Hawaii woman attacked by over 15 dogs: ‘I felt like this was my last moment’

WEST LOCH, Hawaii (KHON2) — An ‘Ewa woman is speaking out after she said more than a dozen dogs attacked her while she was running on a trail near her home on Sunday.

Cali Burcham said there’s a trail behind her home which stretches to Waipahu.

On Sunday morning, she decided to go on a run but took a different path, and went left instead of right.

About a mile down the road, near Pupuole Park and Waipahu Intermediate, she saw a homeless encampment in the bushes and a big dog on the trail.

“I decided to turn around just because I didn’t want to have any issues with the animal,” Burcham said.

She pulled out her pepper spray because she had a bad feeling and started walking backwards.

“About 20 steps in, 15 to 20 dogs ambushed me from behind, and began attacking me, tearing my leggings to shreds,” she said. “As soon as my pepper spray was out, my heart just fell, I literally felt like this was my last moment,”

She threw the bottle at them and called 9-1-1.

Residents nearby came to her side, and when paramedics arrived, they gave her a tetanus shot.

“Police officers told me they had multiple reports of these stray crazy dogs attacking people, biting bikers over here, and they told me to contact the humane society because there was nothing they could do about it,” Burcham said.

But the Hawaiian Humane Society said they no longer get involved unless police ask them to.

“ If the dog continues to behave aggressively or if someone is injured, immediately call the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) at 911. The police are equipped to quickly respond to dangerous animal situations and will take appropriate action to protect public safety. The Hawaiian Humane Society can assist HPD at their request given our animal handling expertise, but that would be at the responding officers’ discretion to request.”

When asked if the Humane Society received a call from HPD regarding this incident, they said they did not receive one.

“If I knew there were wild, crazy dogs back there, I wouldn’t have been back there,” Burcham said.

HPD told KHON2 they may contact the humane society for assistance if dogs are an imminent threat and cannot be secured by the owners, and people should run with a partner, with a lightweight stick or pepper spray, and to avoid areas where loose dogs are known to be in.

“There are so many kids over there, I would never forgive myself for not speaking up if it happened to a child or an elderly person who walks over there,” she said. “If this doesn’t get taken care of, this is going to happen again.”

KHON2 asked if HPD will consider asking the Humane Society for help in this area, but they did not respond.

“And if you’re not going to respond to attacks, then how are you going to respond to a death?” Burcham added.

She said she will never walk down the trail again.

“Hearing this all of this could have been prevented, right now police are acting very reactive not being proactive, lets step in and remove the situation before it gets worse,” Burcham said. “We shouldn’t be waiting to react to a terrible situation that could take place, it should be done and over with the first time somebody got hurt down there, I shouldn’t have run into that situation at all.”

The Hawaiian Humane Society urges the public to exercise caution if they encounter dangerous dogs. If you find yourself in a situation where a dog poses an immediate threat to your safety or the safety of others, please take the following steps:

1. Remain calm: Avoid sudden movements, loud noises or direct eye contact, which could escalate the dog’s behavior.
2. Slowly retreat: if possible, slowly and calmly back away from the dog without turning your back. Do not run, as this may trigger a chase response.
3. Use barriers: If available, place an object between you and the dog, such as a bicycle, backpack or jacket, to create a buffer.
4. Call for help: if the dog continues to behave aggressively or if someone is injured, immediately call the Honolulu police department (HPD) at 911. the police are equipped to quickly respond to dangerous animal situations and will take appropriate action to protect public safety. The Hawaiian Humane society can assist HPD at their request given our animal handling expertise, but that would be at the responding officers’ discretion to request.

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