Jacqueline Durand, 23, is known for her unconditional love for dogs and her dedication as a caregiver. However, one terrible night, her life changed forever when two of the dogs she was caring for attacked her face.

The Terrible Attack on Jacqueline Durand

On December 23, 2022, at 21 years old, Jacqueline Durand started a new job as a dog sitter. Confident in her experience, she went to Justin and Ashley Bishop’s home. Her policy required all clients’ dogs to be trained. Upon arrival, the dogs initially followed her commands, but once inside, they attacked her.

According to her father, John Durand, the dogs initially greeted her normally but soon overpowered her, dragging her across the living room, tearing her clothes, and biting her. She lost her ears, nose, upper lip, and the skin from cheek to cheek.

Ironically, Jacqueline had some luck: when the dogs knocked her down, she couldn’t close the door, triggering the security alarm. This act saved her life. Emergency services arrived 37 minutes later, finding her in a pool of blood. She lost 30% of her blood during the attack.

Body camera footage showed the dogs attacking officers trying to enter the house. When asked why it took so long to intervene, authorities said they were unaware of the severity of her injuries.

A Painful Recovery

Jacqueline was rushed to Medical City Plano, where she underwent over seven hours of emergency surgery. Her mother, Shirley Durand, was relieved to see her alive, though her face was bandaged, and she was kept in a medically induced coma for over a week. Jacqueline spent eight more weeks in the hospital, beginning the process of facial reconstruction.

Jacqueline is alive and back home but faces numerous surgeries and physical therapy sessions. In subsequent interviews, she said:

“When I felt my skin hanging off my face… I thought I was going to die. I feel like I didn’t ask for this, so it’s time to show who I am now, and I can’t be afraid of that.”

As expected, the Durand family sued the Bishops, claiming she was permanently and catastrophically disfigured. They seek compensation for medical expenses and lost income. Jacqueline wants dog owners to know their pets and communicate any risks to caregivers.

Jacqueline documents her journey on TikTok and YouTube. Initially, uploading videos to social media was a test of her new reality. Her first video was removed for “sensitive content,” but after contacting moderators, it was re-uploaded with a warning: “Some people may find this video disturbing.”

“The fact that a video simply showing my face provokes such a response is tough,” she said.

However, this brought new motivation, supported by thousands of followers who helped her accept her situation.

“I want people to know they are not alone,” said Jacqueline Durand. “Especially after dealing with trauma or just bad times in their lives.”

Dog Bite Statistics

Jacqueline Durand’s story is heartbreaking but more common than we’d like. According to a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 4.5 million dog bites occur annually in the U.S., with nearly 1 in 5 people bitten requiring medical attention.

Medical bills can quickly add up, and damages can be irreversible. These statistics increase across Latin America. In Mexico, over 5,000 dog attacks requiring medical attention were reported last year.

We know our pets are vital family members and believe they can’t hurt others. However, in specific situations, they can act unpredictably. As Jacqueline Durand says, knowing our pets is crucial, as it can mean life or death for a caregiver.