Animal shelter employee honored with lifesaving award after kennel attack

City officials on Tuesday presented a lifesaving award to Stephanie Landers, an employee of the Weatherford Animal Shelter, for her actions during a dog attack on a co-worker on Aug. 20, 2025.

Presenting the award, Eric Schumhorn described how an employee performing routine kennel cleaning was attacked without warning by a large dog and was being severely bitten and dragged across the floor. Stephanie Landers, a co-worker, ran to the kennel, seized the dog, secured it, and began emergency first aid to control bleeding while calling 911 and coordinating arriving staff. Schumhorn said Landers also accompanied the injured employee to the hospital at the employee’s request and stayed with her throughout the day.

“By intervening exactly when she did, Stephanie not only saved the life of her coworker, but also placed herself at extraordinary risk,” Schumhorn said. The presenter described the attack as posing “a grave and imminent threat” to the victim’s life and said the employee’s injuries included multiple bites to the legs, torso and upper arm.

Nut graf: City staff said Landers’ prompt intervention and first aid prevented what staff described as a likely escalation to more life-threatening injuries; the council honored her actions with a lifesaving award in open session.

Details and context: The incident occurred on the morning of Aug. 20, 2025, in a secluded area of the shelter. The injured employee is identified in the meeting as “Deb,” who attended the council meeting with family and friends to support Landers. The presentation did not include any formal council action beyond the award presentation.