Rare felony charge filed against owner in pit-bull attack

The owner of two pit bulls that mauled a 72-year-old SeaTac woman in September is facing a rarely used felony charge of possession of a dangerous dog.

Travis Cunningham, 36, also was charged Friday with one count of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted on all three charges, Cunningham faces nearly 13 years in prison, prosecutors said.

Ian Goodhew, chief of staff for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, said that possession of a dangerous dog is a rarely used charge because prosecutors have to "show knowledge that the owner knew the dog was dangerous and was negligent." He said that charge alone could bring a sentence of up to a year.

"He is being charged with knowing this dog is dangerous and failing to take appropriate actions to keep this dog from harming someone," Goodhew said.

The two dogs that attacked Huong Le on Sept. 8 had been picked up by animal-control officers in May for running loose in the 15400 block of International Boulevard in SeaTac.

Le was on her way back from walking her granddaughter to a school-bus stop when she was attacked around 8:15 a.m. outside her home. She suffered severed ears, a crushed arm and deep, gaping bite wounds from her head to her feet.

"I was scared to death. I thought I was going to die, that the dogs would kill me," Le later told police.

A neighbor who witnessed the attack called 911 and grabbed a pitchfork in an attempt to help Le. When King County sheriff's deputies arrived the animals were still attacking the woman. The deputies shot and killed the male dogs.

After the attack, Cunningham told investigators that he didn't know the dogs to be aggressive, but he said they didn't like men, according to court charging documents.

King County Animal Care and Control officers also seized two female pit bulls owned by Cunningham. Nancy McKenney, a spokeswoman for the agency, said Cunningham told officers he would find another place for the female dogs to live.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the attack, Le said Friday that she is relieved by the charges. She still feels pain in her broken arm and broken jaw, and the wounds in her leg have not healed.

Le said she remains concerned about dangerous dogs.

"It not good to have that kind of dog around," she said.

Eric John Makus, who was raised by Le and regards her as his adopted mother, said he is also grateful for the charges.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the detective and the prosecuting attorney for conducting an exhaustive investigation in pursuit of justice," Makus said. "Let this be the shining symbol to dog owners if they don't comply with the laws to keep their animals fenced and muzzled."

The attack prompted some to propose banning the breed. Makus said he plans to talk with legislators about a statewide breed ban.

Animal Care and Control has received more than 900 calls so far this year reporting either a dog bite or an encounter with a vicious dog, but statistics are not separated by breed.

However, according to the Seattle Animal Shelter, pit bulls account for a disproportionate number of reported bites in Seattle. While pit bulls make up only 4 percent of licensed dogs, they make up 22 percent of reported bites.

Seattle Times staff reporter Christine Clarridge contributed to this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com