Texas: Abilene man's guide dog to be evaluated after pit bull attack

TEXAS -- An Abilene man and his guide dog were attacked by a pit bull as they walked through their south side neighborhood Sunday morning.

Now the dog, named Scarlet, has an uncertain future as a guide.

“A pit bull came flying out of the yard, grabs Scarlet pinned her to the ground and started ripping at her neck,” said Mickey George, Scarlet’s owner.”[It] was going to kill her and I couldn’t do anything.”

 

George said after the first attack on South 9th Street, the dog came back for another round.

“When the dog finally let go and ran off, there was blood dripping from her neck,” George said. “It got all over my hands.”

George said the owner of the pit bull tried to separate the dogs with a stick.

When the two arrived back at their home, George and his wife Carmen, who is also visually impaired, called the police. They filed a report and took Scarlet to the veterinary clinic.

The vet had to place two tubes in Scarlet’s throat to help drain the fluid from her neck, which prohibits George from using her guide harness.

George was gifted Scarlet through the California organization Guide Dogs for the Blind four years ago.

Before the attack, George used Scarlet to get to work and the store. George is currently depending solely on city transportation.

“Scarlet gave me back my independence,” George said. “She’s trained to guide, to take me around things, to stop for curbs, she watches for cars so she won’t cross if a car is coming. She keeps me safe out there.”

 

George said he plans on taking Scarlet back to California, where the organization will decide if she will be able to work again. George said it’s not the physical injuries that may keep Scarlet from being a guide, it’s the psychological impact of the attack.

The owners of the pit bull have not been cited, and city officials told KTXS they are still investigating the incident.

(KTXS - April 7, 2016)