Miami-Dade County worker bitten during dog attack in Little Havana
MIAMI -- A worker for Miami-Dade County was hospitalized after she was attacked by two dogs while attempting to serve an eviction notice in the city's Little Havana neighborhood, authorities said.
The victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment after the incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. in the 200 block of SW 9th Avenue, police said.
She was said to be in stable condition and being treated for dog bites to her head and lower body.
According to police, the woman was trying to deliver the eviction document when she was bitten by two American Bulldogs.
Surveillance video showed the Miami-Dade court processor at the gate of the home to deliver the eviction notice before the video cuts to the two dogs running out and attacking her on the street.
With the help of the dogs' owner, the woman was able to get away and run to her car.
"They were both on the floor and the owner was pulling the dogs off," recalls witness Lucy Muñoz who lives across the street.
She said the trouble began after the process server went through the front gate.
"She was inside the gate," Muñoz said. "She removed the chain and she went inside the gate. The dogs were only doing their job."
A man who lives at the home with his parents said, "She opened it, she went inside, she put it (notice) and went back out. I don't think she put this (latch) for the gate and that's when it happened," he said.
He said the dogs got out when his mom went to check out the noise from the gate opening.
"My mom went out because she heard the gate," the man said. "That's when my mom went out and the dogs."
After the attack, a Miami-Dade County Animal Services worker was called to the scene and the owner of the dogs turned them over to the county so the animals could be placed in a temporary quarantine, officials said.
County officials said any possible citations or fines would be assessed pending the outcome of the investigation.
Police said they did not plan to pursue criminal charges in connection with the incident.
"After further investigation, the Miami-Dade Police Department has determined there is no criminal aspect to this incident," police said in an email statement.
CBS Miami reporter Ted Scouten contributed to this report.
