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St. Petersburg Woman Mauled in Dog Attack

A St. Petersburg, Florida, woman was critically injured when her dog attacked her. The victim, Patricia Thiel, 39, survived the attack but is expected to face an extended recovery time as a result of several expected surgeries.  The most serious injuries were to her arms, as she apparently tried to protect herself from the dog attack.

Robert Jacks, 43, Thiel’s common-law husband, said that he was afraid that she could lose her right arm. However, doctors at All Children’s Hospital were able to save it.

Thiel and Jacks own four other dogs. The incident took place in the fenced-in backyard of their Lakewood Estates home. The Florida dog attack occurred when Theil attempted to break up a scuffle between the dogs. That is when Jake, a 100 pound Labrador-Pitbull Terrier mix, attacked her.

Joseph Wharton, 48, a neighbor, rescued Thiel when he entered the backyard and shot and killed the attacking dog. It has not been determined as of yet if the other dogs played a roll in the attack.

The Pinellas County Animal Services impounded three of the four other dogs. The dogs are expected to be returned to the couple following the investigation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people become victims to dog bites each year. Of those that are bitten, approximately twenty percent of them require medical attention.

The incident shows that dogs can be very unpredictable and can attack at anytime, including their owners.

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