An elderly Hempstead County woman is recuperating in a Texarkana hospital today after being attacked by dogs Thursday.
According to Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton, Gwendolyn Smith, 73, of 1215 Hempstead 25, was walking her son’s two Rottweilers around 3:25 p.m. when she says one of the dogs jumped on her and started biting. Smith says the second dog then started attacking her as well.
She says she was able to get away from the dogs and go inside to call 911.
The sheriff says Smith suffered severe bite marks and puncture wounds to torso and arm.
Pafford EMS treated Smith on the scene and wanted to airlift her to Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana. They chose to take her to the hospital by ground when they were notified that LifeNet’s helicopter was grounded due to the weather.
Smith said her son, who owns the dogs, lives in Mississippi.
The dogs, which each weighed about 110 pounds, were still on the scene when Deputy Matt Dunham approached them. Dunham says the dogs became aggressive towards him and he put them down with his gun.
The dogs were wearing collars but no rabies tag was affixed. The collars did identify the owner as Maxamillion Odom of Nashville, Arkansas. Odom did confirm that the dogs were his and Smith was his mother.
The dogs were taken to Powell and Perry veterinary Clinic to be tested for diseases.
Odom said his mother was being treated at the hospital and would recover.
