Owner of pit bulls that attacked SeaTac woman gets more than 11 years

The owner of two pit bulls that mauled a 72-year-old SeaTac woman last year was sentenced today to 11-½ years in prison.

Travis Dean Cunningham, 36, pleaded guilty in February to possession of a dangerous dog and unlawful possession of a firearm after his unneutered, male pit bulls escaped from a fenced yard and attacked Huang Le in the front yard of her home.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office had asked for the 11-½ year sentence — 6 ½ years for the two felonies and five more because Cunningham violated terms of a previous criminal sentence.

Prosecutors said Cunningham's negligence in allowing his dogs to escape led them to seek the rare felony charges against him.

Cunningham had previous felony convictions for assault, burglary, unlawful possession of firearms and drug possession and was prohibited from possessing a firearm, prosecutors said.

Le was attacked in her yard Sept. 8 after she walked the children she cares for to the school bus stop. A neighbor called 911 and used a pitchfork to try to get the dogs off her.

When King County sheriff deputies arrived, the dogs were still biting Le and the deputies fatally shot the animals.

Le, who suffered severed ears, a crushed arm and deep bite wounds all over her body, underwent 10 hours of surgery.

The attack made headlines and prompted some to call for a ban on the breed.

"The punishment of Mr. Cunningham is not going to prevent a future attack on a human being," Le's adopted son, Eric John Makus said at the time. "The only way to prevent a future attack on a human being is to ban pit bulls."

At the very least, he said, it should be illegal for convicted felons to own pit bulls.

Breed-ban opponents say bad owners, not dogs, are at the root of the problems and that officials should focus on enforcing laws that are already in place, such as leash laws.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com