Chronicle
According to the police, the condition of the 70-year-old who was attacked and seriously injured by one of her grandson’s dogs in Graz on Tuesday is still life-threatening. Her grandson (26) is a service dog handler in the army; he is currently off duty.
The 26-year-old apparently left his grandmother alone in her apartment with the animals for just a few minutes to get his vehicle out of the garage. When he came back, he found the seriously injured but still responsive pensioner. He provided first aid and called an ambulance.
According to initial information, the dogs previously locked away by the grandson – he is a service dog handler in the army – should have opened the door independently. At least one of them then attacked the woman; she suffered numerous bites and lacerations and after an emergency operation in the night in the intensive care unit of Graz Regional Hospital, she is still fighting for her life.
Official acceptance and display of animal cruelty
The 26-year-old grandson from Deutschlandsberg, who according to the Deutschlandsberg military command is currently on sick leave, had apparently stayed temporarily with his grandmother in Graz and also taken his four dogs with him. His service dog – this was not one of the four animals in the apartment – was taken from him by a military veterinarian and taken to the military dog center in Burgenland’s Kaisersteinbruch.
This dog was in good physical condition, unlike the four others. In addition to the four dogs – according to the official veterinarian they were in a neglected and emaciated condition – three cats were also discovered in the 70-year-old’s apartment. A vet ordered the official acceptance of the animals. The 26-year-old was reported on suspicion of negligent bodily harm and animal cruelty.
