canine attack
© Angela Antunes / CC by 2.0
A 70-year-old Alexander City woman remains hospitalized following surgery after she was brutally attacked for almost 30 minutes by two bulldogs that belonged to her son.

Alexander City Police Department Animal Control Officer Scott Wright was the first officer on the scene at 5:40 p.m. Thursday evening and encountered the dogs still actively mauling the woman and threating fire department personnel who responded to the Old Kellyton Road home.
"It was the worst dog attack situation that I have ever encountered," Wright said. "It appears to be a totally unprovoked attack on a woman who was known to the animals. For almost 30 minutes they continued to bite and maul her despite her attempts to fight them off.

"She used her hands, legs, a brick and two-by-fours to try to keep them away but they just kept coming."
Wright said that when he arrived he tried to restrain the dogs with a catchpole and get between them and the victim. He said that no matter what he tried, nothing seemed to faze them.
"I have seen aggressive dogs, but never anything to this level," Wright said. "I had no choice but to fight back to the truck and get my weapon. I fired and struck one, but even though the dog was injured, they both ran off into some neighboring woods."
At that point paramedics were able to get to the victim. Wright said the woman had puncture wounds, bite marks from her shoulders all the way down to her feet.
"She was going into a surgery Friday afternoon," Wright said. "I don't want to get to graphic, but by the time we were able to get to her, there were places that the skin had been ripped so severely you could see muscles, tendons and bones. I can't imagine how traumatizing that was for her."
Wright said that the animals did return to the home and after two trips, both were eventually put down. They will be tested for rabies, Wright said.

In addition to those two dogs, there were three others on the property. Wright said it appeared that some were improperly chained and that the dogs' shots may not have been up to date.
"It's still an open investigation," Wright said. "No charges have been filed at this time, but we do anticipate that changing as we complete our work in the case."
Wright said that regardless of the breed, dogs are the product of their treatment. He said that it is illegal to have dogs who roam at large and who show vicious tendencies. He also said that this was not the first time officers have been called to this residence to deal with a complaint against these dogs.

This was the second dog bite incident that the department has worked this week. On Monday a 64-year-old Alexander City woman was hospitalized after a dog bit her after she chased her daughter's dog into a neighbor's yard.

A dog from that residence then attacked the woman.