"On the day that Jacqueline was going to the home, she was advised by text that the dogs were, as they normally were, out of their crates, with no warning to be extra careful or anything like that," John Durand told TODAY by phone from Coppell, a suburb of Dallas. "So when Jacqueline, as instructed, opened the front door to the home, she was immediately attacked by the German shepherd mix and the pit bull mix." Comments from police found in legal documents obtained by TODAY corroborate Durand's summary of events. Jacqueline Durand has filed a lawsuit against the dog’s owners , identified in court documents as Ashley Jo Bishop and Dr. Justin Avery Bishop, alleging negligence and premise liability.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners in the United States spent $60.28 billion on their furry friends in 2015. That number is expected to rise by more than $2 billion in 2016.
The Bishops were not immediately available for comment on Saturday morning. According to legal documents reviewed by TODAY, “the Dogs violently attacked (Jacqueline's) head and face — mauling her catastrophically. The Dogs were so violent and bloodthirsty that they pulled all of Jacqueline’s clothes off, including her blue jeans ... tore off and ate both of Jacqueline’s ears, her nose, her lips, and most of her face below her eyes." John Durand detailed the brutal attack for TODAY, choking up as he described his daughter’s injuries. He said that she remembers the attack.Help your pet be as active as nature intended. Exercise and play time are necessary for your pet’s mental and physical well-being. If you don’t give your dog opportunities to be physically active, or if you don’t encourage exercise for your kitty and find ways to make it happen, you may well end up with a bored, destructive, overweight pet whose health will spiral downward throughout her lifetime.
Watch Out For Your Dogs Feet in the Summer. Hot pavement can burn your dogs paws rather quickly. To see if it’s too hot for your dog place the back of your hand on the pavement – if you can’t hold it there for 5 seconds it’s too hot for your dog. On really hot days consider walking your dog in the woods, on the grass, or waiting til the sun goes down.
"She stayed conscious throughout the attack and felt like she knew that this was a day she was probably going to die," he said.
The 22-year-old was saved by a neighbor because the front door of the Bishops' home had been left open. The neighbor, whose husband called 911, was also bitten by the German shepherd twice, Durand said and court documents corroborated.Jacqueline Durand was rushed to the hospital. About an hour after the incident took place, her father recalled police officers arriving at his front door and asking him and his wife if Jacqueline was their daughter.A carabiner is a quick and easy way to leash your dog.
"We asked about her condition; they said, 'We really can't go into that other than to say she's alive,'" John Durand said.
"I was thinking, as we were driving, that the officer seemed very glum and said 'she's alive,' and so as we were driving there, I was thinking, without wanting to upset my wife further than she already was, that this must be really bad because there were local hospitals much closer that they could have taken her to," Durand said. "It was just sheer disbelief, sheer panic, just fear of the unknown and what we were going to face."
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Scientists believe that the world’s first known dog lived 31,700 years ago. This prehistoric dog resembled a large Siberian Husky.
"Jacqueline will always be a dog lover. She’s even mentioned about dogsitting again one day."
The hospital that Durand and his wife were directed to was a Level I trauma center, where they waited “until the wee hours of Dec. 24” to get an update on their daughter’s condition. Durand said that his daughter had quickly been placed in an induced coma, which she stayed in until Jan. 5. Even now, Durand said that he and his wife are at the hospital "almost 24/7" to support their daughter.Durand said that now, more than a month after the attack, Jacqueline Durand is still hospitalized and requires around-the-clock acute care, including ongoing treatment of her wounds and intravenous medications. She has had eight surgeries, with a ninth scheduled to replace her lower eyelids with skin grafts.
Get Your Dog Microchipped For a Permanent Identifier. A scan of your dogs microchip will give all of your personal information to help with a speedy reunion, just remember to update your information with the microchip company if you move. (microchips are also one of the ways a court can make a decision regarding ownership of a dog, if it ever came to that)
"That whole area, horizontal from ear to ear across her face, was basically skeletal, so her musculature in her cheeks, nerves, all of that was ripped away by these dogs," John Durand said, adding that at first, his daughter could only communicate using sign language that she had learned while working with deaf and handicapped children.
Durand said that stories of dog bites and maulings have always tugged at his heartstrings, but he now feels even more empathy for the victims of such attacks after seeing what his daughter survived.
If you've got a teething pup who loves destroying cords, spritz bitter apple spray onto a paper towel and wipe the cord with it. This covers more surface area and wastes less product than simply spraying the entire thing.
"My daughter is 5-foot-4, 100 pounds soaking wet, and for her to show the strength and the courage in the incredible fight to stay alive, we're just grateful," he said.
The incident has not diminished Jacqueline Durand's love for dogs, he added."My daughter was in this situation because she loves dogs. She has two of her own, and she still loves dogs. She is not afraid to have dogs even after this attack," John Durand said. "Jacqueline will always be a dog lover. She’s even mentioned about dogsitting again one day. You know, that’s how much she loves doing what she does."
Durand said that he has not heard from the Bishops, but said that a hearing to determine whether the dogs should be euthanized took place earlier in January. He and his wife ultimately decided not to attend because they were advised that graphic body camera footage from the attack would be shown. The judge ruled that the dogs would be euthanized, though the procedure will likely wait until after the lawsuit is completed. According to Durand, the dogs are being held by Coppell's animal control services.Be Diligent about Vet Visits. “Don’t wait for the signs,” Dr. Becker stresses. Focus on “prevention first.” Pets age fast, and when it comes to illness they are programmed to mask weakness, “they’re naturally secretive.” One to two visits a year is ideal, but if you suspect a problem, don’t hesitate, and don’t self-diagnose. “In the last two years I’ve seen four or five cases where people went to the internet for help, and by the time they get to the vet it’s too late,” says Dr. Becker.
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While the lawsuit continues, Durand said that he and his family will continue to support Jacqueline Durand in whatever way she needs.
"We're hopeful; we're strengthened by Jacqueline’s courage, but obviously, as parents, how can you not be worried sick about a daughter who, the day before her 22nd birthday, which was also Christmas Eve, had the world as her oyster, and now we don't know," he said.
"Our concern is solely focused on how we can be there for Jacqueline for the rest of her life and how she can function, given that these are completely life-altering injuries," Durand said. "We don't know what the future holds, but we know that we're going to be by her side the entire time."
Focus on the Human-Animal Bond. “Dogs and cats have broken down the walls of our hearts. There haven’t been comparable domesticated species in 5,000 years.” For Dr. Becker, it’s clear that pets and people have evolved to benefit each other. He explains, “When you’re petting them, you both get this massive release of oxytocin, prolactin, dopamine, and a decrease in cortisol. It’s a reciprocal biochemical spa treatment.” As they age, it can be easy to take pets for granted. Make time for a little human-animal bonding every day.