Fox Business personality Jackie DeAngelis has filed a lawsuit against Whole Foods, alleging that she suffered severe and permanent injuries after being attacked by a pit bull inside one of the retailer’s Manhattan stores.
DeAngelis, 46, who co-hosts The Big Money Show, says the incident occurred while she was shopping at the Whole Foods location at 10 Columbus Circle in September 2023.
According to the lawsuit, the attack left her with significant scarring, disfigurement, pain and emotional distress.
Lawsuit challenges Whole Foods’ handling of animals
The legal action accuses Whole Foods of failing to enforce its own rules regarding animals inside its stores.
Whole Foods maintains a no-pets policy, although service animals are permitted.
DeAngelis alleges that the company failed to ensure that the dog was removed from the premises before the attack occurred.
The lawsuit claims the retailer “failed to reasonably enforce its own policies, practices and/or procedures concerning animals entering and remaining within the subject store.”
DeAngelis is seeking unspecified damages over what her attorneys describe as “severe, serious and permanent personal injuries.”
Police say a black pit bull bit her hand
According to police information reported by the New York Post, DeAngelis was bitten on her left hand by a black pit bull.
Officers were reportedly unable to locate the animal or its owner when they arrived because both had already left the scene.
The lawsuit alleges that DeAngelis subsequently required surgical treatment and continues to experience permanent effects from the attack.
DeAngelis says the injuries have had lasting effects
The filing describes more than a temporary injury, alleging that the television host suffered substantial physical and emotional consequences.
It states that she experienced significant scarring and disfigurement, alongside pain, suffering and emotional distress.
The lawsuit places responsibility on Whole Foods for allegedly allowing the dog to remain inside the store despite its stated policy.
The allegations have yet to be resolved in court, and the filing represents DeAngelis’ claims against the retailer.
DeAngelis’ career spans finance and television
DeAngelis joined Fox Business in 2019 as a financial correspondent and has since become a co-host of The Big Money Show, appearing alongside Taylor Riggs, Brian Brenberg and Dagen McDowell.
Before moving to Fox, she spent 13 years at CNBC, where she worked as chief energy correspondent and anchored an online commodities program.
Her background also includes a law degree. DeAngelis graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Asian studies and history before earning a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School.
She is also fluent in Mandarin and Farsi.
Dog attacks remain a serious concern in the US
Dog bites affect millions of Americans each year.
The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually in the United States, with around 800,000 requiring medical treatment.
Animals 24-7 reported 84 dog-related deaths across the United States and Canada last year, with pit bulls accounting for approximately 64 of those fatalities.
Among the cases cited was the death of 22-year-old Angel Rawlings, who was attacked by two pit bulls at her home in Bourbon, Missouri, on December 27, 2025.
Another victim, 27-year-old Emily Panuco of Parker, Arizona, was killed in California in February after reportedly attempting to protect her young son from three dogs during an attack.
UK has restrictions on several dog breeds
The controversy surrounding dangerous dog attacks extends beyond the United States.
The UK currently prohibits five types of dogs under its dangerous-dogs legislation: the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully.
DeAngelis’ lawsuit, however, centers specifically on what allegedly happened inside a Manhattan grocery store and whether Whole Foods adequately enforced its own animal policy.
The case will determine whether the retailer can be held legally responsible for the injuries the Fox Business host says she suffered.
