Dog Bites

Alex Cuevas, 15, was seriously injured in a dog attack after a pit bull escaped from its owner’s yard and attacked her in a Corona neighborhood. According to a report in The Press-Enterprise, Alex and her 14-month-old Shih Tzu, Cocoa, were walking near Morales Way and Honors Lane the afternoon of May 10, 2013 when the loose pit bull went after the smaller dog. Alex said she was hurt as she attempted to save her dog. The pit bull bit her arms and her right ear.

The teen says she is haunted by the violent attack and relives the moment in her head. Alex’s right ear was nearly severed in the attack and barely hung by the bottom portion. It had to be surgically reattached. Alex’s mother said she was distressed to see her daughter covered in blood after the attack. Police said the unlicensed pit bull escaped from its owner’s yard, but no citations have been issued yet. The investigation is ongoing. Read the rest »

A 63-year-old woman was killed in a Los Angeles County dog attack after a pack of four pit bulls brutally attacked her as she was jogging. According to a KTLA news report, the pit bulls attacked the woman at 115th Street and Avenue S in an unincorporated area of Littlerock the morning of May 9, 2013. The woman was discovered by a female driver on Avenue S, who stopped her car when she saw a pack of dogs surrounding something on the ground. When she got closer, she was it was a woman surrounded by biting animals. She immediately called 911 and stayed in her car. The victim died in the ambulance.

Deputies launched a search to locate the dogs and their owner, which led them to a home not far from the site of the mauling. At least four dogs were taken from the home and two men were arrested. Neighbors told detectives that the dogs had acted aggressively even before this incident. Officials say they will run DNA tests on the captured dogs so they can positively link them to the attack. The investigation is ongoing. Read the rest »

Ryan Maxwell, 7, was killed after pit bull viciously attacked him. The Register-Mail reports that the boy was visiting the residence and playing in the backyard the afternoon of March 2, 2013 when the pit bull attacked. He later died from injuries suffered in the dog attack. Investigators said they had no previous reports indicating that the dog was dangerous. The Maxwell family has set up a memorial fund in Ryan’s honor at F & M Bank, 21 S. Main St.

City Laws Relating to Dangerous Dogs

The city of Galesburg, Illinois, where this fatal dog attack occurred has strict vicious dog laws. City laws require dogs labeled as “dangerous” or “vicious” to be identified, microchipped and covered by the owner’s insurance.

Police so far say that they have not found any reports concerning the pit bull in question that would classify it as such. The city’s dangerous dog ordinance states that a threatening dog can be classified as dangerous after a formal complaint and subsequent investigation by animal control officers.

Read the rest »

Charlotte Carter, an 82-year-old woman, was seriously injured after three of her neighbor’s pit bulls attacked and mauled her. According to an ABC 22 news report, the incident occurred in Montgomery County the night of February 24, 2013 in the victim’s own backyard.

Carter’s son, Chris, told officials that he ran out to the backyard when he heard his mother screaming. All three dogs were on top of her. Carter said he had to “do everything” just to save his mother’s life.

Charlotte Carter suffered major injuries. The dogs ripped off chunks of flesh off her legs, arms and face. Hers son was eventually able to kick the dogs and pry their jaws off her body. The dogs even shredded the victim’s coat.

Chris Carter said that the three dogs got into their yard through a small hole in the fence. The Carters say they are terrified because the dogs continue to live next door. They have been quarantined in the home. Animal Control officials say that they must wait and go through the process before removing the dogs from the owner. If the dogs are determined to be “vicious,” the owner can be charged with a misdemeanor. Read the rest »

Farmers Insurance has changed its policy recently with regard to coverage in dog bite cases – specifically where it pertains to certain breeds of dogs. According to a KCRA news report, the company is no longer providing liability coverage for dog bite claims when it comes to three breeds – pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids. Farmers representatives have said that the company is not canceling policies. Rather, since mid-January, Farmers agents have been requiring customers to sign an exclusion waiver of liability coverage for the dog bites. Without the signature, the customer’s policy will not be renewed.

Farmers said in a statement that these three breeds together account for 25 percent of dog bite claims and they also cause more harm when they attack compared to any other breed. Read the rest »

Carla Cornelio, 21, and her mother, Alba Cornelio, 41, were found guilty on two counts each of owning a vicious animal that caused the death of their 75-year-old neighbor, Emako Mendoza, on June 18, 2011. According to a news report in U-T San Diego, the fatal dog attack occurred when Mendoza was mauled in the backyard of her own home in San Diego. The pit bulls had entered her yard through a gap in the fence.

After the mauling, Mendoza had her left arm and leg amputated. Doctors could not save her right leg and arm after they became severely infected. Mendoza died Christmas Eve 2011 of complications from her injuries at age 76. Carla and Alba Cornelio face up to four years in prison for the felony convictions.

Prosecutor Alleged Negligence

During the trial, prosecutors argued that the Cornelios knew about the hole in the wooden fence that separated the neighbors’ yards, but did not make an adequate effort to repair the fence. The sticks and boards they placed to cover up the hole in the fence was not enough. The prosecutor also argued that the Cornelios did not do anything to help the victim after she was injured. In addition, when police contacted them, Carla Cornelio lied and told them that her mother was not home, prosecutors said. Defense lawyers argued that the Cornelios could have foreseen what happened to Mendoza and that they had made a substantial effort to cover the fence.

Being a Responsible Dog Owner

There is no question that dog owners have a responsibility to restrain and confine their pets so they do not pose a danger to neighbors and members of the public. Under California law, dog owners can be held liable for any injuries or damages caused by their pets, whether or not they were deemed vicious in the past and regardless of prior incidents. There are several steps dog owners can take to ensure they are being responsible with their pets:

• Train and socialize your dog and protect people from being injured by your dog.
• If your dog is particularly aggressive toward people or other dogs, seek the help of an experienced, professional dog trainer who can help change your dog’s behavior.
• Never let your dog run loose. Obey your city’s leash laws.
• Keep your dog’s vaccinations current.
• Keep your dog out of the paths of strangers such as mail carriers, salespeople and walkers or joggers.
• Put up warning signs if you have reason to believe that your dog may injure someone.
• Make sure you have liability insurance. Homeowners’ insurance also covers most dog bite injuries.

If you have been injured in a dog attack, please remember that you have rights. Injured dog attack victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering, psychological counseling and emotional distress. An experienced San Diego dog bite attorney can better advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.