Home / Crime and Justice / Service Dog Mauled: Owner Fights for Life
Service Dog Mauled: Owner Fights for Life
10 Jul
Summary
- A small service dog was severely injured in a dog attack.
- The owner sustained injuries and rabies shots during the rescue.
- Veterinary bills for the dog's surgery could reach $10,000.
A service dog named Snoopy was critically injured during a dog attack on Chestnut Street. The three-year-old Maltese and Yorkie mix was reportedly attacked by an off-leash pit bull. Snoopy's owner, Liza Henriquez, who has hearing impairment and medical conditions, struggled to free her dog from the attacker's mouth.
Henriquez sustained injuries, including bruises and requiring rabies vaccinations after her hands were in the pit bull's mouth. Snoopy suffered severe wounds and faces potential leg amputation, with surgery costs estimated at $10,000. Chelsea police are investigating the incident, with the attacking dog seized for quarantine.
Authorities indicated the owner of the pit bull would likely receive citations for leash law violations. Henriquez expressed dissatisfaction with the police response, questioning their training for emergencies involving individuals with disabilities. She hopes for criminal charges against the other dog's owner and a ban on him owning future animals.
