Dog walker, 22, permanently disfigured after bloodthirsty attack

Calling all dog lovers! Sign up to TeamDogs for your weekly dose of dog news, pictures and stories.

A college student has been left permanently disfigured after two dogs she had been hired to walk had mauled her in a “bloodthirsty” attack, a lawsuit alleges.

Jacqueline Claire Durand, from Coppell, Texas, has reportedly needed several operations to help rectify her horrific injuries following the attack.

According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Lucy, a German shepherd mix breed, and Bender, a mixed-breed pit bull, pounced on her as soon as she opened the door on December 23.

The 22-year-old reportedly had her ears ripped off before the dogs ate them and most of her face below the eyes.

The lawsuit said: “The dogs knocked Jacqueline off balance, causing her to fall and drop her cell phone. Then, the Dogs violently attacked her head and face — mauling her catastrophically. The dogs were so violent and bloodthirsty that they pulled all of Jacqueline’s clothes off, including her blue jeans."

The lawsuit has accused the dog's owners Ashley Jo Bishop and Dr Justin Avery Bishop of negligence and premise liability. The couple were also named as the defendants in their capacities as trustees in a family trust.

• 

  Dog left to starve to death in frozen dustbin unrecognisable 12 months later

Durand previously met the animals when she discussed the dog walking vacancy with Ashley Bishop, but the day of the attack was the first time she had been hired to walk them, the lawsuit said.

The couple were allegedly aware that their pets had violent tendencies and knew their dogs became aggressive to anyone who approached their front door.

According to the lawsuit, the dogs were not in the kennels that they were usually kept in and the Bishops' had a warning sign at the entrance of their home.

The sign read: “Crazy Dogs. Please Don’t Knock or Ring the Bell. Call or Text Instead."

For all the latest Daily Star news, sign up for one of our free newsletters here.

The decision to euthanise Lucy and Bender was made this month, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

It has been reported that Durand has sought a jury trial and compensation of more than $1 million.

Her attorneys say they have been "amazed by her strength" following the nightmare attack.

“It’s a day-by-day journey for Jacqueline right now,” her attorney Chip Brooker said on Thursday.

The Bishops' have reportedly not apologised to the student.

• Dogs
• Space
• Animals
• Family

Source: Read Full Article