HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A South Florida woman is recounting the harrowing details of an attack by a neighbor’s dog as she fought to protect her small poodle, Coco, who was being pulled from her arms.
Florencia Divano was out for her daily walk with her two poodles, Coco and Buddy, on a Homestead street when the incident occurred on Sept. 12.
“I was walking down this way and then at the stop sign I crossed the street,” Divano said. “He grabbed onto the leg and was struggling here. I end up in the grass and I’m struggling. I’m grabbing Coco, and then the dog is still pulling, pushing, pulling, pushing and I’m pushing him off, trying to hit him to let go.”
What followed was a terrifying tug-of-war between Divano and the attacking dog, which she claimed soon turned its focus onto her.
“I’m grabbing him and hitting him; he stops biting my dog, but then he attacks me,” Divano said. “I got about ten bites.”
An incident report from Miami-Dade police confirmed that she was treated on the scene by fire rescue, which bandaged her open wounds.
Divano has bite marks on both arms and her chest, but the worst injuries were suffered by Coco, whose leg was left dangling by the skin after the dog’s two bones were broken.
The Miami-Dade Animal Services incident report stated that the large male tan terrier mix would need to be quarantined for ten days due to the attack.
Divano attempted to reach out to the dog’s owners, Eddie and Maria Otero, but received no response.
Community Support for Medical Care
While Divano went to the hospital for a tetanus shot and treatment, Coco required emergency surgery and amputation was a possibility.
Facing an estimated $10,000 in veterinary bills, Divano feared she could not afford the treatment.
“There was no way that I could have paid that out of pocket to help my dog, and I didn’t want to sacrifice my dog either,” she said.
Fortunately, the emergency vet clinic offered her a solution: to contact the Animal Welfare Society of South Florida.
The nonprofit, which operates as a full-service low-cost animal hospital, specializes in assisting pet owners facing financial hardships through community donations and grants.
Thanks to their support, Coco received the orthopedic surgery he desperately needed at no cost to Divano, and the specialist was able to save his leg.
Herman Paredes from the Animal Welfare Society shared details of the surgery: “He put a plate and a few screws there, and here’s the fracture already corrected. This little bone will grow over time.”
Coco’s Recovery
As Coco begins his recovery, he will need eight weeks of rest followed by physical therapy.
“He’s doing good, he’ll be perfectly fine,” Paredes told Local 10′s Animal Advocate Jacey Birch.
Despite his size, Coco has proven to be quite the brave dog.
“He wasn’t letting go, and my dog bit his nose, and that’s what led him to let go of his leg,” Divano said.
In a recent update, Divano shared that Coco is recovering well and even walking on his newly repaired leg.
Authorities said the dog responsible for the alleged attack has since completed its quarantine period and will need to be cleared by a veterinarian before returning home.
Those who wish to support the Animal Welfare Society of South Florida and other organizations that help pets in need can click here or here for more information.