Richmond woman fearful after dog attack

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - ?A Richmond woman says she is afraid to take her dog for a walk after she and her canine companion were bitten by a neighbor's dog on Sunday.

Carolyn Dunson claims she and her dog, Spokin, were attacked by another dog. She wants to know why the canine that attacked her is still in the neighborhood.

Dunson says she and her dog Spokin were going for a walk on Mother's Day when the neighbor's dog attacked, biting Spokin and holding the dog in its mouth.

"He was biting my dog. He had my dog's tail in his mouth. I couldn't get him loose," she said.

Dunson says when she went to free her dog, the neighbor's dog bit her hands. The injuries sent her to the hospital and required multiple stitches.

"It frightens me," she said. "For the kids too, because if he attacked my dog, what do you think it will do to a kid?"

Richmond Animal Control says Dunson did file a report, and they are investigating the case. Dunson has a court date set for July. Animal Control officials add that the dog Dunson says attacked her has no prior history of violence.

According to city code, a dog can be deemed dangerous if it causes "serious physical injury" to another animal or person, or kills another animal. However, these cases depend on where an incident took place, and who owns the animals involved.

If a judge does find a dog to be a threat to the community, it can be placed on the city's dangerous dog registry, and must be kept on a leash with a muzzle while not on its owner's property.

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