List of fatal dog attacks in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fatal dog attacks in the United States cause the deaths of about 30 – 50 people each year,[1] and the number of deaths from dog attacks appears to be increasing.[2] Around 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, resulting in the hospitalization of 6,000 to 13,000 people each year in the United States (2005).[2] A 2018 literature review with meta-analysis by breed, focusing on dog bite injuries to the face, head and neck found that "injuries from pit bulls and mixed breed dogs were both more frequent and more severe".[3][4]
Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities resulting from encounters with dogs are a major public health concern worldwide. Dogs not only cause morbidity and mortality as a result of bites, but they may also transmit zoonotic infections, which may also result in illness or death. Dogs are the main source of rabies transmission to humans worldwide. It is estimated that 3% to 18% of dog bite wounds become infected, with occasional cases of meningitis, endocarditis, and septic shock leading to death reported. Children have the greatest risk of death.[2]
Below are lists of fatal dog attacks in the United States reported by the news media, published in scholarly papers, or mentioned through other sources. In the lists below, the breed is assigned by the sources.
Date | Victim | Dog type (Number) | Circumstances |
---|---|---|---|
January 29, 2024 | Harold Phillips, 39, Male | Pit bull (3) | Michigan, Detroit — 3 dogs escaped and attacked a man who was on his way home. He was seriously injured and later died in hospital. The dogs were euthanized.[5] |
January 31, 2024 | Carlon Galloway, 19, Male | Multiple Breeds (12) | Idaho, Fort Hall Indian Reservation — Carlon had left his grandfather's house at 8:00 am. Later that day a neighbor saw him being attacked by a pack of dogs and called the police. Carlon was pronounced dead at the scene and all 12 dogs were euthanized.[6] |
January 31, 2024 | William Mundine, 85, Male | Pit bull (2) | Indiana, Indianapolis — The man was attacked by 2 loose dogs which came in his backyard. He suffered multiple bites on his arms and legs and died later in hospital.[7][8] |
February 15, 2024 | Dominic Cooper, 35, Male | Pit bull (1+) | California, Compton — According to police, a surveillance video of the incident exists. The dogs started fighting during their feeding and turned on the dog breeder. The man was bitten in the leg and died in the kennel due to blood loss. He was found the next day by his girlfriend. The Department of Animal Care and Control took possession of all 13 dogs (5 adult and 8 young dogs), with the approval of the victim's father. All the dogs were euthanized.[9][10][11][12] |
February 16, 2024 | Brayden Burwell, <1, Male | Husky | Connecticut, Milford — The 2-week-old was bit on the head and died that night. According to the family it was not an attack, they described it as an accident. The dog was euthanized after the incident.[13] |
February 26, 2024 | Beau Clark, 4, Male | Olde English Bulldogge | Alabama, Morgan County — The boy was killed by his neighbor's dog. The dog was euthanized.[14] |
February 29, 2024 | 4, Male | Great Dane or | Illinois, Ogle County — The boy's parents bred Great Danes and Sphinx cats; he was attacked in the side yard and died later in the hospital.[15] |
March 1, 2024 | 2, Male | Husky | Alabama, Madison County, New Hope — The boy was mauled by one of his neighbor's two dogs.[16] |
March 11, 2024 | <1, Male | Pit bull | New Jersey, Middlesex County, Woodbridge — The attack happened at the family home in the early morning hours. The 3 month old baby died at the scene and the mother was seriously injured. The father was also treated at the hospital. The family dog was euthanized.[17][18][19] |
March 13, 2024 | 1, Male | Pit bull x Dalmatian cross | Connecticut, East Hartford – A dog bit an infant at a home, leading to the boy's death. Two dogs were removed from the home where the attack occurred. A few month before the incident the two dogs were found running loose and were picked up by animal control.[20][21][22] |
Date | Victim | Dog type (Number) | Circumstances |
---|---|---|---|
January 6, 2023 | Sadie Davila, 7, Female | Pit bull | Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish — On January 6, a 7-year-old girl was mauled by a pit bull dog at Kendalwood Road. Police deputies were called to assist the emergency medical services and fire department at the scene of the attack. The girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and later succumbed to her injuries. It was announced that the Pit Bull would be euthanized after being checked for rabies the same day as the attack.[23][24] |
January 21, 2023 | Kellan Boner, 7, Male | Rottweiler (2), mixed breed (2) | Idaho, Fort Hall Reservation — A mother and a 7-year-old boy were attacked by four dogs. The boy did not survive his injuries. The four dogs were shot by Tribal authorities.[25][26] |
January 24, 2023 | Doris McBurse, 66, Female | Pit bull | Georgia, Pitts — The woman and her husband owned the dog for 3 or 4 years. She fled to her car during the attack and was found dead later on.[27] |
February 1, 2023 | 69, Male | Staffordshire-Terrier mix [28] | Texas, Houston, Acres Homes Area — On February 1, a 69-year-old man heard a commotion in his backyard. He saw that two dogs had gotten into his backyard through a hole in the fence and began attacking his small dog. The dogs attacked him when he attempted to intervene, and were still mauling him when police arrived. A shot was fired at one of the dogs when it tried to attack one of the officers.[29] |
February 2, 2023 | 64, Male | Pit bull mix (5) | New Mexico, Tucumari — The victim was found in the streets with serious injuries and the dogs still around him. Police located the owner of the dogs.[30] |
February 26, 2023 | Ramon Najera, 81, Male | American Staffordshire Terrier (3) | Texas, San Antonio — A man was killed and his wife (74) seriously injured after three dogs escaped from a neighboring yard through a hole in a fence. Two other men were injured in the attack, and two other people had required medical treatment after previous attacks. A couple was arrested and charged with criminal negligence. The dogs attacked and bit other people before.[31] |
April 4, 2023 | Male, 2 | Pit bull x Mastiff mix | Maryland, Brunswick — A 2-year-old boy was playing with his grandmothers' dog, when the dog suddenly attacked him as the boy's family was leaving.[32] |
April 13, 2023 | Dezmond R. Thomas Trawick, 22, Male | Pit Bull Terrier (4) | Minnesota, Brooklyn Center — Four pit bulls attacked Trawick in the backyard of his home. Trawick was watching the dogs for the day, which belonged to his brother. Trawick died at the hospital about an hour after the attack.[33] |
May 9, 2023 | Sheriff Deputy Tamieka White, 46, Female | Pit bull mix | Indiana, Indianapolis — Deputy White was dog-sitting for an unidentified person. The attack took place in her backyard. She died trying to protect her 6-year-old son, who was injured in the attack. She was found in the family garage and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Indianapolis Animal Care Services impounded the deceased dog, three additional dogs and a cat from the home. The department said they cannot confirm the breeds without a DNA test, but said all the dogs appeared to be a "pitbull-type."[34][35] |
June 3, 2023 | Jeane Bennett, 93, Female | Pit bull (3) | Arkansas, Blytheville — An elderly woman was attacked by three large dogs from a neighbouring property, all three dogs were euthanised. Jeane was transferred to Regional One Medical Center where she was urgently treated until she passed away from her injuries on August 15, 2023, over two months after the attack.[36] |
June 6, 2023 | Rita Maria Vasquez, 58, Female | Pit bull mix | Texas, Corpus Christi — Was babysitting a family members Pit Bull mix. Her family believes the fatal attack occurred while attempting to stop a fight between the Pit Bull and her 2 Chihuahuas.[37] |
June 19, 2023 | <1 | Pit bull mix | Michigan, Madison Township — The 11 month old was bitten by the family dog while playing outside with adult supervision, later died in hospital.[38] |
June 23, 2023 | Helene Jackson, 84, Female | Pit bull | Arizona, Sierra Vista — A pit bull jumped over a wall while she was walking her dog in a residential alley; a man was critically injured while trying to stop the attack.[39] |
July 3, 2023 | Anthony Gerard Bastardi, 67, Male | Bull Terrier, | North Carolina, Johnston County — Was at home to check on his daughters dogs when they attacked him.[40] |
July 4, 2023 [died July 5, 2023] | Daylan Guillen, 6, Male | Pit bull mix | Florida, North Port — A 6-year-old boy was killed by the family dog, a pit bull mix; the boy was severely injured and died in hospital the next day.[41] |
July 19, 2023 | Joseph Taylor Keeton, 56, Male | Pit Bull/Mastiff mix (1–3) | Oregon, Bend — A man living in a transient camp at Juniper Ridge was killed by up to three dogs.[42] |
July 29, 2023 | Demarcus “Sam” McKenzie II, 27, Male | Dogs (5–6) | Alabama, Montgomery — Originally started as a murder investigation, but authorities later found security footage showing he was killed by a pack of dogs.[43] |
August 1, 2023 | Bob Northrop, 71, Male | Pit Bull mix (3), Staffordshire bull terrier | Hawaii, Big Island — Attacked while walking to a friend's house. The four attacking dogs, along with ten puppies, were seized from the owner and euthanised.[44] |
August 31, 2023 | Chanthy Philavong Maetu, 93, Female | Cane Corso (2) | California, Modesto — The woman was attacked in her own front yard by two escaped dogs. She was rescued by neighbors, but died later in hospital.[45][46] |
October 18, 2023 | Lovell Anderson, 4, Male | Pit bull | Michigan, Detroit - Lovell Anderson was attacked and killed by a pit bull. Anderson died at the scene after he was dragged under his fence and bit by a pit bull.[47] |
October 1, 2023 | Paul Anthony Striegl Jr., 47, Male | American Staffordshire Terrier | Texas, San Antonio, Heidelberg — The victim was attacked by the neighbor's dog named "Ghost" and died a month later. The dog came onto the victims property through a fence.[48] |
October 31, 2023 | David Eller, 65, Male | Pit bull (2) | South Carolina, Monck's Corner — Two dogs attacked the man near his home, he died at the scene.[49] |
October 31, 2023 | Colton Michael Kline, 4, Male | Pit bull mix | Washington, Spokane — The boy was attacked by the family dog.[50][51] |
October 31, 2023 | 63, Female | Pit bull (2) | Utah, Taylorsville — Her son's two dogs attacked her in her yard. She was seriously injured and lost one leg. She died one week later.[52] |
December 5, 2023 | Loyalty Charles Scott, 6, Male | Great Dane x
Mastiff (2) |
Oregon, Portland — The young victim died after two dogs attacked him in the garage of a home where he was dropped off before school. The owner of the dogs went into the garage to tend to the dogs, the boy opened the door to the garage and the dogs attacked him.[53] |
December 15, 2023 | 59, Male | Pit bull | Arizona, Yuma County, Wellton — The victim was attacked by the dog and found dead the next day.[54] |
December 20, 2023 | Alexander Torres, 29, Male | Pit bull | Florida, Miami-Dade — Police arrived at the home at 7:07 pm for a wellness check. The man, who had mobility issues, was found dead in his garage.[55] |
Date | Victim | Dog type (Number) | Circumstances |
---|---|---|---|
January 25, 2022 | Charlotte Hollman, <1, Female | French Mastiff mix | Florida, Gulf Breeze — 3 month old Hollman was left unattended with the family pet while her mother went to the bathroom. Shortly after, her mother heard the sounds of the dog biting Hollman's head and intervened. She called EMS and the child was taken to Gulf Breeze Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It was determined she died of "multiple bite force traumatic injuries of the head." The death was ruled accidental. The family reported that the dog had no history of aggressive behavior prior to that day.[56] |
January 27, 2022 | Saad Al-Anazi, 59, Male | German Shepherd (2) | New Mexico, Las Cruces — Al-Anazi died in the hospital on January 27, 2022, after being attacked by two dogs. Witnesses saw Al-Anazi fleeing from the two dogs before being tackled and mauled. A neighbor managed to beat one animal off with a cane. The dogs' owner was given a criminal charge for violating county ordinances, and the dogs were later euthanized.[57][58] |
January 29, 2022 | Olivia Grace Floyd, 7, Female | Rottweiler | Virginia, Waynesboro — Floyd was attacked by a 120 lb. Rottweiler and transported to Augusta Health, but later succumbed to her injuries. An adult woman was also injured, but was treated for her injuries in the hospital and later released.[59] The dog was seized by law enforcement authorities and euthanized.[60] In May 2022 a grand jury indicted the owners, the girl's grandmother and step-grandfather, on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless disregard of a child, child abuse, and failure to control a dangerous dog; the girl's parents were charged with child neglect.[61] |
February 1, 2022 | Lola Jayde Farr, 1, Female | Pit bull | Mississippi, Columbia — Lola Farr suffered head, facial, and neck injuries when a dog attacked her at the home of her aunt. Farr was sent by medevac to a hospital where she died of her injuries on February 6, 2022.[62][63] |
February 17, 2022 | Pam Robb, 71, Female | Bully mix | Florida, Fort Lauderdale — Pam Robb was a 71-year-old retired high school teacher working as an animal shelter volunteer, and had been working with a mixed breed dog whose recovery as "slow and steady". During the attack, Robb was pulled to the ground by the dog; another woman, Jan Halas-Stenger, attempted to intervene and suffered minor injuries; Robb was taken to a hospital and later died from the injuries sustained during the attack. The dog was later euthanized.[64][65][66][67] |
February 23, 2022 | Drué Parker, 4, Male | Pit Bull (4) | Texas, Baytown — Drué Parker was mauled by his aunt's four dogs and died at the hospital. The neighbors had no previous problems with the dogs, which were seized by animal control authorities.[68][69] |
March 22, 2022 | Serenity Garnett, <1, Female | American Bulldog x Great Pyrenees mix | Georgia, Martinez — The 7 month old girl was attacked by the dog while being watched by her great-grandmother, who was renting a room from the dog's owners who were absent at the time. The girl died after being brought to a local hospital, where the great-grandmother was treated for serious injuries she received while trying to rescue the girl. The great-grandmother, who was watching the dog on behalf of the owners, was charged with second-degree murder and possession of methamphetamine.[70][71][72] |
March 27, 2022 | Francis Cavanaugh, 6, Male | Unknown (1+) | North Dakota, Fort Totten — Francis' body was found in his housing development, and investigators confirmed he had been killed by at least one dog.[73][74] |
March 28, 2022 | Chaille Morgan, 27, Female | Mixed breed (pack) | Iowa, Meskwaki — The woman was killed near the Meskwaki Tribal Center by a large pack of mixed-breed dogs. Law enforcement authorities later announced the dogs had been tracked down and killed.[75] |
March 30, 2022 | Adult, Female | Dutch Shepherd | Tennessee, Tellico Village — The woman was killed by a "highly trained personal protection" dog that had been trained by her husband, "a long-time and very accomplished K9 trainer." Law enforcement authorities shot and killed the dog, which reacted aggressively as they approached to rescue the victim.[76][77] |
April 8, 2022 | Melitta Hain, 84, Female | Mixed breed (3) | Montana, Billings — The woman was attacked by three large dogs and died on April 16 of complications from multiple dog bites. Law enforcement authorities seized the dogs.[78] |
April 21, 2022 | Erin Beach, 46, Female | Unspecified | South Carolina, Newberry — The woman was killed by her own dog, which was shot and killed by law enforcement authorities when it showed aggressive behavior towards them when they arrived to rescue the victim.[79] Friends and family said the dog had no history of aggression.[80] |
April 24, 2022 | Anita Mears, 61, Female | Unknown (pack) | Oklahoma, Newalla — Mears was killed by a pack of dogs in her yard. Law enforcement authorities originally thought she was the victim of a stabbing, but the medical examiner found she had been killed by multiple dogs. Mears' dog was also injured in the attack.[81] |
April 25, 2022 | Juan Ruiz, 66, Male | Pit bull | Illinois, Kewanee — Ruiz was killed at home by his own dog when he broke up a fight between his dog and another dog. Ruiz was able to contact his family, but decided not to go to a hospital and died a few hours later.[82] Law enforcement authorities impounded both dogs, and Ruiz's dog was euthanized.[83] |
April 29, 2022 | Jacqueline Summer Beard, 58, Female | Unspecified (7) | Red Bay, Alabama — Jacqueline Beard, an Alabama Department of Public Health employee, was mauled by a pack of dogs while following up on a previous non-fatal dog attack. Several of the dogs were euthanized and the owner was charged with manslaughter.[84] |
May 14, 2022 | Adult, Male | Unspecified | Texas, Austin — A dog attacked and killed a homeless man in the south part of the city. First responders arrived in the area at 1:51 a.m. and the man was pronounced dead a short time later.[85] |
May 14, 2022 | Scottie Brigman, 36, Male | Pit Bull (4) | Virginia, Chesterfield County — Police found the victim surrounded by four dogs.[86] |
May 22, 2022 | Ronda Persall, 57, Female | Labrador Retriever mix (2) | Alabama, Cullman County — Ronda was attacked and killed by two dogs that had escaped from the neighbor's fenced-in backyard. The neighbor, who was friends with the victim, went outside when he heard commotion and found the victim who was still alive and lying next to a car. The neighbor brought the victim to the hospital where she died a short time later. Cullman County officials described the dogs as "lab mixes".[87][88] |
June 3, 2022 | Debbie Boyd, 70, Female | Rottweiler | Sevier County, Tennessee — Debbie was attacked and killed by at least one of her two Rottweilers. She was found deceased in her home with numerous dog bite-related injuries. A small child who was also in the home was not injured.[89][90] |
July 7, 2022 | Trena Peed, 46, Female | Pit Bull (2) | Greensboro, North Carolina — Peed was dogsitting two pitbulls at her home. She was attacked while letting them into the yard. The attack was heard and witnessed by neighbors. Police shot one of the two dogs and took possession of both of them. A child was asleep inside the home and not aware of the attack as it occurred.[91][92][93] |
May 31, 2022 | Richard Barry, 59, Male | English Bulldog (5) | Selma, California — Richard was attacked and killed by a pack of five English Bulldogs that had escaped from a nearby residence while he was out for a walk in his neighborhood. Two family members witnessed the attack while it was in progress but weren't able to save the victim or stop the attack. The dogs were eventually captured by Animal Control to be quarantined and tested for rabies.[94][95] |
August 5, 2022 | Robert Stevens, 62, Male | Cane Corso | Castaic, California — Robert was attacked and killed by his own dog while in his own house. He had rescued the dog about five years prior to the attack. According to the police, the attack was unprovoked.[96][97] |
August 15, 2022 | Mindy Kiepe, 43, Female | Great Dane (5) | Rossie, Iowa — Mindy was attacked and killed by her five Great Danes. Her body was discovered in a ditch a short distance from her farm. All five dogs have been euthanized.[98] |
August 21, 2022 | Pamela Jane Rock, 61, Female | Pitbull (5) | Putnam, Florida — A pack of five dogs escaped from their backyard and attacked a postal worker whose vehicle had broken down; she died the following day at a trauma center in Gainesville. One of her arms had been amputated before her death. Neighbors reported the dogs had a history of breaking free from their backyard and aggressive behavior. Police said there is a possibility of criminal charges being pressed against the owner and that the animals involved would be euthanized.[99] |
October 5, 2022 | Hollace Dean Bennard, <1, Male
Lilly Jane Bennard, 2, Female |
Pit Bull (2) | Memphis, Tennessee — Two pit bulls owned by the family attacked and killed Hollace Dean and Lilly Jane over the course of ten minutes. Their mother attempted to shield them from the dogs and suffered extensive injuries over her entire body and face, but was transported to a local hospital and survived. Both dogs were euthanized the next day.[100] |
October 7, 2022 | Soon Han, 80, Female | Dogo Argentino (2) | Baldy Mesa, California — Two dogs attacked the victim while she was out for a morning walk. The dogs were both loose and the owner has since been located. The dogs were being held by San Bernardino County Animal Control, pending further investigation. |
October 24, 2022 | Adult, Male | English Mastiff, German Shepherd | Excelsior Springs, Missouri — A delivery driver was found dead in a yard after a parked Amazon van that had been parked for several hours was reported to authorities. The dogs were aggressive as the deputies approached, and both dogs were shot and killed. The homeowners were out of town at the time of attack.[101] |
December 14, 2022 | <1, Female | Husky | Cave Springs, Arkansas — The family dog bit the 4 day old newborn in the head and penetrated the skull. The infant was taken to the hospital where she later died.[102] |
Date | Victim | Dog type (Number) | Circumstances |
---|---|---|---|
January 20, 2021 | Cameron Hatfield, 6, Female | Pit bull | South Carolina, Brunson — Hatfield was killed at home by the dog, which was later seized and euthanized by animal control authorities.[103] The victim's mother had recently taken the dog in as a stray and was trying to find a new home for it.[104] |
February 10, 2021 | <1, Female | American Bulldog | Nebraska, Kearney — The one month old victim died of blunt force and cranial trauma inflicted by the dog, which was later euthanized.[105] |
February 15, 2021 | Deann Stephenson, 59, Female | Hound, German Shepherd,
Black Mouth Cur (Pack of 4) |
Texas, Porter — Stephenson was killed while walking to the store; the dogs attacked her after escaping through an open gate from a landscaping company's fenced-in property. The dogs' owner was cited for failure to provide proof of rabies vaccinations and for failing to contain them. Animal control authorities euthanized the dogs after the owner surrendered them.[106] |
March 16, 2021 | Aziz Ahmed, 3, Male | Pit bull (2) | New Jersey, Carteret — Ahmed and his mother were in their own fenced-in backyard when the dogs attacked them after digging under the fence from the adjoining yard. The boy was evacuated by helicopter and died of his injuries at a local hospital, while his mother was hospitalized with serious injuries. The dogs were shot and killed by police who responded to the incident.[107][108] |
March 19, 2021 | A'Myrikal Jolynn Hull, 1, Female | Pit bull x Patterdale Terrier mix | Illinois, Springfield— Hull was bitten on the head when she got too close to the dog while it was eating; she later died at the hospital. Family members said the dog had no violent history with humans or other dogs.[109] |
April 1, 2021 | Tony Ahrens, 52, Male | Dogs (pack) | Tennessee, Cocke County — Ahrens' body was found by the side of a road with lacerations and flesh missing from his left arm. Authorities were unable to find the dogs that killed him.[110] |
April 27, 2021 | Jayden Belle Henderson, 7, Female | Pit bull (2) | North Carolina, Garner — Heather Trevaskis and her daughter, Jayden Belle Henderson, were taking care of the pit bulls while the dogs' owners were out of town.[111] The dogs were seized by animal control authorities and euthanized after a court ruled the city did not have to return the dogs to their owners.[112] |
April 30, 2021 | Elayah Brown, 4, Female | Mix | Texas, Fort Worth — Brown was attacked in her home's backyard by the family dog, and later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.[113] The dog was seized and euthanized by animal control authorities.[114] |
May 7, 2021 | Dustin Vincent, 27, Male | Pit bull (3) | Louisiana, Sulphur — Vincent was attacked when he went to visit a relative and entered the backyard where the dogs were, despite being warned by the property owner not to do so. He suffered severe wounds to his head, face, and legs, and was in critical condition after being airlifted by helicopter to a hospital.[115] He died of his injuries on May 11.[116] |
May 9, 2021 | Elliott Sherwin, 4, Male | Rottweiler (2) | Montana, Whitehall — Sherwin was declared dead at the scene after two dogs attacked him at his grandparents' house. Both dogs were euthanized.[117][118] |
May 10, 2021 | Carter Settles, <1, Male | Pit bull mix | Connecticut, Norwich — Settles was being held by a relative when the dog jumped up and inflicted multiple traumatic injuries. The 1 month old boy was pronounced dead at the scene and the dog was seized by law enforcement authorities,[119][120] who announced it would be euthanized.[121] |
May 11, 2021 | John Henry, 46, Male | Pit bull mix | Texas, Big Spring — Henry died after suffering a heart attack that investigators attributed to being attacked by the dog, which also attacked one of two neighbors who tried to drive it off. The dog was eventually frightened away by police gunfire, and its owner later surrendered the dog to animal control authorities for euthanasia.[122][123][124] |
May 16, 2021 | Lyssa Rose Upshaw, 13, Female | Dogs (12+) | Arizona, Fort Defiance — Upshaw was killed while she was walking near her home, which lies within the Navajo Nation.[125][126][127] Family members searching for her were also attacked by dogs, as were police responding to the call that her body was found, according to Upshaw's mother. Animal control authorities seized 12 dogs that the owners had hidden in a locked building near the location where Upshaw's body was found, though witnesses claim there were more dogs that the owners managed to hide. The dogs had been known to be aggressive and once cornered a child before the owners stopped them.[126] |
May 24, 2021 | Jose Ortega, 53, Male | Pit bull mix (4) | New Mexico, Veguita — Ortega was killed at the house where he was being paid to water the outdoor plants. A deputy sheriff shot one of the four dogs; animal control authorities seized and euthanized all the dogs found at the scene,[128][129] including six pit bull-mix puppies that were found to be too aggressive to be adopted.[130] The dogs' owner was charged with felony possession of a dangerous dog that caused the death of a human being without provocation, felony tampering with evidence, and a misdemeanor count of failing to report a death.[130] |
May 25, 2021 | Malia Scott Winberry, <1, Female | Rottweiler (2) | Willow Spring, North Carolina — The family dogs attacked 10 month old Winberry inside her home after her father walked outside the house to move a water sprinkler in the yard.[131] Animal control authorities took control of the dogs.[132] |
June 9, 2021 | 3, Male | Pit bull (2) | New Jersey, Elizabeth — The family dogs killed the boy after he fell out of a window into the backyard. Animal control authorities seized the dogs to be euthanized.[133] |
June 13, 2021 | Shamar Jackson, 7, Male | Mix (pack) | South Carolina, Marion County — Shamar Jackson was killed while trying to save his Chihuahua from a pack of dogs that had escaped their owners' property. Jackson's two older brothers escaped with the Chihuahua over a nearby fence, but the dogs pulled Shamar's clothes off and killed him. Law enforcement authorities seized five adult dogs and a puppy from the dog owner's property,[134][135] and the owner was charged with involuntary manslaughter.[136] |
June 19, 2021 | Rebecca McCurdy, 28, Female | Pit Bull (1+) | Oklahoma, Skiatook — McCurdy was killed while house sitting and taking care of dogs for a friend who was breeding pit bulls for sale. Sheriff's deputies who arrived to check on McCurdy's welfare found her body in the garage along with several caged dogs, one cage toppled over, and signs of a dog attack.[137] The medical examiner confirmed she was killed by a dog attack, and the owner surrendered all the dogs for euthanasia.[138] |
July 6, 2021 | Maria Eliza Sebastian Ruiz, 77, Female | Staffordshire Terrier mix (4) | Arizona, Phoenix— Ruiz was killed on her front porch by her neighbor's dogs after they escaped from their yard. Animal control authorities seized and euthanized the dogs, which had a history of escaping and biting the neighbors, and their owner was charged with negligent homicide.[139] |
July 12, 2021 | Amber Miller, 29, Female | Unspecified (3) | Tennessee, Cocke County — Amber Miller died in a hospital 6 or 5 days after being found with one her calves ripped off and her arms "barely attached to her body".[140] This was the second fatal dog attack on the same road in four months (ref. Tony Ahrens on April 1).[110] |
July 18, 2021 | 59, Female | Pit bull (2) | Texas, El Paso — The victim was killed by her daughter's dogs while house sitting at her daughter's house. Both dogs had food and water available and appeared well-cared for. Animal control authorities seized both dogs.[141] |
July 18, 2021 | Emily Kahl, 31, Female | Pit bull | Ohio, Toledo — Kahl was killed by bite trauma to the neck inflicted by the dog, which was owned by another person who lived in the home. Animal control authorities seized and euthanized the dog.[142] |
July 28, 2021 | Rhoda Marie Wagner, 60, Female | Pit bull (3) | Pennsylvania, Perry County, Miller Township — Wagner was killed and partially eaten by the dogs while she was pet sitting them for her roommate. A passerby called police when they saw her lying in the front yard with the three dogs running loose. Animal control authorities seized the dogs and euthanized them with the owner's consent.[143] |
August 10, 2021 | Ryan Francis Foster, 1, Male | Rottweiler | New York, Brooklyn, Flatbush — The dog killed 19 month old Ryan Foster after his father left him and his two older brothers alone with the dog while the father was at work; Foster's brothers were uninjured. His father was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and acting in a manner injurious to a child.[144] |
August 12, 2021 | Javon Stokes, 26, Male | Pit bull | Ohio, Toledo — The dog killed Stokes when Stokes suffered a grand mal seizure. The dog was taken by animal control authorities.[145] |
August 14, 2021 | Dolores Teresa Oskins, 85, Female | Dogs (2) | Hawaii, Hawaiian Paradise Park — The dogs attacked Oskins while she was in her neighborhood looking for her lost dog; she died 22 days after being attacked. Her husband and another family member who went to help her were also attacked, but they were treated and released. Animal control authorities seized two dogs.[146] |
August 21, 2021 | Mildred Catherine Vaughan, 89, Female | Pit bull,
Pit bull mix (2) |
North Carolina, Wilkes County — The dogs attacked Vaughan when she walked out to her mailbox; she was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition and died of her injuries nine days later. Animal control authorities seized and euthanized the dogs, a female and her two offspring that were not yet adult dogs.[147] |
September 14, 2021 | Loretta Mae Moore, 84, Female | Pit bull, Husky (2), Unspecified (2) | Indiana, Lebanon — Moore's adult son found her body when he returned home from work. Moore was partially dismembered and an autopsy found she had been killed by dogs; police found blood on the mouths of all the dogs, as well as a broomstick that was broken to bits and covered in blood. Moore's son owned four of the dogs; the fifth was a pit bull he was fostering on behalf of a pit bull rescue group. Authorities seized all the dogs, but returned them at the owners' request because local laws and ordinances did not allow them to euthanize dogs without the owners' consent if the dogs killed someone on the owners' property.[148][149] |
September 22, 2021 | Frank Cobb, 70, Male | Pit bull | Alabama, Phenix City — Phenix City police responded to a dog attack at 2:00 a.m. and found Cobb suffering from wounds and with several amputated limbs. Cobb was taken to the local hospital and then to a regional hospital where doctors tried to re-attach his limbs, but he died of his injuries. The suspected dog was found dead and sent to a lab for testing.[150][151] |
September 24, 2021 | Amber Dawn Labelle, 42, Female | Pit bull x American Bulldog mix | Oregon, Myrtly Point — The 120 lb. dog attacked Labelle when she opened a door to a room in her apartment where the dog had been constrained. Labelle had been watching the dog for a friend, who had closed the dog in the room; the friend was watching the dog for its owner while the owner was out of town. Labelle was flown to a regional hospital where she died of her injuries the next day. Police shot and killed the dog when it lunged at them as they arrived.[152] |
September 24, 2021 | Alex Binyam Abraha, 21, Male | Pit bull (2) | Georgia, Coweta County — Abraha's body was found outside the house of the dogs' owner. An autopsy confirmed he had been killed by a dog attack, and police said there was evidence that Abraha had been an intruder inside the house. The dogs were seized by authorities as part of the investigation.[153] |
October 3, 2021 | Ka'Vay Louis-Calderon, 1, Female | Pit bull (1+) | Ohio, Akron — One or two dogs became agitated and attacked the 16 month old victim while her uncle was standing at the front door having an argument with a woman. One of the dogs had broken through the front door and attacked a mail carrier four months earlier. Both dogs were seized and euthanized by animal control authorities.[154][155] |
October 18, 2021 | Kathleen Bertram, 69, Female | Pit bull | Indiana, Matthews — The dog bit down on Bertram's throat after she fell out of a chair while holding her 3-year-old granddaughter. Family members pulled the dog away and called rescue personnel, who found Bertram bleeding from both sides of her neck and administered CPR, but declared Bertram dead at the scene. The dog was seized by animal control authorities.[156][157] |
October 19, 2021 | Bentley Parker, <1, Male | St. Bernard | Tennessee, Kodak — The 7 month old victim was visiting his grandmother with his family when their family dog killed him and attacked his grandmother, who was trying to defend him. The dog was killed by law enforcement authorities when it acted aggressively towards rescue personnel responding to the incident.[158] |
October 20, 2021 | James McNeelis, 7, Male | Sheltie x Corgi mix | Oklahoma, Creek County — In late 2021, James McNeelis was killed by a dog. His lifeless body was found in his backyard, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation determined he had been attacked by a dog, which was seized by animal control authorities. The family had taken in the dog three weeks earlier as a stray.[159][160] |
November 10, 2021 | Male, <1 | Pit bull | North Carolina, Kenly— The victim's family had taken in the dog as a stray a few days before the attack on the 8 days old baby.. Animal control authorities seized the dog and announced it would be euthanized.[161] |
November 19, 2021 | Tiffany L. Frangione, 48, Female | Cane Corso mix,
Husky mix |
Texas, Houston — The victim was found in her backyard with puncture wounds in her neck. Police believe she released her dogs into the backyard, the dogs began fighting through the fence with a neighbor's dogs, and her dogs killed her when she tried to intervene. The victim's husband turned the dogs over to animal control authorities for euthanasia,[162] and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences later ruled her death was accidental and due to "blunt force trauma of the neck with penetrating injuries and mechanical asphyxia."[163] |
November 22, 2021 | Avery Colin Jackson Dunphy, 6, Male | Border Collie mixes and Shepherd mixes (6 total) | New Mexico, Mesilla Park — Avery Colin Jackson Dunphy was killed at his grandfather's home when he walked into a dog pen containing six dogs, including a female and her two adolescent offspring, which the grandfather was fostering on behalf of their local municipal pound. In a police report, Doña Ana County Animal Control described the dogs as Shepherd mixes and Border Collie mixes.[164][165][166][167] |
December 6, 2021 | Leann Gratzer, 61, Female | Pit bull (2), | Missouri, Franklin County — The victim's body was found in the yard outside the home of her adult daughter, which was next to the victim's home. The daughter and her roommate owned all of the dogs involved, which were euthanized by a local veterinarian with the owners' agreement.[168] |
December 12, 2021 | Duke Little Whirlwind, 58, Male | Pit bull,
others (3) |
Montana, Lame Deer — The dogs killed the victim while he was walking his bicycle to his brother's house. The dogs were shot and killed by their owners the next day after law enforcement authorities declined to take action.[169] |
December 16, 2021 | Heather Pingel, 35, Female | Pit bull | Wisconsin, Bowler — Heather Pingel was killed by a family pet dog. Pingel was protecting her son, who was being attacked by the dog, when the dog turned on her.[170] |
December 28, 2021 | Karen Julisa Rosa Madrid, 26, Female | Cane Corso (4) | California, La Puente — Karen Madrid was killed by her sister's family dogs in her sister's home, where she was living with her 6-year-old son. Madrid had forgotten her house keys and had returned home to get them, and the dogs attacked her when she climbed in a window. The four dogs were seized by animal control authorities and euthanized.[171] |
December 30, 2021 | 34, Male | Pit bull (2), | Illinois, Chicago — The victim was found by police in the living room of a home. The victim had visible bite marks and an autopsy determined the man died of multiple injuries from a dog mauling.[172] |