What Happened to Justin and Ashley Bishop
Jacqueline Durand, 22, is a well-known dog lover and seasoned dog sitter. After one terrible night, her life will never be the same.
Jacqueline had just started her new dog sitting job on December 23 when things took a terrifying turn. When she walked into the home of Justin and Ashley Bishop, her two dogs pounced on her and dragged her around the house. The dogs then mauled Jacqueline, inflicting more than 800 bites on her face, arms, legs and body.
“She opened the door and was immediately taken down, dragged around the house, her clothes ripped off,” said Jacqueline’s father, John Durand. “Her ears, nose, upper lip and face from cheekbone to cheekbone were ripped off her face.”
Luckily, help arrived on the scene. As Jacqueline was being dragged away by the dogs, she left the front door open, which set off the security alarm. It took emergency responders 37 minutes to reach Jacqueline, who lay motionless in the living room after the attack. She had lost 30 percent of her blood.
Jacqueline durand police video:
Body camera footage shows the dogs lunging at officers as they tried to enter the home. When asked why it took 37 minutes to reach Jacqueline, police said they did not enter the home immediately because they did not know how severe her injuries were.
After finally reaching Jacqueline, emergency responders took her to Medical City Plano, where she underwent seven hours of emergency surgery.
“I was so happy to see her alive,” said Jacqueline’s mother, Shirley Durand. “Her entire face was completely bandaged. They put her in a coma for over a week.”
After the surgery, Jacqueline spent eight weeks in the hospital, and doctors began the process of reconstructing her face. She survived and returned home, but still faced numerous surgeries and physical therapy.
“When I felt the skin on my face … I thought I was going to die,” Jacqueline said. “I felt like – I didn’t ask for this so I thought it was time to show who I am and I can’t be afraid of that.”
A lawsuit has been filed on Jacqueline’s behalf against Bishops alleging that she has been “permanently and catastrophically disfigured.” The lawsuit seeks payment for medical expenses as well as past and future loss of income. Jacqueline said she wants dog owners to understand their animals and be able to communicate their traits and behaviors to pet caretakers.
“She remembers everything about the attack, and she is forever changed and disfigured as a result of this brutal abuse,” said John Durand.
