Dog attack victim sues King County over inaction

AUBURN, Wash. – A year and a month after a jogger was mauled and nearly killed by two dogs outside an Auburn home, victims’ attorneys are suing King County – alleging they knew about the home in question. problem and did not act until it became clear. late.

“There is a very long list of complaints from neighbors about this property and King County has been at the property,” said Gemma Zanowski, an attorney representing dog attack survivors. This happened many times before this dog attack happened.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Zanowski and her team allege King County knew about the home inhabited by squatters, knew dogs were dangerous, and failed to “remove the dangers that have arisen.” know this”.

“We should expect that our government will live up to the promises it has made to us and will monitor and take complaints from citizens seriously, especially when they are relevant,” said Zanowski. to specific hazards in the community.

Two dogs pounced on a victim jogging nearby on February 22, 2022, biting and dragging the woman across the street.

“Nobody deserves it,” neighbor Kristin Purvis told KING 5 on the day of the attack. “I wanted someone to come and help me so I don’t know why I wouldn’t try to help someone. I just felt bad for not being able to help her.”

Neighbors tried to fend off two dogs, one by car – eventually a King County deputy sheriff shot and killed one of the dogs, a black pit bull, while the second two were taken away by animal control officers.

“I have a four-year-old son, I have a dog that I want to be able to walk on a leash,” says Purvis. “

Neighbors were furious after the attack because the house was the subject of many complaints. Public records show that animal control seized two German Shepherds in 2021 and a deputy used a stun gun on a pitbull in 2021 while executing an order.

By April 2022, King County teams had cleared the trash and onto the problematic home. For the attorneys filing lawsuits in the near-fatal assault case — it’s already too late.