“Not today… I won’t die today” | North Texas man survives being mauled by neighbor’s dogs

ARLINGTON, Texas. A man in Arlington is recovering after being mauled by neighborhood dogs and spending more than seven hours in the emergency room.

Arlington city officials said a man named Terrence Marshall was attacked by dogs at an apartment complex located at 708 Ridgeglen Drive. According to the police report, city officials said he was taken to an area hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The WFAA spoke to Marshall, who said he was checking the weather before leaving for work when he was attacked by dogs.

“I went outside and the dogs were barking… usually they bark and just go about their business,” Marshall said. “But the owner of the dog ran towards me to grab the dog that was coming towards me. Apparently, they took it as a threat, and then they all rushed at me.

Marshall told WFAA that when the dogs rushed him, one dog bit him on the arm and he hit that dog in the jaw. Another dog grabbed his ear and two other dogs bit through his work boots, one on each foot. And then another dog bit him on the back of the head, leaving a big wound, Marshall said.

“I thought, ‘Not today, I don’t… I won’t die today. I won’t go today.” So I just fought and fought and fought,” Marshall told WFAA.

Marshall said he had never experienced anything like it before.

“You always hear about it on TV, but you never expect it to happen and happen to you,” Marshall said.

According to Marshall, the owner of the dogs tried to pull some of them away but couldn’t on his own. Two more people came to the rescue and began to drag the dogs away, but Marshall said the damage had already been done.

The city said the Arlington Animal Service gave the dog owner until Monday afternoon to send the dogs into quarantine or turn them in to the city for rabies testing. As of 5 p.m. Monday, the city said this had not happened. An Animal Welfare investigation is ongoing, the city said in a statement.

“Never underestimate anyone, anyone, any animal at any time,” Marshal said. “I think what I thought was: I underestimated them because it was natural. They will bark outside; I would pass by them, and everything would be ok. I think I underestimated them.”

Marshal told WFAA he spent 7.5 hours in the emergency room and received 79 stitches. His 79th stitch was on the little finger of his left hand.