Elderly Woman Injured in Ocala Dog Attack

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on September 29, 2015

It seems like dog attacks are becoming more and more frequent these days. Pet owners are not taking responsibility for their pets and letting them freely wander the streets. When that happens, the dogs injure and sometimes kill people or young children.

In Ocala, Florida a 76-year-old woman was attacked and suffered significant injuries when a pack of dogs attacked her on September 10. She was innocently heading to her mailbox and was attacked by a pit bull, a pit bull mix, a retriever mix, and a German shepherd. (The animals are named Keeper, Enzo, Cass and Lady.)

Dawn Thompson suffered multiple bites and lacerations in the attack. She was transported to the Ocala Regional Medical Center and has been recovering from injuries. According to media reports, Thompson was listed in fair condition. She faces weeks or even months of rehabilitation. That doesn’t seem fair for somebody who was just going to her mailbox to get her mail.

A neighbor heard barking dogs and a commotion and went to investigate. She saw the attack and was able to rescue Thompson before she suffered more serious injuries. The neighbor lured the dogs away from Thompson, who then fled the scene.

It’s not the first time that County Animal Services have had contact with the animals’ owner, Jamie Bussiere. The agency had been in contact with Bussiere five times before the attack. The complaints ranged from a dog-at-large to being issued a dangerous dog warning. In one of the instances, Bussiere claimed a dog was not hers, but a stray that kept digging under her fence and getting into her yard. The animal was seized and later euthanized. The September 10^th attack appears to be the first time her animals had attacked an individual.

The agency confiscated the four animals that attacked Thompson and an investigation into the attack was launched. The dogs were being held at the Animal Control facility for several days until a determination could be made about whether to return the animals.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. immediately at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) for a free initial consultation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.