A Jacksonville woman was attacked by a dog she was trying to rescue, and her injuries required dozens of stitches.
“The dog just lost it,” said Tracey Sparagis, who is now hoping to get others to contact their legislators to create an animal abuse registry in Florida.
Sparagis is the president of Chow Chow Rescue Society and was picking up a chow dog from Deloris West, who was willing to give up the dog after receiving several citations from Animal Control.
When Sparagis went to pick up the dog, she said it attacked her, which resulted in her being hospitalized with 29 puncture wounds.
“He got my arm. He held on like a police dog would,” Sparagis said, but she doesn't blame the dog. “I’m getting calls from neighbors telling me about things these people have done to the dogs. And I’m thinking, 'no wonder. No wonder he’s like this.'”
West will be in court on Friday facing nearly $1,700 in fines from the citations that state she chained the chow to a fence without food, water or shelter and did not get the dog necessary rabies vaccinations.
“We want the harshest punishment that’s possible for her, not out of vengeance, but because to raise dogs like this is dangerous,” said Sparagis.
Action News Jax went to West’s home to get her side of the story, but no one came to the door.