Jacqueline Claire Durand University of Texas college student mauled by two dogs is left permanently disfigured according to negligence suit against Dallas owners.
A Texas college student and ardent animal lover has claimed being ‘permanently and catastrophically disfigured’ during a ‘bloodthirsty’ attack by two dogs that tore off and ate parts of her head and face when she showed up to walk them, according to a filed lawsuit.
Jacqueline Claire Durand, a 22-year-old student at the University of Texas at Dallas who worked as a dog sitter, said she planned to walk Lucy, a German shepherd mix-breed, and Bender, a pit bull mix-breed, on Dec. 23.
When she showed up that day at the Coppell home of Ashley Bishop and Dr. Justin Bishop, the dogs’ owners, and ‘opened the front door — without provocation — the dogs, who the Bishops had left out of their kennels, pushed the door open and brutally attacked Jaqueline,’ the lawsuit states.
‘The Dogs knocked Jacqueline off balance, causing her to fall and drop her cell phone,’ according to the suit. ‘Then, the Dogs violently attacked her head and face — mauling her catastrophically.’
‘The Dogs were so violent and blood thirsty that they pulled all of Jacqueline’s clothes off, including her blue jeans. The Dogs tore off and ate both of Jacqueline’s ears, her nose, her lips, and most of her face below her eyes,’ the suit adds.
‘Crazy Dogs. Please Don’t Knock or Ring the Bell. Call or Text Instead.’
‘In their prolonged attack, the Dogs left puncture wounds over most of her entire body,” according to the filing, which said the young woman has undergone ‘multiple surgeries.”
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Dallas County by attorney Chip Brooker, includes a photo of an ‘ominous sign’ on the couple’s front door that states: ‘Crazy Dogs. Please Don’t Knock or Ring the Bell. Call or Text Instead.’
According to the suit, Durand had previously discussed the dog-sitting job with Ashley Bishop at her home, where she also met the two animals ‘without incident.’
‘Other than the ‘Crazy Dogs’ sign hanging on the front door of the Bishop’s House, Mrs. Bishop failed to provide Jacqueline with any warnings concerning the Dog’s dangerous propensities,’ the lawsuit says.
‘However, Mrs. Bishop did note that the family kennels the Dogs when they are not home,’ it adds.
Before Durand arrived on the fateful day, Ashley Bishop ‘texted and informed Jacqueline that — inconsistent with the Bishop’s normal practice — they left the Dogs outside their kennels,’ according to the document.
The lawsuit accused the couple of negligence for allegedly failing to control, secure and train the animals, as well as ‘failing to provide a safe environment for their invitees.’
Day to day journey of healing
Durand is seeking a jury trial and compensation of more than $1 million, the lawsuit states. The damages are both physical and emotional the suit states.
A municipal judge has decided that both dogs, who were placed in the care of the city of Coppell, should be euthanized, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Durand’s attorneys have appealed the order to give them time to inspect the animals.
On Thursday, Brooker said he’s ‘amazed’ by his client’s strength.
‘It’s a day-by-day journey for Jacqueline right now,‘ he told NBC News, adding that the Bishops have not apologized to Durand.
