Woman mauled in Plainfield dog attack upset some dogs have been returned

CONNECTICUT -- The town of Plainfield’s decision to return four of six dogs to their owners after a home health aide was mauled has many upset in town and beyond. Lynne Denning herself says believes two of the dogs returned were involved in the attack.

“I still get tired,” said Denning. “I don’t know if it’s depression. The things you used to enjoy, you can’t find it again.”

  

Denning was mauled in December at a Plainfield home where she was caring for an elderly woman. Six dogs were removed and slated to be euthanized, but now the town has returned four to their owners, Jenna and Richard Allen.

“I raised Rottweilers for a while. I don’t want to see any animals put down; that just rips my heart out,” said Denning. “It’s not even that I’m blaming the dogs. I blame the owners.”

The two male dogs are still at the town pound, but three female Rottweilers and a yellow lab, which Denning says has also been attacked by the other dogs, are now back home.

 

“It’s been determined by the police that four of these dogs were not involved and we have no reason to keep them,” Plainfield First Selectman Paul Sweet said.

The Dennings say the town had no right to rescind the order to put down the dogs before having a hearing in front of the state Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture wouldn’t comment on the issue, but says a hearing will be scheduled.

One of the Rottweilers from Jenna and Richard Allens' home in
Plainfield. A home health care worker was mauled in December
by multiple dogs in the Allens home. The Department of Agriculture
 is holding a hearing Wednesday to determine the fate of two
of the dogs from the home. Bulletin file photo

We asked the First Selectman if he would feel safe having his wife or child in the home with the returned dogs. “I couldn’t answer that because number one, I’ve never seen the dogs,” he said.

Denning has undergone 13 surgeries with many more to come, her husband always by her side.

“Until something really tragic happens, you don’t really realize on a day-to-day basis what that person really means to you,” said Tony Denning.

 

“If this would have bothered him and he couldn’t handle it, I wouldn’t have a life. I wouldn’t want to live,” Lynne said.

A group will protest the town’s decision to return the dogs earlier. The Dennings will not be at the protest, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Plainfield Town Hall, but say they have been contacted by many people who plan to be there.

(WTNH - Aug 21, 2015)

Earlier:

• Healthcare Worker Improving After Dog Attack
• 911 tape of vicious dog attack released
• Plainfield dog attack victim's husband speaks out
• Family appeals order to euthanize dogs after vicious attack