Woodsboro teen undergoes surgery following dog attack

^{By Jennifer Lira – 4/13/15}

A Woodsboro teenager is recovering from surgery after she was attacked by a dog.

Sunday afternoon, Alyssa Holst, 14, was visiting a friend in Refugio when the friend’s Rottweiler jumped up and bit Alyssa’s face.

“He only took one grasp at me,” Alyssa said. But the single bite left significant injuries to the girl’s face. Her nose is cut up and her lips are swollen and stitched up. The quiet seventh grader said the attack happened so suddenly she hardly had time to react.

“When the dog bit me I really didn’t even cry,” she said. “I was in pain but I was just bleeding a lot and just scared that I was losing a lot of blood.”

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Dog attack victim released from the hospital

^{By Lisa Leal – 4/14/15}

Alyssa was brought to Driscoll Children’s Hospital where she underwent surgery.

Even though doctors say the wounds will heal, the 14-year old is understandably upset.

“It makes me look totally different,” she said. “Scared, that what if this doesn’t really come true, what if I look like this for the rest of my life, I really don’t know, I’m like scared.”

As for the dog, Alyssa says it’s been taken under a ten day quarantine. Surprisingly, the injured teen expressed concern for the dog that attacked her.

“My friend loves that dog so much and I really don’t want them to take it, but they said they might have to.”

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Rottweilers originate from Germany and are descendants of Mastiff-type dogs, sharing many of the traits and genetics of that canine lineage. Most likely the Italian Mastiff was spread by the Roman legion as the army invaded Europe around AD 70. Rottweilers are one of the oldest herding and guard dogs and are thought to be descendants of ancient Roman drover dogs. They performed as excellent herders due to their eagerness to control and intimidate cattle. They were once referred to as “Rottweiler butchers’ dogs” because they often pulled carts with butchered meat to market in “Rottweiler”, which was a popular and important trade center. The Rottweiler population dramatically decreased when the railroads were built and the need for them diminished. By WWI and WWI, the need for the Rottweiler increased due to their use as messengers, watchdogs, and guard dogs.

Rottweilers are loyal companions and take their role as guardian of their families very seriously. They are very willing and able to do what it takes to protect their family, even endure pain. They are considered confident, courageous, and brave.

Rottweilers are intelligent dogs with impressive guarding instincts. This breed requires regular exercise and work. Rottweilers enjoy regular exercise and love to engage in activities such as swimming, running, or playing games such as fetch. A Rottweiler that is not properly exercised can become bored and destructive which leads to behavioral issues.

Rottweilers require intense and rigorous training from a very early age. These canines need a physically strong, consistent leader or handler. Their size and power should always be taken into consideration in all situations and circumstances. Due to the delicate nature of interactions with other animals, it is not recommended that Rottweilers participate in dog play groups or dog parks. They need a secure fenced yard. Invisible fencing is not appropriate or dependable to protect the dog as well as children and other animals that may wander onto the premises. Proper fencing is not only to protect the dog, but for the public due to the Rottweiler’s intense guarding instinct. They can also be trained to accept visitors eagerly; however, if they sense anything out of the ordinary, interactions can quickly escalate to aggression. A slow and gentle introduction to strangers is a highly recommended as a safety precaution. Despite all the positive qualities Rottweilers possess, they can be difficult to own and may not work well as family pets, especially if there are small children in the household.

In North America from 1982-2014, Rottweilers were responsible for 535 attacks on humans, resulting in 85 deaths. Rottweiler mixes were responsible for 30 attacks on humans, resulting in 4 deaths.

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POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS

This is a list of dog breeds that have a history of being potentially dangerous to people, especially children. Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness understands that any dog has the ability to bite or inflict serious harm to humans. This list consists of several dog breeds that have a higher than average number of recorded human fatalities. Please use extreme caution if you choose to bring one of these breeds into your home. Rental communities and homeowners insurance may restrict many of the dog breeds on this list due to the likelihood of a serious incident.

Pit Bulls, Mastiff, and Rottweiler lead in fatalities and are listed first. The rest of the breeds are listed in alphabetical order:

Pit Bull Terrier Family