Dog euthanized after biting nose, ear off woman

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- A pit bull bit the nose and ear off of a woman in Bridgewater on Thursday.

The victim underwent a very long and intensive surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Thursday night. The dog has been euthanized and police say it had been aggressive before.

“Apparently the woman had been standing near the sink, and the dog jumped up and bit her in the face removing the nose, lip, and part of the chin area of her face,” said Sergeant Lawrence Bresciani of the Bridgewater Police Department.

After the vicious attack, the 71-year-old was put in an ambulance and flown to Boston. Police say the dog bit off and swallowed the elderly woman’s nose and ear.

“The grandson was able to stabilize - or subdue the dog until animal control arrived,” said Sergeant Bresciani.

Police removed the pit bull from the house on Brian Road on Thursday morning with blood stains still on the dog’s fur. The grandmother had only lived there for a short time. The grandson, and owner of the dog, was able to wrestle the pit bull off of his grandmother but not before it had swallowed her nose and ear.

Police say the dog had shown signs of aggression before, biting two other family members in the past. The pit bull was euthanized and the contents of its stomach were shipped to the hospital where doctors will try to reattach the parts he had swallowed.

“Brigham and Women’s wanted those pieces. They actually called here and requested the dog be euthanized so that the contents could be retrieved,” said Sergeant Bresciani.

There was no word on the woman’s condition. 7News was told she was still in surgery on Thursday night.

It appears that the prior incidences when the pit bull had bitten family members were never reported to police. Police say no charges will be filed at this time.

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