St. Pete woman severely injured in pit bull attack

A 54-year-old St. Petersburg woman was severely injured in a pit bull attack Wednesday morning, according to St. Petersburg Police.

Police say the incident happened about 10:30 a.m. after Arkies Thomas arrived at a relative's house on the 3700 block of 1st Avenue North for a visit.

The one-year-old pit bull terrier was initially chained in the backyard, but police say the dog broke its chain and lunged up at Thomas, biting her in the face.

Thomas also had bite wounds to her right arm and right ankle. She was taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Thomas' husband, Willy Fudge, described her injuries.

"This one side here," Fudge said pointing to his cheek and lip area, "the dog (took) all this off, exposing her teeth."

Her relatives who had just come back from the hospital were also visably shaken up from the attack.

"I'm not going to say what she looks like, but I don't want to say, but at the same time, she's gonna be alright," sobbed Thomas' niece, Felice Thomas.

Police say Edra Morgan, Thomas' relative, attempted to pull the dog away from her without success and then struck the dog in head with a brick.

Thomas and Morgan fled inside while another man secured the dog to a nearby shed, according to police.

Animal Control was called to the scene and took possession of the pit bull.

The owner of the dog, 32-year-old Joseph Bethune Jr., who resides at the home, arrived on the scene and signed over custody to Animal Control.

The dog will be put down in 10 days.

"The dog needs to be put down," Thomas said.

"It should be killed," said Fudge