A South Carolina woman had to have both of her arms amputated after three dogs attacked her while she was walking home, according to the woman’s sister.
The attack on 38-year-old Kyleen Waltman took place Monday morning in the town of Honea Path, her sister, Shenna Green, told Greenville news station WYFF. The Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office said that the dogs were taken in by animal control.
Waltman’s story is one of several harmful, and in some cases deadly, attacks involving dogs that have recently taken place throughout the world, even though many families keep them as beloved pets. A 17-month-old girl died in the United Kingdom after being attacked by the family’s dog Monday, while a 6-year-old girl was attacked earlier this month by a wolf-like dog in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A GoFundMe page created by another of Waltman’s sisters, Amy Wynne, said that both of her arms were amputated up to the shoulder. It also said that she had to have her colon removed, and may have to have her esophagus removed, as well, because of her injuries.
The fundraising page asked for medical and financial aid for Waltman, citing the “long road ahead” in her recovery.
“Every little bit would help greatly, but please do not feel obligated to donate. Prayers [are] what we need at this moment,” a message on the page read.
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It added that more updates were to come, and thanked those who took the time to read Waltman’s story.
The page was created Tuesday and had raised more than $4,400 as of Tuesday evening out of its $10,000 goal.
Green told WYFF that Waltman was walking home on Ball Road when the attack took place. A witness discovered Waltman mid-attack in a ditch and had to shoot a gun in the air in order to get the dogs away from her, she said.
Waltman had to be airlifted to the hospital after the attack, the news station reported. There is a “Beware of Dogs” sign on the property where the dogs resided, according to Green.
It was not immediately clear what would happen to the animals in light of the attack. The Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office and animal control are currently investigating the incident, according to WYFF.
Newsweek reached out to Wynne, Abbeville County Animal Control and the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Update 03/22/22, 5:05 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Update 03/22/22, 4:20 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information and background.
