"He was just screaming help me, help me, somebody help me, just help. Even after they were gone, he was just screaming help me,” said Towell.
Towell says she tried to chase the dogs away with her car while her grandmother dialed 911 but the biting continued for 10 minutes until a neighbor heard the honks and came outside with a gun.
"I said thank you, dear Lord and then he started shooting the dogs and I thought 'Oh, great! Thank you!' because I was really afraid for Mike,” said Kristina’s grandmother, Carole Huff.
Michael was able to hold one off one of the dogs long enough for the neighbor to take action, killing one and injuring another before it ran off into the woods.
The third was captured by the Best Friends Humane Society who [made excuses and] says there are a number of reasons, like being tied up without food or water, that can provoke an animal.
"Those things all factor into it, it's not just tying it up, it's what goes with the tying it up," said Best Friend’s president, Shelly McPhaul.
Michael received around 40 staples to the bites that covered his legs, arms and head. Kristina says although he was hurt, it could've been worse.
"I'm just very thankful it wasn't a small child or me or my grandmother out there ‘cause it could've really hurt somebody bad. My husband's a pretty tough guy and he held his ground pretty good.”
The remaining dog is quarantined at a Worth County facility until rabies tests come back. For now, Kristina says she's focusing on getting Michael better and how she should take legal action against the owner.
Both Huff and Towell say the accident could have been prevented had the dogs not been chained up and urge anyone with pets who show signs of aggression to take them for proper training. McPhaul says although dogs can be considered part of your family, they're still animals and can get angry.
Despite what happened, Kristina says now that the dogs are gone, she and Michael are still thinking of renting the house once he recovers.
(mysouthwestga.com - Dec 30, 2012)
