Sunday, June 17, 2012

Pit bull owner: Attack was a natural reaction

FLORIDA -- A pit bull attack in Cape Coral injured a woman and her small dog. The attack took place in front of the victim's home on Southeast 21st Avenue.

The two-and-half-year-old pit bull named Jasmine in a southeast Cape Coral home. 


Wednesday, she got loose and ended up across the street where Carol Scott was standing in the driveway with her small dog - Tippy.

"She ran over there and was smelling the dog and the dog tried to attack her so [Jasmine's] natural instinct was to react towards that," said Jasmine's owner Suam Garcia.

Garcia claims Jasmine is a sweet dog who has never attacked his neighbor in the past.

"Actually she's encountered our neighbor before and she has always been playful, playing with the dog," he said.

According to a Cape Coral Police report, Scott had visible injuries to her left hand. Tippy reportedly suffered six puncture wounds to her body and needed 14 stitches. 


We tried talking to Scott about the attack, but she did not wish to do so.

And while Tippy recovers from her injuries at a local animal hospital. The Department of Health has ordered Jasmine be kept at home under quarantine.

"It wasn't anything aggressive towards her or the dog she was just reacting in a natural way," Garcia said.

A spokeswoman at Lee County Animal Services says Garcia has been cited for failure to license and vaccinate his dog. That's a $250 fine.  Any additional citations depend on the outcome of the victim's statements.

(ABC-7 - June 14, 2012)