The residents of Palm Drive in Mesquite, Texas, were alarmed and angry to find that Cookie, a female pit bull terrier responsible for a string of vicious attacks last December and again in February, has been returned to her owner for the second time in spite of her documented history of very aggressive behavior.
After escaping from their yard in December, pit bull terriers Cookie and Pretty Boy attempted to attack a Palm Drive resident and his dog, who were able to evade injury by running inside. Force was required to prevent Cookie from pushing her way in the front door after them.
The incident was immediately reported to Mesquite police, who responded and captured the dogs, but then returned them to their owner with only a citation.
The situation escalated considerably last month when the two pit bull terriers once again got out, this time causing serious damage. The pair attacked and killed two family pets that were outside that day, a Chihuahua and a cat. The dogs then turned on two teenage girls, ages 15 and 17, who were attacked and bitten on the arms and legs before jumping into the safety of a nearby car.
Police were called again and the dogs were captured and kept in observational quarantine for 10 days to be watched for signs of rabies. The residents of Palm Drive assumed that Animal Control had the situation under control and were relieved to have the dogs off their street.
The neighborhood was shocked two weeks later when they learned that Cookie, the dog that many residents agreed was the instigator of all the attacks, was back at home once again.
A statement released by Mesquite city officials claims that they feel the situation was handled promptly and appropriately based on existing pet ownership ordinances. Pretty Boy, the male pit bull was evicted from city limits.
But victims and witnesses of the attacks say they were never questioned by officials and thus were unable to make it clear that Cookie was just as, if not more, dangerous than her male companion.
Unfortunately, incidents like the Palm Drive pit bull attacks are not uncommon. If you or someone you love has been bitten and injured by an aggressive dog, you may be entitled to compensation.
The dog bite attorneys at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn are very experienced with cases of this nature and offer free case evaluations. Our personal injury lawyers want to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Call (817) 920-9000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.