NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman who was attacked by a group of dogs in Northwest Miami-Dade is speaking out and sharing her story as she weighs her legal options.
The victim of last week’s brutal mauling, Ashley Perez, spoke out publicly for the first time on Wednesday morning.
Covered in stitches and bruises and still incredibly shaken, Perez struggled to get the words out. She said that despite the physical pain she’s feeling, she’s just grateful to be alive.
“Every day, I’m grateful to be alive. It doesn’t feel real most of the time that I survived,” she said.
Officials said Perez was attacked by four mixed terriers while on a walk in her neighborhood near Northwest 145th Street and 11th Court, just after 6 p.m. on Thursday.
“These acted as pack hunters. They began to make concentric circles and boxed me in against the fence.” she said
The brutal attacks were caught on camera as the canines bit down on each of her limbs.
“It was complete and utter terror, and it all happened so fast that I still relive it when I close my eyes, whenever I’m alone,” said Perez. “And in spite of that, I survived, I’m a survivor and I don’t want this to change me for the worse.”
While she was being attacked, neighbors rushed in to free her.
“I just told them not to leave me because I believed with full certainty that I was going to die. And I just didn’t want to die alone,” Perez said. “Thank you for choosing to do what is right, being afraid and doing it anyway.”
She was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where she went through three days of extensive surgery.
Perez also showed some of the injuries that she was left with after the attack and described what happened to her.
“One dog latched onto each one of my limbs. You can see here, my arms, my elbows. I have the worst of my damage on my right leg. They would chew, shake their heads, remove visceral fat from my body, and continue,” she said, “I have several bites along the right calf, they go up to behind my right thigh.”
Joined by her newly obtained legal representation, Perez said she is now looking for accountability.
“And to me it seems like wanting to wash their hands of this, but I’m not able to do that, I’m not even able to walk properly now,” she said.
Her attorney, Michael Goldfarb, said the firm is pursuing accountability from the owner of the four dogs who attacked her and said he’s committed to helping his client recover the compensation she needs to move forward, calling her medical bills astronomical.
“Four dogs got out of the property and attacked her violently, almost taking her life. We’re here to announce that we’re going to pursue all paths of justice and accountability for what happened to her,” he said. “Any owner of dogs or a dog that attacked someone in a private place or a public place is going to be held accountable, regardless of the dog’s violent propensity. So we’re going to pursue all options that we have for Ms. Perez against the owners of the property.”
Perez said she’s grateful to the neighbors who helped save her life.
Miami-Dade Animal Services said the fourth dog was just recovered Tuesday.
Deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrived at the property of the owner of the four dogs to carry out their investigation.
Goldfarb said the firm has set up a GoFundMe page for Perez. They said she has no medical insurance again, and her medical bills are astronomical, so she’s asking the community for any sort of help.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.