CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe woman walking to work Monday morning was hospitalized following a vicious dog attack on South Hickory Street, according to Chillicothe Police Department reports.
The incident occurred on October 27, 2026. Officers were dispatched at approximately 1:57 P.M. to a residence on Old Eastern Avenue following a report of a dog bite.
According to the supplemental narrative filed by Officer Carson Sammons, officers arrived to find the victim visibly emotional, distraught, and in pain. She was holding a towel to her right forearm, which officers observed was covering multiple bleeding puncture wounds.
The victim reported that she was walking to work with headphones in her ears and was passing 127 S. Hickory Street when a small dog ran toward her barking. Startled, she removed her headphones and stood completely still in an effort to avoid a confrontation.
It was then, according to the report, that a large pit bull-type dog charged off the porch and bit her on the right forearm. She stated she did not antagonize the dogs in any way. She instructed a female on the porch to call 911, then turned around and walked back to her home on Old Eastern Avenue to call emergency services herself and attempt to stop the bleeding.
First responders advised her to elevate her arm and apply continuous pressure until an ambulance arrived.
Dog Sitter Responds
Meanwhile, Officer Lee made contact at the South Hickory Street residence with Chelsea Musselman, who identified herself as a part-owner and dog-sitter for the animal involved—described as a black and white XL Bully/Pit Bull mix.
Musselman explained that she was watching the dogs while the owner, Doug Butler, was out of town. She stated she had just returned from walking both dogs, secured the smaller dog to a porch railing lead, and had just unclipped the leash from the large dog to let it inside when the victim walked past.
Musselman told police she believed the dog was up to date on its vaccinations, though she could not immediately locate the paperwork and attempted to reach the owner.
Officers returned to Old Eastern Avenue to brief responding paramedics and the county dog warden, who took over the animal control investigation. The dog faces potential quarantine, and Musselman was advised that citations are a possibility as the investigation continues.
