pit bull was tethered and was savagely attacked by the dog. Court documents indicate the dog "inflicted massive sharp force injuries" which included damaging arteries and veins as well as fracturing Cantrell’s right jaw and "the right side of the cervical vertebrae." Arriving officers had to shoot and kill the pit bull to allow EMTs to reach the victim. Cantrell died while being driven by an ambulance to a hospital in Dallas. He would have been airlifted, authorities said, but planes were grounded due to weather conditions. Authorities later charged both Grants with felony offenses. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 22, 2011 | Chained: | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Friend |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Margaret Salcedo, 48-years old, was brutally killed by four pit bulls while taking a walk on Easter Sunday. A passerby in a car opened his door to intervene, but he stayed in the vehicle after the pit bulls charged him. The man watched helplessly as the dogs savaged Margaret to death. Neighbor Laura Russell, who called 911, witnessed the same horrible scene unfold. Police officials arrived in about 3 minutes, shooting one pit bull dead and scattering the others. Like all victims of horrific dog attacks, Margaret was conscious throughout the entire mauling. She died a short while later at a nearby hospital. The pit bulls belonged to John and Maria Hardiman who were not home when the attack occurred. According to Police Chief Patrick Gallagher, the Hardiman's yard was fenced, but officers found several areas where the dogs could have escaped. After initially announcing that no felony charges would be filed against the dogs' owners, both were arrested in October and charged with five felonies. [source citations]
| Date of death: | April 24, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (4) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Jayelin Graham, 4-years old, was brutally killed by a family dog whose owner dubbed a "monster dog." The animal belonged to Damien "Dread" Jones, the boyfriend of Jayelin's mother. Jones brought the dog, described as a cane corso-mastiff mix, into the home a few months before the boy's death. At the time of the fatal attack, Jayelin was alone in a bedroom with his two young brothers ages 5 and 2. The male cane corso, named Machete, ripped out the child's throat while his siblings watched. His mother, Saquina Jubeark, told police she only left the boys alone for few minutes. When she returned, she found Jayelin in the dog's jaws. The family's first-floor home on Pacific Street was reportedly, "like a small zoo," according to neighbors, with a cane corso, a husky-mix, a parrot and fish. There had been a pet rabbit in the home too, neighbors said, but one of the dogs had recently eaten it. Police released Jubeark after hours of questioning and ruled the boy's death an accident. Administration for Children's Services (ACS), who had visited Jubeark's home before, "vowed to investigate" the boy's mauling death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | May 27, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Cane corso-mastiff mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Mother's boyfriend |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
David Haigler, 38-years old, was discovered dead on his living room floor with wounds to his arms, head and face. Authorities suspected that one of Haigler's two pet pit bulls killed him. Lt. Col. Michael Timm of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said the victim was "already under medical care for a dog bite" that happened a week ago, but did not say whether or not one of his own dogs was responsible. An autopsy later confirmed that one of Haigler's pit bulls inflicted the fatal injuries. That pit bull was loose in the home at the time of the attack; the other was chained up in a separate part of the home. Both pit bulls were 6-years old. An affidavit for a search warrant filed in Spotsylvania Circuit Court stated that the living room was "in disarray and there was a wooden baseball bat on a sofa near the body." Court records also revealed that blood was on the floor, walls and furniture. The medical examiner's investigation showed that Haigler's fingers and hands suffered defensive wounds during the attack. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 11, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Roy McSweeney, 74-years old, was mutilated by his neighbor's two pit bulls on June 10. When rescue personnel arrived, the victim's right arm was amputated, his left arm was partially amputated and he was suffering from severe facial injuries. The disabled veteran had been working in his front yard when the pit bulls jumped the fence and attacked. Roy was rushed to Shands Hospital in Gainesville and underwent immediate surgery. The same two pit bulls owned by Deanna Blitch had mauled two other men in the past. Blitch told authorities after the most recent attack that she no longer owned the dogs. But her son William Blitch said the dogs were in the house and brought them out to authorities. One previous dog bite victim, Robert Floyd, retained a law firm after his attack. After Roy succumbed to his injuries on June 15, his family retained the same law firm who stated to Jacksonville.com that both victims were "completely failed" by police and laws meant to regulate dangerous dogs. A grand jury later indicted Blitch and her son on multiple misdemeanor charges. Blitch ultimately served 90-days in jail. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 15, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Salvador Cotto, 6-months old, was killed after a dog latched onto his head while visiting the home of Charles and Erin Teets in Chesterfield. Salvador and his mother were visiting from Seattle. Family members were in the kitchen and the baby was in a room close by when the dog attacked the infant. Friends and neighbors described the dog, named Polar, as a deaf dogo Argentino that was "quick to obey commands and hand signals from strangers." The dog turned out to be a female pit bull-American bulldog mix. The Teets adopted the dog several years earlier after it was rescued from an abusive home in Atlanta. Animal rights activists quickly minimized the fatal injuries inflicted by the dog and launched an online campaign to "Save Polar" from being euthanized. Chesterfield County Police Department remained unfazed by their effort. As soon as the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of death was "cerebral edema due to a dog bite to the head," the animal was put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | June 29, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-American bulldog mix | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Relative |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Michael Naglee, 11-months old, was killed by a family dog while visiting the home of his paternal grandparents, Betty and Robert Naglee. The two invited Michael's parents and his mother's family to spend the July 4 weekend at their Nehalem home. Michael's parents also brought along the family dog, a 135 pound American bulldog, named Duncan. The couple adopted the dog from a shelter four years earlier. Just before the attack, Michael's maternal grandmother, Louisa Farmer, was sitting on a couch in the living room holding the boy. He wanted down, and just after she set him down, he headed toward the dog that was resting about 7 feet away. Duncan knocked him down then attacked, according to Farmer's husband. At the time of the fatal attack, Michael's parents were away on an outing. Sheriff's deputies said the "dog was so agitated" after they arrived that they were eventually forced to shoot it to death. [source citations]
| Date of death: | July 2, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | American bulldog | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Parents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Darla Napora, 32-years old, was mauled to death by one of her two pet pit bulls inside her Pacifica home. At the time attack, Darla was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Her husband, Greg Napora, returned from work that day at lunchtime and discovered her body on the floor with the couple's 2-year old male pit bull hovering over it. According to Greg, Darla was an avid fan of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls (BadRap). Greg did not explain why the couple had not neutered "Gunner," as strongly recommended by the group. The pair's other pit bull was a spayed female and was not involved in the attack. Twenty-four hours after her death, Greg delivered intolerable statements to the media including: (1) "He doesn't blame the dog," (2) It's "not the breed's fault," (3) "[Pit bulls] are the most loving animals I have ever had in my life," and (4) He "plans to bury his spouse, Darla, with their pet's cremated remains in her casket." His last statement, in particular, horrified citizens across the country. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 11, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | No | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
James Dowling, 4-years old, was brutally attacked and killed by a rottweiler while visiting the home of his grandfather in Ozark. Police said the boy was left with friends at the home while his grandfather was away at work. At the time of the attack, James was playing in the backyard when the rottweiler jumped out of its four-foot-high chain link pen and attacked. The boy was barely breathing when first responders arrived. He was taken to a local emergency room and from there airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. In transit, the boy's condition worsened forcing the helicopter to land immediately at Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, where he was pronounced dead. Shortly after his death, his family held a funeral for him in Hot Springs, where James had lived with this family. His grandfather, Larry Brannon, who owned the attacking rottweiler, was one of the pallbearers. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 12, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Rottweiler | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandfather |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Michael Cook, 61-years old, suffered catastrophic injuries after his pet pit bull attacked him on August 3. Neighbors heard the victim screaming and rushed down the alley to help. Fernando Lozano described the scene as the dog "literally eating him." Within two days, Cook underwent two surgeries and was administered 60 pints of blood. At this time, his family made a plea with the public to "replenish the blood site for the City of Tucson," as Cook's injuries had depleted area blood banks. The family called the savage attack a "freak accident" and blamed the attack on the dog being under medicated -- earlier that day, the pit bull had been neutered. Less than two weeks later, doctors amputated both of Cook's arms and it was noted in media reports that he also suffered from liver failure and kidney damage. On August 23, twenty days after the devastating mauling, Cook succumbed to his injuries and died. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 23, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Yes | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Carmen Ramos, 50-years old, was mauled to death by her husband's five pit bulls. The victim's husband, 55-year old Jose Alvarez, told police he came home from work to discover his wife being attacked by the dogs in their living room. Eleven days earlier, the pit bulls escaped his home and attacked two neighbors, Dolores Estrella and Gus Castro. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSCPA), picked up the dogs only to return them to Alvarez three days later. Neighbors said that Alvarez had at least three run-ins with the PSPCA in the past about his dogs, including the discovery of dead dogs in his basement last year and the removal of live dogs. The potential protocol violations by the PSPCA were so numerous that City Managing Director Brian Abernathy launched an internal investigation into the group. We do not expect to hear results from the investigation anytime soon or possibly ever. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (5) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Husband |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Addyson Camerino, 9-days old, was mauled to death by a group of dogs inside a Clarkton home. A baby shower had been scheduled for the infant the following day and was quickly cancelled. The boy's father, 21-year old Charles Nelson Camerino, was in jail at the time of the deadly dog mauling. Along with the boy's mother, Chelsea Brigman, the young couple lived with the newborn's grandparents, Nelson and Linda Camerino, uncles and an upstairs tenant at a home on North College Street. Authorities removed five dogs from the home suspected in the attack, including a pit bull, bulldog, Alaskan malamute, German shepherd and German shepherd-bulldog mix. On September 16, a special session of the Bladen County grand jury was convened. Bladen County Sheriff's deputies subsequently arrested Chelsea Lynn Brigman, 18, and the baby's grandfather, Nelson Ernest Camerino, 49, charging each with involuntary manslaughter. The charges were later dismissed after a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. [source citations]
| Date of death: | August 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (1) Bulldog (1) Alaskan malamute (1) German shepherd (2) |
Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Grandparents |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Brayden McCollen, 2-weeks old, was seriously injured by the family pit bull-mix. The attack occurred in the 16500 block of Cypress Bridge Drive in Northwest Harris County. The baby was taken by LifeFlight to Memorial Herman Hospital, but died five hours later. At the time of the attack, the infant was in a swinging sleeper inside one of the rooms in the house when the large dog began sniffing the newborn then mauling him. The dog had been behind a pair of French doors, but pushed through them to reach the baby. Adults in the home heard noises from the room and rushed to help. Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office, said the baby's mother was outside at the time, watching Brayden through a window. The case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury for any possible charges to be filed. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 4, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Family members |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Unknown |
Donna Conrad, 71-years old, was attacked and killed by her own guard dog at the La Cantera Ranch Resort in Valley View. Cooke County Sheriff's Office received a call on September 16 about a woman at the resort who was discovered dead. Chief Deputy Jim Carter said, "It appears she was in the backyard watering and one of the pets -- a doberman pinscher -- is believed to have attacked her and, ultimately, killed her." At the time of the attack, a couple of other women were in the victim's home, but were unaware of what was going on in the backyard. Sheriff Mike Compton said he believes the dog was imported from Hungary and had been trained to protect humans. The woman’s injuries included deep head and throat lacerations, he said, adding, "It was a brutal attack." The dog was quarantined at a local veterinarian. It was later put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 16, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Doberman pinscher | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Nevaeh Bryant, 20-months old, was killed by three pit bulls while visiting her aunt, Erica Hobdy. The child's great grandmother, Dolores Leonard, said the baby's mother, Samantha Leonard, 20, left the child with Hobdy at the home on Leete Street. "She was put down for a nap and for some reason, Hobdy left her and was going out when she realized she left her pocketbook in her bedroom." Hobdy sent her 10-year old son to get the pocketbook. "He went into the room where his mother had put the pit bulls, but didn't shut the door behind him," she said. The dogs attacked Nevaeh who was sleeping in another room while her aunt was away. At the time of the attack, Hobdy was being sued by a postal worker for injuries inflicted by a different pit bull she owned in 2009. In December 2011, Hobdy was charged with criminally negligent homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor. [source citations]
| Date of death: | September 30, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (3) | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Both | Owner of dog: | Aunt |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Yes (MISD) |
Mya Maeda, 11-days old, was snatched from her bassinet in the middle of the night by the family dog and fatally injured. At about 3 am, while Mya's 20-year old mother, Monique Hernandez, slept beside her on the couch, her mother said she woke up and began searching around in the dark for her baby. Her hands couldn't find the infant, but could feel Rocky, the family's large pit bull-mastiff mix. She next felt the baby's head in the dog's mouth. Hernandez pried the dog's jaws open and pulled Mya out and began screaming for her mother. The infant died at 9:20 am that morning due to head trauma from the attack. Several authorities began investigations following the infant's death including Child Protective Services and Special Crimes Unit. Mya's aunt, Sue Glenn, later pleaded with the public to "stop attacking the baby's mother" and also requested that investigating officials be "understanding" toward the family. [source citations]
| Date of death: | October 3, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull-mastiff mix | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Family members |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | Unknown |
Edna Dyson, 71-years old, died from serious injuries inflicted by two pit bulls. On November 9, Edna went to a rental property she owned on Swiss Lane in South Houston to tend to the yard. The neighbor's two pit bulls dug under the fence and attacked her. She managed to crawl to her car and climb inside and wait for help, but she remained undiscovered for two hours. First responders rushed her to the hospital where she remained in critical care until she succumbed to her injuries and died on November 15. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to press criminal charges against the owner of the two pit bulls because the owner "put the dogs down" after the attack and the owner "was in the process" of putting in a fence. The decision devastated Edna's husband, Billy Dyson, and her two daughters, Regina and Lawanda, who called her death a "homicide." Edna had been a teacher for the Houston Independent School District (HISD) for 33 years and was basketball coach too -- Coach Dyson. [source citations]
| Date of death: | November 15, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | No |
Joseph Hines, 58-years old, was mauled to death by his pit bull named Honey. A family member discovered his body; Hines lived on the family member's farm in Burnettsville. An autopsy confirmed that Hines died after his dog bit into his jugular vein and that he had no underlying medical conditions. Hines also had defensive bite wounds on his arms, indicating that he had tried to fend off the animal. The victim's sister, Shirley Silkey, 60, was close to her brother. "He always loved his dogs," she said. "He found this dog and took care of it. I guess the dog just lost it." Silkes added that Hines had owned the male dog for about four or five years and that she wasn't aware if the dog had aggression or behavioral problems. One neighbor reported that he often saw Hines walking his pit bull and characterized the dog as "friendly." The dog was put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 3, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Tonia Parks, 39-years old, died from her injuries after being attacked by one of her two 8-year old pit bulls. Parks was attacked by her pit bull as she suffered a seizure on November 18. Parks remained in critical care at Rockford Memorial Hospital after the incident and succumbed to her injuries December 6. Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia said the Rockford woman suffered injuries to her head and that her jugular vein was bitten. A family member told investigators she had run out of the home that day in an attempt to find help for Parks as she suffered a medical crisis. When she returned, she found Parks being viciously attacked by one of her pit bulls. The other dog attacked the pit bull that was mauling Parks, according to Jennifer Stacey, deputy director of Winnebago County Animal Services. Both animals were put down. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 6, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Victim |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Misti Wyno, 40-years old, was brutally killed by her neighbor's pit bull. Misti was reportedly "close" with her neighbor Bobbi Joe Courson, the dog's owner. At the time of the attack, Wyno was on her way to visit Courson's home when the male pit bull either broke free of its chain or was unchained and fatally attacked her. She was severely bitten on her legs, arms and head and died as a result of her injuries. In December 2013, Misti's husband, Jason Wyno, filed a wrongful death suit against Lowndes County, its animal shelter and the residents living at the home where the attack occurred: Jerrica Gonzalez, Cole Warner and Bobbi Joe Courson. It was learned at this time that Warner owned the male pit bull named "Grinder" that killed Wyno. It was also learned that in July 2012, Southern District Attorney J. David Miller sought a grand jury indictment of Gonzalez, Warner and Courson on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, but a Lowndes County grand jury did not find sufficient evidence and did not issue an indictment. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 8, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Male | Owner of dog: | Neighbor |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Emako Mendoza, 76-years old, was savagely mauled by her neighbor's two pit bulls while in her own backyard on June 18. The dogs broke through a gap in the fence and attacked her. Emako suffered a heart attack during the assault and afterward, the amputation of her lower left arm and left leg. Both dogs, 6-year old female pit bulls, were seized along with eleven puppies and put down. The owners of the dogs, Alba Cornelio, 39, and her daughter Carla Cornelio, 19, were each charged with two felonies for owning dogs that caused serious bodily injury. Prosecutors also sought and received a no contact order barring the dogs' owners from having contact with the victim and her husband. Due to her traumatic injuries, in addition to the amputation of her right leg months after the attack, Emako died on Christmas Eve. After her death, prosecutors added new charges of involuntary manslaughter and death from a mischievous animal. Both were found guilty at trial. Alba died a week after Carla was sentenced. [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 24, 2011 | Chained: | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull (2) | Relationship to dog: | Non-family |
| Sex of dog: | Female | Owner of dog: | Neighbors |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | Yes |
| On/Off property: | Off | Criminal charges: | Yes |
Mable McCallister, 84-years old, was attacked by her grandson's pit bull on December 18, 2011. Police officers said that she was bitten in her face and neck. The injuries caused her to be hospitalized in Erlanger hospital's trauma unit for over four days, according to Bradley County Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffery Miller. Mable died on New Year's Eve while in hospice care. The owner of the pit bull, Jerry Harrison, Jr., lived on his father's property where several other pit bulls were kept. No one from the Harrison family called police or animal control after the attack. "We became aware of the dog attack only after Ms. McCallister was brought to Erlanger," Officer Evie West said. The Harrisons also "home-quarantined" the attacking pit bull after the incident; it's unknown if the dog was ever put down. The victim's great-granddaughter, named Amanda, left a message at the news article: "Something needs to be done about the dog. A woman, an amazing woman dies from this dog and nothing is being done about it." [source citations]
| Date of death: | December 31, 2011 | Chained: | Unreleased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breed of dog: | Pit bull | Relationship to dog: | Family |
| Sex of dog: | Unreleased | Owner of dog: | Grandson |
| Spay/Neuter: | Unreleased | Multiple dogs: | No |
| On/Off property: | On | Criminal charges: | No |
Deaths involving minor dog bite injury, dog-related caused injury (killed by a car while fleeing a dog) and cases that lacked a "reasonably clear" determination of death after dog bite injury are not included in our fatality statistical data. Deaths involving fatal non-bite injury (struck by dog death) or deaths due to untreated severe dog bites (sepsis) may be added to our statistical data at a future time.
Fatal Pit Bull Attacks: A growing archive of U.S. fatal pit bull maulings dating back to 1833. Maintained by DogsBite.org.
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