THE NOT-SO-TYPICAL DOG ATTACK

In March of 1989 an attractive young woman was attending a backyard barbeque on the grounds of an apartment complex. While enjoying a pleasant afternoon she approached the dog of another resident and offered it a bite of chicken. Without warning the animal lunged toward her and savagely bit her on the face.

From the records of Travis County, Texas come the following questions that had to be answered by a jury...

No 91-1706, 147th Judicial District, Travis County, Texas:

1. On March 12th, 1989, before Brutus bit Wendy Foster, did Brutus have a dangerous propensity to bite abnormal to dogs?
2. On March 12th, 1989, before Brutus bit Wendy Foster, did Angela Warren know or have reason to know that Brutus had a dangerous propensity to bite abnormal to dogs?
3. On March 12th, 1989, before Brutus bit Wendy Foster, did Sean Warren know or have reason to know that Brutus had a dangerous propensity to bite abnormal to dogs?
4. On March 12th, 1989, before Brutus bit Wendy Foster, did Ms. Foster know that Brutus had a dangerous propensity to bite abnormal to dogs and did Ms. Foster unreasonably subject herself to that risk?

On January 31st, 1992, a jury answered yes to questions 1 through 3 and no to question 4, and awarded Wendy Foster a sum of $358,000 in actual damages for physical pain and anguish, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, and medical care.

She was also awarded $235,000 in exemplary damages.

From his name alone it is obvious that Brutus was not your ordinary dog. It must also be obvious that the owners knew what was different about Brutus, and further that the victim (Wendy Foster) had not a clue.

IF YOU OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY IS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BECOME A SERIOUS DOG BITE VICTIM I CAN TELL YOU...

1. What you need to know about the animal...
2. What you need to know about the biting incident...
3. And what you need to know about the owner...

At this point it is probably best to remind you that a court is not the place to get rich quick or to get even. It is the place where you get justice and compensation if you deserve it.

If you need legal advice you can try the World Wide Legal Information Association.

After serving as an officer in the Air Force Veterinary Corps for 20+ years -- handling large numbers of attack trained military working dogs in Southeast Asia and in Germany...

After serving as the Chief Veterinarian for the city of Houston, Texas for 9+ years -- analyzing and investigating as many as 3,000 animal bites in a year, and impounding as many as 30,000 animals in a year...

After training winning field trial dogs in the United States...

After judging field trial dogs in Texas and in Germany...

After exhibiting winning dogs in AKC dog shows...

After investigating animal attacks for personal injury attorneys and testifying in deposition and on the witness stand in several personal injury law suits...

I CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE ASSISTANCE TO ATTACK VICTIMS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS ON HOW TO PROCEED WHEN INVESTIGATING AN ANIMAL ATTACK INCIDENT AND PREPARING FOR TRIAL.

If you are interested, please continue, if not, return to Bob and Nita's homepage, or
check out Dr. A's curriculum vitae.

to Robert E. Armstrong.