Pit Bull Owner Harasses Victim's Family
Dog Attack Pits Neighbor Against NeighborStratford, CN - After four months of appeals, officials determined that Rocky, a 3-year old pit bull, was a "serious danger" and euthanized after attacking a little girl. The victim, 5-year old Payton Stern, lost half of her body's blood in the attack. She now faces considerable reconstructive surgery on her arms and legs and will have scaring for the rest of her life.
After Rocky was finally euthanized, the dog's owner, John Rogers, allegedly hung derogatory signs on a tree facing the Stern's Avon Street home. The sign refers to Payton's mother Lori. Payton's family had wanted the dog euthanized after the attack; they certainly did not want the dog returned to the owner that lived across the street.
"Lori is a murderer -- RIP Rocky."
Because of the signs, Payton's parents, Lori and Brian Stern filed a harassment and intimidation complaint with the police department against Rogers. The mother says that since her daughter was attacked in August while playing with Rogers 13-year old daughter in their home, "he has only expressed concern about getting his dog back." She added:
"It never mattered to him that our little girl could have died, and that the dog had ripped her legs apart."
As a result of the attack and ongoing animosity, the Stern family moved from their Avon Street home. We hope that the Stern family is doing better since the move. Unfortunately, DogsBite.org frequently reads stories like this -- pit bull owners that harass victims and family members after an attack. As Lori points out, they also never apologize or ask about the victim's welfare.
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