![\"Elderly](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_26-09-19_14-09-57-465-e1789853499517.jpg?ssl=1\")
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<\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 VIDOR,\u00a0 Texas;\u00a0 GREENVILLE,\u00a0 Ohio;\u00a0 MARKLE,\u00a0 Indiana;\u00a0 TULLAHOMA, Tennessee\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Orange County,\u00a0 Texas sheriff Bobby Smith on September 19,\u00a0 2026 confirmed to Scott Lawrence of KFDM television news in Beaumont that a pit bull\/Akita cross killed a month-old baby girl at about 2:50 a.m. that morning at a mobile home court in Pine Forest,\u00a0 just north of the town of Vidor.<\/p>\n The baby girl was the 58th known U.S. dog attack fatality of 2026,\u00a0 and the 43rd known pit bull attack fatality.<\/p>\n Forty-three would have been a record number of fatal dog attacks in a year by all dogs combined as recently as 2020,\u00a0 and are more fatal dog attacks than occurred in any whole decade before 2000.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Nine people,\u00a0 meanwhile, \u00a0faced legal justice in the four-day span from September 11 to September 14,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 in connection with three fatal pit bull attacks,\u00a0 two occurring a year earlier and one actually occurring on September 14.<\/p>\n Would victims killed on September 14 and September 19,\u00a0 2026 still be alive if the dog owners had been aware of the charges filed in the two earlier cases,\u00a0 both\u2013\u2013like the September 19 case\u2013\u2013involving infants?<\/p>\n That will never be known.<\/p>\n <\/a> Mildred Malott.<\/strong><\/em> What is known is that Mildred Malott,\u00a0 83,\u00a0 who according to her Beavercreek Chapel obituary \u201cenjoyed being outdoors, \u00a0loved nature, \u00a0and cared greatly for the welfare of animals,\u201d\u00a0 at a little after 11:00 a.m. on September 14,\u00a0 2026 \u201cwalked from her residence to her neighbor\u2019s house to inquire about chickens she found near her house the morning of the incident,\u201d\u00a0 reported the Darke County,\u00a0 Ohio Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n \u201cEvidence suggests that when Mrs. Malott walked to the rear of the house to knock on the door, \u00a0she was immediately attacked by three dogs,\u201d\u00a0 believed by neighbors and acquaintances to have been pit bulls,\u00a0 \u201cand killed,\u201d\u00a0 the Darke County Sheriff\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n Mildred Malott is survived by her husband of 63 years, \u00a0Gary Martin Malott,\u00a0 a son and daughter,\u00a0 and \u201cnumerous other relatives and friends,\u201d the Beavercreek Chapel obituary said.<\/p>\n <\/a> Scott & Pattie Royer.<\/strong><\/em> A 911 call \u201creported finding an unresponsive older female, \u00a0covered in blood in their driveway. \u00a0The victim was reportedly not breathing,\u201d\u00a0 the Darke County Sheriff\u2019s Office media release continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe residents and owners of the dogs have been identified as Scott and Pennie Royer,\u201d\u00a0 the media release detailed.\u00a0 \u201cMrs. Royer was awakened by noise or barking and went outside to discover Mrs. Malott down on the ground near the deck and entrance to the house. \u00a0Mrs. Royer alerted her husband, Mr. Royer, who came outside and they called 911. \u00a0The involved dogs were secured in the house prior to first responders arrival.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Royers own five dogs and three of the dogs had been let outside by Mr. Royer shortly before the attack. \u00a0There were no documented prior complaints or known issues with the dogs,\u201d\u00a0 the Darke County Sheriff\u2019s Office added.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cAll five dogs were properly licensed. All five dogs were removed from the residence and turned over to the Darke County dog warden,\u00a0 who impounded the three dogs identified \u201cas being responsible for the attack,\u201d\u00a0 while two dogs \u201cwho were not outside at the time of the incident have been released back to the Royers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe three dogs are described as mixed breed dogs,\u201d\u00a0 the Darke County Sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n \u201cMixed breed dog\u201d once typically meant \u201charmless mutt,\u201d\u00a0 but in recent years has become a common euphemism for \u201cpit bull,\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0especially since the Best Friends Animal Society,\u00a0 in particular,\u00a0 began discouraging the use of the term \u201cpit bull\u201d in connection with attacks,\u00a0 in hopes of encouraging pit bull adoptions from shelters.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cDocuments will be filed with Darke County Municipal Court,\u201d\u00a0 the sheriff\u2019s office media release said.\u00a0 \u201cto have the three involved dogs designated as \u2018vicious dogs\u2019 in accordance with Ohio\u2019s new dog laws.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Royers have also been cited for a violation of the new Ohio law with regard to Vicious Dog acts O.R.C. 955.22, which is a misdemeanor of the third degree, \u00a0based on the facts and evidence in this case.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to understand, that under these new laws, Ohio dog owners are responsible for the unprovoked behavior of their dogs, even on their own property. \u00a0Examples, \u00a0like delivery drivers,\u00a0 visitors, \u00a0or neighbors coming to knock on your door need to be considered.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Avery\u2019s Law,\u00a0 endorsed into effect by Ohio governor Mike DeWine on December 19, 2025,\u00a0\u00a0 imposes criminal penalties on a dog owner if he or she negligently fails to keep a dog from attacking a person without provocation;\u00a0 allows dog wardens to immediately impound dogs following an unprovoked attack;\u00a0 and mandates that dogs who kill or seriously injure a person must be euthanized,\u00a0 \u201cafter receiving due process.\u201d<\/p>\n Avery\u2019s Law also includes exemptions for dogs who \u201care defending themselves, \u00a0their owners, \u00a0or their property.\u201d<\/p>\n Avery\u2019s Law is named after Avery Russell,\u00a0 of Reynoldsburg, Ohio,\u00a0 who at age 11 was severely mauled by two pit bulls in June 2024.<\/p>\n One of the pit bulls had previously injured two other children,\u00a0 but Franklin County municipal court judge Mary Kay Fenlon sentenced owner Stephanie Ayers to serve only four days in jail and pay a fine of just $450,\u00a0 plus court costs.<\/p>\n (See <\/em><\/strong>Add Aryson Lee Page & Barbara Brewington to 2025 record pit bull death toll<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Greenville,\u00a0 Ohio,\u00a0 where Mildred Malott was killed,\u00a0 is about 78 miles southeast of Markle,\u00a0 Indiana,\u00a0 where on September 4,\u00a0 2025 seven-day-old Jason A. Weaver \u201cdied from multiple blunt force injuries after being attacked,\u201d\u00a0 by a pit bull named Chomp,\u00a0 Corryn Brock summarized for WPTA in Fort Wayne,\u00a0 Indiana,\u00a0 on September 14,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 about six hours after Malott died.<\/p>\n \u201cSix people, \u00a0including parents, \u00a0grandparents and an uncle, \u00a0were charged\u201d in connection with Jason A. Weaver\u2019s death,\u00a0 Brock recounted.<\/p>\n \u201cThe baby\u2019s father, \u00a0Austin Kinsey, \u00a0was initially charged with two counts of neglect and one count of harboring a non-immunized dog that injured someone. \u00a0A plea deal dismissed the highest-level neglect charge in exchange for a 16-year prison sentence tied to a new, \u00a0lesser charge.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton photo\/collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cViolet Weaver, \u00a0the child\u2019s mother,\u201d\u00a0 Brock updated, \u00a0\u201cis currently scheduled for a change of plea hearing later this month. \u00a0The cases remain active for grandparents Timothy Kinsey, \u00a0Rita Wickey and Michael Wickey, \u00a0as well as for the baby\u2019s uncle, \u00a0Tony Kinsey.\u201d<\/p>\n (See <\/em><\/strong>Pit bull toll rises; $17 million settlement shows cost of city non-response<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Reported Brock earlier,\u00a0 \u201cDuring interviews with family members, \u00a0police learned Jason\u2019s father, \u00a0Austin Kinsey, \u00a0was playing video games when he briefly left the room to talk to his mother and his son\u2019s mother, \u00a0court records say.\u201d<\/p>\n Timothy Kinsey discovered the attack.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Wrote Brock, \u00a0\u201cHe later explained that he was in the kitchen when he heard Jason making noises and saw Chomp,\u201d\u00a0 who had bite history, \u00a0\u201cdragging the infant.<\/p>\n \u201cCourt documents also detail the house being filled with bugs, \u00a0including some in Jason\u2019s car seat, \u00a0as well as trash, \u00a0dirty dishes, \u00a0and dirty clothes,\u201d\u00a0 Brock recounted.<\/p>\n The Huntington County Health Department found the property unfit for habitation.<\/p>\n An autopsy,\u00a0 Brock said,\u00a0 \u201cshowed more than 180 abrasions and several bruises on the boy\u2019s head, \u00a0neck, \u00a0torso, \u00a0back and limbs, \u00a0as well as uncovering major internal injuries like brain hemorrhages, \u00a0rib fractures, \u00a0and tears in his lungs.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> James A. Smith & Khelani Taylor.<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Austin Kinsey accepted his plea-bargained 16-year prison sentence four days after Zaccahae Smith, \u00a028,\u00a0 Sylvia Ann Smith, \u00a070,\u00a0 and Tilesia Nicoue Baugh,\u00a0 age unknown,\u00a0 were charged in Tullahoma,\u00a0 Tennessee with the pit bull attack deaths of three-month-old Khelani Taylor and her grandfather James Alexander Smith,\u00a0 50, \u00a0in their shared home on December 3,\u00a0 2025.<\/p>\n Zaccahae Smith,\u00a0 charged with second degree murder, \u00a0was Khelani Taylor\u2019s mother. \u00a0Sylvia Ann Smith,\u00a0 charged with three counts of child abuse and neglect, \u00a0was Khelani Taylor\u2019s great-grandmother.<\/p>\n \u201cBaugh was charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect, \u00a0as well as one count of aggravated child abuse and neglect,\u201d\u00a0 reported Erin McCullough for WKRN television news in Nashville,\u00a0 Tennessee.<\/p>\n <\/a> Khelani Taylor.<\/strong><\/em> Khelani Taylor was torn apart by at least two family pit bulls in a dilapidated house,\u00a0 since condemned and demolished,\u00a0 where seven dogs,\u00a0 mostly pit bulls,\u00a0 were reportedly found.<\/p>\n James Alexander Smith,\u00a0 found dead with a baseball bat in his hands, apparently suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to rescue Khelani Taylor from the pit bulls who killed her.<\/p>\n Neighbor Brian Kirby told Elisheva Wimberly and Alicia Patton of WKRN television news that the pit bulls had killed his eight-year-old cat only one week earlier.<\/p>\n Responding to previous local pit bull attacks,\u00a0 the Tullahoma board of mayor and aldermen had on September 23,\u00a0 2024 updated the city animal control ordinance to allow the city animal control department \u201cto label a dog vicious, \u00a0impound it, and hold it at the owner\u2019s expense until its enclosure meets city standards,\u201d\u00a0Tullahoma News<\/em> staff writer Brady Flanigan recounted.<\/p>\nYet another baby killed by pit bull\/Akita as this article was posted<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nWould prosecutions have deterred risk-taking pit bull owners?<\/h2>\n
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(Tobias Funeral Home photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nVictim \u201ccared greatly for the welfare of animals\u201d<\/h2>\n
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(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nThree-dog attack<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201cMixed breed dogs\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201cOhio dog owners are responsible for the unprovoked behavior of their dogs,\u00a0 even on their own property\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nAvery\u2019s Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nFirst conviction in \u201cChomp\u201d case<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nFather was playing video games<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201cSaw Chomp dragging the infant\u201d<\/h2>\n
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(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n\u00a0Charges finally in Tullahoma case<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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(Facebook photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n\u201cWhile ordinance was written,\u00a0 two more attacks occurred\u201d<\/h2>\n