A mother of two in Portland is battling to survive after a brutal dog attack left her severely injured. Mytoka Petry was walking in North Portland on July 15 when a pack of eight dogs viciously attacked her, according to KPTV reports. The incident took place near a homeless camp, but it remains unclear if the dogs were connected to the camp.
Two good Samaritans attempted to assist Petry during the attack but were also targeted by the dogs, resulting in one of them being hospitalized with serious injuries.
Petry’s friends shared with KPTV the extent of her injuries, revealing that she lost an arm, and an ear, and almost lost one of her eyes in the attack. Monica Estrada, one of the friends, stated that Petry suffered multiple brain bleeds and required skin grafts for her facial injuries. Another friend, Juliana Torres, mentioned that the numerous bite wounds Petry sustained necessitated nearly four hours for medical staff to re-bandage.
Petry is currently receiving treatment at Emanuel Medical Center, with her daughters by her side. Police have reported that the dogs involved are being held at a Multnomah County Animal Services facility, but no arrests have been made as of Wednesday morning.
Estrada expressed her frustration and desire for accountability, asking, “Who is regulating that there are packs of dogs in a homeless camp on the side of the road?” She emphasized that the attack could have happened to anyone walking in that area.
Kristine Rubber, another friend of Petry, echoed this sentiment in an interview with KOIN. “Somebody has to be accountable,” she said. “This is tragic. There’s no reason that she should not have been able to be out there.”
Rebber provided an update on Petry’s condition, stating that while she is stable, the road to recovery will be long and challenging. “She may be in the ICU for months. And right now there’s so much room for infection or other complications that she’s not out of the woods,” she explained. Despite the grim outlook, Petry’s loved ones are beginning to feel hopeful about her recovery.
In an effort to cover Petry’s mounting medical expenses, her family has set up a GoFundMe campaign.
As the community rallies around Petry and her family, there is a growing call for action to ensure such a tragic event does not happen again. The lack of regulation and accountability for stray and potentially dangerous dogs near homeless camps is a pressing concern that many believe needs to be addressed to prevent future attacks.