SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A family in South Portland is demanding answers and change after their dog and house sitter were attacked late Monday morning by a pair of dogs -- dogs that had been reported as loose by their owners earlier that day, police say.
Kathy Maietta and her family were out of town when they got the call. She says her sitter Karen and dog Finley were in the backyard when the pair of dogs barreled their way under the home's fence and attacked.
"They pushed against the fence and they just shimmied under there," Maietta said. "We've never had an issue with wild animals getting in the yard or anything."
Karen, who only wanted to be referenced by her first name and did not feel up to going on camera, says she is still in shock over what happened. Home security video showed how the 68-year-old managed to get the dogs off of Finley after wailing on their heads with a nearby wooded post.
However, it wasn't before she and the pup were covered in blood and dog bites.
"I have 41 stitches in my forearm and a couple in my leg." Karen said.
The Maietta's and Karen say they are thankful the outcome wasn't worse. However, what happened with the dogs after they attacked is what doesn't sit well with them.
"I'm absolutely appalled that the dogs were able to go back to the owners and be quarantined in the home that they escaped from." Karen said. "How do we know that this won't happen again and how do we know that a fatality won't happen next time?"
Maine law regarding dog bites is simple yet complex. Each case is handled accordingly and there are many steps that could be taken based on the situation at hand.
Going through every possible outcome of an animal attack would take hours, so instead these are the basics:
- An animal control officer responds to reports of an attack.
- Once there, the ACO will create an incident report, which includes getting written statements from those involved.
- Regardless of who or what the dog bit, it is required to be quarantined for 10 days. Maine law states where the dog is housed during this period is up to the ACO handling the case.
- After the investigation is complete, charges could follow... those would be handled in court by a judge.
Vaccination records of household pets involved are also looked at to be sure the animal is up to date on its rabies shots.
South Portland's Police Chief, Edward Googins, spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine after the attack. He says the department takes these situations very seriously and the city's Animal Control Officer was investigating the incident.
As of Thurday afternoon, South Portland police say the investigation is still underway and a full report is expected in the coming days. The dogs have no prior record of violence with the city, officials say.
Despite the dogs' clean record, the Maietta family and Karen say they don't feel safe knowing the dogs who attacked could possibly get loose again. They say the live in neighborhood full of children and worry about what could happen.
Regardless the outcome of their accident, they hope their story sparks a bigger conversation around dog attack laws in Maine, specifically where dogs should be quarantined after an attack like this.
This story will be updated.