Pet Dog Viciously Attacks Owner’s Face, Almost Rips Her Nose, Lips Off

A woman in Connecticut was attacked in the face by one of her pet dogs while attempting to let them outside.

The victim, identified as 24-year-old Rebecca Oelker, had woken up early morning on Jan.14 and had gone downstairs to let her two pet blue heeler dogs, named Maverick and Apollo, outside. However, she noticed Maverick was behaving strangely and tried to encourage him to sit, but the dog started growling and attacking her. She was knocked down to the ground after which, Maverick ferociously attacked her face.

Recalling the incident Saturday, Oelker said, "He bit my hands, arms, and managed to knock me over, which was when he managed to get at my face and rip my upper lip and most of my nose almost completely off." She added that he later attacked her three or four times more.

Oelker, who worked as a military police officer, called her partner, Stuart, for help fearing that she would end up losing her life if she didn’t get to safety. Stuart encouraged her to get away from her dogs and lock herself in the bathroom.

Paramedics arrived at the scene six minutes later and rushed her to the hospital, where she underwent surgery and received over 100 stitches to reattach her lips and nose to her face.

She was hospitalized for over a week and suffered from severe swelling on her face along with loss of sensation in her upper lip and nose. She reportedly also suffered nerve damage in her arms and hands due to which she struggled to feed herself or hold utensils in her hands.

Maverick was put down following the horrific incident. Meanwhile, Oelker has since taken the initiative to speak to other dog attack victims and has shared her experience with others.

“It’s changed my perspective of life, of death, and of how quickly everything can change in a heartbeat,” she said.

“I met death and she said, 'Not today'. So, my point is this; if you are alive, right now, reading this, there's a reason. You were put here for a purpose and you'll be here until it is fulfilled,” she added.