A 61-year-old mail carrier died after being attacked by five dogs in rural North Florida over the weekend, sheriff’s officials said.
The postal worker, identified as Pamela Jane Rock of Melrose, was in the Interlachen Lake Estates area Sunday after her vehicle broke down, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents heard a woman scream for help and came out to find Rock on the ground with five dogs attacking her, witnesses told the Sheriff’s Office. The dog owners and several neighbors rushed to get the dogs out of Rock.
“One of the neighbors even brought his firearm and fired several shots into the air and the ground in an attempt to break up the attack,” Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Col. Joseph Wells told a news conference. on Tuesday.
The attempt was unsuccessful and neighbors and owners had to physically remove Rock’s dogs, according to Wells. When officers arrived, the dogs were back on their owner’s property. The mail carrier was on the ground, bleeding severely, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies applied tourniquets and provided first aid until rescue units arrived. Rock was transported to a nearby hospital and later airlifted to a trauma center in Gainesville in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries Monday night, the sheriff’s office said.
More than 5,400 postal employees were attacked by dogs in the United States in 2021, according to data released by the US Postal Service in June. Florida was one of the top 10 states for dog bites, with 201 incidents reported last year, according to the USPS.
Wells said the investigation into the incident is “very active.”
“We are in frequent communication with the state attorney’s office as we explore options to the extent possible in criminal cases as this case continues,” he said.
An initial investigation revealed that the dogs escaped from a fenced-in yard after they were able to move rocks lining the fence, according to Wells.
After the attack, animal control workers were called to the scene and took custody of the five dogs that witnesses identified as being involved in the attack. The owner relinquished custody of the dogs, who will be humanely euthanized, according to the sheriff’s office.
Wells said the sheriff’s office and animal control have responded to the neighborhood several times in the past for animal calls, though it’s unclear if the calls involved the same dogs.
“We have spoken with those witnesses and are working to confirm that these dogs are the same,” Wells said. “We believe there have been other calls for service regarding these dogs and we are reviewing these calls at this time.”
Neighbors told CNN affiliate News4JAX that the dogs have been a nuisance for a while, saying the animals have been known to jump the fence or get out from under it.
“Our hearts go out to the victim and her family as they go through this tragic event,” said Putnam County Sheriff HD DeLoach. “It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility for keeping their animals in a safe place for their safety and the safety of those around them.”
The USPS recommends keeping dogs indoors, behind a fence, away from the door, or on a leash when postal workers drop off mail. The postal service also recommends that children not take mail directly from the carrier, as dogs may view the carrier as a threat.