Criminal charge filed against dog owner after walker injured by multiple bites by two dogs

GCSD has been investigating a dog bite incident that occurred in the Solsberry area involving two dogs that attacked a woman out for a walk, leaving her with multiple wounds on both legs. A criminal case was filed late last week against the owner of the dogs.

Sandra Lee Figg, 36, Solsberry, will be receiving a summons to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing on June 1.

Deputy Harvey Holt, the animal bite investigator for the Greene County Sheriff's Department, was notified on March 9 that an animal bite had been reported by a woman who said she was out for a walk on North Green Meadow Drive at lunchtime and when she walked south by a residence near 3625 N. Green Meadow Drive, she was bitten by two dogs.

The walker said a brown and gray dog and a white and light brown dog came out of the yard and surrounded her on the roadway. She said they were barking at her and then bit her multiple times on both of her legs. She told Deputy Holt that she thought someone would come out of the house to help her, but they did not. When she was able to get away and walked to a nearby neighbor’s house, the white dog returned to the property but the other dog continued to follow her down the street until she was able to get to the neighbor’s house to seek shelter from the dogs.

Deputy Holt reported the walker sustained several scrapes, skin tears and punctures to both of her calves, and she had been bleeding from the wounds. After the interview with Deputy Holt, she sought medical attention.

Deputy Holt located the dogs just north of a pond on Green Meadow Drive and pulled into a residence but he was unable to get out of his patrol vehicle. He said the white dog walked up to his door and was showing signs of aggression - growling and showing its teeth. The other dog ran up and continued to bark. He honked his horn and was able to speak to a juvenile at the residence who told him the dogs always run loose but they were owned by a neighbor to the south at 3625 N. Green Meadow.

When Deputy Holt arrived at that residence, again he was unable to get out of his patrol vehicle and he said the white dog showed even more aggression.

The owners of the dogs were identified as Ryan and Sandra Lee Figg. Deputy Holt was able to talk to Mrs. Figg in the driveway and she said she was responsible for the dogs at that time. In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Deputy Holt, he says she did not seem concerned and it seemed like she didn't believe the dogs bit the neighbor. She then said the incident sounded like it could be the dog named Daisy and she was again informed that it was both dogs. The other dog's name was Remmy who continued to follow the victim down the road until she could get into a neighbor’s house.

Figg allegedly said the dogs get out all of the time and break through the fence. Deputy Holt informed her that the fence needed to be fixed if they were continuously breaking free and he also informed her that neighbors said the dogs constantly ran loose and that it was not a one-time issue.

During his interview with the walker who was injured, she also said the two dogs were always running loose and that this was not the first time. She said the dogs have bit at and chased neighbors on multiple occasions and that they have been chasing people down the road, including small children.

Figg is accused of failing to restrain the dogs which resulted in injury. She is being charged with dog bite liability: bodily injury to another person, a Class C misdemeanor.