Rescue Organization Not Sheltered From Lawsuit Print
Thursday, December 20 2012

A California woman who was bitten by a German shepherd is suing the rescue organization that adopted out the toothy dog.

Angela Otero is suing the German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California, and the owner of the dog who adopted it from the rescue organization, alleging that the organization and the owner should have known the dog was dangerous, and therefore acted negligently by failing to make sure the German shepherd would be kept in a safe manner.  The lawsuit asks for damages, including punitive, and court costs.

According to the allegations, Otero was at a local dog park with her dog Ollie, a Golden Retriever-poodle mix, when the owner defendant Laurie Furman arrived with her German shepherd, proceeded to place it within the fenced area and then stood outside of that area talking on the phone. Otero claims she was bitten on her right hand and lost part of her middle finger as she tried to stop Furman's German shepherd from biting her dog Ollie around the throat.

According to news reports, the rescue organization's website notes that many of the dogs come from unknown backgrounds and "cannot warrant or guarantee any dog's future behavior" as a result.

Source:  Paloaltoonline.com