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Posted on 04/29/2007 4:59:14 PM PDT by Fawn
PORT ST. LUCIE — When Dawn Sharbuno's husband came into her hospital room Thursday night where she lay with nearly her entire face ripped off by the family dog, she worried he would leave her.
No, he told her, "We've been through hurricanes together. We've been through everything together. I'm not going to leave you now."
Sharbuno, 46, underwent eight hours of reconstructive surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where she was flown after the attack. She has three or four more surgeries to go.
She had just gotten out of the pool and was sitting outside Thursday evening when her adopted dog, Roscoe, a black and tan chow-shepherd mix, came over. Her husband said she reached down to pet Roscoe when he jumped up and bit her.
"Her face was completely off across the bridge of her nose," Harry "Lou" Sharbuno remembered. "The only thing holding it on was her chin. It was like something out of a horror movie."
The couple adopted Roscoe from the St. Lucie County Humane Society less than a month ago after losing a dog to cancer. Harry Sharbuno said Roscoe never showed aggression toward people and only grumbled over food with their other dog, Venus.
"He's a beautiful dog," Sharbuno said. "He's very deceiving."
Sharbuno said his wife worked as a truck driver before a disabling accident three years ago, while he was recently laid off from an interior contracting job. The couple broke down and bought health insurance for both of them just two days before the mauling.
Port St. Lucie animal control officers took custody of Roscoe, who was returned to the St. Lucie County Humane Society Friday morning. He will be quarantined for 10 days - at a cost of $20 per day to the Sharbunos. Then, the couple will have the option of reclaiming the dog, giving him to a rescue service or having him euthanized.
At the humane society Friday, Roscoe wagged his tail and took shelter manager David Robertson's commands to sit and shake hands. Robertson said the dog arrived as a stray from Port St. Lucie Animal Control.
Before being handed over to the Sharbunos, Roscoe - like all dogs - was given a temperament test in which a humane society employee gave him a bowl of food and then tried to take it away. Roscoe passed.
The humane society tested him again Friday morning, and Roscoe again did not bark or bite, Robertson said.
Robertson said he received about 30 calls Friday morning from people who had heard about the attack.
"They're concerned about the dog, and they're concerned about the lady."
Prayers for Dawn Sharbuno and the hope she heals quickly. ~P~
This was 12 years ago and I am fine. The dog was older and “encouraged” to be mean by the owner. I had been around the dog for at least 5 years on a regular basis and he always recognized me and was friendly.
Yep. It’s nearly impossible to get free from a cat that is determined to attack you.
Oh well. You get paid by the hour don’t you?
Please....a cat will bite and scratch....but it can’t tear chunks of skin off of your body like a dog. It can’t clamp down and tear a huge chunk of your arm off....I’ve been around feral cats enough to know the difference. A pitbulls jaws are like steal. A cat will not do any kind of damage like a dog.
I just watched the Planet Earth ‘Mountains’ (I think) about the Snow Leopards. What Beautiful cats.
Since this dog was part chow and presumably an adult is another factor in the mess. Adult chows do not bond very well with new owners, they are what you would call a one family dog, once they seperate from their old owners and get new owners they should not be trusted untill a lengthy readgustment period has lapsed, even then it needs to go slow.
Well, that settles it, he passed the 2nd of 2 random tests by non-owners. /sarcasm The dog lived with his new family for a month before he attacked. A couple days in a new environment seems scarcely a 'test'. I've always heard that once they attack humans, especially owners, you just can't really be sure they won't turn on you again. I know there are some very good dog trainers who work with dogs like him. It seems he needs more than a couple random tests.
>A cat will not tear off your face....<
See below:
http://www.koreus.com/files/200408/pinkey_lechat.html
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Lets just say a financial settlement was reached after it came to light the dog had attacked one of the neighbor children earlier.
Good gosh...have you ever seen a cat in full attack mode on a human?
If they went for your face, they might not rip off your face, but you would probably be blind and disfigured for life, no doubt.
I have a feeling the last body part that poor guy was thinking of was his face as that feline was chewing on him.
>He was scared. The moron was the guy.<
Yup. The cat hit the end of the leash, and went into a blind panic. A classic example of fight or flight, in action.
"Her face was completely off across the bridge of her nose,"
!=
bit off a woman's nose
Maybe its just me, but they don't quite equate.
I agree Gal. And I was incredulous to find out that they're still paying $20/day to keep the thing alive. Sorta adding insult to injury.
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