Justice for Max

On Monday morning, January 5, 2026, Max and I were viciously attacked while walking in our own front yard. Max was on a leash beside me when a pit bull squeezed through the partially open window of a car parked in the yard of the house across the street. In a matter of seconds, the dog crossed nearly thirty feet and launched a prolonged and violent attack on both of us.

Max suffered a broken leg, multiple deep puncture and tear wounds, severe bruising, significant blood loss, and a bruised eye after being struck during the chaos of the attack. I was bitten through my right boot, leaving a puncture wound, swelling, and deep bruising to my foot. According to my orthopedic surgeon, I also sustained a torn meniscus and deep bruising to my right knee, leaving me on crutches for several days and now requiring a cane.

Max is a male long-haired German Shepherd—my service dog and constant companion. Years ago, I suffered serious cervical spine damage in a golf cart accident, resulting in tremors, seizure-like episodes, systemic numbness, and unpredictable, debilitating vertigo. While surgery has helped, Max is trained to sense the onset of my vertigo attacks and assist me safely to the ground before I collapse. Quite simply, Max protects my life every day.

This attack was not an isolated incident. In January of 2025, the same dog, owned by the same person and coming from the same property, attacked us once before. Then, as now, Max stepped between me and danger, taking the brunt of the attack to protect me. Despite documented injuries, no action was taken at that time.

While Max was being treated at the veterinary hospital after this most recent attack, I was being treated at the hospital for humans. At 71 years old, with a titanium hip, six pins and four rods in my back, and a titanium plate in my neck, I am officially handicapped. Needless to say, I was badly beaten in this attack as well.

In both incidents, once Max and I were separated from the pit bull, the dog turned on and attacked its own owner. This is a tragedy for everyone involved—especially because this situation was preventable. I am profoundly grateful that Max was there to protect me, and that this was not a child who was attacked and potentially killed or permanently injured. Your support will hep us hire legal counsel to get justace for Max and help remove this threat before, God forbid, the next victim is a child.

As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, the pit bull has not been placed in quarantine as required by law, and neither the dog nor its owner can be located. We have received no contact from the dog’s owner or the property owner—no inquiry into our wellbeing, no apology, and no offer to help cover the mounting medical expenses.

We are asking for help to repay the loans we were forced to take out to cover emergency medical and veterinary bills, as well as basic living expenses while Max heals, I recover, and we work toward relocating to a safer neighborhood.

Our goal is to raise $10,000. Any funds raised beyond our immediate needs and in legal costs pursuing justice for Max, will be donated to the Pet Pantry Food Programs in the area which help feed the pets of families who are struggling to feed themselves.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, caring, and sharing our story—even if you’re unable to donate. Your support means more than words can express.