A 60-year old woman in Massachusetts standing near her door was recently mauled by two dogs. As a result of the dog attack, the victim suffered severe injuries to her left hand. The woman reported that she was taking her dog for a walk when she saw the other two dogs aggressively approaching her. The woman’s dog also suffered injuries in the dog attack incident.
The woman reported following the incident that she began screaming when the two dogs came running at her and her dog because she was familiar with their aggressive nature. The victim noted she extended her hand and arm to defend against the attack but one of the dogs latched onto her hand and began shaking its head back and forth. The other dog began attacking her dog on its right rear leg.. The dog attacking the woman let go when the woman’s husband came to her aid. The owner of the dogs then regained control of them. The victim was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and her dog was taken to the veterinarian for treatment.
The owner of the dogs was arrested, and the two dogs involved in the attack were taken by animal control. Other neighbors reported that they were also familiar, as was the victim, with the dogs’ history of aggressive behavior. At least one of the dogs had previously been required by animal control to be muzzled or chained under certain specifications. Massachusetts maintains a strict liability dog bite law which holds owners accountable for the harm caused by their dogs regardless of the circumstances.
Massachusetts dog bite laws are in place for the safety of the public, and while criminal penalties are possible for owners of a dog involved in a dog attack, civil liability may also hold a dog owner responsible for the harm suffered by victims of a dog attack. Victims of a dog attack can suffer traumatic injuries, which is why they should be familiar with the resources available to help them recover compensation for the physical, financial and emotional damages they have suffered.
Source: The Salem News, “Owner arrested after pit bulls maul Salem woman,” Buck Anderson, Aug. 3, 2016
