BUFFALO, N.Y. — Solar Ingram is known for her community outreach work and helping families dealing with trauma. Now she has her own personal trauma.
On Monday, Aug. 12, after returning from a Slow Roll, she was mauled by her rescue dog.
Ingram said the dog weighed 300-pounds. The dog was an American Bully named Duke. He is often seen with Ingram on her social media posts. She described him as "kin to the pit bull, with a little bigger snout."
She said Duke had two different color eyes, blue and brown.
"Duke had a small injury on his paw, and as we were trying to call the vet and we're petting him, I'm sitting, I'm just petting him, talking to him then he just turned and kind of wanted mommy to just let him let me know, like he's hurt, and he snapped," she said.
Her son helped save her.
"Part of me died that night. I saw blood. I ran out my own house," Ingram said.
The dog bit her on the right side of her face.
"I would say about 30% of my lip is gone, and (part of) my nose," Ingram said.
Doctors say it will be months of surgery and recovery.
A Slow Roll participant started a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses.
Duke had to be put down.
"I still love dogs. I still love animals. I still love people. This taught me to set more boundaries with myself and with others," Ingram said.
"I love animals. What I encourage people to do is treat them right so they don't have to become those rescues with the unknowns because as I'm learning, this is not an isolated incident."