A pet owner has revealed how she thought she was “going to die” when she was savagely attacked four times by her own dog.

In January, Rebecca Oelker, 24, started her morning like any other; waking up early and going downstairs to let her blue heeler dogs, Maverick and Apollo go to the toilet.

However, that morning Rebecca noticed that Maverick was behaving differently and wasn’t listening to her like he normally did and when she tried to take hold of his collar to encourage him to sit, Maverick growled at her and started attacking her by biting her hands and arms.

“When I tried to take his collar to encourage him to sit, he growled, snapped at me, and began to attack me. He bit my hands, arms, and managed to knock me over, which was when he managed to get at my face and rip my upper lip and most of my nose almost completely off,” Rebecca said.

Rebecca pictured before the attack. Credit: mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel /Australscope

“He came after me about three or four times, and I thought I was going to die. I managed to get on the phone to my partner, Stuart, who was at work at the time, and he told me to get upstairs, away from the dogs.

With Stuart’s encouragement, Rebecca managed to find the strength to get upstairs to the safety of the bathroom, away from her dogs. Six minutes later, the paramedics arrived to take Rebecca to hospital, where she was admitted to surgery to reattach her lips and nose to her face with over 100 stitches.

“I was in the tub when the paramedics arrived. I was admitted to surgery about two hours after they got me. Luckily, I had an amazing plastic surgeon, who was able to reattach everything. I was in the hospital for a week, with severe swelling to my face, and nerve damage to my hands and arms so bad that I couldn’t hold a cup or feed myself,” she said.

Rebecca hugging her new pet dog, Apollo. Credit: mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / Australscope

Rebecca, from Connecticut, US, was in hospital for a week before being discharged and suffered severe swelling to her face, which she still has some now, as well as loss of sensation in her nose and upper lip.

Maverick was put down and since her ordeal, Rebecca has spoken to other dog attack survivors who say they felt isolated after sustaining their injuries, so she is sharing her story to show that survival is possible.

“It’s changed my perspective of life, of death, and of how quickly everything can change in a heartbeat. It’s rocked everyone’s world, but I don’t think there was ever a doubt in anyone’s mind (including my own) that I would pull through. I think it’s brought us [my family] all closer,” she said.

Rebecca pictured in hospital soon after the attack. Credit: mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / Australscope

“It’s been a slow process, but I’ve tried to give myself peace and love and let myself take as much time as I need to get back to ‘normal’.

“All in all, I feel pretty good. I’ve connected with so many people who have been attacked, and it’s shown me a side of things I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise, so it’s not all bad.”

Incredibly, Rebecca is still a proud pet owner to her dog, Apollo, despite what she has been through.

She hopes that through sharing her story she’ll bring light to others who have faced a similar ordeal.

Rebecca pictured now showing her scars. Credit: mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / mediadrumworld.com / Rebecca Oel / Australscope

“Sharing my story was my way of controlling the narrative, making sure I was the one who put the information out, and made everyone aware of my condition,” she said.

“It was freeing to do that, and empowering, and the support I’ve received has been overwhelming. I’ve not felt alone for even a moment throughout all of this.

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“However, this is a part of my story now, and I feel a lot of pride in that, as crazy as it sounds. I won’t hide my face, act embarrassed, or pretend nothing happened. These scars represent the fact that I am a survivor.

“I met death and she said, ‘Not today’. So, my point is this; if you are alive, right now, reading this, there’s a reason. You were put here for a purpose and you’ll be here until it is fulfilled.”