Woman attacked by husband’s dog when she gave him money, family says

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana (KPLC/Gray News) – A Louisiana woman is recovering in the hospital after she was attacked by a man’s dog as she tried to give him money, her daughters said.

What started as an act of kindness for 64-year-old Elsa Davila quickly turned into a nightmare. The victim’s daughters say Davila was shopping near Sulphur Plaza on June 2 when she saw a man with a dog begging for money, KPLC reports.

“She wanted to give him some money and on the way back the dog broke the leash and attacked her,” said Davila’s daughter Savanna Gonzales.

Davila was taken to a New Orleans hospital, where her daughters witnessed the aftermath of the attack. The 64-year-old suffered injuries to her face and stomach, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up for her.

“I saw her in the hospital and it was just devastating to see a hole in her face,” Gonzales said.

“This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I like scary movies. But this is just something different,” said Davila’s daughter Michelle Garcia.

Davila underwent plastic surgery and is now recovering.

“She is not allowed to talk or eat anything. She is on liquid food and cannot speak. She has to text the nurses or write everything down,” Gonzales said.

The man who allegedly lost control of his dog has been identified as 37-year-old Kyle Smith. He faces several charges, including trespassing, animal cruelty and illegal possession of a vicious dog.

Garcia works at a store near where her mother was attacked and says the dog has caused problems in the past. They removed him from the property.

“The dog used to be up here, but we had to relocate him because he’s constantly growling at customers and doing other things. So they brought him here, and once he’s here, there’s nothing they can do,” Garcia said.

Davila’s daughters describe their mother as a kind and caring person. They say the incident traumatized her, but she chose to stay strong.

“She’s scared, I know that. She’s already having nightmares about a dog chasing her. She lives with a dog, so she’s going to come home and find a dog. It’s going to be scary. She’s not ready for it yet, but she’s in a great mood,” Gonzales said.

The GoFundMe page to support Davila’s hospital bills and recovery can be found here.

The dog that attacked Davila is currently being held at Sulphur Animal Control and is reportedly a pit bull mix.

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