FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A 62-year-old Florence County woman has been in the hospital for the past 12 days after being viciously attacked by three dogs in her community.
Carolyn Troiana shared pictures with ABC 15 from her hospital bed showing her injuries.
She added she’s had two surgeries so far and will need extensive rehabilitation whenever she’s released from the hospital.
Troiana said she was on her porch sitting with her cat on April 27 on Big Swamp Road in Pamplico when her next door neighbor’s three dogs started approaching them.
All of a sudden, I started hearing the dogs. And I said that’s kind of close I ran inside to grab my gun. To protect my self and my cat. I ran back out. I couldn’t get the gun unlocked. I had the safety on it.
So, she said she went back on the porch and yelled at her cat to get out of there.
I screamed at my cat to run. I said go, get , scat. I purposely wanted him to be afraid and run. And he did.
Troiana added that seconds later, the dogs mauled her.
They kept pulling my hands from over my head. I looked the dogs in the eyes when they were all dragging me. I felt the the dogs grab for my head. And he started yanking. And I could feel my head and scalp being separated. And I just kept screaming for help. All three of them must have smelled blood and all. They all started dragging me.
Troiana added that the only thing she could do was scream, pray and try to fight against the dogs.
I’m being killed. Please help. I was screaming . And after about 50 times nobody was coming.
Troiana added the son of her neighbor, who owned the dogs, heard her screaming and ran over to help.
She said the owner of the dogs soon came over.
She added he was a former paramedic and grabbed her scalp and put it on ice, until EMS arrived.
He had the presence of mine to pick up my scalp, put it on ice.
She said the owner of the dogs and his son really helped her until paramedics got to her home.
Doctors were able to reattach her scalp to her head, she said.
66-year-old Richard Ernes Lyon is charged with three counts of owner of dangerous Animal, according to Major Michael Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
Nunn said, according to investigators, on or about April 27, 2025, “Lyon is alleged to have owned three dogs involved in an attack on a neighbor which resulted in serious injuries to the neighbor necessitating medical treatment.”
He’s being released from jail on a $9,000 bond.
ABC 15 talked with Lyon by phone and he told me what happened was a “freak of nature.”
The dogs, including 2 Cane Corso and a mixed breed, are being held at the Florence County Environmental Control animal shelter and are expected to be put down after their rabies quarantine period is up, according to Zach Ellis with environmental control.
Troinano said she’s more than grateful to Lyon and his son for helping her because they saved her scalp and her life in many ways.
However, she said Lyon is disillusioned about his dogs.
He’s got a heart of gold. But, he’s got tunnel vision when it comes to the dogs.
Troiana said she’s always been an animal lover and the mauling doesn’t change or impact her love for dogs and cats.
She said she does worry about Lyon’s young child, when it comes to all the dogs around his home.
Florence County Environmental Control officers tell us that the investigation is still ongoing as they’re working to learn more about the dogs involved in the attack.
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