Dog Attack: Woman Screams For Help

[Teebs]

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/dog-attack-woman-screams-for-help/2443399.aspx

A YOUNG woman whose arm was ripped apart in a savage dog attack in Orange has undergone emergency surgery at Orange hospital.

Rachel Hepworth, 21, sustained horrific injuries when she tried to protect her small dog Benji from a frenzied attack by two American bulldogs in Tobruk Crescent.

The dogs’ owner surrendered the animals to council rangers after the attack, with the dogs ordered by council to be euthenased.

The young apprentice chef said the extent of her injuries meant she would need up to six months of rehabilitation to restore the use of muscles in her arm.

“They ripped right through to the bone,” she said.

Ms Hepworth and her boyfriend Michael Hinchcliffe were walking their two dogs late on Wednesday afternoon and were just a few metres from their home in Churchill Avenue when the two bulldogs broke down a fence and ran for the couple.

“I turned around and saw them coming,” Mr Hinchcliffe said.

“I called out to Rachel to run.”

However, the dogs outran Ms Hepworth in the middle of the road and, as she cradled her small dog to protect him, one of the dogs latched on to her arm.

“I can remember screaming for someone to help me,” she said.

While her boyfriend kicked at the attacking dog to get it to release its hold, neighbours ran from nearby houses.

“I can’t really remember a lot about it, except I turned around when Michael called out but the dogs were already just about on me,” Ms Hepworth said.

Mr Hinchcliffe’s mother Karen was in a house nearby and heard Ms Hepworth’s terrified screams during the attack.

“I said to my husband Graham, ‘My god, that’s the kids, there’s something wrong’,” she said.

Mrs Hinchcliffe said nothing could prepare her for the extent of the young woman’s injuries.

“I just wrapped Rachel up in towels and drove straight to the hospital,” she said.

Ms Hepworth’s mother Barbara Hepworth said her daughter now faced the disappointment of falling behind in her apprenticeship this year.

“The doctors have told us it will be six months before the muscles are restored,” she said.

“This means my daughter will lose a year off her apprenticeship and she’s only got a couple of weeks’ sick leave - she will have no income.”

Mrs Hepworth thanked staff and surgeons at Orange hospital for the treatment they provided for her daughter.

She said the family would not rule out seeking legal advice about compensation.

“The problem for Rachel is she won’t be able to have the full use of her arm for some time,” she said.

[Teebs]

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/attack-dogs-not-illegal/2443384.aspx

Attack dogs not illegal

BY JANICE HARRIS

04 Feb, 2012 04:00 AM

THE two American bulldogs that attacked an Orange woman are not an illegal breed and therefore not required to be caged.

The two dogs broke down a fence in Tobruk Crescent and chased down Rachel Hepworth and her small dog, with one dog inflicting serious injuries to Ms Hepworth.

She remains in Orange hospital following surgery on her right arm.

Orange City Council manager of building and environment Mark Hodges said when council rangers visited the Tobruk Crescent residence following the attack and spoke with the owners they “surrendered the dogs without hesitation”.

“It was explained to the owners if the dogs were not surrendered it was possible they could be liable for a fine of up to $50,000,” Mr Hodges said.

“Arrangements are being made to euthenase the dogs.”

American bulldogs were originally bred in the United States as a working dog.

Orange dog behaviour and training expert Debbie Coleman says there are a number of steps that can be taken to calm the situation prior to or during a dog attack.

“Whilst there are a number of strategies we suggest, when you are in the moment and it is happening to you it can be quite a scary experience,” she said.

Here are some of Ms Coleman’s tips:

Stand still and turn your back on the dog.

Do not make eye contact with the dog that is attacking or intending to attack you - pick a spot on the ground nearby and stare at it.

Protect your extremities if possible.

When out walking your dog try to take along some treats such as cabanossi or chicken to distract a dog if it attacks.

Carrying a stick is not always a good idea as it can encourage a dog to become more aggressive.

Try to remain calm and quiet as your dog will feed off your behaviour if you call out.

Socialise your puppy from an early age so it is used to different dogs and as many sights and sounds as possible.

[persephone]

That poor girl:(

RE: carrying treats ..yep ..I can see how that would work on dogs who broke down a fence to attack your dog NOT.

[Salukifan]

That's possibly some of the silliest advice from a so called "dog expert" that I've read in quite some time.

No dog owner will have a hope of saving their dog is the 'advice' taken is to stand still and turn their back on a dog attacking theirs while tossing cabanossi and remaining quiet so as not to spook their own dog.

All I can say is that I hope the person was misquoted and that she was referring to a dog posturing aggressively, not attacking.

[Guest donatella]

My worst nightmare when walking my small dog, and she did exactly what most small dog owners would do, pick their dog up and protect.

Such a tragedy

[Mags]

What a horrific experience - and what else would she do but try and protect her little dog. Standing still doesn't sound as though it would have stopped the attack happening I'm afraid, and I can't imagine throwing a treat would have helped either. I hope her arm does recover in the time frame they are talking about. And in my opinion her family should seek costs and lost income from the dogs owners. Makes you wonder how good the fencing was and if they were that reactive to some one walking passed with a dog it was a disaster waiting to happen - surely the owners knew they had issues? in which case you would make sure they were securely confined.

[melzawelza]

That is simply horrifying. The poor girl and poor dogs. I wonder if her dogs survived??

[megan_]

So they surrender the dogs and face no fines? Bloody disgrace!

[Peace_Of_Mind]

So they surrender the dogs and face no fines? Bloody disgrace!

It is a disgrace

[m-j]

That poor girl and her dog. Her life is being put on hold and those responsible seem to be getting away with it.

That's possibly some of the silliest advice from a so called "dog expert" that I've read in quite some time.

No dog owner will have a hope of saving their dog is the 'advice' taken is to stand still and turn their back on a dog attacking theirs while tossing cabanossi and remaining quiet so as not to spook their own dog.

All I can say is that I hope the person was misquoted and that she was referring to a dog posturing aggressively, not attacking.

While agree that your chances are probably slim in stopping a serious dog by adopting the quiet, calm body language, highly desirable food tossing stategy, running, screaming and hitting are definately only going to fuel it.

This reminds my of the episode of Myth Busters where they tested the food throwing strategy with trained guard dogs several of them did actually leave the attack to get the raw steak (not a highly desirable food).

[mita]

So they surrender the dogs and face no fines? Bloody disgrace!

It sounds awfully unfair.

I'm no lawyer, but could the young woman take civil action & sue the owners? All I know is that takes money to do.....& stress....and there's no guarantee of success.

I'm not impressed with the 'expert's' advice in this context either. You're in big trouble with 2 pumped up dogs that've just been strong enough to knock down a fence.

Once I was walking our 2 little Shelties on leads, when a GSD came running at speed straight at us, across the park.

No way was I going to leave the Shelties.....I bent & put my arms around them. In the last few yards, I screamed 'Stop!' to the GSD.

Its owner was on the far side of the park talking to people. He heard.....& whistled the dog to 'Stop' Thank the lord it did.

I'm not frightened of dogs, but that's one of the scariest things I've encountered. A big GSD coming full-pelt with eye on my little Shelties.

It was a park where dogs were required to be on leads.

Edited February 4, 2012 by mita

[WeimMe]

So horrible. They should be fined regardless for not having adequate fencing. It's terrifying when all that stands between you and a very agressive dog is a rickety fence that's only just managing to contain it.

[WreckitWhippet]

I dare say they will not get away without a very large fine, the young lady will also be able to sue for damages.

[indigirl]

That poor woman how horrific. Considering the 2 dogs broke down a fence to get to them, i daresay the dogs have displayed aggressive behaviour in the past. What a nightmare for the woman and her dog.

The advice about standing still and throwing food to fend off a serious dog attack is almost laughable. The only 'food' that would have satisfied them is the dog the woman was trying to protect!

[Atanquin]

That poor poor woman.

That is what I fear in my little town sometimes we walk past so many house that have dog aggressive dogs big and small. had a little dog just yesterday run over snapping at me and zorro, he was so scared I picked him up poor thing but at least it wasn't a big dog.

Some dog owners need a kick up the bum!!

[Loving my Oldies]

Surely this would be a police matter? Why should the woman have to implement proceedings. There has been a horrific attack resulting in life changing injuries. If a human being had done this, the police/State would be prosecuting.

[m-j]

Just out of curiosity for those who think that calmfood throwing strategy is a load of rubbish what would you do in the event of an attack?

[WreckitWhippet]

Just out of curiosity for those who think that calmfood throwing strategy is a load of rubbish what would you do in the event of an attack?

Drop my dogs leash and let it run if it's one of my smaller one's.

Stand my ground with the bigger dogs, charge the oncoming dog and make some serious noise, lay the boot in and keep sinking it in and drop my bigger dogs leads so they have a fighting chance.

I've been through a couple of serious attacks and dogs that meant business, my dogs all have the scars to prove it but they are still alive and to date, I've not been bitten.

Walking the dogs is no longer enjoyable, I wear my steel caps and carry a weapon. I'm no longer tolerating dogs that charge.

[indigirl]

I would drop my smaller dogs leads too as I'm pretty sure they could outrun most big dogs apart from sight hounds. The bigger dogs I would try to defend, with whatever I could get hold of. It's almost too horrible to think about

[Cosmolo]

I don't think any of my dogs would run though- they'd stick with us. It would be case by case- every situation would be different and require a different response.