Texas: Dogs Attack Meals for the Elderly Volunteer

TEXAS -- The San Angelo police said that a volunteer for Meals for the Elderly was attacked by three dogs while delivering meals just before noon today.

The volunteer, an 82- year-old San Angelo man, remains hospitalized this afternoon after the attack.

Police said that he was delivering meals to a home in the 100 block of W. 32nd Street just before 11:00 a.m. when he was reportedly attacked by a client’s three dogs.

The victim reportedly sustained multiple bite wounds to his limbs, torso, head, and face before the dogs’ owner could gain control and secure the dogs in a nearby yard. San Angelo Fire Department Medics responded to the scene and provided first aid to the man before transporting him to Shannon Medical Center for treatment.  He is reportedly in stable condition.

Animal Services Officers who responded to the scene utilized tranquilizer darts in an attempt to sedate the dogs before taking them into custody.  Shortly after being tranquilized, one of the dogs charged a San Angelo Police Officer who was assisting Animal Services.  The Officer shot the dog with his Taser, preventing further attack or escape through an open fence.

The dogs’ owner surrendered custody to Animal Services and they were removed from the property.  The dogs will be quarantined at the Animal Shelter for ten days.

Update 7 p.m.
Becca Edens, Marketing and Events Coordinator for Meals for the Elderly, said that the volunteer was loved by all at the organization. "He was the one who would take a route to deliver meals when the assigned volunteer was not available," she said. Edens said that the dogs were not owned by MFTE's client; they were owned by a neighbor and happened to be on the client's property when the volunteer arrived to deliver today's lunch. "We have a strict policy about restraining your pets to protect our volunteers," she said.

Update 7:35 p.m.
Meals for the Elderly identified the victim as Glen Shultz. Edens said that he is recovering at the hospital and appreciates the community's prayers and support.

Update 7:52 p.m.
A clarification: The MFTE client had sublet one of the rooms in her house and the dogs were the property of the tenant. This squares with the police report. Edens said that MFTE was not aware that the client had sublet a room, or that the new tenant had dogs.

(San Angelo LIVE! - ‎Apr 24, 2015‎)