What began as a quiet evening outside turned into terror when a woman was suddenly surrounded and attacked by multiple dogs.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to investigate an animal complaint after a woman was bitten multiple times and transported to the hospital.
Before deputies arrived, dispatch advised the woman had already left for medical treatment due to her injuries. Deputies first made contact with the dog owners, who live across the road from where the attack occurred.
The owners denied responsibility and questioned whether their dogs were involved, suggesting the woman may have antagonized them. Deputies advised the owners of Ohio’s leash and confinement laws, which require dogs to be properly restrained on their property. The owners were informed they would be cited for dogs running at large and ordered to keep the dogs confined for 10 days pending medical and health department review.
Later that evening, after being discharged from the hospital, the woman came to the sheriff’s office to give her statement.
She told deputies she had been outside near her yard just before dark when three pit bull-type dogs suddenly charged her. She described the dogs as different colors and said they lunged repeatedly, biting her legs. She said one dog attacked more aggressively than the others.
The woman told deputies she screamed as loudly as she could, fearing that if she fell to the ground, she would be killed. A neighbor responded after hearing the screams, and other nearby residents also reported hearing the disturbance.
She said her husband, who had been asleep inside the home, ran outside barefoot after hearing her screams and saw the dogs retreat up the hill toward the neighboring property. He assisted her by applying pressure to the bleeding wounds before transporting her to the emergency room.
Medical records show she was treated for multiple bites, including one that required stitches. She told deputies she is now afraid to go outside and is especially worried because young grandchildren frequently visit her home.
Both the woman and her husband said this was not the first time the dogs had behaved aggressively and that previous incidents had occurred in the area.
The dog warden and local health department were notified, and the incident remains under investigation.
Why These Attacks Are Taken Seriously
Deputies say dog attacks involving multiple animals are among the most dangerous scenarios they respond to — particularly when victims are surprised, alone, or at risk of being knocked to the ground.
Ohio law requires dogs to be confined, even in rural areas, and attacks that result in injury trigger mandatory quarantine, investigation, and potential further action.
A Frightening Reality
“I shouldn’t be afraid to walk in my own yard,” the woman told deputies — a statement investigators say they hear far too often after dog-at-large incidents.
Even in the country, should dog owners be required to keep dogs confined — especially after someone ends up in the hospital?
