CLEVELAND — A northeast Ohio cancer patient said she and her emotional support dog are recovering after a neighbor's dogs attacked them in April. 

What You Need To Know

  • A northeast Ohio cancer patient said she and her emotional support dog are recovering after the two were attacked by a neighbor's dogs

  • Marcia Perry has stage four breast cancer and relies on her black labrador, Lucky, for assistance

  • Lucky is recovering, but Perry said she can't afford his medical bills

  • According to Cleveland Animal Care and Control, the owner of the pit bulls faces up to around $1,000 in fines and up to six months in prison, and could be forced to pay restitution

Marcia Perry has stage four breast cancer and said she relies on her black labrador, Lucky, for assistance. But right now, Perry is without Lucky, as he recuperates from being bitten more than a hundred times by three pit bulls.

The incident happened on April 20 in front of Perry’s Cleveland-area home. 

Perry said she had just pulled into her driveway when the pit bulls attacked them as they got out of the vehicle.

“I put my cane out and I said, ‘OK come on, Lucky,'” Perry said. “As soon as his feet touched the ground, these three pit bulls came out of nowhere and started attacking and pinned us into the corner of the cement foundation of my porch and stairs.” 

Perry said she watched in horror as the dogs attacked, and she was screaming for help. She said neighbors came to her rescue and separated the dogs, stopping the attack.

She said Lucky was rushed to an area animal hospital, but his wounds so severe that he had to be transferred to MedVet in Akron.

“His front right armpit was damaged terribly,” said Perry. “His face is five times the normal size.”

Perry said she is now struggling to figure out how she’ll pay for the massive vet bills, which she said currently top $8,000.

“My income is only disability and Social Security income,” she said. Perry said she is struggling to get by, even without the added bills.

For now, Perry said her daughter is looking after Lucky as the pup recovers.

She said she makes trips to see him on days she’s not making trips to get treatment for her metastatic breast cancer. 

“He’s in my heart,” she said. 

According to Cleveland Animal Care and Control, the owner of the pit bulls is being charged with three counts of “Dogs Running Loose” and three counts of “Dog Nuisance." The owner faces up to around $1,000 in fines and six months in prison. The owner could also be forced to pay restitution. Spectrum News tried to speak with the owner of the pitbulls to get his side of the story.  Unfortunately, the owner chose to use an expletive instead of answering our questions.

Perry, meanwhile, said she does not plan to sue the owner of the dogs but she has started a GoFundMe to help pay for Lucky’s medical bills.