Good news feels especially powerful when it follows a week of fear and grief. For 65-year-old Jody Greer of Enterprise, Alabama, that good news comes in the form of breath drawn on her own, stitches holding, and a slow but steady climb back from the brink of death. Just one week ago, her life nearly ended in a horrific dog attack. Today, she is alive, recovering, and leaning on her family and community for strength. Her story is heartbreaking, but it is also filled with courage, compassion, and remarkable resilience.
It was an ordinary Sunday afternoon when the chain of events began. Jody heard the familiar sound of barking outside her home. At first, it may have seemed like nothing unusual—dogs bark all the time—but within seconds she realized something was terribly wrong. In the yard, her beloved dachshund, Selene, was being attacked by three pit bulls that had escaped from a neighbor’s enclosure. Selene was more than a pet; she was family, a loyal companion who had shared Jody’s daily life. Without hesitation, Jody rushed to Selene’s aid.
That single decision—driven by love, loyalty, and instinct—changed everything. As Jody reached for her dachshund, the pit bulls turned on her. In a terrifying moment, they redirected their aggression and launched a vicious attack on the woman who only wanted to save her dog. Neighbors heard the commotion. Screams, barking, chaos. Calls to 911 went out. Within minutes, first responders arrived to find Jody gravely injured.
She was airlifted to a trauma unit in Fort Walton, Florida. Her condition was critical. Doctors later revealed that she had lost so much blood they had to transfuse eight liters
—an astonishing amount for anyone, let alone a 65-year-old woman. Surgeons worked tirelessly to close the hundreds of wounds that covered her neck, chest, and other parts of her body. The damage was extensive. At one point, survival seemed uncertain.
Tragically, Selene the dachshund did not survive the attack. The three pit bulls involved were put down soon after. For Jody, the loss of Selene was an emotional blow layered on top of physical agony. She had acted out of love, and in doing so had risked—and nearly lost—her life.
Yet even in the shadow of this tragedy, there is light. A week later, Jody is alive. She is breathing without assistance, no longer dependent on machines to keep her lungs functioning. She has been moved into what doctors describe as the “recovery stage.” More surgeries lie ahead, and months of rehabilitation will be required to help her regain strength, mobility, and confidence. But she has made it through the darkest days, and her family is clinging to hope that she will not only survive, but eventually heal.
Her son-in-law, Dylan Heselwood, has been one of her strongest advocates during this time. He spoke openly about the scale of her injuries. “Jody needed 8 liters of blood and hundreds of stitches,” Dylan explained. “She suffered severe wounds to her neck, breast, and other parts of her body. But she’s breathing on her own now, and she should be OK.”
May you like
Dylan also emphasized something remarkable: the family holds no ill will toward their neighbors, whose dogs caused the attack. “They have been very good to our family,” Dylan said. “Remember, they lost their dogs too.” In a world often quick to anger and blame, the Greer family’s compassion stands out. They understand that while this tragedy was devastating, it was also an accident that brought grief to both households.
When asked how people could help, Dylan’s response was simple. He did not want the incident to spark a wave of hostility toward pit bulls as a breed. “They can be great pets,” he reminded. Instead, he had one heartfelt request: “I’d just like your followers to let my mother-in-law know they are thinking of her.”
That is something all of us can do. Jody’s recovery will not be quick. The surgeries ahead will test her strength, and the rehabilitation process will stretch her patience. But the knowledge that people across her community—and even beyond—are praying for her, encouraging her, and cheering her on can make all the difference. Words of love and support are like medicine for the spirit, giving her courage on days when pain and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm her.
It is worth pausing here to recognize Jody’s bravery. Many people might freeze in terror at the sight of three large dogs attacking. Jody acted without thought for herself. She put her dachshund’s life above her own safety. That act of selflessness says everything about the kind of woman she is—protective, loyal, loving. It is those qualities that will carry her through recovery.
Her family will be by her side every step of the way. They have already endured long days in hospital waiting rooms, sleepless nights of worry, and the shock of seeing their loved one so gravely injured. But like Jody, they are resilient. They lean on one another, on their faith, and on the kindness of others.
As the days turn into weeks, milestones will come: the first time Jody sits up on her own, the first time she walks again, the first time she returns home. Each will be celebrated as a victory, proof that love, determination, and community can overcome even the most horrific of circumstances.
This story is not only about survival. It is also about grace. In choosing forgiveness instead of anger toward their neighbors, Jody’s family shows us a powerful lesson. Tragedy can harden hearts, or it can soften them. The Greers have chosen the latter, proving that compassion is stronger than bitterness.
So today, let us do what Dylan asked. Let us let Jody know she is not alone. Let us fill her world with words of encouragement, prayers of healing, and reminders that she is admired for her courage. She deserves to hear it—not just from her family, but from all of us.
Jody Greer has endured more in one week than most of us will face in a lifetime. But she is still here. She is still fighting. And with each new day, she is writing a story not only of survival, but of love, resilience, and grace.
🙏 Please send your best to Jody and her family as they walk this long road together. Every prayer, every message, every thought of encouragement is a light guiding them forward.
Their unforgettable collaboration in The Way We Were remains one of the greatest love stories in cinema, and now Streisand has opened her heart with touching words about her friend and co-star.
