Kyle Dyer, Recovering After Dog Bite On Face During On-Air Segment, Describes Horrific Accident, Triumphant Recovery

It has only been two weeks since 9News anchor Kyle Dyer was bit on the face by an 85-pound Argentine mastiff dog during a live on-air segment. As of last weekend, the dog has returned home from being impounded and, as of Friday, after two reconstructive surgeries that left her mouth sewn shut for a week and a half, Dyer is finally able to speak again, The Denver Post reports.

In an interview with her fellow 9News anchor Gary Shapiro, Dyer speaks candidly about the accident, "I didn't realize the extent of the injury. I knew it was bad when my lips didn't touch anymore. I realized all the blood -- the top part of my lip here was gone."

In early February, after the accident occurred, Dyer needed 70 stitches for her lips and nose. Her mouth was stitched shut to let a skin graft take and so blood could circulate in her lips again. On Monday, Dyer received a second surgery and given 20 new stitches that doctors intend to remove today.

But, Dyer's injury may never fully heal. She told 9News that it could be "six months, or never" to get the feeling back. And she has not made any immediate decisions on when she will return to to the air, but she says she will return.

On Feb. 8, Dyer was injured during an on-air segment with the dog's owner and the firefighter that rescued the dog from icy Smith Reservoir in Lakewood the day before. Dyer was petting the dog on the head and then got close to its face when it lunged toward her and bit her.

Dyer, remaining optimistic throughout this ordeal, was quoted on 9News Facebook page as saying, "Everything is going to be OK." We certainly hope so, get well soon, Kyle.

Comments

[USAGramma]

08:48 PM on 02/27/2012

Common sense tells us one does NOT go face-to-face with an animal who does not know and trust you. This animal was in completely unfamiliar surroundings, under hot, bright lights, surrounded by strangers, being stroked heavily by a stranger, after already suffering the trauma of the original event, and she gets in it's face. It is very unfortunate that she was bitten, but she should have known, and hopefully does now know, better.

[glennwarne]

11:59 AM on 02/27/2012

I do not think that dog was very nice Nip-ping her like that!! Not to make light of the bite but If that dog was really out to get her it would have taken a big bite!! what she got was a bite of "get out of my face!".
However there would seem to be a LACK of Reaction on the part of the owner and The Policeman next to him. Heck somebody gets bite by your dog and you stay in your chair and do nothing, same for the cop, he did nothing to help a person bit by the dog!!
By the look of the mouth on that dog he could have taken most of her head. This would be not my kind of dog. I want one that I can control and stop doing anything I don't want it to do.

[FastSteve]

09:51 AM on 02/27/2012

I see all the Pitbull HATE being tossed around here and raise some love, sympathy and humanity for what is probable the most MISUNDERSTOOD breed in the world. & often times hated just for being born who they are. Petey from the Rascals was a Pitbull.
http://www.pitbulls.org/news/two-nearly-banned-breeds-become-heroes
Another site with stories of Pitbulls being heroes including one that took THREE BULLETS to save its owner & another of a STRAY Pitbull that saved a mother & child from an attacker. The dog, A PITBULL saved complete strangers from a knife welding attacker.
http://bslnews.org/tag/stories-of-pit-bulls-that-have-performed-heroic-feats-and-saved-lives/

A little love & understanding goes much farther then hate.

[RockyMissouri]

08:43 PM on 02/27/2012

Well said...! My corgi does not like being crowded, either...and is lightening fast.

[Genesworld]

12:19 AM on 02/27/2012

The owner of the Argentine Mastiff should pay big time for allowing his dog do do this damage. This dog like all dogs that are big and powerful and should not be allowed close to anyone without restraint and the owner should warn anyone that they are in danger if they get close. This dog like the Pit Bull was bred to hunt, fight, and kill and even though at times they appear to be genital they should not be trusted. If you own any dog or animal it is your responsibility to restrain it. My small 25 pound dog was attacked by a Pit bull and nearly killed. His only sin was walking with my wife on the sidewalk where the Pit bull ran out of its house and attacked my dog.

[glennwarne]

11:30 AM on 02/27/2012

What has the genitals have to do with this dog??? It bit her in the face!!
As a former Letter Carrier who has never been bit, I have to say "Never trust a Dog! Not even your Own!
lastly before anybody starts off with this Breed does this and that Breed does that, All Dog' Bite!! But the dog that Bite's tha most Is a Poodle!! Which just so happen's to be the dog I own. All dog's were raised to bite, Centuries ago they were not breeding dogs to inside with fire , but to perform some function to earn their keep. So, do not trust an animal like this with your children and do not put your hands/nor mouth near it's mouth.

[TheWayIThink]

05:51 PM on 02/27/2012

I think you meant "gentil", not genital. I know more people being attacked by "ankle biters" than other biggers dogs. They are not as much on the news because the damage is not as much as a bigger dog. Don't think you 25 lb cannot attack, he is still a dog. And don't think all of bigger breeds are lethal, they are not.

[anitaj]

09:15 PM on 02/26/2012

Ms. Dyer's injuries appear to be haling well. I hope that her recovery continues and that she regains senation.

I am glad that Max is back home.

This incident serves as a warning both for those who love dogs but do not understand basic canine body language, and to owners who may overestimate their pet's tolerance for stress.

[Wrongway62]

09:13 PM on 02/26/2012

I hope she recovers, I just wish people were not so dumb with dogs. I have had dogs all my life and worked with dog and the one thing I would never do is put my face near a dog that didn't know me for some time. Again I hope she recovers completely and most of all I hope people learn to respect dogs and not do dumb things around them.

[HockeyGirl74]

05:12 PM on 02/27/2012

Exactly! And the fact that this dog just had a traumatic event, add that to the fact she didnt know this dog, she NEVER should have put her face near the dog.

[MsMoonpieJD]

02:14 PM on 02/28/2012

Well spoken!

[silsez]

01:50 PM on 02/26/2012

You look great Kyle! A hard lesson learned, but thanks for understanding it wasn't the dog's fault of intent to hurt you for no reason. You'll be back to lovely in no time.

[dayleyw]

10:59 PM on 02/25/2012

Good luck to you Kyle--I had a dog that did the same thing to a little boy, so I know what you might be going through, along with the family that owns the dog what they are going through. See you soon back on the news. God be with you. Your stright is great. :-)

[M Jeana Matney]

12:29 AM on 02/27/2012

Good thing it was not my little boy , for I would have done everything legally possible to make sure that dog got put down.

[dayleyw]

08:49 AM on 02/27/2012

No you wouldn't of!!! That little boy always teased my dog through the fence, I tried to talk to him and his parents. And he kepted doing it. And I would of made sure you moved out of the neighbor too!!!!!! I would of won you suit also. So you need to think , some kids do , do wrong with animals, animals remember people that treat them mean.

[FastSteve]

09:30 AM on 02/27/2012

A very UNNECESSARY comment from you showing your in general hateful attitude. And so you like to see to that animals are killed. Very humane. You should go take a job working for the news media. You have the perfect attitude for it. As sounds even a whisper of a Pitbull looking at someone sideways & you would be running like a kid to the candy store on 50% off day.

[gaurdian]

10:21 PM on 02/25/2012

I watched this video and Kyle did 2 things wrong ( 1 ) in the dogs space (2 ) staring the dog in the eye, when this is done you are challenging the dog she lost . I have raised and trained mastiffs as show dogs and know them quite well . Shame it happened but i hope she learned a lesson there .Got to ask myself if it was a lion from a zoo would she get that close to it ?

[catline4callie2]

10:17 PM on 02/25/2012

Put yourself in the place of that dog ! You would do the same thing to defend yourself!… Just picture yourself being approached by a strange face.. coming closer and closer as a threat! Naturally the dog is going to put up a defense and act before the stranger does..and just nip at them to warn them to stay at a distance. You wouldn't do that to even another strange person! The Lady was invading the dogs aura…Every living soul has an aura that is private and shouldn't be invaded without permission.. It is not the Dog's Fault.. People do not learn; they just go ahead and act around animals just as they darn please without caution! The dog was not trying to disfigure the lady's face; that was just the unfortunate result..

[M Jeana Matney]

09:18 PM on 02/25/2012

While it was not a pitbull that bite the newslady. See this.
http://www.dog-bite-law-center.com/pit_bull_attacks.html
Ban Pit Bulls: More Laws Needed: Already Banned in England- When will US Policy Catch Up?

[onemadashell]

12:44 PM on 02/26/2012

because he is america's dog. ban ignorance. get educated.

[M Jeana Matney]

01:34 PM on 02/26/2012

I think it would be great if USA did ban them.

[M Jeana Matney]

12:13 AM on 02/27/2012

tisk tisk onemadashell stop your whining lol

[FastSteve]

02:02 AM on 02/27/2012

I figured it out after looking your stupid little site over some more. It seems to be a LAWYER driven site. That about answers everything. All about law suits. Straight off the site--

If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us to get legal help.

[glennwarne]

11:45 AM on 02/27/2012

Tha tis why most of us carry insurance!

[lacabrera]

08:03 PM on 02/25/2012

That's what you get for kissing a pitbull ,,,

[onemadashell]

12:45 PM on 02/26/2012

i didn't see her kiss a pit bull. go get your eyes checked.

[lacabrera]

02:09 PM on 02/26/2012

That is because you were looking with you eyes closed !

[Lefty88]

07:24 AM on 02/27/2012

Really? It says IN THE FIRST SENTENCE of the article that it's a mastiff. Why is there such desire to credit this incident to a pit bull?

[Betty Wiseman]

08:03 PM on 02/25/2012

I am an animal lover and been adopting dogs and cats since 2009, but since seeing and hearing about the dog bite that happened to the news anchor I dont agree with the dog returning home. I had a dog attack myself which was my own dog and i had him for a year, but still attacked well came home with a arm brace on because he pulled my shoulder bone out of place well he went to attack me again so I had to quickly take the brace off my arm, boyfriend moved in my home and he attacked him after living with us for 3 months actually took a bite out of his cheek no surgery. We actually had to lay him down because he got worse and came after us one night when watching tv plus attacked my chihuahua one night when we went shopping for groceries. luckily he didnt kill her. Once a dog has had the taste of blood and feels that he is the dominate person in the household he will continue biting and it could become very serious. I honestly believe with the news lady only bending over to give the dog attention she shouldve never been bitten either the dog isnt trained correctly or hes not socialized which can cause problems. I would suggest laying down the dog I understand its your pet and family but what if your child gets attacked or yourself? or someone elses child you cant take chances.

[mrluckyman]

11:48 PM on 02/25/2012

I suggest putting you down.

[glennwarne]

11:35 AM on 02/27/2012

Somehow that might be considered a death threat!! Once again I see we are attacking the person who wrote some input and not addressing the problem. Without further information on the dog I would have to wait and see want happens further before suggesting that the dog be put down! However one should not own a dog that they cannot be the master of. It is just not safe to have a dog that Bite's like this around if it continue's to bite people.

[Corn Poppy]

02:27 AM on 02/26/2012

You have been adopting dogs since 2009, still you know so little about them.
Like I said before, that dog is well socialized. It gave all the right signals saying "leave me alone". It licked its nose and turned its head away, clearly not comfortable at all with the attention it was given. Unfortunately (for both the dog and Ms Dyer), these signals were completely ignored.

[backfire1989]

07:53 PM on 02/25/2012

People are so uneducated there is NO such breed as a pitbull the dog was an Argentine Mastiff. Pit bull is a term that the people that mistreat these breeds have given them for fighting purposes. And as for the reports of all the unprovoked attacks who is writing the articles and were they there when it happened NO. Do you really expect a person to admit that they did something that caused them harm?! Sorry not human nature, human nature is to pass the buck!! And no one thinks about TV studio lights cameras all the people moving around and then there is something in the dogs face. I hope she gets better and people need to be educated. If someone gets in your face whats your first instinct or reaction?!

[stm 288]

07:52 PM on 02/25/2012

What a remarkable lady. So upbeat. I sure hope the owners of the dog keep a close eye on the dog, especially around children. Best wishes to Kyle for a full recovery.