Edward L. Cahill – 40-years old – Portage, IN (12/25/14) DBRF #42


Dog that killed owner in Portage euthanized; no autopsy planned

Edward L. Cahill, 40, poses with his daughter, Cynthia Rodriguez, 21, and wife Blanca Rodriguez around October, when Cynthia graduated from boot camp and returned home to surprise the family. | Photo provided by family

By Amy Lavalley Special to the Tribune December 29, 2014 8:32PM

PORTAGE — A pit bull involved in a fatal mauling of its owner on Christmas Day was euthanized the day after the attack, according to Portage Animal Control.

And Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said Monday that there would be no autopsy on the victim, Edward L. Cahill. The lacerations on the arms and hands of were clearly from defensive postures and exactly the kind of dog bites that coroners are shown during training, Harris said.

He listed the cause of death as exsanguination, the extensive loss of blood from Cahill’s injuries to his face and limbs.

“This is so clear cut. There’s no reason for me to spend $2,500 of the taxpayers’ money on something so obvious,” Harris said.

Read more: http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/news/porter/31875228-418/dog-that-killed-owner-in-portage-euthanized-no-autopsy-planned.html#.VMFjAkfF-KV


Indiana man dies after apparent mauling by pet pit bull

POSTED 7:15 AM, DECEMBER 27, 2014, BY

A pit bull mauled his owner to death in Portage, Indiana on Christmas Day.

Eddie Cahill, 40, was at home Thursday with his two 8-year-old dogs Fat Boy and Keylo. His wife Blanca Rodriguez was spending the day with her family. When she returned home around 5 p.m. she found Fat Boy with blood on his mouth and Cahill dead in the living room covered in dog bites.

After the attack Thursday night, the dog was brought to the Humane Society in Hobart, Indiana. Animal control officers say they had to use a taser to get the dog under control and Friday, per the family’s request, the dog was euthanized.

Read more: http://wgntv.com/2014/12/27/indiana-man-dies-after-mauling-by-pet-pit-bull/


Pit Bull Kills Its Owner on Christmas Day

By Kelsey Breunig | Dec 27, 2014 05:29 PM EST

A northwestern Indiana man died from multiple bite wounds allegedly inflicted by his own pet pit bull Christmas day.

portage-man-killed-by-pet-pit-bull-333Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said the man had several bite marks on his arms and face, which resulted in severe blood loss, according to WSBT Local News.

Edward Cahill, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after his girlfriend, Bianca Rodriguez, found his body in their Portage home, 50 miles west of South Bend.

Rodriguez told police that “Fat Boy,” the pit bull, had acted aggressively and unpredictably in the past, especially when he had a toy in his mouth.

“Fat Boy” had previously bitten Cahill and his girlfriend’s son, and Cahill had given rawhide bones to his two 8-year-old pit bulls Christmas morning.

Harris said the other pit bull, Keylo, was not a part of the attack. He said “Fat Boy” was the only one that could reach Cahill.

Read more: http://www.hngn.com/articles/54968/20141227/pit-bull-kills-its-owner-on-christmas-day.htm


2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Portage Man Mauled to Death by Pet Pit Bull on Christmas Day

DogsBite.org reports

Wife of Victim Backtracks Earlier Statements

The couple had owned both of their 8-year old pit bulls since they were puppies. After the initial news reports, which released the coroner and police report details and Rodriguez’s statements to police about FatBoi’s previous aggression, Rodriguez backtracked from her statements saying the couple had never had any problems with FatBoi in the past and, “I don’t want people to think bad of pit bulls,” Rodriguez told WGNtv. “It was a freak accident. He loved our dogs,” she said.

portage-man-killed-by-pet-pit-bull-111As in the case of Darla Napora and many other fatal attacks inflicted by a family pit bull, Rodriguez then began calling the deadly attack a “freak accident.” Also like the Napora case, whose husband buried her and her unborn child with the male pit bull who killed them both, Rodriguez appeared to state a similar burial arrangement. Just after the dog was euthanized, she told WGNtv, “He’s going to go with his Dad to his resting place. He will be cremated and he will be buried with his father.”

Christmas Eve Bones — Zero Margin of Error

Unlike nearly all other dog breeds, the “zero margin of error rule” applies to pit bull owners. This rule is discussed at length in Beyond the Interview – Essay of a Fatal Pit Bull Mauling. In a nutshell, despite 8-years of caring for the dog with countless walks, play sessions and sleeping with the dog, and even seeing aggression in the context of “keep-away,” only pit bull owners have to be concerned that death can result at slight or modest errors — the zero margin of error rule.

Read more: https://blog.dogsbite.org/2014/12/dog-bite-fatality-portage-man-killed-by-pet-pit-bull-christmas-day.html


Sources for the death of Edward Cahill:

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-man-dies-from-dog-attack-on-christmas/article_ada25297-f706-5674-b4f5-e1f16ad882b7.html
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/12/26/man-killed-by-his-pitbull-in-northwest-indiana-coroner/
http://www.cubiclane.com/2014/12/26/indiana-man-mauled-to-death-by-own-pet-pit-bull-45113
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/indiana-man-mauled-death-pit-bull-christmas-day-article-1.2057971
http://www.hngn.com/articles/54968/20141227/pit-bull-kills-its-owner-on-christmas-day.htm
https://www.dogsbite.org/img/fatboi-bone-before-after.png
http://wgntv.com/2014/12/27/indiana-man-dies-after-mauling-by-pet-pit-bull/
http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/news/porter/31875228-418/dog-that-killed-owner-in-portage-euthanized-no-autopsy-planned.html#.VKShxye9X-s
https://blog.dogsbite.org/2014/12/dog-bite-fatality-portage-man-killed-by-pet-pit-bull-christmas-day.html
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatality-citations-2014.php#edward-cahill
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2014.php#edward-cahill
https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/canine-related-fatalities/
https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2014-dog-bite-related-fatalities-2/


American Pit Bull Terrier

portage-man-killed-by-pet-pit-bull-222The American Pit Bull Terrier has a history and bloodline deep rooted in the blood sports of animal baiting and dogfighting. As with all breeds, they retain their original traits. They often to do not accept other animals, especially dogs, and can be extremely aggressive towards them. They may accept animals they are raised with, but have been known to kill other family pets even after years of living together happily.

Most APBT puppies get along fantastically with other animals, including dogs. Puppies often love to play with and have companionship with other animals. This often gives owners a false sense of security. As the APBT matures, their relationship with other animals can change drastically. Often dog aggression issues emerge from 1-3 years in age, but some dog’s exhibit aggression as early as 6 months of age. They often will actively seek out other dogs to engage in fighting with and have broken their collars, crashed through windows, and torn through fences to do so, and one recently leaped from an apartment 2nd story balcony, to get to a dog. They can get along with other dogs at times, but things can escalate quickly and they can attack suddenly and for no apparent reason. They often redirect onto humans who try to break up the fight. Extreme caution should be used with all animal interactions and owners should never be completely comfortable. They can be unpredictable and a dog that plays nicely with dogs for years can suddenly change. Many owners have been shocked to see their beloved pet’s fighting instincts suddenly surface. It is highly recommended that the APBT is separated from other animals in the household when they cannot be supervised. This is not a breed that is suitable for interactions at off leash dog parks.

Read more: https://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/