NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A woman who was mauled by two pit bulls in Connecticut has lost her leg and both eyes and could lose an arm, according to local reports.
It was about 8 a.m. Monday when Jocelyn Winfrey, 53, was attacked at a home on Ella Grasso Boulevard, PIX11 News sister station FOX61 reports. On Wednesday afternoon, she was undergoing surgery for grave injuries she suffered in the mauling, WFSB reports.
Assistant Police Chief Anthony Campbell told WFSB Winfrey remains in extremely critical condition.
The dogs’ owner, Dr. Hamilton Hicks, brought his friend Winfrey to his home Monday night. When the pair walked onto the property, Hicks’ pit bulls immediately pounced and began to attack the woman. Hicks tried to pull the dogs off of her, but was bitten repeatedly, WFSB reports.
Neighbors were reportedly throwing rocks at the dogs in an attempt to stop their attack.
The dogs have been quarantined at the city pound. New Haven alderman Brian Windgate said he went to the pound to express his concern that the dogs should be put down.
A New Haven Animal Control officer told FOX61 the animals likely will be euthanized because of how severe Winfrey’s injuries are.
City officials said the dogs’ owner was issued a summons on a misdemeanor drug charge. FOX61 reports Hicks allegedly was possession of crack cocaine when emergency crews arrived to help his friend, and police said he could face additional charges related to the attack, especially if Winfrey dies.
The fire department was not called to the scene of Monday’s attack, a protocol that a city official promised would change.
City deputy director of operations Rick Fontana said in the future they will send a full response — including police, medical officials and fire crews — if they presume an attack to be ongoing from a single animal or multiple animals.
