A closer look at the state law that could allow dogs that killed 7-year-old to return home

AFTER A HUGE WIN IN THE PLAY

UP.

I WILL LOOK AT THE GAME-WINNING

ACTION AND SAFETY MEASURES

INSIDE COMING UP.

>>> WE BEGIN WITH THE STORY

THAT HAS TOUCHED HEARTS ACROSS

THE AREA.

THIS IS SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JADEN

HENDERSON.

SHE WAS KILLED BY HER NEIGHBORS

DOG.

HER MOTHER AN WRAL EMPLOYEE

WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

>> THE OWNERS COULD POSSIBLY

GET THESE DOGS BACK.

A DEVASTATING NEW COMPONENT IN

THIS ALREADY TRAGIC SITUATION

FOR THE FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US

TONIGHT.

I AM DEBRA MORGAN.

>>> TONIGHT WE LOOK AT A LAW

THAT GIVES DOGS INVOLVED IN

DEADLY ATTACKS A SECOND CHANCE.

JILL FISHER IS LIVE TO EXPLAIN.

JOE?

>> Reporter: AS YOU CAN IMAGINE

THIS STORY HAS GOTTEN A

TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REACTION

ON OUR WRAL FACEBOOK PAGE.

LEGALLY SPEAKING IT DOES APPEAR

THAT THESE DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED

BACK WITH THEIR OWNERS.

BUT IF IT HAPPENS, IT WILL BE

WITH A WHOLE NEW SET OF

RESTRICTIONS.

>> I HAD BITES ON MOST OF MY

LEFT AND RIGHT ARM.

>> Reporter: HEATHER SUFFERED

MORE THAN 30 BYTES WHILE TRYING

TO SAVE HER SEVEN-YEAR-OLD

DAUGHTER JADEN HENDERSON WHO

WAS MAULED TO DEATH BY TWO PIT

BULLS.

>> SHE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T

BREATHE.

AND THEN THE OTHER DOG CAME DOWN

. I STARTED SCREAMING FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: THE FAMILY WAS

HELPING TAKE CARE OF THE TWO

DOGS WHILE THEIR NEIGHBORS WERE

ON VACATION.

>> I DON'T THINK THESE SPECIFIC

DOGS SHOULD GO HOME.

>> Reporter: STATE LAW AND A

TOWN ORDINANCE COULD ALLOW THE

DOGS TO RETURN HOME.

NORTH CAROLINA IS WHAT YOU

CALLED A ONE FREE BITE CASE.

EVEN THOUGH GARNER HAS DEEMED

BOTH DOGS DANGEROUS, ATTORNEY

DANIEL MYERS SAYS THEY WILL

LIKELY GET A SECOND CHANCE.

>> THIS FAMILY DOES NOT WANT

THE DOG ON THEIR BLOCK.

CAN THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

>> NOT REALLY.

THE LAW ALLOWS FOLKS TO HAVE

THEIR DANGEROUS DOGS AS LONG AS

THEY COMPLY WITH THE RULES.

>> Reporter: ON MONDAY JOSEPH

APPLIED FOR THE DANGEROUS DOG

PERMIT.

THAT REQUIRES OWNERS IF

APPROVED TO MAINTAIN A SECURE

ENCLOSURE, KEEP DOGS MUZZLED

AND LEASHED WHILE OUTSIDE AND

KEPT UNDER THE CONTROL OF AN

ADULT.

THE OWNER MUST ALSO OBTAIN

SPECIFIC INSURANCE TO COVER DOG

BITES.

>> IT'S MUCH MORE STRICTER THAN

THE STATE LAW.

WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AS BEST

WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.

>> Reporter: AS SHE WORKS TO

REGAIN MOVEMENT IN HER HANDS

AND FINGERS, SHE WANTS THE LAWS

ON THE BOOKS CHANGED TO SPARE

OTHER FAMILIES THE HORRIBLE

HEARTBREAK.

>> I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF

IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO

SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> JOSEPH DECLINED OUR REQUEST

FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AND HIS COMMENT TO THE TOWN OF

GARDNER HE WROTE THAT THIS WAS

OUT OF CHARACTER FOR BOTH OF

THE DOGS AND THAT HE BELIEVES

THEY WERE POSSIBLY UNKNOWINGLY

PROVOKED BEFORE THE ATTACK.

HE HAD TO PAY $500 FOR EACH

COMMENT.

SO FAR THE TOWN OF GARNER HAS

NOT RULED WHETHER OR NOT THOSE

PERMITS WILL BE APPROVED.