"Moncur sustained at least 18 bites across her body, on her arms, legs, buttocks and neck as she was pinned to the door of the kennel and suffered "severe and permanent injuries," her suit said. The lawsuit said the shelter failed to alert Moncur that the dog had a known history of aggression due to the cruelty of previous owners."
"The complaint alleged that Moncur's injuries were greater because volunteers were told to handle dogs and complete tasks alone without prior training; and because of limited staffing no one was in the nearby vicinity who could respond to an emergency. Employees at the facility did not hear her screaming during her struggle with the dog because they were encouraged to wear earplugs at work."
Emily Moncur, a volunteer at OC Animal Care shelter in Tustin, was severely bitten 18 times by Blaze, a Labrador-beagle mix, while photographing dogs for adoption in August 2023. The shelter failed to inform Moncur that the dog had a documented history of aggression from previous abuse. The lawsuit alleged multiple negligence factors: volunteers received no prior training, worked alone without supervision, and staff wore earplugs preventing them from hearing emergencies. Moncur sustained injuries across her arms, legs, buttocks, and neck. Orange County initially denied responsibility but unanimously approved a $450,000 settlement in March.
#animal-shelter-negligence #dog-bite-injury-settlement #workplace-safety-violations #volunteer-protection #orange-county-liability
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