A Duluth man is recovering from a brutal pit bull attack that he says left him with multiple broken fingers and one digit surgically reattached, keeping him out of work as medical bills pile up. Corey Armstrong, who has launched a fundraiser to help cover his medical and living expenses, says the June 23 mauling has his Howell Park Road neighbors shaken.
Attack caught on home video
Home surveillance footage shows the chaos unfolding around 9 p.m. in the 4000 block of Howell Park Road, where a large pit bull charges at Armstrong as he walks while holding his Yorkshire terrier, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The outlet reports that Armstrong was bitten on his left hand, taken to the hospital and later required surgery.
Neighbors rushed to help
Neighbors who captured the incident on their door-cam video said they dragged Armstrong to safety and pressed towels and clothing against his wounds until paramedics arrived, Atlanta News First reports. Armstrong told the outlet the episode was traumatic, saying, "there's just blood everywhere," and that surgeons were able to reattach a finger during follow-up care.
Dog quarantined and owners identified
Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement has the pit bull in its custody while Duluth police continue their investigation, and county officials have released the owners' names to reporters, WSB-TV reports. A GoFundMe set up to help Armstrong with medical costs and everyday expenses has been circulated by local news outlets as he remains off the job.
What local rules allow
Gwinnett County's animal-control ordinance allows officers to seize and quarantine animals involved in attacks and outlines how a dog can be labeled "dangerous" or "vicious," triggering registration rules and ownership restrictions. The county code spells out how animal control and the county board of health manage quarantines and dangerous-dog classifications, according to the Gwinnett County code.
Attorney, investigation and next steps
Armstrong's attorney told reporters they are weighing both civil and possible criminal options and have contacted the dog's owner, according to Atlanta News First. Duluth police say the investigation is still active and it is not yet clear whether charges or citations will be filed, FOX 5 Atlanta notes.
For residents, the attack has renewed calls for tighter control of large dogs and more caution with retractable leashes on neighborhood streets. Anyone with information about the June 23 incident is urged to contact Duluth police as the community waits to see whether the case leads to a dangerous-dog designation or formal charges.
