Blog Post

Dog Attack Victim to Receive $1 Million


February 08, 2008
Topic: Dog Bites

The victim of a horrific dog attack that took place in 2006 has settled a lawsuit for $1 million for severe facial injuries she sustained during the attack.

On April 6 2006, Wendy Rydberg was walking to the bus stop in the quiet neighborhood of Green Leaf Drive in Santa Rosa, California when a 90-pound American bulldog came racing down the street towards her kids. He belonged to the residents of a house in the neighborhood and had apparently broken free. As Wendy tried to shield her children from the animal, it jumped up and bit off a portion of her nose and some bits of her mouth. It then fled.

Rydberg spent four days in hospital and has had a total of three surgeries to minimize scarring to her nose, mouth and cheek. The scarring still remains, however. The owner of the dog, 19-year-old Rydberg Dale, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to four months in jail and community service. Four months is hardly a stiff sentence for neglecting to restrain your own pet dog and considering the severity of Rydberg's injuries. The dog, Denali, was killed by animal control officials.

According to the settlement, which must have come as a relief to Rydberg, she will receive $900,000 and her family will receive $33,000 each.

This incident again brings to light the question of responsible dog ownership. Blaming the dog in this situation and saying aggressive breeds should all be put down is a little silly and a bit like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Some dog owners, particularly those who have breeds like Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Pit bulls, have a tendency to be blind to the fact that their dog could be quite dangerous to other dogs and human beings. What seems like a friendly and charming dog in your company does have aggressive tendencies that can't be denied. But some aggressive breed owners have the tendency to say "But, he was just such a friendly dog," after their dog has mauled a person half to death. It's a little like saying of a murderer or child molester after he has been caught that he seemed like "such a nice old man." This is a prime example of irresponsible dog ownership.

Animals are not predictable. There's no person that can guarantee that his unleashed and unconfined dog would not be a danger to his neighbors or the community. If you have a fondness for aggressive breeds, by all means, adopt them. But remember that what seems like a sweet loving dog at home might not always behave the same when he's out roaming the neighborhood.

Always keep your dog on a leash when you walk him. Make sure that the gates are locked and he's properly confined when he's at home. It's nothing but irresponsible dog ownership that a 90-pound bulldog was able to escape from his owner's house, then attack and maul an adult. The result is a dog that's dead for nothing more than behaving like an animal, and a woman who will have to live with scars for the rest of her life.

If you have been injured in a dog attack, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.