There’s really no answer, though.
The 50-year-old Felton woman was thrust into an absolutely terrifying situation on May 17 when two “humongous” dogs entered her homestead in attack mode.
One of her beloved pets was killed in a savage attack and another injured to the point of needing surgery.
Ms. Goree suffered three substantial bites and needed four costly rabies shots, a tetanus shot and four X-rays. Her sprained left knee is still bruised and swollen two weeks later, and will require further medical examination.
 |
| Pictured are Spirit and Molly, who were attacked by two dogs on May 17 at their Felton home. Spirit died from his wounds, and Molly survived. |
While one of the beasts went after 3-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix Molly, the other chased 5-month-old white teacup poodle Spirit into her house.
Ms. Goree, who went to the door to investigate what was happening, heard growling and wrestling around before being knocked to the floor.
“It all happened so fast that I’m not sure if I was knocked down or slipped when the dogs came in,” she said.
“The worst part of the whole thing was not knowing what to do when it was happening. I couldn’t think. I was scared for my life and my dogs’ life.”
After punching and putting a headlock on the over-aggressive intruder, Ms. Goree said, “I could feel the strength leaving my body. I told myself not to quit, but I felt like I was fighting against an adult-strength human being.”
After a few moments, the attack dog chomped down on the four-pound teacup poodle and exited the premises.
“He picked Spirit up and ran outside,” Ms. Goree said. “It was not a pretty sight when I picked her up afterward.”
Alas, Spirit was found about five yards away next to a neighbor’s fence, clearly dead and blood evident in his mouth.
“I knew he was gone, so I put him in a blanket,” said Ms. Goree, who plans to have her pet cremated and buried near the home.
There was so much blood in the house afterward, Mr. Goree said, she couldn’t tell if it was hers or Spirit’s.
And what’s worse, the menacing dogs in question are still on the loose. Neighbors gave chase, but lost the trail.
Molly, weighing all of 13 pounds, fought off the other large breed dog before making an escape. Her abdomen was punctured, causing a hernia injury.
“Molly was putting up a good fight, biting and scratching between a trash can and a set of steps,” Ms. Goree said.
Now, though, she begins barking uncontrollably at the slightest noise; the sound is “horrendous,” Ms. Goree said.
“The veterinarian tells me it’s going to take time for her to feel safe again,” she said.
There’s no replacing Spirit, however.
“He was such a joy,” Ms. Goree said, before gradually breaking into tears. “He didn’t give us any problems, he learned quickly. When I came home he would always be jumping up and down, excited to see me. I’m just going to miss the little guy.”
Another family poodle, Cammie, suffered minor scratches on her back during the horrific assault.
Safe feeling shattered
The incident shattered what was a quiet Saturday morning on Albert Place in the Chimney Hill neighborhood. Residents said earlier this week they won’t feel safe again until the dogs are found.
Delaware Animal Care and Control officers have stepped up patrols in the area and are investigating. Ms. Goree said she feels better about that.
“I’ve talked to a couple officers and told them, ‘You’ve got to catch these things. The next time it could be a child,’” she said.
Still, though, she’s advised relatives not to visit until the dogs are located.
Ms. Goree said the marauding canines were reddish brown, and at least one had a red nose. While she originally estimated the dogs to weigh 180 pounds soon after the attack, she toned it down to 70 to 80 pounds later on.
“My adrenalin was rushing and I wasn’t really thinking,” she said.
Neighbors, armed with shovels, crowbars, fire extinguishers and firearms, chased after the dogs before they lost the trail. Folks in the area estimated the attack lasted approximately two minutes.
Such publicized dog attacks have inspired Delaware lawmakers to strengthen the state’s dangerous dog regulation to ensure the statute has more enforcement power.
Rep. D.E. Williams, D-Talleyville, introduced a bill in April that amends Delaware’ dangerous dog statute to clarify the situations in which animal control may impound a dog suspected of being dangerous or potentially dangerous.
Rep. Williams’ law would specifically clarify that the state’s dangerous dog panel, made up of voluntary members in the animal welfare community, can declare a dog to be dangerous if it has chased or pursued a person on the streets, or on public or private property other than its owner’s property; or if the dog has been involved in dog-fighting; or if the dog has attacked or inflicted physical injury on a person or domestic animal, providing the domestic animal was on the property of its owner.
(Delaware State News - May 31, 2014)
No comments:
Post a Comment