A Memphis utility worker was hospitalized after being viciously attacked by a dog while on the job, triggering a chaotic episode in a resident's backyard that ended with another neighbor firing shots at the canine, authorities said. According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the Memphis Light, Gas, and Water employee suffered severe lacerations from a bull mastiff while checking for a faulty meter around 8 a.m. on Saturday, Ground News reported.
John Laiche, the aforementioned neighbor, told WREG about the harrowing scene, stating that he grabbed his gun and went to assist upon hearing cries for help, "And he was screaming, please help me, God help me, God help, it was horrible," he said, describing the incident as "Like a bear attack, it was just horrible, deep growls and ferocious barks. It was just unbelievable." He fired shots at the dogs which he claimed were still in pursuit of the worker despite the homeowner's previous attempt to secure them.
Laiche's intervention may have prevented further harm, but the confusion and fear intensified when the dogs weren't deterred by the gunfire, "I never heard the dog yelp or anything so I just assumed I was missing him," said Laiche, who was quoted wondering about the owner's reasoning behind letting the dogs loose while someone was present in the backyard, "Why did they let those dogs out in the backyard? Why would they do that?" Actions that prompted public concern as Laiche and other neighbors have expressed ongoing fear for the community's safety.
The injured worker was taken to Baptist East Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery said a spokesperson of MLGW, this also serves as a sobering reminder for homeowners to maintain control of their pets when utility services are being performed, the spokesperson added, the Sheriff's Office confirmed that neither of the two bull mastiffs was hit by the gunfire and the dogs were later secured inside the home though the aftermath continued to unfold as video captured a dog being picked up by what seemed like animal control FOX13 Memphis stated. The homeowner has been cited for a county ordinance violation in connection to the incident and inquiries have been made with the Shelby County Health Department regarding the status of the dogs.
