Dog attack leaves Melrose woman dead | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Courtesy of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. The dogs on Walker Drive that reportedly caused the death of a Melrose woman earlier this week.

A 61-year-old mail carrier reportedly died after five dogs reportedly attacked her in Interlachen on Sunday, officials say.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of Melrose woman Pamela Jane Rock on Tuesday afternoon.

“A postal family member lost her life in a dog bite attack. The U.S. Postal Service is deeply saddened at the loss of our employee,” a spokesperson for the United States Postal Service said in an email. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time."

When Putnam County deputies responded to the scene in Interlachen Lake Estates, they found Rock on the ground “with severe bleeding,” sheriff’s office officials reported Monday. Near the scene, five dogs were inside the fence of a residence in the block of 2000 Walker Drive.

Rock was transported to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital but later flown by helicopter to a Gainesville trauma center where she remained Monday afternoon in “critical condition” until her passing later that night, the sheriff’s office said.

Putnam County Animal Control took the five dogs, according to the law enforcement agency, after they were identified by witnesses as the animals that attacked the woman. These dogs are being euthanized because they are involved in the death of a human being, sheriff’s office Col. Joe Wells confirmed Tuesday.

“Putnam County Animal Control, not like any other animal control facility, does meet challenges when it comes to population and that is partly because of their dedication to be a no-kill shelter but in cases like this (Florida) statute is clear and Animal Control has no options,” Wells said.

He also said the dogs were mixed breeds and that the sheriff’s office had responded four times in three years for incidents relating to animals in the area where the attack Sunday occurred.

“It initially appears that they were able to move some rocks that the bottom of the fence was lined with in order to keep them secured,” Wells said Tuesday about the dogs. “One of the neighbors stated that, you know, the dogs had been well-secured for a period of time and didn’t expect anything like this until they heard the lady screaming.”

Witnesses told the responding deputies they heard Rock scream for help and when they went outside, they saw her on the ground with five dogs attacking, according to the law enforcement agency

“Witnesses said several neighbors rushed to help by attempting to pull the dogs off and one neighbor shot a rifle into the ground to scare the animals,” according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said this investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released when available. The agency said the dogs’ owner has been cooperating at this time.

“On behalf of the Putnam County Board of County Commissioners … we send our heartfelt condolences and our prayers are with the family for this tragic accident,” Putnam County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Pickens said.

Editor Casmira Harrison contributed to this story