Rusk County (KYTX) -- An unexpected attack by a pack of dogs leaves an elderly woman hospitalized with injuries that may change her life forever.
Family members say 80-year-old Pauline Jones had just picked up her newspaper when a pack of dogs from right next door came and attacked her right in her driveway Wednesday morning.
Ben Mendez lives just up the street from his aunt, and says nothing prepared him for the call. "You can be a strong person, you're just not going to be able to fight 5 of them off," Mendez said.
According to Mendez, it was a friend who drove by as 5 dogs, without a history of being violent, mauled Jones. She immediately dialed 911.
"I'm very thankful, she's a really great neighbor," Mendez said.
He tell us Jones is active and mostly takes care of her husband John Wayne, who is disabled. But injuries she suffered yesterday may slow her down.
"They did get the arm, the legs and she did have some scratches on her back and face. I think they said they had to put stitches on her forehead," Mendez said.
He says even worse, her right leg may need to be amputated.
Sheriff's deputies have made sure the dogs are off the streets. "They were euthanized and sent off for testing," Sgt. Viki Penny, with the Rusk County Sheriff's Department, said.
Penny says the owner of the dogs, a friend of the victim, has been cooperative with the investigation.
She says if you see an animal on the loose, to protect yourself. "If you think that it might be vicious, even if you don't, and it's not a dog or yours and it's not a dog you recognize I'd recommend you call your local law enforcement," Penny said.
The dogs were a mix of several breeds.
Even though all 5 dogs have been euthanized, investigators believe there could be a sixth. They are still looking for that loose dog.
