Police: Woman may have tried to stop dog fight

December 23, 2008 07:52 am

— Staff Report

A woman attacked by one or more dogs inside a New Lisbon home may have been trying to separate two fighting pit bulls, state police at Oneonta said Monday.

Debra Stonaker, 49, remained in stable condition Monday, according to Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.

Stonaker was found bloodied and dazed by a neighbor at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

The woman, who was home alone, was intoxicated, confused and gave conflicting accounts about what happened to her, troopers said.

Stonaker was living at her son’s home at the time of the attack and appears to have been the owner of at least one of the pit bulls.

There were three pit bulls in the home, along with a 15-year-old yellow Labrador that was not involved, according to troopers and the New Lisbon animal control officer.

It was not known exactly when the dog attack occurred, but it is believed to have happened overnight Wednesday or early Thursday morning, troopers said. It is also not known what role alcohol played in the incident, they said.

Troopers indicated that if the friend had not checked on the woman, she could have died. There was no phone in the home, they added.

The woman suffered punctured wounds to her neck, arms and torso, and had a suspected broken wrist, troopers said.

The Otsego County Department of Health is also investigating the dog attack. All four dogs at the home were licensed, but they are in the midst of a 10-day rabies quarantine, New Lisbon Animal Control Officer Shawn Patrick previously said.