UPDATED APRIL 2018

2013 dog bite fatalities ::

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.

2013 dog bite fatality statistics 2

2013 U.S. Dog Bite Fatalities by Breed 2013 fatal dog attacks by breed

In 2013, 1 dog bite fatality involved canines from , thus producing a death count total of 33 rather than 32. 4 dog breeds each contributed to 1 death, including: boxer, husky, rottweiler and shiba inu.

2013 analysis and 9-year period summary

32 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2013. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 78% (25) of these deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6% of the total U.S. dog population. 3

Together, pit bulls (25) and rottweilers (1), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 81% of the total recorded deaths in 2013. This same combination accounted for 74% of all fatal attacks during the 9-year period of 2005 to 2013.

The breakdown between these two breeds is substantial over this 9-year period. From 2005 to 2013, pit bulls killed 177 Americans, about one citizen every 18.6 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 34, about one citizen every 96.6 days.

In the year of 2013, the combination of pit bulls (25), rottweilers (1) and bullmastiffs (2) accounted for 88% of all dog bite-related fatalities. Notably, the two bullmastiff-mixes were littermates that each inflicted a death within a 6-month period. 4

Annual data from 2013 shows that 56% (18) of the fatality victims were children 9-years and younger, and 44% (14) were adults, 19-years and older. Of the total children killed by dogs in 2013, 61% (11) were ages 4-years and younger.

Annual data shows that when combining all age groups, male and female fatality victims were equivalent, 16 and 16. Amongst children 9-years and younger, however, males were excessively victims, 72% (13), versus females 28% (5).

In 2013, over one-third, 41% (13), of all dog bite fatality victims were either visiting or living temporarily with the dog's owner when the fatal attack occurred, up from 31% in 2012. Children 9-years and younger accounted for 77% (10) of these deaths.

Of this subset of 13 fatalities, 92% (12) were inflicted by pit bulls and 54% (7) Involved a babysitter, including a relative or friend under the directive to watch a child 9-years or younger. All 7 of these child deaths were inflicted by pit bulls.

47% (15) of all fatalities in 2013 involved more than one dog; 16% (5) involved breeding on the dog owner's property either actively or in the recent past, and 9% (3) involved tethered dogs. All 3 chaining deaths were attributed to pit bulls.

Dog ownership information for 2013 shows that family dogs comprised 47% (15) of all fatal attack occurrences; 78% (25) of the attacks resulting in human death occurred on the dog owner's property and 22% (7) resulted in criminal charges.

California led lethal dog attacks in 2013 with 5 deaths. 100% were attributed to pit bulls and 60% resulted in criminal charges. Texas followed with 4 deaths and 0% criminal charges. Arkansas and South Carolina followed, each with 3 deaths.

Discussion notes and graphics

The below items were issued when annual statistics were originally published on January 20, 2014. New fatalities and updates to our 2013 Fatality Statistics may have been added since.

2013 dog bite fatality victims

Betty Todd

65-years old | Hodges, South Carolina

Betty Todd, 65-years old, was brutally killed by her son's pit bull while babysitting his three children. Her son, Andrew Todd, and his wife were out to dinner at the time. The eldest child called her father, alerting him to the attack then "evacuated" her younger siblings out of the house. Deputies arrived to a bloody aggressive pit bull inside the home. When deputies were able to enter, they discovered the woman's body lifeless on the living room floor covered in blood with bite wounds on her head, face and neck. The coroner's report said that Betty died of severe neck and spinal injuries. The family had owned the pit bull for four years. The victim's brother-in-law, David Todd, told the media, "This dog has never shown any aggression before." It was later revealed that the dog had killed the family's Siberian husky four months earlier. The family pit bull had been "fixed" just days before killing Betty Todd in hopes of lowering its aggression. [ ]

Date of death: January 8, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Son Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Christian Gormanous

4-years old | Montgomery County, Texas

Christian Gormanous, 4-years old, was mauled to death by his neighbor's chained pit bull. The attack occurred on a Saturday afternoon on the 5700 block of Pinehurst Drive in west Montgomery County. Christian and his 9-year old sister, Trinity, had been playing in their family's backyard when the boy climbed over a chain-link fence into the neighbor's yard. What awaited Christian was a dangerous dog, a chained pit bull. Though the animal was chained, the boy was still within its reach. The dog viciously attacked the boy. Trinity managed to get her younger brother back over the fence then ran and told her mother who called 911. The boy's injuries were so severe, he was airlifted to a Houston hospital. The boy did not survive his injuries; he died at the hospital that evening. At the time of the attack, the boy's mother had been feeding a newborn inside the home. Charges against the dog's owner are not anticipated. [ ]

Date of death: January 19, 2013 Chained: Yes Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Elsie Grace

91-years old | Hemet, California

Elsie Grace, 91-years old, was discovered dead in a hotel room after being mauled to death by her son's two pit bulls. Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said the victim had "a great deal of trauma to her body." Elsie and her son had been staying at the hotel because they were in the process of relocating to Hemet. Her son was away at the time of the deadly attack. Elsie was a nationally known watercolorist who taught for 33 years at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. After her retirement, she was commissioned by La Quinta Hotel and painted 230 watercolor views of the hotel's casitas. Elsie was also a member of the La Quinta Arts Association and exhibited her work at the La Quinta Arts Foundationʼs Art Under the Umbrellas event. Family members created a memorial website to celebrate her life and to start the Elsie Grace Scholarship for the Arts Fund. [ ]

Date of death: February 8, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Son Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Isaiah Aguilar

2-years old | Sabinal, Texas

Isaiah Aguilar, 2-years old, was struck down by his neighbor's pit bull. The boy had been playing with a balloon outside his home when the wind blew it into a neighbor's backyard. When he chased after the balloon, he was attacked by a female pit bull tied up in the yard. Richard Aguilar, the boy's father, said he was able to get into the neighbor's yard because there was a huge hole in the fence. By the time Aguilar reached him, Isaiah had already stopped breathing. Police officers transported the child to a hospital in Uvalde, but he did not survive. According to the boy's family, a person from the dog owner's home opened the door during the attack, but did not help the boy. He just shook his head and shut the door. The pit bull -- left tethered and unattended in an accessible yard -- had committed vicious acts in the past, including: killing its own sire and attacking its own litter of puppies. [ ]

Date of death: February 16, 2013 Chained: Yes Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Neighbor Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Ryan Maxwell

7-years old | Galesburg, Illinois

Ryan Maxwell, 7-years old, was attacked and killed by a pit bull while visiting family friends at a home on Whiting Avenue. Ryan had spent the previous night at the home. At the time of the attack, the boy had been playing in the backyard. Investigators believe the dog was tethered before the attack, but broke free. When police arrived, the pit bull was still clamped onto the boy's neck. After police "disengaged" the dog, the animal was shot to death to prevent additional attacks. The boy was transported to Cottage Hospital where he later died from his injuries. The owner of the pit bull, Ashiya Ferguson, said she tried everything she could to get the dog off the boy, including beating the dog with a shovel. "I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop it." Ferguson repeated in anguish after the attack. She vowed to never own another pit bull again. In June, authorities announced that no charges would be filed. According to Knox County Assistant State's Attorney Elisa Tanner, there was no evidence that a crime occurred. [ ]

Date of death: March 2, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Family friend Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Daxton Borchardt

14-months old | Walworth, Wisconsin

Daxton Borchardt, 14-months old, was savagely mauled by his babysitter's two pit bulls while under her care. Susan Iwicki, 30-years old, was babysitting the boy at her home on North Lakeshore Drive when her two pit bulls attacked. Iwicki called 911 stating that she and the boy were under attack by her two dogs. Capt. Dana Nigbor said that a deputy arrived at the attack scene just minutes after the call, which occurred outdoors. The deputy discovered Daxton in one of the rooms of Iwicki's home. The toddler was fully naked and lying motionless on his back on the floor in a puddle of blood. He was barely alive. Daxton was transported to a hospital then airlifted to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin with critical injuries. He died less than 3-hours later. Both pit bulls, each 3-years old and sterilized, were removed from the home and euthanized. No criminal charges against the babysitter are pending. [ ]

Date of death: March 6, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Babysitter Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Monica Laminack

21-months old | Ellabelle, Georgia

Monica Laminack, 21-months old, was mauled to death by a pack of family pit bulls in the backyard of her home. Authorities believe Monica crawled through a doggie door unnoticed and was attacked -- the dogs lived both inside and outside the home. A 911 call at 6:36 pm reported the girl's grandmother woke up from a nap after hearing dogs barking, looked out the back window and saw the attack happening. She and other family members rushed outside to pull the dogs off the toddler, but it was too late. Bryan County Sheriff Clyde Smith said that when EMS arrived on scene the child's body was already cold, indicating she had been dead for awhile. Authorities believe Monica was attacked at about 6 pm, a half hour before the 911 call. The child's 18-year old mother, Summer Laminack, two adult relatives and two young boys were inside the home during the mauling. Summer was subsequently charged with second-degree cruelty to children. [ ]

Date of death: March 27, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (7) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Family Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes

Tyler Jett

7-years old | Callaway, Florida

Tyler Jett, 7-years old, was brutally attacked by two pit bull-mix dogs while playing in the front yard of his home on April 2. Tyler was flown to Scared Heart Medical Center in Pensacola with life-threatening injuries. The boy suffered a punctured carotid artery and his head, face and neck were badly bitten. The two dogs, owned by Edward Daniels II, 21-years old, escaped their owner's fenced-in property prior to attacking. Several days earlier, Daniels had been cited for allowing his dogs to run free and terrorize neighbors. Daniels was charged with a felony count of tampering with evidence; he washed the blood off the face and paws of one of the dogs after the attack. Tyler did not regain consciousness while in intensive care. He died five days after the attack. Authorities subsequently upgraded the charges against Daniels to manslaughter. On August 29, 2013, a jury found Daniels guilty of manslaughter after two hours of deliberating. On October 11, 2013 Daniels was sentenced to 10-years in jail. [ ]

Date of death: April 7, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (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 Breed ID image:

Claudia Gallardo

38-years old | Stockton, California

Claudia Gallardo, 38-years old, was mauled to death by a "big, nasty pit bull," according to Sgt. Tom Rees of the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. Deputies received a report of a dog attack in east Stockton about 8:20 pm. When deputies arrived, they found a woman in the driveway of a home with massive wounds. She was pronounced dead on scene. Neighbors said the same pit bull, named "Russia," had been terrorizing the area for months. The dog's owner, Brian Hrenko, was away when the attack occurred. His female roommate was home. She alleged the victim jumped over the front fence and claimed to be there to clean the house. After being detained and questioned by police, Hrenko admitted that the victim had been to his home at least once before and had interacted well with his dog. On November 21, Brian Michael Hrenko, 60, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony animal charges in connection to her death. He was convicted on both charges in March 2015. [ ]

Date of death: April 11, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Property tenant Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes Breed ID image:

Jordyn Arndt

4-years old | Prairie City, Iowa

Jordyn Arndt, 4-years old, was viciously mauled by her babysitter's pit bull while under her care. She was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines with life-threatening injuries. She died the following day. At the time of the attack, Jena Marie Wright, 24, had been babysitting Jordyn and her brother. The babysitting arrangement had started about two weeks earlier. According to news reports, Jordyn was in the backyard of the home with Wright's daughter, 3, when the dog attacked. Wright was arrested just hours after the girl died and charged with child endangerment resulting in death, a class B felony, and neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a class C felony. The combined charges carried up to 35-years in prison. During the 2015 criminal trial, a Jasper County jury convicted Wright on all counts. Wright was later sentenced to no more than 10-years in prison in connection to Jordyn's death. [ ]

Date of death: April 23, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Babysitter Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes Breed ID image:

Beau Rutledge

2-years old | Fulton County, Georgia

Beau Rutledge, 2-years old, was savagely mauled to death by his family's pit bull at his Wexford subdivision home. The boy's mother, Angela Rutledge, told police she went to the bathroom and came back to find Beau terribly injured and dead from the vicious attack. Police, emergency medical personnel and news media swarmed the cul-de-sac street. Neighbors called the scene "surreal." First responders said the scene was "horrible," so gruesome that police hung a sheet over the doorway of the home to keep it hidden from view. "I felt like I was in a horror film," said one neighbor who briefly saw inside of the home. The family had owned the female pit bull, named Kissy Face, for eight years. Though identified as a pit bull numerous times, including by police and Fulton County animal services, the American Journal-Constitution began calling the dog an "American Staffordshire terrier-mix," an alias for the pit bull terrier for over 40-years, and thus is always included in the legal definition of a pit bull. [ ]

Date of death: April 24, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Female Owner of dog: Mother Spay/Neuter: Yes Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Rachael Honabarger

35-years old | Coshocton, Ohio

Rachael Honabarger, 35-years old, was brutally attacked by her family German shepherd, sustaining life-threatening injuries. A neighbor driving by the Honabarger residence saw that she was in clear distress with the dog beside her. As the neighbor approached to help her, the dog began attacking her again, this time biting into her neck. There were no witnesses to the initial attack. The man was able to pull the attacking dog off Honabarger and secure it in an outdoor kennel. He then called 911 and administered life-saving first aid until EMS arrived on scene. Rachael was transported to a local hospital then airlifted to Grant Medical Center in Columbus. She died of her injuries two days later. Another neighbor said the dog was very aggressive, but never went beyond the property line; the dog reportedly guarded the family home. The male German shepherd was euthanized the day after her death and transported to the Ohio Department of Health for rabies testing. The results came back negative. [ ]

Date of death: May 2, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: German shepherd Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Husband Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Pamela Devitt

63-years old | Littlerock, California

Pamela Devitt, 63-years old, was viciously mauled by four pit bulls while taking her morning walk. A passing motorist saw the woman on the ground being attacked and called 911. Authorities said her injuries included being "scalped" and one arm removed. The woman died en route to the hospital. Deputies began house-to-house ground and air searches to capture the dangerous dogs. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the "capture of the four killer pit bulls." Detectives later received information that led to the service of a search warrant in a home near the site of the mauling. Authorities seized 8 dogs from the property -- 6 were pit bulls. During the search, detectives uncovered a "marijuana grow" operation. Alex Jackson, 29-years old, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana. On May 29, after conducting DNA tests on the dogs, authorities charged Jackson with second-degree murder in connection to Devitt's death. [ ]

Date of death: May 9, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (4) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Property owner Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes Breed ID image:

Carlton Freeman

80-years old | Harleyville, South Carolina

Carlton Freeman, 80-years old, was dragged from his wheelchair by four dogs and savagely attacked. Freeman was a double leg amputee as a result of diabetes. Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet said that Freeman was going down the side of the road in his wheelchair when the dogs attacked. He was taken to Trident Hospital where he died four days later. "He had bites and lacerations from his legs to the top of his head," Nisbet wrote in a news release. "Mr. Freeman was basically helpless [against] the attack." Neighbors said the dogs had been roaming the area for months. Barbara Goodwin, also a neighbor, admitted to caring for three of the dogs. Authorities seized those dogs; each had traces of blood on their fur. Freeman's family members, who witnessed the attack, identified all four dogs as pit bulls. During the investigation, deputies determined all four dogs to be feral and did not belong to any one person. At the request of the victim and his family, no charges were brought. [ ]

Date of death: May 12, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (4) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Ownerless Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Ayden Evans

5-years old | Jessieville, Arkansas

Ayden Evans, 5-years old, was killed by a bullmastiff-pit bull mix. The boy lived in Oklahoma, but was staying at his aunt's house in Jessieville for the summer. Ayden was visiting his aunt's neighbor, Lynne Geiling, when her dog attacked him. The dog came from another room and attacked Ayden when he became upset and started crying. Geiling was unable to separate the two until her husband arrived to help. The boy died on the way to the hospital from blood loss relating to head and neck injuries. The boy's body was released to a funeral home in Hot Springs before his parents arrived from Oklahoma. The devastated couple took their son's body back home in an urn. After the attack, the dog fled the home. The next day, the animal was found and shot by a neighbor. On January 3, 2014 arrest warrants relating to the fatal attack of Joan Kappen, which occurred on November 21, confirmed that the bullmastiff-pit bull mix that killed Ayden and a similar type dog that killed Kappen were from the same litter. [ ]

Date of death: June 9, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Bullmastiff-pit bull mix Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Neighbor Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Nephi Selu

6-years old | Union City, California

Nephi Selu, 6-years old, was bitten on the head by his uncle's pit bull and died several hours later at a hospital in Palo Alto. The attack occurred at the boy's grandparents' Union City home where he and his mother had been staying for an extended period. The boy's uncle, Keala Keanaaina, is a San Mateo police officer. His seven children and wife also reside at the home. Cousins he was playing with at the time of the attack said that Nephi had been "ridding the dog like a horse," when it suddenly threw him down and clamped onto his head. Once alerted, Keanaaina took a hold of the dog by the jaw, and the animal released. The 2-year old male pit bull named Kava was the child's "best friend," according to his mother Tilema Selu. She said the attack came as a shock, "like one best friend turned on the other." A Beware of Dog sign is posted on a fence at the family's home. Neighbors always maintained the family owned two pit bulls, though this was not confirmed by police in media reports. [ ]

Date of death: June 17, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Uncle Spay/Neuter: No Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Arianna Merrbach

5-years old | Effingham, South Carolina

Arianna Merrbach, 5-years old, was mauled to death by a chained pit bull-mix while visiting her aunt's home. Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken said the incident occurred at 11:15 am at 7208 Fork Road in Effingham. The girl was pronounced dead on scene. Responding firefighters said she walked up to the dog, which was chained at the home. Lula Waddle, who lives next door to where the girl was attacked, said the victim "grew up with the dogs." Autopsy information was released one day after the fatal incident. Lutcken classified the girl's death as accidental. The cause of death was due to multiple sharp blunt force injuries. Herbie Christmas with Florence County Environmental Services confirmed the dog was an adult pit bull-mix. He said it was the first fatal dog mauling in the county in the 17-years of his service. His agency seized the attacking pit bull along with two other pit bulls from the residence. The offending male dog was euthanized shortly after the fatal attack. [ ]

Date of death: June 25, 2013 Chained: Yes Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Aunt Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown Breed ID image:

Linda Oliver

63-years old | Dayton, Texas

Linda Oliver, 63-years old, was viciously attacked by a stray dog she began caring for two weeks earlier. Liberty County Sheriff's Office said Oliver called her husband that morning and said that the dog attacked the couple's pet "weiner" dog then attacked her when she intervened. Helpless to save his wife -- the husband was an hour away working in Pearland -- he called 911. Deputies arrived at the couple's home and found Oliver already dead on the living room floor covered in dog bites. Deputies confronted the dog named "Bruiser" and fired three shots at it, hitting the animal twice. The dog fled the property, prompting a search effort throughout the Woodland Hills subdivision where the couple lived. For nearly two days the dog eluded authorities. On the evening of July 2, deputies located the dog, described as a rottweiler-mastiff mix, and shot it to death. Friends said Oliver loved animals and often rescued abandoned pets. She was also the owner of Linda's Dog Grooming in Dayton. [ ]

Date of death: July 1, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Rottweiler-mastiff 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

Juan Campos

96-years old | Katy, Texas

Juan Campos, 96-years old, was found dead in his backyard after being mauled by one or more pit bulls. His grandson, Miguel Velasquez, discovered his body lying next to his pet dog, a chihuahua, also dead. Velasquez said his grandfather was covered in bite marks and the lower part of one of his legs was missing. Three pit bulls where in the backyard when he arrived, one was pacing back and forth and two others were attacking a neighbor's pet dog, according to Velasquez. Authorities seized five dogs from the area. Deputies and Campos' family believe the dogs belong to a neighbor who lives in a house behind them. "There is a wooden fence that surround the (Campos') yard. There are holes in the fence where the slats have been broken," said Sgt. Ben Beall, with the Harris County Sheriff's department. Campos' family said the dogs had been aggressive in the past and had tried working with the neighbor about controlling his dogs. Beall expects the case to go before a Harris County grand jury. [ ]

Date of death: August 30, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (5) 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: Unknown Breed ID image:

Jordan Reed

5-years old | Kotzebue, Alaska

Jordan Reed, 5-years old, was discovered dead by search and rescue teams after being attacked by at least one loose dog. The boy had been playing in front of his home that evening when he was reported missing at about 10:44 pm. Kotzebue police, fire and search and rescue personnel searched for the boy through the night. He was discovered in an open field at about 4:10 am on the outskirts of town. Authorities captured several loose dogs in the area where the boy was found, one of which was determined to have been involved in the mauling, a husky-mix. Mayor Nathan Kotch said that loose dogs have been an increasing problem in the town and that city officials had recently tightened the town's dog ordinance to address this issue. "We were all dreading something like this happening. We talked about it when we passed the ordinance," Kotch said. The mayor was horrified by the boy's death and promised that city council would again revisit the issue of dangerous dogs running loose. [ ]

Date of death: September 15, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Husky-mix Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Unknown Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No

Daniel Teubner

2-years old | Gilbert, Arizona

Daniel Teubner, 2-years old, died after being attacked by his babysitter's pit bulls. The boy and his four siblings, each under the age of 10, were staying the weekend with Lara Czerniski, 28, while their parents were out of town. On Sunday morning, three of the babysitter's adult pit bulls began fighting. Somehow Daniel got caught up in the fight and the dogs began attacking him. He was taken to Gilbert Mercy Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Czerniski sustained serious injuries intervening in the fight. She was taken to a hospital in Scottsdale and underwent surgery. None of the other children were harmed, but at least one witnessed the attack, according to news reports. Maricopa County Animal Control seized four pit bull-mixes from the babysitter's home. The three dogs involved in the attack were put down. The other, the mother of the three and uninvolved in the attack, according to Czerniski, is set to be returned to her. As of October 4, 2013 there has been no additional information. [ ]

Date of death: September 22, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (3) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Babysitter Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown Breed ID image:

Samuel Zamudio

2-years old | Colton, California

Samuel Zamudio, 2-years old, was mauled to death by up to five dogs while staying at his grandmother's home. At the time of the attack, he and his 7-year old brother were being babysat by his uncle who also lives at the home. By the time family members realized he was missing, it was too late. They found his mangled, lifeless body with all of his clothing stripped away in the backyard. The grandmother's five pit bull-mix dogs, which she had been collecting over the years, had brutally attacked the boy. Samuel was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with extensive injuries to his upper body and was shortly pronounced dead. All five dogs along with three puppies were seized from the home. Hours after the incident, police arrested the boy's grandmother, Eustolio Zamudio, 42, and uncle, Marco Zamudio, 22, on suspicion of child endangerment resulting in death. Prosecutors charged the uncle the next day, but declined to file charges against the boy's grandmother. [ ]

Date of death: September 23, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull-mix (5) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Grandmother Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Yes Breed ID image:

Jordan Ryan

5-years old | Baker City, Oregon

Jordan Ryan, 5-years old, was viciously killed by a pit bull after he and his two siblings were taken to the home of a family friend. The attack occurred at the home of Mary Lane of Baker City. His mother, Michelle Ryan, said she had taken her children to Lane's home before, but did not know she had recently adopted a pit bull. An autopsy carried out by the State Medical Examiner determined that the boy "suffered extensive injuries, which caused him to bleed to death" in the attack, District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff said in a statement. A public memorial was held outside his kindergarten building several days after he died. The school district provided grief counselors to help teachers and students. A grand jury later declined to indict Lane due to "insufficient evidence to support criminal charges." Baker City police investigated the background of the pit bull that Lane had owned for about 6-weeks after acquiring it from a John Day resident. They found no evidence it had acted aggressively "toward people" in the past. [ ]

Date of death: September 27, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Family friend Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Terry Douglass

56-years old | Baltimore, Maryland

Terry Douglass, 56-years old, was fatally attacked by "Boosie," a 4-year old male pit bull that she had raised from a puppy. The dog had attacked her twice before, according to her daughter Tamathia Davis. The attacks began about 2-years earlier, around the same time that Douglass became wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy. In the first incident, the dog bit Douglass so savagely in the face that, "whenever my mom would open her mouth, her cheek would open with it," Davis said. The second attack occurred in April, when the dog bit her nephew then bit Douglass who intervened. Baltimore City Animal Control seized the pit bull and held the dog in a 10-day quarantine then returned it to its disabled owner, citing they "did not feel the dog was a threat to the public." Family members did feel the animal was a threat and pleaded with animal control not to return the dog. Davis even asked her mother's landlord to ban the dog. Six months later, "Boosie" attacked Douglass a third time killing her. [ ]

Date of death: November 1, 2013 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 Breed ID image:

Katherine Atkins

25-years old | Kernersville, North Carolina

Katherine Atkins, 25-years old, was brutally struck down by her boyfriend's two pit bulls. Her body was discovered about 6:25 pm on Stable Hill Trail off Pumpkin Ridge Road by her boyfriend's roommate. At the time of the attack, Atkins had stopped by to feed the male and female pit bulls when they attacked her. No one witnessed the attack. The two dogs were housed in a fenced-in area behind the home. When deputies arrived on scene, they found Katherine lying dead in the backyard near the dogs' outdoor enclosure. Investigators said the dogs were running loose in the area when authorities arrived. Officials said that Atkins had been around the pit bulls since they were puppies and there was "no history of problems or aggression" with the animals. Albert (Tico) Jacobs, the woman's boyfriend and owner of the dogs, surrendered them to Forsyth County Animal Control, which euthanized the animals. According to Jacobs' Facebook page, he and Atkins had been dating since 2008. The sheriff's office called the young woman's death a "terrible tragedy" and do not expect to file criminal charges. [ ]

Date of death: November 4, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Boyfriend Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Nga Woodhead

65-years old | Spanaway, Washington

Nga Woodhead, 65-years old, was taking her morning walk on October 30, when two pit bulls brutally attacked her from behind. A "village effort" unfolded on Pacific Avenue South as a Marine vet intervened, fighting off the dogs with his bare hands and carrying the fight into the busy street. People stopped their cars and rushed to help. One passerby was handed a gun and shot and wounded one of the dogs. Sheriff's deputies arrived and killed both pit bulls. Nga was transported to the hospital with extensive injuries to her arm. She never left the hospital alive. On November 5, as she and her husband were in her hospital room waiting for discharge paperwork, her heart stopped. The Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office said Nga died of a heart attack brought on by "extremity contusions, lacerations and fractures due to dog bites." The day after her death would have been the couple's 42nd wedding anniversary. In January 2014, Pierce County prosecutors announced that no criminal charges would be filed. [ ]

Date of death: November 5, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Mixed Owner of dog: Property owner Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: No

Levi Watson

4-years old | Bradford, Arkansas

Levi Watson, 4-years old, was fatally attacked by up to three pit bulls while he visited a residence with his mother on Piker Lane in Bradford. The Bradford Fire Department treated the injured boy on scene and NorthStar EMS transported him to the White County Medical Center in Searcy where he later died of his injuries. The young boy had managed to get out of the home and into a fenced area where the dogs were held while his mother and the dogs' owner were in the home. His mother, Deborah Sizemore, told the media that she tried resuscitating him, but it was too late. White County deputies seized three pit bulls owned by Justin Corbit, a family relative, and held the dogs in quarantine throughout the investigation. On November 19, the White County Sheriff's Office announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the dogs' owner or the child's mother; there was no evidence to support criminal charges. The three pit bulls were "destroyed" by the request of the dogs' owner. [ ]

Date of death: November 8, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (3) Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Relative Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Joan Kappen

75-years old | Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

Joan Kappen, 75-years old, was killed by a bullmastiff-pit bull mix while taking her morning walk in a gated retirement community. She was taken to Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs where she was pronounced dead. The owner of the dog, Emily Coy, was not home during the attack. She had left the dog in the care of her mother, Brande Coy. The mother let the dog out of the house unsupervised in an unsecured yard. At some point, the dog began attacking Joan. Brande was also injured trying to gain control of the large dog she dubbed, "My Guardian" on her Facebook page. Kappen's son quickly filed a civil lawsuit against both Coys. Charles "Chuck" Hippenstiel seeks a jury trial and $2.5 million in damages. On January 2, 2014 the Saline County Prosecutor's Office issued felony manslaughter charges against Brande Coy. Lesser charges were brought against Emily. Further, arrest warrants revealed that the dog that killed Kappen was a littermate of the dog that killed 5-year old Ayden Even on June 9. [ ]

Date of death: November 21, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Bullmastiff-pit bull mix Relationship to dog: Non-family Sex of dog: Male Owner of dog: Property owner Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: No On/Off property: Off Criminal charges: Yes Breed ID image:

Jah'niyah White

2-years old | Chicago, Illinois

Jah'niyah White, 2-years old, died at Jackson Park Hospital after suffering a head injury while at her maternal grandfather's home on the 3300 block of East 91st Street. The girl died of multiple injuries inflicted in a dog attack, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. A contributing factor was neglect and her death was ruled a homicide. Chicago Animal Care and Control seized two dogs from the grandfather's home. Despite "repeated" calls from the media, the department ignored them. Jah’niyah's family said both dogs were pit bulls, an adult female and her puppy. Her mother, Kashairah Gardner, said she was "attached to them, and they was attached to her." She never had any concern about the dogs. Three days after her death, members of Jah’niyah's family gathered outside the grandfather's home demanding that he be held accountable for her death. They made a memorial for Jah’niyah on a nearby signpost. State child welfare officials opened an investigation of the grandfather over allegations of abuse. As of December 19, 2013, no new information has been released. [ ]

Date of death: December 7, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Pit bull (2) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Female/Unreleased Owner of dog: Grandfather Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: Unknown

Mia Gibson

3-months old | Columbus, Ohio

Mia Gibson, 3-months old, was fatally injured by her family's two dogs while her parents slept. She was pronounced dead at Nationwide Children's Hospital at 7:45 am after being taken from her home on Lake Shore Drive. Mia was on the couch with her sleeping father when she fell from the couch and was injured by the family dogs, according to Columbus police. Her mother, asleep in the bedroom, was awakened by one of the dogs at the bedroom door. She went into the living room and found her baby on the floor by the couch. She called 911 panicked just before 7:00 am. Police said the baby had no major visible trauma, but did have several puncture wounds on her body. An autopsy conducted by Franklin County Coroner Jan Gorniak determined that Mia died of internal injuries caused by dog bites. The baby was born prematurely and had just come home from the hospital around Thanksgiving. The case will be sent to the Franklin County prosecutor's office to determine if charges will be filed. [ ]

Date of death: December 10, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: Shiba inu (2) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Parents Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No

Michal Nelson

41-years old | Jarales, New Mexico

Michal Nelson, 41-years old, was mauled to death by her own pit bull. The attack occurred at her home on Crawford Road in Jarales near Belen. The Valencia County Sheriff's Office said the woman's son came home and found the dog on top of her. He shot and killed the animal. Sheriff's officials said she was in an outdoor pen trying to break ice water out of a dog bowl when the pit bull attacked. The woman had 12 pit bulls on the property. Deputies said the dogs showed no signs of abuse or any indication they were bred for fighting. At least four were surrendered and euthanized due to showing aggression. The woman's boyfriend, Nicholas Hare, said the couple had the dogs for about the last four years. They raised the pit bulls along with other animals for their own desire, not for profit or as a rescue, according to Hare. He called her death a "freak accident," a term long used by pit bull owners after a fatal attack. Family members said Michal loved all animals, and never turned away a stray. [ ]

Date of death: December 13, 2013 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

Thomas Vick

64-years old | Bullhead City, Arizona

Thomas Vick, 64-years old, died after trying to break up a fight among his six dogs. His wife, former Bullhead City Mayor Diane Vick, was seriously injured in the same incident. Both were transported to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center where Vick died of his injuries. His wife was airlifted to Sunrise Hospital and admitted into intensive care. According to the Bullhead City police department, the initial fight began between the couple's German shepherd and cocker spaniel. Then the couple's boxer along with their three boxer-mixes began attacking the cocker spaniel. When Vick intervened to stop the fight, the boxer, named Dempsey, turned on him and began attacking him. At some point, the other four dogs also began mauling Vick and his wife, who had intervened to help her husband. The cocker spaniel died of its injuries. While hospitalized, Vick's wife asked that all five remaining dogs be euthanized. Thomas Vick was a beloved teacher who taught social studies at Mohave High School. [ ]

Date of death: December 29, 2013 Chained: No Breed of dog: German shepherd (1)

Boxer, boxer-mix (4) Relationship to dog: Family Sex of dog: Unreleased Owner of dog: Victim Spay/Neuter: Unreleased Multiple dogs: Yes On/Off property: On Criminal charges: No Breed ID image:

Additional victims - excluded

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 death due to untreated severe dog bites (sepsis) may be added to our data at a future time.

02/22/13: James Harding, 62-years old (Baltimore, MD)

09/22/13: Patricia Ritz, 67-years old (Fordsville, KY)

Struck by dog deaths - fatal non-bite injury

Mid 2013: John Doe, Elderly (Denver, CO)

Severe dog bite injuries untreated (sepsis death)