ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Gulfport woman is suing a St. Petersburg bar after a dog bit her nose causing her to need stitches.
Kerri Perucki said she nearly lost her nose after a dog attack at The Dog Bar on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.
"I just don't want this to happen to anyone else," said Kerri Perucki.
The Dog Bar is an off-leash dog park and a full-service bar, according to its website.
The incident happened in May of 2018.
According to a lawsuit filed in November in Pinellas County Circuit Court, "The Dog Bar had a duty to keep its patrons safe from harm."
Perucki described her interaction with the dog that attacked her. She said she first spoke to the dog's owner.
"He said he’s adopted, see if he likes you so I put my hand down like you’re supposed to do. I just held it there he came and sniffed it then he came and sniffed it again," said Perucki.
Perucki claims the attack happened later that night when the owner wasn't near his dog.
"The owner wasn’t around. I looked at him. I didn’t touch him. I didn’t pet him. I held out my hand and said, you poor boy are you all alone, all of a sudden he just leaped " said Perucki.
Perucki said a plastic surgeon had to reattach her nose after the dog bite.
Her attorney, Christian Myer, said he has little information on the dog and its owner.
"It was a mixed breed. We don’t know exactly what kind. I don’t believe a dog's breed has much to do with it. I think a dog's history is very important. I think that this dog's history was unknown. If you have an unknown history of a dog, I think it's just as bad as having a known history of violence," said attorney Christian Myer.
The Dog Bar lists requirements for the animals at its establishment. Dogs must be spayed or neutered over one year of age, owners must bring in a copy of current vaccines including rabies and parvo vaccines and dogs must be non-aggressive.
ABC Action News reached out to The Dog Bar.
We received the following statement: "Unfortunately due to the nature of the on-going litigation, Dog Bar is unable to make a formal statement at this time. Since Dog Bar opened we have had specific requirements meant to ensure a safety and healthy environment for all patrons and their dogs. We mandate that all animals are spayed or neutered after a year of age, are up to date on county required vaccines and well socialized."
