Pit bulls attack and injure woman; owner charged
FELIONA Phang’s legal troubles began in January when her three pit bulls attacked a neighbour, causing severe nerve damage to the victim’s eyelid and multiple bite wounds.
Phang appeared in St James Parish Court on Thursday charged under the Dogs (Liability for Attacks) Act. She is being represented by attorney-at-law Chumu Paris.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on January 18, 2024 about 6:00 am in the Flanker community in Montego Bay, St James.
It is alleged that the complaint was on her way to deal with some paperwork related to a new job when she passed by a neighbour’s house and noticed several pit bulls on the property. While engaged in conversation with a neighbour she suddenly observed one of the dogs aggressively approaching her.
She picked up a stone with the intention of throwing it at the dog but before she could do so, the dog held on to her face. Other dogs then jumped at her, attacking and biting her all over her body.
She managed to get up and tried to flee, before being taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital.
The complainant reportedly sustained bites on her right eye, right forehead, right side, right foot, left elbow, right hand, and multiple scratches.
During the hearing attorney-at-law Laura Williamssalmon, who was watching the proceedings on behalf of the complainant, informed the court that her client has since seen an ophthalmologist and has been quoted $670,000 for corrective surgery on her eye. The lawyer explained that while her client’s vision and eyeball are fine, the nerve in her eyelid has been completely damaged and she is unable to lift her eyelid without using her hand. She also stated that scars she had received all over body needed to be addressed.
The complainant, who had one eye closed, was granted the opportunity to address the court. She said that following the attack on her, the dogs attacked other individuals who, fortunately, were able to flee.
When Presiding Judge Natiesha Fairclough-hylton enquired as to what had been done about the dogs, the investigating officer told the court that he made contact with the owners on multiple occasions to persuade them to control the dogs, but they made no effort to do so.
The judge then questioned Phang about the information presented to the court regarding the dogs allegedly still roaming the streets. She flatly denied the claim.
Meanwhile, Paris said he was not aware of such a complainant.
The court clerk then informed the court that other corrective surgeries were required, but that a cost estimate was not yet available.
The case was subsequently set for mention on May 28 and Phang’s bail was extended.