Records show dozens of complaints made about dogs before woman mauled to death in attack
By Meghan Moriarty
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COCOA, Fla. (WESH) — It’s been nearly two weeks since a Cocoa woman’s killing rocked Brevard County.
Jodi Cowan, 50, was mauled by two loose dogs in May.
Linda Cutler, 29, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Her dogs are scheduled to be euthanized, but neighbors say more still needs to be done.
“We have a complete cultural meltdown where everybody’s got these big pit bulls and nobody’s taking proper care of them,” Lance, who lives in the neighborhood, said. He asked that his last name not be used because of concerns about retaliation. “It is constant that dogs are running loose, and I understand that dogs are property and the county is limited on what they can do, but a lady is dead.”
WESH 2 Investigates obtained calls for service involving Cutler’s dogs dating back to 2024. In reviewing the documents, we found more than a dozen calls made to animal control.
On Jan. 17 and Feb. 13, 2024, there were two calls regarding dog bites. As a result, Cutler was issued four citations. Later that year, in October, animal control received a call about her dogs running loose. The dogs were returned to her home.
In 2025, documents show several additional calls were made about Cutler’s dogs running loose. One call alleged the dogs killed an outdoor cat. Cutler was issued two citations and five warnings that year.
“The recourse is very difficult to get anything done because you have to call the county. Now I have to put my name on it. Now I have animosity with my neighbor,” Lance said. “Most of the people in the neighborhood don’t have money to pay these tickets. They’re just getting by, so it’s just a vicious cycle.”
This year, more calls were made. There were six in January alone. Documents show “verbal education was given.” On April 14, one of the dogs bit someone, and the victim had to go to the emergency room, according to documents.
“We can’t just go arbitrarily and seize someone’s dogs, even a dog that had, say, a one on the bite scale,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said last week. “You know, bit somebody on the finger, whatever. That’s not a dog we are able to go seize.”
While speaking with the sheriff’s office Tuesday, a spokesperson said animal control was called to the property several times for loose dogs, but when it comes to taking someone’s animal, the law restricts how much can be done.
According to Florida law, animal control authorities can confiscate a dog in certain circumstances, including after severe attacks or deaths involving humans. State law also allows dogs involved in fatal attacks to be impounded and euthanized following the required legal process.
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