Dog owner attacked believed she was going to die

OHIO -- Dogs that were raised from puppies and even slept with their owner nearly killed her.

Police had to kill one of Tammy Tucker's pit bulls to stop the attack.  A move Tammy says saved her life.  Local 12's Deb Dixon talked with her as she recovers from one of the most severe maulings the University of Cincinnati Medical Center has ever seen.

Tammy Tucker doesn't know what set the three dogs off.  She was attacked by the pit bull mix dogs in a sort of feeding frenzy Sunday after she started the mower. 

"Every time I can still see face and mouth on my leg, and mouth licking lips with blood all over him they were eating me like a toy," Tucker said.

Neighbors and Tammy's son tried to beat the dogs away.  When two police officers got to the yard, Tammy told them to shoot to kill.  Officers fired into the ground and two dogs let go.  The third didn't until he was shot and killed. 

Tammy says after she was bitten a year and a half ago she followed expert advice to identify triggers for the aggression. 

"I didn't want to kill them, I wanted to change myself but here it was the dogs," she said.

 

Two of the dogs in on the attack have been put to sleep.  Blood vessels, tissues and muscles were torn from Tammy's arms and legs.  Tammy says she doesn't want to come back to the yard where she was nearly killed.  Tuesday she met the officers she believes saved her life.

"If it weren't for them I wouldn't be here," she said.

Tammy's doctor says it's too early to tell if there will be permanent damage from the injuries.

(WKRC TV Cincinnati - May 21, 2014)