A routine run on Eagle Creek Road in Green Cove Springs turned into a nightmare late Tuesday when a woman was attacked by a pack of dogs, relatives and witnesses said. The mauling left her badly injured and facing multiple surgeries. A passing motorist pulled over, fired a single shot into the dirt to scare the dogs off, then used the runner's belt as a makeshift tourniquet until emergency crews arrived. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has opened an investigation, and the dogs are now in animal control custody.
Passerby: 'She was in rough shape'
Jared Burt told News4JAX he came upon the woman on the ground, surrounded by what he estimated were 10 to 15 dogs, and that leaning on his horn did nothing to budge them. "I shot into the dirt just off the road," Burt said, explaining how the animals finally scattered. He told the station he then wrapped her leg with a belt to slow the bleeding while medics were on the way. Burt said he was relieved by how quickly help reached the remote stretch after he flagged down other drivers and called 911.
What Florida law allows after severe attacks
State statutes give animal control authorities the power to investigate attacks, seize animals and classify dogs as "dangerous," with specific steps laid out for quarantine, hearings and owner responsibilities. In cases where a dog causes severe injury or death, the law authorizes confiscation and, under defined conditions, humane euthanasia following an investigation. The full rules appear in Chapter 767 of the Florida Statutes.
Animal control response in Putnam County
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said the dogs' owner is cooperating and has handed the animals over to Putnam County Animal Control, according to News4JAX. Putnam County Animal Services lists a Palatka shelter and contact information for redemptions and inquiries on its website. Officials told reporters they expect a full investigative report on the incident to be available Wednesday.
Not the first severe mauling in the county
Residents point to other brutal dog attacks in Putnam County in recent years, including a 2022 case in which a U.S. Postal Service worker died after being mauled by multiple dogs, underscoring the stakes in rural neighborhoods. That incident was reported by Spectrum News Bay News 9.
