Dog escapes yard, attacks owner

PORTVILLE, N.Y. (AP) - State police say a 66-year-old western New York woman is in serious condition after being attacked by her 125-pound dog.

Troopers say a neighbor of Jacki Hopkins told police she heard someone calling for help from a wooded area behind her house in the Cattaraugus County town of Portville, on the Pennsylvania border 65 miles southeast of Buffalo.

Police say the neighbor and Hopkins' son found her lying on the ground, suffering from numerous bite wounds to her face, upper body and legs.

"The victim owned the dog, a large Doberman, had gotten out of a fenced yard and the victim was attempting to return the dog to the yard when the dog turned on her and attacked her," said Capt. Eugene Staniszewski of the NYS Police.

She was flown by helicopter to ECMC in Buffalo, where she is in serious condition.

Capt. Staniszewski said, "We do get reports occasionally of dog bites, but we don't usually see something where the victim is this seriously injuried."

Police say troopers who arrived on the scene fatally shot the dog at the family's request.