A U.S. Postal Service carrier has died after being attacked by five dogs in rural northern Florida.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Pamela Jane Rock, 61, was in the Interlachen Lake Estates area on Sunday after her vehicle broke down, per NBC News.
She died at the hospital on Monday night - the day after the brutal attack - after witnesses heard a scream for help and found her on the ground with five dogs attacking her.
"One of the neighbors even brought his firearm along and fired several shots into the air and to the ground in an attempt to disrupt the attack," Putnam County Sheriff Chief Deputy Colonel Joseph Wells said at a news conference Tuesday (August 23).
Wells said the attempt to get the dogs off Pamela was unsuccessful and the neighbors and the owners had to pull the animals off her.
By the time police officers arrived, the dogs were back at their owner's property, and the postal carrier was bleeding severely on the ground, as reported by CNN.
Law enforcement provided first aid until the medical unit arrived and applied tourniquets on Pamela before she was transported to a nearby hospital to the trauma center in critical condition. Later, she died from her fatal injuries.
After the attack, animal control workers took custody of the five dogs that residents identified as being involved in the attack. The owner lost possession of the dogs - who will be euthanized humanely - as reported by the sheriff's office.
According to officers, an initial investigation indicated that the animals fled from a fenced property after they were able to move gravel along the fence.
The worker's niece spoke to WTLV and said that Pamela had finished training with the Postal Service and was in a postal vehicle when it broke down on Sunday (August 21). She said that her aunt was brutally wounded in the horrific attack.
The sheriff's office also revealed that prior to the incident, animal control officials had visited the dogs' home at least twice in the last three years.
Pamela's neighbors spoke with News4JAX and said that the dogs have been a "nuisance" for a while, and stated that the animals are known to jump the fence or come out from beneath it.
However, Wells explained that the investigation into the incident is "very active" and that while the sheriff's office and animal control responded to the neighborhood previously, it's unclear if the calls involved the same dogs.
"We are in frequent communications with the state attorney's office as we explore options as far as possible criminal cases as this case continues," he said.
Per the Independent, sheriff HD DeLoach expressed his condolences in a news release, writing: “Our hearts are with the victim and her family as they navigate through this tragic event."
"It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility in keeping their animals in a secured location for their safety and those around," he added.
The US Postal Service also released a statement regarding the incident, writing: "A postal family member lost her life in a dog bite attack. "
"The U.S. Postal Service is deeply saddened at the loss of our employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time," they added.
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