TRAGIC: Florida Postal Worker, 61, Fatally Attacked

Law enforcement agencies in Florida announced on Tuesday that a postal worker had passed away after being attacked by 5 dogs over the weekend. 

Per the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a postal carrier named Pamela Jane Rock, 61 was attacked by dogs once her car stopped working on Sunday in Interlachen, Florida. Since the assault, she had been hospitalized and was listed in serious condition, but, according to the police, she passed away on Monday as a result of her injuries. 

Rock was found lying on the floor with 5 dogs attacking her, according to statements made to the police by witnesses who said they heard Rock screaming for help. Intervention came from nearby residents as well as the owners of the dogs involved.

Pamela Jane Rock, 61, died at the hospital the day after the vicious attack, which a neighbor tried to stop by firing into the air, sheriff’s Col. Joseph Wells said at a news conference. https://t.co/2APcAytlwV

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During a press conference on Tuesday, Putnam County Sheriff Chief Deputy Col. Joseph Wells stated that “one of the neighbors even brought his firearm along and fired several shots into the air and to the ground in an attempt to disrupt the attack.“

According to Wells, the neighbors and the owners successfully removed the dogs from Rock before the arrival of law authorities. The sheriff’s office said that officers offered first aid to Rock after the attack while they waited for ambulance crews to arrive. Rock was gravely bleeding after the attack. 

“We believe there have been other calls for service regarding these dogs,” said Wells, who also mentioned that it seems the dogs escaped from a fenced-in yard. As per Wells, the animals were apprehended and are scheduled to be put to death. The authorities have not disclosed the type of the canines that murdered Rock, including their size or breed.

The attack is being investigated by the sheriff’s office, and criminal charges may be taken against the owners. “We are in frequent communications with the state attorney’s office as we explore options as far as possible criminal cases as this case continues,” Wells said.

The United States Postal Service expressed their sorrow for the passing of Rock in a statement. “A postal family member lost her life in a dog bite attack,” the USPS said in a remark on Tuesday. “The U.S. Postal Service is deeply saddened at the loss of our employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time.“

According to statistics made public by the USPS in June, more than 5,400 employees of the organization were assaulted by dogs in the year 2021. The United States Postal Service (USPS) states that aggressive dogs present “a serious threat to postal employees and the public,” and the agency sponsors an annual public service campaign in the month of June called National Dog Bite Awareness Week to bring attention to the risks of having unsecured dogs on mail route options.