Cathy Perfect - Kern Valley Sun

Shortly after the Sun went to print last week, Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Tommy Brown issued a report stating a 73-year-old Havilah woman had been attacked by a dog in the 5100 block of Caliente Bodfish Road. Personnel from Station 72 in Lake Isabella responded to the call that came in at 10:37 a.m. on March 18. 'Upon arrival, crews found an elderly female who had been mauled by one or more dogs,' Brown’s statement read. 'The injuries were sustained by (the woman) while trying to separate the dogs from fighting. (She) was flown to the nearest medical facility due to the severity of the injuries on her left arm and left leg.'

Denise Haines, Animal Control Division Chief, said the 73-year-old great-grandmother was in 'good shape.' According to Haines, the woman was attempting to break up a fight between two of the family’s dogs. One of the dogs was a mix, part pit bull, while the other was a small hound. 'One of her wounds was a puncture wound,' Haines said. 'It was to the bone. However, the injuries were serious, but not light-threatening.'

Haines said quarantine was not necessary; the Health Department reported it did not need to test the pit bull mix. The dog was destroyed by the victim’s grandson, Haines said.