Nov. 15--A Hanover Park couple who said their beloved dog was attacked last summer during a walk is suing neighbors in their suburban townhouse association.
The attack left Barbara and Wojciech Martynko's Boston terrier with severe injuries and took a bite out of the couple's wallet, with thousands of dollars spent on the pooch's recovery, according to a DuPage County lawsuit filed this month.
The Martynkos are seeking reimbursement for the $5,405.89 veterinary bill plus any further costs. The suit names Gary and Maria Colucci, who live less than two blocks away in the same subdivision, as defendants.
The lawsuit states that Barbara Martynko was walking her dog, Buckphee, on July 10 when the Coluccis' dog charged out of an open garage and mauled the 30-pound Boston terrier near the defendants' home in the 2700 block of Aberdeen Court.
According to the suit, the Coluccis' unrestrained dog "streaked toward (Buckphee), jumping him and quickly overwhelming him and snarling and ripping its teeth into the frightened and helpless dog ... thereby causing substantial and even life-threatening injuries."
Buckphee suffered bite wounds and a broken jaw that "looks like it is hanging," according to the veterinary bill.
The Coluccis did not respond to requests for comment. But according to a police report, Maria Colucci told a Hanover Park community service officer that her dog had just returned from a walk and was on a leash. She said her 11-year-old Labrador shepherd named Bruno also was "bloodied" from the fight and required medical treatment.
"(Maria Colucci) tells me that there is bad blood between the two dogs," the police report states. "Every time in the past when the two dogs are being walked when they encounter each other they start to growl and bark at one another and act ferocious to one another."
No citations were issued. The lawsuit accuses the Coluccis of negligence.
Barbara Martynko said she is thankful her 12-year-old daughter, who usually walks Buckphee, wasn't with her that day. Martynko said she and her husband did not want to file a lawsuit but thought they had no other option after unsuccessful attempts to get the Coluccis to cooperate.
"What's frustrating is we asked nicely a couple of times if they could just contribute to the bill but, when they said, 'no,' we were left with no other option," she said.
Four months after the attack, she said 6-year-old Buckphee is doing well. His diet and some activities are restricted but, Martynko said, her pet is back to his old playful self.
"He's so friendly and hyper," she said. "He tries to jump up and lick everyone. We're just glad he's OK."
cmgutowski@tribpub.com
Twitter @christygutowsk1
