A postal worker in Florida has died after being attacked by neighborhood dogs.
Pamela Jane Rock, 61, was attacked by a group of five dogs in Interlachen, east of Gainesville, after her mail delivery truck broke down in Interlachen Lake Estates. Initially reported to be in critical condition, Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced her death in a press conference on Tuesday.
Deputies said that they found Rock on the ground bleeding after the attack, while the dogs were found inside a fenced area nearby.
Neighbors stepped in immediately to aid Rock after hearing her screams and seeing her on the ground being attacked. They pulled the dogs off the woman and shot a rifle several times at the ground to scare them away. According to Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the owner ultimately pulled the dogs off Rock.
After finding the victim with physical trauma in the street, deputies performed immediate medical aid upon arrival including applying tourniquets while waiting for rescue units to arrive at the scene. The mail worker went into cardiac arrest during the journey to a local hospital and was revived by emergency medical help.
She was later flown to a trauma center where she died Sunday at 7 p.m.
The dogs were taken into custody by Animal Control as deputies actively investigate and "explore options" in terms of possible criminal cases against the owner. All of the dogs will be euthanized, the sheriff's office confirmed at a press conference.
According to the United States Postal Service, more than 5,400 mail delivery drivers were attacked by dogs during their routes in 2021, with 201 occurrences in Florida.
Homeowners are advised to keep dogs "inside the house or behind a fence, away from the door or in another room or on a leash," when a letter carrier approaches the home.
The U.S. Postal Service released a statement Monday confirming the worker succumbed to her injuries. It read, per Action News Jax: "A postal family member lost her life in a dog bite attack. The U.S. Postal Service is deeply saddened at the loss of our employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time."
Neighbors told News4Jax that the five dogs involved are bulldog mixes that are often spotted together without any collars or tags. Deputies were unable to confirm the breed.
A witness told deputies that the dogs are often kept securely enclosed and was surprised by the incident. Deputies also confirmed that they believe Animal Control has previously received calls about the group of dogs and visited the neighborhood multiple times.
"The dogs have been a nuisance for a long time," one neighbor told News4JAX. "They get in my garbage when I try to shoo them away. They bark and snarl at me."
"She was real sweet," they said of the mail lady. "She left apples in the mailbox for the horse and little notes here and there. She would ask how the kids were when she dropped off packages."
Local authorities issued a warning to dog owners on the importance of ensuring their dogs keep a safe environment for everyone around. "Our hearts are with the victim and her family as they navigate through this tragic event," Sheriff H.D. DeLoach said. "It is imperative that dog owners take responsibility in keeping their animals in a secured location for their safety and those around."
Newsweek has contacted the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Update 08/24/22, 6:32 a.m. ET: This article was updated to reflect new information provided by Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
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