Labrador Bites Off Woman's Nose, Husband Bites Dog In Retaliation

A leisurely Sunday stroll turned into a nightmare last Sunday for one married couple as they were walking their beagle in Madrid, Iowa.

It all started when Laine and Caren Henry noticed a 50-pound Labrador mix that had escaped from a nearby yard. The dog then proceeded to approach the couple and leap up at Caren.

From there the situation got ugly fast. The Labrador bit into her right thigh and abdomen, proceeding to jump up and attack her face. The dog would eventually bite Mrs. Henry's nose so hard that it ripped off.

"We took pictures at the hospital, and it was the most grotesque things I've ever seen," the family's attorney Ryan Beattie said. "There's just a hole where a nose should be."

Amazingly, the couple maintains that they were actually a bit lucky, all things considered. Caren was wearing sunglasses at the time, which proved to be a vital piece of protection.

"It could've been so much worse. If I hadn't been wearing my sunglasses I'm sure I would be missing an eye," she said. "If it had gotten hold of my throat I'd be dead."

As fast as it attacked, the dog soon switched its direction and go after the couple's pet beagle. It was then that Laine Henry lept into action.

Mr. Henry attempted to pry the dog's jaw open to release his beagle, but the Labrador simply proceeded to latch onto his arm. In a truly bizarre move, Laine proceeded to give the dog a taste of its own medicine and bit its nose.

From there, the dog let go of Laine Henry and the couple was able to buy enough time to get back to their truck and drive to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Both of the Henry's received treatment and qill fully recover, though Mrs. Henry will require one more surgery to rebuild her nose.

"I just can't imagine if this dog had gotten ahold of a little kid," Mrs. Henry said. "It's just scary that this dog is on the loose."

Oddly, authorities say that the dog will not be put down. Instead, it will be placed into a quarantine and eventually released back to its owner.