Introduction
On December 23, 2021, a 22-year-old woman named Jacqueline Durand was mauled by two dogs she was caring for while house-sitting in Coppell, Texas. Jacqueline suffered catastrophic injuries to her face and body in the vicious attack.
The Victim
The victim of the dog attack was 22-year-old Jacqueline Durand. At the time of the attack, Durand worked as a dog sitter and had been doing so for 7 years. She was an experienced dog handler and cared deeply for animals, with dreams of one day working as a dog trainer.
On December 23, 2021, Durand arrived at the home in Coppell, Texas to care for two dogs while the owners were away for the holidays. She had met the dogs previously and felt comfortable watching them. But when she entered the backyard, the dogs viciously attacked her, inflicting severe injuries to her face and body.
From CBS News
The Attack
The attack occurred on December 23, 2021 at a home in Coppell, Texas where Jacqueline Durand was house sitting and caring for two dogs while the homeowners were away for the holidays. According to reports, Durand took the dogs, a mixed breed named Lucy and a German shepherd named Bender, out to use the bathroom in the backyard that evening. When she went to go back inside, the dogs suddenly turned on her and viciously attacked her face and head (CBS News).
Durand tried to flee inside the home but the dogs grabbed her by the legs and dragged her back into the yard, mauling her for several minutes as she screamed for help. A neighbor who heard the commotion came outside and managed to pull the dogs away, saving Durand’s life. By the time police arrived, Durand’s face had been maimed beyond recognition and she was hospitalized in critical condition (LADbible).
The Dogs
The two dogs involved in the attack were identified as a female mixed-breed pit bull named Nala and a male Dogo Argentino named Bender (Source). Nala was approximately 5 to 6 years old and Bender was under 2 years old. The dogs belonged to the homeowner, who was out of town at the time and had hired Durand to dogsit (Source). The owner was fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation.
Injuries Sustained
The injuries sustained by Jacqueline Durand were severe and required extensive hospitalization and treatment. According to reports, Durand suffered “catastrophic disfigurement” and traumatic injuries to her face, neck and arms after being mauled by the two dogs. She was reportedly left with only one ear and part of her skull after the attack.
Durand was hospitalized for an extended period after the incident. She underwent several reconstructive surgeries which aimed to rebuild parts of her face such as her nose, cheeks and lips using tissues from other parts of her body. Despite the procedures, Durand’s injuries caused permanent disfigurement and impairment, according to her lawyers.
Investigation
The police investigation found that the owners, Justin and Ashley Bishop, were out of town when their two dogs, Lucy and Bender, attacked and killed the dog sitter. The Bishops had left explicit instructions to never leave the dogs alone together, but evidence showed the sitter had left the backyard and gone inside while both dogs were still outside unleashed.
The owners released a statement accepting full responsibility for the incident, acknowledging they were aware Lucy had shown signs of aggression and had bitten before. They apologized to the victim and offered to cover all medical expenses. Authorities determined the owners were ultimately accountable for improper precautions and failing to inform the sitter of the risk of leaving the dogs unattended.
Police reports concluded that while the sitter erred in leaving the dogs alone, the owner’s negligence created the circumstances that led to the fatal mauling. The Bishops faced charges of reckless endangerment for inadequately warning about the risk. The investigation found the owners at fault for not taking proper precautions with dogs they knew to have violent tendencies.
Community Response
The dog attack on Jacqueline Durand prompted an outpouring of public support. A GoFundMe campaign was started to help pay her medical bills, raising over $250,000 (CBS News). Many people expressed sympathy for what Durand went through and hoped she would make a full recovery.
There was also public outrage directed at the dogs’ owner, who fled after dropping the dogs off with Durand. Reddit users criticized the owner for irresponsibly handling dangerous animals that were capable of such an attack (Reddit). Some called for legal action against the owner for negligence.
Overall, the public response showed compassion for Durand as the victim of a horrific incident, while condemning the dog owner who put her in harm’s way.
Similar Incidents
Unfortunately, Jacqueline Durand is not the first dog sitter to be attacked by the pets they were caring for. In 2021, a dog sitter in Missouri was mauled by three dogs and hospitalized with serious injuries [1]. In 2019, a dog sitter in Texas nearly lost her arm after being attacked by two dogs in her care [2].
These types of attacks are often preventable. Experts recommend dog sitters take precautions such as meeting with the dogs a few times before beginning the job to observe their temperament. Sitters should also ensure they have complete information about the dogs’ medical history, diet, and behavior issues. During the job, sitters should be equipped to safely separate dogs if needed and have access to secure outdoor areas for walks [3].
Recovery Process
The victim faced a long road to recovery after the brutal attack. Dog bite injuries can require hours, weeks or even months of treatment before the patient achieves full physical recovery (Overview of Dog Bite Attack Injuries and Harm). For the victim, the recovery process involved dealing with the severe physical trauma as well as the emotional trauma of the incident.
Initially, she had to undergo multiple surgeries and skin grafts to treat the extensive bite wounds and lacerations on her body. Doctors recommended not suturing the deeper puncture wounds in order to allow drainage and prevent infection (Recovering From a Dog Bite). After the surgeries, she faced a long period of wound care, bandage changes, and physical therapy. Her recovery timeline spanned many weeks as the wounds slowly healed through various stages.
Emotionally, she had to cope with the trauma of the vicious attack. She reportedly suffered from anxiety, fear, and sleep disturbances. She received counseling to help deal with the emotional aftermath. Sources say her recovery involved learning to trust dogs again through careful exposure therapy with gentle, trained therapy dogs.
While physical wounds may mend with time, the emotional scars of a dog mauling can linger. With extensive treatment and support, victims like her can recover and move forward (Helping a Dog Recover from an Attack). Still, the process is often long, difficult and may never feel fully complete.
Impact and Legacy
The vicious mauling of Jacqueline Durand sparked calls for reforms and tighter regulations around dangerous dogs. Durand’s story brought awareness to the dangers of dog-sitting unknown pets without safeguards in place. Many pleaded for new laws to require secure facilities, multiple handlers, and assessments of high-risk dogs before accepting them for boarding or sitting.
After the attack, Durand and her supporters advocated for policy changes to prevent similar incidents. Though the damage could not be undone, Durand hoped her experience could inspire increased precautions and prevent future tragedies. Her willingness to share her story made a difference in keeping other dog lovers safe.
Durand’s resilience through recovery also motivated others facing adversity. Despite unimaginable injuries, she maintained a positive spirit. Her strength served as an inspiration not to let traumatic events defeat one’s spirit. Though bearing physical and emotional scars, Durand moved forward to live her life to the fullest.
The legacy of Durand’s mauling fueled activism for safer regulations, inspired people with her courageous recovery, and provided a cautionary tale on the importance of precautions when interacting with unknown dogs. Her experience forever changed the conversation on dog attack dangers and prevention strategies.