PENNSYLVANIA -- A 49-year-old woman severely attacked by her sister-in-law's pit bulls, which also killed her poodle, was found guilty Monday of allowing the dogs in her home.
Bernadette Frable-Kirk was feeding snacks to the pit bulls in her Whitehall Township home on Sept. 5 when they got out of control and attacked her poodle, police said.
Frable-Kirk tried to separate the dogs, but the pit bulls turned on her, leaving a large gash on her leg and bite wounds to her legs and face, police said
Her sister-in-law,Tammy Frable, was later charged with six counts of inflicting severe harm to a human being without provocation on public or private property. Frable-Kirk, who spent days in a hospital for were wounds, was charged with harboring a dangerous dog, a charge her attorney called "absurd."
"It's a travesty," attorney Patrick Reilly said. "My client is the victim here. I have never seen a case where you are the victim and not only are you going to suffer physically but you are going to get prosecuted."
Despite Reilly's argument, District Judge Robert Halal found Frable-Kirk guilty of the dangerous dog charge and her fine is more than $500.
Earlier, Frable, 48, of Pen Argyl, pleaded guilty to four of the charges against her. The remaining two charges were dismissed because she had two of the pit bulls euthanized. In addition, one of her dogs will have to be registered as a dangerous dog, which carries a $500 charge.
Whitehall police officer Jeff Coleman testified he was dispatched around 11 a.m. Sept. 5 to the home at 5312 Pennsylvania St. When he got to the home, Frable-Kirk answered the door and was covered in blood.
She told Coleman that she had scattered crackers on the floor for the pit bulls to snack on, but instead it caused the dogs to get aggressive. They first attacked and killed her poodle mix, Ginger, and then attacked her when she intervened.
When Coleman arrived, all but one of the dogs had been placed in crates, he said. The other dog, Marley, was growling in the kitchen, he said.
Coleman asked Frable-Kirk which of the dogs attacked her and she said they were all involved, but she could not tell which ones actually bit her, he testified. She was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest to be treated.
Tim Prendergast, Frable's attorney, said his client had her two youngest pit bulls — Chula and Apollo — euthanized after the attack.
Marley will have to be registered as a dangerous dog, which will place restrictions on how she can be handled outside the home, he said. Prendergast said he hopes that Marley will eventually be taken to a sanctuary for dangerous dogs for rehabilitation.
Whitehall police have said they have been called to the home several times in the past for dog-related issues
(The Morning Call - Nov 8, 2011)
