MIDVALE — A viscous and terrifying dog attack sends a woman to the hospital in critical condition for two weeks.
Holly Murphy, 56, who just got out of the hospital, tells KSL TV it was the most painful thing she’s ever experienced.
“Listening to my teeth and my bones crush in my face. It hurt. It hurt really bad,” said Murphy. “My jaw was broken in 16 places.”
KSL TV spoke with Murphy and her daughter Tonielle at a park in Midvale. Murphy said something has traumatically changed because of the attack.
“I’m terrified. I’m terrified of going outside, I’m terrified of going to the store, I’m terrified of seeing people,” she said. “I’m terrified of everything today.”
It was Monday, March 24, when Murphy was at a friend’s home in Salt Lake City, feeding her pitbull a donut, when suddenly it lunged at her face.
“I gave him his last bite and said ‘it’s gone,’ and he was looking right at me. I felt him on my chin, and then I heard every single tooth and all the parts of [my chin] I heard them all crush,” she said. “The dog was my friend. A beautiful dog. I couldn’t understand cause this was my friend. I’ve known him for so long. I don’t know what happened.”
Murphy, who is a dog lover herself, said she doesn’t want to see the dog put down.
“I do not want this dog to do this to another person. No, I don’t want to press charges. I do not want the dog to die,” said Murphy.
Instead, Murphy said her purpose is to send a strong message to other dog owners about training their animals around the house and around people.
“I’m not trying to preach to anybody, just train your dog and respect your dog so they respect you and the other people they see,” she said.
She also wants to send a message to parents of young children.
“Please, please watch your kids. Don’t let them approach a dog they don’t know,” she said. “If this happened to a kid, I don’t know, I don’t know what would happen.”
Murphy’s daughter feels much differently about what should happen to the animal.
“This was a really, really close call [my mom could have died],” Tonielle said. “I think this dog needs to be put down, he’s attacked two people before.”
Capt. Karl Carpenter with Salt Lake County Animal Services, which is investigating the case, said it doesn’t have any reports of other attacks by this dog. He said the dog is currently in quarantine on a 30-day hold as it determines if this dog is deemed to be a dangerous animal and should be put down.
He said it still needs to talk to Murphy about what happened now that she’s out of the hospital, so it can piece it together. He doesn’t expect charges against the homeowner.
“A dog inside its own home where he is allowed to be is not the same as a dog that is running about. This was not a dog running loose that attacked someone,” said Carpenter.
Family has set up a GoFundMe* account for those wanting to help Murphy with medical expenses.
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
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