A woman has spoken out after her nose was ripped off by the 'first dog she ever loved'.
On 3 February 2023, Olivia Quast from Middletown, Connecticut, went about her day as normal, filling her boyfriend's dog's bowl with food and leaning down to give it to the rescue.
However, the 30-year-old artist - who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) which causes fragile skin and unusually flexible joints - was met with a horrifying response from the six-year-old dog.
Olivia recalls the moment her relationship with her boyfriend's dog Bentley changed forever.
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"He lunged, and he got my nose first, I was in shock and disbelief," she said. "I just stared at him. It never dawned on me that he was going to keep attacking me, because why would he?"
Olivia then quickly covered her nose with her hand, but the dog proceeded to 'lunge' at her arm 'twice more'.
Knowing if she resisted the dog may see it as a game of 'tug of war,' Olivia 'just let [the dog] bite' her.
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After the dog let go, she explained: "I was actively going into shock. I was shaky, I was cold [and] I called my Mum.
"I was in pure agony. [I was saying] 'Help me Mum, help me, he took my nose. My fingers are going numb, I can't feel my fingers, I'm getting cold'. It was terrifying."
Olivia realised the extent of the damage the dog had inflicted on her when she went to the bathroom.
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She said: "I looked in the mirror. I stayed standing, but I felt my entire being drop to the floor, the room spun, it's like everything was in hyper focus and spinning and it was pure agony.
"I yelled, and not a panicky yell, like a deep, earthy, guttural scream."
Olivia believes the dog attacked her after being startled by the UV light shining from her mouth - the 30-year-old using a teeth-whitening device at the time she was feeding the animal.
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Whatever reason for the dog's attack, Olivia and her partner, 44-year-old Graeme Stasyshyn, ultimately decided to have Bentley put down.
Olivia is now in the process of receiving treatment for her injuries - having already undergone surgery on her arm, leaving her with two pins, eight screws and two plates inside her.
The damage to the ligaments and nerves in her hand will reportedly take 12 months to heal, and her arm will take eight months.
The 30-year-old's sister has since started a GoFundMe page to help support Olivia after the traumatic incident.
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The page reads: "In four weeks' time, she [Olivia] will head into the first of what we think will be three-four surgeries over the span of 12 months to reconstruct parts of her face.
"Olivia’s body has an incredible capacity for healing. She has faced all kinds of trauma with perseverance and a positive attitude. But she’s in shock and needs our support.
"She will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, so these funds will alleviate the stress of suddenly becoming unemployed.
"There is also no guarantee her insurance will cover her new nose as it may be deemed 'elective cosmetic surgery' so she is potentially facing a $40k+ medical bill.
"These funds will also help her in the future with laser treatment for any substantial scarring she incurs on her face, allowing her to live a more confident life. She has a long road to recovery ahead of her and every little bit counts."
Olivia resolved: "I'm so grateful that people can help me, [and that] I'm alive."
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and MediaTopics: Animals, Dog, Sex and Relationships, Health