A Duluth man is recovering from severe hand injuries after he says a large mixed-breed pit bull attacked him while he was walking his small dog through his neighborhood, leaving him with deep lacerations, broken fingers, and a long recovery that may keep him out of work for an unknown period.
In a report for WSB-TV, reporter Tom Regan said Corey Armstrong was walking his Yorkie, True, when he noticed a woman struggling to control a larger dog on a retractable leash. Armstrong said the dog suddenly lunged toward him, prompting him to pick up True in an effort to protect the smaller animal.
That decision may have saved his dog, but Armstrong said it left his hands exposed to the attack.
“Everything happened so quickly,” Armstrong told Regan. “I felt the dog grabbing my hands, tearing my hands apart.”
The dog involved has since been located and placed in quarantine while Gwinnett County animal control investigates. The owner allegedly left the area with the dog before police and paramedics arrived, according to Armstrong and a neighbor who rushed to help him.
A Routine Walk Turned Into A Violent Attack
Armstrong told WSB-TV that the attack happened during an evening walk in his Duluth neighborhood last week.
He said he noticed a woman nearby who appeared to be having trouble restraining a large dog. The dog was on a retractable leash, which Armstrong described as difficult to control once the animal began pulling.
As the dog came toward him, Armstrong picked up True, his small Yorkie.
That was the moment, he said, when the larger dog began biting his hands.
“At one point, I could feel the dog’s teeth ripping through my flesh and breaking through the bones,” Armstrong said. “I was trying to pull my arm out of his mouth.”
The injuries were serious enough that Armstrong said he could feel his fingers being badly damaged during the struggle. He later told Regan that two fingers were hanging off when he managed to get away.
The details are difficult to hear, but they also show how quickly an animal attack can become life-changing. A normal walk with a small dog can turn into an emergency within seconds if a larger dog breaks free or its handler loses control.
Armstrong Escaped By Jumping Onto A Car
Armstrong said he eventually broke free from the dog’s jaws and jumped onto the hood of a nearby vehicle to get away.
“I don’t know how I jumped on a car because two of my fingers were hanging off,” he told WSB-TV.
The scramble did not end there.
A neighbor, Jessica Bejinariu, heard the commotion and rushed outside to see what was happening. She said she initially did not understand the full severity of the attack, but quickly realized Armstrong had suffered devastating injuries.
“I was trying to separate this whole thing,” Bejinariu told Regan. “He was able to run away and jump onto my neighbor’s car while he was holding his Yorkie and while his fingers were bleeding out.”
Bejinariu called out to Armstrong and urged him to take cover inside her home.
Once inside, she gave him first aid while calling 911. She said there was blood throughout her foyer as she tried to keep Armstrong calm and help control the bleeding.
“I was on the phone with 911,” she said. “There was blood all over the foyer. She’s telling me his hands need to be above his heart.”
That neighbor’s response appears to have been critical in the immediate aftermath. In an emergency, even simple actions such as getting someone away from danger, applying pressure, and following dispatcher instructions can make an enormous difference before paramedics arrive.
Surgery, Broken Bones And An Uncertain Recovery
Armstrong told Regan he has already undergone surgery to reattach one finger.
He also suffered broken bones in other fingers and deep tissue damage from the bite wounds, according to the WSB-TV report. The full extent of his recovery remains unclear.
“Life has changed for me in just a short period of time,” Armstrong said.
He works as a medical technician and said he does not know when he will be physically able to return to his job.
“My surgeon said time is my best friend right now,” Armstrong said. “It’s going to take some time, and only time will tell how my healing will go.”
That uncertainty is often one of the hardest parts of serious hand injuries. Even after emergency treatment and surgery, recovery can involve repeated appointments, physical therapy, limited mobility, nerve pain, and questions about whether a person will regain full strength or dexterity.
For Armstrong, the injuries affect more than his immediate comfort. They may affect his ability to work, care for himself, and return to the daily routines he had before the attack.
Neighbor Says Dog Owner Left Before Police Arrived
Both Armstrong and Bejinariu told Regan that the woman with the dog left the area before police and paramedics arrived.
“She should have stayed,” Armstrong said.
Bejinariu said the incident should never have happened and questioned why such a large dog was being handled with a retractable leash.
“It broke my heart that this happened,” she said. “This never should have happened. People shouldn’t lose control of their dogs. They shouldn’t be using retractable leashes on dogs that big.”
Her comments reflect the frustration of someone who watched a neighbor suffer a severe injury in front of her home. At the same time, the exact circumstances of the dog’s behavior, the owner’s actions, and whether any local leash or dangerous-dog rules were violated remain under investigation.
A county official identified the dog’s owners as ShiHua Zheng and Ling Ling, according to the WSB-TV report. The report did not indicate whether either owner had been charged in connection with the attack.
It is important not to assume criminal responsibility before investigators complete their review. But the allegation that the owner left before emergency responders arrived will likely be a significant part of the investigation and any future legal action.
Animal Control Has Quarantined The Dog
Gwinnett County animal control has located the dog and placed it in quarantine while the agency investigates.
Quarantine is a standard step after serious bite incidents because officials need to monitor the animal and assess health, vaccination, and public-safety concerns.
The investigation may also examine whether there were prior complaints, whether the dog had shown aggression before, how it was restrained, and whether the incident meets the local standard for a dangerous-dog designation.
The public often treats dog attacks as isolated accidents, but the details matter. A dog’s size, strength, history, restraint method, handling, and the environment can all influence how quickly a confrontation turns dangerous.
Armstrong said the dog was a mixed-breed pit bull. Breed identification in news reports can sometimes be uncertain, especially without official animal-control records, but the reported size and force of the dog were central to the injuries he described.
Community Support Grows As Armstrong Recovers
A GoFundMe has been created to help Armstrong cover medical and living expenses as he recovers.
That support is important because serious injuries do not end when the ambulance leaves. Surgery, follow-up care, medication, lost wages, transportation, and changes to daily life can put pressure on someone already coping with trauma.
Armstrong’s Yorkie, True, has also become an emotional source of comfort as he recovers.
Regan reported that the small dog has stayed close to Armstrong during the aftermath, giving him support while he adjusts to an injury that changed his life in a matter of minutes.
The investigation into the attack is still ongoing, and Gwinnett County animal control has not publicly announced a final finding.
For Armstrong, however, the consequences are already clear. He set out for a normal walk with his dog, tried to protect it when another animal lunged, and ended up facing surgeries, broken bones, and an uncertain future for his hands.
The attack is a reminder that pet owners have a responsibility to know their dog’s limits, use equipment they can control, and take extra precautions when handling animals capable of causing serious injury. In a crowded neighborhood, one moment of lost control can leave someone else carrying the consequences for months or years.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
