HSUS Connecticut Senior State Director is fighting to keep her dog alive after he mauled and killed the elderly woman
The family of the 95-year-old woman who was fatally mauled by a pit bull owned by HSUS Connecticut Senior State Director, Annie Hornish, on November 6th has filed a lawsuit against her and her husband, Neil. They are seeking in excess of $15,000 for damages with three counts against Annie and Neil each. The six counts against the couple include two counts under the state’s strict liability statute for Damage to a person or property, two counts for negligence and carelessness, and two counts under common law recklessness.
Janet D’Aleo was mauled by Dexter, a 3-year-old pit bull when she was visiting Hornish’s mother, Agnes Wosko, 93. D’Aleo’s home health aide tried to remove Dexter by hitting him with a stepstool. Dexter continued to maul her until Hornish arrived home and was able to separate the two. Hornish said D’Aleo was unresponsive and unconscious when she called 911.
The investigation concluded that Dexter mauled D’Aleo causing “massive injuries, including flesh, muscle, and tendon loss to her extremities,” in the dog attack, Police Chief Richard Brown has said. She died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Chief Brown said investigators, after conferring with the medical examiner’s office in Holyoke, Massachusetts, “determined that “D’Aleo died as a direct result of coming into contact with the dog.”
Hornish, a former state representative, continues to claim that the elderly woman died after Dexter jumped up on her because he was excited to see her familiar face and caused her to fall resulting in her death. Hornish was not present when the attack began. The police have flatly rejected Hornish’s claims.
D’Aleo’s injuries were at a level 6 using the Ian Dunbar Bite Assessment that ranks bites according to severity. A 6 means the victim died and the dog is deemed extremely dangerous and no longer safe to be around others. It also calls for the humane euthanasia of the dog.
Dexter was to be humanely euthanized on November 28th as ordered by Animal Control Officer, Ryan Sesig. Hornish and her husband have been appealing this by writing to First Selectwoman Melissa Mack in the Department of Agriculture with letters from family and friends stating how Dexter is a good dog who showed no prior aggression and is cuddly. Mack has told Jounal Inquirer that she won’t reverse her decision and remains in agreement Ryan Sesig.
The police decided against criminally charging Hornish or any member of her family for the death of D’Aleo after “careful consideration and consultation with the Enfield Superior Court State Attorney’s Office.”
Hornish has been cited for not having Dexter licensed and has been fined $150 for owning or harboring an unlicensed dogand nuisance dog by reason of vicious disposition. Each infraction will cost her $75.
The lawsuit adds Hornish didn’t have a current rabies vaccination certificate after adopting him.
faceboook
Hornish has claimed she adopted Dexter 6-8 months ago; however, in a facebook post from June 20, his previous owner, Jessica Kaczynski, was looking for a new home. Hornish only had him for four months.
Dexter has a previous biting history: he bit a person in 2016 and a dog in 2018. He also suffers from separation anxiety according to Kaczynski who said in her post that Dexter would jump out screened windows to get outside only when he was alone. Dexter had jumped through a window on June 20 when Kaczynski said it was time for Dexter to find a new home.
Hornish has offered a settlement to the Department of Agriculture to place Dexter is an out-of-state safe home sanctuary which would end the appeals process immediately. She wants him to have therapy where he is in solitary confinement because of his anxiety. She said in a Twitter post that she isn’t allowed to see or touch him.
What is most disturbing in her now-deleted post is how she describes Dexter’s personality as gentle and affectionate and he wouldn’t have changed without provocation. Is she suggesting a 95-year-old woman provoked her dog to bite? I believe what she’s alluding to is the health aide hitting her dog causing the dog to bite the elderly woman. The truth is the aide was trying to save D’Aleo by hitting him so he would let go of her.
It is shameful that a woman in this position in the HSUS could make such egregious statements. She seemed more concerned about the welfare of her dog rather than the tragic death of a family friend caused by her own dog
The dog has a biting history and jumped out a window to get outside due to separation anxiety. That is not a calm dog. He was on anti-anxiety medicine.
Hornish needs to understand the implications of keeping her dog alive for the sake of others. She can’t say he won’t kill again. Her goal should be the safety of others and animals. She cannot give that guarantee no matter how many letters she sends to the Dep’t of Agriculture.
There comes a time when one has to use logic and understand the bigger picture. I don’t want to see another dog euthanized but Dexter’s actions are too dangerous to allow anyone else to be put in danger. The Ian Dunbar assessment placed Dexter at level 6 which makes him unfit to be around people.
No comment from Hornish. While the appeals process fror the euthanasia order is pending, the dog will remain in the custody of the town’s animal control officer, police said. He remains in solitary confinement.
The whole case is tragic from start to finish. I believe there are cases that are worthy of saving an animal. I can’t find anything to redeem Dexter. All dogs have the propensity to bite. When their actions result in the devastating and gruesome death of a person, one has to look at the case objectively and face the harsh reality that there are times when saving the animal isn’t the right thing to do.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer, and an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the television show, “A Close Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her tripawd, Brody, who was a formerly abused pup who lost his leg because of cruelty inflicted upon him. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https:www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookatAnimalWelfareIssues and be sure to check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com.
Hornish seems to lie easily. She also is lying to herself if she thinks keeping a dog who killed a person should be kept alive. That’s insane. Who would ever trust or could ever trust that dog?
She made the town a settlement offer to place Dexter in a sanctuary. Who does she think she is? She doesn’t make that call. What a narcissist and a poor example of an positive role model for animal activism. In total denial of her dog’s deadly behavior.
Has that dog been euthanized yet? I can’t find anything online to confirm that he has been put down.