The attack on Sept. 14 happened just before 2 a.m. while McGaughey was walking her four-and-half-month old chihuahua, Jose. The pit bulls escaped from their garage on King Street and charged McGaughey.
“My first thoughts were: My God, they’re going to kill me,” McGaughey said.
She protected Jose by laying on him. McGaughey said she doesn’t think the pit bulls were after Jose because they did not try to get to him as she layed on him during the attack.
About six people heard McGaughey’s screams and called police.
Resident Gail Dorsey was the first caller. Dorsey said she was on the third floor taking care of her mother when she went on to the balcony to smoke. She said she saw McGaughey walking her dog before returning inside. When she heard the screams, she knew it was McGaughey.
“I heard ‘Oh My God, help me,’ and thought: What am I going to do?” said Dorsey. “So I called the police, that’s the only thing I could do.”
The attack left McGaughey with severe injuries to her left leg. She has endured four surgeries as a result of the attack. Her last surgery, on Oct. 28, was to take tissue, muscle and tendon from her left arm to create a flap on the lower part of her left leg.
McGaughey said there was only an inch to inch and a half of original skin on her leg after the dogs attacked.
One of the dogs was shot and killed as it charged Xenia Police Officer Scott Beagle. Resident Doris Metz witnessed the shooting from her balcony.
“The dog charged after he was shot the first time so he (Beagle) had to shoot him a second time,” she said. “The other dog ran when he heard the shot.”
The other dog was captured and euthanized.
The owner of the dogs, Anthony Hill, was out of town at the time of the incident. He was charged with two counts of failure to control a vicious dog, two counts of failure to have insurance, and two counts of failure to register.
McGaughey said she would like for Xenia to outlaw pit bulls like Fairborn has done. “But I don’t make the laws,” she said.
McGaughey recovered at Lincoln Park Manor in Kettering for five weeks after her last surgery. She was released on Saturday to return home.
“I’m so glad to be home before the holidays,” McGaughey said. “Jose is glad to be home too.”
She is now able to walk short distances with her walker and is standing on her own for short periods of time. She uses a wheelchair for longer distances.
Monday was her first day at work since the attack three months ago. She is working four hours a day for now, and will work her way back to full-time by January.
The residents applauded and sang “For she’s a jolly good fellow” as McGaughey entered the room at her welcome home party.
McGaughey thanked the residents of John Sale Manor for their cards and prayers.
“It’s so good to see everybody, I’ve missed you all so much,” she said.
McGaughey said she is thankful to be alive and thankful that Jose was not hurt.
“God is good,” she said.
(Xenia Daily Gazette - Dec 13, 2010)
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