Attacks Owner's Friend While in Vehicle
Hoquiam, WA - Last week a 27-year-old Everett man was severely bitten by a pit bull and was treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The unprovoked attack left him with facial damage, which will require plastic surgery, and a chipped tooth.

After being invited into a friend's truck to chat, the man petted the dog who was in the rear seat. After talking for a few minutes, he turned to pet the dog again and it lunged at him, biting him on the face and breaking a tooth. Last March, the owner of the dog was issued a Potentially Dangerous Dog (PDD) notification for her pit bull -- the dog had approached a person in a malicious manner.

The dog was taken into impound after the recent incident and its owner will have to make an appearance in Hoquiam Municipal Court on Tuesday to determine the fate of the dog. The judge may impose "extreme restrictions" on the owner for her to keep her dog, or may order the dog be euthanized.

DogsBite.org adds that a dog declared PDD in the State of Washington, who then bites a person unprovoked, and is subsequently labled as a Dangerous Dog (DD) is not automatically euthanized. Furthermore, given that the dog owner has already proven to be highly irresponsible, what makes officials think she will comply with "extreme restrictions"?

Another lingering question is, "Who pays for the victim's medical cost?" We doubt the young dog owner is a homeowner with a suitable insurance policy. Is it realistic to assume she can pay the victim's medical costs, which will start at about 20k? If a dog has been labeled a PDD, the dog owner should be required to hold an insurance policy.