71-year-old attacked by four pitbulls
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 26, 2014 1:46 PM
A 71-year-old Mar Mac woman is in fair condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville today after she and her dog were mauled by a neighbor's four pit bulls early Wednesday morning.
Mildred Game, of 114 Country Run Lane, suffered multiple serious injuries as a result of the attack.
Her own dog, who came to her rescue, had to be put down due to its injuries.
According to a Wayne County Sheriff's report, Mrs. Game was attacked while watering her garden at about 6:45 a.m.
Moments later a report of pit bulls on the loose came in to the county 911 center, according to a county press release.
The caller told dispatchers it looked like the dogs were attacking another animal.
Wayne County Animal Control was dispatched at 6:50.
The sheriff's office report said Mrs. Game had left her dog on the porch penned in by a child-safety gate.
When the pit bulls rushed through her fence and attacked her, Mrs. Game's dog broke free and tried to fight off the other animals.
A neighbor, Aaron Smeal, 48, found Mrs. Game in her front yard after she managed to break free from the pack of attacking dogs, which had turned on her dog.
Her injuries were severe enough that both Smeal and his wife had to maintain pressure on the wounds while he called 911.
The county press release said the second 911 call came in at 6:57.
At 7:06, Wayne County Sheriff's deputies and Wayne County EMS arrived on scene.
Two of the dogs charged the deputy as he got out of his vehicle, forcing him to shoot and kill one of them.
Animal control arrived minutes later and secured the remaining three animals.
Paramedics transported Mrs. Game to Wayne Memorial Hospital, who was then transferred on to Vidant Medical Center.
Terry Tremain Butler, 35, 112 Country Lane, the owner of the pit bulls, is listed as a suspect on the sheriff's report but has not been charged.
Animal Control is heading up the investigation and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said it will assist as needed. Calls to Animal Control to discuss the status of the investigation or the animals were referred to the county's communication director, Barbara Artsen, who did not return the call.