Hernando County Woman Attacked by Dogs in Critical Condition

February 13, 2020

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has released an update on a woman in her mid-60s who was attacked by a pack of dogs last week.

Officials say over the weekend the woman was airlifted from Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point to a Manatee County hospital where she will receive specialized treatment for her wounds.

The woman is listed in critical condition.

On Friday, officials said four large dogs got out of a home at 11079 Mayflower Road and attacked a woman walking her dog. According to the report, the dogs initially went after the woman’s small dog but turned on the woman after she picked up her dog to protect it.

Officials said the victim’s dog was not injured in the attack and is being cared for by a family member.

The four dogs, plus another large dog at the home, were removed by Animal Enforcement Officers. There were six dogs total that resided at the home. The sixth was a Pomeranian.

The 5th dog, a terrier mix, was confirmed by witnesses to not have been involved in the attack and was released back to the owner. However, officials say it is unknown if the owner retrieved the dog yet.

The dogs involved in the attack were “owner surrendered” to Hernando County Animal Services, with euthanasia forms completed.

The three owners of the dogs involved received Civil Citations for the following:

• Animal Bite
• Unrestrained Animal
• Unvaccinated Animal
• Unlicensed Animal

According to the sheriff’s office, had other people not intervened in the attack, the woman would not have survived.

Several neighborhood residents rushed over to try to stop the dog attack, which was still in progress when first responders arrived. Fire rescue personnel helped the residents get the dogs off the woman.

Two of those good Samaritans were also injured and transported to a hospital. A few others incurred minor injuries and refused medical treatment.

One of the residents whose fiance got bitten while trying to stop the attack said it looked like they were eating her alive.

The investigation remains ongoing.

It is a simple fact of life that dogs bite. In fact, dogs bite nearly 5 million people a year in the U.S. About 800,000 Americans each year seek medical attention for wounds from dog bites, and 386,000 require emergency room treatment. About 16 people die every year after being attacked by a dog. Any dog of any breed can bite someone. A dog bite can be anything from a nip to a traumatic attack that results in serious injuries and even death. When a serious injury occurs from a dog bite or dog attack, the victim has every reason to hold the dog’s owner accountable by seeking financial compensation for all medical expenses, pain and suffering and other harm caused by the bite.

According to dog bite statistics from the CDC, approximately 885,000 dog bite victims require medical attention for their injuries.

The most common victims of dog bite attacks are:

• Children ages 5-9
• Elderly people
• Post letter carriers

According to the CDC, dogs most often bite a person’s arm, hand, leg, foot, head or neck. Common injuries in dog attacks include:

• Cuts, bruises and scratches
• Puncture wounds
• Tearing
• Dislocations

• Fractures
• Amputations
• Head and skull injuries

Anyone who has been seriously injured in a dog bite attack deserves financial compensation. Many victims are reluctant to pursue legal action because they fear the money will come out of a friend or neighbor’s pocket. However, the compensation recovered in a dog bite claim almost always comes from the dog owner’s insurance, through their homeowners’ insurance or business liability insurance.

Our Hernando County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are experienced in handling dog bite cases. We can investigate your dog bite case to determine whether the dog’s owner is liable and calculate the financial compensation you may be entitled to receive for your suffering. We work with a team of medical experts and investigators who are dedicated to uncovering favorable evidence in your case. We will explain every step of the legal process and help you make informed decisions about your case. Our top priority is making sure you recover and receive the full and fair compensation you deserve.

We like to point out that many claims can be settled through negotiations with the dog owner’s insurance company. If a fair settlement agreement cannot be reached outside the courtroom, we are happy to pursue appropriate financial compensation for you in court.