First Responders Welcome Home 'Beautiful Warrior' Jacqueline Durand After She's 'Catastrophically Disfigured' In Dog Attack
COPPELL, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - The 22-year-old UT Dallas student who was mauled by two dogs a couple months ago and left "permanently and catastrophically disfigured," has returned home.
Jacqueline Durand spent nearly two months in the hospital, according to the Coppell Police Department. Both police officers and firefighters shared an image via Facebook where they welcomed her home.
"Jacqueline, you have been in our thoughts and prayers and we are so grateful that you are back home. You're such a beautiful warrior and an inspiration to us all," the post said.
A day before her birthday, and two days before Christmas, Durand allegedly went to the home of Dr. Justin Bishop and his wife Ashley who had hired her to care for their animals while they were away. Two of the couple's three dogs, a mixed-breed German Shepherd and mixed-breed pit bull immediately attacked her, her lawsuit filed in Dallas County alleged.
Durand suffered multiple life-threatening injuries, including the loss of both ears, nose, lips, and most of her face, in addition to severe puncture wounds over her entire body. She has already undergone several reconstructive surgeries and will require many more, according to her attorney Chip Brooker of Dallas' Brooker Law.
Durand shared a message via Facebook on Jan. 18 from her hospital bed.
"I am so blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support as I go through this hard time in my life. Thank you everyone who is supporting and loving me every step of the way since the beginning! I am making good progress every single day that I'm here. Prayers are being answered! Thank you," it read.
The dogs were captured and placed in the care of the City of Coppell before a municipal judge decided earlier in January that both animals should be euthanized, the lawsuit alleged.
