Mauling victim improves; dog put down

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June 14, 2012

Mauling victim improves; dog put down

By Marjorie Nesin Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Thu Jun 14, 2012, 05:57 AM EDT

The 84-year-old Gloucester man who was attacked by his daughter's German shepherd mix on Lawndale Circle last Friday has been upgraded to fair condition at a Boston hospital.

Gloucester police, meanwhile, confirmed Wednesday that the dog that had attacked John Gibson has been euthanized.

Gloucester police Lt. Kathy Auld, the force's chief of detectives, said Wednesday that the dog, removed from the West Gloucester home by the city's animal control officer, had tested negative for rabies.

Gibson's health was reportedly improved Wednesday, after he had been classified as in serious condition Friday through late Monday at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Gibson was transported to Beth Israel by Med-flight on Friday after his daughter, Jill Frenette, found him bleeding on the floor of her home at 40 Lawndale Circle, according to police.

Police said Gibson told Frenette that he had been feeding chips of ice to the shepherd mix when it attacked him, forcing him to the floor, then mauling him.

Rescuers had said that Gibson suffered serious injuries to his back, legs and arms and had lost a lot of blood. Police on scene referred to Gibson as "badly mangled and bleeding." Gibson had been bleeding for almost three hours, since the mauling began around 11:30 a.m. and Frenette found her father when she returned home at 2:15 p.m., according to police.

Frenette had told responding officers police that the German shepherd mix had been well behaved lately, according to police.

But, police said, Frenette also said that the dog "has acted up in the past." Rescue personnel at the scene Friday had said the dog had bitten Gibson last year, though not nearly as seriously as in last Friday's attack.

Police on Wednesday said they were unable to comment on whether any charges may be pressed against Frenette, since the attack is still under investigation.

Marjorie Nesin can be reached at 978-283-7000 x3451, or mnesin@gloucestertimes.com.