Florida Woman Dies from Dog Bites

Dog bites continue to be a serious problem in Florida and around the nation. Although you might not think that dog bites are very serious, several people die each year from them, and others suffer devastating infections requiring strong antibiotics.

A recent story out of Orlando is cause for concern. A volunteer at a Humane Society was found dead after suffering a serious dog bite.

Woman Was Valued Volunteer

This story made the national news, with USA Today identifying the victim as Christine Liquori. Liquori, age 51, worked as a volunteer at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County. Volunteers helped walk and bathe the dogs as they awaited new homes. Liquori also reportedly took pictures of the dogs to post on the Humane Society’s website.

Initially, police did not state whether the victim died from her dog bites or from something else. But within days, police confirmed what many had feared—that Liquori actually died from an attack by one of the dogs in the shelter.

WFTV9 reported that the medical examiner found that Liquori had died from “exsanguination,” which is the term for severe loss of blood. The Human Society has not reported additional information, such as the breed of dog that likely bit her or any other details. However, another newspaper report identified the dog as a “mixed breed” which animal control subsequently euthanized.

How to Treat a Dog Bite

We don’t know the details about the attack that killed the Humane Society volunteer. But we can offer some general advice about what to do if you are attacked so that you increase your chances of survival. Remember the following:

Stanch the flow of blood by using a towel or shirt and applying pressure directly to the wound. Depending on the severity of the bite and its location, you might need to keep applying pressure until the ambulance arrives.
Contact emergency services. If you can’t move or don’t have a phone, ask someone else to call. Even if the wound seems small, you should probably go to the hospital to have a doctor look at you.
Contact animal control so they can identify the animal and check whether it has rabies. You might need a rabies vaccine and/or a tetanus booster at the doctor’s office. Animal control can also take possession of a dangerous animal to protect the greater public.

Remember to also pay attention to possible infection. The wound might begin to leak puss or become red and painful to touch—classic signs of infection. Remember to return to the doctor to be treated for infection, which can be serious.

Dog Bite Attorneys in Daytona Beach

Dog bites can quickly cost victims tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost productivity at work. You should not have to shoulder these financial losses on your own. At Bundza & Rodriguez, our Daytona Beach dog bite lawyers have the skills necessary to obtain a favorable settlement for our clients. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation by calling 386-252-5170.

Resources:

tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2019/05/10/christine-liquori-identified-volunteer-found-dead-humane-society-st-lucie-county/1161982001/

usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/10/florida-humane-society-volunteer-found-dead-after-dog-bite-identified/1162763001/

wftv.com/news/local/florida-woman-dies-from-dog-bites-at-humane-society-officials-say/948438947

https://www.daytonalawyers.com/are-dog-bites-more-common-in-florida/