High Springs Man Critically Injured in Dog Attack

HIGH SPRINGS – A 71-year-old High Springs man was critically injured Saturday night after being attacked by a dog, prompting a responding deputy to fatally shoot the animal to stop the assault, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:07 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, when sheriff’s office deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue responded to a report of an active dog attack. The first deputy arrived within minutes and observed the dog actively attacking the victim.

Authorities said the dog had already bitten its owner — the adult daughter of the victim — when she attempted to intervene. As the deputy worked to physically separate the dog from the victim, the animal turned and began biting the deputy. The deputy then discharged his service weapon to incapacitate the dog and stop the ongoing attack. The dog later died as a result of the gunshot wound.

Once the attack was stopped, deputies immediately began rendering aid to the victim, who was suffering from significant blood loss. Multiple tourniquets were applied at the scene in an effort to control the bleeding until paramedics arrived.

Fire rescue personnel assumed medical care upon arrival, and law enforcement officers from the High Springs Police Department, Alachua Police Department and Gainesville Police Department assisted sheriff’s deputies by blocking roadways and intersections to expedite the victim’s transport to UF Health Shands Trauma Center.

The victim survived the attack and was last reported to be in stable condition. Medical staff later confirmed that the prompt application of tourniquets by responding deputies played a critical role in saving the victim’s life.

The injured deputy was treated at a local hospital and later released. The dog owner sustained minor injuries during the incident.

Detectives and forensic investigators with the sheriff’s office responded to the scene to conduct an investigation. Alachua County Animal Control also responded and took possession of the dog.

Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott thanked the deputies who worked to save the victim’s life and the multiple law enforcement agencies that assisted to ensure paramedics were able to provide lifesaving care as quickly as possible.

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