Texas: Woman seriously mauled by her sister's pit bull

TEXAS -- Veronica Sariles, who survived a dog attack last week, says she is studying up on the ideas presented by city staff.

Sariles says she was surprised when her sister’s pit bull latched onto her leg and foot, ripping away skin and severing a tendon.

“I could feel my skin being pierced through. I could feel serious damage being done,” she said. “I just fought and that was the only way I knew how to get through it.”

She says she shook him free long enough to reach her car, but the severity of the attack shocked her.

“I looked at the street and I could see pieces of my skin laying right there,” she said.

Sariles wouldn’t want to see her sister face charges, but she says she does favor a tough approach on the dog due to the viciousness of the unprovoked attack.

“I believe the dog should be put down,” she said. “A child would not have made it through the attack.”

GoFundMe link: Dallas Pitbull Attack
Created June 15, 2016
Veronica Sariles  
  Medical
  IRVING, TX

On June 7th, unprovoked, I was viciously attacked by a full grown pit bull. The attack occurred in the parking lot as I was headed to my car to embark on a 40 minute drive home from my sisters' apartment in Dallas.

Primarily I fought to stay upright and eventually was able to escape to my car to safety. The attack removed a large part of my calf, down to the muscle and punctured my foot, severing the tendon in my roast beef little piggy.

I arrived via ambulance to the hospital and initially was stitched back together with over 30 stitches; however, within hours the infection exacerbated to the point of needing at minimum two surgeries.

The first surgery (of my life) was geared to repair the right tendon in my third toe, drain the severe infection in my foot and remove all the sewed skin (we hoped would survive) on my left calf.

In the second surgery, a plastic surgeon grafted skin from my upper thigh to begin the reconstruction of my calf. I am uncertain how many more surgeries will be needed.

I have two handsome little gentlemen (9 and 5) and my youngest sons father, Philip who has been by my side to physically carry and aid me in each difficult moment. I am grateful to be alive, hopeful to be able to walk again one day but regrettably, I do not have health insurance for myself,

You may know me well or I may be a complete stranger to you; regardless, my only ask is for you help. Any assistance you feel led to provide, I know, will limit the burden for my children. I also hope in this process to raise awareness as loose, unsterilized dogs in the Dallas community have injured many and even killed a woman last month.

With that, if you see a loose, aggressive or know of dogs who escape, I urge you to contact 311 immediately. Your action can protect our community and especially this summer, our children.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your time, support and prayers.

Truly Yours,
V. S.

Update 1
I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to support me in this endeavor, thus far. I want you know that you are in my prayers and that I will credit you for my future. From the bottom of my heart, I am so humbled and grateful for your help. Also, I know this doesn't look pretty but if you look closely enough it kind of is in the shape of a heart and if you know me you know how much I love, love! That was very inspiring to me in some weird way.

Update 2
As for my severed tendon and puncture to my right foot, its healing slowly but definitely an improvement since I started.

Update 3
I don't want you to worry I didn't forget how to to smile. And the outpouring of love that I'm getting from everyone is making it easier to smile. Thank you. Thank you for even thinking about me, and allowing me to occupy even moments of your brain activity, I know this life goes so fast and there's so much to do. So please know, I'm very grateful even for your thoughts.