A Plainfield woman was viciously attacked by two dogs that were later shot by police responding to the scene. The woman is currently in the hospital recovering from dog bite injuries. Witnesses told police that this is not the first time the dogs have gotten out of their fence or run loose in the neighborhood.
The incident was captured on video as the 55-year-old woman lay helplessly on the ground being mauled by two five-year-old American bulldogs. The video shows the owner and a witness attempting to fight off the dogs as they continued to maul the woman. Witnesses said the attack lasted five minutes.
Police say that the dogs escaped after the owner failed to lock the fence and that neighbors had reported it was not the first time it happened. When the police arrived, the dogs were still attacking the woman. Officers fired five shots and killed both dogs. The owner will receive a summons for being in possession of vicious and unleashed animals.
A person who is attacked by a vicious dog and suffers physical or emotional damage may be entitled to seek compensation from the dog's owner. A personal injury lawyer may assist the victim in filing this type of claim. Dog owners are responsible for the behavior of their animals and may be held liable if they allow dogs to run free and bite an innocent victim. Victims may be entitled to payment of their medical bills, living expenses during recovery, lost wages and sums for pain and suffering. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded if it can be shown that the dog's owner was deliberately negligent.