"Yesterday, we were playing ball with Nani in the river under Corcoran's bridge, as we do almost every afternoon. When we were just about to go for a walk in the meadow to dry her off, a woman and her two unleashed, large, black dogs (perhaps shepherd mix?) rounded the corner to our left. We had passed these dogs the day before, and noted that they seemed aggressive (I had even mentioned to my daughter that they seemed to have a pack mentality).
Without any warning, the dogs charged towards us. After a second of sniffing, Nani was pushed over onto the ground with a bite to her neck, and the two dogs began biting, pulling, and shaking her for about a minute. The only thing we had with us to help Nani was a small plastic butterfly net that we use to retrieve Nani's tennis balls in the river. Once the dogs finally stopped attacking Nani, they began charging at me and my two daughters, growling and snarling! We yelled at the woman, saying that we needed her contact information (she didn't even come to help!).
My eldest daughter immediately called the police, who arrived after the woman had fled. Luckily, my youngest daughter's friend was on the bridge at the time, and heard the commotion. He was able to run to the car and take a photo of the license plate (silver Honda crossover with Arizona license plates) before the woman took off.
What kind of a person would leave after watching what her dogs had done? We showed the photos to the police officer, who was very kind and helpful, and left in search of the woman.
We then took Nani to the emergency vet. The first question the vet asked upon seeing her was, 'How did you get the dogs off of her?' It became apparent to us that without the butterfly net, the dogs would have kept attacking, or could have even attacked us! The doctor is concerned that she may develop abscesses under her skin, which will require surgery, as a result of the concussive force of the dog bites over her entire body. (Surgery is needed in 1/3 dogs that are attacked.)
We then took Nani to the emergency vet. The first question the vet asked upon seeing her was, 'How did you get the dogs off of her?' It became apparent to us that without the butterfly net, the dogs would have kept attacking, or could have even attacked us! The doctor is concerned that she may develop abscesses under her skin, which will require surgery, as a result of the concussive force of the dog bites over her entire body. (Surgery is needed in 1/3 dogs that are attacked.)
Nani is evidently in a great deal of pain, and has not been herself since yesterday.
We have already spent several hundred dollars in medical bills, not including having her staples removed and potential surgery. We are trying to locate the woman, as her dogs are a threat to other park-goers and as this point, we would like to see her be cited for the leash law and we seek retribution for medical bills.
We have already spent several hundred dollars in medical bills, not including having her staples removed and potential surgery. We are trying to locate the woman, as her dogs are a threat to other park-goers and as this point, we would like to see her be cited for the leash law and we seek retribution for medical bills.
It is our hope to make other park-goers aware of what can potentially occur-- we never would have thought that something like this could happen to us!"
-----UPDATE ON NANI -----
From Nani's human companion:
"Good news! After days of skillful sleuthing, my girls and I have found the owner of the two dogs that attacked Nani. She had parked at the Cannery Rd. access to Cheslen Preserve rather than the main entrance on Embreeville Rd. We waited for her and her dogs to leave the parking area and we followed her to where she was staying: the KOA. Actually, we had been driving through the KOA daily looking for her car so it was no surprise to us when she pulled in there.
We called the police and he met us at the entrance to the KOA, where we were able to give him a description of her car etc. The trooper later called me and told me that he tracked her down and cited her for not having her dogs on a leash. He also informed her that Nani had been injured and that we took her to the emergency vet. He said that she was remorseful and that she had agreed to pay for all vet bills.
As far as Nani goes, she is doing much better! Thankfully it does not look as though she has developed any of the abscesses that vet warned us about. She has a follow-up appointment with the vet on Monday and then will have her staples out later next week.
Thank you for your concern and for putting the word out on your blog and Facebook page. I’m thrilled to say that we have found the woman and hope that this very unfortunate chapter will soon come to an end!"
-----UPDATE ON NANI -----
From Nani's human companion:
"Good news! After days of skillful sleuthing, my girls and I have found the owner of the two dogs that attacked Nani. She had parked at the Cannery Rd. access to Cheslen Preserve rather than the main entrance on Embreeville Rd. We waited for her and her dogs to leave the parking area and we followed her to where she was staying: the KOA. Actually, we had been driving through the KOA daily looking for her car so it was no surprise to us when she pulled in there.
We called the police and he met us at the entrance to the KOA, where we were able to give him a description of her car etc. The trooper later called me and told me that he tracked her down and cited her for not having her dogs on a leash. He also informed her that Nani had been injured and that we took her to the emergency vet. He said that she was remorseful and that she had agreed to pay for all vet bills.
As far as Nani goes, she is doing much better! Thankfully it does not look as though she has developed any of the abscesses that vet warned us about. She has a follow-up appointment with the vet on Monday and then will have her staples out later next week.
Thank you for your concern and for putting the word out on your blog and Facebook page. I’m thrilled to say that we have found the woman and hope that this very unfortunate chapter will soon come to an end!"
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