Florida Postal Worker Dies After Being Attacked By 5 Dogs When Her Vehicle Broke Down Officials Say

Residents heard a woman screaming for help and came outside to find Rock on the ground with five dogs attacking her, witnesses told the Sheriff’s Office. The owners of the dogs and several neighbors rushed to pull the dogs from the Rock. “One of the neighbors even brought his firearm and fired several shots into the air and into the ground in an attempt to break up the attack,” Putnam County Sheriff’s Chief Lt. Col. Joseph Wells said at a news conference Tuesday. The effort was unsuccessful, and neighbors and owners had to physically remove the dogs from the Rock, according to Wells. By the time deputies arrived, the dogs were back on their owner’s property. The mail carrier was on the ground, bleeding profusely, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies applied a tourniquet and provided first aid until emergency services arrived. Rock was taken to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a trauma center in Gainesville in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries Monday night, the sheriff’s office said. More than 5,400 postal workers were attacked by dogs in the United States in 2021, according to data released by the US Postal Service in June. Florida was one of the top 10 states for dog bites, with 201 incidents reported last year, according to the USPS. Wells said the investigation into the incident is “very active.” “We are in frequent communications with the state attorney’s office as we explore options for possible criminal charges as this case continues,” he said. An initial investigation revealed the dogs escaped from a fenced yard after they managed to move rocks covering the fence, according to Wells. After the attack, animal control workers were called to the scene and took custody of the five dogs that witnesses identified as being involved in the attack. The owner relinquished custody of the dogs, which will be humanely euthanized, according to the sheriff’s office. Wells said the sheriff’s office and animal control have responded to the neighborhood several times in the past for animal calls, though it’s unclear if the calls involved the same dogs. “We have spoken with these witnesses and are working to confirm that these dogs are one and the same,” Wells said. “We believe there have been other calls for service regarding these dogs and we are looking into those calls at this time.” Neighbors told CNN affiliate News4JAX the dogs have been a nuisance for a while, saying the animals have been known to jump the fence or come out from under it. “Our hearts go out to the victim and his family as they navigate this tragic event,” said Putnam County Sheriff HD DeLoach. “It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility for keeping their animals in a safe location for their safety and those around them.” The USPS recommends keeping dogs indoors, behind a fence, away from the door, or on a leash when postal workers deliver mail. The postal service also recommends that children do not take mail directly from the postal carrier, as dogs could perceive the carrier as a threat.

title: “Florida Postal Worker Dies After Being Attacked By 5 Dogs When Her Vehicle Broke Down Officials Say " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-22” author: “Michael Gates”

Residents heard a woman screaming for help and came outside to find Rock on the ground with five dogs attacking her, witnesses told the Sheriff’s Office. The owners of the dogs and several neighbors rushed to pull the dogs from the Rock. “One of the neighbors even brought his firearm and fired several shots into the air and into the ground in an attempt to break up the attack,” Putnam County Sheriff’s Chief Lt. Col. Joseph Wells said at a news conference Tuesday. The effort was unsuccessful, and neighbors and owners had to physically remove the dogs from the Rock, according to Wells. By the time deputies arrived, the dogs were back on their owner’s property. The mail carrier was on the ground, bleeding profusely, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies applied a tourniquet and provided first aid until emergency services arrived. Rock was taken to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a trauma center in Gainesville in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries Monday night, the sheriff’s office said. More than 5,400 postal workers were attacked by dogs in the United States in 2021, according to data released by the US Postal Service in June. Florida was one of the top 10 states for dog bites, with 201 incidents reported last year, according to the USPS. Wells said the investigation into the incident is “very active.” “We are in frequent communications with the state attorney’s office as we explore options for possible criminal charges as this case continues,” he said. An initial investigation revealed the dogs escaped from a fenced yard after they managed to move rocks covering the fence, according to Wells. After the attack, animal control workers were called to the scene and took custody of the five dogs that witnesses identified as being involved in the attack. The owner relinquished custody of the dogs, which will be humanely euthanized, according to the sheriff’s office. Wells said the sheriff’s office and animal control have responded to the neighborhood several times in the past for animal calls, though it’s unclear if the calls involved the same dogs. “We have spoken with these witnesses and are working to confirm that these dogs are one and the same,” Wells said. “We believe there have been other calls for service regarding these dogs and we are looking into those calls at this time.” Neighbors told CNN affiliate News4JAX the dogs have been a nuisance for a while, saying the animals have been known to jump the fence or come out from under it. “Our hearts go out to the victim and his family as they navigate this tragic event,” said Putnam County Sheriff HD DeLoach. “It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility for keeping their animals in a safe location for their safety and those around them.” The USPS recommends keeping dogs indoors, behind a fence, away from the door, or on a leash when postal workers deliver mail. The postal service also recommends that children do not take mail directly from the postal carrier, as dogs could perceive the carrier as a threat.