A Fort Worth couple and their six-month-old son were walking near Lake Como Park on Thursday afternoon when they were surrounded by two aggressive pit bulls. Alisa and Gary Latimer were walking to a bus stop when the dogs rushed at them. The dogs were in attack-mode, snapping at the couple when Gary Latimer told his wife to run and grabbed for his knife. As the couple split in two directions, the dogs went after the husband. Gary Latimer began swinging his knife wildly and although the female pit bull ran away, the male latched on to his arm. After the Latimer stabbed the dog, the pair of pit bills ran away together. Latimer had to get five stitches to close his wound, but luckily his wife and son were not hurt.
This story scared me to death when I saw it in the Fort Worth Star Telegram this morning - and I was just reading it! I can't imagine how frightening this entire ordeal must have been. But there's more to the story than just a dog attack. You see, one of the dogs in this attack is believed to have attacked someone just last year! Fort Worth police know that the two dogs that attacked the Latimer family are owned by Steven Woods, who from April to June 2010 has been cited three times by the city because of his dogs. Just last year, one of Woods' dogs, Mimi (who police said they believe was involved in the attack against the Latimers'), attacked an 84-year-old-man and was declared dangerous by a municipal court judge. Woods complied with a court order and saved Mimi's life by saying she was a therapy dog who was helping him get over trauma he had suffered while serving in Iraq. It was later discovered that Woods misrepresented his military record. Police said that they think Mimi was one of the pit bulls in Thursday's attack, but that no matter what they will pursue the incident to the fullest extent of the law. If Mimi was one of the dogs who snapped and bit at the Latimer family, their owner, Steven Woods could face felony charges.
As an animal lover and owner of three dogs, I would never want to see anyone's pet put down that didn't have to be. But these dogs owned by Mr. Woods are just plain dangerous. Cited three times for having dangerous dogs in only a couple of months? Is this guy training these dogs to fight? Even though pit bulls can be an aggressive breed, it's just too coincidental for the same person's dogs to keep attacking people. He should not be allowed to have any more pets! What if he had hurt a child? What if Mr. Latimer didn't have a knife to protect his family with?
Texas is a one bite state. The one bite rule is the legal doctrine in Texas that determines whether the owner of a domestic animal (such as a dog) can be held legally liable for injuries caused by that animal. In Texas, that means if your dog hasn't bitten anyone before, then the owner is not liable for the dog's actions - essentially your dog gets one free bite.(one can also pursue a claim under a negligent handling theory which does not require proof of a prior bite). Obviously, if Mimi is one of the dogs involved in the attack against the Latimers' then Steven Woods should and will be found responsible for this incident. I hope he's prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and never gets to own another animal again.
Getting attacked or bitten by a dangerous dog is one of the scariest things that can happen to you. Not only can it leave you physically impaired, but it can cause long-lasting mental anxiety and fear of animals, especially dogs. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a dangerous dog, call the Fort Worth dog bite attorneys at the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900.
