San Diego Mom on the Hunt for Owner of Dog that Attacked Her Child

A San Diego area mom is searching for the owner of a dog that she says attacked and injured her 8-year-old daughter a block away from her school. According to a Fox 5 San Diego news report, the incident occurred when Kayla Loreth dropped off her daughter, Nevaeh, a block away from her school. Five minutes later Loreth said she got a call that her daughter had been attacked by a dog on a leash with five other dogs being walked by an older woman. The girl stepped off the curb and tried to walk around the dogs which is when one of them lunged and bit her leg, her mother said.

Search on for Dog Owner

The woman who was startled by the attack dropped all the leashes. She then gathered the leashes, asked the girl if she was OK, apologized and then told the girl that her dog “doesn’t like people. The crying 8-year-old was left in front of her elementary school crying. The woman walked off and made no attempt to contact the child’s school or parents.

Loreth posted the incident on Facebook and received several messages from people who live in the neighborhood who said they’ve had similar experiences with the same older woman. The girl is expected to recover, but has suffered bruising and significant scratch marks all over her legs. Loreth is hoping someone will help identify the dog’s owner so she can be held accountable. She also wants to make sure that if the dog is not allowed around people if it is dangerous or aggressive.

Dog Owner’s Liability

California has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog attacks. Dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses their pets cause. Owners of dogs also have a responsibility to keep their dogs restrained or in enclosures so they don’t hurt neighbors or passers by. This is particularly true if the dog has attacked people or other animals before or if it has known aggressive tendencies.

California’s dog bite law, however, says dog owners are liable regardless of whether they knew their dog was dangerous. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, permanent injuries such as scarring, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced San Diego dog bite lawyer can help injured victims and their families hold negligent dog owners accountable and secure maximum compensation for their losses.