Elderly woman mauled to death by own pit bull, husband and cops injured in attack: 'The heart and soul of our family is gone'



An elderly Massachusetts woman was mauled to death by her own dog, according to investigators. The Boston woman's husband and two police officers also were injured in the dog attack.

Jeriline Brady-McGinnis — a 73-year-old from Roxbury — was attacked by her own pit bull in her home around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

'She’s very close to her animals, almost like children ...'

Investigators said the dog also attacked the victim's husband as he tried to save her, plus two Boston police officers responding to the pit bull attack. All four were rushed to a local hospital. However, Brady-McGinnis allegedly died in surgery.

WFXT-TV reported that a pit bull named Deuce mauled Brady-McGinnis to death. The officers and the husband suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Once the officers were attacked, another cop shot at the pit bull, according to WFXT. The outlet obtained surveillance video allegedly showing three shots being fired when police arrived on the scene.

The dog was transported to Angell Animal Medical Center for treatment. But due to "his worsening condition and poor prognosis," officials decided to euthanize the dog, according to Boston Animal Control.

Brady-McGinnis allegedly owned four dogs. The three other dogs reportedly were removed from the home. Neighbors told WBZ-TV they were scared of the dogs. WBZ-TV spoke to Jean McGuire — the landlord and close friend of Brady-McGinnis.

"She’s very close to her animals, almost like children, I think,” McGuire said. "She took good care of them. She walked them every day."

McGuire — a 93-year-old civil rights pioneer and the first black woman elected to the Boston School Committee — said Brady-McGinnis was like a "sister" to her.

“She’s a wonderful person. A very generous, a very loving person. Loved animals,” McGuire said of McGinnis. “I’ve lost my sister. She’s a sister.”

The family of Brady-McGinnis remembered the elderly victim as having a "heart of gold."

Brady-McGinnis' three children — Chris, Ronald, and Donald — told WBZ, "Our mother was a loving and caring mother. She put her children first. … The heart and soul of our family is gone."

The family said Brady-McGinnis cooked dinner for her dogs every night.

The Boston Police Department's Homicide Unit reportedly is investigating the dog attack.

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Adult babysitter charged after her pit bulls mauled 1-year-old to death; her teen girl hailed as hero for trying to save baby



A 1-year-old boy was mauled to death by pit bulls belonging to the child's babysitter, who left the infant alone with the aggressive dogs and her 13-year-old daughter. The babysitter is now facing multiple felonies for the baby's tragic death.

Heather Rodriguez — a 36-year-old family friend — was trusted to babysit 1-year-old Jiryiah Johnson on Monday morning. However, Rodriguez reportedly got called into work and left the baby alone with her 13-year-old daughter and three pit bulls at her home in San Antonio, Texas.

'In a house full of vicious dogs, what did this lady, this suspect, think was going to happen?'

The 13-year-old and baby were inside a bedroom in the house. However, the dogs damaged the door and forced their way into the bedroom.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar described the teen daughter as a "hero" for trying to save the baby from the dogs.

"I read the report in detail, and it's pretty heartbreaking. She made every effort possible, even lifting that baby up over her head, but my understanding is the dog actually climbed onto something and was able to get the baby out of her hands and tear the baby out of her hands," Salazar said of the 13-year-old girl.

“The little girl, the 13-year-old, was able to maintain control of the baby, but at this point — in what’s being described to be as it was almost a tug-of-war for the baby between at least one of the dogs and the little girl,” Salazar said at a press conference.

"This little girl was put in a situation where she went from that bedroom to a bathroom to another bedroom and was chased every step of the way by these dogs who were continuing to bite her as well," Salazar added.

The girl barricaded herself and the infant into another bedroom where she was able to call for help.

"I'm considering her a hero," Salazar said of the girl.

"This little girl sustained injuries herself," Salazar said. "I believe she’s going to have some lasting psychological effects as a result of it."

Erika Castro — Jiryiah's mother — said, “I thank that girl because ... she did her best.”

Deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office weren't able to reach the children immediately once they arrived at the scene.

"It wasn't until the owner of the dogs, the suspect, actually made it home and was able to get the dogs outside to allow the deputies to come in and, you know, start administering first aid to the baby," Salazar said.

The baby boy suffered significant injuries to his head and throat from the dog attack.

Paramedics rushed the boy to the University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later Monday.

KENS-TV reported there were blood stains on a bed, a door, and the floors.

Salazar blasted the babysitter, "In a house full of vicious dogs, what did this lady, this suspect, think was going to happen?"

The sheriff added, “If you have a dog like that, that you know is vicious, you know is a problem, for one thing, don’t ever bring babies into the house, especially someone else’s baby.”

Salazar stated that Rodriguez “seemed more concerned with what was going on with those dogs” than taking responsibility for her actions that led to the death of a 1-year-old.

'You left my son with a 13-year-old girl. It’s pure and utter belligerence. It’s infuriating that that’s allowed. That she made that choice.'

Salazar noted that Rodriguez had been cited in April for allowing her dogs to run unleashed and forcing a man to flee to his car since he was fearful he would have been attacked.

"I'm furious at the fact that that she knew these dogs were problematic," Salazar declared. "Not only was she exposing her own child to this, to these unpredictable animals that had already caused damage; they were already dangerous, in my opinion. But not only that, she decided to bring a baby into that residence for the sheer profit."

Salazar said he is "disgusted by the whole thing."

Rodriguez initially was charged with causing serious bodily injury to the child with intent — a first-degree felony. Rodriquez subsequently was hit with two more felonies: injury to a child — reckless bodily injury — as well as endangering a child, imminent danger — causing bodily injury.

Salazar was asked why the charges were not upgraded to murder, and he noted that both charges have the same penalty range as murder — between five to 99 years or life in prison with the possibility of a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.

Rodriguez's bond was set at $100,000.

Salazar is calling for the dogs involved in the fatal attack to be euthanized but acknowledged that's animal control's decision.

The sheriff said of the pit bulls, "My understanding is that only one at present has been fully surrendered. The other two were turned over to animal control, but I spoke to our director of public health this morning, and we're going to be pushing, they'll be pushing, and of course we'll be in a support role to see if we can go ahead and get all three dogs fully surrendered."

Salazar stated that if the dogs are not voluntarily surrendered that the Bexar County Sheriff's Office would use the court process to fully seize the other two pit bulls.

The grieving mother said, “I’ve been shaking, I’ve been having panic attacks.”

The boy's father — Julian Johnson — slammed the babysitter for abandoning his son.

“You left my son with a 13-year-old girl," Johnson stated. "It’s pure and utter belligerence. It’s infuriating that that’s allowed. That she made that choice.”

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family pay for medical bills and funeral costs.

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South Carolina boy viciously mauled by pack of dogs near school bus stop, bit 60 times: 'Ate all the muscle out of his leg'



A South Carolina boy was viciously mauled by a pack of dogs while he was walking to a school bus stop.

An 11-year-old boy was walking to a school bus stop around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday in Clinton, South Carolina. Suddenly, a pack of four dogs mauled the boy.

Local resident Natasha Mims said she witnessed the boy being attacked by the dogs. Despite being afraid of dogs and dealing with a rotator cuff injury, Mims told WYFF she did everything to stop the dogs from mauling the boy.

Mims said the dogs were "literally eating him."

The boy, identified as A'Rhyan Anderson, was bit roughly 60 times, according to the boy's mother – Amy Lowe.

Clinton Police said the boy was severely injured and flown to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where the boy underwent emergency surgery.

Anderson is now in stable condition. The mother said her son will require physical therapy to recover from the animal attack.

Lowe told WGHP, "He has a long road of recovery. He was bitten over 60 times. There’s no muscle. They ate all the muscle out of his left leg."

Mims added, "The dogs really looked like they had eaten him alive. At this point, I didn’t know whether he was dead or alive. I saw nothing but bones. I saw that he was eaten up really bad."

Mims explained, "You know, like the meat is gone, and that's what they were eating on when I pulled up, eating on his flesh or whatever, and so I asked him to turn over to look at me, and he said, 'I can't move.'"

Lowe said, "It’s traumatizing. I’m traumatized. I’m sure my son is traumatized."

Once police arrived at the brutal scene, officers shot two of the dogs. The other two dogs escaped. The animals were described as large, black-colored mixed-breed dogs.

Lowe declared, "I want the dogs put down. I want the owners of the dogs held responsible. They’re going to be held accountable. I want justice for my son."

Clinton Police said they have yet to locate the owner of the savage dogs.

Law enforcement is asking anyone with information regarding the dogs to contact animal control or police.

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11-year-old mauled by dogs while walking to Clinton bus stop www.youtube.com

Backyard bloodbath: California pit bull breeder savagely mauled to death by his own dogs



A California pit bull breeder was brutally mauled to death by the very dogs he cared for in his own backyard.

The slain man's girlfriend made a gruesome discovery on Friday morning when she found her boyfriend's mutilated body lying in a kennel area. The Compton Fire Department, along with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, responded to the backyard bloodbath around 8 a.m. after the woman called 911.

Aerial footage shows a woman carefully scaling a fence in an attempt to exit the backyard of the Compton home teeming with pit bulls.

Investigators say a surveillance camera caught the fatal mauling on video, which occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday.

“He was feeding the dogs, at which point maybe there was an altercation between some of the dogs, and [they] ultimately attacked and mauled the victim," said Michael Gomez with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control said authorities were cautious when rounding up the 13 pit bulls – five adult dogs and eight puppies.

Animal control officials will determine if any of the deadly pit bulls need to be euthanized.

"Preliminary information suggests that the deceased individual was involved in breeding and selling pit bulls,” animal control officials said in a statement.

The father of the deceased dog owner is "cooperating and has consented to signing over the dogs" to the Department of Animal Care and Control.

Department of Animal Care and Control director Marcia Mayeda said, "Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of the victim. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine the facts and ensure the safety and well-being of both the community and the animals involved."

Damian Wesley with the Compton Animal Rescue told KTLA, "It sucks that it brings awareness from a death. I hope that awareness is spread… that people need to take great care of their dogs. People need to understand that these dogs can kill somebody and hurt people."

The identity of the 35-year-old victim has yet to be released by authorities.

The investigation is still ongoing, according to authorities.

(WARNING: Graphic Content)

Compton pit bull breeder mauled to death by his own dogs www.youtube.com

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Iowa mother loses legs, needs facial reconstructive surgery after attack by 3 pit bulls, officer shoots dogs dead



A mother in Iowa has lost both of her legs and will require facial reconstructive surgery after being mauled by three pit bulls.

Around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, three pit bulls attacked Brittany Skoland at her home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Neighbor reportedly heard "someone yelling for help," and called the police.

When a police officer arrived, he saw Brittany Skoland being mauled by the three pit bulls.

"The officer attempted to scare the dogs away to stop them from attacking the woman, but the dogs would not stop," read the statement from the Fort Dodge Police Department. "The officer on scene then drew his duty weapon and shot all three dogs multiple times to stop the attack."

A local resident told KCCI that it took several rounds to subdue the animals.

“I was sitting in my living room, and I was just sitting there and all of a sudden I heard bang bang bang, and I come to the door and I seen all the cops, well there was only one at the time, and I seen the lady laying on the ground and the dogs going at her and the cops shot them. And it was quite a few rounds of ammunition to get them down,” Rosemary Possehn told the news outlet.

The officer shot all three pit bulls dead.

However, Skoland had already suffered serious injuries from the pit bull attack.

Skoland was transported to nearby Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center, and later flown to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist the Iowa mother with medical bills.

Skoland's aunt, Teresa Hanus, wrote in the fundraising description: "As of 12/2 Brittany has lost a lot more than we originally thought. She's had many surgeries and procedures in the last few days. She has had both legs amputated to her knees."

The aunt noted that her niece suffered serious head trauma and will need facial reconstruction surgery.

Because of the vicious dog attack that took Skoland's legs, her home will need special accommodations for when she returns home and is bound to a wheelchair.

The owner of the pit bulls was reportedly not cooperative when questioned by a local television news channel.

KCCI attempted to speak to the owner of the dogs, but he allegedly "yelled obscenities and told KCCI to go away before walking into his home."

The dog owner has reportedly not been charged with any crimes as of yet.

Law enforcement is still investigating the brutal pit bull attack.

As of Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised over $16,000.

Anyone with information on the animal attack is urged to contact the Fort Dodge Police.

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Fort Dodge woman recovering in hospital after dog attack www.youtube.com

2 dog owners arrested after pit bulls maul South Carolina man to death



Two South Carolina dog owners have been arrested after a man was mauled to death by two pit bulls.

Shannan Christine McCrackin, 45, and Kenneth Howard Swayne, 44, were booked into the Berkeley County jail on Nov. 1. Both were being held at the Berkeley County Detention Center.

McCrackin was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of dangerous animals unconfined on premises. McCrackin had a $25,000 bond.

Swayne was charged with two counts of dangerous animals unconfined on premises. Swayne has a bond of $10,000.

Around 5 p.m. last Tuesday, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a dog attack in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

According to law enforcement, a 65-year-old man was mauled to death and pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as David Eller.

The Post and Courier reported, "David Eller, 65, was walking through his neighborhood in the Pleasant Oaks Mobile Home Park off Old Whitesville Road when two pit bull dogs fatally attacked him, Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell said Nov. 1."

The ma was pronounced dead on the scene.

"This was a vicious attack on an unsuspecting victim, and this should have never occurred," Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis told the Berkeley Observer. "If the owner of the dogs would have taken the proper responsibility for the safekeeping of the animals, the attack could have been prevented."

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Suspects arrested after fatal dog attack in Moncks Corner www.youtube.com

4-year-old playing in backyard was mauled to death by dog; family says the boy was 'full of life'



A 4-year-old boy was mauled to death by at least one dog when he was playing in the backyard of his grandmother's house in Detroit, Michigan.

The vicious dog attack happened in the city's west side just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, according to police.

Detroit Police Department Cpl. Dan Donakowski said, "The dogs mauled the boy while he was in the backyard. He succumbed to his injuries. We're not sure if it's one or two dogs, but Animal Control has two dogs in custody."

The boy was pronounced dead at the site of the dog attack.

An adult was at home when the boy was killed in the deadly dog attack, according to police.

"The event was so horrific that people across the street could hear," attorney Peter O’Toole said. "They're the ones who contacted authorities right away."

The family believes the dogs jumped over the fence to maul the boy.

According to WXYZ-TV, "Police say the dog even dragged the child back to the other side through a gap in the fence. Neighbors a block away also heard his grandmother call for help."

Donakowski said it is believed that the dogs that mauled the little boy to death belong to a neighbor who lives behind the house of the grandmother.

The dogs were believed to be pit bulls or pit bull mixes, police said.

WILX reported, "As DPD and Detroit Animal Control investigated the scene, police chaplains held the family’s hand in prayer as they mourned the sudden and tragic death of the young child."

The boy has been identified as 4-year-old Lovell Anderson.

"Just full of life," Lovell’s aunt Monique Grant said of the slain boy. "We just ask for everybody's prayers right now."

Lovell's aunt Maple Blackshear remembered, "Just such a gentleman, so helpful. Just sweet."

Police Cmdr. Arnold Williams told reporters at the scene, "We’re trying to do everything that we can just to help everybody through this. The loss of a child who hasn’t really started their life is just something huge that nobody can really even fathom."

Williams added, "This reminds everybody, if you do have a dog to secure your dog to make sure your dog can’t get out. That’s the most important thing."

At the time of publication, the owner of the dogs has not been identified or charged.

Pit bulls taken into custody after 4-year-old killed in dog mauling in Detroit www.youtube.com

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'Absolutely shocked and devastated': Elderly Hawaii man mauled to death by pack of dogs



A Hawaii man was mauled to death by a pack of dogs in a horrific attack.

Robert Northrop lost his life because of a deadly dog attack on Tuesday morning in the Ocean View Estates subdivision. Around 9 a.m., officers with the Hawaii Police Department discovered Northrop unresponsive in the middle of the road.

The 71-year-old man received medical treatment at the scene and was rushed to the Kona Community Hospital. However, he perished before reaching the medical center.

Police said Northrop died from an attack by four dogs.

The New York Post reported, "A neighbor said he heard a commotion outside his Ocean View home and looked out to witness the canines attacking Northrop in the roadway. He chased the dogs away and called 911, according to cops."

Hawaii police chief Ben Moszkowicz said, "There is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack. This incident is a senseless tragedy that could have been avoided."

The owners of the deadly dogs were not home at the time of the attack, according to police.

The Hawaii Police Department said in a statement, "The dogs’ owners were not home at the time of the attack; however, they have been identified and contacted by police. Investigators are looking into claims that the dogs had previously been reported as stray animals."

Police are currently treating the investigation as a Negligent Failure to Control a Dangerous Dog case.

The owners surrendered all four dogs, as well as a litter of 10 puppies, to the Hawaii County Animal Control and Protection Agency.

Police are still awaiting autopsy results to determine the official cause of death.

A statement was released by Northrop's daughter, Shannon Matson.

"Myself, and my sister, Anna are absolutely shocked and devastated to find out this news about our dad," Matson said. "While we don’t know all of the details yet, our family is committed to making sure that the dog owners are held accountable and we will do everything in our power to stop this sort of tragedy from happening to anyone else on our island home."

The Hawaii Police Department is urging anyone with information on the dog attack case to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 238.

In April, a Minnesota man was mauled to death by his brother's four pit bulls.

In January, a pack of dogs mauled a 7-year-old boy to death in Idaho despite his mother attempting to intervene.

Last October, a 71-year-old man was mauled to death by seven pit bulls in Texas.

Also in October 2022, three pit bulls killed the elderly mother of their owner in Georgia.

Family of deadly dog attack victim calls for accountability www.youtube.com

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6-year-old boy mauled to death by family dog: 'He will continue to live on playing baseball in Heaven'



A 6-year-old boy was mauled to death on Tuesday by the family dog at the child's home in North Port, Florida.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police responded to reports of a dog attack on a small child. The family's dog attacked the child inside the home. Neighbors rushed to the home to help the 6-year-old Daylan Guillen before police arrived.

"It was inside the home. The dog was in a bedroom, the child walked into the bedroom to get something. Next thing you know, people heard screaming and jumped into action," said Josh Taylor, public information officer of the North Port Police Department.

The boy was flown to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with extensive traumatic injuries to the upper torso area. Once the child was stabilized, he was flown to Tampa General for additional medical procedures. However, the boy died at Tampa General Hospital from injuries sustained from the dog attack.

The dog, said to be a 3-year-old pit bull mix, was removed from the home and taken by Sarasota County Animal Services, according to the North Port Police Department. The pit bull mix will be quarantined for 10 days then euthanized as per the request of the owners, Sarasota County Sheriff's Office officials said.

The police said they were not aware of any previous incidents with the killer dog.

"From every bit of information we have so far, there’s no history of the dog acting out, which would indicate that something could possibly happen," Taylor said. "The animal lived in the home from basically a puppy, a couple of weeks old, between 2 and 8 weeks, if I’m not mistaken, and you know, was a family pet."

North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said, "Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine. We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is precious."

Police said no charges had been filed.

Daylan Guillen was an avid baseball fan.

The North Port Little League organization said, "Daylan loved baseball! And he would be at the field with a smile on his face and ready to go. Daylan had no fear with playing with the older kids. He wanted to become a pitcher. He loved the Juniors team and those boys loved him."

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist the family with medical and funeral costs.

The crowdfunding listing read: "He was such an amazing son and an even better brother. He had a huge love for dinosaurs. He loved to help out with anything."

The campaign said, "He will continue to live on playing baseball in Heaven. He wanted to be a pitcher so he will be up there throwing strikes!"

Daylan's kidneys were reportedly donated to "two other little kids in need."

Between 2005 and 2020, there were 568 Americans killed by dogs, according to DogsBite.org – a national dog bite victim's advocacy group. Of those fatalities by dog attacks, pit bulls were reportedly responsible for 67%.

Time magazine reported in 2014, "Pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, but they’re responsible for 68% of dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982, according to research compiled by Merritt Clifton – editor of Animals 24-7, an animal-news organization that focuses on humane work and animal-cruelty prevention."

Child dies after being mauled by dog in North Port www.youtube.com

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