Alzheimer’s patient, 92, mauled by stray pit bull after carers let it into her home
Norma Graves was filmed being mauled by the stray pit bull after staff allowed it to move into the Alzheimer's care home where she lives
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Horrifying suveillance camera footage shows the moment a 92 year-old Alzheimer’s patient was mauled by a stray pit bull. Norma Graves was savaged by the dog twice last month at the Village Green Alzheimer’s Care Home in Tomball, Texas.
One disturbing clip shows Graves petting the pit bull, which was informally ‘adopted’ by staff at the center. It can be seen rearing back, prompting Graves to step away.
She then begins petting the dog again, only for it to jump up and snap at her face, then knock her to the ground. The dog then gets back onto the couch, with a care home seen rushing over to help Graves before the clip finishes.
Graves’ family has now hired attorney Mike Kerensky to sue Village Green, with the lawyer claiming the dog also bit another resident. He explained that his client has Alzheimer’s which has reduced her mental capacities to those of a three year-old, but that she still loves dogs.
Kerensky said: ‘She loves dogs. We all do. This isn’t the dog’s fault.
‘Dogs who are allowed into facilities like this need special training because for a dog to interpret the actions of people who have Alzheimer’s is very difficult.
‘It scares them. They don’t understand what to do, and that’s probably why this dog attacked Norma.’
After the attack, the dog is said to have gone missing for a week, instead of being put into quarantine.
Kerensky wants the animal to be tested so that it can be cared for and rehomed if possible.
He told KTRK: ‘Two things: One is justice for Norma.
‘The second thing is somehow get the owners of this facility to understand that if you’re going to use dogs for companions, therapy, support, they have to be properly trained.
‘They have to be properly supervised, and you have to do it the right way.
‘You just can’t take a stray off the side of the street and put it in a home.’
Graves has since been moved from the home.
A spokesman for the home has yet to comment on the lawsuit filed against them.