A Greenville woman was seriously injured Monday when she was attacked by a dog while she was doing her daily walk.

Margaret Black said she went about her regular routine Monday morning and that included walk a mile from her home past Liberty Baptist Church.

But the routine morning turned violent when she was attacked and mauled by a bulldog.

She ended up needing numerous stitches, but with the thanks that she survived.

&uot;This was just a nightmare,&uot; she said via telephone Friday morning.

&uot;I’ve walked this route for the past 12 to 14 years and would pass this house twice every morning.&uot;

She would leave her home and walk around the curve and turn back and make the trek home.

She said that distance totaled a mile.

&uot;I usually leave my house just before 6 a.m. and that is just my time for me,&uot; she said.

&uot;I use the time to talk to God and listen to the little bird sing. I also get the chance to talk to the neighbors who are up that early.&uot;

She said she knew the people had two dogs tied in their back yard, but that was not uncommon.

&uot;There are lots of dogs that would come out and greet me every morning,&uot; she said.

&uot;I know everyone around there.

When I approached the house the first time the dog had come at me.&uot;

She said she stood her ground, stomping her foot and yelling at the dog.

She said the owner of the dog called him back and she continued to walk.

&uot;Before I had gone back down there I was dreading the dog coming out again, so I found myself two sticks,&uot; she said.

&uot;When he came at me, I began to scream and holler at him and the three adults came out and they call him back and he went right to them.&uot;

She said the woman opened the door to tell her the dog had gotten off the rope and that the dog must have thought the woman was sicing him on Black.

&uot;When he came at me, I hit him with those two sticks at the same time,&uot; she said.

&uot;It was like it surprised him but I could tell he was going to lunge at me.

I began backing up and then I started to run and that’s when I fell face down.&uot;

Black said she could see the lady running out to her help when the dog grabbed her.

&uot;He got my left shoulder and I swung my face away from him,&uot; she said.

&uot;He got me on my arm just below the left shoulder and I could feel it tear.

I was thinking I thought it was going to hurt worse than this.&uot;

She said when she swung away from the dog he jumped to the other side trying to get at her face and throat.

&uot;I could feel him biting me on the head and I was thinking how can you bite a big ole hard head like that,&uot; she said.

&uot;It was obvious he wanted to get me by the face and neck.

Luckily, the lady got the dog off me.&uot;

Black said it is because of the dog’s owner that she is alive.

&uot;I will say that the lady saved my life,&uot; she said.

&uot;She offered to call an ambulance but I told her I would just call my husband and then he took me to the emergency room.&uot;

She was seen by three different doctors and has stitches behind the ear and on her head.

She said she knows she is lucky to be alive.

&uot;I just felt like it wasn’t my time to go,&uot; she said.

&uot;I felt like God has a plan for me and that he isn’t through with me yet.&uot;

She did say she has not walked the trek since the attack.

&uot;I have not been back, but I can’t imagine not walking,&uot; she said.

&uot;I don’t know if there is anywhere in this world today that is safe from dogs or kidnappers.

I may just have to walk around the around my house.&uot;

Butler County Sheriff Diane Harris said her department responded to the scene of the attack.

&uot;We had to put the dog down,&uot; she said.

&uot;The head was taken to the lab to check for rabies but it was clear.&uot;

Harris said Black is lucky to be alive.

&uot;Her doctor said it if it had just been a little further down on the neck it would have been her main artery,&uot; she said.

Black is not alone.

Each year in the U.S. just over 1 million people require medical attention following a dog attacks and a dozen people die each year according to American Medical Association statistics.

Remember, all dogs can bite if provoked.

N Don’t run away. Be still until the dog loses interest in you and leaves. If you must move, back away slowly until you’re out of the dog’s sight. Avoid eye contact and remain calm. Try to keep your fear hidden.

n If you fall or are knocked to the ground, minimize injury by curling into a ball, placing your hands over your head and neck and protecting your face.

N Force objects of clothing or accessories between you and the attacking dog such as your purse, your jacket or your bicycle.