ACS Director Jonathan Gary says the dog owner ‘intentionally’ took the dog out of their jurisdiction following the April 29 incident.
SAN ANTONIO — Animal Care Services officials are eyeing criminal charges following an 80-year-old woman as attacked outside her home Thursday morning by the same dog authorities say bit a 5-year-old girl just days earlier.
The attack happened Thursday morning along the 8900 block of Arch Bridge in San Antonio when the woman stepped into her backyard. She had family members visiting at the time. The victim was rushed to the hospital experiencing to her face near her eye. A family member stopped the attack.
According to ACS Director Jonathan Gary, investigators began searching for the dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier, immediately after the April 29 attack. But there were challenges in locating the dog.
“Our investigators actually worked this case every single day trying to find this dog,” Gary said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to because the owner intentionally took the dog out of our jurisdiction.”
Neighbors say the attacks were preventable.
“I walk my dog late at night and it’s been out there,” said Brian Funderburk. “The owners tended not to be very attentive to it.”
Funderburk’s 5-year-old daughter was attacked by the dog last week. She’s now recovering and in brighter spirits.
“Her bite wasn’t terrible but not great,” Funderburk said. “She had a couple puncture wounds but other than that she’s doing better.”
Funderburk’s concern now is focused on his hospitalized neighbor while also hoping there’s justice on the horizon.
“It’s terrible,” Funderburk said. “It’s not something that should be happening.”
ACS says neighbors had reported concerns about the dog for more than a year, but investigators could not confirm earlier complaints or gather enough evidence to take enforcement action.
Now, with the dog in custody, investigators say potential charges could include attack by dog and serious bodily injury.
“At the end of the day, it’s not the dog’s fault,” Funderburk said. “This falls on the owner for not doing his due diligence, training his dog and taking care of his dog in the proper way.”
The investigation is ongoing. The future of the dog has not yet been determined.