Dog attack: 70-year-old woman hospitalized

NORTH CAROLINA -- A 70-year-old woman spent the night in the hospital after a dog attack in her South Gastonia neighborhood Tuesday.

According to police, Ophelia Perez was walking her small dog around 5:30 p.m. on Efird Street when another dog charged at them.

A neighbor’s 3-year-old husky had gotten out of the backyard. It ran straight for Perez’s small dog.
According to police, Perez tried to grab her dog away from the attacking Husky when she was knocked to the ground.

The dog began biting her in the face and throat, said Gastonia Police public information officer Donna Lahser. The owner of the husky had seen the incident and chased the dog away. He then called for medical help, Lahser said.

Perez was transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center. “She had lacerations on her neck and face and had lost a lot of blood,” Lahser said.

By Wednesday afternoon, Perez was ready to go home. She was in excellent condition, said Dallas Paddon, a CaroMont spokeswoman.

Dog seized: Gaston County Animal Control was able to capture the dog and take it to the shelter Tuesday. The dog will remain quarantined for 10 days while officers monitor it, said assistant chief with Gaston County Police Joseph Ramey. “Our main concern right now would be if it has rabies or not,” Ramey said.

In most cases, an owner who wants the dog back has to meet certain requirements, Ramey said. In this case the owner has told police he does not want the dog back. The husky will be monitored to see if it’s fit for adoption, Ramey said. No charges have been filed in the case.

["monitored to see if it's fit for adoption"???? The dog "began biting her in the face and throat"! Put the dog to sleep already!]

(Gaston Gazette - Feb 12, 2014)