Connie Matthews LeGrand

BRADY TWP — A local vocalist who can frequently be found belting out the national anthem at county veterans events was mauled by three St. Bernards last weekend while trying to help a neighbor.

Connie Matthews LeGrand had offered her neighbor in the Brady Hills Mobile Home Park a vacuum cleaner and sectional sofa for free, so at 2:15 p.m. Sunday she decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and walk the short distance to the neighbors' house to ask if they were still interested in the items.

“I always feel bad for the less fortunate, especially if they have kids,” LeGrand said Thursday.

When a young resident of the home opened the door and peeked out, the family's three St. Bernards pushed through and attacked LeGrand.

“They knocked me down and all three mauled me for what seemed like an eternity Grand said. “I felt them biting and ripping at my flesh and went into defense mode somehow.”

LeGrand pulled her shoulders up to her neck in an effort to protect her chest, face and neck, fearing the frenzied animals would go for the jugular.

But LeGrand's head was unprotected.

“I felt them shaking my head as if it were a chew toy,” LeGrand said. “Then I felt and heard the ripping of my scalp off of my skull.”

The young neighbor finally got the dogs off of LeGrand, but not before they had bitten and clawed her face, thighs, foot, elbow and other parts of her body.

The dogs then took off down the street, and LeGrand was told they attacked two small dogs owned by another neighbor in the mobile home park.

After pulling the dogs from LeGrand, her horrified neighbor helped her up from the porch, which was covered in garbage and pet waste.

“I dragged myself home somehow. The doctors said through shock and adrenaline,” said LeGrand. “I made it to my sidewalk, screaming for my friend. I was squirting blood everywhere and profusely out of my head.”

Her friend, Jimmy Yeomans, dialed 911 and paramedics sped her to Butler Memorial Hospital. There, three doctors used 33 staples to re-attach LeGrand's scalp to her skull.

Although the dogs were all up to date on their shots, doctors began administering a series of rabies shots to LeGrand because of the severity of her head wound.

LeGrand said her daughter, Lisa LeGrand, and mother, Dorothy Matthews, as well as Yeomans have remained at her side since the attack.

“All of them have been taking me to appointments and changing bandages,” said LeGrand, who was surprised she wasn't admitted to the hospital given the infection risk from the conditions of the mauling.

She said her daughter, who is a stylist, spent hours on Tuesday gently combing a significant amount of dried blood from her hair, carefully using coconut oil while ensuring the substance didn't touch the wound.

“Everyone has been amazing,” LeGrand said. “I am so humbled due to the outpouring of love and support that l am receiving.”

Regarding the dogs, LeGrand said an animal officer from Lawrence County who was covering for the vacationing Butler County officer ordered that the dogs be put down after a 10-day quarantine.

She said the dogs' owners have visited and apologized profusely. The young woman who answered the door sat with LeGrand for a few hours after she returned home and sobbed over the situation, LeGrand said.

The biggest problems as of Thursday, LeGrand said, are her inability to chew due to her jaw wounds, severe overall pain both at the wound sites and internally from the bite pressure and barely being able to walk because her thighs were so badly wounded.

“I have to try and keep my sense of humor or I will go insane,” LeGrand said Thursday. “I can't stop shaking.”

Lisa LeGrand recalled receiving a call from Matthews, who heard the ambulance being dispatched on her scanner.

Lisa rushed to pick up her grandmother and the two went to the hospital to find Connie — along with her hospital gown and sheets — covered in blood.

“I was just in total shock,” Lisa said. “Completely overwhelmed, instant tears.”

Friends of LeGrand's have organized a Bar Bingo Benefit from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Beer Garden Sports Bar and Grille on Oneida Valley Road in Washington Township. All are invited to attend or make a donation.