Fox Business anchor Jackie DeAngelis is suing Whole Foods after she says a pit bull attacked her inside one of the grocery chain’s Manhattan stores, leaving her with permanent injuries to her hand.
DeAngelis, 46, a co-host of “The Big Money Show,” was shopping at the Whole Foods location at 10 Columbus Circle in September 2023 when a black pit bull bit her left hand, according to a lawsuit filed Aug. 20 in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The complaint alleges Whole Foods allowed an unauthorized dog to remain inside the store despite company rules generally prohibiting pets.
By the time police officers arrived following the attack, the dog and its owner had already left the store, according to police information cited by the New York Post.
Whole Foods says pets are prohibited inside its stores, with exceptions for service animals recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
DeAngelis’ lawsuit alleges the pit bull involved in the incident was not a legitimate service animal and claims employees failed to identify the animal or remove it before the attack.
“[Whole Foods] failed to reasonably enforce its own policies, practices and/or procedures concerning animals entering and remaining within the subject store,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint further accuses the company of failing to “exercise reasonable care in controlling and regulating the presence of unauthorized animals within its premises.”
DeAngelis required surgery following the bite, according to the lawsuit.
Her attorneys say she continues to experience significant scarring, reduced mobility and difficulty performing certain tasks because of injuries to her left hand.
The damage is described in the filing as “permanent and continuing.”
DeAngelis is seeking unspecified damages from Whole Foods for medical expenses, physical injuries and emotional distress related to the incident.
The lawsuit places renewed attention on rules governing animals inside grocery stores and other businesses.
Whole Foods’ published policy says only trained service animals are permitted inside its locations, while pets and emotional support animals that do not meet the legal definition of a service animal are prohibited, per the Daily Wire.
The complaint alleges store employees failed to enforce that policy in DeAngelis’ case.
The dog was described as a black pit bull.
Pit bulls have long been at the center of debate surrounding serious dog attacks and breed-specific restrictions.
DogsBite.org, an organization that tracks fatal dog attacks, has reported that pit bulls were involved in approximately 66% of U.S. dog-bite fatalities from 2005 through 2024. Estimates of the breed’s share of the overall U.S. dog population vary widely.
Several medical studies cited by the Daily Wire have also reported that pit bull attacks can be associated with particularly severe injuries compared with attacks involving some other breeds.
Breed-specific laws remain controversial, with supporters arguing they can reduce serious attacks and critics maintaining that a dog’s behavior is influenced by factors beyond breed alone.
More than 20 countries reportedly ban or heavily restrict pit bulls, including the U.K., Denmark and Norway.
The Whole Foods lawsuit remains pending, and the grocery chain has not been found liable for DeAngelis’ injuries.
DeAngelis continues to work as a Fox Business anchor while seeking damages over injuries she alleges resulted from the 2023 attack.
