MASON CITY – A woman was knocked to the ground and mauled by three Jack Russell Terriers Monday afternoon in a rural Mason City neighborhood, and two others were also bitten before one dog was shot dead.
According to the Cerro Gordo county sheriff’s office, a report was called in at about 1:10 PM Monday of a woman who had been inured after a dog attack in the Winnebago Heights area of Mason City (the 15500 block of North Street). The victim was identified as 29-year-old Stefanie Murray. She had been standing outside her home when the three Jack Russell Terriers knocked her down and bit her numerous times about the face, arm and leg. The dogs belong to Logan Craig and Mark and Joyce Lansaw, all of Mason City.
Murray was taken to Mercy Hospital for treatment.
Two other persons were bitten: 63-year-old Steven Juhl and 29-year-old Jennifer Coolidge. Neither sought medical treatment.
During the incident, one of the dogs was shot and killed after “coming after the victims multiple times”, the Cerro Gordo county sheriff’s office said. They did not specify who shot the dog. The deceased dog’s body was transported to Iowa City for rabies tests. The two other dogs have been quarantined to the owner’s residence for 10 days, pursuant to local ordinance.
The incident remains under investigation.