ENOS, Okla. -- A retired police dog was shot and several other dogs are set to be quarantined after a woman was mauled in this small Marshall County community about eight miles south of Kingston.
Neighbors stepped in to help when they saw Michelle Slaughter being attacked Thursday as she was taking a walk along Lighthouse Road.
"She thought she was going to die," said Samantha Moore, the victim's sister. "She was praying."
It's still unclear how many dogs were involved in the attack after escaping from an open pen, but law enforcement said the neighbors saved Slaughter's life.
She was hospitalized for treatment of more than 40 lacerations, requiring hundreds of stitches.
A volunteer firefighter who is currently away from home battling wildfires in northwest Oklahoma owns the dogs involved in the incident.
"I do apologize to the person that was bitten, I am very sorry," said the man who did not wish to be identified. "This all just makes it difficult to do what I am doing up here because I've got people depending on me."
The man told KTEN he adopted a retired police K-9, a Dutch Shepherd, to help with his security work.
One of his neighbors shot that dog during the attack, which is against the law in Oklahoma.
"In Oklahoma, unless a dog is attacking your livestock and is on your property, you can't shoot a dog," Marshall County Undersheriff Ed Kent said. "However, these guys saved a life yesterday, so they're good to go in our book."
Five other Dutch Shepherds and a Belgian Tervuren also live at the home. Kent said another dog was pepper-sprayed when it tried to attack a deputy.
It was not clear why the gate to the dogs' pen was open on Thursday. Their owner believes someone may have opened it on purpose.
In any event, Kent said the owner will be held responsible according to Oklahoma law.
"Dog owners have an obligation to control their animals at all times," he said.
Michelle Slaughter was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. She's expected to make a full recovery.
"I'm thankful my sister is alive," Moore said. "The first responders, the Bishops, they saved her life."