Family sues over dog-bite death

MONROE, Wash., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The family of a Washington state man who died after being bitten by a dog is suing the owner of the animal, alleging wrongful death.

The lawsuit filed by the family of Kenneth Bock alleges that Konrad Haskins allowed his Redbone Coonhound, Buddy, to wander around off his leash despite having a history of biting. It says Bock was bitten on a finger at Chain Lake Mini-Storage in Monroe in February, The Seattle Times reported Friday.

The family says Bock went into a hospital the following day, complaining of leg pain, and doctors found a blood clot and diagnosed him with the infection Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis, a bacterium found commonly in the saliva of dogs and cats. Bock died 10 days after the bite due to multiple organ failure and tissue necrosis from the bacterium, the suit says.

Gary Trabolsi, Haskins' lawyer, said the dog was not roaming freely but was inside his client's sport-utility vehicle when Bock reached into the window to pet him.

"Before you pet a dog, especially on somebody else's property, you need to make sure that's OK with the owner," Trabolsi said.

The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering.