MIAMI – Two American bulldogs attacked a woman who was working for Miami-Dade County on Tuesday morning in Miami’s Little Havana.
The attack happened in the area of Southwest Ninth Avenue and Second Street.
The woman, who was wearing a uniform and working as a court support specialist, suffered injuries to her ear and back in front of a home, police said.
Local 10 News obtained surveillance video of the vicious attack that showed the woman approaching a home as she was there to serve an eviction notice.
The video shows the woman going inside the gate to leave the letter and then being trampled by two dogs that made her fall to the ground.
Another woman was caught on surveillance video coming out of the home and picking up a traffic cone to fend off the dogs.
The county worker eventually managed to get safely inside her car when the dogs retreated back to the yard.
A man from the home who identified himself as Jose Luis, told Local 10 News that he thought the worker should’ve used the mailbox outside of the gate instead of going inside.
He says the worker didn’t latch the gate when she left and when the woman seen in the video opened the door to retrieve the notice, the dogs ran outside.
“She opened it, she put it, then she went in, and she went back out, and I don’t think she closed it,” said Luis.
Miami Fire Rescue personnel and police officers responded to the area after the attack. There was a pool of blood near the sidewalk.
A Local 10 News crew was outside of the home when Animal Control responded and took photos of the dogs.
Animal Services said the two American Bulldogs that attacked the woman are registered with the county.
The owner eventually helped Animal Control load the dogs into a truck as they were taken away to be quarantined for 10 days for an investigation.
Luis told Local 10 that while the dogs are distraught at times, they have never shown signs of aggression.
“They’re nice, noble and I love them. They’re like family (and) they haven’t done anything,” he said.
Miami Fire Rescue personnel took the injured woman to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
Local 10 News was told that the woman’s injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening.
There is no word yet on whether the owner will be facing any fines or citations, or if the owner can get the dogs back.
Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.