Mar 28, 2007 9:38 am US/Central
Dog Attack: Woman Downgraded, Pet To Be Euthanized
by Sue Turner
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
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Paula Ybarra, a mother of three, was attacked by a bulldog that cut a hole in her windpipe, damaged a major artery and her voice box.
CBS
A Twin Cities mother was downgraded Wednesday morning after surgery Tuesday night for wounds suffered in a vicious dog attack. A bulldog attacked Paula Ybarra in her Minneapolis neighborhood as she helped a friend work on his house.
The attack nearly killed the single mother of three and Wednesday vets plan to put down the dog and a pit bull that was with him.
Ybarra and her kids were enjoying a warm spring night Monday at a friend's house helping him paint.
"She brought the littlest one in to use the bathroom and grab her purse 'cause they were getting ready to go, when all this happened," said Tom Provost, Ybarra's brother.
A 160-pound American bulldog named Bo Bo attacked Ybarra in the neck cutting a hole in her windpipe and damaging a major artery and her voice box. Merlin, a 65-pound pit bull, was in the room.
Ybarra had stopped breathing when rescue workers arrived. She was downgraded to critical condition Wednesday morning at Hennepin County Medical Center after being in serious condition Tuesday evening.
"I've never experienced anything like this in my life," said Tom Mohrbacker, the dog's owner.
The dogs' owner, Tom Mohrbacker, said the 5-year-old dogs were like his kids, but he decided to euthanize them because he's afraid of what they could do next.
"My dog almost killed one of my good friends, what do you do?" said Mohrbacker.
Mohrbacker said the bigger dog had become more aggressive in the last year. In December, Bo Bo bit the shoulder of a child. At that time animal investigators warned Mohrbacker he was trouble.
The woman's brother said she knew the dogs well and loved animals and had two dogs of her own.
"I was very angry ... I spoke with Tom and other people who known the dogs. I'm not happy," said Provost.
Ybarra's recovery is expected to be a long one and the owner of the dog set up a memorial fund to help.
Donations can be sent to any U.S. Bank in the name of Paula Ybarra.
Animal control is still investigating the case and there could be charges against the dogs' owner.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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