[nagdu] Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed surgery

[Marion Gwizdala]

Dear All,
    Though we will all agree that the owner of the attacking dogs should be 
responsible for the vet bills, this is a prime example of the reason each 
state needs a criminal statute to protect service animal handlers. The other 
issue is that, in order to require someone to pay these bills, there needs 
to be due process, something that is a protection of the United States 
Constitution. Even if the owners of the dogs were found negligent and 
ordered to compensate the person for the expenses of the vet bills, this 
could take several months. The need for surgery is immediate, not several 
months from now.

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tina Thomas" <tinadt at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed 
surgery


> The owners of the pit bulls should be responsible for all vet costs.
> Tina and D.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Ginger Kutsch
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 5:59 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed surgery
>
> Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed surgery
>
> http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Service-dog-attacked-Owne
> r-needs-help-with-needed/xDKYZ4kBo06aa7qHw9_WuA.cspx
>
> Published: 8/31 10:55 pm
>
> Reported by: Kylie Conway
>
> Buffy, a service dog, sits with her owner in hopes raising funds for hip
> surgery SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A service dog needs help after she 
> was
> viciously attacked by two pit bulls. Buffy's owner is nearly blind and is
> now at his wits-end trying to find a way to pay for a necessary surgery to
> fix her broken hip.
>
>
>
> The attack happened last Tuesday on South Main and 1300 S where Zoran
> Maunaga attends school at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center.
>
>
>
> "Three other people were bit trying to get the dogs apart. The dogs were
> loose and off the leash when they attacked," said Maunaga's friend Carolyn
> Howe.
>
>
>
> Maunaga came to America thirteen years ago as a Bosnian refugee. He has a
> prosthetic left eye and relies on his service dog Buffy to get around.
>
>
>
> "That always amazes me. You know, if he's at my house he knows the layout
> it's not a problem. But, when it's some place different he doesn't know
> where he's going," said Howe.
>
>
>
> A police report shows that the two pit bulls have attacked before.
>
>
>
> "But, it sounds to me that they should have been confiscated. Well, if 
> they
> killed another dog last year," said Howe.
>
>
>
> Maunaga is living on disability and can't afford to pay the $970 for 
> Buffy's
> emergency care plus an additional $2,500 for the surgery to fix her hip. 
> The
> veterinarian told Maunaga if Buffy doesn't get the surgery soon it will
> leave her disabled.
>
>
>
> Maunaga had to turn down an expense-paid trip back home to see friends and
> family because of the attack.
>
>
>
> "His friend was taking him back to his country to see his mother to see 
> his
> whole family and when this happened they told him that she couldn't go,"
> said Howe.
>
>
>
> It's been four years since Maunaga saw his mother. Now it will be longer 
> as
> he fights to save his best friend.
>
>
>
> The pit bulls were found and euthanized.
>
>
>
> If you'd like to help contact Advanced Veterinary Care during normal
> business hours and explain how you'd like to help Buffy.
>
>
>
> Advanced Veterinary Care
>
> 1021 East 3300 South
>
> Salt Lake City, UT 84106
>
> 801-942-3951
>
>
>
>
>
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