Audrey Suarez, 31, was the victim of a severe dog attack in Topeka, Kansas, on July 17, which left her with significant facial injuries as she attempted to protect her unborn twins. Suarez was walking to a relative's home at the Highland Park Townhomes when two dogs attacked her. Police stated that an unrelated altercation was occurring nearby, and a child involved in that incident released the dogs, leading to the attack.
At the time of the incident, Suarez was 24 weeks pregnant. Her partner, CJ Austin, told WIBW that Suarez sustained a broken pinky finger while trying to shield her abdomen from the dogs. He also noted that she nearly lost an eye during the attack, requiring a four-hour surgery to repair a lacerated iris.
Suarez underwent a 10-hour surgery to reconstruct her face. A bystander intervened to stop the attack, and upon the arrival of law enforcement, an officer shot and killed one of the dogs. The second dog has been taken into quarantine, and the owner received a citation from the police.
Austin expressed dissatisfaction with the citation, believing it insufficient given the severity of Suarez's injuries. He stated that Suarez is dealing with permanent scarring and psychological trauma, experiencing nightmares and distress related to the attack.
Suarez's family has established a GoFundMe to assist with her recovery and prepare for the birth of her twins. The fundraiser description highlighted the emotional and physical toll of the attack and the added stress of medical expenses as Suarez anticipates the arrival of her children. It also pointed to the incident as a consequence of irresponsible pet ownership.