FLORIDA -- Two women were injured this afternoon in Lehigh Acres during a dog attack.
According to Lee County Animal Services, one of the women owned the dog and the other was there to adopt the pit bull mix named Lilly.
Lee sheriff’s deputies and animal control officers responded to the home on Homestead Lane after receiving a call about an out-of-control dog. By the time officers arrived, the dog was dead and both women were injured.
The dog was owned by Patricia Agnello, who runs Helping Paws, a non-profit organization. Her son, Christopher Agnello, told officers that Lilly had been playing all day, and when Shelley Loudermilk, of Columbus, Ga., arrived to take Lilly, the dog attacked his mother and Loudermilk.
Christopher Agnello stated he ran outside and jumped on the dog in an attempt to control it, but the dog turned on him and began trying to attack his face.
A friend of the Agnellos, identified as Marie Wilton, called for help and then ran outside with a knife, stabbing the dog near its ribcage. They were then able to muzzle the dog and place it inside a kennel.
Records show Lilly was current on vaccinations, according to animal services, but a necropsy will be performed to check for rabies.
Patricia Agnello and Loudermilk were transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with severe lacerations and puncture wounds.
Animal services reports Lilly was brought to Helping Paws from Broward County Animal Control about three weeks ago and had no prior history.
(News Press - Aug 14, 2013)
