On April 9, 2019, my husband was walking our Greyhound around the block like he often does. We live in the burbs, in a heavily populated area of Florida. About half way through the walk, a large brown dog approached my husband. He has vision issues in one eye, so the dog was upon him and our dog before my husband had time to react.

Our Greyhound, Sophia, is very docile. My husband didn't want to agitate the other dog so he allowed the dog to sniff Sophia. Then the dog tried to mount Sophia. When Sophia tried to step away, the dog latched on to her right hind quarter. My husband had the brains to stay out of the middle of it, but he did his best to try fighting off the other dog by kicking it. Unfortunately he was wearing flip flops, and hurt himself more that the other dog. Sophie was fighting back to defend herself, but trying to get away. Every time she got away, the dog came in for another attack.

At one point my husband picked our dog up, but the attacking dog kept at it, knocking my husband to the ground. I'm guessing that is how she got attack wounds on her belly.

Fortunately my husband was between a Circle K and a place that sells Italian Ice. He started screaming for help, and people came from both directions and beat the attacking dog off with whatever they could find. The dog ran off.
My dog was bleeding profusely from several wounds all over her body, and my husband had a dog bite on his forearm. The owner of the Italian ice place called 911, and EMS and the police arrived on scene. My husband happened to have his cell phone with him, and called me.

When I arrived, it was a blood bath. I have no other way to described it. EMS was checking my husband's vitals, so I loaded Sophie in the car and rushed her to a local emergency vet hospital. She'd lost a lot of blood, and was in shock. Meanwhile, EMS decided my husband needed to go to the emergency room, which was a good thing because he passed out when they unloaded him from the ambulance. The dog bite was not too bad, but his vitals were.

Sophie spent six hours in surgery. She lost her two top canine teeth, had a detached muscle in her hind quarter, and stitches everywhere. She looked like something from a Tim Burton movie. She spent two nights at the emergency vet, with a bill that reached $3,600.

She incurred another surgery with my regular vet, which semi repaired the suturing on her right hind quarter. Our vet made it so the wound was vertical rather than horizontal, but in the end the suturing came apart and she had a huge gaping wound for 3 months that had to slowly close by itself. I had to constantly apply salves, and she had several laser treatments to help the wound close. Her bills, including miscellaneous items we had to buy for her care, are now over $6,000.

During the first six weeks of recovery, we could not allow her to run free in the back yard, and she was taking round the clock medications. At one point she had a soft cast on her right hind leg and had to keep it perfectly straight at all times, which mean we had to get her up and down to take her outside to eliminate. My husband lost time from work. Thank goodness I work from home, or I don't know what I would have done. Thank goodness we'd built up an emergency fund, but that is not what we'd envisioned using it for.

Here is the kicker. The police officer who arrived on scene drove around the block to try to find the attacking dog. He found a lady crying in her front yard and she told him her dog was the dog that attacked "that man and his dog." We tried the lawyer route to recoup our financial losses through her home owners insurance. Many home owner insurance companies in our area are excluding dog bites from their policies. It doesn't matter the breed. Unfortunately, she had no dog bite protection.

What blows my mind is that Animal Services did nothing to the dog. They didn't quarantine him, and they didn't have him declared dangerous even though we sent in a 40 page affidavit.

Our next move is a letter to dog owner spelling out the situation, and if she doesn't respond in a manner that we find suitable, we'll go to small claims court. We will win because her dog was off leash and roaming free, which is a big no no in our county for both dogs and cats.

Our friends are astounded this woman has not come forward and at least made an offer of recompense. Sorry folks. That is NOT the way of the world now days.

Before anyone beats my husband up for the way he handled the situation, he's already done his own self flagellation. I know I would have handled the situation much differently and warned the dog off before it had a chance to sniff my dog, but I wasn't there, so I'm not going to stand in judgement.

Sophie is doing much better now. Her wound is almost completely closed, she is running her race track out in the backyard, but still needs to build up muscle. She's been undergoing PEMF therapy to help with that. But best of all, her demeanor has not changed one bit. I board dogs at my house and I was so worried I'd have to give up my business after this happened. Even her vet is amazed. She is still the same happy dog with a mellow spirit, and her demeanor toward other dogs is just the same as it has always been.
As for my husband and me, we are both leery of taking either of the dogs for a walk. We've lived in our neighborhood for 25 years, and have never encountered anything close to this. If it had been my Bichon Poo the dog attacked, she would have been toast. My husband has taken to carrying a stick when he goes walking. I want to order mace. This is our new reality.












This is Sophie's wound after the second surgery failed to keep the wound closed, despite our best efforts.



This is Sophie's wound now, 12 weeks after the attack. I credit the great folks at our vet's office, and their recommended regimen of treatment.

That is very distressing.

Three months ago my son had a similar experience with two pits and his boxer. He lifted his boxer off the ground to get the pits away and one grabbed onto the back of the boxer. The boxer, in panic struggled to get away and in the process bit my son's face.

He was wearing boots so one pit got an immediate lesson, and he taught the other how to fly. Amazing what being a gym rat can enable one to do.

Long story short, 5 hours of plastic surgery on my son, and staples and stitches for the boxer.

Not even going to get into the vagaries of legal issues.

The pictures of my son after are quite graphic. Fortunately there was a highly skilled plastic surgeon on the floor when he got to the ER. Lots of stitches, and barely any scars. A blessing.

In so far as my son often carries, but not that day, the pits are lucky, and their owner was both tone deaf and oblivious.

And so it goes.

Mike, I am so sorry that happened to your son. That is simply horrible.

My husband said if he'd been carrying a firearm, that dog would have been dead. But he doesn't carry fire arms around with him when he takes the dog for a walk. Why should he have to!?! I was surprised he brought his cell phone. I don't take my cell phone on walks. Walks are for fun.

Well Chris,

We are both lucky, when all is said and done.

As is your husband, and my son.

I prefer a walking stick, when going for a walk with a mutt or two. An old broom or mop handle will work. Provides me with a radius, and the ability to jab or whack. Only had to use one so once. Short leashed my mutt and stood off the offending dog.

My mutts are GSDs capable of handling themselves but why would I put them at risk?

Traumatic experiences prepare us for the unthinkable. We are not given to expect uncontrolled dogs because we manage ours, and expect other owners to do the same.

Ah well.

Mike

Chris, what a horrifying story! I'm so sorry for what happened to both Sophie and your husband. Thank goodness your husband's injury was not severe, and that Sophie, over the course of time, is healing and doesn't seem to have any emotional scars from her ordeal.

Mike, I'm also glad to know that your son had excellent treatment for his injuries and does not suffer any lasting impairment or scarring, and that his Boxer is okay.

Chris, I go for a lot of walks, too. Unfortunately, these days, they are mostly by myself as my dogs are both seniors with health issues. I always carry my cell phone and ID on me. Yes, walks are supposed to be fun, and they are, but unexpected things can happen, and I believe in taking reasonable precautions. What if you stumbled and broke an ankle? I suppose if all your walks are down city or suburban streets, you could find somebody to help, but most of my walks are at local parks, and some days, the park isn't very busy.

Chris and Mike, so sorry to hear that about your dogs and other family members.

A heavy walking stick, mace, wasp spray, bear spray or even more final methods are sometimes a necessity with these sort of issues.

It's a shame that we have to be prepared for these situations.

One of the gospels of carrying a fire arm is quite simple.

If you only carry a gun when you think you'll be in places where you might have to use it then you should probably stay away from those places.

The unfortunate reality of today's world is that we must always expect the unexpected.

My home owners insurance has a list of breeds they wont cover but fortunately the GSD isn't on that list.

Absolutely right Bob.

Carrying and using are two hugely different things. The latter is virtually always a bad idea leading to terrible finality.

I was pleased to note my son was not carrying when the dogs incident occurred.

Fear and anger are two feelings that have led to too many senseless outcomes.

Yup. Avoidance, in the first instance and to the degree possible, is the best line of defense.

The two pits are someone's pets. Unforeseen situations can happen in the blink of an eye. In no small measure, complacency and assumption led to the outcome.

I wouldn't think to speak for Chris but for me I know it could have been worse, and I am grateful for small blessings.

Alas.

Mike, avoidance is ALWAYS the best line of defense and there are many people out there that, even within the law, should not carry even if it may be legal.

The reasons for that may be simply a fear of guns, a fear of conflict, moral reasons, etc.

It's always up to the individual but "IF" one chooses to do so then nothing can take the place of being properly trained in both the use of a fire arm and a strong knowledge of the proper and SAFE use of a fire arm.

IMHO, the responsibility goes far beyond just getting that permit and firearm.

My brother and I were squirrel and rabbit hunting by our selves on my granpa's farm when we were 10-12 yrs old. Safety and rules were a HUGE part of getting that privilege.

I agree with the sentiments expressed by Mike and Bob.

Even if one has a permit to carry a firearm or is otherwise carrying it legally, has taken safety classes, has had plenty of practice time at the range, etc., with the shock and fear of a sudden attack like we are discussing here, and the sudden adrenalin surge that goes along with it, not to mention what a fast-moving blur two or more dogs involved in an altercation can present, it could be extremely difficult for most people to get an accurate shot in. I would be afraid of accidentally shooting my own dog or having a bullet ricochet and strike a bystander. Carrying (and using!) a firearm is a solemn and serious responsibility.

 Quote: Chris Kuck

Mike, I am so sorry that happened to your son. That is simply horrible.

My husband said if he'd been carrying a firearm, that dog would have been dead. But he doesn't carry fire arms around with him when he takes the dog for a walk. Why should he have to!?! I was surprised he brought his cell phone. I don't take my cell phone on walks. Walks are for fun.

OMG, this takes me back to 40 YEARS ago when I didn't even know what a fight-bred Pitbull was all about -- But some Scumbag sic'ed 4 of them on my 6 MONTH old Irish Wolfhound show bitch ... It was after Dark in our otherwise deserted city park, and I reacted Instinctively in "mama BEAR mode":

Roaring like a God-only-knows-What, I grabbed one of the 4 male Pits (that were all LOCKED onto my female Puppy) by its BALLS then Squeezed & Twisted till they seemed about to Rip Off in my HAND -- Meanwhile, I was also Kicking another one of those dogs in ITS balls with all my Might and threatening to KILL each & every one of them !!! By that time a "few GOOD men" came out of nearby homes & scared the Scumbag into calling off his Pits and running away with them into the Darkness...

Miraculously, none of us HUMANS were Bitten at all, but I raced my IW puppy to the all-night emergency vet's ER for many Hours of Surgery and many Pints of Blood -- She was SAVED and went on to grow up with her Gentle & Courageous temperament still INTACT Looking back on it now, I was so LUCKY to have Escaped a Mauling myself ... But thanks to NOT knowing anything about Pitbulls at that time, I was "blissfully ignorant" enough to NOT have any FEAR of them or of their Owner either.