Local

Tulsa woman speaks out after sister attacked by dogs on west Tulsa trail

TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa woman said her family’s life will never be the same after her sister was mauled by two pit bulls and had to have her leg amputated.

The attack happened while Tina Garner’s sister, Tammy Copeland, was walking in west Tulsa on Nov. 7.

“It’s been traumatic in every way humanly possible it’s been traumatic,” Garner said.

Tina Garner was talking about the moment she was walking along the Kay Trail, near her home, when she saw her sister being attacked by two pit bulls.

“She was so covered in blood I didn’t realize it was my sister, it was horrible,” Garner said.

Copeland was walking along the trail going to a Dollar General when the attack happened.

Garner said her sister had to fight for her life.

“They went for her throat over and over again, that’s how come she has all the bites and teeth punched wounds on both arms and hands and her fingers is protecting her throat to keep them from killing her,” she said.

Garner said Copeland spent two weeks in the ICU and has had five surgeries so far, but her right leg had to be amputated below the knee because her injuries were so bad. Copeland is now in a Tulsa rehab center.

“I don’t know how we’re going to get through this, I really don’t, my sisters fighting, she has to every day, but every time I talk to her on the phone I can hear the pain she’s in,” she said.

Garner said she wants people to be more careful with their dogs. She also said she lots of dogs in area.

“Dogs running around the neighborhood, dogs running up and down that bike path, there doesn’t a day go by that you don’t see at least one or two stray dogs up by the store trying to find food, it’s just insane,” she said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help Tammy recover.

Garner said their lives will never be the same again

“She walked that path every day and this shouldn’t have happened,” she said.

The Cty of Tulsa gave FOX23 a statement, which said Tulsa Animal Welfare has received the dogs and cited the owner for harboring dangerous dogs. They city also said the dogs are still in the custody of Tulsa Animal Welfare and dangerous dog affidavits have been submitted to the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, the family said they’re facing thousands of dollars in medical bills.

To see the GoFundMe the family has created, click here.

Listen

news

weather

traffic

mobile apps

Everything you love about krmg.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!