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A woman bitten by a dog on the organization’s property claims injuries and job loss.
WILKES-BARRE – A Dupont woman has filed a lawsuit in Luzerne County Court against the Luzerne County SPCA, alleging she was attacked by a pit bull at the nonprofit organization.
Kelly Reed, of Main Street, claims in the suit she was attacked by a dog that was on 10-day quarantine for biting people. She is seeking an unspecified payment due to the organization’s alleged negligence and her subsequent pain and suffering.
The suit, filed through attorneys Michael Cefalo and James Albert, says that on Feb. 26, 2010, the SPCA had a pit bull named Ishia on quarantine for biting an SPCA employee.
The SPCA knew the dog “attacked people and had vicious tendencies” when Reed arrived to pick the dog up for its owner, who is not named in the suit.
The suit says Reed became uncomfortable with being with the dog in a kennel, and asked to be let out.
Reed alleges she was told to “wait a minute” and that the dog jumped at her, grabbing her jacket. Reed says she took off the jacket, and the dog “ripped it” to pieces.
Reed alleges she again asked to be let out of the kennel and was told to wait, and the dog jumped on her and began biting her.
The employee, the suit alleges, finally opened the door, but the dog had already latched onto Reed’s hand.
Reed alleges she and the employee had to struggle with the dog to get it off her, ending the “violent attack.”
The suit says the SPCA acted negligently by failing to restrain the dog properly and failing to have proper supervision around the dog.
Cindy Stark, the shelter’s manager, did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday.
Reed alleges that as a result of the attack, she has lost feeling in her hand and that she suffered scars and disfigurement.
The suit says Reed lost her job at Mountain Marketing as a result of the attack, and that she also has lost her “well-being.”
The suit requests an “unliquidated sum” as payment, as well as interest and costs associated with filing the suit.