Since 2000, Pierce County authorities have responded to 16 complaints involving dog problems at the home of the two pit bulls who attacked the disabled woman Tuesday.
Six visits were for calls that neighbors made about aggressive dogs, six were for calls about roaming dogs, two were for reports of neglect, one was to pick up a stray, and one was for Tuesday's attack, said Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer.
"That's a lot of calls. (Tuesday) is not the first time they've had issues," Troyer said Friday.
On Tuesday, two pit bulls from the property at 10610 132nd St. Court N.W. mauled Sue Gorman, 59, a disabled woman who lives alone, in her home after she tried to fend them off a third dog, which was eventually killed.
Troyer said the 15 previous calls resulted in eight citations – six for violations of leash laws and two for not having dogs licensed.
County prosecutors are weighing whether to file charges against the pit bulls' owners in connection with Tuesday's attack.
Troyer did not have additional information Friday about who had been cited at the house.
The owner of the property, Shellie Rae Wilson, did not respond Friday to a request for comment.
Wilson's relationship to the property since 2000 is uncertain.
The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer's Office shows she bought the property for $80,000 in 2003. However, another county record states she was the owner in January 2000.
Meanwhile, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department has begun forwarding reports concerning Tuesday's pit bull attack to county prosecutors.
To file felony charges, prosecutors must show the owners of the dogs "had reasonable cause to know these dogs were potentially problematic," said deputy prosecuting attorney Phil Sorenson.
"I'm not sure whether we will be able to do that," he said.
The owner of one of the pit bulls, Zach Martin, said earlier this week that he was watching the other dog while its owner was out of town, and that he didn't know how the dogs got out. Martin is Wilson's son, according to KIRO-TV.
Gorman underwent surgery Friday on her forearms at St. Joseph Medical Center, hospital spokesman Gale Robinette said. Gorman is being treated there for deep lacerations to her face, her back, her forearms and her breasts.
Robinette said Gorman was in good spirits and could be discharged Monday.
Gorman's friends have set up a fund for her at Sound Credit Union. They said money is needed to clean up and repair Gorman's home before she returns from the hospital.
They also hope to put a fence around her yard and get some type of help – massage therapy maybe – for Gorman's beloved assistance dog, Misty, "who hasn't been herself" after seeing Gorman seriously injured and the other dog attacked, said friend Leana Beasley.
How to help
Donations to the Sue Gorman Fund can be made at any of Sound Credit Union's 10 area branches. You can reach the bank at 253-383-2016 or at www.soundcu.com.
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1 comment:
Why doesn't WA state have stronger laws to deal with owners of dangerous dogs? What happened to Sue Gorman is horrifing. It adds much salt to her wounds if the city cannot find a way to hold the owners criminally liable.
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