FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two Fort Lauderdale residents were hailed as heroes on Friday morning after saving a woman during a bloody dog attack as she worked with animal control.
Gregory Campbell and his mother, Saskia Peralta, said they heard the woman screaming on Thursday night near Southwest Seventh Street and 14 Terrace.
Noon story:
“Help! I am dying! Somebody, please come help me!”
Campbell said he followed the screams and saw a bulldog biting the woman’s neck. According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the woman was working as a Broward County Animal Care officer.
Campbell said he used a broom, and when that didn’t work, he used a shovel and later a knife. He said he feared the dog was going to kill the woman.
“I attacked the dog,” he said.
Peralta said she then threw herself on top of the bulldog. Photos show she and her son were covered in blood after getting the woman to safety.
Through tears, on Friday, Peralta said she was glad the three survived.
“I am very grateful,” Peralta said. “I am very blessed.”
Peralta also said that she was proud of her son for “his valor, for showing up, not hesitating, putting his life at risk.”
Fire rescue personnel took the woman to the hospital. According to FLPD, she remained hospitalized Friday afternoon after suffering serious injuries that doctors expected her to survive.
“You have to do the right thing when you are confronted with a life-and-death situation like that,” Campbell said.
Animal control euthanized the wounded bulldog. FLPD announced detectives will not be conducting a criminal investigation and Broward County Animal Care was the lead agency on the case.
