MASON CITY – Two Mason City gas mechanics were in the right place at the right time to help an 83-year-old woman after a pit bull attack.
NorthIowaToday.com reported that on May 2, 2018, a woman out for a walk in a Mason City neighborhood was attacked by a pit bull and saved by two persons who intervened.
Alliant Energy said today that Jeremy Fitzgerald and Luke Urbatsch were on their way to a job when they saw a dog running full speed through the neighborhood, near 20th Street SW and Harding Avenue. They watched the dog charge a woman walking on the sidewalk. The dog stood on its hind legs and attacked the woman’s upper arm before it latched onto her hand.
“After the dog attacked her, the owner came out and got the dog and went home. The owner never came back to check on the woman,” Luke said.
At this point, the two gas mechanics put their safety and medical training into action. Jeremy grabbed the first-aid kit from their truck, while Luke called 911. They used some gauze and bandages to try to stop the bleeding. Jeremy says her hand was losing a lot of blood.
“We were worried she’d go into shock, so we helped her sit down,” Jeremy says. “She was worried she was taking up too much of our time. We told her not to worry. We’re here for you.”
The two kept her company for 10 minutes until the paramedics arrived. The Mason City Police Department says the woman is bruised and heavily bandaged. Captain Mike McKelvey says, “The situation may have been a lot worse if Jeremy and Luke had not been there or intervened.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever have to use my safety training like this, “Luke says, “But I’m glad we were prepared.”
As NIT reported, the dog owner, Alicia Seidel, was subsequently cited for violations of city ordinance for animal at large, dangerous/vicious animal, and no city animal license. She was cited and released and has a scheduled court appearance on May 21.
10 thoughts on “Elderly Mason City woman out for a walk aided by gas mechanics after pit bull attack”
That bullshit story about my pit bull running full speed and they has to intervene is a straight out fucking lie my dog was inside my house he jumped on my storm door my front door was open because my other dog was outside on the chain going pee when flashed jumped up on the door it busted open he walked outside and off to the right of our house on a side street because we live on s Taft by Newman’s baseball field there were absolutely no sidewalks in our neighborhood besides the bike path they just put in July of 2025 there is a house right next to ours then the side street there is a house on the corner of the side street with a telephone pole in it the old lady who in all my years of living in my house had never seen before ever she was leaning up against the pole and she seemed extremely confused and lost I thought perhaps maybe dimentia or althizmer flash trotted over to her me right behind him going to get him back in the house he started sniffing her I was right there I grabbed a hold of his collar to take him back home and the next thing I know is the old lady started hitting me and my dog my dog nipped her hand literally just a nip I called him back and said home he started to go home and she kicked him and hit him even harder he nipped her arm not even drawing blood I took flash home put him inside shut my door and immediately went to give aid and help to the woman there were absolutely no alliant energy workers around at the time of the incident they pulled up 2 blocks down the street from my house after everything was all said and done
How about a pit devotee explaining this one !!
The dog owner should lose the house, if she owns it. She should come of this too poor to buy dog food.
It wouldn’t bother me in the least if they put the dog down.
I bet she doesn’t appear for the court daye
Good job guys for jumping into action. Your actions may have saved this poor ladies life.
As for the dog owner; what kind of a person wouldn’t offer aid or even check on the lady that was bitten? I can only hope something like this never happens to you.
The kind that has something to hide, like drugs in the house.
It’s time for our courts to get strict on owners with dogs running free off leash. This should be a serious misdemeanor, and owner arrested.
This owner should be fully liable for all injuries, time lost by helpers and police time. The dog needs to be taken away. This happens too much by dog owners ‘thinking’ their family dog is ‘friendly’. One runs loose constantly on the 11 hundred block of 1st NE.
What kind of person would not go back and check on a 83 year old woman that her pit bull just attacked?? Sad