Video captures man getting bit by a bobcat while helping to save dog
Jul 17, 2017, 8:41 PM | Updated: Jul 18, 2017, 11:19 am
PHOENIX — An Arizona man was bit by a bobcat when he stepped in to pry it from a dog it had bit, and the incident was captured on video.
Steve Verschoor was in Anthem when he found himself at the scene of a bobcat latched onto a dog, who was with its owner on a leash. He jumped to action and tried prying the bobcat off of the dog, but suffered a severe bite to the hand in the process. It was caught on video by Jason Garrido, who says in the footage that he had to run to stop Verschoor’s vacant car from rolling away.
You can view the video here (WARNING: Contains explicit language and graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised).
“I’m driving down Anthem Way and I’m by the main guard shack there to the country club and I notice a bobcat,” Verschoor told Mac and Gaydos on KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “Next thing I know I see a guy pulling his German Shepherd away and I see the bobcat lunge on top of the dog.
“So, I jump out of my car, I forget to put it in park, it starts going down Anthem Way, luckily some guy ran it down. In the meantime, I’m there, I don’t have any sticks or anything with me.”
Verschoor said the bobcat had the dog by the ear while he tried to knock it loose. Shortly thereafter, the bobcat had Verschoor by the hand. His reaction to the bite had the bobcat swinging through the air as it hung on.
The man suffered a broken thumb.
Because the bobcat was believed to have rabies, Mac and Gaydos asked Verschoor whether he had to be tested for rabies at the hospital.
“It’s not tested. When I went to the hospital to get my hand treated, (Arizona) Game and Fish called me and the doctor wasn’t sure on the procedure for rabies — I guess it’s not very common,” Verschoor said.
“And he said ‘You better start treatment right away, we’ve had rabid bobcats in Arizona.’ So he gave me my first treatment.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services said Monday tests results were positive for rabies.
Verschoor said he’ll have to return every four days to get shots.
