by Brandon Waller
RATON — While out for an afternoon walk on March 2 with her small dog, Rose Thoin of Raton decided to stroll down the back alley near her house. In the 100 to 200 block of South Fourth street, a large, aggressive dog got loose from its yard and charged at Thoin and her dog, causing her to step in between the two.
At that point the dog began to attack Thoin, causing serious injuries, according to neighbor Monica Ingamells who was alerted to the attack due to the barking of other neighborhood dogs, and called authorities. By the time Raton Animal Control and the Raton Police arrived, the owner of the dog had gotten it back into its yard, but Thoin had already sustained serious injuries.
Thoin was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque due to the severity of the injuries she received in the attack.
Family friend Sharon Niederman told the World Journal last week Thoin has had to undergo three surgeries thus far and remains under medical care.
The dog, a large American Staffordshire mix, was taken into custody by Raton Animal Control (RAC) and will remain in quarantine until a trial is set for the owners of the animal, according to Animal Control Officer Hector Gonzalez on March 18. Gonzalez was not one of the responding animal control officers in the original attack.
The World Journal has reached out to Thoin at her hospital room at UNM in Albuquerque, as well as to her husband George, and the Raton Police Department for a report on the incident, however no comments were made available. On March 18, UNM hospital confirmed to the World Journal Thoin was still under care at the hospital.
