Woman sues Multnomah County for more than $800k after dog attack
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A woman is taking legal action against Multnomah County after she was attacked by a dog in 2023.
The lawsuit filed by Cheryl Wakerhauser is seeking damages totaling $806,300 from both Multnomah County and Multnomah County Animal Services for the incident. KOIN 6 News reached out to the county but they declined to comment.
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According to court documents, Wakerhauser alleges she was “out enjoying a morning jog on Hawthorne Boulevard when she was brutally attacked and mauled by an at-large, unrestrained dog with a prior history of dangerous and aggressive behavior,” on April 17, 2023.
The dog, who had a reported history of previously attacking other animals, caused “extensive physical injuries” that left Wakerhauser with permanent scars. She was bit 35 times on various parts of her body, including both legs, her right arm, and her lower back. These injuries healed over a period of months and were “extremely painful,” the lawsuit says.
Wakerhauser, the owner and pastry chef at Pix Patisserie, told KOIN 6 News last year her injuries could have been much worse if it weren’t for a good Samaritan named Monica who stopped and honked her horn at the dog.
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The dog, an American put bull mix called Bubbie, had previously attacked another dog and injured it, requiring emergency surgery. The lawsuit alleges that the county and animal services knew about this attack but did not put Bubbie into impoundment nor did they issue a citation to its owner. The lawsuit also says Bubbie’s owner was a “transient individual who is known to frequent the area” and that the dog blocked public sidewalks.
Wakerhauser is suing the county and animal services for negligence. The lawsuit is requesting a jury trial to deliberate damages of up to $56,300 for Wakerhauser’s medical expenses and up to $750,000 for “noneconomic damages,” such as “diminished quality of life” and anxiety.
The full complaint can be viewed below.
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