One of Disney’s primary concerns is keeping Guests safe while they are visiting one of the company’s incredible theme parks. In order to do that, Disney has a number of procedures in place. Theme park Guests must go through metal detectors and have their bags checked for items that are not allowed in the Parks. Disney employs hundreds of Cast Members as security guards, who will talk through the Parks and keep an eye on things. Security will also remove Guests who are causing a disturbance or breaking the rules. Disney will also utilize local police officers, for extra protection.
If you have visited a Disney theme park, then you may have noticed humans aren’t the only security employed by Disney. Disney has a number of trained police dogs, who can sniff out illegal substances that Guests may be trying to sneak in. These K9s are some of Disney’s cutest Cast Members, but they are highly trained, and their job must be respected at all times.
Unfortunately, one of Disney’s K9s (not the dog pictured below) is currently at the center of a newly-filed lawsuit.
According to a report from The Orange County Register, a Disneyland security K9 attacked a Guest and left them with serious injuries. The Guest in question was 81-year-old grandfather Paul Perez, who claims that the dog bit him when he accidentally bumped into it. Perez, who is from Nevada, says that he bumped into the dog when security got too close to him. The alleged incident happened on May 10, 2022.
The civil lawsuit filed on Aug. 1 accuses Disneyland and Disney’s theme park division of negligence and seeks restitution for a physical wound, pain, suffering, emotional distress and the cost of past and future medical treatment.
A Disneyland dog handler caused a security dog to “abruptly step directly in front and very close” to Perez who bumped into the dog, according to the lawsuit.
“The dog then attacked plaintiff, biting him in the stomach,” the lawsuit alleges.
Perez’s attorney, Ian Pancer, told The OC Register that Perez was visiting Disneyland Resort with his wife, daughter, and two granddaughters when the alleged attack occurred.
Perez was taken to the hospital by his daughter where he was treated for his wound with antibiotics and released, according to Pancer. Perez’s wife and granddaughters continued into Disneyland while he went to the hospital.
“He’s just this older guy on the way to Disneyland with his family to enjoy the day,” Pancer said during a phone interview. “You can imagine it’s pretty traumatic for the guy to have been attacked by a dog.”
The incident reportedly happened on May 10, 2022. Pancer said that Perez hoped to settle with Disney without having to go to trial. However, Disney has ignored their requests and has not offered to settle.
Disney did not comment, but they typically do not comment on pending litigation. The name of the K9 Cast Member and their handler were not revealed.
