NW Portland Dog Survives Attack, Faces Long Road to Recovery
Attack animal not identified, still on the loose
In a story first reported by Fox 12 News, Rex, a beloved Northwest Portland dog, narrowly escaped death after a vicious animal attack earlier this month. Rex is now on a long road to recovery, after enduring several emergency surgeries and severe trauma.
Rex and his owner, Michael Spence, were on their usual Sunday night run along Northwest 23rd Avenue, just north of Vaughn Street. Suddenly, a loose dog sprinted out of a nearby unsanctioned encampment and launched a savage attack.
According to Spence, the assailant was a pit bull that emerged without warning from a nearby camp. "The last thing I knew he was just on top of him, mauling him, biting him," Spence recalled to Fox 12. A man who seemed to be the pit bull's owner pulled the animal off Rex, but not before the damage had been done.
With Rex gravely injured, Spence scooped up his dog, ran a few blocks away and dialed 911, hoping for swift assistance. But the quick help Spence anticipated was not to come. Despite repeated assurances that someone would be dispatched to the scene, after waiting for 30 to 45 minutes, no one arrived.
As Rex's condition worsened, and help not coming, Spence was forced to abandon the scene and rush his beloved pet to the vet. The aftermath of the attack was grim. Rex was left with deep, 6 to 8 inch lacerations, and the attack had caused extensive damage to his blood vessels, leading to tissue death. This necessitated an immediate surgery to remove the dead tissue, followed by a second operation to close the wounds once healthy tissue had reformed.
Spence later reached out to Multnomah County Animal Control, frustrated at the lack of immediate action taken in response to the attack. Spence said the dispatcher told him it was not considered an active emergency because the attacking dog was now under the control of its owner. "If they wanted to protect us they would've come out immediately and found out where that dog was, and gotten it taken somewhere so he can't victimize another dog or a child," Spence told Fox 12.
Multnomah County Animal Control confirmed in a statement that they received and recorded the complaint and assigned an officer to investigate the aggressive dog and its owner. However, it was explained that an animal control officer was not sent immediately because it was after hours, and the incident was not deemed an emergency.
Spence says that the encampment from where the pit bull had charged is located on NW 23rd, just one and a half blocks north of Dutch Brothers, at the intersection of NW 23rd and NW York Street.
Rex is now on a slow but steady path to recovery. Spence's focus now is on Rex's healing and the enormous medical bills that have piled up due to Rex's life-saving treatments. The cost of the surgeries and subsequent follow-up appointments are estimated to be around $15,000. To offset the financial burden, Spence has set up a GoFundMe page, "Lifesaving Surgery for Rex."
The page, narrated from Rex's perspective, tells his story: "Woof woof. My name is Rex and last week a very mean dog attacked me and left me with serious injuries." It ends with a heartfelt plea, "If you can help share my story or contribute to the treatment my dad got me, it will help me get better so he and I can make more memories together."
In the wake of the horrific incident, Michael Spence and Rex's journey forward is marked by bravery, endurance, and an unyielding bond. The scars of this trauma will serve as both a stark reminder of the tragedy and a testament to their shared resilience. The costs are high, and the road to recovery is long, but it's a path they tread together, leaning on each other and the community's support.
Rex told NW Portland News, “Rex has been through a lot and he’s more than my dog, he’s my best friend.”
MORE INFORMATION: