A family in Hemphill, Texas, has filed a $1 million lawsuit against their neighbors after their 10-year-old son was attacked by three loose dogs on August 13. According to the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call and found the boy bleeding from both legs and other parts of his body in the backyard of a residence. A deputy applied tourniquets before the child was transported to a hospital.
While at the scene, deputies heard gunshots from a nearby home. Upon investigation, they observed the dog owners attempting to put down the animals involved in the attack. Deputies reported seeing one dog dragged out of view followed by three gunshots. After two dogs were killed, the man ran out of ammunition as the third dog began attacking him. He asked deputies for assistance, and they shot the remaining animal.
The law firm Hightower, Franklin & James is representing the boy’s family. In an August 25 news release, they stated that since the incident, “the boy had undergone five surgeries and received more than 500 stitches,” and noted that none of the dogs had been vaccinated for rabies.
“Sadly, this dog attack was preventable,” said representatives from Hightower, Franklin & James. “(The neighbors) knew that their dogs were unvaccinated and were violent and aggressive.”
They added: They “allowed their dogs out of their residence without a leash or any means of control to roam the neighborhood.”
Attorneys argue that negligence on behalf of the neighbors led to the attack. The sheriff’s office investigation found that “the dogs ‘had been aggressive in the past.’” The owners received three citations—one for each dog involved—and further charges may be possible as investigations continue.
Hemphill is located about 170 miles northeast of Houston.