A North Carolina man was seriously injured, and his 2-year-old dog was killed after the pair was attacked by two other dogs when they were out for a walk earlier this week, according to local media reports.
Dave Bennett and his black Labrador retriever named Ruger were taking a walk around noon on Thursday along Elbridge Drive in the Worthington neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina when two other dogs attacked them, his wife Olivia Bennett told local station WRAL.
Olivia Bennett told the station that she got a horrifying call from her husband Thursday afternoon.
"I heard Dave on the other end screaming saying, 'Come home. I'm bleeding.' I didn't know what happened yet," she said.
Ruger was killed by the dogs, and Dave suffered serious injuries during the attack in their Wake County subdivision, she said.
"His arms are completely full of bites and tears and lacerations," Olivia said.
Newsweek reached out via Facebook on Saturday to Olivia Bennett for comment.
As of Friday, Dave was still hospitalized for the injuries he sustained during the violent encounter, Olivia told the station. She said she hopes her husband will be well enough to go home for Christmas.
Wake County Animal Services is investigating the attack, WRAL reported. While officials with animal services have not identified what breed of dogs attacked Ruger and Dave, the station reported that one appeared to be a pit bull and the other was a German shepherd.
It was unclear at the time of publication if the dogs had been seized by animal services and whether the owners could face charges.
Newsweek reached out via email and Facebook on Saturday to Wake County Animal Services for comment.
The Bennetts' neighbor Drake Gaines told WRAL that he witnessed the vicious attack from his porch across the street and tried to help Dave and Ruger.
Gaines was also injured, saying that he feared he "was going to die as both dogs were biting me and shaking my arms."
Gaines and Dave Bennett were unable to save Ruger from the pair of dogs.
"What's hard is he's not here anymore," Olivia Bennett said.
She said her husband is a hunter and was training Ruger to be a retriever.
"My husband devoted everything into him," she said.
Olivia told the station that in the wake of the attack and losing Ruger she had a message for other dog owners.
"Carry something with you," she said. "I don't care if it's a stick. I don't care if it's pepper spray. You've got to protect yourself and your animal. Be aware of your surroundings and be able to fight when something like this happens."
Uncommon Knowledge
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