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Noblesville girl attacked by dog while playing in front yard, family sues

Posted at 6:24 PM, Sep 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-23 22:57:41-04

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- A Noblesville family is demanding justice after they say their little girl was attacked by a dog while playing in her own front yard.

The Williamson family says their daughter, Maizy, was in the front yard on the grass when a neighbor came jogging by on the sidewalk with his dog.

They say that dog was on a six-foot leash, and it lunged onto their property and bit their daughter on the face.

The 4-year-old needed 13 stitches, according to her parents, and she will now need plastic surgery due to excessive scarring. 

Mario Massillamany, partner at Massillamany & Jeter LLP has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family against the dog’s owner, Jason Willy, saying the dog has a history of aggressive behavior and had mauled another dog just two days before he attacked their child. 

After everything their daughter has gone through, the family wants other dog owners to know that it’s their responsibility to be in control of their dogs.

 “Even if your dog hasn’t shown a history, as the owner you have to take responsibility. You should be a defensive owner; you have to be the one that is looking out for other people. We shouldn’t have to worry that I’ll turn around and get bit,” said Westin Williamson, Maizy’s father.

RTV6 reached out to the dog’s owner, Willy, but we have not yet heard back from him.