ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – A 71-year-old Alachua County resident was nearly mauled to death on Saturday before a deputy could step in and shoot the dog to stop the vicious attack.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 7 p.m. After arriving, a deputy found the victim being attacked. The man’s daughter, who deputies said owns the dog, tried to pull the dog away but was bitten as well.
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A deputy tried to intervene to get the dog off, but the dog started to attack and bite the deputy, causing them to shoot the dog.
Deputies applied multiple tourniquets to the victim to control severe bleeding before paramedics transported him to a trauma center. He was listed in critical but stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.
The deputy was treated at a hospital and released. The victm’s daughter suffered minor injuries. The dog died from its gunshot wound.
The sheriff’s office said the incident remains under investigation. It also did not specify the dog’s breed.