The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved a settlement of up to $7.5 million for a Van Nuys woman whose arm was amputated after being attacked by a dog she adopted from the city’s animal shelter.
Algeria Alvarado, 74, was attacked and seriously injured by a pit bull named Oggy in her backyard in September 2020.
Alvarado’s son, Brent, adopted Auggie from the city’s East Valley Animal Shelter, where he arrived in May 2020 after biting a woman on both arms while she was jogging, according to Alvarado’s lawsuit against the city.
According to the lawsuit, on June 13, 2020, a shelter supervisor approved placing Oggy in the main kennel, and the next day, another supervisor approved listing Oggy for public adoption.
The lawsuit alleges that shelter staff failed to inform Brent in writing of Auggie’s bite history, as required by state law.
According to the complaint, filed in July 2021, the attack on Alvarado “lasted at least 20 minutes and consisted of a brutal assault that resulted in both of Plaintiff Algeria’s arms being brutally ripped apart, her right arm being shattered into pieces, and her arm being almost completely amputated above the elbow.”
According to the lawsuit, Algeria’s right arm could not be saved, but her left arm was severely injured, “leaving her with permanent disabilities to her left arm and entire body.”
Oggy was euthanized after the attack.
Neither City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto nor the attorney representing Alvarado immediately responded to requests for comment after the City Council vote.
The settlement of Alvarado’s lawsuit came about two weeks after longtime animal services worker Leslie Collier was viciously attacked by a dog at a San Pedro animal shelter. Collier told NBC she underwent three surgeries, adding, “I’ve got half my thigh gone.”
City officials and animal rights activists have both expressed concern about overcrowded and unsafe conditions at the city’s shelters.
Stacey Daines, general manager of animal services, wrote in an email to the public last month that the overcrowding crisis is “putting staff, volunteers and animals at risk.”