MDAS: Dogs Responsible For Attacking Postal Carrier Euthanized
MIAMI (CBS4) - The two American Bulldogs who attacked a postal carrier as she delivered mail Tuesday afternoon have been humanely euthanized.
A spokesperson from Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS) confirmed to CBS4 News that the dogs were surrendered by the owner before being put down. MDAS Investigator Kathleen Labrada said if the owner did not surrender the dogs, a court order would have been obtained to remove the dogs. The owner, who has a small child, tearfully obliged.
Police say postal worker Emogene Powell was delivering the mail near NW 191 street and 15th Avenue when a homeowner's dogs jumped the fence and attacked her.
Witnesses say two good Samaritans driving by saved her.
"She was bleeding and bleeding and I called 911," said Michelle, the neighbor across the street.
Residents say Powell is known in the neighborhood as the singing mail carrier. She is only a year away from retirement.
Neighbors say they've seen the dogs in the area but they are usually chained in the back yard. It's unclear how they got out on Tuesday afternoon.
The woman who lives in the home that houses the dogs said the dogs are registered they have they shots.
Despite police saying the dogs are pit bulls, the owners said the dogs are registered as American Bulldogs. She insists that they are not dangerous. But when we asked her to bring the dogs to the door she responded by saying, "no! Are you crazy? Do you thing I would bring the dogs in here?"
Powell is still recovering at Memorial Regional Hospital, suffering from bite wounds to the chest, abdomen and arm.
Tissue samples from the dogs were sent for rabies testing.
