Facility-Owned Dog Attacks Resident Twice in Texas Alzheimer’s Care Facility
The family of a resident in a Texas Alzheimer’s care facility has filed a lawsuit against the facility alleging that a dog, owned by the facility, attacked their mother twice in February 2020. In the first incident, the resident suffered wounds to her nose and ten days later the dog again attacked the woman’s face causing deep lacerations that required many stitches and traumatized the woman. The resident has advanced Alzheimer’s disease and has become very upset and agitated due to the injuries to her face.
The resident’s son reported that the facility covered up the first attack in an incident report that indicated the cause of the injuries to the woman were of unknown origin, and the family was not told that the dog was the source of the injuries.
The family’s attorney said that a letter was sent to the facility asking that all security footage during the time the dog was at the facility be secured, but the facility did not respond to the letter. However, the lawyer said the family was able to obtain video of the attack on their mother and a photograph of the victim’s face. He also said that an attempt to photograph the dog at the veterinarian’s office where it was quarantined was rebuffed due to the facility refusing to give consent.
According to the lawsuit, the dog had been found abandoned by the side of a road, and the facility took it in and allowed it to roam the facility’s halls for a couple of months before it attacked the woman. The dog allegedly also bit another resident on the nose prior to these two incidents, yet was still allowed access to residents.
The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in district court.
Compliance Perspective
Taking in an abandoned dog and allowing it to roam a facility without knowledge of its history, disposition, or response to new people, sounds, smells, and environments; failing to report an incident involving the dog’s mauling attack of a resident; and failure to remove the dog from the premises after a first incident may be considered negligence that jeopardizes the safety and well-being of residents and is deemed provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding the risks associated with allowing non-therapy trained animals in the facility and the protocols for ensuring that only properly trained and disciplined animals be allowed.
- Train staff to report incidents involving animals that may be in the facility and the protocol for their removal if one exhibits threatening behavior or attacks a resident, employee, or visitor.
- Periodically audit to determine if facility pets or visiting animals have been evaluated for and display the calm and people-friendly disposition needed to be allowed in resident areas.
