Marietta Injury Lawyer Blog
In March of 2025, WALB 10 News reported that a pitbull had mauled a woman in Georgia shortly after escaping from its yard. The dog in question is a pitbull, and this incident clearly isn’t doing the breed’s already tarnished reputation any favors. That being said, dog owners must bear responsibility for the actions of their animals, even if the breed has a reputation for aggressiveness. The real question here is simple: How did the dog escape from the yard? Could this lead to a dog bite lawsuit in Cobb County?
Dog Reportedly Escaped Through Damaged Fence Before Attacking Woman
Police say that a dog escaped through a “damaged fence” before attacking and severely injuring a woman in Georgia. Authorities also reported that the owner of this animal was completely unaware of the attack, since they were inside their residence at the time. When questioned about the damaged fence, the owner said that they were under the impression it had been repaired.
In the end, a random woman paid the price for this oversight. The dog was likely being territorial, and the victim was attacked as she passed by the home. She suffered several cuts and scratches across her left leg, along with avulsions across her right leg. The fact that her injuries were limited to her legs suggests that the woman remained on her feet throughout the incident, and she was not pushed to the ground by the dog.
This is extremely fortunate, since people are much more vulnerable to dog attacks once they fall onto the ground. In this position, a dog might maul areas closer to vital organs, such as the chest, face, and throat. These injuries can easily prove fatal. That being said, one should not diminish the severity of this woman’s injuries. Although she might have escaped bites to the face and neck, her legs may be permanently disfigured. She may also struggle with psychological trauma for the rest of her life.
Owner Receives Numerous Citations After Attack
Although the owner might have been oblivious to what his dog was doing, he still faced various penalties for his clear negligence. First, he was cited for not properly restraining and confining his dog to his property. He was also cited for being a “nuisance” to the community. Finally, the man was not able to provide authorities with proof that the dog was vaccinated against rabies, which led to a third citation.
This last citation must have been worrying for the victim, who may have had to rush to the hospital for a rabies shot. While rabies is relatively rare among domesticated dogs in Georgia, it is not completely unheard of.
The dog was also removed from the property, and the owner was officially prevented from obtaining any more dogs during a probationary period. A local attorney in Georgia heard about this incident and highlighted the importance of amending existing state laws. She says that “we need to tweak […] the Dangerous Dog Law that will make Georgia a safer place.”