A 35-year-old mother of four faces a lengthy recovery after deputies say four dogs attacked her Sunday evening in the Quailcrest Drive area near Lake Livingston.
The woman, who goes by Cassie, is receiving treatment at a Houston hospital. Her father told KPRC 2 she has undergone two surgeries and will need additional procedures, including reconstructive and plastic surgery.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Cassie was walking along the roadway Oct. 11 when four dogs described as “pit bull type” approached her.
She tried to back away to maintain a safe distance, but one dog attacked her, causing her to fall. The other three then joined the attack, the sheriff’s office said.
Cassie told investigators that people in a passing vehicle stopped and scared the dogs away. She asked them to take her to a hospital, but they left, according to the sheriff’s office.
She then made her way to a nearby home, where a neighbor helped her and emergency services were notified.
She was subsequently transported by Life Flight to a hospital in Harris County for further treatment.
After taking Cassie to the hospital, Walker returned to the neighborhood and identified the dogs’ owner.
The owner received citations for failing to vaccinate the animals and allowing them to roam at large, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies and animal control personnel removed all four dogs and took them to the Polk County Animal Control Facility. Animal Control Officer Krista Lawson sustained a bite to her hand during the removal process.
The dogs were placed under a required 10-day quarantine for rabies observation. The sheriff’s office said it will begin the process of having them declared dangerous after the quarantine ends.
Under Texas law, owners of dangerous dogs must register the animals with animal control, keep them in a secure enclosure or on a leash under a person’s immediate control, and obtain at least $100,000 in liability insurance or demonstrate equivalent financial responsibility.
Owners must also comply with applicable local requirements. Failure to comply can lead to court-ordered seizure and euthanasia, subject to appeal protections. A dangerous-dog declaration alone does not automatically require euthanasia.
