Volunteer Attacked by Dog; Files Lawsuit Against Animal Shelter

An Orange County animal shelter is coming under flak after an incident where a former volunteer was viciously mauled by one of the dogs there. The attack lasted for roughly seven minutes, in which the victim screamed for help before being temporarily rendered unconscious.

Emily Moncur had been a volunteer at the Orange County Animal Care Facility in Tustin, and had just finished taking pictures of a dog named Blaze when the attack occurred. When she attempted to return the dog to his kennel, Blaze bit Moncur 18 times. The assault was severe enough to knock her unconscious, and resulted in grievous physical and psychological injuries.

Her attorney, John Montevideo, has stated that “the key here is about ensuring there is accountability by Orange County Animal Care,” as well as “This is a story about a preventable incident caused by a dereliction of duties that unnecessarily increased the risks of working with neglected dogs in Orange County.”