CALIFORNIA --The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office has decided not to file charges against the owner of a pit bull that severely mauled a 9-year-old girl last month, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Prosecutors found there was "insufficient evidence" to support prosecution, spokesman Shelly Orio said.
Last month, a pit bull broke loose from its owner's yard at a Meadowview condominium complex and bit 9-year-old Sabrina Carrasco, who had been outside playing with two family members.
The girl suffered deep puncture wounds in her neck and shoulder, her family told The Bee. The dog also severed a critical nerve in her face, paralyzing the right side of her face, possibly permanently.
Animal control officials called it the worst dog attack they had seen in years. But legal experts said prosecution in such cases is difficult, and requires proof that the dog owner knew the dog was dangerous and failed to act appropriately.
The dog's owner relinquished the dog, a 70-pound, 3-year-old male, and the dog was put down.
[NOTE: This is the main problem with the laws. All these owners have to do is insist they didn't KNOW their dog was capable of doing such a thing and they typically avoid criminal prosecution. They hand over the dog and only have to deal with a civil lawsuit. But what if they don't have two nickels to rub together? Good luck ever getting any money out of them.
And what's to stop them from going right out and getting another dog? When this new dog does something horrible, they will simply insist that they didn't KNOW this dog was aggressive either. The cycle repeats itself over and over.]
(Sacramento Bee - Sept 8, 2011)
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