Arizona woman nearly loses arm in attack by foster dog

Liz Shidler, a foster volunteer from Tempe, Arizona, nearly lost her life and her left arm following a severe attack by a rescue dog named Benny on July 8. Shidler, who has been fostering animals for five years, reported that the incident began when Benny attacked another dog in her care. When she attempted to intervene, the dog turned on her, causing an artery tear that resulted in the loss of three units of blood.

Shidler underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for four days. She reported difficulty contacting emergency services as her blood loss interrupted her 911 calls. Currently, she faces a long recovery process and is unable to use her arms for daily tasks.

According to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, Benny was a former stray who had previously been on a euthanasia list before being transferred to a partner program, New Hope. Officials stated that the dog had not displayed prior behavioral issues. It remains unclear what happened to the dog following the attack.