Groton — A Groton woman, who was injured while trying to protect her dog after it was attacked by a neighbor's Staffordshire terrier on Thames Street, has filed a civil suit in New London Superior Court.

Donna Pearlman of Thames Street said she was walking her leashed 10-year-old English bull terrier, Chica, on June 9, when she heard another dog barking at 198 Thames St.

“When she and her dog reached 190 Thames St., a black pit bull dog ran at her dog from behind. It grabbed (the woman’s) dog by the neck and threw her dog out onto the street,” said a Groton City Police Department complaint, recounting her description of the attack.

Pearlman said she reached down to help her dog and also was hurt. 

The civil complaint, filed June 21, said Pearlman suffered bites to her right wrist, left wrist, right ankle and muscle strain injuries to her arms, wrists, legs and ankles. 

Chica suffered multiple bites and was treated by a vet, Pearlman said.

The Staffordshire terrier was kept in quarantine by Groton Animal Control for 14 days and its owner, Robert Luna, was cited with two infractions: roaming and nuisance, according to police.

Both were first offenses, Groton Town Police Lt. John Varone said.

Luna could not immediately be reached for comment.

But according to the complaint filed by Groton City police, he said he was on the phone when he heard his dog barking.

He told police the front entrance to his building was locked and closed, but two second-floor windows were open.

It appeared his dog had jumped out a window, the complaint said.

An officer described Luna’s dog as well-tempered and friendly, and said the owner advised that his dog is friendly to people, but not other dogs.

Pearlman said she filed the suit to get her medical bills paid, and to make sure the dog does not attack anyone else.

d.straszheim@theday.com