It was more horrific when Rios realized the dogs weren’t attacking an animal. Instead, it was her neighbor, 80-year-old Pauline Jones, being attacked by the pack.
Jones was attacked as she walked down her lane to the county road, as she did each morning, to get her newspaper.
“I physically went over and shooed them away, when they tried to come back, I shooed them away again and rolled her over onto her back,” Rios said.
Jones, who lives in the 10000 block of CR 1113, was hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview with serious injuries to her legs, torso and arms, according to a statement from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.
It is likely Jones would not be alive had Rios had not fought the dogs away and called emergency services.
“I didn’t do anything special, I just helped out my neighbor,” Rios said.
Rios said the five mixed-breed dogs, which belonged to another homeowner in the area, have caused problems before, including hurting one of Rios’ family pets.
“At first I thought they had killed a goat and dragged it up the road,” Rios said.
Rios called 911 and Jones’ nephew to help take care of John Jones, Pauline Jones’ husband, while she waited for an ambulance.
Rios said she knew immediately how serious Jones’ injuries were.
“I told her to keep still and calm, and I could tell she was on the verge of going into shock. She looked awful, I have never seen anything like that,” Rios said.
Linda Sparks, Jones’ younger sister, along with officials from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, credit Rios with keeping Jones alive.
“It’s a horrific story,” Sparks said. “We would definitely be at the funeral home instead of the hospital if it hadn’t been for the actions of this woman.”
Rios has lived next to John and Pauline Jones for a decade and said they would visit their house and play games with the couple.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said the dogs were rounded up throughout the day Wednesday and have been euthanized.
“The owner assisted in capturing the dogs. Four of the dogs were captured yesterday, with the fifth one captured in a trap later that evening. (Rios) has confirmed the five dogs captured were the ones involved in the attack. The dogs were later euthanized and sent to Austin for testing,” the sheriff’s office statement said.
John Jones said his faith in God has supported him during this time. He made the trek to the Longview hospital to see his wife after the attack.
“I am doing pretty good. The Lord has a hand on my shoulder,” John Jones said.
He said two of the dogs had caused problems in his yard the day before the attack, but before Tuesday, the Joneses had not had any trouble with the animals.
Rios said she feels much safer since the dogs have been euthanized.
Three young grandchildren live on the property with Rios, and wait for the school bus near where the attack took place.
“I feel a lot safer for my grandbabies,” Rios said.
Rios, a diabetic, risked severe injuries had the dogs turned on her and not backed away, said her daughter, Carmen Rios.
Still, despite her risks, Rios said there was nothing special about her actions.
“That’s the way I was raised, and I hope that someone would have done the same for me,” Rios said.
Investigators have not determined what caused the attack. Because of Jones’ condition, investigators were not able to speak to her to find out what happened.
(Longview News-Journal - Oct 26, 2012)
