Worker Mauled by Dog in Fort Lauderdale: Heroic Rescue Unfolds

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA - In what had to be one of the more harrowing days of her life, animal control worker Martina Bernard experienced a terrifying dog attack on May 29 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Body camera footage from Broward County Sheriff’s deputies captured the frantic aftermath of the incident, which left Bernard on the ground, bloodied and in desperate need of help. Officers responded to a call regarding the attack, arriving to find Bernard with severe injuries—bites to her head, face, breast, and leg. Her cries for assistance were heard by a nearby neighbor, Saskia Peralta, who promptly dialed 911. Bernard was quickly transported to the hospital, where she would require nearly 1,000 stitches to treat her wounds. Her recovery is expected to be long and challenging, and a GoFundMe account set up in her name has raised nearly $14,000 to help with her medical expenses, as noted by Workers Compensation.

Compounding the distressing nature of this incident, the dog involved was ultimately euthanized following the attack. Neighbors who were present shared the chaotic scene, with one recounting how her son, Gregory Campbell, suffered an abdominal wound trying to assist Bernard. The grim realities of such close encounters underscore just how perilous dog interactions can be for workers in this field.

The Broader Picture

It is worth noting that Bernard’s situation may not be isolated. Just days after her attack, on May 31, a severe incident at the San Pedro animal shelter in California led to a considerable financial penalty for the city of Los Angeles. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) fined the city $563,250 after an employee was hospitalized due to a dog attack, and findings revealed safety and training lapses contributing to the attack. The shelter had been housing 1,500 dogs, well over its safe capacity of 800. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, this kind of overcrowding and subsequent lack of proper training for staff indicates a worrying trend that must be addressed.

Such incidents feed into a larger conversation on dog attacks in the workforce and the alarming statistic presented by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: from 1992 to 1997, animal attacks claimed 227 on-the-job fatalities. A significant contributor to this issue is found in the sheer number of dogs that people come in contact with daily. Approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur each year in the United States, and nearly 800,000 victims seek medical attention. For example, utility workers might encounter upwards of 300 dogs in a single route, increasing their risk significantly as highlighted on Incident Prevention.

Understanding dog behavior is critical. While dogs are beloved companions in many households—approximately 40% of families own at least one—humanizing them can lead to misjudgments about their responses in different environments. According to “Bulli Ray’s 10 Commandments of Dog Bite Safety,” creating barriers, maintaining a non-threatening posture, and being aware of your surroundings can be lifesaving strategies. Training and awareness can go a long way in reducing incidents, ensuring both worker and animal safety.

The reality is stark: individual dog behavior is unpredictable. Whether in an animal shelter or at a person’s home, there’s a need for ongoing education and training in dog bite prevention. Looking at Bernard’s case and the recent incidents in California, it’s clear that proper safety measures, staff training, and sufficient resources are essential. Ensuring that animal control workers and shelter employees are prepared for the unexpected could help save lives—not only of the workers but also of the dogs themselves.