Law enforcement authorities are trying to identify the owner of a dog who allegedly mauled a 9-month-old puppy at an Ocala dog park and attacked the puppy’s owners when they tried to intervene.
The alleged attack took place at the Letty Towles Dog Park (2299 SE 32nd Avenue) in Ocala on Friday, May 23.
On that afternoon, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Jack and Maryann O’Leary were walking their English Springer Spaniel, Mae, at the dog park when a “large bully breed dog” approached Mae and bit her chest.
According to the O’Learys, the attack was “unprovoked” and caused severe, “life-threatening injuries” to Mae. As the dog continued to sink its teeth further into Mae, she began to scream and defecate.
Four people, including the O’Learys, were able to remove the dog from Mae. While they were removing the dog, Mrs. O’Leary was bitten several times and Mr. O’Leary’s watch was smashed.
Mae was rushed by the O’Learys to the Marion Pet Hospital in Ocala, where she was evaluated and, once stabilized, she was transported to the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville.
During a physical examination, medical personnel determined Mae had several ventral thoracic puncture wounds and one ventral midline abdominal puncture wound. The incident left her with internal bleeding, a collapsed lung, and broken ribs, according to the O’Learys.
According to the small animal hospital, Mae’s respiratory rate is normal and she has been breathing well. She is still being monitored to see whether she needs surgery.
In a statement to Ocala-News.com, the O’Learys expressed thanks to the medical staff who saved their puppy.
“We love being a part of the Ocala community, and over the past few days, we’ve felt so supported by the kindness and care of our fellow dog owners,” said Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary. “This has been a deeply traumatic experience for our family. Mae is our baby. She is in a lot of pain and it’s heartbreaking to see her like this. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, we’re focused on helping her recover as smoothly as possible so that she can have the long, healthy life she deserves. We want justice for Mae, but above all, our hope is that no one else in this community, human or dog, ever has to go through something like this. Thank you all for your continued support and to the amazing veterinarians at the Marion Pet Hospital here in Ocala and the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville for saving Mae’s life. We are so grateful.”
The owner of the dog has not yet been identified and is still wanted by authorities. The dog is described as a red XL bully or mastiff that weighs around 100 pounds. The dog’s owner is described as a white woman in her 60s. She was accompanied by a young girl between the ages of 10 and 13 years old.
The two individuals fled the park immediately after the attack, according to the O’Learys.
The Marion County Animal Control case number associated with the incident is A25-159582. To report information or provide details in the case, contact Marion County Animal Services at 352-671-8727.
The attack comes a few months after another suspect shot and killed a Golden Retriever in Marion County with an arrow. That suspect has also not been identified.