Parents for Dog Bite Awareness

Editor’s note: if photos below are overly cropped, clicking on them will display all of the details.

Here is a tale unraveled through public social media posts. It’s not the first time Pitbull advocates have learned the hard way, nor is it the first time they don’t seem to learn at all despite a fatal outcome.

Bonnie Varnes was a 58 year old woman living in Ohio who worked as a beloved bus driver for the public school system. She appeared to own at least two pitbulls over the years, likely not at the same time. One was named Mimi and one was named Peaches. The dogs didn’t seem to cause any trouble and were quite old based on photos of them from 7+ years ago.

This is a relevant detail because pitbull advocates experience a pattern of owning a nonviolent pit and then feeling confident about adopting a subsequent pit due to their good experience.

(Carol Streit is a quick reference if you want to learn more. Similar to when a person gambles, if they get a payout, they try again. That second try is when things seem to go wrong.)

Living with Bonnie Varnes was her daughter, Amelia. Amelia acquired two pitbulls that she named Amina and Pooches.

These two dogs appear on the timeline in 2019, but could’ve been owned prior to that, we simply don’t have any record beyond that year. They were not puppies at the time, so the dogs were at least 5yrs old and likely older at the time of Bonnie’s fatal attack.

From the beginning of Amelia’s public record of Amina and Pooches, you can see hints of behavioral issues. Amelia discussed a hand injury requiring multiple stitches but refused to explain what happened.

Over the course of several months, she repeatedly shared pitbull reassurances, tagging her mom. As is common in the pitbull community, this seemed to be an attempt to normalize unsafe pit behavior to remain committed to caring for the dogs despite signs of danger. One of the posts suggests Bonnie was concerned.

Amelia again posts an injury, this time to her thigh, and talks about saving the day. She again refused to provide any details when asked.

Amelia also publicly posted about her two dogs in pitbull interest groups and appeared aware of and proud of their temperaments. Here is one example:

In February of 2023, Amelia alleged that she last saw her mom early in the morning the day of the attack. Police obtained security footage showing the actual attack later that evening. According to them, Bonnie walked outside with Amina on a leash. Amina then began attacking Bonnie without any cause. The dog fatally mauled her and remained by her body, circling it and mauling it.

Later on, a neighbor went outside to smoke a cigarette when he noticed Bonnie lying in the grass with the dog circling her. He called Amelia, called 911, and then ran over there to help her.

According to police statements, Amelia arrived and placed Amina in the garage, then locked Peaches into a bedroom. Police then arrived and removed the dog. Bonnie was pronounced dead at the hospital.

As of this article, there appears to be no conviction against Amelia. Immediately following her mother’s fatality, Amelia was actively publicly posting on her social media in a way that shocked many people. She shared a memory of the attacking dog alongside a memoriam of her mother.

Both Amelia and her mom, Bonnie, publicly advocated for pitbulls, the cessation of BSL, and for the rescue industry. Here are some of their posts:

The case of Bonnie Varnes is thus being added to the “Pitbull Advocate Fatality” category. It’s the file where many well intentioned people go after they fiercely defend pitbulls, try to own them, and then are fatally mauled by them.

Their horrific suffering should shine like a flashing alarm to society, a reminder that a good heart and strong emotions can never overcome hereditary genetics in domesticated animals.

Don’t Gamble on Game Dogs,

-JL DBA Editor©️

News article:

https://meaww.com/pit-bull-attack-ohio-mom-58-mauled-to-death-by-daughters-pet-dog-in-homes-backyardhttps://meaww.com/pit-bull-attack-ohio-mom-58-mauled-to-death-by-daughters-pet-dog-in-homes-backyard