By Michael McNarney
NORFOLK
A Norfolk man says in a lawsuit that his neighbor's dog tore his pint-sized Pomeranian, Ms. Tiny, from his arms and fatally mauled her on Jan. 1.
"I've lost many, many nights of sleep," Charles Lawrence Jr., 59, said in an interview. "This is something that no one should have to go through."
Lawrence, of the 1400 block of Arbor Ave., sued neighbor Antonee Y. Baker in Norfolk Circuit Court earlier this month, asking for $75,000 in damages.
Lawrence accuses Baker of negligence, saying she allowed her two dogs to escape and attack him and his dog.
Baker was found guilty in January in General District Court of failing to control one of her dogs, a misdemeanor. She was fined $1,000, according to court records, and given a 90-day suspended jail sentence.
One of the dogs - a cattle dog mix - was euthanized and the other was returned to Baker, said Jake Roos, kennel supervisor at the Norfolk Animal Control Center.
In the lawsuit, both dogs are identified as pit bulls.
A woman who answered the door at the Baker home declined comment.
Lawrence said Ms. Tiny, 7, ruled the house despite her diminutive stature. She had her own bed in her own room, ate good dog food, and even drank her own coffee. When Lawrence went shopping at Kmart, she was sequestered in a coat pocket.
Lawrence said he was sitting in his backyard gazebo on Jan. 1, drinking coffee and reading his newspaper while playing with Ms. Tiny - their morning routine.
According to the lawsuit, Lawrence heard loud growling behind him. He turned around, and saw Baker's two dogs in his yard. The dogs snatched Ms. Tiny away and knocked Lawrence to the ground, the suit said.
"I heard him yelling for help," said his daughter, Deborah Lawrence-Frazier, 37. "He was yelling 'Help, help me. They're killing Tiny."
Police were called, and the dogs were ultimately caught. Ms. Tiny "looked like something from a horror movie," said Courtney Moore, 24, another daughter.
A new Pomeranian - Oreo - now lives at the Lawrence home, but Lawrence says it's not the same. He hasn't told his grandchildren what happened, nor shown them the marker where Ms. Tiny is buried in the backyard.
"I'm just trying to deal with it," he said.
Michael McNarney, michael.mcnarney@pilotonline.com
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My question is why was the
My question is why was the 90 days suspended? This man will now fear large dogs forever and he lost his companion of 7 years because someone decided that they needed to have violent animals........AND allow them to run free.
When he wins this case I hope he obtains a judgment and garnishes her wages and/or welfare checks for life !!!!
Mr. Lawrence's Miss Tiny
I've been thinking about this tragedy all day since I read the paper this morning. My two little dogs and I suffered a similar attack last June, but we were lucky. Neighbors and police riding by stopped and came to my assistance kicking the crap out of the pitt bull that was attacking my dogs while we were on a neighborhood walk. mine were on leash. the pitt bull obviously was not. My heart breaks for Mr. Lawrence. I was hysterical feeling I had not protected my dogs from harm as I'm sure Mr. L feels... but he is lucky he wasn't killed along with his beloved Miss Tiny.
Some people don't understand that our pets are a GIFT and we treasure them... they really are the gifts that keep on giving... and I hope and pray that Mr. L can someday treasure another gift in Miss Tiny's memory. I hope and pray also that he wins this lawsuit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For all of us.
First things first
Linowitz, get over your self! This is news to those of us with pets, and care about their safety and well being. What a rude and uncaring statement. Second, my heart goes out to the owner. He will never truly recover from such a horrible tragedy. To think you can't even go out in your own backyard without being attacked. I truly hope the courts rule in favor of the plaintiff for the full amount plus court costs!
How Awful...
I don't blame him one bit for suing. That sight will never leave his mind nor the sounds of his dog crying. It just breaks my heart.
Has Baker paid the court-ordered fine or not?
"Baker was found guilty...was fined $1,000, according to court records, and given a 90-day suspended jail sentence." If not, why not? If not, a lawsuit to sue her should keep that in mind. The Courts REGULARLY order fines and restitution then do NOTHING to make sure they are paid. It's a judicial farce, not a judicial system. This is larger than an issue involving a dog (which is large enough for me if it's my pet). This issue reflects on the entire judicial system and how they attempt to placate plaintiffs and the public by ordering the payment of fines then sitting on their hands while not a CENT is ever recovered.
sad
I witnessed something similar to this, and it is very heartwrenching and the sight really never leaves your mind. Although what I saw was not my dog, I feel for this man, because I know if it had been my dog, I would have nightmares for a long time.
slow news day??
i mean, really...
It's not the same
It's been 12 years sine my little dog died, and I still can't get myself together to get another dog. It broke my heart, my families, and even my neighbors. They become our children. It's just that simple, and my heart goes out to him.