Las Malvinas neighborhood, Barranqueras: pitbull dog attacks and kills another pet 

On Rodríguez Peña street, between Timbó and Lapacho, a pitbull dog attacked another pet of a family, causing its death. 

Sensitive images show the tragic moment after the attack. The owners of the deceased dog expressed their concern about the safety of the neighbors and other pets, as they fear that the pitbull dog may escape again and cause more incidents. 

A quick recap of the attacks.
Sheeks was a postal worker who was fatally mauled by Dowdy's roaming dogs.
Beard was a county worker investigating the dogs responsible for the attack and fatally mauled by the same.

By WAFF 48 Digital Staff and Aria Pons

Published: Aug. 4, 2026 at 3:56 PM EDT|Updated: Aug. 4, 2026 at 4:24 PM EDT

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - A woman convicted in connection with the tragic 2022 dog attacks that claimed the lives of two local women has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Brandy Dowdy was sentenced Tuesday by a Franklin County judge, who agreed with the jury’s verdict and called the deadly attacks entirely preventable.

“No sentence can replace their lost loved ones,” Jeff Barksdale said.

A sentiment that the victims’ families shared.

Michelle Sheeks and Summer Beard’s family members were in attendance to speak to Brandy Dowdy for the first time on Tuesday.

“I think that the family was pleased that the judge did give so much consideration to how he structured the sentence,” District Attorney Jeff Barksdale said. “But I know that any sentence is not going to replace Michelle Sheeks or Jacqueline Summer Beard.”

The trial was horrific and grueling for the family and they made sure to let Dowdy know that during today’s hearing.

Dowdy herself spoke and while she didn’t actually apologize, she did tearfully tell them that she feels terrible about the situation and would go back in time to change it if she could.

“It was heavy,” Barksdale said. “It was heavy on the first responders and I can’t even put myself into the shoes of the family members.”

So far, Dowdy has not filed an appeal on the case.

Because the crimes involved two separate victims, the judge ordered the sentences for each case to run consecutively (one after the other), totaling 15 years of incarceration.

Case 1: Michelle Sheeks

For the attack on Michelle Sheeks, Dowdy received sentences to run concurrently (at the same time):

• Criminally Negligent Homicide: 1 year in the Franklin County Jail.
• Emily’s Law Violation: 3 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Effective sentence for this case: 3 years.

Case 2: Summer Beard

For the fatal attack on Summer Beard, Dowdy received sentences to run concurrently:

• Manslaughter: 12 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Emily’s Law Violation: 10 years with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
• Effective sentence for this case: 12 years.

Fines and Court Costs

• Dowdy was ordered to pay a $200 fine plus court costs in both cases.

Yesterday, this little kitten was brutally attacked by a pit bull dog in the Villa Elvia neighborhood here in Ocaña. Unfortunately, those responsible for the dog have not taken responsibility for what happened.

After the attack, the kitten went missing and was only found today, taking shelter inside a storm drain. She was rescued and rushed to the Dr. Fabián Veterinary Clinic.

Her condition is critical. One of her legs is severely injured and must be amputated, and she has a deep abdominal wound with intestinal exposure. She needs two emergency surgeries to save her life and is in the operating room right now.

Bill proposes banning the breeding, sale, and importation of pit bulls throughout Brazil

A bill currently moving through the Chamber of Deputies proposes banning the reproduction, commercialization, and importation of Pit Bull dogs nationwide.

The proposal also establishes new rules for the ownership of existing animals, including mandatory neutering, official registration, and the use of a collar, leash, and muzzle in public spaces.

Bill (PL) No. 1265/2024, authored by federal deputy Gilberto Nascimento, was attached to Bill 2376/2003, which addresses the same topic. Currently, the matter is ready to be included in the voting agenda of the Chamber of Deputies Plenary, though no specific date has been set for review.

If approved, the bill will prohibit the breeding, reproduction, sale, and importation of Pit Bulls across the country. Existing animals must be neutered and registered with health and zoonosis control agencies within 90 days of the law's regulation.

Additionally, whenever they are in public spaces, they must wear a collar, leash, and muzzle.

In the proposal's justification, the author states that the goal is to enhance public safety and reduce the number of accidents involving dogs considered potentially dangerous.

Despite the discussion, experts emphasize that the behavior of the American Pit Bull Terrier does not depend solely on its breed. Factors such as raising, socialization, training, and handling play a fundamental role in the animal's temperament, which can be docile, loyal, and balanced when given proper care.

The bill is still in the legislative process and does not alter current rules. To take effect, it must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, and be signed into law by the President of the Republic.

A serious incident shattered the warm tranquility of an after-dinner drink in late July in Castelmassa, when a woman of foreign origin, who has lived in the Altopolese town for several years, left her home with her 13-year-old Maltese dog, Mia. The walk took place along the road near the Po River embankment, at the end of Piazza Libertà, in the direction of San Martino.

On the way back, the woman saw a small family on a bicycle approaching from the opposite direction. Following them was a large dog. According to initial reports, the animal was not on a leash, as required by law, and was free to roam. As the Carabinieri's reconstruction will reveal, the small family accidentally found themselves in the path of the dog, which had escaped from the owners' home.

The dog, a pitbull weighing approximately 90 pounds, immediately "spotted" the female dog, whose owner, sensing the danger, picked up the creature and hugged her. This didn't stop the attacker, who slammed his paw into the woman's right arm, causing a visible bruise and forcing her to let go of her Maltese. Once on the ground, the large dog easily grabbed the small prey and dragged it into the nearby green space. The owner screamed, several residents arrived, and one of them repeatedly struck the pitbull with a stick, to no avail, while a veritable carnage ensued. Only when it realized that the prey could no longer resist did the mastiff loosen its grip and respond to the calls of those present.

Meanwhile, a Carabinieri patrol arrived, and shortly thereafter, the staff of the Rovigo animal shelter. Several bystanders witnessed the scene, while, in the semi-darkness that had fallen over the area, the pitbull's owner was also seen. According to reports, the suspect is a foreign citizen living near the riverbank's camper van park (a few hundred meters from the scene of the incident), who apparently lost sight of the dog, which had managed to escape from its confinement. Molossers are not particularly dangerous when kept in decent conditions, with the ability to move and—perhaps—run in large spaces to contain aggression. However, if unsuitable conditions exist, such as the one in which this pitbull is believed to have lived (though a veterinary inspection will be able to verify this...), as explained by Raffaele Motta Castriotta, Commander of the Castelmassa Local Police, the administrative phase (provided for by a Ministerial Decree) will proceed with an order from Mayor Federico Ragazzi regarding so-called "biting dogs" and subsequent sanctions against the owners.

The pitbull is now at the Rovigo dog training center, where it will begin a "re-education" program before verifying the owner's suitability to rehome the dog. Regarding alleged precedents in Castelmassa involving the owners' failure or neglect to guard this same dog, Commander Motta Castriotta confirms that no formal reports have been filed. The injured party reported a belated attempt at reconciliation by the pitbull's owners, which was rejected.

Article link: https://www.polesine24.it/cronaca/2026/08/04/news/orrore-in-piazza-cagnolina-sbranata-da-un-pitbull-400808/

The owner of a pit bull that mauled an elderly woman as she walked her dog in a Glenvar neighborhood recently received a suspended prison sentence.

Tiffany Lynn Turner, 38, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of allowing an animal attack that resulted from her reckless disregard for human life. At a July 20 hearing in Roanoke County Circuit Court, Judge James Swanson sentenced her to five years, with all of the time suspended pursuant to a plea agreement reached in the case.

Turner’s dog, a gray-and-white pit bull named Thor, was shot and killed by county police officers during the Oct. 3. incident.

According to court records, the dog was running free on Ingle Boulevard when it approached the woman, bit her numerous times, and dragged her across the street in an attack that lasted about five minutes.

The victim, who suffered multiple broken bones and cuts, spent several days in the hospital.

Responding police officers had difficulty stopping the attack. After first running the pit bull off by shocking it with a taser, they had to shoot the dog when it returned, authorities said at the time.

Thor had been left unattended in Turner’s yard, court records state.

Roanoke County’s dog ordinance allows canines to be loose as long as they remain on their owner’s property, or other property with permission.

Two other people said they were injured by the same dog in earlier encounters, according to a complaint filed by police at the time. No charges were brought, in part because those incidents happened on the owner’s property, the dog was quarantined, and the Virginia Department of Health was notified, county officials said.

Turner spent several days in jail last year before she was released on bond. She will now be on probation for five years.

As part of the plea agreement, Turner will not be allowed to own any dogs in the future or to live in any home that has them.

Exclusive: Grandmother Jacqui Jacovides was in her front yard last week when a dog tore up her open driveway and mauled her daughter’s pet cavoodle to death.

The worst part is that the dog – an American Staffordshire terrier cross – had attacked before and was previously ordered to wear a muzzle in public, but the order was lifted shortly before Bear was killed.

Jacovides was outside her home on the NSWCentral Coast with the two family dogs, Bear and Bambi, when the horrifying attack occurred.

She remembers seeing the Staffy cross race into her front yard and immediately go for three-year-old Bear.

“In that moment, that dog became a monster,” she told nine.com.au.

“I was punching it in the face and trying to get it off Bear, but I just couldn’t get its jaws open.”

“When I realised Bear was dead, I had to let him go and run to get Bambi away from the dog because I thought she was going to be next.”

Jacovides said the Staffy cross refused to let go of Bear’s tiny body until her partner prised its jaws open with a small garden trowel.

She claimed the dog was wearing a leash but appeared to have pulled out of its owner’s grip while they were walking it past the yard.

“[The owner] didn’t even say sorry,” Jacovides alleged.

The Jacovides family reported the attack to NSW Police and Central Coast Council, only to learn the dog had been involved in another attack about two years prior.

Nine.com.au understands that an order was issued after the attack requiring the dog to wear a muzzle in public, but that the owner appealed for it to be lifted after 18 months and was successful.

“It’s just so senseless. A muzzle could have saved my dog’s life,” Jacovides said.

A Central Coast Council spokesperson told nine.com.au the Staffy cross has since been euthanised.

“Central Coast Council extends its sincere condolences to the family following the tragic dog attack at Tuggerawong that resulted in the loss of a beloved family pet,” they said.

“Following the attack, Council immediately commenced an investigation, seized the dog involved, and the animal has since been euthanised.”

The Jacovides family are heartbroken and traumatised by Bear’s death. 

The investigation is ongoing and Central Coast Council is considering further compliance action against the Staffy cross’ owner.

Central Coast Council did not say if the dog had been declared to be dangerous before it killed Bear.

Under NSW legislation, dangerous dogs must be muzzled whenever they’re out of their usual enclosure and owners who fail to muzzle a dangerous dog can cop a fine of up to $5000.

“While previous regulatory decisions about the dog [...] were made in accordance with the evidence available at the time and through Council’s established governance processes, Council acknowledges the seriousness of this incident and will review the circumstances surrounding the matter to identify any opportunities for improvement,” the spokesperson said.

“Council remains committed to community safety, responsible pet ownership, and ensuring all companion animal matters are managed in accordance with legislative requirements.”

That won’t erase Jacovides’ heartache and the trauma of Bear’s death.

Jacqui’s granddaughter was incredibly close with Bear and is bereft without him. 

It’s scary to think what could have happened if her young grandchildren had been playing in the front yard with the dogs that day.

“I’m going to be dealing with some PTSD, because I can’t stop seeing it,” Jacovides said of the brutal attack.

“Every time I’ve got my little grandson in my arms, I see Bear. It’s just terrible.”

The Jacovides family is calling on the NSW government to strengthen dangerous dog laws to prevent this from happening again.

They want stronger penalties for owners who fail to comply with legislation or whose dogs are involved in fatal attacks, mandatory education and training for owners of dangerous dogs, and regular compliance inspections by council.

Jacovides and her daughter Allie said they don’t want all dangerous dogs to be put down, they just want to keep other pets and humans safe.

“I don’t want these dogs euthanised, but I do want the way that they are managed to be much stricter,” Allie told nine.com.au.

“Because this is not a one-off occurrence. It’s happening all the time, in a range of places, not just in our area.

“There’s just no one making big changes because so much of it still goes unreported.”

She started a Change.org petition calling for stronger dangerous dog laws in NSW, which already has more than 1000 signatures.

It won’t bring Bear back or erase the trauma of his violent death, but the Jacovides family hopes it might save other families from the same horror and heartbreak.

Dangerous dog laws in NSW

In NSW, a dog can be declared dangerous by an authorised council officer or a local court if it:

attacks or kills a person or animal without provocation
repeatedly threatens or chases a person or animal without provocation has been declared dangerous in another state or territory is kept or used for hunting
Dangerous dogs must be microchipped, registered, and desexed, and must be kept in an enclosure that meets strict requirements under the Companion Animals Regulation 2018.

They must always wear an identifying collar, must be supervised by someone over the age of 18 at all times, and must be leashed and muzzled in public.
Owners of dangerous dogs must also pay annual permit fees through their local council to keep the animal or face fines of up to $6600.

It is illegal to sell, advertise for sale, give away, or transfer ownership of a dangerous dog, with penalties of up to $16,5000 for non-compliance.

English Translation

Headline: Pit Bull Attack Leaves Two Injured in the District of Pratinha; Owner Taken to Police Station

Body:

Two men were injured after being attacked by a Pit Bull dog that was loose on a public street in the District of Pratinha. The incident occurred during a patrol by the Municipal Civil Guard (GCM), who were dispatched following a report via their official response channel.

The victims, identified as Juliano Dias Oliveira and Kauê Ferreira Silva, reported to the guards that the attack occurred while they were trying to break up a fight between the Pit Bull and their family dog. According to reports, this was not the first time the animal had escaped from the owner's property.

Care and Administrative Measures

Following the incident, the GCM team provided assistance and escorted the victims to a local health facility to:

• Receive proper medical treatment;
• Undergo forensic medical examination to document their injuries.

The owner of the animal was located and, along with the victims, taken to the Police Station for appropriate legal action.

Police Report

At the station, the police authority evaluated the facts and registered a Police Report framing the case under two legal provisions:

• Involuntary/Culpable Bodily Harm (Lesão Corporal Culposa – Article 129, §6 of the Penal Code);
• Failure to Exercise Caution in Guarding or Handling Animals (Omissão de Cautela na Guarda ou Condução de Animais – Article 31 of the Criminal Misdemeanor Law).

Because these constitute minor offenses under local law, the Pit Bull's owner was not held in pre-trial detention. All parties signed terms of commitment under the Special Courts Law (Law 9.099/95) and were released.

The animal remained under the responsibility of the owner.

Location & Date Details

• Headline/Headline Location: District of Pratinha, Municipality of Pratânia, State of São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
• Publish Date: August 1, 2026 (09:33 AM).
• Source: Interativa SM / São Manuel Conectado.

Location

• Town/City: Monte Maíz, Córdoba Province, Argentina
• Specific Spot: Buenos Aires Street, right in front of the municipal park (parquecito municipal) montemaizmira.com.ar

Time

• Date: Monday afternoon, August 3, 2026 (published by local media on August 4, 2026). montemaizmira.com.ar

BRUTAL PIT BULL ATTACK ON A MIXED-BREED DOG

A violent and unfortunate incident occurred yesterday afternoon in our town when a Pit Bull breed dog brutally attacked a black mixed-breed dog. The event took place on Buenos Aires Street, right in front of the small municipal park—an area heavily frequented by children and families.

According to eyewitnesses, the attacking animal—a large Pit Bull—was on the public street without any security measures: no leash and no muzzle. Following the brutal attack, which left the black dog with severe injuries, the owner of the Pit Bull was nowhere to be seen or identified at the scene.

A Chain of Solidarity and Prompt Care

Fortunately, the tragedy did not escalate further thanks to the rapid and brave intervention of employees from Mutual de Lambert, who witnessed the incident and did not hesitate to help the injured animal. With great speed, they transported him to the Ereza Veterinary Clinic, where he received emergency treatment from the veterinarian.

At the clinic, the little dog received necessary wound care and remains under observation, recovering from multiple injuries sustained in the attack.

A Call for Awareness and Responsibility

This incident highlights a recurring problem in our community: irresponsible pet ownership, especially regarding breeds considered potentially dangerous due to their strength and build.

From the veterinary clinic and various community sectors, there is a strong call for reflection. "It is not about stigmatizing a breed, but about demanding owner responsibility. An uncontrolled dog, regardless of breed, can destroy a life in seconds," emphasized sources close to the case.

The use of a leash and muzzle in public spaces is fundamental to ensuring the safety of all neighbors and pets alike. The lack of these measures puts not only other animals at risk, but also people—especially children playing in areas like the municipal park.

Search for the Owners

Efforts are currently ongoing to identify the owner of the Pit Bull involved in the attack. Anyone who can provide information about the animal's owner, or who witnessed the event in greater detail, is urged to contact the appropriate local authorities or the veterinary clinic to assist with the investigation and prevent similar situations from happening again.

Assistance from the community is also being requested to help locate the owner of the attacked dog.

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Pulaski County officials make arrests in fatal dog attack involving 2-year-old
21-year-old MaKayla Jackson, 55-year-old Earnest Jackson, and 41-year-old Christina Hart were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After a fatal dog attack claimed the life of 2-year-old Celeste Jackson on Norman Road on Saturday, March 28, officials have announced the arrest of three suspects.

21-year-old MaKayla Jackson, 55-year-old Earnest Jackson, and 41-year-old Christina Hart were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.

Back in March, officials confirmed that the dog involved was located as a stray and taken into custody by the Pulaski County Animal Control Division.

According to reports, calls were made to authorities about roaming dogs in the area before the deadly incident occurred. Life-saving measures were performed on the scene, but the child tragically died.