The parents of a 3-year-old Layton boy whose hand was bitten off by a neighbor’s dog is now suing their neighbor and the owner of the next-door property.
Attorneys for John and Hope Brown allege in the lawsuit, filed Monday in 2nd District Court, that their neighbors and the property owners knew that the two dogs that bit their son were "vicious" and were negligent in keeping them at their Layton home.
Their son, Austin, was injured March 9. He was playing in his enclosed backyard when, according to the lawsuit, two Siberian Huskies dug under a fence and bit the boy, pulling his arm and shoulder under the fence.
"Austin's father, John Brown, struggled with the dogs," the lawsuit reads, "and was eventually able to free Austin, but not before the two Siberian Huskies removed a portion of Austin's arm up to his elbow, and caused other serious injuries."
The Browns are suing their neighbors — Joey Young, Teri Young and Christine Young — along with property owners Rafael Garcia and Pilar Garcia and property managers Keller Williams Utah Realtors. The lawsuit alleges the property owners and managers knew about the dangerous dogs and didn’t do anything about it and didn’t end the Youngs’ lease.
The Browns say the March attack not only left their son with serious injuries, but caused emotional distress to both the boy and his father, who witnessed the encounter.
They are seeking an unspecified amount in economic damages, as well as punitive damages.
The Youngs surrendered the dogs after the attack. They were relocated to an animal sanctuary.
