HOUSTON – The owners of a pit bull that attacked a woman in southwest Houston is facing thousands of dollars in fines after refusing to give the dog up for mandatory quarantine, Animal Control officials said.
"The worst part was that I had just told my neighbor the dogs were out," Jennifer Jenkins said while still wearing several bandages on her hands and arms. "She told me the dogs were put up, and within two minutes I was being attacked. I looked up and the female pit bull was running full speed toward me."
In addition to bruises and cuts requiring nine stitches, Jenkins said she's now undergoing a series of rabies vaccinations.
"There was blood everywhere," Jenkins said. "I don't know if the dog was rabid. Rabies is lethal."
Animal Control officials said that when they went to the dog owner's home in the 7900 block of Deer Meadow Dr. on May 30, the owners told them the pit bull had been sent to live with one of their friends out of the city's jurisdiction.
"They have no health records," Jenkins said. "They've eluded the law. They've eluded any type of consequence."
According to Animal Control officials, the dog's owners were issued an initial $565 citation for failing to surrender the pit bull, and will continue racking up that fine for every day the dog is not given up.
In addition, the owners also received six additional fines for not registering or vaccinating three other dogs that live in their home.