EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio - An East Liverpool woman was airlifted to the hospital Friday, where she now remains, recovering from a violent attack by her own dog. 

Vance has shared several TikTok videos about the incident, racking up more than 200,000 views on one video where she shows the bandages on her arms and legs. Her injuries are severe — but according to her neighbor and landlord, Shaun Garretson, the incident could have ended much worse. 

Garretson said his two German Shepherds alerted him to the attack Friday “in a different way that they’ve never alerted me before, by grabbing my arm and whatnot.” At first, he tried to intervene by kicking the dog, but said it just turned back to Vance and continued mauling her. 

“There were so many wounds that it was actively working its way up to her neck and face,” Garretson said. “There was no doubt in my mind that dog was going to kill her.”

Garretson, a retired police officer, cleared the area of bystanders before shooting and killing the animal. He also administered first aid training to Vance until emergency responders arrived on the scene — something he said all people should learn how to do. 

“I've always been a big advocate of anybody, I don't care who you are, to have some type of basic first aid, basic CPR,” Garretson said. “If you can even take it further, don't let it scare you.”

“I would have never expected, after so many years in the emergency services, to come across something like this — but you just don't know,” he added.

According to Garretson, Vance was let go from her job earlier this week, adding financial complications to her long road to recovery. Vance’s loved ones have started a Facebook group with fundraising information and updates on her condition.