EPHRATA, Wash. — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says a 67-year-old woman from Ephrata was hospitalized Tuesday morning after being attacked by six dogs.
The department says first responders were called around 7 a.m. to the 8000 block of Road 10-Northwest after a neighbor heard the victim screaming for help during the attack. After the attack ended, the neighbor drove the victim home.
“Clearly she tried to defend herself by the attack of six dogs. But they overpowered her. Thank goodness the neighbor was home and was able to go out and stop the attack from happening," said Kyle Foreman, the Grant County Sherrif's Office (GSCO) PIO.
First responders treated the woman’s “extensive severe injuries” and then transported her to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata. She was later taken to a facility in Spokane.
The owner of the dogs who lives near where the attack occurred, surrendered the dogs to Animal Control Officers. The dogs are described as either pitbulls or pitbull-mixed breed. The dogs are on a 10-day hold at Grant County Animal Outreach.
“I’ve had a brief discussion with the owners yesterday, they were very concerned. They were apologetic for what had happened and they had volunteered the dogs to be taken into custody and they understand that the dogs will be euthanized,” said Foreman.
GSCO said the owners of the dogs are going to pay an infraction for each dog—which, for each of the six dogs, is going to cost up to $6,000.
The victim was released from the Spokane medical facility on Wednesday, GSCO confirmed.