Elderly Woman Attacked by 3 Dogs, Airlifted to Trauma Center in Hernando County

Wire Service
By Wire Service
May 27, 2019US News
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Elderly Woman Attacked by 3 Dogs, Airlifted to Trauma Center in Hernando County
An air ambulance. (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license/Tony Hisgett via Flicker)

HERNANDO COUNTY, Florida—An elderly woman was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by three dogs, Hernando County deputies say.

A call was received just after 7:30 a.m. Monday that an elderly woman had just been attacked by dogs. Hernando County Fire Rescue, a patrol deputy, and an animal enforcement officer were sent to the scene.

The caller had put the woman in a pickup truck and was waiting along Spring Lake Hwy. for first responders to arrive.

The woman was suffering from severe dog bites on both legs and the caller performed basic first aid.

The caller told deputies three dogs, described as pit bulls, attacked the victim and were still running loose in the area.

The woman who was attacked was treated on scene by HCFR and then airlifted to a trauma center.

Deputies say she had been walking on Spring Lake Hwy. when the dogs attacked. When deputies and animal enforcement arrived and tried to get the dogs, at least one of them attempted to attack the officers.

Bean bag rounds were used to subdue the dogs. They were taken to Hernando County Animal Services.

The owner of the dogs is Ralph Hughes of Brooksville. He was cited for public nuisance animal (second offense) and unrestrained animal, three counts each.

Hughes surrendered all three dogs for euthanasia, as he believes they are too aggressive and does not want them back. Deputies say all three dogs are licensed and current on all shots.

‘Five Dogs Euthanized’

Officials said the five dogs that attacked and killed a 14-year-old Massachusetts boy will be euthanized. The boy had regularly taken care of the animals.

The Dighton Board of Selectmen voted on May 22 to put down the five dogs, which mauled Ryan Hazel to death on May 9. According to MassLive, Belgian Malinois dogs and Dutch shepherds were involved.

Scott Dunmore, 49, who trained the animal, didn’t contest the decision to put them down.

Dunmore’s website said he has been training dogs for police for about 15 years, according to the Daily Mail.

“I just want to thank for the board, the Dighton community for the support and comfort that they have given Ryan Hazel’s parents during this terrible, terrible time,” Dighton’s Board Chairman Kenneth Pacheco said in the meeting, which was uploaded to YouTube.

He added that “we’re a small town with a big heart, and that’s not just a slogan.” He added, “You people have shown me how important it is that when something like this happens that we unite and we try to help each other, so I just want to thank all the people in town for all the work that they’ve done.”

Officials have not identified the specific dog or dogs responsible for the boy’s death, according to MassLive.

Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this article.

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