A female pit bull was turned over to authorities after a fatal Orange County dog bite attack where a little terrier was brutally mauled to death. According to a news report in the Dana Point Times, resident Mary Bestgen was walking her terrier on August 10, 2009, near Baby Beach in Dana Point, when a loose pit bull suddenly charged, grabbed the little terrier and began mauling it. A group of men came to her aid and finally freed the terrier from the pit bull's hold.
Tragic Dog Bite Incident
Bestgen rushed her dog to the vet prepared to pay more than $800 for emergency care, but she was told to put her dog down because it was too badly injured. His bones and internal organs were completely crushed. City animal control officials have begun an investigation into the incident. Bestgen said she observed that the dog had a leash, but that no one was holding the leash. A Dana Point city councilman later blogged about this incident calling it "gruesome" and "unimaginable." And in the end, he writes: "Quite frankly, this could have happened to a child just as easily."
As a dog owner myself, I feel for Mary Bestgen, who witnessed her beloved dog being mauled by this pit bull. My heart goes out to her for the trauma she must have gone through.
This incident is another case in point of how certain breeds of dogs, especially pit bulls, can go completely out of control suddenly and without warning. I would be interested to know whether this pit bull had a history of viciousness or a history of attacking other animals or humans. If this had been an attack on a child or even an adult, the dog's owner could be facing criminal charges and civil liability.
California Dog Bite Law
California has what is known as a "strict liability statute" when it comes to dog bites. California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of a dog bite, please consult with a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, well-versed with dog bite cases, who will explain your legal rights and options. If the dog owner was negligent and that negligence resulted in your serious injuries, the dog owner should be held criminally and civilly liable.
SLS Consulting