Most dog owners love their pets and take good care of them. However, some pet owners fail to provide adequate shelter and living conditions, effectively increasing the risk that an abused or neglected pet will attack a person. To protect against animal abuse and dog attacks, many towns throughout Texas have ordinances regulating the number of dogs a resident can have in one household.
From Kaufman, Texas, comes a tragic story about an 85-year-old woman who is believed to have been mauled to death by two pit bulls owned by her son. The son reportedly came home and found his mother’s body and called 911. Police believe the dogs somehow broke through a bedroom door prior to attacking the victim.
One of the woman’s cousins arrived on the property after the attack and said the dogs were still behaving aggressively. The cousin said the dogs chased him away from the yard.
Police removed eight dogs from the property. City ordinances in Kaufman prohibit any more than four domestic animals per household within city limits.
The deceased woman’s neighbors said they complained numerous times about the dogs, but the Kaufmann Police Department claimed to be unaware of any ordinance violations. The Kaufman chief of police stated that the dogs were difficult to control and that caution was used to avoid injury while capturing them.
An autopsy is planned to determine if the dog attack was indeed the cause of the woman’s death.
This story serves as an extremely sad reminder that pet owners bear a tremendous responsibility when it comes to the care of their animals. Allowing dogs to live in an environment that promotes aggressive behavior too often results in tragedy.
If you or someone you love has been attacked by someone else’s pet, then the pet owner should be held accountable for all medical expenses resulting from the injuries. An attorney who understands Texas animal control laws can clarify your options for achieving justice.
Source: KTRE-TV, “Eight dogs seized after elderly woman mauled, found dead,” Whitley Walden, April 1, 2014