A neighborhood walk in Southwest Austin turned into a nightmare when two large dogs allegedly mauled a woman on a residential sidewalk, leaving her with a deep arm wound that doctors say may require plastic surgery. The March 28 attack happened near St. Edwards Drive and Nottingham Lane, and court paperwork reviewed this week says the victim told investigators she feared she might not survive. Prosecutors have charged 56-year-old Panvrla White with the third-degree felony offense of “attack by dog resulting in serious bodily injury.”
Police and court paperwork describe the scene
According to FOX 7 Austin, Austin police were called just before 4:30 p.m. about two large, aggressive black dogs attacking a woman on a sidewalk. Officers arrived to find the victim screaming and bleeding heavily from a large gash to her forearm, while the dogs had been confined inside an SUV. Animal Control later took the animals to the city shelter. Court paperwork identifies the dogs as two-year-old Cane Corsos, each weighing roughly 85 to 89 pounds.
Victim's account and injuries
The victim told detectives that one of the dogs first clamped onto her legs, and the attack escalated quickly, forcing her to curl into a ball as the animals continued to bite. She said she “genuinely believed she might not survive the attack,” according to the affidavit cited by FOX 7 Austin. A doctor who evaluated her injuries described the right arm wound as “significant” and warned that “the skin is likely going to demarcate and die,” which could require plastic surgery and limit the function of her right hand. She was taken to the trauma unit at St. David's South Austin Medical Center for treatment.
Owner, bond and court record
Court documents state that White posted a $10,000 bond and has been ordered not to possess any pets and to remain under mental health supervision. The affidavit and related filings also reference prior convictions and other pending cases recorded in local courts, according to Travis County court records.
What the law allows prosecutors to do
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822, a dog owner who, with criminal negligence, fails to secure a dog that then makes an unprovoked attack causing serious bodily injury can be charged with a third-degree felony. The same statute gives courts authority to seize the animals, hold hearings on what happens to them, and, in some circumstances, order that the dog be destroyed.
Bigger pattern across the region
Serious dog attacks have triggered criminal investigations in other parts of Texas as well. On March 27, a 92-year-old man in Pearsall was seriously injured in a dog attack, a case reported by the San Antonio Express-News. In multiple jurisdictions, authorities have increasingly relied on Chapter 822 and related enforcement tools when attacks result in severe injuries.
What happens next
The dogs remain in custody while investigators and animal control officials decide their status and the criminal case moves ahead. The affidavit reviewed by media does not list a next court date. Prosecutors and the Travis County courts will handle White's arraignment and any future hearings.
