VIRGINIA -- A cyclist participating in the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival was attacked by two dogs Sunday morning, landing her in the hospital, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
Capt. Glenn Hanger of the sheriff’s office said the woman and other cyclists were on William Cousins Road outside of Staunton at 9:30 a.m. when two dogs, one of them reported to be a rottweiler, attacked the woman while she was still on her bicycle.
Hanger said the owner of the dogs had them on leashes and was outside of her home when the dogs pulled her with such force that she fell to the ground. The woman, who Hanger said was wearing high heels and dressed for church, lost her grip on the dogs. The two animals darted toward the cyclist, who was knocked off her bicycle.
According to witness Michael Tacelosky of Washington other cyclists had to use their bikes in an effort to protect the woman from the animals.
Hanger said after help arrived, the woman was moved to the side of the road as a safety precaution before being transported to Augusta Health in Fishersville. While at the hospital, the woman was interviewed by an animal control officer.
“There was evidence of dog bites on her leg and arm,” Hanger said.
Augusta County Animal Control Officer Gary Webb said Cindy McVey, the owner of the dogs, was issued two summonses for animals running at large.
“It’s unfortunate,” he said of the incident.
Webb said it was not determined if one or both dogs bit the woman, so both animals were placed in public quarantine for 10 days. The dogs had been vaccinated before Sunday’s incident, he said.
Tacelosky said the victim suffered a serious hip injury due to her fall from the bike. The woman, who is 52, is expected to be released from the hospital later this week, he said.
The Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival is an annual event that typically attracts several hundred bike riders to Augusta County.
(News Leader - Oct 22, 2013)
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