A 27-year-old woman is recovering after she was mauled byfour pit bulls at a family home, just days before she was scheduled to graduate from the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.
Relatives say Shabo Nedwell was visiting the home on Saturday afternoon when the attack occurred.
According to a family member who contacted Antigua News Room, Nedwell was in the living room speaking with her uncle when the dogs rushed out from the hallway and attacked her.
“She sustained injuries on her legs, hands, and half of her lip is gone,” the relative said. “This could have been the end of her life.”
Despite her injuries, Nedwell reportedly managed to drive herself to the hospital, where she received stitches to her leg and lip. Doctors have advised that she will need reconstructive surgery once the stitches in her lip heal.
Family members say the pit bulls belong to Nedwell’s aunt, who had reportedly been warned several times about keeping the dogs inside the house. “There have been several complaints because they like to rush at people and nothing has been done,” the family member said.
The relative also alleged that after the incident, the aunt removed the dogs from the property and hid them.
Neighbors reportedly intervened to pull Nedwell out of the house during the attack.
Nedwell, who recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Accounting, had been preparing to walk the graduation stage this weekend. Her cousin said she is now unable to attend the ceremony. “She cannot walk, barely talk, she can barely eat and she is traumatized,” the family member said.
The family is calling on authorities to locate and remove the dogs to prevent further attacks. Police have not yet confirmed whether an investigation is underway.
