Name: Emily E
Victim: Adult, Pet
Location: Residential neighborhood, Greenville, South Carolina
Year of attack: 2019

Tell us about the attack
In the presence of police officers, an unregistered, repeat-offender rescue pit bull which had escaped through an open fence attacked a woman walking her golden retriever on the sidewalk in a residential area. The woman and dog each sustained multiple bites to the torso, arms, and legs. Three armed police officers and one K9 unit overheard screaming at the post office on the block and attempted to shoot the pit bull. The pit bull owner emerged and temporarily restrained the pit bull but let go, resulting in further injury to both victims before the victims were able to escape to the inside of a police SUV. The pit bull owner resisted euthanization of the pit bull, which had previously bit at least one other human. It was destroyed by animal control.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
The female victim suffered from PTSD and deals daily with the trauma of the attack and the response of the officers involved, who did not physically engage in any way to stop the attack aside from point their guns and yell. One officer claims he couldn’t help because he had left his baton in his car. Both victims are extremely fearful of pit bulls and struggle to be in public settings where any dogs are present.

Legal Consequences
The pit bull owner, who was uninsured, harassed the victim via phone and social media for months. The attacking pit bull was euthanized by animal control, as it had already previously bitten a human. No charges were filed and no fines were issued to anyone.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
There are rarely human consequences for the people who are responsible for these pit bull attacks on others. Animal control is uncommunicative and unsympathetic to victims.