Florida woman seriously injured after being attacked by dog

A woman in Florida faced a deadly dog attack that resulted in her passing away, prompting an arrest of the dog’s owner. This tragic incident occurred after locals reported that the dogs had been causing fears in the community.

The county’s animal services have taken custody of the dogs, and authorities have announced plans to euthanize them. One resident, Dominika Midkiff, expressed relief for the neighborhood along Blue Bonnet Drive, stating they were previously “terrified” of the dogs. Jodi Cowan, 50, had only been living on the streets for about two weeks before this unfortunate event.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey shared details during a video posted on May 27, explaining that Cowan was out walking a small dog around midnight when the incident happened. Meanwhile, Linda Cutler’s two pit bulls had escaped their yard and were roaming freely.

The sheriff’s office reported that security cameras captured “very disturbing and graphic” footage of the attack. Cowan was seen holding her small dog close while attempting to escape, but the larger dogs, identified as Max and Mako, attacked her viciously, dragging her across the ground for a significant distance. Cowan’s partner, Donnell Smith, heard her screams and went to her aid, trying to fend off the dogs.

A chilling eight-minute 911 call revealed the chaos as people desperately attempted to scare the dogs away and assist Cowan, who was still conscious at the time.

“It’s a brutal act,” Sheriff Goodyear remarked, noting the severity of the situation. Cowan was transported to a trauma center but died about four hours later, while her small dog managed to survive despite being injured trying to protect her.

Cutler, the dog’s owner, reportedly knew about the aggressive behavior of her pets yet took minimal action to prevent them from escaping. According to the sheriff’s office, neighbors had contacted animal control at least 14 times about the dogs since October 2024, expressing concerns over their behavior and safety.

Midkiff recalled how the dogs started as friendly neighborhood companions when they were puppies but shifted to displaying aggression as they matured. It became increasingly concerning as the dogs frequently escaped their yard, intimidating residents. One neighbor felt it unsafe to even leave her car due to the dogs roaming freely.

After the attack, Cutler’s situation worsened; she was later arrested when law enforcement responded to a disturbance at a nearby hotel. Reports also mention her faking a medical emergency while in custody. Despite that, medical evaluations indicated she was fine.

Ultimately, as she awaited her arraignment, there was growing anxiety among residents, with many hoping for some accountability regarding the safety issues that plagued their community. Midkiff expressed her feelings about living next to Cutler, wishing for severe consequences for her actions.