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Roaming Dog Pack Bite Three Residents And A Police Officer In North Olmsted

Joseph Paulozzi
July 28, 2021

Three North Olmstead residents and a police officer were attacked by a pack of dogs in the span of 11 days. The police officer was bitten as he tried to deliver a letter from the mayor to the dog owner. The letter was regarding the previous three incidents.Dog owners accept the responsibility of both caring for their pets and keeping pets from harming others. Not all dog owners take this responsibility completely, and innocent people can get hurt. If you have been bitten by a dog because of an owner’s negligence, reach out to the Cleveland dog bite attorneys at Paulozzi LPA.

The Biting Incidents

The first dog bite victim was a Clifford Drive man. He was mowing his lawn, minding his business when five dogs attacked him and knocked him down. The dogs bit his legs, hands, and lip. He managed to escape when his brother came to help. He went to the hospital.Next, the pack of dogs strayed over to Marion Road and fell upon a woman who ran away but was bitten on her legs and buttocks. A neighbor came to the bleeding woman’s aid. The dogs fled, and he called the police.As he tried to take the woman to the hospital, the dogs rushed back and attacked him, biting him on the leg.The owner was finally found by the police, and they discovered the pack consisted of a mother dog and her four grown puppies. The dogs had broken through a fence and escaped. The dogs had been vaccinated, but they were not insured—a city requirement because of their breed—American Bullies.The owner was charged with five counts of “Dogs Running at Large.” Despite being labeled “vicious,” she was allowed to take them home but ordered by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to quarantine them for 10 days.The Clague Road woman ignored police directives for over a week, including providing proof of vaccinations and coming to the police station to give a statement. Informed she would be charged, she replied by saying she did not care about being arrested. She only cared about her dogs.Later, as a police officer was delivering the mayor’s letter, one of the dogs attacked him and bit him on the buttocks.The dog owner now faces criminal charges and has refused to surrender the dogs so they can be humanely put to sleep. She has been belligerent during hearings and insulted the bite victims.

When Should I Contact A Lawyer?

The dog usually gets blamed after dog attacks, but the dog’s response can be attributed to animal nature and lack of training. States have different regulations like:

  • Some states dictate owners are strictly liable for any dog attack
  • Some states consider dogs’ histories and allow a “one free bite” rule before liability

In Ohio, dog owners are strictly liable if:

  1. The injured person did not provoke the dog
  2. The injured person was not trespassing or committing a crime
  3. The injury was caused by the dog’s behavior

Dog bite laws can get tricky so contact the Cleveland dog bite attorneys at Paulozzi LPA for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-710-0040.

Joseph Paulozzi
July 28, 2021
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