A 45-year-old woman died a horrific death after she was mauled by a pack of four dogs in Yermo, California. Kelly Caldwell died after paramedics, who rushed to the scene, transported to her to a nearby hospital. She had multiple perforating injuries and dog bite marks.

One of the dogs was killed after it became aggressive towards paramedics while another was killed after it showed the same behavior towards animal control officers. The other two dogs were taken away as evidence. As expected the owners of the dogs claim that their dogs have never been violent.

Yermo has found itself with a dog menace problem for many months now, and residents claim that animal control help is either too late or never available. It’s a common sight to see dogs running around on the streets, and when concerned residents called animal control, they seem hesitant to come out to Yermo.

In this tiny isolated community, it appears the dog problem has gone from being merely an annoyance and a noisy disturbance to an outright danger for residents who claim they are often scared to venture out after dark. Obviously Yermo is paying the price for its out-of-the-way location.

A stricter enforcement of pet laws might have prevented Caldwell’s death. It’s not clear what the dogs were doing out on that road, but obviously responsibility lies with the pet owners even if, like they claimed, their dogs had “never been violent before.”

No matter what pet owners may claim about the dogs not being the ones to blame, the fact is that when someone is killed in so brutal a fashion, the rights of a person to walk safely on the streets become more important than a person’s right to keep aggressive breeds of dogs. Stronger pet laws are needed, and restrictions will have to be enforced. More importantly, stronger punishment for dog attacks and higher liability are in order. Otherwise, we risk turning into a country that cares more for the rights of dogs than the life and safety of citizens.

If you or a loved-one has been injured or killed by an aggressive dog or any other type of domesticated animal, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact The Reeves Law Group immediately for a free consultation.