Dog mauling at OC animal shelter sparks negligence suit from volunteer

Emily Moncur, a volunteer at the Orange County Animal Care facility in Tustin, had just finished photographing a large dog and was putting it back in its kennel when the animal turned on her.

The dog, named Blaze, bit Moncur 18 times, mauling her so badly that she lost consciousness and suffered what her attorney called “extremely serious injuries, physically and psychologically.”

Her screams went unheard and only inflamed the animal, alleges a negligence lawsuit filed Aug. 18 against the county by Moncur, 45.

She alleged shelter supervisors left her alone with the dog — a black-and-white mixture of Labrador retriever and beagle — without any safeguards or warnings about its propensity for violence.

“The key here is about ensuring there is accountability by Orange County Animal Care,”