Dog Attack Costs Woman Her Eye, 200 Stitches
Metro Animal Control Says It Hopes Dog Never Freed
POSTED: 4:08 pm CST January 29,
2008
UPDATED: 9:58 am CST January 30,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A recent dog attack cost a local women an eye and 200 stitches. 
Video: Woman Survives Pit Bull Attack, Loses EyeThe woman, who was not identified, told Animal Control that she had bent down to pick up her purse when the dog, Tank, attacked.Metro Animal Control said it doesn’t want the dog out on the street again.Tank is a 3-year-old pit bull and has been in the quarantine area of Metro Animal Control for about a week.Animal Services Director Judy Lauderbauche didn’t mince words when she described how dangerous Tank is."I wouldn’t want it next door to me or you. It is not a safe dog to have out in the community," she said.Tank’s owner, Tyler Stowers, visits his dog every day and said that up until Tuesday, Tank had never attacked anyone. But the woman visiting his house that day was attacked by Tank and suffered a lost eye and cuts that required 200 stitches to close."I don’t think there’s any doubt that the woman could have been killed. She's very, very fortunate that she wasn’t, even though she did sustain absolutely life-changing injuries that will take years of plastic surgery," Lauderbauche said.Stowers was emotional as he looked at his dog in the quarantine cage, but Animal Control said they believe his tears are for his dog and not the victim and that they don’t want to see Tank a free dog again."He definitely wants his dog back. But, a judge will get to make that ruling. Certainly we are pursuing this case and hope this dog will not be back out on the street where someone else can suffer the same or worse type injuries," said Lauderbauche. "At this point, how anyone could want a dog capable of inflicting this type of injuries. A child would never survive an attack by a dog like this."Animal control said the woman wants the dog euthanized so it doesn’t attack anyone else. A judge will decide the matter on Wednesday in court.According to current law, a dog in Tennessee gets a free pass if it attacks and bites someone and it’s the dog’s first offense. It’s called the first bite law, and a new bill is making its rounds at the state Capitol that would abolish it. Popular Slideshows On WSMV.com: Slideshow: Red-Hot Redheaded Celebrity Women Slideshow: Celebrities Commit Fashion Faux Pas Slideshow: Great Weather Photos
Video: Woman Survives Pit Bull Attack, Loses EyeThe woman, who was not identified, told Animal Control that she had bent down to pick up her purse when the dog, Tank, attacked.Metro Animal Control said it doesn’t want the dog out on the street again.Tank is a 3-year-old pit bull and has been in the quarantine area of Metro Animal Control for about a week.Animal Services Director Judy Lauderbauche didn’t mince words when she described how dangerous Tank is."I wouldn’t want it next door to me or you. It is not a safe dog to have out in the community," she said.Tank’s owner, Tyler Stowers, visits his dog every day and said that up until Tuesday, Tank had never attacked anyone. But the woman visiting his house that day was attacked by Tank and suffered a lost eye and cuts that required 200 stitches to close."I don’t think there’s any doubt that the woman could have been killed. She's very, very fortunate that she wasn’t, even though she did sustain absolutely life-changing injuries that will take years of plastic surgery," Lauderbauche said.Stowers was emotional as he looked at his dog in the quarantine cage, but Animal Control said they believe his tears are for his dog and not the victim and that they don’t want to see Tank a free dog again."He definitely wants his dog back. But, a judge will get to make that ruling. Certainly we are pursuing this case and hope this dog will not be back out on the street where someone else can suffer the same or worse type injuries," said Lauderbauche. "At this point, how anyone could want a dog capable of inflicting this type of injuries. A child would never survive an attack by a dog like this."Animal control said the woman wants the dog euthanized so it doesn’t attack anyone else. A judge will decide the matter on Wednesday in court.According to current law, a dog in Tennessee gets a free pass if it attacks and bites someone and it’s the dog’s first offense. It’s called the first bite law, and a new bill is making its rounds at the state Capitol that would abolish it. Popular Slideshows On WSMV.com: Slideshow: Red-Hot Redheaded Celebrity Women Slideshow: Celebrities Commit Fashion Faux Pas Slideshow: Great Weather PhotosCopyright 2008 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
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