A terrifying dog attack has left a mother injured and traumatised after she was mauled by three aggressive pit bulls near Manatee Lodge in Gales Point Manatee.
The victim, 44-year-old Crystal Slusher, is now calling for urgent action, saying she narrowly escaped with her life and fears others, especially children, might not be so lucky next time.
“I have a five-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and I’ve been having issues with the dogs,” Slusher told News 5.
“They’ve attacked my animals before. They’ve tried to kill my dog on my property. And now they’ve attacked me.”
Slusher recounted the horrifying events of Sunday, June 23, when she was walking with her daughter near her home, about two blocks from the lodge. “I was trying to take my daughter to my friend Carly’s house when a pack of dogs came running down toward us. My daughter jumped in the car, thank God, and then three of the pit bulls attacked me.”
According to Slusher, the dogs bit her on her arm, hip, thigh, and buttocks. “I was literally running out of my shoes, trying to give them my skirt to get away. I ran into my car, bleeding, and just kept thanking God my daughter was safe,” she said.
“I went to my mom’s house screaming, ‘They got me, Mom!’ I was terrified I would bleed to death.”
Slusher was treated at the Southern Regional Hospital, where she received a tetanus shot and was prescribed antibiotics. Her injuries have been classified as wounding, and she has filed an official police report.
She says this isn’t the first time the dogs have behaved aggressively. On June 9, she said the same dogs tried to attack her husband in front of their home.
Slusher said the pack includes at least seven dogs, several of them large pit bulls, and claims they are regularly seen roaming the area near the lodge.
Slusher said she’s speaking out to raise awareness and prevent future attacks. “Somebody’s going to get killed. I could’ve been killed. People need to take better care of their dogs. If they’re violent, keep them secured. If the lodge needs protection, they should hire security, not let aggressive dogs roam freely.”
