Bernita Kessler was bitten on her arm with a wound that went to the bone, as seen in images provided to KOIN 6 News by Cowlitz County Animal Control.
"I knew they were dangerous," said Kessler's friend Diane Riley. "That's why i never go by that fence or anything."
An official with Cowlitz County Animal Control told KOIN 6 News the woman was passing a house in the 400 block of 1st Avenue SW when she reached into a fence to pet the dog. He said it was the worst bite he's ever seen.
"I just seen her from the balcony up there, and i just seen part of her arm being chewed up," said eye witness Wendy Miller. "That kind of scared me quite a bit."
Miller lives with Kessler at the Villager Inn Retirement Home next door to where the attack happened. She and other residents said Kessler was doing something she does every day.
"She likes to take a walk every day," said a resident. "And she does."
But on Monday afternoon, neighbors said Kessler was taking her daily afternoon walk when she came around the fence line to see. She saw the dog inside, and for some reason, reached her hand inside the fence.
"It's a tragedy, you know what I mean," said dog owner Dexter Soloman. "It's just sad. I tried to stop it."
Soloman owns the 10-year-old black pit bull, who goes by the name Seth. He said Seth was just protecting his yard when Kessler was hurt.
"I was shouting at her and shouting at my dog at the same time, you know: 'Get back from the fence!'" Soloman told KOIN 6 News. "[She] kinda just stuck her hand in there."
[I'm not buying it. She may have stumbled or grabbed that crappy fence to steady herself and her hand went through. Or maybe she placed her hand on the top of the fence and it grabbed her. I don't see her reaching through a short fence to pet this dog.]
Solomon said he put the dog away, and tried to help Kessler. Her injuries were severe, leaving the skin on her arm hanging off.
"She's wobbling around over here," said neighbor Jeran Keogh, "and she's walking trying to get back over there."
She was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland.
Cowlitz County Animal Control has fined Soloman $257 for the dog bite. The dog is now on a 10-day quarantine inside his home. During that time, officials will determine whether the dog should be declared dangerous, and should be surrendered or put down.
"My dog is like my kid too, you know what I mean," Soloman said Monday. "I would be upset."
(KOIN - November 11, 2013)
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