Emerald White's Pit Bulls Kill Beagle, Woman Suing Victim for $1 Million
Emerald White's pit bulls escaped from her yard in Texas City, Texas and killed another dog, 10-year-old Bailey, in neighbor Steve Baker's yard on Oct. 27. Now the owner of the four pit bulls is suing Baker for $1 million for injuries she received while trying to break up the fight between the dogs.
White claims that she was "seriously injured" when she was "unexpectedly and viciously attacked" while going into Baker's yard to retrieve her dogs. The lawsuit, which was filed in Galveston County District Court Wednesday, said that the $1 million in damages was for the "multiple serious bite and scratch-type injuries requiring ongoing medical treatment" as well as "conscious pain and suffering" and "fear, anxiety and trepidation" from the attack.
Even though the four pit bulls escaped from her yard and before killing the beagle, White claims that Steve Baker "failed to confine and restrict Bailey in a secure enclosure." Baker claimed that he spoke to White and repaired part of the fence weeks before the attack, but she never responded to him about it.
Baker can't believe he's being sued.
"I couldn't believe it. Now they're suing me for $1 million— I just can't believe it," he told The Galveston County Daily News. "Everyone was telling me to sue her, but I decided not to because it won't bring Bailey back."
Authorities told White that her dogs have been declared dangerous by Texas City, which means they must be registered annually, a sign must be up warning passerby of the animals, and they must be kept in an enclosure at least six feet high with a mechanical locking device.
"The police took the action I wanted and declared those dogs dangerous and awareness was raised; so I decided to let it go," Baker said. "Now they're suing me for $1 million."
