A fatal dog attack in Tarrant County marked the past year for Richard Anderson, whose father was killed in June 2025. Anderson has continued working as a greeter at a north Fort Worth Walmart as the case’s aftermath unfolded.
CBS News Texas reported that Anderson has worked at Walmart for three years. The station said he is deaf and has developed his own ways of welcoming shoppers, including hugs and holiday costumes. It also reported that his father was his only parent.
A Father Lost to a Dog Attack
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Ronald Charles Anderson, 82, was attacked and killed by dogs outside his Tarrant County home on June 16, 2025. Deputies told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth that three loose dogs attacked him while he was doing yardwork and had entered the backyard through a hole in a fence shared with a neighbor’s property. The Star-Telegram separately reported that the Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Ronald Charles Anderson of Fort Worth.
The victim’s daughter told the Star-Telegram that the dogs had previously come through the same hole in the fence and attacked other neighbors. CBS News Texas reported that this was the father Richard Anderson lost.
Legal Limbo for the Dogs Involved
About a month after the attack, court records showed that no criminal charges had been filed against the animals’ owner, the Star-Telegram reported. A Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told the outlet that a hearing concerning the seized dogs had been set for August 8, 2025. A WFAA search snippet later indicated that a judge released the three dogs, citing insufficient evidence linking them to the fatal attack; that update is based only on limited search-snippet evidence.
How Texas Handles Dog-Attack Hearings
Texas Health and Safety Code § 822.003 provides for a court hearing to determine whether a dog caused a person’s death or serious bodily injury by attacking, biting or mauling, according to the Texas Legislature. That hearing addresses whether the dog caused the injury; it is distinct from the question of criminal charges against an owner. The cited provision describes the hearing’s purpose, not the outcome in this case. For animal-control responsibilities, Tarrant County says its Sheriff’s Office handles animal control in unincorporated areas, while the City of Fort Worth covers animal control within city limits.
Finding Strength Through Faith and Community
Anderson told CBS News Texas that keeping his heart with God has helped him find strength since his father’s death. The station also reported that neighbors and co-workers raised hundreds of dollars to support him.
Anderson has continued working at the Walmart, where holiday costumes are part of how he welcomes shoppers. CBS News Texas reported that he planned to dress as Santa Claus throughout December.
