SANFORD, Fla. – A Sanford family is demanding accountability — and action from the city — after a 12-year-old rescue dog was attacked at a local dog park, leaving a 91-year-old woman and her beloved pet traumatized.
Cindy Martin says her elderly mother visits the Paw Park in Sanford nearly every day with her dog, Rocky, and a caregiver. It’s a routine that brings her mother joy, companionship, and a sense of purpose.
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“She loves pets, she loves talking to people, she loves other dogs, and they just kind of come here to enjoy the fresh air,” Martin said. “It’s more like just a mental relaxation for her and for the dog.”
Martin said during her mother’s usual visit to the park on Monday two dogs came charging at Rocky without warning.
“Two dogs came charging towards my mother’s dog — a Great Dane and a big, white-looking husky,” Martin said.
“The white husky grabbed him by his hips and started digging his teeth into him,” she added.
Martin says two men and a woman were with the dogs and tried to intervene, but the husky would not let go.
“Finally, one of them kicked it,” Martin said. “They grabbed their dogs and they took off.”
Rocky — a Corgi-Chihuahua mix and rescue dog — was left severely injured, according to Martin. She told News 6 he was rushed to an emergency veterinarian and underwent surgery.
“He has staples, he’s recuperating, but he’s lethargic,” Martin said. “According to the vet, it was a very deep bite. He’s traumatized and obviously he’s on medication.”
Martin says her mother who was present during the attack and witnessed everything.
“I was told by the caregiver that was with her that she was just screaming, you know, very upset,” Martin said. “If you see your dog being — I’m going to say chewed up and bitten by another dog, especially a big dog like that — you’re going to be very upset and emotional.”
“She was just like fearful that her dog was going to die,” Martin said. “So far it hasn’t been 24 hours that he’s out of surgery. We still can’t guarantee everything is going to be okay. But we’re very hopeful.”
Beyond the fear, Martin says Rocky is her mother’s constant support and companion.
“I mean, you can imagine an elderly person at 91 — their pet is their life, and that’s her child,” Martin added. “When she sees that he’s in pain, that has just totally thrown her off and really affected her mentally and psychologically.”
Martin reached out to the News 6 Neighborhood Network and shared her story on social media, hoping someone in the community could identify the dogs and their owners. The response she received included multiple comments and concerns about incidents at that same park.
“The reaction we got from me posting this in the short time — it hasn’t even been 24 hours — is just incredible,” Martin said. “How people feel the park is not safe, how people feel that there should be cameras, how people feel that really the city of Sanford needs to step up and do a little bit more monitoring for this.”
One woman wrote on the post in part, “Sadly this park is known for having issues for years.” Another said, “I don’t think our local dog park is safe enough.” A third added, “This happens regularly, and the City of Sanford hasn’t done anything about it.”
“I’m just amazed how people say they wish they could bring their dogs here, but they don’t feel it’s safe enough to bring them,” Martin said.
Now, Martin is thinking about what it would take to make sure this never happens to another family.
“Number one, I think there needs to be some type of camera monitoring in case an incident like this happens again,” she said. “Also, if people know that their dog is aggressive, don’t take them off the leash.”
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department confirmed it is aware of the incident and is taking the concerns seriously.
“We understand the concerns expressed by residents and appreciate those who reached out to share their experiences. Ensuring that our parks remain safe and enjoyable for all visitors, both people and pets, is a priority for the City of Sanford,” a city spokesperson said in a written statement to News 6.
The city noted that Paw Park is a self-regulated facility with no attendant on duty, and dog handlers are responsible for the supervision, control, and behavior of their pets at all times. It pointed to several rules already in place, including:
- Dogs must be leashed when entering and exiting the park, and handlers must keep a leash in their possession.
- All dogs must be legally licensed, vaccinated and wearing a visible tag.
- Aggressive dogs are prohibited and must be removed immediately if any aggressive behavior occurs.
- Dog handlers must be at least 16 years old and remain within view and voice control of their pets.
- Safety concerns or rule violations should be reported to the Sanford Police Department at 407-688-5199.
The city added that it is “reviewing the details of this incident and evaluating ways to strengthen awareness of park rules and expectations.”
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5000, ext. 5423.
Martin says she has filed a police report in connection with the attack and is urging anyone who recognizes the dogs or their owners to come forward.
“If you know who these people are, please step up and let us know,” she said. “Everybody needs to be accountable for their actions.”
Data provided by the Sanford Police Department shows officers responded to Paw Park 10 times in 2025 and 20 times so far in 2026. The calls ranged from animal complaints and suspicious person reports to trespassing and patrol requests — with patrol requests alone accounting for 15 of the 20 calls in 2026.
Sanford police tell News 6 their officer took an informational report following Monday’s incident and Seminole County Animal Services was also contacted.